NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2010


37


Reunions


HMS Penelope Association: Open to all who served in the cruiser 1938-44 or frigate 1963-92, or are relatives of those who did so. 25th annual reunion takes place at Blackpool from February 18 to 20. For details of the reunion and AGM or membership contact the secretary, Mike Bee at mike.bee@ ntlworld.com or write to Secretary, HMS Penelope Association, 1 Oddfellows Street, Mirfi eld, WF14 9AB.


FEBRUARY 2011


from March 11 to 13 at the Bay View Court Hotel, Bournemouth. All commissions welcome. For details contact Sharky Ward, 17 Marne Gardens, Lincoln, LN1 3UQ or tel: 01522 872998.


HMS Duchess Association: Reunion MARCH 2011


http://www.hmsprotector.org for booking form downloads.


MAY 2011


Joint Services Hosanna House Group: The next trip takes place from May 20 to 27 and we are now taking enquires for ex- service personnel with disabilities, for a respite break, one-to-one care, to incorporate the International Military Pilgrimage Lourdes France, fl ying from Exeter. For further information please visit our website at http:// www.jshhg507.com or contact Richard Tipping on 01752 787697.


HMS Tiger Communications Reunion: Communicators (T, C and Ws) who served on board HMS Tiger are cordially invited to the Tally Ho sports and social club, Pershore Road, Birmingham, on March 19. £5 a head buffet within the WMP social club. There are additional details for March 18, for an evening at the Nautical Club in Birmingham and accommodation details. For further information contact Phil Tootill (ex RO1(T)) at p.tootill@sky.com or tel: 0121 580 8767. There are currently no limitations on numbers attending. HMS Antrim: Next year (2011) is the 40th year of Antrim’s Commissioning Ceremony. An informal ‘swinging’ of the lamp, supping of bevvies and much singing will take place from March 25 to 27 in Bournemouth. All association members and anyone who served on her are welcome. There is more information on the website at www. hmsantrim.org.uk or ring me, ‘Bungy’ Chris Williams on 01392 213585.


reunion is from April 8 to 11 at Weston-Super- Mare. More details from John Appleby, Little Pitchbury, Brick Kiln Lane, Great Horkesley, Colchester, Essex, CO6 4EU or tel: 01206 271458.


be a reunion of former shipmates from April 15 to 18 in Stafford. Details from Alan Waite on 01162 833266.


HMS Newfoundland Veterans: There will


1988-92: A mini reunion of old mess mates will be held at the Maritime Club, Portsmouth at 1500 on April 30. For further details contact Jonathan Legg at jonathanlegg@ymail.com or tel: 07786 326720. HMS Protector Association: AGM and


HMS Newcastle Stokers Mess (M/L)


The Fourth Destroyer Association: HMS Agincourt, Aisne, Alamein, Barrosa, Corunna, Jutland, Matapan and Dunkirk are holding their annual reunion from April 8 to 11 at the King Charles Hotel, Gillingham. All ships’ companies welcome. Contact Terry Parker at mvdj.corunna@mypostoffi ce.co.uk or tel: 01303 249242. V & W Destroyer Association: The next


APRIL 2011


Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association will be holding a mini reunion from May 6 to 9 at the Bancourt Hotel Torquay. Great programme including a bit of time afl oat. Not in the association? Contact Mike Crowe at mike@rneba.org.uk, visit http://www.rneba.org.uk or RNEBA, 7 Heath Road, Lake, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8PG. (Also see October below for full reunion.) HMS Veryan Bay Association: Reunion at the Maritime Club, Portsmouth May 6 to 8. All ex-Bay-class welcome. Contact John Miller on 01744 602459 for details. HMS Cambrian: Our next reunion for all who served on board the ship at any time will be at the King Charles Hotel, Gillingham, from May 13 to 15. Any old shipmates not yet in touch should contact Don Macdonald on 01344 774386.


Royal Naval Engineroom Association: 19th annual reunion on May 20-21 at the Nautical Club, Birmingham. Details from Bob Styants at bobstyants@btinternet.com or tel: 0121 422 4115.


