Shipmate
Spring 2015
Collingwood Memorial, Tynemouth
Cover photo. The Collingwood Memorial at Tynemouth.
Admiral Lord Collingwood was born in Newcastle and joined the Navy in 1761. He rose through the ranks and was captain of the Royal Sovereign at Trafalgar and took over command of the fleet after Nelson’s death. The cannon on either side of the memorial are from the Royal Sovereign.
This issues competition is to identify the three people at the base of the column.
Admiral Lord Collingwood was born in Newcastle and joined the Navy in 1761. He rose through the ranks and was captain of the Royal Sovereign at Trafalgar and took over command of the fleet after Nelson’s death. The cannon on either side of the memorial are from the Royal Sovereign.
This issues competition is to identify the three people at the base of the column.
=========================================================
Last editions competition – spot S/M Gerald Lillicrap was won by Mrs. Lillicrap
who still recognises him after all these years.
Gerald’s eyes have unfortunately gone a bit wonky so he was no help!!
who still recognises him after all these years.
Gerald’s eyes have unfortunately gone a bit wonky so he was no help!!
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Dates to remember
Jan 24th 1915 Battle of Dogger Bank
· March/April 1915 Dardanelles/Gallipoli
· April 17 – 20th 2015 AGM/Reunion Widnes
· November 8th 2015 Remembrance Sunday.
Jan 24th 1915 Battle of Dogger Bank
· March/April 1915 Dardanelles/Gallipoli
· April 17 – 20th 2015 AGM/Reunion Widnes
· November 8th 2015 Remembrance Sunday.
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Crossed the Bar
Lest we Forget
Crossed the Bar Lest we Forget
Ron ‘The Pianist’ Arben
C/JX 189467
20th January 2015. Aged 95
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Geoffrey Field
C/MX 918333
w/e of 15th February 2015
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Gerald Lillicrap
P/MX 517909
24th February 2015
============================================
C/JX 189467
20th January 2015. Aged 95
====================================================================
Geoffrey Field
C/MX 918333
w/e of 15th February 2015
=======================================
Gerald Lillicrap
P/MX 517909
24th February 2015
============================================
Commital of Ashes at Sea
All who have served in the Royal Navy,Royal Marines or associated seafaring roles are entitled
to have their ashes taken to Spithead and laid to rest accompanied by their next of kin.
To apply for this, email Lisa Paffett HMS Nelson on [email protected] or call 02392 724815.
A form will be sent and arrangements made to meet at the historic dockyard from where a boat is taken to Spithead and, with due ceremony, the remains are commended to the deep. Upon the boats return a coach will transport the NOK to St. Ann’s Church were tea/ coffee, biscuits and a chat before transport back to the Main Gate. The names of those commended at sea are recorded in the Remembrance Book on view in the church.
This service has been extended to the wives/husbands of those who have served.
I have attended one of these services for a mate and found it very moving.
======================================================================
All who have served in the Royal Navy,Royal Marines or associated seafaring roles are entitled
to have their ashes taken to Spithead and laid to rest accompanied by their next of kin.
To apply for this, email Lisa Paffett HMS Nelson on [email protected] or call 02392 724815.
A form will be sent and arrangements made to meet at the historic dockyard from where a boat is taken to Spithead and, with due ceremony, the remains are commended to the deep. Upon the boats return a coach will transport the NOK to St. Ann’s Church were tea/ coffee, biscuits and a chat before transport back to the Main Gate. The names of those commended at sea are recorded in the Remembrance Book on view in the church.
This service has been extended to the wives/husbands of those who have served.
I have attended one of these services for a mate and found it very moving.
======================================================================
EDITORS'S MUSINGS.
Hello Play.. sorry – Shipmates.
It’s time for another try at our magazine.
I’ve taken advice and made the printing a bit bigger and the comments shorter. We are back to printing our own as the last copy – although shiny – was expensive to print and weighed more so postage increased!! Since the last edition we have sadly ‘lost’ a couple of members, but also gained a couple.
The AGM is set for April with a visit to Liverpool and Chester. The maritime museum is worth a visit.
I am running short of articles for Shipmate and so if you could send me anything I would be grateful. The ongoing ‘history’ is almost finished and if all else fails you will be left with my ‘recollections’! We all left Collingwood and went on from there – stories/ dits/ ‘runs ashore – anything will do. I’m including a ‘Reunion photo page’ so you can see last times events. All the photos we have taken are in the Gallery section of the web site. For the non-computing members I’ve put a list of the committee on the last two pages.
==========================================================================
Hello Play.. sorry – Shipmates.
It’s time for another try at our magazine.
I’ve taken advice and made the printing a bit bigger and the comments shorter. We are back to printing our own as the last copy – although shiny – was expensive to print and weighed more so postage increased!! Since the last edition we have sadly ‘lost’ a couple of members, but also gained a couple.
The AGM is set for April with a visit to Liverpool and Chester. The maritime museum is worth a visit.
