30 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2009
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THE grey matter of shipmates
Last survivor pays
from Littlehampton branch was
put to the test when they and their
guests took part in a quiz night.
Questions covered a range
of topics, including mottos,
geography and sport.
S/Ms Anne and Peter Palmer
set the questions and acted as
quizmasters.
tribute to shipmates
Contestants enjoyed a fish and
chip supper during the interval,
A MEMORIAL service for
and be silent, it will seem only
and a raffle was also held; everyone
a wartime ship spanned
yesterday since it happened.
left a little older and a little wiser
the decades and confirmed
“Secondly, the bond between
having had a good evening.
the strong bonds that exist
sailors is just as strong as it ever
was.
between mariners.
CHESHUNT branch managed
“It was from just such a bond
The last survivor of the sinking of
● Peter and Pearl Roalf
to muster 50 members for a visit
that Fred Jenkins felt motivated
the armed trawler HMS Hayburn
Picture: Cambridge Newspapers Ltd
to the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
to initiate this memorial, and
Wyke five miles off Ostend, in
Several of them walked
the bond for this memorial for
Belgium, was instrumental in
round the well-kept grounds,
Hayburn Wyke was made even
organising the event.
Diamond
and there was a chili con carne
greater because of the Second
S/M Fred Jenkins, of Cardiff
served in the mess.
World War.
branch, is now nearly 90, and two
Next on the branch agenda
“ We must never forget that for
and Pearl
years ago, with the help of the
was a visit to Welwyn Garden
those caught up in conflict, when
Belgium branch, he returned to
City for a chance to experience
the reckoning is done, war can
HARLOW branch chairman S/M
the spot where his ship was sunk
the big brass band sound.
never be a matter of statistics.
Peter Roalf and his wife Pearl
by a German midget submarine in
“Though conflict is between
have celebrated their Diamond
the early hours of 1945.
nations, groups, ideologies,
Wedding – and raised £150 for the
MORE than 250 family, shipmates In 2007 he laid a wreath on the
empires even, yet at the point
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance in
and friends – along with 21 sea, but he always hoped to create
where the shots are fired, it is
the process.
standards from the RNA and RBL a more permanent memorial to
local.
Peter, who is also secretary of
– attended the funeral of S/M Ron the 22 shipmates who died – Fred
“That is why it is so important
the Essex branch of the Fleet
Wheeler, a stalwart of Hanworth
was one of just four survivors.
● The medals proudly worn by S/M Fred Jenkins, survivor of the
Air Arm Association, and Pearl,
branch.
This summer his wish was
sinking of HMS Hayburn Wyke
that names are read.
“In the battle, they were
an associate member of the RNA,
S/M Ron, who was married
fulfilled when he attended the
Owen, spoke of how moved he had powerfully from that service. First chums, they exchanged jokes,
were joined by their daughter,
for 53 years to Joan, was
unveiling of a memorial plaque in
been at a service in Portsmouth there was clearly a bond between and cigarettes; they gave each
who had travelled from Australia.
standard bearer for many years at
the English Church at Ostend. Cathedral 25 years ago when the seamen the world over. other courage and hope. They
The donation was as a result
Hanworth, whose chairman S/M
The tribute was read by Cdr remains of sailors from the Mary “Men whose lives are spent left behind families.”
of a ‘no presents’ decision by the
Terry Lowden said the branch had
Gavin Short, chairman of the Rose were interred. on the seas have an affinity and He continued: “The irony and
couple.
“lost one of its best and most loyal
Belgium branch, and standard He said that the service respect for each other which more the tragedy in the sinking of
shipmates.”
bearers from the Belgian Navy chosen was one the sailors of than rivals other professions. HMS Hayburn Wyke was that it Earl’s family
attended. 1545 would have recognised – a “Secondly, in that service time took place on New Year’s Day –
THE Dauntless Association,
Fred, accompanied by the pre-Reformation communion in collapsed. It was as though the that day when we usually stand
an informal group which
given print
secretary of Cardiff branch S/M Latin – but after the eucharist, six Mary Rose disaster had happened in new chronological territory,
holds reunions of serving and
Brinly Chard, told his story during modern RN ratings acted as coffin only a few days before, not four- thinking high thoughts of the
WHILE visiting the West Country
ex-WRNS, stages its next
the service, and thanked colleagues bearers to carry the bones of their and-a-half centuries. future.
S/M Tom Naish, of Bridgend
gathering from October 30 to
and the people of Ostend. forebears down the aisle. “Today, on this special occasion, “I wonder how many on
branch, presented a print of his
November 2 at Mill Rythe on
S/Ms Michael Rose and The interment prayers were I would suggest that both of these Hayburn Wyke on that New
old ship, HMS Whitesand Bay, to
Hayling Island, at a cost of £110
John Mummery, chairman and from the contemporary 1980s elements are present also. Year’s morning in 1945, as they
Plymouth branch.
per person.
secretary of Belgium branch, were liturgy of burial. “It is 64 years since HMS shared their New Year’s tot of
S/M Tom also hoped to present
See www.dauntlesswrens.
also in the congregation. “It was most moving,” said Hayburn Wyke was sunk off rum together, talked about
a print to a member of the
co.uk for more details.
