‘The Shipmate’
The Official magazine of the HMS Collingwood Association.
Spring 2014
Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood 1748 - 1810
Now gentlemen, let us do something today which the world may
talk of hereafter – 21 October 1805
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
April 4th – 7th AGM at Chatham
25th December 2014- Merry Crimbo - especially to all those who have paid their subs !!
Memorable Dates for 1914
August 28th. Heligoland Bight – North Sea
Result Royal Navy 1 Imperial German Navy 0
November 1st . Coronel (Chile)
Royal Navy 0 IGN 1
December 8th Falkland Islands
Royal Navy 1 IGN 0
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AGM & Reunion. This will be held in Chatham area 4th to 7th April 2014. Accommodation will be in Coniston Hotel, Sittingbourne.
A visit to Chatham dockyard is planned - this coincides with the
HMS Cavaliers 70th anniversary.
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Your Committee and Contact Numbers etc,
Chairman Mike Crowe
7 Heath Road, Lake,
Sandown,Isle of Wight PO36 8PG.
Tel. 01983 404727
e-mail [email protected]
Vice Chairman Don Edwards
7, Heath Court, Downend, Nr. Bristol,
BS16 6HG
Membership Secretary Peter Lacey
Heathfield, Lapford, Crediton, Devon,
EX17 6PZ
Tel. 01363 884230
e-mail [email protected]
Treasurer Dennis Patterson.
22 Sherwood, Murton Village,
Newcastle upon Tyne , NE27 0LT
Tel. 01912 584694
e-mail psmx903-pirate.co.uk
Welfare / Archivist Ken Waugh
58 Alwyn Road, Rugby, CV22 7QX
Tel. 01788 811966
e-mail [email protected]
Shipmate/Web site Roger Birkett
31 St. Michaels Road, Kirkham. Lancs,
PR42TQ
Tel. 01772 490681
e-mail [email protected]
Merchandise Peter Edmondson
6 Muirfield, Penworthham, Preston, PR1 0LH
Tel. 017720746443
e-mail [email protected]
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Editors Ramblings
Hi Everyone,
Here we are with my second attempt at the magazine. I have items supplied by Brian Hooper and intend to start incorporating them from
this edition onward.
Mike Crowes’ mail shot to local papers is still paying off with people contacting us with and asking for info on relatives etc.
If you have photo’s or recognise anybody from the items printed please let me or any other committee member know on our addresses
or on the email address [email protected] –any photo will be used and placed on/in the gallery unless asked not to.
I have printed copies for those who don’t have any way of accessing the internet and sent them off. I intend to do another magazine after the AGM.
I’ve included in this edition a report from one of our ‘shipmates’, Gerald Lillicrap, his recollection of the bombing of Collingwood as he
was there. It makes thoughtful and interesting reading.
We have also had enquiries for any information on relatives should you have any. Please let a committee member know and we will try
and put you in touch / pass on anything we can.
I will be including some web addresses to look at, all have been checked for viruses.
Thanks.
===================================================
Hi Everyone,
Here we are with my second attempt at the magazine. I have items supplied by Brian Hooper and intend to start incorporating them from
this edition onward.
Mike Crowes’ mail shot to local papers is still paying off with people contacting us with and asking for info on relatives etc.
If you have photo’s or recognise anybody from the items printed please let me or any other committee member know on our addresses
or on the email address [email protected] –any photo will be used and placed on/in the gallery unless asked not to.
I have printed copies for those who don’t have any way of accessing the internet and sent them off. I intend to do another magazine after the AGM.
I’ve included in this edition a report from one of our ‘shipmates’, Gerald Lillicrap, his recollection of the bombing of Collingwood as he
was there. It makes thoughtful and interesting reading.
We have also had enquiries for any information on relatives should you have any. Please let a committee member know and we will try
and put you in touch / pass on anything we can.
I will be including some web addresses to look at, all have been checked for viruses.
Thanks.
===================================================
Help Please
Debbie Hull is seeking anyone who knew her Dad –Roy Rawson – who served in Collingwood on numerous occasions during the late 40’s and 50’s. Any help please to
[email protected] or us.
================================================
I am now pleased to say the i have found the photo of our class 38 of 1952 and attach a copy.
I am on the front row second from the right. The Petty Officer is PO Andrews but I regret I can't remember the Officer.
Donald Wood "[email protected]"
Debbie Hull is seeking anyone who knew her Dad –Roy Rawson – who served in Collingwood on numerous occasions during the late 40’s and 50’s. Any help please to
[email protected] or us.
================================================
I am now pleased to say the i have found the photo of our class 38 of 1952 and attach a copy.
I am on the front row second from the right. The Petty Officer is PO Andrews but I regret I can't remember the Officer.
Donald Wood "[email protected]"
Does anybody recognize anyone ?
===========================================================
The Collingwood Bomb 18th June 1943.
At about 1.30 am I remember being woken by a tremendous bang, and glass falling out of the windows. There was no shock wave through the ground or floor, such as we had experienced on Hayling in ’41 when the Jerries blitzed Portsmouth.
I was already up when the P.O. slammed the door open yelling ‘Everybody up, working rig’ (overalls) and banging on the beds to get everybody awake.
Next to Collingwood on the south side was an airfield from where they flew Torpedo bombers called “Barracudas”. They were ugly looking planes and very noisey and the story we were told afterwards was that as a squadron of these Barracudas came back off night exercise in line – one behind the other- with their lights on – a single Jerry plane joined the end of the line and followed them in.
They used to fly in to the west of the camp, towards Fareham and then swing round to the south to fly over the camp to land on the runway.
Whether he was after the camp or the airfield no one seems to know. Naturally as soon as he’d let go – it was off lights and gone before anyone realised what had happened.
Whatever it was it hit the hut only one row over from us and the next one over.
Because it was in our division “Maintop” everyone in Maintop had to ‘turn to’ to clear up the mess.
The rest of the camp carried on with their normal routine.
There was a large tall hedge on the north boundary towards Fareham. A hole was cut through it opposite the row of damaged huts, and every scrap of wreckage was taken and put behind the hedge so that everything was out of site. All the broken timber, shattered lockers and beds – in fact anything that wasn’t human.
All the human remains were carried across the parade ground to a large building, like a small hanger, to the left of the main gate. Here, a group of nurses had spread out 36 blankets on the concrete floor and as we carried in the bodies and parts, they were making sure that each corpse was complete.
I do remember vividly with the help of another lad carrying one torso in a blanket between us and thinking how heavy it was. This memory has stayed with me for over 70 years.
One thing that has always puzzled me was that there was no crater and you could still walk on the floor. It was uneven but the ‘Pussers’ brown lino was still there. I remember when we carried a locker away – one of the pusser green tin ones –that it looked just as though someone had fired a shotgun at it. Of course at this time we had double summertime so by 2.30 – 3.00 am it was broad daylight.
When all the bodies and wreckage was removed , the last thing was clearing the site and about 25 of us were given blankets and on our knees and shoulder to shoulder we crawled across the site picking up everything that wasn’t grass, stones or earth.
By the time they piped ‘Breakfast’ around 6.30 am all that was left were the small brick pillars that the hut had stood on.
Something else I shall remember, Breakfast!!
What the lads used to call Bacon and Red Lead or Train smash – rashers and tinned tomatoes.
But after all these years, I still can’t understand why there was no crater. What sort of a device was it? Was it really a Jerry plane or was it someone playing around with some sort of a hand grenade?
After breakfast each hut was mustered in their hut by the P.O. in charge and we were given a severe lecture:-
On no circumstances will this incident be talked about. You will NOT discuss it amongst yourselves. You will not put it in your letters home and if anyone asks you any questions when your are ashore you know nothing. - Complete blackout.
All this, and I was still two months off my eighteenth Birthday!!
L/D Wireman G.F. Lillicrap P/M 517909.
===========================================================
Navy sends help to flooded areas.
Damn the RA’s and full speed ahead !!
At about 1.30 am I remember being woken by a tremendous bang, and glass falling out of the windows. There was no shock wave through the ground or floor, such as we had experienced on Hayling in ’41 when the Jerries blitzed Portsmouth.
I was already up when the P.O. slammed the door open yelling ‘Everybody up, working rig’ (overalls) and banging on the beds to get everybody awake.
Next to Collingwood on the south side was an airfield from where they flew Torpedo bombers called “Barracudas”. They were ugly looking planes and very noisey and the story we were told afterwards was that as a squadron of these Barracudas came back off night exercise in line – one behind the other- with their lights on – a single Jerry plane joined the end of the line and followed them in.
They used to fly in to the west of the camp, towards Fareham and then swing round to the south to fly over the camp to land on the runway.
Whether he was after the camp or the airfield no one seems to know. Naturally as soon as he’d let go – it was off lights and gone before anyone realised what had happened.