I am running short of articles for Shipmate and so if you could send me anything I would be grateful. The ongoing ‘history’ is almost finished and if all else fails you will be left with my ‘recollections’! We all left Collingwood and went on from there – stories/ dits/ ‘runs ashore – anything will do. I’m including a ‘Reunion photo page’ so you can see last times events. All the photos we have taken are in the Gallery section of the web site. For the non-computing members I’ve put a list of the committee on the last two pages.
==========================================================================
Photo has been sent by Arthur Norman C/SMX 892733.
Can you identify anybody? Do you know Arthur (Art)?
Can you identify anybody? Do you know Arthur (Art)?
A group of Petty Officers and a group of Naval Officers take a train to a conference and due to status each Naval Officer holds his own ticket. But the entire group of P.O.’s who will have to pay, have only bought one ticket for a single passenger, the idea to save money…. The naval officers are just shaking their heads and are secretly pleased that the arrogant P.O.’s will finally get what they deserve. Suddenly one of the group calls out “The conductor is coming!” At once all the PO’s jump up and squeeze into one of the toilets. The conductor checks the tickets of the individual Officers. When he notices that the toilet is occupied he knocks and says “Ticket” please. One of the PO’s pushes the ticket under the door, the conductor checks and pushes it back.
The conference over the Naval Officers decide to do the same trick. But are baffled when the PO’s don’t buy one at all. After a while one of the PO’s calls that the conductor is on his way. All the Naval Officers crowd into the toilet and the PO’s leisurely walk to another. Before the last PO enters the toilet he knocks on the one occupied by the Officers and says “Ticket please”. And the moral of the story? Though Naval Officers like to ape, use the methods of their non commissioned officers – they really don’t understand them.
============================================================
The conference over the Naval Officers decide to do the same trick. But are baffled when the PO’s don’t buy one at all. After a while one of the PO’s calls that the conductor is on his way. All the Naval Officers crowd into the toilet and the PO’s leisurely walk to another. Before the last PO enters the toilet he knocks on the one occupied by the Officers and says “Ticket please”. And the moral of the story? Though Naval Officers like to ape, use the methods of their non commissioned officers – they really don’t understand them.
============================================================
A C. P.O and an Admiral were sitting in a barbershop. They were both just getting finished with their shaves, when the barber reached for some aftershave to slap on their faces.
The Admiral shouted “ Hey don’t put that stuff on me. My wife will think I’ve been in a whorehouse!”
The Chief turned to his barber and said “ Go ahead and put it on me. My wife dosen’t know what the inside of a whorehouse smells like.
=============================================================
The Admiral shouted “ Hey don’t put that stuff on me. My wife will think I’ve been in a whorehouse!”
The Chief turned to his barber and said “ Go ahead and put it on me. My wife dosen’t know what the inside of a whorehouse smells like.
=============================================================
I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it..
- W. C. Fields
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- W. C. Fields
================================================================================
The following is the conclusion of Mike's 5 day weekend !!
We were dispatched to H.M.S.Cochrane, the Naval Base for Rosyth and found beds and food. A great relief. But where was H.M.S.Gambia? Well we were called together a couple of days later. The leading hand given train passes etc etc and off we went. To Loch Eriboll. Where is Loch Eriboll? Get your map of Scotland out, you will be needing it, and look right at the top near Cape Wrath, that’s the place right in the top left hand corner of Scotland. Move along the top coast to the East and you will find a huge inlet. That is Loch Eriboll. We are at present, just north of Edinburgh.
We have a long, exciting and in parts, a beautiful journey ahead of us.
Once again I have to admit that there are parts of the journey to Loch Eriboll I do not remember.
For example after the overnight train from Edinburgh to Inverness, did we change there or did that train go a bit further and we changed later? I do know that our last train took us as close to Loch Eriboll as possible and this was to a place called Lairg. Lairg is at the southern end of Loch Shin, so we had to get out. We had arrived and the place wasn’t really awake, neither were we come to that, but it didn’t take long to see most of Lairg and our Leading Hand found an hotel where we had breakfast. Look at where Lairg is and imagine the looks we were getting. 5 matelots in ‘Sailor Suits’ as far away from the sea as one could get quite likely!!!.
So what happens now? We wait for ‘the daily bus’ to come and pick us up. This is the local post/community/everything bus. (You will need your map here) It leaves Durness in the morning, arriving at Lairg at midday. The driver has a rest and lunch, then departing at 14.00, he drives back to Durness and we would be on it!
It must be pointed out that this was once an ordinary bus but the back few seats had been taken out and a wire netting partition put across. This was the ‘cargo’ area, reached through the back door. I cannot remember what there was in there, but I am led to believe that cattle ‘could’ be in there!! Something we did have, in the bus itself and alongside the driver, was a milk crate with mail on top, complete with newspapers and bread! A ‘Community Bus’ in the true sense. What was to unfold now, was the highlight of the journey to the ship, from where the Ticket Clerk told me I had Sunday train times and that my train had gone.
