This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
NAVY NEWS, MAY 2009 31
The Terror of
LETTERS to the editor should always be Given the volume of letters, we cannot
accompanied by the correspondent’s publish all of your correspondence in Navy
name and address, not necessarily for News. We do, however, publish many
publication. on our website, www.navynews.co.uk,
E-mail correspondents are accompanied by images.
also requested to provide this We look particularly for
information. Letters cannot be correspondence which stimulates
Tobermory
submitted over the telephone. debate, makes us laugh or raises
If you submit a photograph important issues.
which you did not take The editor reserves
yourself, please make the right to edit your
sure that you have the submissions.
permission for us to
publish it.
kept us afloat
THE ARTICLE on for what seemed a lifetime.
Tobermory (April) revived
He treated captains and officers
many memories. Few who
worse than the rest of us.
were there will forget the
He was only about 5ft 6ins tall
experience, but in spite of
and all my service life I found
Subscribe
the smaller the man the worse
the arduous training, the
he was.
recollections can be pleasing
We were sent to Tobermory to
and amusing. get ready for the D-day landings
for just
I went there for two weeks and when we left we were ready for
in August 1943 as a young anything. They had Spitfires firing
Midshipman RNVR on board a live ammunition at us. We had to £18.00 U.K.
newly-commissioned Algerine- practise loading depth charges on
class Fleet minesweeper, HMS throwers and rails.
A saving of £5.40
Spanker, straight from our Belfast The little admiral would come
on the cover price
builders. on board anytime, day and night,
Our arrival fortuitously and make us do some sort of
coincided with a rare visit by ship’s exercise. The first day at
Commander-in-Chief Western Tobermory we all had to go ashore
Approaches, Admiral Sir Max for a lecture in a church hall.
Horton, and so, when almost our At the end of the lecture that
entire ship’s company assembled in little admiral stood in the middle
12 Issues posted directly to your home every month
the village hall for the introductory of the double door and shouted:
talk, we were addressed by both “Clear the hall!”
YES, I would like to subscribe to Navy News 2. CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
05/09
Commodore Stephenson and Sir I thought we could trample him
(please refer to the table opposite for prices)
Max. to death and get him off our backs Send the completed form and payment to:
Region Years Rate Tick
To my lifelong delight, Horton, but he was still standing when we
who had been one of my boyhood were all in the road.
Subscriptions,
UK One £18.00
heroes because of his Great War Another time he went up the Navy News, HMS Nelson, UK Two £36.00
exploits, shook hands with me, gangway, threw his hat onto the
Queen Street, Portsmouth
amongst several others.
● The Terror of Tobermory – a
quarterdeck and said: “That’s an
UK Three £54.00
One of our exercises was to
portrait of Admiral Sir Gilbert
incendiary bomb.”
Hampshire PO1 3HH, England
shore up a bulkhead after a
Stephenson by Alan Mold,
The bosun’s mate kicked it
Overseas* One £22.00
theoretical collision. In charge was
reproduced by kind permission
Tel: +44 023 9273 4448 (24hr answerphone)
an elderly but very experienced
of the Stephenson family
over the side. Monkey Brand said:
“Well done, my man. Now call the
email: subscriptions@navynews.co.uk
Overseas* Two £44.00
CPO shipwright and he felt he sea boat away and God help you if Overseas* Three £66.00
had done a first-class job, but when the Commodore my hat sinks before they reach it.”
1. COMPLETE YOUR DETAILS
inspected it he pointed out any number of faults. HMS Tyler did not come through with honours
3. COMPLETE YOUR PAYMENT DETAILS
The CPO listened in silence, but was obviously because you knew how you’d done if you got out
shaken to have his efforts criticised. At the end of of that harbour and at sea without Monkey Brand
Name I enclose
Stephenson’s comments he said: “Well sir, everyone’s sending a signal for you to lower your boats and slip
Cheque Postal Order IMO
entitled to his own opinion.” all Carley floats.
We all waited for the explosion – but it never came. Then it would take you half the night getting
in £ Sterling made payable to ‘Navy News’
There was a brief pause and then the Commodore’s them inboard again. I’m sure Capt Rankin was I wish to pay by
face broke into a smile and he gave a chuckle before just as pleased as the rest of us getting away from
Visa Mastercard Delta Switch/Solo
moving on. Tobermory.
It put him in good humour for the rest of his visit. The training stood us well. We were the first batch
Address
When we assembled on deck to see him off he of ships in Normandy and we were still afloat when
Payment Amount £
paused at the top of the gangway, looked round for the war ended.
Card Number
the CPO’s face, spotted him, gave a knowing shake of That little admiral made us into sailors and I
the head, and departed. always said it was because of him that we were still
Memories to be cherished indeed! above the waves when the war was over.
Start Date Expiry Date Issue No. CSC No.
– Mike Alston, Hon Sec HMS Middleton (L74) – Roy Emmington, ex PO TASI Chatham, Kent
Association, Maidenhead
...I WAS on a newly-built River-class frigate in 1944.
Signature Date
...I WAS at Tobermory in a Captain-class frigate, The Commodore was irreverently nicknamed
HMS Tyler, as a young PO in charge of a torpedo
Postcode Country
‘Monkey’ Stephenson because of his amazing agility.
party, looking after depth charges. He would climb all over a ship during an inspection
We had heard of the training programme and and the rest of his entourage could hardly keep up
Phone Number
This is a
of Admiral Stephenson in charge of training (his with the 60-plus year-old.
New subscription Renewed subscription
nickname was Monkey Brand). Nowhere was safe from his prying eyes!
Email
Start my subscription from month
What a place! We didn’t stop running or exercising – N T Brigden, Bath
030-031_NN_May.indd 2 22/4/09 19:16:37
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com