NAVY NEWS, MAY 2009 33
Full diary Penelope
for Area 2
Veterans invited to
survivors
members
are guests
AREA 2 members have a busy
schedule over the next few months,
with some major events happening
on their ‘patch’.
On Friday May 1 there will be Little Ships cruise
at dinner
THE President of the HMS
Penelope Association, Cdre
a flypast at Eastchurch, on the Isle
Paul Sutermeister, hosted a gala
of Sheppey, which stakes its claim
dinner at the association’s reunion
as the birthplace of the RN Air VETERANS who played a hand by helping with berthing
weekend in Blackpool.
Service a century ago.
a part at Dunkirk and the
of the ships in the locks and Guests of honour were the
Saturday May 9 sees the Area
Normandy landings are
providing an escort vessel for the Deputy Mayor Cllr Val Haynes
standard bearers’ competition at initial leg of the journey.
and her consort.
the Brompton Gym.
invited to join a river cruise
Event co-ordinator Ian Gilbert More than 72 members and
Armed Forces Day is on
this autumn.
said: “There is no doubt that guests attended, including two
Saturday June 27, and the focus
Not just any old cruise, of
the annual Veterans Cruise is a of the 200 or so survivors from
will be on Chatham Historic
course – this is the annual Veterans
unique event. February 18 1944, when the
Dockyard, which was chosen to
Cruise on the River Thames,
“The combination of the light cruiser was torpedoed in the
host the national event for the
organised by the Association of
veterans, the Little Ships, civic Mediterranean by U-410, killing
inaugural year (see also page 15).
Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS),
leaders, serving RN personnel, more than 400 men (including her
Over the weekend of July 25-26
which this year takes place on
Cadets, re-enactors, classic CO, Capt George Belben).
the spotlight returns to the Isle of
Sunday September 13.
military vehicles and an The attack caused the cruiser to
Sheppey for Fly Navy 100 events.
The ADLS is formed from
enthusiastic public response sink rapidly, and was remarkable
Sunday July 12 marks the 90th
current owners of Little Ships that
makes for a unique and emotive in that the ship was steaming at
anniversary of the Dover Patrol,
were involved in the evacuation
spectacle.” more than 25 knots when hit –
with a ceremony at the memorial
of troops from Dunkirk in May
Applications for attendance at believed to be the only time a
overlooking St Margaret’s Bay,
1940, their objective being to the 2009 cruise are welcomed ship running at such speed was
while on Saturday August 8 a
keep afloat for as long as possible from all World War 2 veterans and sunk.
memorial service will be held at as many as possible of the original should be made to Ian, who can The weekend’s activities
St George’s Chatham Maritime Little Ships in order to preserve be reached on 07515 026970, or included a visit to the local Sea
for HMS Picotee. ‘the Spirit of Dunkirk’. via e-mail papillon1930@yahoo. Cadet unit TS Penelope, where
On Saturday August 29 a Starting at around 1000 from
● Molesey Lock on the River Thames during the Veterans Cruise
com the Harry Pugh Trophy and a
new memorial to the victims of Horse Fair Quay, Kingston
last September
Dress for the day for attending cheque for £225 was presented to
the Channel Dash – a full-scale Bridge in Kingston-on-Thames, veterans is blazer and medals. the unit’s Cadet of the Year, POC
replica of a Fairey Swordfish – will the flotilla will navigate Molesey
hosted for lunch before being supported by Royal Navy officers
Further information can be Fiona Young, which will cover the
be unveiled at the RAF Manston and Sunbury locks before arriving
returned to Kingston in authentic and ratings to help with manning
obtained from Ian as above in the price of a week’s sea training in
Museum in Kent. at Weybridge Mariners Club at
World War 2 vehicles. – RN crews helped man the Little
first instance, or from WO1 Mick TS Royalist.
And on Sunday October 18 around 1300. The route is lined with well- Ships at Dunkirk. Gentry on 07977 982110, e-mail At the Annual General Meeting
the Margate annual Trafalgar At that point veterans will be wishers, and the Little Ships are Local Sea Cadet units also lend nr-ee-arm2@rncareers.mod.uk on the Saturday morning a further
Day parade will start at St Paul’s £550 was donated to other local
Cliftonville at 1015. charities, including Highfurlong
Standards are invited to attend
Memories of Diana
School, Blackpool’s RNLI and St
all of the above.