We travelled alongside Loch Shin, Loch Merkland, Loch More, other Lochs and rivers through some stunning scenery, and remember this was late spring.
What was fascinating , was that every so often the bus would stop in a field gateway, no buildings around, and the driver would get out and shove a newspaper or letters or a bottle of milk in a hole in the hedge, “There are some houses down there, they will be up for them in a minute” and with that drove off to a group of houses clustered at the roadside with people waiting. The driver would hand out goodies again, mail, milk, letters etc and so on to these little gatherings which were in some cases miles apart and the only sign of any human life.
That journey, one of the most fascinating of my life took the afternoon and so we arrived at Durness. We looked for H.M.S.Gambia tied up alongside the wall. I don’t even recall a wall for a Colonial Class Cruiser to tie up against, but what we did see, was a Royal Navy, because it had RN on it and pained Navy Blue, yes a Royal Navy Land Rover! Up here in the very north of Scotland! Why? How? What for?
We were flying the Flag of the Admiral of the Home Fleet and as such, he had his own staff, AND, a Land Rover for running about and getting messages etc. His Land Rover had driven all the way up to Scotland to be on duty and his duty tonight was to take us back to the ship. Well, to a jetty half way up the Loch to where the ship’s motor boat would come and fetch us.And so at about 19.30, 5 days adrift, I stepped back on board. “Nice to see you Mike. Welcome back. Go and get something to eat, have a wash and get your head down” ? No not likely, it was OOW’s defaulters. “Off Caps” ‘Commander’s defaulters tomorrow’. I was then allowed to sort myself out. Commander’s defaulters sent us to Captain’s defaulters and so I was ‘sentenced’.
To be very honest I was a bit miffed. I was given 5 days stoppage of leave, 5 days stoppage of pay and 5 days extra duties, ‘Men under punishment’ (Forgot whether it was 9’s or 10’s) My Divisional Officer said I could appeal. I thought I had done well and used my initiative to get back and should be let off, but as my DO explained, someone had to do my work whilst I was away. When I heard what the others got, I shut up.
Let’s look at what I had got. 5 days stoppage of leave. We were stuck in Loch Eriboll and there was nowhere to go. When we did leave, it was on an exercise, at sea. 5 Days stoppage of pay.
As a National Serviceman my pay was minimal so 5 days of next to nothing didn’t add up to a fortune and 5 days extra work. Like washing paintwork on the upper deck as the sun was climbing in the early morning still of the Loch. Packing the packed lunch for an exercise one of the days in the near future.
And the other 4 who were adrift through their own fault? 21 days stoppage of leave. That would affect them later. 21 days stoppage of pay. These chaps were regulars and that would hurt. 21 days extra duties, well it depends on your view on that.
I mentioned an exercise. Well I did go ashore on this and it turned out quite hilarious, well I have just had 5 full days and nights of ‘fun’, why not a few more? We had a detachment of Royal Marines on board and very early in the morning they went ashore and got themselves dug in and camouflaged amongst all of the heather etc. The ship’s company went ashore later and were lined up across the glen. The signal to sweep across and dig them out was a Very light fired into the sky where we would all see it. The time came, Very light fired and it went high. We started the sweep. Meanwhile, behind us, ‘what goes up, must come down’ and the very light
did just that. Into the very dry heather. This caught fire. Exercise called off, we spent the next 12 hours fighting the fire in the heather.
Thus ended my Whitsun Weekend ‘and a bit’.
Filming of the film ‘Sink the Bismark’ mentioned at the top? Well on her way from Rosyth to Loch Eriboll, H.M.S.Gambia was used as the Bismark. In the film, many of those ‘lined up on Bismark’s deck’ were H.M.S.Gambia’s crew, including one from my mess, Tom Keefe.
Always smile when I see that excerpt and see Tom looking all German!!
Now we know why our ‘leader’ is like he is!!!!
========================================================
We were dispatched to H.M.S.Cochrane, the Naval Base for Rosyth and found beds and food. A great relief. But where was H.M.S.Gambia? Well we were called together a couple of days later. The leading hand given train passes etc etc and off we went. To Loch Eriboll. Where is Loch Eriboll? Get your map of Scotland out, you will be needing it, and look right at the top near Cape Wrath, that’s the place right in the top left hand corner of Scotland. Move along the top coast to the East and you will find a huge inlet. That is Loch Eriboll. We are at present, just north of Edinburgh.
We have a long, exciting and in parts, a beautiful journey ahead of us.
Once again I have to admit that there are parts of the journey to Loch Eriboll I do not remember.
For example after the overnight train from Edinburgh to Inverness, did we change there or did that train go a bit further and we changed later? I do know that our last train took us as close to Loch Eriboll as possible and this was to a place called Lairg. Lairg is at the southern end of Loch Shin, so we had to get out. We had arrived and the place wasn’t really awake, neither were we come to that, but it didn’t take long to see most of Lairg and our Leading Hand found an hotel where we had breakfast. Look at where Lairg is and imagine the looks we were getting. 5 matelots in ‘Sailor Suits’ as far away from the sea as one could get quite likely!!!.