Whatever it was it hit the hut only one row over from us and the next one over.
Because it was in our division “Maintop” everyone in Maintop had to ‘turn to’ to clear up the mess.
The rest of the camp carried on with their normal routine.
There was a large tall hedge on the north boundary towards Fareham. A hole was cut through it opposite the row of damaged huts, and every scrap of wreckage was taken and put behind the hedge so that everything was out of site. All the broken timber, shattered lockers and beds – in fact anything that wasn’t human.
All the human remains were carried across the parade ground to a large building, like a small hanger, to the left of the main gate. Here, a group of nurses had spread out 36 blankets on the concrete floor and as we carried in the bodies and parts, they were making sure that each corpse was complete.
I do remember vividly with the help of another lad carrying one torso in a blanket between us and thinking how heavy it was. This memory has stayed with me for over 70 years.
One thing that has always puzzled me was that there was no crater and you could still walk on the floor. It was uneven but the ‘Pussers’ brown lino was still there. I remember when we carried a locker away – one of the pusser green tin ones –that it looked just as though someone had fired a shotgun at it. Of course at this time we had double summertime so by 2.30 – 3.00 am it was broad daylight.
When all the bodies and wreckage was removed , the last thing was clearing the site and about 25 of us were given blankets and on our knees and shoulder to shoulder we crawled across the site picking up everything that wasn’t grass, stones or earth.
By the time they piped ‘Breakfast’ around 6.30 am all that was left were the small brick pillars that the hut had stood on.
Something else I shall remember, Breakfast!!
What the lads used to call Bacon and Red Lead or Train smash – rashers and tinned tomatoes.
But after all these years, I still can’t understand why there was no crater. What sort of a device was it? Was it really a Jerry plane or was it someone playing around with some sort of a hand grenade?
After breakfast each hut was mustered in their hut by the P.O. in charge and we were given a severe lecture:-
On no circumstances will this incident be talked about. You will NOT discuss it amongst yourselves. You will not put it in your letters home and if anyone asks you any questions when your are ashore you know nothing. - Complete blackout.
All this, and I was still two months off my eighteenth Birthday!!
L/D Wireman G.F. Lillicrap P/M 517909.
===========================================================
Navy sends help to flooded areas.
Damn the RA’s and full speed ahead !!
======================================================================================================
Photo time
Photo time
Edward Gale - Dispatch rider in Ceylon - 1946
Photo sent by Roy Bodley (kneeling). Roy unfortunately 'Crossed the Bar' just after Christmas.
These photos were sent to Peter Lacey. We can get most photos and articles into ‘Shipmate’ so please send them to us. All photos will be put on the gallery section of the web site – enlarged if required.
These photos were sent to Peter Lacey. We can get most photos and articles into ‘Shipmate’ so please send them to us. All photos will be put on the gallery section of the web site – enlarged if required.
S/M Sid Tiffin sent this in.
Mates – An ANZAC Message
I’ve travelled down some lonely roads both crooked tracks and straight
An’ I’ve learned life’s noblest creed summed up in one word –mates
I’m thinking back across the years (a thing I do of late)
And this word sticks between me ears –you’ve got to have a mate
My mind goes back to 43 to slavery and hate
When a mans one chance to stay alive depended on his ‘mate’.
With bamboo for a billy can and bamboo for a plate
A bamboo paradise for bugs was a bed for me and me ‘mate’
You’d slip and slither through the mud and curse your rotten fate
But then you’d ‘ear a quiet word - Don’t drop your bundle mate
An’ though it’s all so long ago this truth I have to state
A man don’t know what lonely is ‘till e’ ‘as lost his mate
If there is a Golden Gate the welcome I want to hear
Is just “Good on yer mate yer more than welcome here”
And so to all who ask us why we keep these special dates
Like ANZAC Day – I answer ‘Why we’re thinking of our mates’
An’ when I’ve left the drivers seat and handed in me plates
I’ll tell Old Peter at the gates – “I’ve come to join me Mates.
If the poem brings a tear - try - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda-Eric Bogle.(youtube)
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Another photo from the past !
Mates – An ANZAC Message
I’ve travelled down some lonely roads both crooked tracks and straight
An’ I’ve learned life’s noblest creed summed up in one word –mates
I’m thinking back across the years (a thing I do of late)
And this word sticks between me ears –you’ve got to have a mate
My mind goes back to 43 to slavery and hate
When a mans one chance to stay alive depended on his ‘mate’.
With bamboo for a billy can and bamboo for a plate
A bamboo paradise for bugs was a bed for me and me ‘mate’
You’d slip and slither through the mud and curse your rotten fate
But then you’d ‘ear a quiet word - Don’t drop your bundle mate
An’ though it’s all so long ago this truth I have to state
A man don’t know what lonely is ‘till e’ ‘as lost his mate
If there is a Golden Gate the welcome I want to hear
Is just “Good on yer mate yer more than welcome here”
And so to all who ask us why we keep these special dates
Like ANZAC Day – I answer ‘Why we’re thinking of our mates’
An’ when I’ve left the drivers seat and handed in me plates
I’ll tell Old Peter at the gates – “I’ve come to join me Mates.
If the poem brings a tear - try - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda-Eric Bogle.(youtube)
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Another photo from the past !
Number 1 mess in HMS Charity sent in by S/M Bill Martin. He thinks the guy with the towel round his shoulders was Argentinian.
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Help please
I am presently engaged in a project regarding a Hunt Class mine sweeper, HMS Derby Launched on the Clyde in 1918 she was a coal burner and spent much of her time in WWII in the med and was based I think at Tripoli. She was originally HMS Dawlish but being too late for WWI was laid up before having the name change and assigned to other duties. Perhaps some of our more senior shipmates may have some knowledge of her duties and maybe even a few tales
S/M Dennis Patterson (Treasurer)
================================================
My American Cousin went in to see his Doctor for his quarterly check-up.
The doctor asked him how he was feeling, and my 75-year-old cousin said,' Things are great , And I've never felt better.'
You know, I now have a 20 year-old girl friend who is pregnant with my child. "So what do you think about that Doc?"
The doctor considered his question for a minute… And then began to tell a story.
"I have an older friend, much like you, who is an avid hunter and never misses a season."
One day he was setting off to go hunting.
In a bit of a hurry, he accidentally picked up his Walking cane instead of his gun."
"As he neared a lake, he came across a very large male beaver sitting at the water's edge.Out of habit he raised his cane, aimed it at the animal as if It were his favourite hunting rifle and went 'bang, bang'."
"Miraculously, two shots rang out and the
Beaver fell over dead.
Now, what do you think of that?" asked the doctor.
The 86-year-old said, "Logic would strongly suggest that somebody else Pumped a couple of rounds into that beaver."
The doctor replied, "My point exactly.
=======================================================
When I took the entrance exam for medical school, I was perplexed by this question:
"Rearrange the letters P-N-E-S-I to spell out the
part of the human body that is most useful when erect."
Those who spelled SPINE became doctors. - The rest are in Parliament.
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PERTH - An SAS trooper collecting toys for children was stabbed when he helped stop a suspected shoplifter in east Perth . The 'Toys-R-Us' Store Manager told 'The West Australian' that a man was seen on surveillance cameras last Friday putting a laptop under his jacket at the store.
When confronted, the man became irate, knocked down an employee, pulled a knife and ran toward the door. Outside were four SAS Troopers collecting toys for the "Toys For Tots" program. Smith said the Troopers stopped the man, but he stabbed one of them in the back. Fortunately the cut did not appear to be severe.
The suspect however was transported by ambulance to the Royal Perth
Hospital with two broken arms, a broken leg, possible broken ribs, multiple contusions, and assorted lacerations including a broken nose and jaw ... Injuries he apparently sustained when he tripped whilst trying to run away. One of the Troopers said, "He was a clumsy bastard."
Bless the Aussies – if this had been Britain …………………..
Email from: mark young <[email protected]>:
Hi Peter.
Thanks you for your reply. I will try to get him to fill in the details you require , If he can remember them and as never mentioned openly to me anything about his time in the Navy
I have another Brother who also joined the Navy. Did his training at HMS Ganges. He was 20yr old. His ship, Tank landing ship 65 the crew where sent to USA to collect it.
Then the fun started. He was on Mediterranean cruises????, calling at
1 North African Landings
2 Sicilian Landings
3 Salerno Landings
4 Anzio Landings then to add the cream
5 Normandy Landings Dropped the Canadians off at Juno.
Not bad for lads not much more than teens
Also whilst they were cruising they Med , they went and got their Bow door shot off at Salerno, They had to sail to Gib for repairs as no one in Malta, could repair it, yes sail unescorted ( they are not fast are they LST's?)
This Brother who went through this Is now 87 and always has a smile for everyone His name is Peter
Hope I have not bored you.
