Long before the Royal Fleet Auxiliary was thought of there was a vast navy, a navy of ships powered by the wind and this navy needed supplies just as their modern counterpart needed them. It is said that Henry VIII began what was to become the Royal Navy, building such famous ships as the ‘Mary Rose’, to support his navy, Henry hired merchant ships to follow the fleet carrying timber for masts and spars, canvas for sails, water, wine, salted meat (complete with worms), hard biscuits, powder and shot amongst many other things.

Read more about this time from the 15th of October……….