So what happens now? We wait for ‘the daily bus’ to come and pick us up. This is the local post/community/everything bus. (You will need your map here) It leaves Durness in the morning, arriving at Lairg at midday. The driver has a rest and lunch, then departing at 14.00, he drives back to Durness and we would be on it!
It must be pointed out that this was once an ordinary bus but the back few seats had been taken out and a wire netting partition put across. This was the ‘cargo’ area, reached through the back door. I cannot remember what there was in there, but I am led to believe that cattle ‘could’ be in there!! Something we did have, in the bus itself and alongside the driver, was a milk crate with mail on top, complete with newspapers and bread! A ‘Community Bus’ in the true sense. What was to unfold now, was the highlight of the journey to the ship, from where the Ticket Clerk told me I had Sunday train times and that my train had gone.
We travelled alongside Loch Shin, Loch Merkland, Loch More, other Lochs and rivers through some stunning scenery, and remember this was late spring.
What was fascinating , was that every so often the bus would stop in a field gateway, no buildings around, and the driver would get out and shove a newspaper or letters or a bottle of milk in a hole in the hedge, “There are some houses down there, they will be up for them in a minute” and with that drove off to a group of houses clustered at the roadside with people waiting. The driver would hand out goodies again, mail, milk, letters etc and so on to these little gatherings which were in some cases miles apart and the only sign of any human life.
That journey, one of the most fascinating of my life took the afternoon and so we arrived at Durness. We looked for H.M.S.Gambia tied up alongside the wall. I don’t even recall a wall for a Colonial Class Cruiser to tie up against, but what we did see, was a Royal Navy, because it had RN on it and pained Navy Blue, yes a Royal Navy Land Rover! Up here in the very north of Scotland! Why? How? What for?
We were flying the Flag of the Admiral of the Home Fleet and as such, he had his own staff, AND, a Land Rover for running about and getting messages etc. His Land Rover had driven all the way up to Scotland to be on duty and his duty tonight was to take us back to the ship. Well, to a jetty half way up the Loch to where the ship’s motor boat would come and fetch us.And so at about 19.30, 5 days adrift, I stepped back on board. “Nice to see you Mike. Welcome back. Go and get something to eat, have a wash and get your head down” ? No not likely, it was OOW’s defaulters. “Off Caps” ‘Commander’s defaulters tomorrow’. I was then allowed to sort myself out. Commander’s defaulters sent us to Captain’s defaulters and so I was ‘sentenced’.
To be very honest I was a bit miffed. I was given 5 days stoppage of leave, 5 days stoppage of pay and 5 days extra duties, ‘Men under punishment’ (Forgot whether it was 9’s or 10’s) My Divisional Officer said I could appeal. I thought I had done well and used my initiative to get back and should be let off, but as my DO explained, someone had to do my work whilst I was away. When I heard what the others got, I shut up.
Let’s look at what I had got. 5 days stoppage of leave. We were stuck in Loch Eriboll and there was nowhere to go. When we did leave, it was on an exercise, at sea. 5 Days stoppage of pay.
As a National Serviceman my pay was minimal so 5 days of next to nothing didn’t add up to a fortune and 5 days extra work. Like washing paintwork on the upper deck as the sun was climbing in the early morning still of the Loch. Packing the packed lunch for an exercise one of the days in the near future.
And the other 4 who were adrift through their own fault? 21 days stoppage of leave. That would affect them later. 21 days stoppage of pay. These chaps were regulars and that would hurt. 21 days extra duties, well it depends on your view on that.
I mentioned an exercise. Well I did go ashore on this and it turned out quite hilarious, well I have just had 5 full days and nights of ‘fun’, why not a few more? We had a detachment of Royal Marines on board and very early in the morning they went ashore and got themselves dug in and camouflaged amongst all of the heather etc. The ship’s company went ashore later and were lined up across the glen. The signal to sweep across and dig them out was a Very light fired into the sky where we would all see it. The time came, Very light fired and it went high. We started the sweep. Meanwhile, behind us, ‘what goes up, must come down’ and the very light
did just that. Into the very dry heather. This caught fire. Exercise called off, we spent the next 12 hours fighting the fire in the heather.
Thus ended my Whitsun Weekend ‘and a bit’.
Filming of the film ‘Sink the Bismark’ mentioned at the top? Well on her way from Rosyth to Loch Eriboll, H.M.S.Gambia was used as the Bismark. In the film, many of those ‘lined up on Bismark’s deck’ were H.M.S.Gambia’s crew, including one from my mess, Tom Keefe.
Always smile when I see that excerpt and see Tom looking all German!!
Now we know why our ‘leader’ is like he is!!!!