Cheerio for now M. YOUNG
I wonder if he would have met my Dad – he landed at Anzio during WW2 as part of the 8th Army!
Ed
====================================================================
Hi Peter.
Thanks you for your reply. I will try to get him to fill in the details you require , If he can remember them and as never mentioned openly to me anything about his time in the Navy
I have another Brother who also joined the Navy. Did his training at HMS Ganges. He was 20yr old. His ship, Tank landing ship 65 the crew where sent to USA to collect it.
Then the fun started. He was on Mediterranean cruises????, calling at
1 North African Landings
2 Sicilian Landings
3 Salerno Landings
4 Anzio Landings then to add the cream
5 Normandy Landings Dropped the Canadians off at Juno.
Not bad for lads not much more than teens
Also whilst they were cruising they Med , they went and got their Bow door shot off at Salerno, They had to sail to Gib for repairs as no one in Malta, could repair it, yes sail unescorted ( they are not fast are they LST's?)
This Brother who went through this Is now 87 and always has a smile for everyone His name is Peter
Hope I have not bored you.
Cheerio for now M. YOUNG
I wonder if he would have met my Dad – he landed at Anzio during WW2 as part of the 8th Army!
Ed
====================================================================
Do you recognize anyone??
My mother in law, Margaret Berry, spotted your colleague Mike Crowe’s letter in the Crewe Chronicle and thought you might be interested in seeing the attached photo, which was taken around 1942. Her husband, Frank Berry, is 4th from the left on the front row. Unfortunately, Frank is no longer with us but you might find the photo of him with his shipmates interesting. I’ve scanned it as well as I can and hope this is OK . Do let me know whether this is of interest to you and I will pass on your comments to Margaret.
With best wishes
Clive Hulme.
My mother in law, Margaret Berry, spotted your colleague Mike Crowe’s letter in the Crewe Chronicle and thought you might be interested in seeing the attached photo, which was taken around 1942. Her husband, Frank Berry, is 4th from the left on the front row. Unfortunately, Frank is no longer with us but you might find the photo of him with his shipmates interesting. I’ve scanned it as well as I can and hope this is OK . Do let me know whether this is of interest to you and I will pass on your comments to Margaret.
With best wishes
Clive Hulme.
The following is a history of HMS Collingwood by Rev C.A Grant.
HMS COLLINGWOOD
1939 – 1945
By Revd CA Grant MA RN Rtd
Twice during my retirement I had been asked to collaborate in producing a history of HMS Collingwood. It was felt that I could add the personal flavour to anecdotes already gathered and confirm data about the building of the establishment and the training personnel. The second time it was at the suggestion of the commanding officer Captain Maurice Head with whom I had previously served. I was unable to comply. I could make the excuse that I was overworked at the time in a thriving city church in Edinburgh, but I have before me now the typewritten resume sent to me, headed Chapter III At Fareham. It would seem to indicate that it was part of a history of ships of the line bearing the name, or of a larger Work. Reading it now, confirms my conclusion then, that not enough research of the sources and the records had been made; that it was far too near in time for historical objectivity to give it true perspective, especially by one who had been involved as a Chaplain through these eventful years.
Recently I had to search through my naval papers to provide information for the Principal Chaplain, Irvin Vincent and found this item, Chapter III at Fareham together with the reprinted Order of Service of Thanksgiving for the Cessation of Hostilities in Europe 1939 – 1944. I remember the sweat of preparation to rush it into print for that memorable Sunday. So rushed was it that some parts were omitted on the day as unfitted for the occasion i.e. the solemn element, the silence and the bugle etc.
It was this that prompted me to make this contribution to the present Thanksgiving forty years on. It documents a piece of HMS Collingwood history. It also records the spontaneous psychological reaction of one individual, who had continuously led the worship of men and women, congregations of 2,000 plus, on the Gunner Mess Deck, Sunday after Sunday through these momentous years.
The reactions of one who was deeply emotionally, and emotively involved in the very real personality problems of thousands of men as they copied or failed to cope with the early separations and forebodings as well as the new disciplines which were daily remoulding them physically and mentally; reshaping character as they were painfully becoming aware of the hungry war machine into which they were being launched and from which many were not to survive.
As the months went by and casualties were announced, no-one was more aware of the responsibility laid upon us than I was. For example, the sinking of the Hood to which we had given a whole batch, including some of the first Australian RNVR who came to us in September 1940. Some of these men, even now I can name, such as, the son of a Moderator of the Congregational Union, Idris James from whom I received a letter on the morning the news of the sinking came over the radio. In which he said that they had arrived on board at Scapa Flow, and that they were looking forward to the commission. One of the Australian lads who name I remember, was Ian Williamson, the son of the harbourmaster at Sydney. It is for this reason that as the dedication of this service order was a tribute to them I now offer the reprint and these few memories of an old ‘Barrack Stanchion’, as a tribute to a remarkable Ship’s Company of officers and men – not forgetting the Wrens – who were responsible for their high standard of training and made an outstanding contribution to Britain’s War Effort in the largest establishment of the Royal Navy for the training of hostilities only Ratings of the Seaman Branch and Communications, Signals and Wireless Telegraphy.
THE SHIP’S COMPANY – OFFICERS AND MEN
The original ship’s company were a unique close knit community – a brotherhood of naval pensioners, ‘Officers and Other Ranks’, some of whom had served in the 1914 – 1918 War. With them were a few mature RNVR Officers as sub divisional officers. There were officers who had come under the Geddes Axe, for example Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Peck, the gunnery Divisional Officer, had been recalled from his post, as Chief of Police, Fiji Islands. There was also the First Lieutenant. In 1920 after the 1914 – 1918 War he had plotted the canal systems of Germany and France from the mouth of the Rhone back to the mouth of the Rhine, manhauling his MTB by road between the two rivers at the narrowest point
in their upper reaches. Probably he was given this Collingwood posting on the assumption that a man who could achieve such a feat could do anything with the marshland upon which the establishment was built.
He was a refreshing character whose imaginative ingenuity and warm approach to his seamen certainly turned the acres of wasteland within the perimeter into a fertile and financially viable farm and piggery – a course of income to create the green swards and the garden areas of which he was justly proud.
The Commodore was Rear Admiral CG Sedgwick RN Retd., a son of the vicarage. His brother was Vicar of Gosport at the time and a frequent visitor. The Rear Admiral was a typical product of the old Gunnery School, HMS Excellent. He was a shy, taciturn man of few words but approachable and scrupulously fair. He knew his officers and most of the Chief PO gunners had served under him, some had been in the China Station under his Command and told many a tale about the old man. He held their respect and therefore their loyalty.
Rear Admiral Waterhouse, RN Retd., was Paymaster. I found him a happy man whose friendliness kept his empire of Cookhouses, Supply Stores and Pay Office firmly under his control by the loyalty it engendered. His visits were looked forward to by the Staff. As he walked through he had a word for everybody.
In the Fall of the year it was becoming obvious that he was succumbing to the pressures of the job or was in failing health. He went on sick leave. His illness was terminable and he died in May 1941. His grave is to be found directly to the North of the door of the Chapel in Haslar cemetery.
Both of these men were a pleasure to serve. The best story of my whole naval service brimmed with humour, displays the caring and compassion of these two Old Salts. One day in September 1940 a letter was passed round all the Heads of Department with an accompanying docket addressed to Rear Admiral Waterhouse, for attention. It was from a mother regretting that her son would not be at home for his 21st birthday – no leave being granted. She would be grateful therefore if on Friday he could have his favour dinner sweet – Ginger Pudding. The docket was returned by each Head of Department signed, duly noted. It was signed by Rear Admiral Waterhouse – ‘Action Taken’. On the following Friday every Officer, Man and Wren in HMS Collingwood, ten thousand of them, had ginger pudding as their sweet.
Years afterwards, in my Edinburgh years, I told this story to the children in Church, mentioning that the father of three of them had been a sailor in Collingwood at the time and would tell them it was true. At the Church door afterwards, Andrew Slessor, my ex-sailor said, ‘You forgot, Padre, to tell them that from then on we had ginger pudding on the menu every Friday until we were tied of it!’ – a typical sailor’s embellishment I am sure. However his version was corroborated by another ex-Collingwood sailor, Alex Pointon one of the Church elders.
Commander Kershaw was the Executive Officer – he was another well known naval character, better known to the Rugby followers of the 20’s and early 30’s as the Scrum Half of the famous Half Back Line of the Navy and England – Kershaw and Davies. He was an excellent officer but as often happens with a small man, gone rather rotund. He was rather consequential, inclined to stand on his dignity. In the Wardroom he leaned on the window radiator whenever big men were around him. When either Padre Ryan or myself – big men – went into his office he invariably got up from his chair, leaned on the radiator and looked out towards the Parade Ground. Standing on his feet, half crouched, he was fit for any big rugby forward however tough. At least that was the explanation given to us by the Major of Marines, Major De Garnier RM, another small man and a colleague of his. They were both of the PT Instructor Branch.
