HMS Thames (1885)

HMS Thames was a Mersey class second class protected cruiser of the Royal Navy. She later served in the South African Navy under the name SATS General Botha as a training vessel.

Royal Navy
The ship did not see any action as a cruiser, and in 1903, was converted to a submarine depot ship.

South Africa
She was sold to the Jersey-born South African entrepreneur TB Davis, who purchased the ship in November 1920 as a memory to his son who died during World War I. He donated it to a trust, with the stipulation that it be used exclusively for the nautical training of British and South African boys, so that they could subsequently serve in ships of the British Empire.

HMS Thames was renamed South African Training Ship (SATS) General Botha. She directly contributed to the establishment of the South African Navy. and was based at the Simonstown naval base. From 1942, she served as an accommodation ship, once again under the name Thames, before finally being scuttled on 13 May 1947 in False Bay. There exists an alumni association for those who served aboard the General Botha, which has the Duke of Edinburgh as her patron.

The South African Naval Museum in Simonstown has an exhibition dedicated to the ship.