========================================================
Ron Chestnut, 89 years of age, was stopped by the police around 2 am and was asked where he was going at that time of night.
Ron replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."
The officer asked, "Really? Who's giving that lecture at this time of night?"
Ron replied, "That would be my wife."
=============================================================
Ron replied, "I'm on my way to a lecture about alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking and staying out late."
The officer asked, "Really? Who's giving that lecture at this time of night?"
Ron replied, "That would be my wife."
=============================================================
Hilary’s Explaination
Some years ago, nearing dinner time at the White House,our regular cook fell ill and they had to quickly get a replacement.
He wasn't the smartest looking guy, in fact he seemed a bit dirty".
"The President voiced his concerns to his Chief of Staff but was told that this was the best they could do at such short notice".
"Just before the meal, Bill noticed the cook sticking his finger in the soup to taste it and again complained to the Chief Of Staff, but was assured that many chefs did that. "Dinner went okay, although Bill thought that the soup tasted a little funny. By the time dessert came, he started to have stomach cramps and nausea. It was getting worse and worse until finally the President had to excuse himself.
"By now, he was desperately ill with violent cramps and was so disorientated that he couldn't remember which door led to the bathroom. He was on the verge of passing out from the pain when he finally found a door that opened."As he unzipped his trousers and ran in, he realized to his horrorthat he had stumbled into Monica Lewinsky's office with histrousers around his knees. As he was about to pass out, this naive girl bent over him and heard the President whisper in a barely audible voice":
"Sack my cook"
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the whole misunderstanding occurred."
=============================================================
Some years ago, nearing dinner time at the White House,our regular cook fell ill and they had to quickly get a replacement.
He wasn't the smartest looking guy, in fact he seemed a bit dirty".
"The President voiced his concerns to his Chief of Staff but was told that this was the best they could do at such short notice".
"Just before the meal, Bill noticed the cook sticking his finger in the soup to taste it and again complained to the Chief Of Staff, but was assured that many chefs did that. "Dinner went okay, although Bill thought that the soup tasted a little funny. By the time dessert came, he started to have stomach cramps and nausea. It was getting worse and worse until finally the President had to excuse himself.
"By now, he was desperately ill with violent cramps and was so disorientated that he couldn't remember which door led to the bathroom. He was on the verge of passing out from the pain when he finally found a door that opened."As he unzipped his trousers and ran in, he realized to his horrorthat he had stumbled into Monica Lewinsky's office with histrousers around his knees. As he was about to pass out, this naive girl bent over him and heard the President whisper in a barely audible voice":
"Sack my cook"
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the whole misunderstanding occurred."
=============================================================
REMEMBER THIS?
There once was a time in HM Ships Then came the time to sup the ‘Queens
When the magic hour had come “God Bless Her” was the toast
The leading hands of every mess A watchful eye, as each man supped
Prepared to collect the rum So the Rum Bosun got the most.
The smell of Jamaican filled the air Once the rum had been consumed
As the ritual began And nothing left to pour
A daily tot of Nelson’s Blood The dits began,as the ‘grog’ took charge
Was a favourite to every man Of favourite runs ashore
When the Rum Bosun stood,his measures poised A feed, a fight, a couple of pints To serve every man his tot Was part of a run ashore
Two fingers always in the ‘cup’ A game of darts was in there still
Making sure that the Queen got her lot Then all night with a Pompey Lill
The ‘ticker off’ was there of course No longer though, does the scent of rum
His pencil at the ready Pervade Her Majesty’s boats
With a sipper given from each man’s tot No more to sup Lord Nelson’s Blood
His hand no longer steady And give the Queen her toasts
The rum rat sat, his eyes aglow So to all who drank of Nelson’s Blood
His whiskers twitching well And heard the Klaxon’s blast
He liked his rum so much it seems May old shipmates meet and share a wet
He could get pissed upon the smell Spinning dits of the good times passed
Sometimes the tot was passed around A toast then to Horatio
As each man paid his debts And another to the Queen
Favour,rubber,game of crib And may we all, wherever we are
Could cost a couple of wets Remember where we’ve been !!
=============================================================
When the magic hour had come “God Bless Her” was the toast
The leading hands of every mess A watchful eye, as each man supped
Prepared to collect the rum So the Rum Bosun got the most.
The smell of Jamaican filled the air Once the rum had been consumed
As the ritual began And nothing left to pour
A daily tot of Nelson’s Blood The dits began,as the ‘grog’ took charge
Was a favourite to every man Of favourite runs ashore
When the Rum Bosun stood,his measures poised A feed, a fight, a couple of pints To serve every man his tot Was part of a run ashore
Two fingers always in the ‘cup’ A game of darts was in there still
Making sure that the Queen got her lot Then all night with a Pompey Lill
The ‘ticker off’ was there of course No longer though, does the scent of rum
His pencil at the ready Pervade Her Majesty’s boats
With a sipper given from each man’s tot No more to sup Lord Nelson’s Blood
His hand no longer steady And give the Queen her toasts
The rum rat sat, his eyes aglow So to all who drank of Nelson’s Blood
His whiskers twitching well And heard the Klaxon’s blast
He liked his rum so much it seems May old shipmates meet and share a wet
He could get pissed upon the smell Spinning dits of the good times passed
Sometimes the tot was passed around A toast then to Horatio
As each man paid his debts And another to the Queen
Favour,rubber,game of crib And may we all, wherever we are
Could cost a couple of wets Remember where we’ve been !!