HMS Cavalier Association: Annual reunion and AGM at the Britannia Hotel, Coventry, from May 27 to 30. For full details contact the Dave Shardlow at davemooseman@ hotmail.co.uk or Isle of Wight Tours Ltd, 3 New Road, Lake, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 9JN.


OCTOBER 2011


Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association. Reunion will be held in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight from October 7 to 10. Get some ‘sea time’ in and join us for another cracking weekend. Put it in your diary now. Which ex shipmate will you meet up with? Two off HMS Hermes from 1970 met up at the last one and ‘the lamp swung’. Further details on http://www.rneba.org.uk or RNEBA, 7 Heath Road, Lake, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8PG or mike@rneba.org. uk. If you had the distinctive lightning fl ashes on your branch badge, this is the place for you. Download a membership form of this rapidly growing association and a reunion booking form and relive the camaraderie of the Electrical Mess.


NOVEMBER 2011


reunion at the Royal Court Hotel, Coventry from April 29 to May 2. We shall be holding a reaffi rmation and Memorial Service at the National Memorial Arboretum on April 30. All former shipmates and guests are welcome. Further details available from Doug Harris at Dougatspindrift@aol.com or tel: 01495 718870 or via the website at


Ask Jack


David Handscombe, Medical branch 1967-2002: I am hoping to arrange a surprise 60th birthday party in August 2012, probably in the Portsmouth area, (too far to travel to Isle of Man where we live) for my husband David Handscombe who left the RN in 2002 after 34 years in the medical branch. He served in Endurance, Illustrious, Invincible, RNH Haslar, Scotia, FOST, attached to RM, Air Sea Rescue, amongst other drafts. If anyone knows Dave and who would like to get in touch please contact me, Collette at chands5856@manx.net or tel: 07624 409820 (mobile), I can then organise venue etc. William Alfred George Breeds: Seeking information about my uncle, born October 19 1917 in Hastings and died March 31 1976. He served in the Royal Navy 1940-42 before being invalided out. My mother didn’t know of her brother until 2009, so didn’t form any kind of relationship with him and any family who knew him have passed on. The only other information I have is that he was brought up by his grandparents and also played football in Hastings. There is also a family story that he was at Dunkirk , where he had the terrible job of helping to dispose of the dead. If anyone can provide information or a photograph could they contact Susan Legg, 4 King Arthur Drive, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 3HZ.


HMS Latona: We are looking for surviving members of HMS Latona, an Abdiel-class fast cruiser minelayer launched in May 1941. Unfortunately, it was sunk outside Tobruk in October 1941 by German Stuka bombers with the loss of 37 lives. We have a Neptune certifi cate that belonged to L L Sims dated May 28 1941 and are keen to trace this person or shipmates/family that knew this person. Please contact Maria De Amorim at info@militaria-rarities.com or write to Militaria Rarities Ltd, 2 Redhouse Square, Duncan Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6WL or tel: 01782 315077. UN Memorial Cemetery, Busan, South


HMS Lowestoft: To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fi rst commissioning a reunion has been arranged to take place at Chatham on October 21-22. All who served in HMS Lowestoft during her 25 years in service (1961-86) are welcome to attend. For further details please contact Ian Mckenzie at ian.mackenzie480@virgin.net or the website http://www.sabie.co.uk/lowestoft/ home.htm or tel: 01935 825672.


Be quick with your festive photos


IT’S time to dig out all your old Navy


IN LATE 1941, aware of the growing threat by Japan in the Far East and in the hope that a show of strength would deter military action, the Royal Navy dispatched the battleship Prince of Wales and the battle-cruiser Repulse to Singapore where they arrived on December 2.


have been accompanied by the aircraft carrier Formidable but she sustained damage on sea trials and was unable to sail.


The two capital ships should


this proved to have been a false alarm; what Phillips may not have known was that he had been seen by a Japanese submarine which had reported his position.