The priest-in-charge of the Revd Owen. Ostend, but as we pause in a few
whether the war would really
Edgecombe family, owners of land
church, the Revd Dr Clifford “Two things came across most minutes’ time to read the names
end that year?”
at Whitesand Bay in Cornwall.
GRANTHAM branch celebrated
Hearing check available to expats
Having established that a brother
its 20th anniversary at a social
of the Earl still lived in the area,
evening to which members of
S/M Tom headed along a track and
Bingham, Newark and Sleaford
EXPATS around the world can now benefit from a simple online hearing found a man planting flowers.
branches were invited.
check thanks to RNID, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. On asking the ‘gardener’ where he
During the evening Life
The check, which can help people identify whether they may have a might find one of the Edgecombes,
Membership certificates were
hearing loss, is available at www.rnid.org.uk/hearingmatters, and uses Tom was told he was speaking
presented to Grantham branch
background noise levels to simulate various social environments. to one – the earl’s brother Julian,
president S/M Phillip Green and
Although not a medical diagnosis, it allows English-speaking people upon which the print was handed
treasurer S/M David Watson.
abroad to test themselves without having to contend with language over in an impromptu ceremony.
issues.
Laundry mogul
MEXBOROUGH branch
member S/M Garfield Ardron,
Mr Shao dies
a Normandy veteran, has been
presented with the badge 1944-
ANOTHER iconic figure from the
2009 by S/M James Batty, who
heyday of the Royal Navy in Hong
put a good deal of effort into
Kong has gone with the death of
getting it through “difficult
laundry mogul Mr Shao.
channels.”
Mr Shao went to sea as an
The secretary agreed to the
‘Unofficial Laundryman’ with the
presentation as James is an
Carrier shapes up Navy in 1952, serving on a number
associate member who is also
of ships including Devonshire,
a member of the Royal British
THE keel of the new carrier was laid down last October and she should
Diamond, Cardiff, Bulwark, Ark
Legion.
be finished within months.
Royal and Illustrious.
No, not one of the new state-of-the-art Queen Elizabeth-class leviathans,
He was known for his
but a scale model of the old Ark Royal of nearly 50 years ago.
cheerfulness, and like his compatriot
CRAWLEY branch was at the
Using Admiralty plans and original photos, the model (pictured above
Jenny Side Party, Mr Shao was a
forefront of Armed Forces Day,
and below) will end up 6ft 6in long, and is under construction just three
proud ambassador for the Navy.
having been given two days’ notice ● S/Ms Gary Cardwell (left) and Pete Childe, of Stocksbridge and
miles from the namesake’s birthplace at Cammel Laird on the Mersey.
With the handing back of Hong
by the local council. Deepcar branch, after the Billy the Kid Dash
The model is being built by Stephen Heptonstall at the behest of
Kong to China in 1997 looming,
The day started with prayers in
his cousin John Williams,
the Memorial Gardens, followed
by a march to the town hall.
Branch chairman S/M Jack
Dash raises cash
Mr Shao and Shao Brothers Ltd,
who served in the carrier
of which he was chairman, linked
from 1961-63 – the
with Serco Ltd to win the initial
configuration which has
RN Laundry Services contract.
Woodhouse raised the special flag.
TWO members of Stocksbridge follows the same route that David been followed for the
and Deepcar branch have ran each morning when he was model.
Hazel rewarded
PLYMOUTH branch veterans,
taken part in a race which home in Sheffield on leave. “It took a great deal
partners and friends gathered
commemorates a Royal Marine Some 1,500 runners took part, of persuading my cousin S/M HAZEL Poynder was
at the WOs and SRs mess to
killed in Afghanistan. and all proceeds will go to the Stephen to build her – the rewarded for 23 years loyal service
commemorate Black Tot Day,
S/Ms Gary Cardwell and Pete Royal Marines Benevolent Fund. deal was that I do all the as treasurer of the Guernsey
the withdrawal of the daily rum
Childe ran in the Billy the Kid S/M Pete ran in an HMS Albion research and he would do Association of Royal Navy and
issue from sailors in July 1970.
Dash, organised by the family of T-shirt, given to him by the CO of the building,” said John. Royal Marines.
Branch rum bosun S/M Bob
Royal David Marsh, who died HMS Albion, Capt John Kingwell “Steve is a perfectionist Hazel, an ex-Wren, was presented
Shaw ensured a fair distribution
last year. – Pete served in the old Albion when building models, so with an engraved vase by branch
to all, and a raffle raised £101.
The 3.5-mile charity Dash from 1959-64. everything had to be right.” president Capt Peter Voute.
90 up for association
A LANDLOCKED naval board for 40 years or more, and
association recently celebrated its among the group’s past presidents
90th anniversary – and members was a former Lord Mayor of
wonder if they have the oldest Birmingham, Alderman Simpson,
organisation of its type in the who joined the Royal Marines
country. at the age of 14 in World War
The Birmingham and District 1 (having convinced recruiters
Royal Naval Association (Admiralty he was 17), and he served as a
Approved) – not, despite what its lieutenant in the RN in World
name may suggest, a branch of War 2.
the RNA – held a dinner for Just about every theatre is
40 members, wives, widows and represented, from the Pacific
friends. (including a survivor from the
Principal guest was the Prince of Wales) through the
chairman of the Birmingham Mediterranean to the Arctic.
Nautical Club. The Association meets regularly
Many members have been on at the Birmingham Nautical Club.
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