The story of young Binns, a household name in the North, is a good illustration of the peculiarities of the Commander, who was a bachelor, married to the ship and to his old but beautiful Bently. Young Binns, Called Up, arrived in his latest model Bentley. He sailed through the gates and alongside the officer of the Watch on his Rail Deck. The Commander had seen it all. He rushed out and yelled ‘Get that car off my Quarter Deck’. ‘Where shall I put it?’ ‘Anywhere off this desk and never let me see it inside these gates again.’ Young Binns sailed out of the West Exit, saw the field gate in front of him and drove into it. It remained there until he had completed his first seven days, a period in which no leave was granted to any newly arrived trainee. From then on Binns seemed to get into scrapes. At least he was under the feet of his Divisional Officer and the Commander along with one or two other wealthy types. Of course everybody said it was because the Commander envied him his new Bentley.
Like him we all have our idiosyncrasies. He was a first class Commander with a high sense of his responsibility a thorough grasp of the rapid expansion of his empire and a complete mastery of the situation. He was seldom away from his post even for a night. On one of his rare weekends, six weeks after the Bentley ‘Grand Entry’, he went up to London. He sat down in the quiet Reading Lounge of his exclusive Club beside a warm fire. It was a haven of peace and luxury. The stresses and the tension drained off as the thoughts of Binns, and his Defaulters Table faded away. An hour had passed before he became aware that behind the ‘Times’ in the armchair on the other side of the fire were bell-bottoms and when the paper was lowered, whose head appeared? – young Binns.
Commander Kershaw was succeeded by Captain Tim O’Leary, RN Retd., who had just come from a hard commission in Command at sea. He was of a different breed – had come up through the ranks from Boys Service. He came with the reputation of being a hard disciplinarian. Indeed, that he was, but with an acute mind, and a thorough understanding of human nature. Under his reputed toughness there was a quality that made David Garrick say of sailors not only the familiar truism, ‘Who are so free as the sons of the waves? Hearts of oak are our ships, hearts of oak are our men’ but also another truism that describes the sailor as we know him, ‘A fellow feeling makes us one wondrous kind.’
When Tim had thrown the book at a defaulter 28 days stoppage of pay, 28 days stoppage of leave, he came up to my office as he often did for his Stand Easy, straight from his table and told me what he had done, then asked me to see that the lad got the price of a pint each day and to arrange to send him ashore on some mission, at my discretion, with the hint, ‘I am sure Madam needs some help in the garden occasionally’. Then I had to swear that no-one knew where the money came from. He was a devout Catholic. When the telegram came to his office to say that my mother was dying he phoned my wife, he looked up my train, booked my sleeper, arranged my transport and only then came up to my office and broke the news to me. I remonstrated that I would have to arrange for my Sunday Service to which he replied. ‘That is already taken care of. I shall take it myself with your permission’ and he did. We remained friends across the years and when I served after the War in HMS Raleigh I used to visit him in his retirement.The Training Commander was Captain Bailey RN Rtd., who had been recalled from his Post as Captain of The training Ship SS Arethusa off Greenwich. He was so unlike the image the Master of an old sailing ship conjures up. He was a quietly spoken gentle man, of impeccable manners. He had a key to a small gate on the southern perimeter, which he invariably used from home to office. He cycled everywhere and in the basket on the handlebars was his small wire hair terrier. He was the senior Free Church Officer and was at service without fail every Sunday. He was followed by Commander Bell RN Rtd. He was a younger man, returned ashore from a spell of sea time. Whereas Captain Bailey kept a vigilant eye on the day’s parade routine from his office window, Comdr. Bell could be seen in and out among the classes. He was friendly in his approach and well liked by every one. We chaplains found him most co-operative; a great colleague.Padre Ryan was of the same ilk. As might be expected of one whose seniority was 1912, his reserved, almost gruff manner struck awe in young RNVR officers at first meeting and his rigid code of discipline kept Training Instructors on their toes in punctuality and in delivery of classes reporting to us and in receiving them from us. He played no favourites but under the stern exterior of a very elderly recalled pensioner was a warm friendly elder brother. He warmed to my extrovert enthusiasms and made quite certain I had full co-operation. He treated me as an equal. I was head of my own department. A Command Chaplain as opposed to the Ship’s Chaplain and expected to cover other establishments. He therefore saw that all papers, AFO’s etc were minuted to me. Whenever we had chaplaincy business to discuss with DO’s, Training Commander or Commodore we did it together.
One memorable visit to the Commodore on a Monday morning was to remind him that punctuality was the essence of disciplinary training ‘And yesterday, Sir, Divisions were late. Therefore church was late. It must not happen again.’ It was met with courtesy and gracious apology. The whole interview was a lesson in decorum and the diplomacy and behaviour expected of an ‘Officer and Gentleman’. I never forgot it through my service career.
He had an acute sense of the need to fill up the leisure time of the men during long evenings free from the fear of air attack in that first spring and summer. When the Cinema/Church was completed he tried to get the appointed Entertainments Officer to put on shows. He in turn thought it could only be done by writing to ENSA and arranging dates.Padre and I discussed the matter. I had just come from seven years in my central City charge in Leicester, with a successful committee who inveigled professionals from the theatre stage to put on Sunday evening concerts after the church service. This was done to cater for the Youth Parade which in pre-War and pre-television days used to walk the streets of our cities. Here we were with a wealth of talent at our disposal; in every new batch there were young actors, professional musicians, comic turns from the northern clubs, even singers from opera. It was so easy. The Divisional Officers reported to us when these came in. We had them for lectures, interviewed them and chose our talent. On Thursday evening I did the round of volunteers on the You and You basis. It never failed.As an aside, in 1983, I entered the village of Wroughton, Hants and could not get down the street for television cameras. It was Wursel Gummage himself. He was sitting in his scarecrow rig out, having stand easy with his Director, some of the actors and the Camera crew. I slipped up behind him and said ‘WT trainee Pertwee, this won’t pass Admiral’s Inspection.’ He stared and wondered – forty-five years is a long time – and then he exclaimed, ‘It’s the Padre!’ He turned to his director and said, ‘This is the Padre who gave me my first show and series, two thousand of a full house every Monday night’.
He was a teenager straight from RADA with a guitar and a few songs like ‘Dan McGrew’, ‘The Green Eyed Goddess’ and ‘Johnnie and Frankie were Lovers’ and a whole repertoire of wise-cracking ad-lib jokes about the DO and the doings around him. A most delightful character; I made him compere on a sharing basis with Ordinary Seaman Bishop who had come from the Club circuit in the North. They were so unlike but the odds were always with the polished WT Trainee Pertwee. He could always take the mickey out of poor Bishop, much to the delight of the crowd. We were indeed rich in talent. We had musicians from the bands of Jack Hilton, Billy Cotton, Vic Sylvester, and Debroy Summers, always on hand. The Blue Mariners of later fame got together in these shows.
As soon as it was possible we were given a professional Entertainment Officer, Sub Lieutenant John Penrose who did an excellent work, training long term WT Trainees and Wrens and putting on spectacular shows to which the C in C and other VIP’s were often invited
At that time Padre Ryan had found the going too hard and when the complement was near completion another mature Chaplain joined him, Percy Dodwell, whose seniority was 1932, together with Sims-Williams, who was an RN Lieutenant Retd. He had taken Holy Orders and was recalled into the chaplaincy. They were an ideal team, wholly dedicated t the task of religious instruction as in the peace time serve and administering to the moral and spiritual needs of the hour.
This was my introduction to the Royal Navy and to the Ship’s Company of HMS Collingwood who were undoubtedly selected specially for the task, probably by Rear Admiral Sedgwick himself. They had been recalled to HMS Royal Arthur in the Butlin’s Camp, Skegness for refresher training and awaiting the building of the skeleton Headquarters Section, the Officers’ accommodation, the Pay Office, the Administration Block, the Stores and the Sick Bay. My call up was on the same wavelength. I had been back in my birthplace on holiday in August and September 1939 and had seen many of my RNR fisherman friends called up to man the 1914 – 1918 destroyers taken out of mothballs for the Solent Review; come home and then, within four days called to return for War Duty. Before my vacation was over, I saw them away again. I went back to my City charge to find my large suite of halls commandeered by the Army Pay Corps and my Youth Organisations defunct.
