Before World War I, Thistle served in West Africa, helped introduce football to Nigeria, and responded to unrest in Ghana. She crossed the Indian Ocean for the East Africa campaign, where her shallow draft supported landings and the defence of Portuguese Mozambique. In 1919 her commanding officer restored the full sailing rig so the worn gunboat could voyage around the Cape despite engine trouble. When she returned to Britain in 1925 after two decades abroad, she was the Royal Navy's last remaining sailing warship.
Chapter · 48:58-51:00
HMS Thistle restores sail after an African wartime career
Thistle supported African landings and then restored her sailing rig to compensate for worn engines on the voyage home.