NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2011
35
Reunions
Takes place on March 5 at the Weston Mill Oakville Sports and Social Club, Ferndale Road, Plymouth, Devon commencing at 1200. £2 on the door. Further details can be found on the website at http://www.
sm2sunshinesquadron.co.uk/ or by calling Billy Dobson on 01752 347009.
SM2 Sunshine Squadron Reunion:
from April 8 to 11 at the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea. You can get some information from the website at http://www.
hmscossack.org or contact the Secretary Peter Harrison at
cossack.assn@tiscali.
co.uk or tel: 01252 613052. Those who wish to attend the service at St Ann’s Church in the Naval Base should contact Chairman, Ken Satterthwaite at
ken.satterthwaite@
talktalk.net or tel: 01923 269714 for security pass into the base.
HMS Cossack Association: Reunion APRIL 2011
26th reunion will be on April 15-16 at the RNA Club, Leamington Spa. All supporters welcome. Details from Mike Alston, 6 Belmont Park Road, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 6HT or tel: 01628 629655.
HMS Middleton (L74) Association:
Omani Reunion: The 22nd reunion of military and civilian personnel who served in or with the Sultanate of Oman, is taking place in Hull, East Yorkshire in May. For more details contact Jim Dyson at
jimandjan@jimandjan.karoo.co.uk or tel: 01482 846599.
MAY 2011
reunion and AGM will be held at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool from April 15 to 18. All interested latecomers should contact F390 Sec, Frenchy at
frenchy.delahaye@
ntlworld.com or tel: 01252 310767 or write to 91 Ayling Lane, Aldershot, Hampshire. GU11 3ND.
68: The last reunion was a great success and we are repeating it this year, this time in Southsea from May 6 to 8. All ranks, rates and partners welcome. For full details contact David ‘Del’ Shannon at dshannon1@
live.co.uk or tel: 01243 822225. HMS Loch Fada Reunion: The 13th
HMS Aisne, last commission 1965- MARCH 2011
David Gibbon at
gibbon35@gmail.com or write to 52 Beaufort Road, Wroughton, Wilts SN4 9HE or tel: 01793 813484. HMS Wildfi re: The Royal Naval Reserve unit based at Brackenhill House adjacent to Northwood Headquarters is on the move after almost 23 years in residence. Based inside the wire until 1988, and known as HMS Northwood until renamed in May 2000, HMS Wildfi re will return to a new purpose- built within the Northwood Headquarters complex in June this year, emphasising further the integration of Regular and Reserve naval personnel. Former reservists and permanent staff, both service and civilian, who served at HMS Wildfi re and HMS Northwood are invited to attend and can register their interest by calling 01923 957770 or by email to wildfi
re-ao@mod.uk.
Reunion: Did you serve in Cambodia 1991- 92 as part of NP 1042/OP Lecturer? Any serving or former RM/RN or attached civilian personnel who served in Cambodia 1991- 92 as part of the UNAMIC/UNTAC Mission interested in meeting up for beer and dits? This will take place at Commando Forces Sergeants Mess, RM Barracks, Stone House, Plymouth on July 22 at 1900. Cost is estimated to be no more than £10. All those interested please email Tony Jacka at
Anthony.jacka219@mod.uk or tel: 07919 292819 for an application form.
NP 1042/OP Lecturer-Cambodia JULY 2011
HMS Ganges Exmouth 42 & 45 Mess – April 1966: Is there anyone who was in Class 238, 239 (Comms) or 332 (Elecs) who may wish to go to a reunion or at the very least, get in touch with old shipmates. I hope to organise for late summer/early autumn, but I need to know numbers prior to picking a location. Please get in touch with Keith Morison at
keithmorison@msn.com or tel: 07941 555951.
North Russia Club: Reunion will take place at the Westhill Hotel, St Helier, Jersey. JE2 3HB from 7 to 14 May. Book direct or contact Harry Allen on 01843 832943 or Austin Byrne at
austinbyrne@talktalk.net or tel: 01274 881821. HMS Impregnable/Drake Association: Reunion will be held in Plymouth from May 13 to 15. New members are always welcome from both ships, any year. Further information can be obtained from the secretary at
hawkins75@blueyonder.co.uk or tel: 0121 532 6141.
Rosyth & West Fife Branch, RNA: The branch celebrates its Diamond Jubilee over the weekend of May 6 to 8. For more details contact the Hon Secretary, D Scarlett at
deraek@aol.com or tel: 01259 730487. Email preferred.
reunion at Mill Rythe Holiday Village, Hayling Island from September 12 to 16. DB&B £130 per person. All welcome. Contact Mike Cresswell, Park View Farm, Broad Lane, Cawood, Selby, YO8 3UE or tel: 07717 038300.
