The Bermuda Floating Dock, In Tow of H.M.Ss Warrior and Black Prince and Terrible astern Leaving Porto Santo for their Voyage across the Atlantic, July 4th 1869... Published by H M Currie. Repro ID: PZ8972 ©National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, LondonHMS Terrible was a cruiser built by J. G. Thomson and launched at Glasgow in May 1895 and a sister ship to HMS Powerful. In 1899 she was sent to South Africa where she supplied some of her 6-inch and 12-pounder guns for land use. Captain Percy Scott designed mountings to make the guns mobile and they were transported to Ladysmith in HMS Powerful. She also landed a number of her crew in the Naval Brigade.

When the Boxer Rebellion broke out in 1900, HMS Terrible re-embarked her crew and guns and went to China. She arrived at the Taku Forts from Hong Kong in June 1900. She carried 300 of the Second Battalion of Royal Welsh Fusiliers commanded by Major Morris, and 40 Royal Engineers.

This force was sent to Tientsin on June 21st. A 12-pounder gun from HMS Terrible was hauled to Tientsin by 100 men of the Wei-hai-Wei Chinese Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel Bower. The gun was used in the attack on the Peiyang Arsenal on the 27 June 1900. Four of Terrible's 12-pounder quick-firing guns were used in the successful attack on the town on Tientsin which began on July 13 1900.

After refits in 1902–04, she spent most of her time in reserve. She was employed as a troop ship in 1915 and then served as a accomodation ship until 1920 when she became TS Fisguard III. She was broken up in 1932.

Boxes and other souvenirs were frequently made from the wood and metal of famous ships when they were broken up, salvaged or undergoing a major refit. The museum has in its collection a napkin ring with a brass plaque inscribed:

From the teak of HMS Terrible whose guns relieved Ladysmith.