=============================================================
Absent Friends
I would like to use the Shipmate, web site and email to allow those members who are unable to attend the Reunion weekend to pass on any messages to fellow members. These could be read out at the Dinner and I’ll then print them in the next magazine. To that end if you can get them to me by 14th April I will do the rest.
Cheers Roger. [email protected].
===========================================================
I would like to use the Shipmate, web site and email to allow those members who are unable to attend the Reunion weekend to pass on any messages to fellow members. These could be read out at the Dinner and I’ll then print them in the next magazine. To that end if you can get them to me by 14th April I will do the rest.
Cheers Roger. [email protected].
===========================================================
Jack Dusty
Peter has a good supply of merchandise for sale. Costs are not exorbitant and p&p is free inside the UK. Contact Peter for any updates etc. His address/ phone number is in the ‘Committee’ pages.
===========================================
Note from our Treasurer
We have had to send out a large amount of letters with reference to ‘missing subs’. It takes Dennis time and costs for postage, which is what we were hoping to cut down on. Please use the Direct Debit form if you can as this will prevent any future problems.
This seems to happen each year and the numbers are growing. ‘Stand fast’ all who have paid and all with a DD.
All cheques/ Direct Debits/ Standing Orders to be made payable to HMS Collingwood Association.
Cheers Dennis.
=======================================================
We have had to send out a large amount of letters with reference to ‘missing subs’. It takes Dennis time and costs for postage, which is what we were hoping to cut down on. Please use the Direct Debit form if you can as this will prevent any future problems.
This seems to happen each year and the numbers are growing. ‘Stand fast’ all who have paid and all with a DD.
All cheques/ Direct Debits/ Standing Orders to be made payable to HMS Collingwood Association.
Cheers Dennis.
=======================================================
In memory of Gerald Lillicrap (our Havant correspondent!)
Gerald didn’t get time to write down his recollections from leaving
Collingwood as ill health caught up with him. The is his joining instructions for his LCT Wiremans course in Letchworth, a well known
Naval Town ?? (see paragraph 8) .
He was drafted out to the Far East and was there for the duration of the war.
Gerald didn’t get time to write down his recollections from leaving
Collingwood as ill health caught up with him. The is his joining instructions for his LCT Wiremans course in Letchworth, a well known
Naval Town ?? (see paragraph 8) .
He was drafted out to the Far East and was there for the duration of the war.
He spoke to me about his job out there which entailed trying to fix landing craft and bring them back to British controlled territory. If they couldn’t fix them they were to be sunk to prevent the Japs using them.
When the war finished he decided to see a bit of India. This was to have a few days ‘upcountry’ in the hills at Murree near Rawalpindi.
When the war finished he decided to see a bit of India. This was to have a few days ‘upcountry’ in the hills at Murree near Rawalpindi.
Above is a copy of his instructions to get to the rest camp at Murree – something of a journey
I don’t think he was overly impressed with India – or the state of the place!
Anyway, he finally got the form he wanted (below) and came back to Havant.
I don’t think he was overly impressed with India – or the state of the place!
Anyway, he finally got the form he wanted (below) and came back to Havant.
This is by way of a memory of a man I met once and spoke to three times on the phone ---- not enough !!
Rest in Peace Gerry. n>
==============================================================================
Rest in Peace Gerry. n>
==============================================================================
HMS COLLINGWOOD
1939—1945
Revd CA Grant MA RN Rtd. Continued from Summer 2014 issue.
The small upper yard division was a great asset to Collingwood especially for the part they played in the Sunday Morning Divisions. Their smart appearance and marching was an example to all. They are leading the March Past in the photograph of His Majesty The King inspecting Divisions.
On the other side of the extensive area, specially built brick hut accommodation was nearing completion. This was for the Wireless Telegraph Ratings who were evacuated from HMS Vincent. The buildings were constructed for bi-sectional use, the main part as living accommodation and the annex, a small lecture/study shelter/cum classroom. Each building a self contained unit for a class of 50 men. This was a separate Section under Commander Oliphant, RN Retd. His First Lieutenant was Lieutenant Commander Wills RNVR, a member of the cigarette family. Commander Oliphant had been recalled from retirement in Derbyshire where he had a lucrative brick making business. Both were excellent officers with a keen sense of their responsibility, choosing and training to a high degree of technical ability men for such an onerous duty at sea. That was always their one objective.