This crisis situation, together with the memory of the recent farewells at home, triggered off my inbred love for the sea; I offered myself for Naval Service. I was called to London and was told there was an important task for which I was ideally suited by background and experience – a large Training Establishment to be built in the Portsmouth area. It was an opportunity not to be missed. I was to hold myself in readiness for my call up. It came with forty-eight hours notice to report on March 15th 1940 at RN Barracks, Portsmouth. I had been appointed HMS Victory Additional for duties at HMS Collingwood. At that time it was the unique nature of appointment of Chaplains other than C of E i.e. Roman Catholic chaplains, chaplains Church of Scotland and Free Churches, were all called Chaplains Temporary RN. It had been so for a hundred years and more. It had disadvantages for those serving in the peace time but in the time of war it was a sinecure to be envied. We were Command Chaplains with carte blanc entry to any ship or establishment in the Command. In my specific appointment it had added the additional responsibility of meeting every
chaplaincy duty laid down in the training routine, religious instruction
classes etc in HMS Collingwood and requiring that office and facilities be afforded for the performance of such duties. I also became responsible for the establishments, west of the harbour area. I therefore found that until another Chaplain was appointed in 1944, under the new regulations, I had full duties in RN Barracks, Lee-on-Solent, Headquarters of Fleet Air Arm. This entailed two services every Sunday morning and congregations never less than 1,500 in each.
During my first week the Revd Owen Roebuck, the Methodist Chaplain, RN Barracks, gave me a run down on my Command Duties and introduced me to the Command Chaplain, the Revd Reginald Churchill, ‘Reckless Reggie’ as he was invariably known, one of the finest Christian gentleman it has been my privilege to know and work with. He in turn took me down to Anchor House and introduced me to Lady Walker. Before I knew it I was co-opted into their welfare schemes.
The huge restaurant opposite the Southsea Pier was commandeered for a Services Canteen. A week or two later, a beautiful mansion in large grounds, up country, which had just been leased by a publishing firm to evacuate their London office, was taken over by us. Their office furniture was already on the premises in boxes. We found it an ideal Retreat and sleeping accommodation for Destroyer personnel when their ships were in harbour in time of blitz.
My own vested interest was met. We needed a canteen on the west side of the harbour for establishments like St Vincent, Collingwood, Daedalus and Hamble etc. Literally thousands of personnel were pouring in to Fareham. We could find no suitable premises so we had to build one. We built a shed-like structure, a large place, in the centre of Fareham. It was manned by The Mission to Seaman and it was called the Flying Angel Club.
When the Blitz began it was necessary to remove the comforts store from the Dockyard. It was at my suggestion and the instigation of Lady Walker that we used the empty Warrant Officers Wardroom in Collingwood for storing and distributing to ships the woollen garments, socks, scarves, seaboot stockings etc that were pouring in from Women’s Organisations in this Country. Also the ‘Bundle for Britain’ – the massive contributions from the women of the USA and the Colonies. I was not popular with the Collingwood Executive at the ‘take over’. Commander Kershaw remonstrated but the Commodore backed me. The First Lieutenant had to provide me with a Three Badge AB recalled pensioner, a survivor from the HMS Matabele disaster at Narvik. For AB Cooper – ‘Shorty’ to every officer and man – it was a fulltime job. As you can imagine we were right back in favour when the drafts from HMS Collingwood became first priority; even more so when the CO’s of smallships were writing letters of gratitude in the wild wintry conditions of the Atlantic Patrol. This gave great satisfaction to the Commodore as well as to us who were involved.In one bundle from the United States there was a small wooden cross. I remember it wrapped in a bundle of socks. I wondered what home or work party had put it there. Born and bred in a kirk where it was taught that an image of wood or stone however revered, could detract from the mysticism and reverence of Christian worship. I put it on my desk with the Spurgeonic motto ‘Teneo et Teneor’ – I hold and am held – beneath it. Then one day I saw it on the small Communion table, in the room we had set aside for the private prayers of sailors who felt their need. Our Wren ‘Flo’, wife of Chief Petty Officer Malone, on HMS Penelope, - the ‘Pepperpot’ – in the Mediterranean, had put it there. I understood her reason and I was sold on the thought behind it. After that I put the Cross into our Naval chapels wherever I served. When I retired I found a seventh century cross in the Kirkyard of my country parish. It was the Celtic ‘Ring of Glory’ design it was broken in two. The Ancient Monuments Department of the Ministry of Public Works, after restoration work placed it inside the Sanctuary. When Jim Laidlaw, who followed me at HMS Collingwood saw it he said ‘Aye Jock, you are still at it, putting crosses back into our kirks.’
The Officer commanding the Sick Bay was Captain Goodwin RN a genial elderly man who spent his day at his desk – 9 to 4 – as prompt on arrival as departure. He was backed by a superb team, Lieutenant Commander Burgess and Lieutenant Commander Parker and a stream of keen young RNVR doctors who, without exception, made a real contribution to the high morale in the Wardroom and among the Ratings, the one need of which doctors and chaplains were always aware.
Last but not least, Major De Garnier, Royal Marines Retd.,who invented that most efficient method of PT ‘fall in’ for men under instruction, now universally used, the familiar command ‘On your spots’. By this method he
guaranteed to familiarise a thousand men during the first twenty minutes of their first session in the gymnasium, with their place in rank, at any given time, during their whole period of training. He came from his East End London gymnasium with his staff of PT Instructors. They were still in mufti when I arrived. They were awaiting the decision of Admiralty about their rank. He knew my interest in psychology and we often discussed and observed together some of his experiments to sustain interest and enthusiasm on the gym floor with classes of a thousand. Especially when he would have a poor quality entry, he would call for me to watch their first period and then progressively through the course note the progressive change, not only in behaviour but in mental alertness and physical fitness. Eyes that were dull and morose became alert and bright. An interesting example was my Glasgow lads, from the ‘Billyboys’ gang. During their first week in the Fxle Division they had almost mutinied. They had beaten up their first Class Leader; their second one, a Harrow scholar, 6ft 4 over their average 5ft 6, was so frustrated that the instructors found him doing the class chores himself. They were punished with stoppage of leave.
At RI Instruction I heard the sorry tale. There was an educated man from the next hut who seemed to be in the advocate. It was the old question of ‘the auld enemy’ and the English Public School boy out of his depth. After I listened to the tale I asked the advocate what he did in private life; he was PT Instructor in the Corcaddens High School; the very man who knew and understood them more than anyone, and who could deal with them. I said ‘Right fellows, if I get him as your class leader will you promise not to let him down? And I will do what I can to get your leave restored.’ They did and with the co-operation of a wise CPO Instructor and Major De Garrnier, to whom I told the story, they turned out Top Class in the Division.
To be continued in the following “Shipmates”
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Just thought you'd like to know..
Medical distinction between Guts and Balls.
There is a medical distinction between Guts and Balls. We've all
heard about people having Guts or Balls. But do you really know the difference between them?
In an effort to keep you informed, here are the definitions:
GUTS - Is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being
met by your wife with a broom, and having the Guts to ask: 'Are you still cleaning, or are you flying somewhere?'
BALLS - Is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the butt
and having the Balls to say: 'You're next, Chubby.'
I hope this clears up any confusion on the definitions.
Medically, speaking there is No difference in the outcome.
Both result in death.
------------------------------------------------
'Viagra' is now available in tea bags.
It doesn't enhance your sexual performance but it does stop your biscuit going soft.
============================================
Someone asked the other day, 'What was your favourite 'fast food' when you were growing up?'
'We didn't have fast food when I was growing up,' I informed him. 'Except for Fish & Chip shops and we ate it all so unhygenically from newspaper wrappers'
'All the other food was slow.'
'C'mon, seriously.. Where did you eat?'
'It was a place called 'home,' I explained.
'Mum cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate, I was allowed to sit there until I did like it!!'
By this time, the lad was laughing so hard, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table.
But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I'd figured he could have handled it:
Some parents NEVER owned their own house, never wore jeans, never set foot on a golf course, never travelled out of the country and credit cards had not been invented.
My parents never drove me to school I walked. We didn't have a television in our house until the Queens Coronation.
It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at 10 pm, after playing the national anthem and epilogue; it came back on the air at about 4 p.m. and there was usually locally produced news and everything was live.....or film.
No mobile phones then, we had to go to a telephone box to make a call. The only phone available was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know weren't already using the line.
Pizzas were not delivered to our home... But milk was, and the bread.
All newspapers were delivered by paperboys --Many of us delivered newspaper's, seven days a week, and had to get up at 6AM every morning.
Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it?
How many of these do you remember?
Headlight dip-switches on the floor of the car.
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
There were two postal deliveries per day.
Trouser leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
The street lights were turned off at about 11pm each night.
Soldering irons you heated on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn indicators.
Corona fizzy drinks were delivered in glass bottles by lorry each week, and the empties returned.
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Please BE WARNED!
Over the last month I have become a victim of a clever 'Eastern European' scam while out shopping. Simply dropping into Sainsbury's supermarket for a bit of shopping turned out to be quite an experience.
Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you or your friends.
