The Royal Naval Reserve Unit HMS Wildfire has commemorated its elder sister, a Nymphe Class Composite Sloop built in 1888, which won the Battle Honour "Belgian Coast 1914" during the actions of the Dover Patrol in the autumn of 1914.

An "all ranks" dinner party held in the Northwood Officers’ Mess also commemorated the wider actions of the Royal Naval Division during the First World War. 

French, Belgian and German naval officers, all currently serving in the multi-national Northwood Headquarters were special guests for the unique event in HMS Wildfire’s history. 

The Battle Honour Belgian Coast 1914, although credited in the London Gazette in 1915 and widely assumed to have been held by HMS Wildfire for many years, had not officially been awarded due to an administrative oversight.

The omission was discovered when Lieutenant Commander Stephen Smith RNR, one of HMS Wildfire’s ship’s company and an Officer in the Information Operations branch of the Royal Naval Reserve, was researching the Unit’s First World War history. 

The Royal Navy Historical Branch Battle Honour Committee recognised and duly corrected the oversight, formally authorising HMS Wildfire to display the Battle Honour earlier this year. 

The newly created wooden Battle Honour board was formally unveiled prior to the dinner by Commander Jevan Morris RD RNR (Retired), a former Commanding Officer of HMS Wildfire.

As guest speaker at the dinner, he also gave an account of the history surrounding the formation and actions of the Royal Naval Division as well as the Dover Patrol’s actions off the Belgian Coast in which HMS Wildfire won her honour while under the command of Rear-Admiral Hood in October 1914. 

Commander Stephanie Shinner RD RNR, the current Commanding Officer, said: "It is a great honour to finally display our Battle Honour one hundred years after it was awarded.

"The evening has given us an opportunity to commemorate the brave actions of our predecessors both in HMS Wildfire and the Royal Naval Division.

"Their legacy continues with vibrant, enthusiastic and dedicated Reservists serving on operational tours as part of the Royal Navy. 

"They maintain HMS Wildfire’s proud fighting spirit grounded in an understanding of the traditions and actions of our ancestors. We salute them and all others, past and present, who have served their nation with commitment and compassion."