WE’VE unearthed these vintage photos from 99 years ago which remember one of the happiest days in the history of Tilbury.

It was April 1919 – just months after the end of the Great War – and it was the day that HMS Tilbury sailed into its namesake town.

Crowds of local workers, residents and schoolchildren, flocked in their hundreds to Tilbury Docks for the once-in- a- lifetime chance to not only catch a glimpse of the ship- which had been named after the town – but to explore every nook and cranny of the 276ft long vessel.

HMS Tilbury was one of 67 S-class destroyers built for the British Royal Navy during the First World War.

She was launched on June 17, 2018 and like all S class destroyers, was armed with guns and torpedoes.

Upon commission she was sent to the Mediterranean and was serving in Greece in the Aegean Sea at the end of the Great War.

On returning home her commander – Lieutenant-Commander Humphrey Maurice Robson DSO – was keen to bring her to her home port for a whistle-stop visit.

The Tilbury Gazette newspaper reported how there was hardly any notice given to dock and council bosses that she’d be arriving – however plans were quickly thrown together to give her a grand welcome.

“Friday was a Red Letter day for Tilbury when HMS Tilbury visited the town of her name, which had shown such a practical interest in the vessel,” reported the paper.

“From the time it was known that a ship of the Royal Navy was to be named after the town, the urban council and its inhabitants have taken the liveliest interest in her career.

“Certainly the youth of Tilbury will never forget the day when they were given carte blanche to explore and show themselves on one of the HM warships.

HMS Tilbury arrived at the dock at 10am on a Friday morning. She was greeted with cheers and applause as she steamed up the Thames to get to her berth to dock.

“Like Tilbury is sometimes said to be, HMS Tilbury is unique and is a super destroyer with several light cruiser features . She was much admired as she steamed up to her berth,” reported the newspaper.

Dock workers were thrilled to be the first batch of people allowed to get on board and inspect the ship while the HMS Tilbury crew were entertained with a slap-up lunch ashore.

By all reports the crew really took the town to heart as they visited parts of the town and met with local people.

The Gazette noted: “Tilbury won the hearts of the crews it is certainly that the latter won the hearts of the people and brief as it was, HMS Tilbury’s visit struck a note of enthusiastic goodwill which only a longer visit can eclipse.”

In the afternoon Lieutenant-Commander Robson was accompanied by local dignitaries as he made a tour of local schools, inviting the children to come and look at the ship after lessons.

At each school he visited the commander gave students a rousing message about the glory of the Empire and how English seamen were the toast of the civilised world.

“The outstanding feature of the cruise was the wonderful prestige and respect in which Englishmen were held all over the world ,” he told one school.

“ The name of an Englishman was held top be an absolute guarantee of all that was upright, just and honest.”

At the Tilbury Boys School the commander urged the youngsters to grow up to be “broad-minded and not narrow minded and always to put their country first.”

It was then on to the town’s girl’s school where by contrast the students were encouraged to “grow up gentle and kind and to learn to make happy homes so as to make life worth living”.

In the afternoon school children from far and wide clambered onto the mighty ship to explore.

“No part of the ship was barred to the children. The climbed the crow’s nest, trod the sacred precincts of the quarter deck , examined the compass and steering gear and swung the guns out till their heart’s content,” reported the Gazette.

The day finished with the presentation of a silk ensign made to the Commander of the ship on behalf of the people of Tilbury by F rank Hilder MP (then the Member of Parliament for Essex South Eastern) as well as a special commemorative plate.

HMS Tilbury was sold of in 1931 and broken up.