At the end of six weeks they had their first exams and selection. At the end of the next session, the final weeding out. When men did fail they invariably landed in the Padre’s office with their complaints and problems. I had one that was so unusual I phoned the Training Officer, Captain Bailey, and asked if I could
come over immediately with a young rating; there was a story it was urgent for him to hear. He listened and phoned Captain Ward in HMS Daedalus, who wanted to see the man within the next hour. The story was unique. The lad had returned top marks in the first exam. The following week he had seen a top priority AFO for RDF operators, requested a transfer and had been refused. He decided to fail the next exam and did so. Commander Oliphant and Lieutenant Wills decided it was a case of dumb insolence. They returned him to the Seamans Branch, - they could do no other – with the advisor that he should be not be accepted for the RDF Course. What they did not know and he had felt he had no right to give, was his reason for doing so. He was in fact a key figure in Marconi’s new invention, in charge of its processing from blue print to production of the first RDF set. He had persuaded Marconi to release him for service in the Royal Navy after he had seen it on the production line. His work had been top secret and he was not prepared to talk about it. His secret was kept. He came back to us for forty-eight hours and was discharged from the Navy to report immediately for service at Admiralty.
His ‘send-off’ was unforgettable. I had arranged transport to take him to the railway station on my way to RN Haslar. He was to meet me at the office of the Officer of the Watch, Main Gate. As I crossed the Quarter Deck the first enemy attack on the Establishment was made. I saw it fly over the foretop mast, the rear gunner spraying bullets, it came straight down on the parade ground and 500 feet above the cinema it dropped four bombs. One hit the ground behind the Warrant Officers Wardroom and one was unexploded in the ground between the Wardrooms. The Wrens, 80 odd of them, were line up outside the Pay Office. I called to them to lie flat. All did except one, 20 feet in front of me and as I ran towards her the ground slid away from me. The slab of concrete on which I fell had remained unbroken. I was unhurt, everything was gone over, but the Wren was lying lacerated about the neck and shoulders. The lad I had seen throw himself into the sandbagged gun-nest was the only fatality. Strange are the coincidences of life, - his parents lived quite near our Leicester home and on my leaves home I used to call on them. My passenger was waiting for me, his navy blue civvy suit splattered with mud. He had his only taste of a sailor’s life and his first taste of enemy action. He went to Admiralty to direct the course of radar development. I heard of him but never met him again. I think this episode deserves mention in this story. In a unique way it was the first introduction of Radar to this Establishment which was to become the centre of it in the post war Navy. Commander Oliphant was blameless in this episode. I am sure that as a maker of bricks and teacher of wireless telegraphy he was as ignorant as we all were at that time of the revolution about to be made in every department of naval technology through its introduction.
‘Lord Haw Haw’ made much of the sinking of HMS Collingwood in his propaganda news on that occasion and twice afterwards he repeated the same claim. In fact we were extremely fortunate; around us, in the following three years others suffered heavily.
The second incident was another single raider which crossed the foretop division and wrecked several huts. Both these raids happened on a Friday about 13.30 when Officers and CPO’s were off duty. The Signals trainees were getting ready for weekend shore leave. I was in my office at the time and cycled to the spot within three minutes. The Duty Doctor arrived with me and we took alternate huts, finding chaos, men trapped under roof beams and mangled double bunk beds. There were several casualties, some fatal. We buried them in Haslar cemetery; moving in from the ends until we met at the centre; we said the Committal with little groups of family mourners around each grave. One small group moved me deeply. A young woman with a small girl and boy all dressed in sombre black. She was mourning her 18 year old son, and her husband who had been lost at sea in a torpedoed Armed Merchant Cruiser nine weeks before.
My item headed ‘III At Fareham’ erroneously states that this second bombing happened during ceremonial divisions and that Parade ground Divisions were banned throughout the Navy until the end of the war as a result. Sunday Divisions and Ceremonial Divisions continued in HMS Collingwood until Seaman Training ended in 1934.
To be continued.
'Viagra' is now available in tea bags.
It doesn't enhance your sexual performance but it does stop your biscuit going soft.
1939—1945
Revd CA Grant MA RN Rtd. Continued from Summer 2014 issue.
The small upper yard division was a great asset to Collingwood especially for the part they played in the Sunday Morning Divisions. Their smart appearance and marching was an example to all. They are leading the March Past in the photograph of His Majesty The King inspecting Divisions.
On the other side of the extensive area, specially built brick hut accommodation was nearing completion. This was for the Wireless Telegraph Ratings who were evacuated from HMS Vincent. The buildings were constructed for bi-sectional use, the main part as living accommodation and the annex, a small lecture/study shelter/cum classroom. Each building a self contained unit for a class of 50 men. This was a separate Section under Commander Oliphant, RN Retd. His First Lieutenant was Lieutenant Commander Wills RNVR, a member of the cigarette family. Commander Oliphant had been recalled from retirement in Derbyshire where he had a lucrative brick making business. Both were excellent officers with a keen sense of their responsibility, choosing and training to a high degree of technical ability men for such an onerous duty at sea. That was always their one objective.
