Battle With Beetles To Save Oak Timbers Of Nelson’s Flagship

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 15, 23 January 1948, Page 3

Battle With Beetles To Save Oak Timbers Of Nelson’s Flagship

War is being waged once more in Nelson’s 181-year-old flagship, H.M.S. Victory, dry-docked at Portsmouth. This time science has been called in to save the famous oak timbers. It was found that death watch beetles, which make a queer ticking noise as they burrow in old, hard wood, have damaged the main timbers, which are more than 190 years old. Experts from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research were called in to advise on the preservation of the Royal Navy’s most historic shrine.

Holes were bored in the wood and powerful syringes were used to force the latest insecticides, including D.D.T.,-into the timbers. An improved ventilation scheme was introduced by drilling holes in the ship’s bottom.

Six thousand death watch beetles have been Caught aboard H.M.S. Victory this year, but the war against them must go on until the ticking noise—caused by the beetle striking its head against the wood —finally ceases.

Four heavy bombs dropped near the Victory during the war. One 500-pounder blew a large hole in her forepart, and incendiaries fell on the decks but caused no fires.