Situated in a historic dockyard, The Royal Navy Museum in Portsmouth presents the history of the Royal Navy from King Alfred’s first battle at sea in 1882, right to ‘the Fleet’s’ current role in peacekeeping missions and the prevention of drug trafficking and piracy. As well as many prints and paintings of notable ships and events in that have occurred in the Navy, posters emphasise the importance of the Royal Navy in the British war effort during the Second World War. There are more light-hearted records in the many cartoons from as early as the 18th century and a 19th century jar for storing leeches shows how far medicine has advanced, no doubt much to the relief of the sailors!