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NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 1997
SM donation
Underwater aid for Navy's first submarine
Divers unblock Holland rescue
A TEAM of instructors from the Defence Diving School were called in to help in the long-term preservation of the Service's first submarine, Holland I, at the RN Submarine Museum. The submarine was raised from the seabed 15 years ago but for the past two years has been immersed in a tank of water containing a special chemical designed to treat Holland's structure for atmospheric corrosion. However, it was discovered recently that the water was no longer circulating properly - something which could lead to the boat being harmed by an incorrect concentration of the chemical. The divers, from Horsea Island, Portsmouth, found that the problem was caused by a blocked manifold in the side of the boat and quickly remedied the fault. Meanwhile, a full survey of the wreck of the 1880 submarine Resurgam has been completed. The submarine, which sank off North Wales while being towed from Birkenhead, has been inspected by divers from St Andrew's University in Scotland.
Sub guru Gus dies aged 74 GUS BRITTON MBE, long-time research assistant at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, died on July 21 after a sudden illness. He was 74. He will be sorely missed by his many friends and contacts in the international submarine community with whom he kept up an extensive, witty correspondence. Virtually every book of note on RN submarines that has appeared over the past 20 years has carried his name in the credits. He served in the wartime submarines HMS Tribune and Uproar, and later in Tapir, Acheron, Scythian, Truculent, Alliance, Totem and Telemachus.
The rights to the 45ft vessel were signed over to the RN Submarine Museum by the descendants of the inventor, George Garrett. But having experienced the expensive operation to preserve the salvaged Holland I, Museum Director Cdr Jeff Tall has reservations about the practicality of raising and displaying Resurgam. "When we see the report it may say she is best left where she is," he said.
THE DSM and Bar of a submariner lost with his vessel 55 years ago have been presented by his widow to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum - and they were accepted on its behalf by a man who must rank as one of the luckiest wartime sailors alive. Mrs Elsie Jackman's husband Charles was a CPO who was awarded the medals for his gallantry during successful submarine patrols in the Mediterranean during World War II. He first served in HMS Sturgeon and then in HMS Urge, which sank an Italian cruiser in 1942, barely four weeks before being sunk herself with all hands when she hit a mine en route to Alexandria. The medals were accepted by another holder of the DSM and Bar - Gordon Selby. He was second cox'n of HM submarine Upholder (Lt Cdr Wanklyn VC) for all her Mediterranean patrols except the last, in which she was lost with all hands. He then joined HM submarine P39, and she was bombed and sunk in Malta. Next, he joined HMS Olympus to return home, but she was mined, only 12 on board surviving. Then came HMS Sickle for a few months, and he left her shortly before she was lost. His next boat was HMS Storm in the Far East, and after her, Truculent, the submarine that after the war sank in the Thames estuary with heavy loss of life.
• Wartime submariner Gordon Selby - one of the luckiest men alive. Post-war, Gordon Selby was an officers' training class instructor. As such he took his class on board the A-class submarine HMS Affray, but as he stowed his kit he collapsed, acutely ill. He was taken to hospital, and the Affray sailed without him on a voyage from which she nor any of those on board returned. • The Submarine Museum has also received the medals of the CO of HMS Storm, Lt Cdr Edward Young, the first RNVR officer to attain command of a submarine.
Coins Outside
Ex-steward who raised his sights to the roof
Deep study opened a new career for Andrew
WHEN Andrew Ashford opted for voluntary redundancy from the Navy less than two years ago, he found that the years of study he had put in while on patrol as a Polaris submariner was helping to open the doors to a new career. Andrew, a CPOWEA with 13 years' service, had gained a BSc degree from the Open University by spending his offduty moments studying electronics and management systems.
Princess visits HMS Dryad THE PRINCESS Royal presented the Queen's Commendation for Bravery in the Air to Lt Robert Scott, on her visit to HMS Dryad. As reported in our July issue, Lt Scott was flight commander of HMS Northumberland's Lynx when she was scrambled to rescue crew members from a stricken Rumanian ship in gale-lashed seas last year. He is now attending a course at Dryad. During her tour, Princess Anne opened Black Swan Building, a new training block, and visited operational simulators. She ended her stay by meeting the families of Dryad personnel and members of the Black Swan Association.
• Defence diving school instructors who were called in to clear Holland I's 'tubes' to allow her preservation process to continue without harm to the historic submarine.
ucky Gordon
DANIEL Ahern, a former lieutenant-commander, has become one of the first candidates to pass the National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in merchant vessel operations. He attained the Class 3 (Deck) Certificate of Competency at Warsash Maritime Centre, taking the NVQ course as resettlement training. Daniel joined the Royal Navy as an engineering mechanic rating in 1975, and later became a seaman officer. He left after 21 years service, and is now a second officer in the Merchant Navy. Picture: Roy Shaw
Before leaving the Navy, he spent his pre-release training on a five-week course to qualify him for supervisory management in health and safety. "It was that that got me the job as health and safety controller with JT Ltd, the largest electrical training agency in the country," he said. Now Andrew (31) works from his home in Hampshire and is responsible for 6,500 trainees in England and Wales. Not only that, but his links with the Open University will, he hopes, extend into teaching. He has applied for an OU associate lectureship. • The 9,000 OU graduates announced this year range in age from 22 to over 80. As well as degree study, the OU is playing a leading role in professional and vocational education, allowing people to gain new qualifications while in work. Details are available from the Course Enquiry Service, Open University, PO Box 625, Milton Keynes, MK1 1TY (01908 858585).
WHAT does an ex-PO Steward have in common with the head of a company which fits sheet lead to historic buildings? The answer is that they are one and the same man, in the case of former submariner Topsy Turner.
• As a CPO in HMS Resolution, Andrew Ashford studied when off-watch for his BSc. Picture: Portsmouth News
John enters Civic Street A FORMER Commanding Officer of HMS Victory has been appointed manager of Portsmouth's civic events. John Whitehead (54), who left the Navy six years ago as a lieutenant-commander, will now have the task of organising a variety of major events in the city throughout each year - including royal visits and military commemorations. Before being appointed as CO of Victory in 1988 he was Assistant Queen's Harbour Master at Portsmouth. After he left the Navy in 1991 he initially managed an Isle of Wight marina and yacht club to get it ready for resale, then became general manager of the Royal Armouries, setting up the artillery museum at Fort Nelson.
Although on the face of it the two careers are incompatible, Topsy believes that his experience in Navy catering and the Submarine Service stood him in good stead when he set up his small concern. "In my everyday Service life there was bookwork for the mess - very useful for a business. Timekeeping is a superb skill on the outside where if people say 'I'm late, I'm late,' it's bad for business." The success of Topsy's venture may be judged by the fact that his company recently refurbished the dome on the Old Naval Academy in Portsmouth Naval Base, and was asked to quote for work at No.10 Downing Street and Windsor Castle. Unfortunately a road accident injury has meant Topsy can no longer take an active part in the work of the company. But he remains firmly of the opinion that it is up to the individual who is leaving the Navy to take his or her own decisions as to the future.
Extension help Picture: Portsmouth News
"There's no doubt that my acute knowledge of the dockyard and city interface has equipped me well for my present job," he told Navy News.
PERSONNEL returning from abroad or from ships, with insufficient time to complete their 28days pre-release training before terminal leave can now apply for an extension of service. In exceptional cases those serving in UK shore billets may also apply. Applications must be sent to Commodore Naval Drafting or the relevant appointing authority.