30 Options
NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 1991
Furse House farewell
COVENTRY REMEMBERED THE TWENTY men who died in HMS Coventry during the Falklands War were remembered at a special service when a brass plaque bearing their names was affixed to the destroyer's memorial on Pebble Island.
FURSE House, the elegant Georgian building in Kensington, known since 1985 as HMS St Vincent, is due to close down by early next year. The building, bought by the Royal Navy in 1954, was used originally as a "Wrennery," accommodating WRNS personnel serving in London, bui thirty years later it became a more conventional establishment, encompassing a number of outstations including Commcen Whitehall, and serving as an administrative and accommodation centre providing support to all RN personnel working in London. At a "Farewell lo Fursc House" parly a portrait of Dame Katharine Furse. Director WRNS 19171919, after whom ihe House was named, was presented by the Commanding Officer of HMS St Vincent, Cdr. Trevor Dale, lo the present Director WRNS. Commandant Anne Spencer.
The rc-dcdication ceremony was arranged by the frigate HMS Alacrity, now deployed in the Falklands, and was attended by the ship's commanding officer, Cdr. Alan Bennett and 15 of the ship's company. The plaque has been donated by Mrs Christine RobinsonMoltke, widow of HMS Coventry's First Lieutenant, LicutCdr Glen Robinson-Moltke, one of those who died when the ship was sunk by Argentine bombs. Photo: Laying the wreath at the HMS Coventry memorial in the Falklands is WTR Mark Tolen, of HMS Alacrity, who comes from the city of Coventry.
Pictured below: Proudly displaying the portrait of Dame Katharine Furse are, left to right. Commandant Irish Swallow, a former Director WRNS, Chief Officer Barbara Craig WRNS (Ret'd), who, as a Wren living in Furse House in 1954 was the guest with the longest association with the House, Commandant Anne Spencer, the present Director WRNS and Commandant Vonla McBride, also a former Director WRNS.
Contrasts from the past TWO very different exhibits are going on display to the public, from different eras, but each representing a historic and interesting chapter of naval history. At Portsmouth, the Royal Naval Museum has been presented w i t h a Victoria Cross won in one of the most celeb r a t e d n a v a l sagas of t h e Second World War. The medal was won by Capt. Edward Fogarty Fcgcn, captain of the converted cruise liner HMS Jervis Bay, which gallantly defended a convoy of 37 merchant ships from the German pocket battleship Admiral Schccr, in 1940. V a s t l y o u t - g u n n e d . Jervis Bay sank after a three-hour fight, taking with her C'apt. Fegen and all but 65 of her 254man crew, but her delaying action meant only five of the con-
voy were sunk. The medal has been presented to the museum on a long term loan by Barbara Fegen, the wife of the Captain's nephew. The inscription on it reads: "For valour, in challenging hopeless odds and giving his life to save the many ships it was his duty lo protect". The Museum of Flight, in East Fortune near North Berwick in Scotland, has acquired a somewhat larger showpiece — a Westland Whirlwind HAS 7 helicopter. Navy Whirlwinds saw action at the Sue/ landings in 1956 and in the jungles of Malaysia a n d Borneo, r e m a i n i n g in
f r o n t - l i n e service u n t i l t h e 1970s, when they were replaced by the Wessex. The museum's model was bui|t in 1956 for ship-borne anti-submarine and search and rescue work, and is equipped with a dipping sonar and a facility for the Mk 30 homing torpedo. The Scottish museum, which is due to open next year, already includes a Sea Venom and a Scahawk aircraft and is c u r r e n t l y looking for o t h e r donations such as 1960s Fleet Air Arm working kit, uniforms, manuals and pilot's notes, and photographs relating lo the Whirlwind.
Miscelisuteous SHIP PORTRAITS LEST YOU FORGET — Your ship as an original water colour painting Any ship, any angle, any setting from £50 Simon Mahoney, 15 Queen Street, Market Harborough Leicester 0858 434659 (evenings)
STANLEY EDWARD STYLES
DISNEY WORLD FLORIDA
Happy 60th birthday to a wonderful Dad and Grandad 21-11 91 Love you lots. Love from Sharon, Jim, Leanna and David xxXxx
NOTICE TO READERS
Luxury Villas, screened pools. 5 mins Disney World. £325 pw
The publishers of Navy News cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of any advertisement or lor any losses suffered by any readers as a resull Readers are strongly recommended lo make ttieir own enquiries and seek appropriate commercial, legal and financial advice before sending any money or entering into any legally binding agreement.
Telephone 0772 323 197 after 6 pm (Member o! HM Forces)
•{{•&•& •&•&•& •&•&•&•&•?{•&•£!-flit •£:•&•&•£(•&
WELFARE GARAGE HMS NELSON if if if if
Mechanical Electrical Bodywork Servicing for all types of cars Also Diagnostic Tuning etc. MOT's arranged
Telephone DOCKYARD Extension 24236 PORTSMOUTH 824802
ftftftftftftftftftftftftftft
5 HMS VICTORY JJ jj SOUVENIR SHOP | ft
Portsmouth Naval Base
ft
k Ideal for k I Christmas Gifts •* » * SMALL TEDDY » | FREE! * I ft £
with every purchase over £20
™ ^
ft
MAIL ORDER AVAILABLE
ft
ft Tel: (0705) 826682 ft ft ft ftftftftftftftftftftftftftft
HARRIS BROTHERS interior refurbishment contractors
The backyard or mines. Which would you rather sweep this weekend? Washing the car, weeding the patio, watching the repeats on TV. It's enough to make grown men run away to sea. Join the Royal Naval Reserve and we can promise you the excitement you've been missing out on. The modern RNR continues to augment the Royal Navy. It provides unique spare-time opportunities lor young men and women to broaden their horizons, ashore and afloat, and to learn 3 variety oi new skills. Some may train to man, or even command Fleet Minesweepers, or lo maintain mechanical and electrical, shipboard systems. v-. Others may quality as Tactical Radio Operators, in Naval Control ol vital economic Shipping or in Casualty Care.
There are good opportunities to become otticeis it suitably qualified. Merchant Navy Oflicers ol all specialisations can advance their careers with RNR training. If you can give us one or two nights a week, several weekends and one fortnight a year, you will enjoy in return the chance to travel, to make new friends, learn new skills — and be well paid lor it, plus a fax-free Bounty ol up to £775. Interested in the Royal Navy but not lull-time? II you are aged 16 to 33; TB to 30 for officers; under 35 or 45 if ex-merchant Navy or Royal Navy respectively, lill in the coupon lor more details. .( (You'll lind our odd yobs a lot more rewarding)
We were pleased to carry put the interior refurbishment, furniture, floorcoverings, curtains, lighting, bar fittings, decoration, etc., of WO and SR Messes at HMS RALEIGH and previously at HMS SULTAN We wish both our clients every success for the future Head Office: 88/90 High Street, Staple Hill, Bristol BS16 5HL Tel: (0272) 575225 Fax: (0272) 572785
Factory: Avondale Works. Woodland Way. Kingswood. Bristol BS15 1QH Tel: (0272) 602164 Fax (0272) 600631
(Story and picture see page 2)
To: Captain C. W. Pile, RN. Office of Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command (TA2(R)). HM Naval Base, Portsmouth P01 3Lft Please send me without obligation lull details about joining NN/ii/91 the Royal Naval Reserve Name Mr/Mrs/Miss (Block Capitals) Address Enquii'fis horn UK residents only