HMS Torch was an Alert-class sloop of the Royal Navy, built at Sheerness Dockyard and launched in 1894. She served in Australia and New Zealand and was transferred to New Zealand as a training ship in 1917, being renamed HMS Firebrand at the same time. She was sold in 1920 and converted to a refrigerated ship with the new name Rama. She ran aground in the Chatham Islands in 1924 and was abandoned.

 In August 1914 she became part of the New Zealand Division of the Pacific Station.

HMS 'Torch' and armoured cruiser HMS 'Euryalus', Farm Cove, Sydney, 1904-1905,

Glass plate negative of Royal Navy's sloop HMS 'Torch' and armoured cruiser HMS 'Euryalus', Farm Cove, Sydney, 1904-1905,

MadeKerry and CoSydneyNew South Wales Australiac. 1884-1917

This image from a glass plate negative produced between 1904 and 1905 shows the Royal Navy's steel sloop HMS 'Torch' and the armoured cruiser HMS 'Euryalus' at moorings in Farm Cove, Sydney Harbour. HMS 'Torch' (in the foreground) was built in 1894 and served on the Australia Station from 1897 until sold in 1913. Alongside her is the small steam work boat of M S Bird & Co. ship providores. She is delivering stores which can be seen towards the bow of the steamer. 'Torch' was rated at 960 tons and carried six quick-firing 4 inch (100mm) guns at up to 13 knots.

At rear is the large armoured cruiser HMS 'Euryalus'. Built in 1903, 'Euryalus' was on the Australia Station in 1904 and 1905 and was relieved in 1905 by the larger HMS 'Powerful.' 'Euryalus' was disposed of in 1920.