At 1107 on December 10 Japanese aircraft sighted Force Z and attacked; Repulse was hit by a bomb in her hangar but the fire was dealt with quickly.


Under the command of Admiral Sir Tom Phillips and accompanied by the destroyers Electra, Express, Tenedos and HMAS Vampire, the small fleet was codenamed Force Z.


attack on the American fleet at Pearl Harbour and rapid troop landings in north Malaya and south Thailand, Admiral Phillips planned to attack


Malaya’s eastern coast before major enemy ships arrived to support the landings. Accordingly Force Z sailed


their


from Singapore on December 8 – but the RAF was unable to provide any form of air cover. Poor weather concealed the initial movements of Force Z but, as they neared the site of the Japanese landings, it suddenly improved; with all chances of a surprise attack thus lost Phillips decided to return to Singapore.


While on passage he was informed of enemy landings at Kuantan on the east coast of Malaya but on arrival there


HMS Ganges: Kenneth George Newson joined the RN as a Boy Seaman at HMS Ganges, Shotley, Ipswich in 1937. He became a qualifi ed diver and as an Acting PO (Diver2) he was a member of the team on board HMS Reclaim in 1951 that carried out dives to search and locate submarine HMS Affray. For the skill, courage and devotion to duty he received a commendation from the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth. This followed a MiD awarded in 1945 for distinguished service. In the 1950s he served a commission in the Far East/Korea on board HMS Triumph. His cousin is interested to learn more about his life and times in the Royal Navy. If any old shipmates or members of the diving fraternity from that time remember Ken and have stories, memories of runs ashore or in fact any items of interest, please contact David Newson at david.newson4@btinternet.com or tel: 01473 720740.


Benbow 49 1988 or 22 years on: Doug ‘Pincher’ Martin ASA is looking for shipmates from this class to see who made it, where and when and what they are doing now. Would love to track down a class photo and see if all can be found. Instructor was ‘Tug Wilson’ POMEM Wilson, author of Guns & Guts. Sean Kitson, Josh Buckwald, Pete Lansdell are just a few names that come to mind. Please contact Doug Martin at dougmartin4@btinternet.com or tel: 07979 704591.


Sports lottery October 23: £5,000 – Mne J M Williams;


£1,500 – Cpl C P Jones; £500 – WO2 C K Lambert.


October 30: £5,000 – Lt V L Burcham; £1,500


– Lt S A McKeen; £500 – ETWE C W Potter. November 6: £5,000 – ETWE(SM) H J


Ritchie; £1,500 – ETWE P W Ross; £500 – Lt B L Watson.


Korea: The authorities wish to obtain photographs of the servicemen interred there and also those that died with no known grave. The photographs will be attached to their records and displayed in the cemetery hall of remembrance. A few of the young men serving with the RN who gave their lives in Korean waters are: AB M J Comfort, PO B V Coleman, Lt Cdr D A Dick DSC, AB A Greenwood, SBA A Findley, OS R A J Godsall, Surg Lt DA Knock, Lt Cdr T T Williamson-Napier, PO J A Tate, AB J D Mawdsie, NA R F Herbert, A/C 1st Class E R Ripley, S/Lt J M Simmonds, AB C Skelton, Lt R Williams and LSteward J W Addison. Any family who lost a loved one in the Korean War 1950-53 and wish to take part can send the photograph to me, James R Grundy, 102 College Croft, Eccles, Greater Manchester, M30 0AN or tel: 0161 789 7633. HMS Lioness: Raymond Gibson is looking for any of his former shipmates from the Lioness during WW2 from 1942- 45. Raymond is a member of the Algerine Association. Contact Raymond through his wife Frieda at fgibson@cogeco.ca or write to 705-2400 New Street, Burlington, Ontario. L7R 1J8 Canada. AMC Andania: Under the command of


Capt Donald Bain RN, the AM Andania (ex Cunard Line) was sunk by enemy submarine off Iceland on June 16 1940. All the ship’s company survived and were picked up by an Icelandic trawler. Before reaching port, they were transferred to HMS Forester. I would be pleased to get in touch with any relatives of those who were on board. My late father sailed as a Lt RNR and was the mess treasurer. When sorting out my father’s papers after he died, I discovered that he had retrieved the mess funds before getting into the lifeboat and repaid shares to the mess members when he arrived ashore. Amongst the papers I found a list of the mess members and several receipts. I will be happy to share details with anyone interested. I am also keen to receive any information about the sinking and rescue. Contact: R W Warwick at rwwarwick@gmail.com or write to Castle Cottage, Nunney, Somerset, BA11 4NH.