LST & Landing Craft Association: Annual SEPTEMBER 2011
RN Boom Defence Ratings: Reunion at Scarborough from September 23 to 25. For more details contact Alf Mumberson at
barcarole1958@blueyonder.co.uk or tel: 01302 811898 or Lance at
lthpsh@aol.com tel: 01723 369798.
HMS Antelope: The 2011 reunion will be held at Eton College on May 21. For further details please contact Bob Hutton at
bobahutton@hotmail.com or tel: JC Frankland on 029 2089 4818. HMS Hood Association: AGM at 1600, and 36th Anniversary Reunion Dinner at 1900 on May 23 at the Royal Maritime Club, Queen Street, Portsmouth. This being the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Denmark Strait in which HMS Hood was sunk, there will be an assembly and Memorial Service at the Royal Naval Memorial on Southsea Common, conducted by the Venerable John Green CB starting at 1100. Following the service there will be a reception and buffet lunch at the Queens Hotel. Service of Commemoration at St John Baptist Church, Boldre, near Lymington at 1100 on May 15. Further details from Vice-Chairman, Keith Evans on 01428 642122.
HMS Opportune Association: Reunion to be held at the Elgin Hotel, Blackpool from June 6 to 10. All former shipmates and friends are welcome. For further details contact Anthony Joyner at anthonyjoyner@
talktalk.net or tel: 01442 245281. OCAAA Sultan Fair Dinner Dance: The OCAAA are holding a Dinner Dance at The Hilton Hotel, Portsmouth on June 18 to coincide with the HMS Sultan Summer Fair. The format will be a hot fork buffet, dessert, and coffee followed by a disco playing an appropriate range of music. Please arrive at 7pm for 7-30pm start. We will have access to our own bar at 25 per cent discounted prices. For those wishing an overnight stay the cost is £94 per double B&B. A two night stay is £120 B&B. The cost for the Dinner Dance is £25 per person. Please forward cheques made payable to OCAAA to: Don Smith at
donald.smith60@
ntlworld.com or tel/fax: 01329 318440 or write to 24 Wakefi eld Avenue, Fareham, Hants PO16 7RP.
HMS Belfast: 1961-62 Commission 50th Anniversary Reunion. June 18-19 centered on board HMS Belfast and in the Union Jack Club (Waterloo). Please register interest with
Ask Jack
HMS Glowworm: I am looking for members of the ship’s company of HMS Glowworm, a destroyer, sunk after the ramming of the German vessel Admiral Hipper (1940 Narvik campaign). The sole survivor Bert Lowman lives in Havant. One other possibility is named Blair, last seen by myself at HMS Condor, Arbroath in 1960. Thought to have gone to Australia. The only other chap was Bert Harris, late of Portland, though his widow is still at same address. Recently made contact with a relative of another chap, lost, by name of Curry. My purpose is to arrange a memorial plaque to the skipper and crew where the Victoria Cross was awarded, but seemingly forgotten in Cdr Roope’s hometown. Another sticking point has been the fi nance for the project,
but this cannot be a problem if a senior RN offi cer were to put his weight behind the scheme. I welcome any communication. Contact Bert Fryer at bertfryer@btinternet. com or tel: 01363 772822. HMS Collingwood: I am desperately trying to contact classmates with whom I served in HMS Collingwood on the WEMN(O) course which completed in 1974. The names I remember are: Brum/Pincher Martin, Jack Hawkins, George Dudley, Chris Gooding, Pommy Pomfret and Micky Russell. They all attended my wedding in Bradford, April 1973 and I am trying to organise a big party for my Ruby Wedding in two years time. Contact Andy Shutt, 51 Station Road, Snainton, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO13 9AP.
reunion dinner on June 4 at the Rutland Square Hotel, Nottingham. Tel: 0115 941 1114 and quote: 64968 or ring Barbara Cotton on 01380 483434
HMS Euryalus Association: AGM and JUNE 2011
TS Bulldog/Fervent Association (Ramsgate Sea Cadets old boys and girls): Will be having a reunion at the unit on May 14 during the day, followed by a social evening at the Ramsgate RNA Club. All ex cadets, instructors, civil committee welcome. For more information contact Mick Todd at m.s_
todd@yahoo.co.uk or tel 07826 339151 or write to 18 Boundary Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 7NG.
