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NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2010 35
Final Cruisers
accounts
Talent on show for
could band
produced together
THE final accounts of the HMS
AN association chairman has put
Newfoundland Association have
forward proposals to breathe new
now been completed, and a list of
life into groups associated with
final donations to charities and
Shrewsbury visitors
wartime cruisers.
associations compiled. “The present Colony and Fiji
The RNBT was given £1,000, Class Associations appear to be
as was Pembroke House and the shrinking at an alarming rate,”
RMBT.
SIX ex-Service personnel
said HMS Kenya Association
TS Newfoundland and the
were given an insight into life
chairman S/M Dennis Patterson.
Not Forgotten Association both on board a nuclear submarine “I am of the opinion that now is
received £300, and Help for when they visited Devonport. the time we should be considering
Heroes was given an initial sum HMS Talent welcomed forming an ‘umbrella’ association
of £142.35, followed by a further members of Shrewsbury branch
covering all the above classes of
donation of £1,357 at the final and the town’s Royal British
ships,” said S/M Dennis.
Association reunion. Legion.
“This would in no way
One other loose end has also Although none of the group had
be a takeover of the existing
been dealt with. served in submarines, between
associations, but an entirely new
In the spring of 1944 the them they represented a wide
association.
Colony-class cruiser visited St range of Service disciplines – their
“Members could join as
John’s in Newfoundland following number included retired Royal
individuals or existing associations
repairs in Boston, and during that Marines, a retired Army medic
could join en bloc while still
time the then mayor gave the and former members of the Fleet
retaining their own autonomy.
cruiser’s crew the Freedom of the Air Arm and RAF.
“Most of us have two reunions a
City – but no record survived. The guests were given a
During a visit to the Canadian
year; what I would like to suggest is
tour of the submarine – and
city in 2006 by Newfoundland
one of these reunions becomes the
were surprised at the cramped
veterans, S/M Alan Waite, treasurer
AGM of the new association while
conditions on board.
of the decommissioned association, Additionally, a simulated
the other remains as the normal
made some initial enquiries. torpedo attack allowed them to
AGM of the current association.
As a result, the current get a feel for the operational side
“Details of all the pros and cons
mayor, Dennis O’Keefe, last of submarines.
would have to be worked out and
year confirmed the award of As well as touring Talent, the
agreed at an inaugural meeting.
the Freedom (which had been group went on board helicopter
“This meeting of course would
recorded in 1944 by the local carrier HMS Ocean for a look
also have to elect the officers and
paper, the Evening Telegram), and around.
committee of the new association.
presented the former association The largest ship in the Navy
“If you are interested in this
with a freedom certificate. offered rather more room to move,
proposal, I can be contacted by
● The visitors from Shrewsbury line up with the CO of HMS Talent, Cdr Simon Asquith
Although the association no and one of the group, ex-Royal
email on psmx903-pirate@yahoo.
longer exists, ‘unofficial’ activities Marine S/M John Turner, was able the landing craft – a piece of “It was a real pleasure to host The visit was thoroughly
co.uk or call 01912 584694.
will continue, starting with a to compare his time in the Corps kit which left S/M John mightily these ex-Servicemen, to repay enjoyed by both hosts and visitors,
“There are 11 ships of our
reunion at the end of May at in the 1950s with his modern-day impressed. their previous hospitality and to and further strengthened the ties classes: HM ships Bermuda,
the South Downs Holiday Village, counterparts. HMS Talent’s Commanding give them a taste of life in a between Talent and her affiliated Ceylon, Fiji, Gambia, Jamaica,
Chichester. The visitors were taken around
Officer, Cdr Simon Asquith, said: modern submarine.” town of Shrewsbury.
Kenya, Mauritius, Newfoundland,
Nigeria, Trinidad and Uganda.
Free day out
Pictures may be key to mystery
Fine dinner
“We were all in the same
Royal Navy so let us put our
IT was best bibs and tuckers all
parochial issues aside and get
AN AMUSEMENT park in West round for the Plymouth branch
together to our mutual benefit
Sussex is offering a free day out for
ONE mystery solved – but more a reporter on their local paper, the forces in December 1941. annual dinner and dance at
and comradeship.”
serving and ex-serving members
created. Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News. Ann Jones hopes the pictures, the WO and SR Mess in HMS
of the RN and RFA and their
A Widnes couple, Alan and As a result of the story, a friend which she believes were taken Drake.
