NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2009 27
Sad loss to the Naval family
LETTERS to the editor should Given the volume of letters, we cannot
always be accompanied by the publish all of your correspondence in Navy
correspondent’s name and address, not News.
I HAVE just heard of the death of Colin White, who I 2005, indeed, he did an enormous amount of work
necessarily for publication. We do, however, publish many on
know worked and did a great deal both in Greenwich for that occasion. E-mail correspondents are our website, www.navynews.co.uk,
and Portsmouth as well as many other areas. I am using the library addresses as my source of also requested to provide this accompanied by images.
Colin assisted me as HMS Cavalier Association contact and I would like to pass on my condolences
information. Letters cannot be We look particularly for
Vice Chairman with information for Cavalier’s 60th to all who knew him. A very sad loss to you all as well
submitted over the telephone. correspondence which stimulates
anniversary, and my wife and I had the privilege to as many in the RN family.
meet him and have a long chat, whilst we were in – David Thompson,
If you submit a photograph debate, makes us laugh or raises
Portsmouth for the big Trafalgar 200 celebrations in National Maritime Museum Library
which you did not take important issues.
yourself, please make The editor reserves
sure that you have the the right to edit your
A quest to
Dad finds
permission for us to submissions.
publish it.
the answer
I WRITE on behalf on my father
John Bealing, who as a 17-year-old
honour men
survivor of the sinking of HMS
Fiji on May 22 1941, was rescued
by HMS Kandahar and has often
wondered about her fate.
The answer was revealed after
reading December’s issue, page 12
of Sturdy
Heroes of the Royal Navy no. 56.
My father, who was regular
navy, went on to see action in the
Arctic Convoys after Crete, and
after the war was part of the force
involved with the Haifa Landings
in 1948.
YOU WILL recall that some
After 67 years and with his
time back I wrote to you age at a ‘young 85’ my father is
concerning the wreck of still finding pieces to prompt his
HMS Sturdy, recounting my
memory from books and from
visit to the wreck in October
Navy News.
1940 and my quest to find
So thank you Navy News
any survivors and relatives
for making his own story more
complete.
of the ship’s company.
– Christine Chubb, Oakley,
I am pleased to report that your
Basingstoke
article prompted responses from
as far afield as Australia. I have
even contacted some survivors.
Mess undress
I was able to send off several
photographs of the graves of the
WITH REFERENCE to David
five casualties. I have made sev-
Hiron’s letter (January) asking
eral contacts on Tiree and they
if retired personnel were wear-
have been most helpful in placing
ing uniforms in public, I can as-
wreaths on the graves and taking
sure him that I still wear my mess
undress for the dinner dance at
photos.
Collingwood each year, and it’s
There have been several visits to
nice to be able to get into it, having
Tiree by relatives and I have also
left the RN early in 1995.
been over there on the anniversary
So yes, it is still allowed today,
of the wreck, the 30th of October.
exactly what the Second Sea Lord
Relatives and survivors have all
asked us to do.
expressed a wish to create some
– Mick Puttick, ex CRS
sort of memorial to be placed on in the region of £500 to £1,000
See page 4 for more the latest
Tiree. That, mainly, was the pur- for the project, which I am advised
guidelines on wearing uniform in
pose of my visit, to consult with is an appropriate sum, based on
public – Ed
the local people and determine experience from a similar project.
what and where we should create The aim is to try to get it in
a memorial. place during summer, certainly Who knows
The preference is for a memorial before the next wreck anniversary
plaque which will not be intrusive, in October.
erected on a small stone cairn at My photo shows myself with
about EWOs?
Sandaigh beach which overlooks Sandaigh beach behind me. This
THE ESTABLISHMENT of
the site of the wreck. The wreck is now locally called Sturdy beach.
Executive Warrant Offi cers
has almost totally been salvaged Furthest away is a rocky reef that
(EWOs) was a signifi cant inno-
although there is a fair amount Sturdy was lifted right over in the
vation in the Fleet and merits a
of residual debris which can be storm. She went aground on the
mention in the next edition of The
found by diving on the seabed. next rocky outcrop and ultimately Royal Navy Day by Day.
The time has now come for broke in two with the bows in the Can anyone tell me who were
me to seek funding and I have grass quite near to where I am the first EWOs?
arranged an account with my standing. When exactly were they
Plymouth bank. If you could – Lt Cdr M J Gibson (Retd) appointed and to which ships and
advertise this venture I would be 58, Southway Lane, Plymouth establishments?
grateful. I shall of course be writ- PL6 7DL tel 01752 771996. – Lawrence Phillips, Editor,
ing to all those survivors and rela- Please send any donations to Lt The Royal Navy Day by Day,
tives of the ship’s company that I Cdr Gibson at his home address, Northwood,
know of. with cheques payable to HMS email lawriephillips@homecall.
I am hoping to raise somewhere Sturdy Account – Ed co.uk
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