Contact sheet


www.royalnavy.mod.uk Veterans Agency: 0800 169 2277, www. veterans-uk.info


www.royal-naval-association.co.uk Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity: 023 9254 8076, www.rnrmc.org.uk RNBT: 023 9269 0112 (general), 023 9266 0296 (grants), www.rnbt.org.uk British Legion: 08457 725725, www. britishlegion.org.uk Naval Families


4374, www.nff.org.uk Federation: 023 9265


227912, navysearchpgrc@tnt.co.uk Royal Naval Association: 023 9272 3823,


www.mod.uk Royal Navy recruitment: 0845 607 5555,


Ministry of Defence: 0870 607 4455,


seafarers-uk.org SSAFA Forces Help: 0845 1300 975,


RN and RM Service records: 01283


www.royalnavalmuseum.org Fleet Air Arm Museum: 01935 840565,


www.rnsubmus.co.uk National Maritime Museum: 020 8312


www.ssafa.org.uk RN Community: www.rncom.mod.uk Medals enquiries: 0800 085 3600 Royal Naval Museum: 023 9272 7562,


www.fl eetairarm.com Royal Marines Museum: 023 9281 9385,


www.royalmmarinesmuseum.co.uk RN Submarine Museum: 023 9252 9217,


www.iwm.org.uk


6565, www.nmm.ac.uk Imperial War Museum: 020 7416 5320,


Seafarers UK: 020 7932 0000, www. Following the


turned their attention to Prince of Wales; she quickly sustained two hits which disabled her steering gear and reduced her manoeuvrability. Repulse was then similarly attacked


avoid all 19 torpedoes aimed at her.


Japanese


A second wave of aircraft then arrived and achieved nine torpedo strikes, four on Prince of Wales and five on Repulse.


troopships on


from Prince of Wales and 513 from Repulse. Trophy 21901 is an oil painting showing Repulse under air attack and with Prince of Wales listing to port in the left background. This work was painted by


F W Green, who was an Able Seaman in Repulse at the time of her loss.


and beyond salvation, Captain Tennant gave the order to abandon ship and Repulse sank at 1233. Prince of Wales finally sank at 1320, some of her crew were rescued by Express but both Captain Leach and Admiral Phillips lost their lives. In all, 327 men were lost


With his ship clearly crippled Enemy torpedo bombers


Rum wants to track down all those rarely-seen photos of life on-board over the Christmas period and it has launched a nationwide search, offering entrants the chance to win £500 worth of gardening and power tools from Bosch’s complete range. But time is tight as the competition entries must be received by Sunday December 5. Sarah Pace, Assistant Brand Manager at Wood’s 100 Rum, said: “We at Wood’s know how hard it can be spending time away from loved ones for weeks, if not months on end,


but managed to


photos. Wood’s 100 Old Navy


Christmas and it is because of this that we want to see in picture form exactly what it is like for those miles away from land over the Christmas period.” “We want to see all those pictures of Christmas on-board, be they happy, lonely, quirky or amusing.”


But they must be your own pictures, or that of a relative, and should be accompanied by a sentence explaining what they mean to you.


the first three runners-up will win a bottle of Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum, the real original. ■ Entries can be made via; ● Facebook – If you “like” the


especially around Enjoy Wood’s 100 responsibly.


7. The promoter’s decision is fi nal and binding. No correspondence will be entered into.


of the promoter and will not be returned. 9. By entering the competition, entrants


8. Entries become the absolute property


agree to be bound by these rules and by any other requirements set out in the promotional material.


