A First World War brass naval doorstop in the form of a sailor with the inscription “Britains Pride.” The base is lead filled.
 
English, circa 1915
 
Dimensions
Height: 28.5cm / 11¼"
Width: 14cm / 5½"
Depth: 4.5cm / 1¾"

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Britain had the largest navy in the world. The Royal Navy had almost twice the amount of ships than the German Imperial Fleet. It was well financed, better equipped with faster battle ships, and well organised by the Admiralty. The RN was founded during the reign of King Henry VIII in 1546. It is traditionally the oldest part of the British armed forces and this is why the RN is known as the ‘Senior Service’. The RN with its superior firepower protected the British Isles from invasion and was also primed to blockade enemy ports in time of war. Blockades were a common tactic during the First World War. The RN also served to protect all the trade routes which had helped to build the Empire during the 18th & 19th centuries.