At the end of six weeks they had their first exams and selection. At the end of the next session, the final weeding out. When men did fail they invariably landed in the Padre’s office with their complaints and problems. I had one that was so unusual I phoned the Training Officer, Captain Bailey, and asked if I could
come over immediately with a young rating; there was a story it was urgent for him to hear. He listened and phoned Captain Ward in HMS Daedalus, who wanted to see the man within the next hour. The story was unique. The lad had returned top marks in the first exam. The following week he had seen a top priority AFO for RDF operators, requested a transfer and had been refused. He decided to fail the next exam and did so. Commander Oliphant and Lieutenant Wills decided it was a case of dumb insolence. They returned him to the Seamans Branch, - they could do no other – with the advisor that he should be not be accepted for the RDF Course. What they did not know and he had felt he had no right to give, was his reason for doing so. He was in fact a key figure in Marconi’s new invention, in charge of its processing from blue print to production of the first RDF set. He had persuaded Marconi to release him for service in the Royal Navy after he had seen it on the production line. His work had been top secret and he was not prepared to talk about it. His secret was kept. He came back to us for forty-eight hours and was discharged from the Navy to report immediately for service at Admiralty.
His ‘send-off’ was unforgettable. I had arranged transport to take him to the railway station on my way to RN Haslar. He was to meet me at the office of the Officer of the Watch, Main Gate. As I crossed the Quarter Deck the first enemy attack on the Establishment was made. I saw it fly over the foretop mast, the rear gunner spraying bullets, it came straight down on the parade ground and 500 feet above the cinema it dropped four bombs. One hit the ground behind the Warrant Officers Wardroom and one was unexploded in the ground between the Wardrooms. The Wrens, 80 odd of them, were line up outside the Pay Office. I called to them to lie flat. All did except one, 20 feet in front of me and as I ran towards her the ground slid away from me. The slab of concrete on which I fell had remained unbroken. I was unhurt, everything was gone over, but the Wren was lying lacerated about the neck and shoulders. The lad I had seen throw himself into the sandbagged gun-nest was the only fatality. Strange are the coincidences of life, - his parents lived quite near our Leicester home and on my leaves home I used to call on them. My passenger was waiting for me, his navy blue civvy suit splattered with mud. He had his only taste of a sailor’s life and his first taste of enemy action. He went to Admiralty to direct the course of radar development. I heard of him but never met him again. I think this episode deserves mention in this story. In a unique way it was the first introduction of Radar to this Establishment which was to become the centre of it in the post war Navy. Commander Oliphant was blameless in this episode. I am sure that as a maker of bricks and teacher of wireless telegraphy he was as ignorant as we all were at that time of the revolution about to be made in every department of naval technology through its introduction.
‘Lord Haw Haw’ made much of the sinking of HMS Collingwood in his propaganda news on that occasion and twice afterwards he repeated the same claim. In fact we were extremely fortunate; around us, in the following three years others suffered heavily.
The second incident was another single raider which crossed the foretop division and wrecked several huts. Both these raids happened on a Friday about 13.30 when Officers and CPO’s were off duty. The Signals trainees were getting ready for weekend shore leave. I was in my office at the time and cycled to the spot within three minutes. The Duty Doctor arrived with me and we took alternate huts, finding chaos, men trapped under roof beams and mangled double bunk beds. There were several casualties, some fatal. We buried them in Haslar cemetery; moving in from the ends until we met at the centre; we said the Committal with little groups of family mourners around each grave. One small group moved me deeply. A young woman with a small girl and boy all dressed in sombre black. She was mourning her 18 year old son, and her husband who had been lost at sea in a torpedoed Armed Merchant Cruiser nine weeks before.
My item headed ‘III At Fareham’ erroneously states that this second bombing happened during ceremonial divisions and that Parade ground Divisions were banned throughout the Navy until the end of the war as a result. Sunday Divisions and Ceremonial Divisions continued in HMS Collingwood until Seaman Training ended in 1934.
To be continued.
'Viagra' is now available in tea bags.
It doesn't enhance your sexual performance but it does stop your biscuit going soft.
Too close with - here are a few web sites. I've used them and no problems.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10829992 - Haka performed for 3 fallen comrades
http://www.youtube.com/embed/V_gOZDWQj3Q?rel=0 - Paper is dead
http://dotsub.com/view/6c5d7514-5656-476a-9504-07dd4e2f6509 - Voice recognition lift in Scotland
Next issue in the autumn - send photos, dits etc.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10829992 - Haka performed for 3 fallen comrades
http://www.youtube.com/embed/V_gOZDWQj3Q?rel=0 - Paper is dead
http://dotsub.com/view/6c5d7514-5656-476a-9504-07dd4e2f6509 - Voice recognition lift in Scotland
Next issue in the autumn - send photos, dits etc.
