24/08/2026
HMS SAXIFRAGE — A UNIQUE PIECE OF NAVAL HISTORY WORTH PRESERVING ⚓️
This beautiful example of a ship’s crest bears the name HMS Saxifrage, a Royal Navy vessel launched in 1918 during the First World War. Saxifrage’s name specifically referred to London Pride, which gives the floral emblem an additional connection to London.
But Saxifrage was no ordinary warship. She served as a Q-ship — an armed vessel disguised as an innocent merchant ship, designed to lure German U-boats into attacking. Behind that seemingly harmless appearance was a concealed fighting force, ready to reveal itself and strike back.
Her story continued after the war. In 1922, HMS Saxifrage was renamed HMS President, and her long service became part of the remarkable history of Britain’s naval and maritime heritage.
The crest itself is a wonderful reminder of that history: the Royal Crown, the name SAXIFRAGE, and the flowering plant represented on the blue shield all connect us directly to the ship and the era in which she served.
Objects like this are more than antiques. They are physical links to the people who served, the ships they sailed in, and the extraordinary circumstances in which they lived and fought.
Our naval heritage deserves to be protected and preserved — not simply for those of us fascinated by maritime history today, but for future generations who should have the opportunity to see, touch and understand these tangible pieces of the past.
⚓️ Remember the ship. Remember the men who served aboard her. Preserve the history.
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