A Royal Navy ship currently docked in Liverpool has a long and tragic history.
The HMS Daring, currently docked on the Mersey, has a rich history dating back over 210 years. Seven warships over those two centuries have carried the name, with some of them, and their crews, meeting unfortunate fates.
The history of the HMS Daring really begins with the fifth warship to assume the mantle which was built in 1932. With a brief stint being helmed by Lord Mountbatten - Queen Elizabeth's cousin who was killed by an IRA bomb - the Daring served in the Far East for years before tragedy struck.
READ MORE: Hope University pays tribute to 'diligent student' killed in police car crash
World War 2 and the death of 157 crew
During WWII, the warship was targetted by Otto Kretschmer, a German submariner who would be responsible for sinking 44 ships in two years before his capture in 1941. Kretschmer and his U-boat were successful in sinking the Daring, just 40 miles off the Scottish coast, killing 157 of its 162-strong crew.
Among the casualties was Samuel Harrocks, a 23-year-old torpedo operator from Lewisham Road, Liverpool. In an ECHO article from the time, he was described as being "single, and had been in the Navy for six and a half years."
On Wednesday, August 21 1940, Samuel's birthday, his family published a memorial in the ECHO. It said: "In loving birthday rememberance of Sam, lost on HMS Daring 1940.
"Thoush I smile and seem carefree. No one feels the loss like me.
"Sadly missed by sister Madge and brother Syd."
In that same paper his friends also published a tribute, which said: "Loving birthday memories of Sam (our pal), lost on HMS Daring [on the] 18 February 1940.
"Never one forgotten by Eileen, Larry and Ken, 19 Lewisham Road."
Years after the tragedy the HMS Daring was back on international waters. The sixth daring served from 1952 to 1968, and assited with the worst oil spill of UK history - the Torrey Canyon oil tanker spill of 1967, which spewed up to 36 million gallons between the Cornish mainland and the Isles of Scilly.
The beginnings of the HMS Daring
The HMS Daring started its existence as a 12-gun brig (a smaller ship with two masts) was built at the start of 1800s. It was active in Africa before running aground off Sierra Leone in 1813, and then sunk by the crew to avoid her falling into French hands.
HMS Daring's second iteration, also a 12-gun brig, came in 1833 and would enjoy a longer time on active duties for the Royal Navy, serving for 20 years in African and North American waters, before its retirement and sale in the 1860s.
Its third iteration enjoyed less success. This time the mantle was given to a warship that spent only 15 years in active service before being sold once again in 1889.
The fourth HMS Daring saw active duty for 17 years with the Royal Navy. Once the fastest warship in the world at the time, it was soon outpaced by advancing steam technologies and eventually sold in 1912.
Present day
The HMS Daring, in its seventh iteration, is currently moored in Liverpool. The ship has been undergoing upgrades at Cammell Laird shipyard to future-proof the warship, though is now preparing to return to Portsmouth when the poor weather passes.
The ship had previously been sent to the Persian Gulf to support the military campaign against the Islamic State. The warship is a type 45 air defence destroyer, and was launched on Wednesday, February 1 2006.
A spokesperson for the Royal Navy said: "HMS Daring is currently in the Liverpool area preparing to transit to Portsmouth following installation of her new power and propulsion system."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Nan, 92, 'asked to die' during 33 hour wait on hospital corridor
Elle Edwards killer 'lay in wait' outside pub 'for an hour' before shooting spree
Lamborghini seized and driver reported for being 'eight years too young'
Paedophile abused girl after grooming her with Dr Pepper and Timberland boots
Bulb customer 'horrified' as smart meter says she used £39,025 of energy in one day
