(photo's Caroline Favier)
| King Rama 5 had
confidence in the honorable Prince Chumporn,
because he had graduated
from the Naval Academy in England. So, he sent him as a special Royal
officer to purchase a ship from Europe in 1919, to be paid with the
money donated by civilians, around two hundred thousand pounds. He
decided to purchase a torpedo destroyer from the British Royal Navy
named “Radiant”. After purchase it received
the new Royal name "HTMS Praruang" from the King. With Prince Chumporn as the Commanding Officer, HTMS Praruang navigated to Thailand. It’s very far from Britain to Thailand and it was the first time he led a modern ship. HTMS Praruang was the ship where naval cadets trained seamanship, until it was de-commissioned. Some of her equipment, such as a magnetic compass and helm, [and furniture, Ed.] are kept in the RTNA. The History Corner is a memorial for the next generation. |
| References: Tongpan, Saran. “Sadettia.” Sarakadee Magazine. December 2003: 77. Last update: Humanities Department, October 2004. |
