Esther Williams Trophy
Encyclopedia
The Esther Williams Trophy is one of two trophies that have circulated among ships of various navies, after originating in the Royal Australian Navy
. Initially, in 1943, the trophy was a joke between two friends, Lieutenant
s Lindsay Brand and David Stevenson
(later the RAN's Chief of Naval Staff), serving in , an N class destroyer attached to the British Eastern Fleet
. Stevenson wrote on a photograph of Esther Williams
, "To my own Georgie, with all my love and a passionate kiss, Esther"; Brand (aka "George") put the screen idol over his bed. The photo was taken to another ship by a fellow officer, and the "trophy" was then circulated by officers among some 200 other ships including in United States Navy
, Royal Navy
, and Royal Canadian Navy
ships in Asian waters.
The original photo became the "trophy copy" to be kept in a safe location, while the second "fighting copy" was displayed where it could be stolen stealthily or taken by force with a good deal of roughhouse between the officers of the ships involved. After the "fighting copy" had been successfully removed from the custodial ship, the "trophy copy" would be presented to the new owners with appropriate ceremony. In 1957, "Esther" was retired by the US Navy and sent to the RAN's Naval Historical Collection at Spectacle Island in Sydney. The trophy was brought into circulation again in 1997 by officers from , and has been given official standing by senior officers, for instance when an RAN admiral officiated when the elder Brand was re-introduced to the trophy on 30 June 2004 for only the fourth time since 1943.
At various times, the holders of the trophy have either flown an Esther flag or sent naval signals (signed "Esther") to other nearby ships to indicate where the trophy resided. On 16 April 2008, the trophy attended the memorial service for the newly rediscovered wreck of the World War II-era , off Geraldton, Western Australia
, travelling in .
A documentary about the trophy's history was produced in 2007.
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. Initially, in 1943, the trophy was a joke between two friends, Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
s Lindsay Brand and David Stevenson
David Stevenson (admiral)
Vice Admiral Sir Hugh David Stevenson AC, KBE, RAN was an officer of the Royal Australian Navy, eventually serving as its Chief.-Early life:...
(later the RAN's Chief of Naval Staff), serving in , an N class destroyer attached to the British Eastern Fleet
British Eastern Fleet
The British Eastern Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed from 1941 to 1971...
. Stevenson wrote on a photograph of Esther Williams
Esther Williams
Esther Jane Williams is a retired American competitive swimmer and MGM movie star.Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team...
, "To my own Georgie, with all my love and a passionate kiss, Esther"; Brand (aka "George") put the screen idol over his bed. The photo was taken to another ship by a fellow officer, and the "trophy" was then circulated by officers among some 200 other ships including in United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
ships in Asian waters.
The original photo became the "trophy copy" to be kept in a safe location, while the second "fighting copy" was displayed where it could be stolen stealthily or taken by force with a good deal of roughhouse between the officers of the ships involved. After the "fighting copy" had been successfully removed from the custodial ship, the "trophy copy" would be presented to the new owners with appropriate ceremony. In 1957, "Esther" was retired by the US Navy and sent to the RAN's Naval Historical Collection at Spectacle Island in Sydney. The trophy was brought into circulation again in 1997 by officers from , and has been given official standing by senior officers, for instance when an RAN admiral officiated when the elder Brand was re-introduced to the trophy on 30 June 2004 for only the fourth time since 1943.
At various times, the holders of the trophy have either flown an Esther flag or sent naval signals (signed "Esther") to other nearby ships to indicate where the trophy resided. On 16 April 2008, the trophy attended the memorial service for the newly rediscovered wreck of the World War II-era , off Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
, travelling in .
A documentary about the trophy's history was produced in 2007.