HMS Exmouth 1968-71: The next reunion will be held at the Comfort Hotel, Great Yarmouth from September 30 to October 1. Anyone wishing to attend or requiring further information should contact Mickey Dunne at
michael.dunne7@ntlworld.com or tel: 01325 258193. HMS Victorious Association: A reunion is planned for September 30 to October 3 at the Britannia Hotel, Coventry. A warm welcome is extended to all ex shipmates. For details contact Jim Collinson at
jim.col@
talktalk.net or tel: 01302 770821. We would also like to extend a welcome to all who would like to join our association no matter what commission or rank.
HMS Arethusa Association: 23rd Reunion October 7 to 10 in Bournemouth. All former serving members, wives/partners and guests welcome. Contact Tom Sawyer at
rolandsawyer@sky.com or write to 6 Sycamore Close, Slingsby, York, YO62 4BG.
OCTOBER 2011
from October 14 to 16. All Bay-class frigate men are welcome. Contact Doug Turk at
doug.turk@ntlworld.com or tel: 01252 378629.
Sports lottery January 22: £5,000 – Lt S J Holbrook;
£1,500 – Lt Cdr N R Holland; £500 – AB1 R I Hamilton. January 29: £5,000 – AB1 D B Reid;
£1,500 – AB1 C W Morgan; £500 – Lt F T Suter.
February 5: £5,000 – PO A J Williams;
£1,500 – WO1 B Long; £500 – Maj J A Dennis.
February 12: £5,000 – PO J M Benn;
£1,500 – AB1 K S Lovell; £500 – AB1 W R Davies.
Castle-Class Corvette /Frigate Association: Annual Reunion October 7 to 10 at the Red Lea Hotel, Scarborough. Did you or a relative serve on one of these 39 WW2 escort ships? All ex shipmates and friends are welcome aboard this event. To join the association and/or obtain further details please contact the Secretary Mike Biffen at
wrekin160830@blueyonder.co.uk or tel: 0121 429 3895. Bay-Class Reunion: Reunion at Torquay
IN March 1942, Convoy MW 10 sailed from Alexandria to Malta carrying much-needed supplies of ammunition and fuel for the island; it was escorted by Rear Admiral Vian in HMS Cleopatra, with four other light cruisers and 17 destroyers. Knowing the convoy to be at sea, an Italian force of the battleship Littorio, three cruisers, eight destroyers and a submarine under the command of Admiral Angelo Iachino sailed from Taranto and Messina; the merchant ships were also subjected to air attack while on passage. On the afternoon of March 22, to the north of the Gulf of Sirte, the enemy heavy cruisers were sighted; Admiral Vian took his cruisers and fleet destroyers to attack the enemy, leaving the convoy under air attack and defended by an anti-aircraft cruiser and the smaller destroyers. As the British ships were to windward of the Italians they
were able to use smoke screens to cover their own movements and those of the merchantmen they were protecting. The Italians were driven off, only to return later with the Littorio and a further engagement of 2½ hours duration ensued. The British attacked with torpedoes, gunfire and further smokescreen protection; three of Vian’s destroyers were damaged but the Italians were driven off as dusk fell as, without radar, they were unable to effectively fight by night. Sadly these two actions delayed the passage of the convoy and on the following day half the merchant ships were lost to enemy air attack.
This outstanding victory against superior odds led to the creation of Trophy 7,894, an illuminated script, which reads:
Battle of Sirte 23 March 1942 To Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham KCB DSO, Commander- in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet.
I shall be glad if you will convey to Admiral Vian, and all who sailed with him, the admiration which I feel at this resolute and brilliant action by which the Malta convoy was saved. That one of the most powerful modern battleships afloat, attended by two heavy and four light cruisers and a flotilla of destroyers should have been routed and put to flight with severe torpedo and gunfire injury, in broad daylight, by a force of five British light cruisers and destroyers, constitutes a naval episode of the highest distinction and entitles all ranks and ratings concerned and above all their commander to the compliments of the British nation.
The citation is signed by Winston Churchill, and lists the ships which took part in the action and their Commanding Officers – Cleopatra, Euryalus, Dido, Carlisle, Penelope, the 14th Destroyer Flotilla and the 22nd Destroyer Flotilla.
fi rst reunion of the HMS Brazen Association will be held on September 24 at the Three Crowns Pub, Barbican, Plymouth. Full details of the reunion and membership of the association can be found on our website at
http://hms-brazen.org.uk or tel: 01329 332756.
HMS Brazen Association reunion: The
1966: A reunion dinner to mark the 45th anniversary of arriving at BRNC will be held at the Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club, Portsmouth on Friday September 16 2011. For more information e-mail
musters358@btinternet.com or tel: 01264 810459.
BRNC Dartmouth Entry September AUGUST 2011
Competition
In2Deep competition that appeared in our January 2011 issue. Four copies to be given away.
