Help please with photo of Navy boxing match

[stillburning]

I have a small collection of militaria and have recently been given this photo, actual size 48cm x 34cm.

I really like the composition of the photo and would be grateful if anyone can give me any information about it with regards to possible date, ship, location and possibly even the event.

On the back is a very faded red stamp that I think says WAR ????? FUND (or UNIT) with a shorter line of text underneath that I cant make out at all, and a large I/M written in blue crayon.

If anyone has any ideas at all it would be appreciated.

[big ned]

A pic of the reverse may help, fresh eyes and all that.... Boxing matches were very common on RN ships as in many of the world's navies. The background reminds me a little of the topography of Scapa Flow, but that's purely a guess.

Regards, Ned.

[stillburning]

Thanks Ned, I have attached a photo of the red ink stamped on the back in case it helps.

[big ned]

Ouch, that's not easy! My best guess would be WAR MEMORIAL FUND, but really I'm just musing on this one, perhaps someone else can do some resolution magic to improve the stamp??? Still, it's a nice tinted image whatever.

Regards, Ned.

[HistoryMan]

Looking at what appear to be 16" guns, then it can only be HMS Rodney or HMS Nelson

[big ned]

Looking at what appear to be 16" guns, then it can only be HMS Rodney or HMS Nelson

I believe you're bang on HM!

[duska]

Just to further add, it was in 1943.


A FLOATING FORTRESS OF THE BRITISH NAVY AT WAR FEBRUARY 1943 ABOARD THE BATTLESHIP HMS RODNEY UNDER WAR CONDITIONS (A 15464)

The background has been somewhat altered.

[stillburning]

Thank you HM, Ned and Duska, a great piece of detective work to identify the ship and then find the original photo with a date.

[HistoryMan]

If it was a press photo the background would have been altered so as not to disclose the actual location where the photo was taken. Force H was initially based in Gibraltar, I was there a couple of weeks ago, but I do not think the background is Gibraltar, it’s possibly Malta, both Rodney and Nelson were involved in escort duties in the Med

It’s interesting in the Link that the title states HMS Rodney and in the description of the photo it states HMS Nelson, come on IWM, make your mind up ! haha

Cheers