Here's how the scam works:
Two very good-looking 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your shopping into the boot. They both start cleaning your windscreen, their breasts almost falling out of their skimpy T-shirts. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say "No" and instead ask you for a lift to another supermarket, in my case Tesco's.
You agree and they both get in the back seat. On the way, they start undressing, until both are completely naked. Then, when you pull over to remonstrate, one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling all over your lap, kissing you, touching you intimately, and thrusting herself against you, while the other one steals your wallet!
I had my wallet stolen January 4th, 9th,10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th and 29th. Again on Febuary 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th and twice yesterday.
So please warn all the older men you know to be on the lookout for this scam.
The best times seem to be just before lunch and about 4:30 in the afternoon.
P.S. Aldi have cheap wallets on sale for £1.99 each but Lidl wallets are £1.75 and look better.
And finally a couple of one for you to watch !!!!!
Scottish Marriage proposal
"http://www.youtube.com/embed/dYslhL71k1M?rel=0"
Voice recognition lift.
http://dotsub.com/view/6c5d7514-5656-476a-9504-07dd4e2f6509
Until next time .......................
HMS COLLINGWOOD
1939 – 1945
By Revd CA Grant MA RN Rtd
Twice during my retirement I had been asked to collaborate in producing a history of HMS Collingwood. It was felt that I could add the personal flavour to anecdotes already gathered and confirm data about the building of the establishment and the training personnel. The second time it was at the suggestion of the commanding officer Captain Maurice Head with whom I had previously served. I was unable to comply. I could make the excuse that I was overworked at the time in a thriving city church in Edinburgh, but I have before me now the typewritten resume sent to me, headed Chapter III At Fareham. It would seem to indicate that it was part of a history of ships of the line bearing the name, or of a larger Work. Reading it now, confirms my conclusion then, that not enough research of the sources and the records had been made; that it was far too near in time for historical objectivity to give it true perspective, especially by one who had been involved as a Chaplain through these eventful years.
Recently I had to search through my naval papers to provide information for the Principal Chaplain, Irvin Vincent and found this item, Chapter III at Fareham together with the reprinted Order of Service of Thanksgiving for the Cessation of Hostilities in Europe 1939 – 1944. I remember the sweat of preparation to rush it into print for that memorable Sunday. So rushed was it that some parts were omitted on the day as unfitted for the occasion i.e. the solemn element, the silence and the bugle etc.
It was this that prompted me to make this contribution to the present Thanksgiving forty years on. It documents a piece of HMS Collingwood history. It also records the spontaneous psychological reaction of one individual, who had continuously led the worship of men and women, congregations of 2,000 plus, on the Gunner Mess Deck, Sunday after Sunday through these momentous years.
The reactions of one who was deeply emotionally, and emotively involved in the very real personality problems of thousands of men as they copied or failed to cope with the early separations and forebodings as well as the new disciplines which were daily remoulding them physically and mentally; reshaping character as they were painfully becoming aware of the hungry war machine into which they were being launched and from which many were not to survive.
As the months went by and casualties were announced, no-one was more aware of the responsibility laid upon us than I was. For example, the sinking of the Hood to which we had given a whole batch, including some of the first Australian RNVR who came to us in September 1940. Some of these men, even now I can name, such as, the son of a Moderator of the Congregational Union, Idris James from whom I received a letter on the morning the news of the sinking came over the radio. In which he said that they had arrived on board at Scapa Flow, and that they were looking forward to the commission. One of the Australian lads who name I remember, was Ian Williamson, the son of the harbourmaster at Sydney. It is for this reason that as the dedication of this service order was a tribute to them I now offer the reprint and these few memories of an old ‘Barrack Stanchion’, as a tribute to a remarkable Ship’s Company of officers and men – not forgetting the Wrens – who were responsible for their high standard of training and made an outstanding contribution to Britain’s War Effort in the largest establishment of the Royal Navy for the training of hostilities only Ratings of the Seaman Branch and Communications, Signals and Wireless Telegraphy.
THE SHIP’S COMPANY – OFFICERS AND MEN
The original ship’s company were a unique close knit community – a brotherhood of naval pensioners, ‘Officers and Other Ranks’, some of whom had served in the 1914 – 1918 War. With them were a few mature RNVR Officers as sub divisional officers. There were officers who had come under the Geddes Axe, for example Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Peck, the gunnery Divisional Officer, had been recalled from his post, as Chief of Police, Fiji Islands. There was also the First Lieutenant. In 1920 after the 1914 – 1918 War he had plotted the canal systems of Germany and France from the mouth of the Rhone back to the mouth of the Rhine, manhauling his MTB by road between the two rivers at the narrowest point
in their upper reaches. Probably he was given this Collingwood posting on the assumption that a man who could achieve such a feat could do anything with the marshland upon which the establishment was built.
He was a refreshing character whose imaginative ingenuity and warm approach to his seamen certainly turned the acres of wasteland within the perimeter into a fertile and financially viable farm and piggery – a course of income to create the green swards and the garden areas of which he was justly proud.
The Commodore was Rear Admiral CG Sedgwick RN Retd., a son of the vicarage. His brother was Vicar of Gosport at the time and a frequent visitor. The Rear Admiral was a typical product of the old Gunnery School, HMS Excellent. He was a shy, taciturn man of few words but approachable and scrupulously fair. He knew his officers and most of the Chief PO gunners had served under him, some had been in the China Station under his Command and told many a tale about the old man. He held their respect and therefore their loyalty.
Rear Admiral Waterhouse, RN Retd., was Paymaster. I found him a happy man whose friendliness kept his empire of Cookhouses, Supply Stores and Pay Office firmly under his control by the loyalty it engendered. His visits were looked forward to by the Staff. As he walked through he had a word for everybody.
In the Fall of the year it was becoming obvious that he was succumbing to the pressures of the job or was in failing health. He went on sick leave. His illness was terminable and he died in May 1941. His grave is to be found directly to the North of the door of the Chapel in Haslar cemetery.
Both of these men were a pleasure to serve. The best story of my whole naval service brimmed with humour, displays the caring and compassion of these two Old Salts. One day in September 1940 a letter was passed round all the Heads of Department with an accompanying docket addressed to Rear Admiral Waterhouse, for attention. It was from a mother regretting that her son would not be at home for his 21st birthday – no leave being granted. She would be grateful therefore if on Friday he could have his favour dinner sweet – Ginger Pudding. The docket was returned by each Head of Department signed, duly noted. It was signed by Rear Admiral Waterhouse – ‘Action Taken’. On the following Friday every Officer, Man and Wren in HMS Collingwood, ten thousand of them, had ginger pudding as their sweet.
Years afterwards, in my Edinburgh years, I told this story to the children in Church, mentioning that the father of three of them had been a sailor in Collingwood at the time and would tell them it was true. At the Church door afterwards, Andrew Slessor, my ex-sailor said, ‘You forgot, Padre, to tell them that from then on we had ginger pudding on the menu every Friday until we were tied of it!’ – a typical sailor’s embellishment I am sure. However his version was corroborated by another ex-Collingwood sailor, Alex Pointon one of the Church elders.
Commander Kershaw was the Executive Officer – he was another well known naval character, better known to the Rugby followers of the 20’s and early 30’s as the Scrum Half of the famous Half Back Line of the Navy and England – Kershaw and Davies. He was an excellent officer but as often happens with a small man, gone rather rotund. He was rather consequential, inclined to stand on his dignity. In the Wardroom he leaned on the window radiator whenever big men were around him. When either Padre Ryan or myself – big men – went into his office he invariably got up from his chair, leaned on the radiator and looked out towards the Parade Ground. Standing on his feet, half crouched, he was fit for any big rugby forward however tough. At least that was the explanation given to us by the Major of Marines, Major De Garnier RM, another small man and a colleague of his. They were both of the PT Instructor Branch.
The story of young Binns, a household name in the North, is a good illustration of the peculiarities of the Commander, who was a bachelor, married to the ship and to his old but beautiful Bently. Young Binns, Called Up, arrived in his latest model Bentley. He sailed through the gates and alongside the officer of the Watch on his Rail Deck. The Commander had seen it all. He rushed out and yelled ‘Get that car off my Quarter Deck’. ‘Where shall I put it?’ ‘Anywhere off this desk and never let me see it inside these gates again.’ Young Binns sailed out of the West Exit, saw the field gate in front of him and drove into it. It remained there until he had completed his first seven days, a period in which no leave was granted to any newly arrived trainee. From then on Binns seemed to get into scrapes. At least he was under the feet of his Divisional Officer and the Commander along with one or two other wealthy types. Of course everybody said it was because the Commander envied him his new Bentley.
