HMS Diadem (1896)

HMS Diadem was the lead ship of the Diadem-class of protected cruiser in the Royal Navy.

She was built at Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan and launched on 21 October 1896.

She served in the Channel Squadron. In March 1901 she was one of two cruisers to escort HMS Ophir, commissioned as royal yacht for the world tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George and Queen Mary), from Spithead to Gibraltar, and in September the same year she again escorted the royal yacht from St Vincent to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

She served in the First World War with her sisters. In 1914 she was a stokers' training ship, and was placed in reserve in October 1915. She was returned to being a stokers' training ship in January 1918, and survived the War to be sold to Ward of Morecambe for breaking up on 9 May 1921.

Commanding officers

 * Captain H. Leah - in 1901