dependents in connection with Elaine Leather, found a cache of of Freddie’s came forward, but the by an official war photographer, A combination of fine speeches,
Event may
Armed Forces Day this summer. wartime photos while clearing the couple would still like information can help unravel the mystery a “superb” meal, an immaculate
Gary Smart, who owns home of Elaine’s mother Phyllis on Elaine’s relatives – Freddie surrounding the death and burial ceremonial turn-out from Sea
the Harbour Park complex in Osborne. could possibly have been on the of her father, L/Sgt Harold Povey, Cadets and an organisational
be the last
Littlehampton, has offered a free The World War 1 pictures Leopold when it was torpedoed. a commando on that raid. triumph from the social committee,
book of tickets for rides on June
THIS year’s memorial service for
belonged to Elaine’s grandfather Any information can be sent to Ann is keen to find anyone
headed by S/M Sue Gutteridge,
26, which will be issued on proof
Far Eastern prisoners of war
Pte Frederick Lowe and his son oliver.clay@liverpool.com who has notes or memories of
made for memorable evening.
of identity.
is likely to be the last formal
Freddie (Elaine’s uncle), who The pictures could also be the those buried at sea, which could
The offer is Gary’s way of
gathering of its kind.
served in the RN in World War 2. key to a further mystery. help narrow down the names of
showing appreciation for the
Diana sailors The service, organised by the
Freddie Jnr’s pictures were A commando’s daughter five men buried anonymously in
Forces – his son recently left the
National Ex-Services Association
something of a mystery, as they identified the war-torn town in Trondheim.
Army to join the company.
along with the Far East Prisoners
showed a figure on a hill above a the pictures as the Norwegian port She was also told that some
return to Malta
Details of the complex can be
of War community and the Irish
blazing town, and at this point the of Vaagso/Vågsøy, one of the first commandos were taken prisoner
found at www.harbourpark.com
MEMBERS of the HMS Diana Guards singers, commemorates all
story was taken up by Oliver Clay, targets of British Combined Ops and shot.
Association travelled to Malta who died in captivity or who have
Branch is hit hard
for a reunion more than half died since.
££50 PRIZE PUZZLE50 PRIZE PUZZLE
a century after serving on the It is thought there are around
Mediterranean island. 300 survivors, and they and their
SOUTHEND branch was hit hard services to the Association.
Some 40 former sailors and families are invited to this year’s
in 2009 by the loss of several S/M Bert died in October, and
their partners toured former ecumenical service, which will be
members, two in leading roles. fellow shipmates will miss him,
haunts, some still familiar from held at Christ the King Roman
Branch president S/M Stan S/M Stan and all the others who
their time in the destroyer in the Catholic Church, 78 Queens
Horner died in June having carried have crossed the bar.
mid-to-late 1950s. Drive, Childwall, Liverpool.
out his duties for two years – though The subsequent changes have
They were based in Qawra, a The service will also remember
he was no stranger to high office, seen S/M Roger Kemp take over
dozen or so miles from Valletta, all those who fought in the Far
having been branch chairman for as secretary and S/M Norman
for the week, but much of their Eastern campaign.
the previous 17 years. Summerhayes become treasurer.
time was based around the Grand For more information see
THE mystery ship in our January
Treasurer S/M Bert O’Brien S/M Norman had been secretary
Harbour, including a cruise. website www.nesa.org.uk
edition (right) was HMS Ashanti.
survived over three years in Japanese for almost 40 years, and brings
Mr W Waltho, of Portchester,
POW camps, and celebrated his a wealth of experience, but the
wins £50 for providing the
90th birthday last April. move will still allow him to clock
correct answer.
For more than a decade up four decades as branch officer
This month’s ship (above),
S/M Bert had served as branch while easing the workload.
with a strong link to a recently-
treasurer, and had been appointed He will, however, continue as
decommissioned RN vessel,
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH. branch vice president for his treasurer for No 5 Area.
has a name inextricably bound
Coupons giving the correct answer
up with Nelson and a battle of
will go into a prize draw to establish
a winner.
almost legendary status.
Closing date for entries is April
What was her name – and what 15. More than one entry can be
was the name of her sister ship
submitted, but photocopies cannot
which accidentally rammed her
be accepted. Do not include
in the Mediterranean in the early
anything else in your envelope: no
1960s?
correspondence can be entered into
and no entry returned.
We have removed her pennant
The winners will be announced in
number from the picture. our May edition. The competition is
Complete the coupon and send not open to Navy News employees
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News, or their families.
MYSTERY PICTURE 181
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
● ON January 5 1960 a group of lads travelled to Shotley in Suffolk
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
to join the Royal Navy at HMS Ganges. 50 years later to the day a
handful of brave souls retraced their steps, battling through snow
My answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
and ice to meet up and celebrate 28 recruitment’s anniversary.
The picture shows Shep Woolley, Ivan Eves, Mick Cox, John Windust,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
David Fagg, John Brown and Bernie Taft at the HMS Ganges
Association Museum. The celebration continued later at the Swan
in Needham Market
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