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
William Dowell (Royal Navy officer) William Dowell (Royal Navy officer) Admiral Sir William Montagu Dowell (2 August 1825 – 27 December 1912) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth. Dowell joined the Royal Navy in 1839. He served in the Black Sea during the Crimean War. He was given command of HMS "Hornet" and HMS "Barrosa" and, in the latter ship, took part in the Bombardment of Shimonoseki in 1863. Later he commanded HMS "Euryalus", HMS "Topaze" and then HMS "Leander". He was made Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station in 1867 before taking command