In addition to the winning prize,


agree that their entries can be posted on the Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum website and on other related online and print platforms. 11. Winner’s names and counties are available 28 days after the closing date. Send a SAE to Wood’s Rum, Steel House, Alexander Place, 13-17 Princess Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6DQ. 12. Prize winners may be required to participate in publicity involving print and broadcast media. 13. Reproduction of entries


Navy News Facebook page then upload your entries here. Pictures should be labelled ‘Wood’s 100 Christmas at Sea Competition’. ● Email – woods@lucre.


co.uk. Subject headings should be ‘Wood’s 100 Christmas at Sea Competition’. ● Post – Wood’s Rum, Steel


House, Alexander Place, 13-17 Princess Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6DQ. ■ Entries are strictly limited to one per person and must be received by Sunday December 5 2010. ■ Please include your name, address and telephone number. ■ The Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum judging panel will review all the entries and winners will be informed by Monday December 13 2010.


residents, (including Northern Ireland, Eire, and the Channel Islands) except for employees of the promoter, their immediate family and anyone


the creation or administration of the promotion.


tools from Bosch’s Lawn & Garden and Power Tools range. For further information on Bosch’s range, entrants should log


NOTICEBOARD ENTRIES


■ Notices for this page should be brief, clearly written or typed and addressed to – The Editor, Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth. PO1 3HH or email: edit@navynews.co.uk. If you are sending your notice in via email, please include your full address and telephone number.


■ Reunions appear in date order, and requests to place an entry in a particular edition cannot be guaranteed.


■ Please send in Reunions at least three months (preferably four) before the month of the event.


■ There may be a delay before items appear, due to the volume of requests.


■ Entries are free to non-commercial organisations. Items pertaining to commercial work, books and publications for profit can only appear as paid-for advertising.


■ The Editor reserves the right to edit or refuse publication of submitted notices.


■ Space does not allow us to accept more than one free insert. Any subsequent notice will have to be paid for at advertising rates.


Entries for the Deaths’ column and Swap Drafts in January’s Noticeboard must be received by December 2


Please call 023 9272 6284 for details or email:


subscriptions@navynews.co.uk


gardentools/ and http://www.bosch-pt. co.uk/powertools/ for more information. Prize is subject to availability and is non- transferable. 4. Entries are limited to one per person. 5. There is no cash alternative available. 6. In the event of unforeseen


circumstances, the promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value.


on to http://www.bosch-pt.co.uk/ Speak to John Lister


01395 568028 www.burialatsea.co.uk email@burialatsea.co.uk


else connected to


2. Entries must be received by Sunday December 5 2010 and the winners will be notifi ed by Monday December 13 2010. 3. The winner’s prize is £500 worth of


1. This competition is open to all UK TERMS AND CONDITIONS


By entering your images into the competition, you grant to Wood’s 100 and any of the offi cial partners, sponsors or associates of Wood’s 100 relating to the competition a worldwide, perpetual, non- exclusive, irrevocable licence to reproduce any of the images for any purposes in connection with promoting the competition including, but not limited to, the following purposes:


a) judging the competition b) voting


website, Navy News website, or similar print or digital media published by Wood’s 100 displaying the winning and runners-up entries at public exhibitions promoting the competition


c) inclusion within the competition


promotional materials (including emails, websites and press packs) for the competition and / or any exhibition f) sub-licensing the entries to the press


for reproduction in connection with the competition and any exhibition


10. By entering the competition, entrants


e) inclusion within marketing and


g) allowing viewers of the website to view images on a computer screen, PDA or mobile telephone and store such pages in electronic form for their personal, non- commercial use We do not claim unlimited licence for


Wood’s 100 or any of the offi cial partners, sponsors or associates of Wood’s 100 relating to the competition to reproduce your images outside of the terms set out above.


to the promotion of the competition then permission and royalties will be discussed and negotiated with the photographer concerned.


Where image reproduction is unrelated


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