Like him we all have our idiosyncrasies. He was a first class Commander with a high sense of his responsibility a thorough grasp of the rapid expansion of his empire and a complete mastery of the situation. He was seldom away from his post even for a night. On one of his rare weekends, six weeks after the Bentley ‘Grand Entry’, he went up to London. He sat down in the quiet Reading Lounge of his exclusive Club beside a warm fire. It was a haven of peace and luxury. The stresses and the tension drained off as the thoughts of Binns, and his Defaulters Table faded away. An hour had passed before he became aware that behind the ‘Times’ in the armchair on the other side of the fire were bell-bottoms and when the paper was lowered, whose head appeared? – young Binns.
Commander Kershaw was succeeded by Captain Tim O’Leary, RN Retd., who had just come from a hard commission in Command at sea. He was of a different breed – had come up through the ranks from Boys Service. He came with the reputation of being a hard disciplinarian. Indeed, that he was, but with an acute mind, and a thorough understanding of human nature. Under his reputed toughness there was a quality that made David Garrick say of sailors not only the familiar truism, ‘Who are so free as the sons of the waves? Hearts of oak are our ships, hearts of oak are our men’ but also another truism that describes the sailor as we know him, ‘A fellow feeling makes us one wondrous kind.’
When Tim had thrown the book at a defaulter 28 days stoppage of pay, 28 days stoppage of leave, he came up to my office as he often did for his Stand Easy, straight from his table and told me what he had done, then asked me to see that the lad got the price of a pint each day and to arrange to send him ashore on some mission, at my discretion, with the hint, ‘I am sure Madam needs some help in the garden occasionally’. Then I had to swear that no-one knew where the money came from. He was a devout Catholic. When the telegram came to his office to say that my mother was dying he phoned my wife, he looked up my train, booked my sleeper, arranged my transport and only then came up to my office and broke the news to me. I remonstrated that I would have to arrange for my Sunday Service to which he replied. ‘That is already taken care of. I shall take it myself with your permission’ and he did. We remained friends across the years and when I served after the War in HMS Raleigh I used to visit him in his retirement.The Training Commander was Captain Bailey RN Rtd., who had been recalled from his Post as Captain of The training Ship SS Arethusa off Greenwich. He was so unlike the image the Master of an old sailing ship conjures up. He was a quietly spoken gentle man, of impeccable manners. He had a key to a small gate on the southern perimeter, which he invariably used from home to office. He cycled everywhere and in the basket on the handlebars was his small wire hair terrier. He was the senior Free Church Officer and was at service without fail every Sunday. He was followed by Commander Bell RN Rtd. He was a younger man, returned ashore from a spell of sea time. Whereas Captain Bailey kept a vigilant eye on the day’s parade routine from his office window, Comdr. Bell could be seen in and out among the classes. He was friendly in his approach and well liked by every one. We chaplains found him most co-operative; a great colleague.Padre Ryan was of the same ilk. As might be expected of one whose seniority was 1912, his reserved, almost gruff manner struck awe in young RNVR officers at first meeting and his rigid code of discipline kept Training Instructors on their toes in punctuality and in delivery of classes reporting to us and in receiving them from us. He played no favourites but under the stern exterior of a very elderly recalled pensioner was a warm friendly elder brother. He warmed to my extrovert enthusiasms and made quite certain I had full co-operation. He treated me as an equal. I was head of my own department. A Command Chaplain as opposed to the Ship’s Chaplain and expected to cover other establishments. He therefore saw that all papers, AFO’s etc were minuted to me. Whenever we had chaplaincy business to discuss with DO’s, Training Commander or Commodore we did it together.
One memorable visit to the Commodore on a Monday morning was to remind him that punctuality was the essence of disciplinary training ‘And yesterday, Sir, Divisions were late. Therefore church was late. It must not happen again.’ It was met with courtesy and gracious apology. The whole interview was a lesson in decorum and the diplomacy and behaviour expected of an ‘Officer and Gentleman’. I never forgot it through my service career.
He had an acute sense of the need to fill up the leisure time of the men during long evenings free from the fear of air attack in that first spring and summer. When the Cinema/Church was completed he tried to get the appointed Entertainments Officer to put on shows. He in turn thought it could only be done by writing to ENSA and arranging dates.Padre and I discussed the matter. I had just come from seven years in my central City charge in Leicester, with a successful committee who inveigled professionals from the theatre stage to put on Sunday evening concerts after the church service. This was done to cater for the Youth Parade which in pre-War and pre-television days used to walk the streets of our cities. Here we were with a wealth of talent at our disposal; in every new batch there were young actors, professional musicians, comic turns from the northern clubs, even singers from opera. It was so easy. The Divisional Officers reported to us when these came in. We had them for lectures, interviewed them and chose our talent. On Thursday evening I did the round of volunteers on the You and You basis. It never failed.As an aside, in 1983, I entered the village of Wroughton, Hants and could not get down the street for television cameras. It was Wursel Gummage himself. He was sitting in his scarecrow rig out, having stand easy with his Director, some of the actors and the Camera crew. I slipped up behind him and said ‘WT trainee Pertwee, this won’t pass Admiral’s Inspection.’ He stared and wondered – forty-five years is a long time – and then he exclaimed, ‘It’s the Padre!’ He turned to his director and said, ‘This is the Padre who gave me my first show and series, two thousand of a full house every Monday night’.
He was a teenager straight from RADA with a guitar and a few songs like ‘Dan McGrew’, ‘The Green Eyed Goddess’ and ‘Johnnie and Frankie were Lovers’ and a whole repertoire of wise-cracking ad-lib jokes about the DO and the doings around him. A most delightful character; I made him compere on a sharing basis with Ordinary Seaman Bishop who had come from the Club circuit in the North. They were so unlike but the odds were always with the polished WT Trainee Pertwee. He could always take the mickey out of poor Bishop, much to the delight of the crowd. We were indeed rich in talent. We had musicians from the bands of Jack Hilton, Billy Cotton, Vic Sylvester, and Debroy Summers, always on hand. The Blue Mariners of later fame got together in these shows.
As soon as it was possible we were given a professional Entertainment Officer, Sub Lieutenant John Penrose who did an excellent work, training long term WT Trainees and Wrens and putting on spectacular shows to which the C in C and other VIP’s were often invited
At that time Padre Ryan had found the going too hard and when the complement was near completion another mature Chaplain joined him, Percy Dodwell, whose seniority was 1932, together with Sims-Williams, who was an RN Lieutenant Retd. He had taken Holy Orders and was recalled into the chaplaincy. They were an ideal team, wholly dedicated t the task of religious instruction as in the peace time serve and administering to the moral and spiritual needs of the hour.
This was my introduction to the Royal Navy and to the Ship’s Company of HMS Collingwood who were undoubtedly selected specially for the task, probably by Rear Admiral Sedgwick himself. They had been recalled to HMS Royal Arthur in the Butlin’s Camp, Skegness for refresher training and awaiting the building of the skeleton Headquarters Section, the Officers’ accommodation, the Pay Office, the Administration Block, the Stores and the Sick Bay. My call up was on the same wavelength. I had been back in my birthplace on holiday in August and September 1939 and had seen many of my RNR fisherman friends called up to man the 1914 – 1918 destroyers taken out of mothballs for the Solent Review; come home and then, within four days called to return for War Duty. Before my vacation was over, I saw them away again. I went back to my City charge to find my large suite of halls commandeered by the Army Pay Corps and my Youth Organisations defunct.
This crisis situation, together with the memory of the recent farewells at home, triggered off my inbred love for the sea; I offered myself for Naval Service. I was called to London and was told there was an important task for which I was ideally suited by background and experience – a large Training Establishment to be built in the Portsmouth area. It was an opportunity not to be missed. I was to hold myself in readiness for my call up. It came with forty-eight hours notice to report on March 15th 1940 at RN Barracks, Portsmouth. I had been appointed HMS Victory Additional for duties at HMS Collingwood. At that time it was the unique nature of appointment of Chaplains other than C of E i.e. Roman Catholic chaplains, chaplains Church of Scotland and Free Churches, were all called Chaplains Temporary RN. It had been so for a hundred years and more. It had disadvantages for those serving in the peace time but in the time of war it was a sinecure to be envied. We were Command Chaplains with carte blanc entry to any ship or establishment in the Command. In my specific appointment it had added the additional responsibility of meeting every
chaplaincy duty laid down in the training routine, religious instruction
classes etc in HMS Collingwood and requiring that office and facilities be afforded for the performance of such duties. I also became responsible for the establishments, west of the harbour area. I therefore found that until another Chaplain was appointed in 1944, under the new regulations, I had full duties in RN Barracks, Lee-on-Solent, Headquarters of Fleet Air Arm. This entailed two services every Sunday morning and congregations never less than 1,500 in each.
