HMS Thunder Child HMS Thunder Child HMS "Thunder Child" is a fictional ironclad torpedo ram of the Royal Navy, destroyed by Martian fighting-machines in H. G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" whilst protecting a refugee rescue fleet of civilian vessels. Torpedo rams were constructed in the 1870s and 1880s after the ramming and sinking of the "Re d'Italia" at the Battle of Lissa in 1866 by the Austrian flagship, "Ferdinand Max". Despite the Italian warship being stationary at the time, the successful attack influenced naval thinking for the next few decades. The result was specially designed low profile, fast, armoured vessels equipped
Joseph Gilbert (Royal Navy) Joseph Gilbert (Royal Navy) Joseph Gilbert (1732–1831) was a British naval officer who was Master of HMS "Resolution" on the second voyage of Captain James Cook. As Master he was responsible for a number of specific duties, especially navigation. He was born in Kirton, Lincolnshire, the youngest child of John Gilbert, a farmer and Churchwarden of Kirton and later Freiston. He joined the Royal Navy and rose to the rank of ship's Master. Between 1764 and 1769 he was Master of HMS "Guernsey" which surveyed the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador. He was afterwards Master of HMS "Pearl", which surveyed