Tribute to landing vessels
John’s Parish Church.
MEMBERS of the HMS Diana ex-matelots and their wives and
Model guest
A SERVICE of Remembrance Jamie Miller, Naval Regional
The church was also the venue
will be held on Saturday June 6 Officer for Wales and Western
Association cast their minds partners made the trip – including
for the annual memorial service
in Ouistreham, the Normandy England, a man with a wealth
back more than half a century one man who had travelled from
in honour of the sailors who died
MEMBERS of Littlehampton end of the Brittany Ferries of experience in amphibious
when they gathered on the island Australia.
in the sinking of HMS Pepperpot,
branch enjoyed an illustrated talk route from Portsmouth. operations.
of Malta. The ship took part in the so-called because of the number
on Portsmouth Dockyard by fellow The service will focus on It is hoped that minehunter
The reunion included members British nuclear weapon tests in of holes she acquired from bomb
shipmate Mike Ross, a member of the memorial to the crews HMS Cattistock will put in an
of the destroyer’s 1954-55 and the South Pacific, and was sold to shrapnel while operating as part of
the dockyard’s Historical Society. of the landing vessels at the appearance.
1957-58 commissions, and 21 the Peruvian navy in 1969. Force K in the Mediterranean.
The talk was based on a scale D-Day landings, which lies The driving force behind
model of the base as it was in outside the ferry terminal. the monument will be sadly
August 1939. Guest of honour for the missed – Maurice Hillebrandt
The successful evening also 65th anniversary will be Cdre died in March this year.
included a fish and ship supper.
£50 PRIZE PUZZLE
Old boys
joined by
instructor
THE ‘old boys’ of Exmouth 46
Mess who joined HMS Ganges
in March 1959 are no spring
chickens.
But the most senior party-goer at
the 50th anniversary reunion was
ex-class instructor ‘Jack’ Cornwall.
Jack joined the RN in 1937 and
served for more than 30 years,
mainly in destroyers.
He was involved in Force H and
the Pedestal convoy to Malta, and
survived the 1943 sinking of fast
minelayer HMS Welshman.
THE mystery ship in our
Class members came from as
March edition (right) was HMS
far away as Australia and France
Thunderer, correctly identified
to attend the weekend in Ipswich.
by Mr R Strickland, of Plymouth
Dinner on the Friday night was
– congratulations for the second
followed by an excursion.
month in a row, Mr Strickland –
“On the Saturday morning we
who wins our £50 prize.
pictured? We have removed her
set off for Shotley to look through
This month’s vessel (above) is
pennant number from the picture.
the main gate at what remains of
pictured in the early 1970s in the
Complete the coupon and send
our famous establishment,” said
outlying waters of her home port
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News,
Chris Bell.
“We were extremely lucky in
at the time.
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH.
Coupons giving the correct answer that the caretaker of the Ganges
Affiliated to the Edinburgh
will go into a prize draw to establish
site unlocked the gates and we were
hotel of an international chain, a winner.
allowed to spend a considerable
this ship also played a role in the
Closing date for entries is June
time wandering about.
Suez Canal clearance of 1975,
12. More than one entry can be
“I personally found the
and was broken up in Portsmouth
submitted, but photocopies cannot
experience quite emotional.
in the late 1990s.
be accepted. Do not include
anything else in your envelope: no
“Nelson Hall, the Chiefs and
Can you name her and the
correspondence can be entered into POs’ Mess and the swimming
overseas station in which she is and no entry returned. baths are still standing, as is
the old NAAFI and bits of the
Wardroom.
MYSTERY PICTURE 171 “The parade ground is breaking
up and covered in weeds and
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . brambles. The mast looks very
distressed with the main yard
hanging Judas.
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Never mind; we consider
ourselves very lucky to have had
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the opportunity to get inside the
gates.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . There was also a visit to the
Ganges Museum (“a credit to all
My answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . who have been involved” and “well
worth a visit” according to Chris),
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and the day ended with a “superb”
dinner in Shotley Marina.
032-033_NN_may.indd 2 20/4/09 10:49:33
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