Winning answer: Buster Crabb. Winners: Mr R W Smith, Westone, Northampton; Mr P D Haynes, Altrincham, Cheshire; John Makinson, Overton, Morecambe; David Thompson, Worle, Weston-super-Mare
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 Federation: 023 9265 4374,
www.nff.org.uk
227912,
navysearchpgrc@tnt.co.uk Royal Naval Association: 023 9272 3823,
RN and RM Service records: 01283
www.mod.uk Royal Navy recruitment: 0845 607 5555,
Ministry of Defence: 0870 607 4455,
seafarers-uk.org SSAFA Forces Help: 0845 1300 975,
www.royalnavalmuseum.org Fleet Air Arm Museum: 01935 840565,
www.royalmmarinesmuseum.co.uk RN Submarine Museum: 023 9252 9217,
www.rnsubmus.co.uk
www.iwm.org.uk
6565,
www.nmm.ac.uk Imperial War Museum: 020 7416 5320,
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,
● The Aurora rodeo of March 1971 March 1971
SAILORS from HMS Aurora and the mine-hunters of the Hong Kong-based Dragon squadron turned cowboy for the day when they volunteered to recapture a herd of wild cattle on the Mirs Bay island of Wong Wan Chau. More than 100 responded to the call for help and found themselves hacking through dense scrubland to round up the herd, estimated by villages to number 300. Three hours of skirmishing ended without injury and with 60 cattle in the pen, including the young calf, pictured.
OFFERED a choice of desks for the Oval Office the newly- elected US President, Ronald Reagan, chose the British-made HMS Resolute desk, which had been sent to Washington as a gift from Queen Victoria in 1880.
The desk, used by nearly all American presidents from Rutherford Hayes
timbers of the Resolute, bought by the Admiralty in 1850 for Arctic exploration.
to Barack Obama, was made from the
In 1852 she was sent to the Arctic in a squadron with four other ships led by Edward Belcher in search of Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition.
Seafarers UK: 020 7932 0000, www.
Swap drafts Logs (Writer) Tyrell. Would like to swap
jobs from HMS Flying Fox, Bristol city centre, to anywhere in Plymouth. The job consists of basic pay writer issues to the RN, RM, RNR and RMR. It attracts FIA and is accommodated in Bristol city centre. Seeking any writer billets in the Plymouth area. Contact: 0117 947 1100 or email
NRCWWE-JSU-CPRCLERK@mod.uk.
THE TIME OF YOUR LIVES 197119811991
2001 LIVES
We fl ick back through the pages of Navy News to see which stories were drawing attention in past decades...
It was an unsuccessful mission, Resolute was abandoned in pack ice and later recovered, intact, by an American whaler. She was brought back to Chatham, where she remained until she was broken up in 1879.
March 1991
HMS EXETER was arriving in the Gulf to relieve sister ship HMS Cardiff as the Gulf War continued. ‘Iraqi Navy wiped out’ was the front-page headline in Navy
News, with the report that more than 40 Iraqi vessels had been destroyed by the Allies, with a hefty share falling to RN helicopter pilots. Naval supremacy had been claimed within a fortnight of the start of the campaign at sea, with the combination of Lynx helicopters and Sea Skua missiles proving particularly devastating against Iraqi surface units.
March 2001
TWO renowned wartime submariners were present to see the keel of Astute, the Navy’s newest submarine, laid in Barrow-in- Furness. Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet was the former commander of
HMS Trenchant, which sank the Japanese cruiser Ashigara with a precise salvo of torpedoes in the Far East in 1945. In the same year, Lt Cdr Ian Fraser took his midget submarine into the heart of Japanese-occupied Singapore and with great difficulty laid charges underneath the Japanese cruiser Takao. His diver, James Magennis, received the VC for his part in the action. Vice Admiral Hezlet died in 2007, aged 93. Lt Cdr Fraser died in 2008, aged 87. The keel-laying ceremony for Astute took place close to the spot where the Navy’s first submarine, Holland 1, had been built 100 years before.
Entries for the Deaths’ column and Swap Drafts in April’s Noticeboard must be received by March 11
Talking Navy News
Navy News is available free of charge as a digital file on memory stick or email from Portsmouth Area Talking News for those with difficulty reading normal type. Contact 023 9269 0851 and leave a message with a contact number, or email patn-rec@hotmail. com, or visit the website
www.patn.
org.uk. A speaker that will take a USB plug is required but this can be obtained from the Talking News, or the file can be played back through a computer.
Speak to John Lister
01395 568028
www.burialatsea.co.uk email@burialatsea.co.uk
Please call 023 9272 6284 for details or email:
subscriptions@navynews.co.uk
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