During my first week the Revd Owen Roebuck, the Methodist Chaplain, RN Barracks, gave me a run down on my Command Duties and introduced me to the Command Chaplain, the Revd Reginald Churchill, ‘Reckless Reggie’ as he was invariably known, one of the finest Christian gentleman it has been my privilege to know and work with. He in turn took me down to Anchor House and introduced me to Lady Walker. Before I knew it I was co-opted into their welfare schemes.
The huge restaurant opposite the Southsea Pier was commandeered for a Services Canteen. A week or two later, a beautiful mansion in large grounds, up country, which had just been leased by a publishing firm to evacuate their London office, was taken over by us. Their office furniture was already on the premises in boxes. We found it an ideal Retreat and sleeping accommodation for Destroyer personnel when their ships were in harbour in time of blitz.
My own vested interest was met. We needed a canteen on the west side of the harbour for establishments like St Vincent, Collingwood, Daedalus and Hamble etc. Literally thousands of personnel were pouring in to Fareham. We could find no suitable premises so we had to build one. We built a shed-like structure, a large place, in the centre of Fareham. It was manned by The Mission to Seaman and it was called the Flying Angel Club.
When the Blitz began it was necessary to remove the comforts store from the Dockyard. It was at my suggestion and the instigation of Lady Walker that we used the empty Warrant Officers Wardroom in Collingwood for storing and distributing to ships the woollen garments, socks, scarves, seaboot stockings etc that were pouring in from Women’s Organisations in this Country. Also the ‘Bundle for Britain’ – the massive contributions from the women of the USA and the Colonies. I was not popular with the Collingwood Executive at the ‘take over’. Commander Kershaw remonstrated but the Commodore backed me. The First Lieutenant had to provide me with a Three Badge AB recalled pensioner, a survivor from the HMS Matabele disaster at Narvik. For AB Cooper – ‘Shorty’ to every officer and man – it was a fulltime job. As you can imagine we were right back in favour when the drafts from HMS Collingwood became first priority; even more so when the CO’s of smallships were writing letters of gratitude in the wild wintry conditions of the Atlantic Patrol. This gave great satisfaction to the Commodore as well as to us who were involved.In one bundle from the United States there was a small wooden cross. I remember it wrapped in a bundle of socks. I wondered what home or work party had put it there. Born and bred in a kirk where it was taught that an image of wood or stone however revered, could detract from the mysticism and reverence of Christian worship. I put it on my desk with the Spurgeonic motto ‘Teneo et Teneor’ – I hold and am held – beneath it. Then one day I saw it on the small Communion table, in the room we had set aside for the private prayers of sailors who felt their need. Our Wren ‘Flo’, wife of Chief Petty Officer Malone, on HMS Penelope, - the ‘Pepperpot’ – in the Mediterranean, had put it there. I understood her reason and I was sold on the thought behind it. After that I put the Cross into our Naval chapels wherever I served. When I retired I found a seventh century cross in the Kirkyard of my country parish. It was the Celtic ‘Ring of Glory’ design it was broken in two. The Ancient Monuments Department of the Ministry of Public Works, after restoration work placed it inside the Sanctuary. When Jim Laidlaw, who followed me at HMS Collingwood saw it he said ‘Aye Jock, you are still at it, putting crosses back into our kirks.’
The Officer commanding the Sick Bay was Captain Goodwin RN a genial elderly man who spent his day at his desk – 9 to 4 – as prompt on arrival as departure. He was backed by a superb team, Lieutenant Commander Burgess and Lieutenant Commander Parker and a stream of keen young RNVR doctors who, without exception, made a real contribution to the high morale in the Wardroom and among the Ratings, the one need of which doctors and chaplains were always aware.
Last but not least, Major De Garnier, Royal Marines Retd.,who invented that most efficient method of PT ‘fall in’ for men under instruction, now universally used, the familiar command ‘On your spots’. By this method he
guaranteed to familiarise a thousand men during the first twenty minutes of their first session in the gymnasium, with their place in rank, at any given time, during their whole period of training. He came from his East End London gymnasium with his staff of PT Instructors. They were still in mufti when I arrived. They were awaiting the decision of Admiralty about their rank. He knew my interest in psychology and we often discussed and observed together some of his experiments to sustain interest and enthusiasm on the gym floor with classes of a thousand. Especially when he would have a poor quality entry, he would call for me to watch their first period and then progressively through the course note the progressive change, not only in behaviour but in mental alertness and physical fitness. Eyes that were dull and morose became alert and bright. An interesting example was my Glasgow lads, from the ‘Billyboys’ gang. During their first week in the Fxle Division they had almost mutinied. They had beaten up their first Class Leader; their second one, a Harrow scholar, 6ft 4 over their average 5ft 6, was so frustrated that the instructors found him doing the class chores himself. They were punished with stoppage of leave.
At RI Instruction I heard the sorry tale. There was an educated man from the next hut who seemed to be in the advocate. It was the old question of ‘the auld enemy’ and the English Public School boy out of his depth. After I listened to the tale I asked the advocate what he did in private life; he was PT Instructor in the Corcaddens High School; the very man who knew and understood them more than anyone, and who could deal with them. I said ‘Right fellows, if I get him as your class leader will you promise not to let him down? And I will do what I can to get your leave restored.’ They did and with the co-operation of a wise CPO Instructor and Major De Garrnier, to whom I told the story, they turned out Top Class in the Division.
To be continued in the following “Shipmates”
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Just thought you'd like to know..
Medical distinction between Guts and Balls.
There is a medical distinction between Guts and Balls. We've all
heard about people having Guts or Balls. But do you really know the difference between them?
In an effort to keep you informed, here are the definitions:
GUTS - Is arriving home late after a night out with the guys, being
met by your wife with a broom, and having the Guts to ask: 'Are you still cleaning, or are you flying somewhere?'
BALLS - Is coming home late after a night out with the guys, smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife on the butt
and having the Balls to say: 'You're next, Chubby.'
I hope this clears up any confusion on the definitions.
Medically, speaking there is No difference in the outcome.
Both result in death.
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'Viagra' is now available in tea bags.
It doesn't enhance your sexual performance but it does stop your biscuit going soft.
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Someone asked the other day, 'What was your favourite 'fast food' when you were growing up?'
'We didn't have fast food when I was growing up,' I informed him. 'Except for Fish & Chip shops and we ate it all so unhygenically from newspaper wrappers'
'All the other food was slow.'
'C'mon, seriously.. Where did you eat?'
'It was a place called 'home,' I explained.
'Mum cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate, I was allowed to sit there until I did like it!!'
By this time, the lad was laughing so hard, so I didn't tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table.
But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I'd figured he could have handled it:
Some parents NEVER owned their own house, never wore jeans, never set foot on a golf course, never travelled out of the country and credit cards had not been invented.
My parents never drove me to school I walked. We didn't have a television in our house until the Queens Coronation.
It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at 10 pm, after playing the national anthem and epilogue; it came back on the air at about 4 p.m. and there was usually locally produced news and everything was live.....or film.
No mobile phones then, we had to go to a telephone box to make a call. The only phone available was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn't know weren't already using the line.
Pizzas were not delivered to our home... But milk was, and the bread.
All newspapers were delivered by paperboys --Many of us delivered newspaper's, seven days a week, and had to get up at 6AM every morning.
Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it?
How many of these do you remember?
Headlight dip-switches on the floor of the car.
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
There were two postal deliveries per day.
Trouser leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
The street lights were turned off at about 11pm each night.
Soldering irons you heated on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn indicators.
Corona fizzy drinks were delivered in glass bottles by lorry each week, and the empties returned.
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Please BE WARNED!
Over the last month I have become a victim of a clever 'Eastern European' scam while out shopping. Simply dropping into Sainsbury's supermarket for a bit of shopping turned out to be quite an experience.
Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you or your friends.
Here's how the scam works:
Two very good-looking 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your shopping into the boot. They both start cleaning your windscreen, their breasts almost falling out of their skimpy T-shirts. When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say "No" and instead ask you for a lift to another supermarket, in my case Tesco's.
You agree and they both get in the back seat. On the way, they start undressing, until both are completely naked. Then, when you pull over to remonstrate, one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling all over your lap, kissing you, touching you intimately, and thrusting herself against you, while the other one steals your wallet!
I had my wallet stolen January 4th, 9th,10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, 24th and 29th. Again on Febuary 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th and twice yesterday.
So please warn all the older men you know to be on the lookout for this scam.
The best times seem to be just before lunch and about 4:30 in the afternoon.
P.S. Aldi have cheap wallets on sale for £1.99 each but Lidl wallets are £1.75 and look better.
And finally a couple of one for you to watch !!!!!
Scottish Marriage proposal
"http://www.youtube.com/embed/dYslhL71k1M?rel=0"
Voice recognition lift.
http://dotsub.com/view/6c5d7514-5656-476a-9504-07dd4e2f6509
Until next time .......................
