After the demise of HMS Manchester, it fell upon the World Traders to find another ship and we were lucky to be given HMS Dauntless to form a new relationship with. With the shrinking of the fleet, together with other livery companies forming Naval affiliations, it was now necessary to ‘share’ and we now join with The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers in our association with HMS Dauntless.

HMS Dauntless is the second Type 45 Destroyer in its class (there are six altogether: Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Dragon, Defender, and Duncan). When she was launched in January 2007, HMS Dauntless was the largest and most powerful anti-air warfare platform operated by the Royal Navy.

As is often the case, our new ship was away on deployment in the summer of 2011 under the command of Captain Richard Powell, spending some seven months away from British shores, mainly in
the Atlantic on various joint exercises with other nations.

Unfortunately for a large amount of our time as an affiliate, she has been either in dry dock or undergoing major overhaul in both Portsmouth and at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. 2025 bought new life to Dauntless and she undertook a major deployment to the Far East as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.

There have been various visits to the ship over the years but by the very nature of its use as a war ship, this is not always possible. Since 2011, when it was first presented to Chief Petty
Officer Wendy Frame, the Company has presented an annual ‘Sailor of the Year’ Award to a member of the ship’s crew who has performed above and beyond expectations.

In years past, the World Traders used to invite not just the Royal Navy but also our other military affiliates to the Lord Mayor’s Show. We would provide a venue to enjoy a packed lunch provided by us, and travel costs. It was a very special occasion.

The Company has at times, when the ship has been in UK waters, invited the captain of the day to our Installation Dinner. The last of these was at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 2021 when the main guest was Admiral Sir Tony Radakin Admiral of the Fleet, who was a couple of days later elevated to the position of Chief of the Defence Staff.

This year, we were delighted to be able to present our Sailor of the Year Award to the ship’s Navigating Officer, Lt Pierce Tattersall, at our 39th Annual Tacitus Lecture, at Guildhall, in the presence of The Lady Mayor.

Past Sailor of the Year Award Winners

2025: Lt Pierce Tattersall
2023: Petty Officer Clare
2011: Chief Petty Officer Wendy Frame

Liaison Officer: Past Master Michael Wren