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NAVY NEWS, JANUARY 2000
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Royal Naval Association
Intrepid trio in reunion with their Lucky Lady
• Canadian secretary of the Royal Naval Patrol Service Association, Shipmate Patrick Griffiths, was among those who crossed the Atlantic to join this RNPSA Reunion at Lowestoft. It had proved to be a busy time for Ontario citizens Patrick and his wife, Mavis, as shortly before they had represented the RNPSA at the reunion of the US Navy Minewarfare Association, one of the highlights of which was a flag ceremony at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. As well as Patrick other delegates at Lowestpft included RNPSA members from New Jersey, Florida and British Columbia. Our picture shows the parade of standards.
Oak planted for the Arctic dead MEMBERS of Enfield branch were prominent in the ceremony on Armistice Day for the planting of an oak tree to commemorate those who died on Arctic convoy duty in World War II. The tree was planted near Enfield's war memorial by the town's previous Mayor, Cllr Stan Carter, an Arctic veteran. He was assisted by aanother Arctic veteran, Ron Wren, chairman of the Arctic Campaign Memorial Trust, and by the serving Mayor, Cllr Eric Smythe. The ceremony followed the Armistice Day service of remembrance. An engraved stone will be added later. At a gathering at Enfield Civic Centre, branch chairman, shipmate Ralph Beckett, presented £50 towards the Trust's funds, and a collection by Shipmate Jim Meader raised a similar amount. RNA branches took part in remembrance parades throughout the country, Wigston & District
claiming that theirs was the last Association standard to be paraded at the century's last Remembrance Day parade. It ended at 1640, and standard bearer was Shipmate Jimmy James.
THIS NEAT and shipshape looking houseboat, berthed in the peaceful haven of Bembridge Harbour, Isle of Wight, belies her heroic past. In 1941-42 she was playing a far more dangerous role as MGB 320, undertaking covert missions to the German-occupied Netherlands.
And three of her crew are pictured meeting up with their old warhorse for the first time since those hairy days. With them is the owner of the old MGB, Paul Traquair. The veterans are (l-r) former AB radar operator George Jarratt, ex-Telegraphist John Standley, and the boat's starboard 0.5 machine-gunner, Jack Davies, a member of Grayesend branch of the RNA. Nicknamed Lucky Lady by her crew, but now renamed the Xoron Floatel, the old motor gunboat is a popular tourist attraction at Bembridge, and on board her the memory of the courageous Coastal Forces men and vessels are kept alive through the large display of memorabilia and photographs collected by Mr Traquair. Among the stories in the
boat's past is that of intrepid agent Erik Hazelhoff, all of whose landings in the Netherlands are reputed to have been made by MGB 320. Hazelhoffs story was told in
the 1977 film The Soldier of Orange in which MGB 320's role was portrayed by MTB 102. Although no longer resembling a ship of war, beneath the superstructure that constitutes
the Xoron Floaters visitors' lounge, the graceful lines of a C-class motor gunboat can still be detected.
raised £1,317, enabling donations of £300 each to be made to the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, Forces Help, King SSAFA George's Fund for Sailors and the RNA Central Charities Fund.
dent, Shipmate Capt G. Eggleston RM (retd), and branch chairman, Shipmate Alan Fielder-Smith.
Commodore Roger Lockwood.
Liskeard
With other ex-Service and charitable associations, the branch held a fund-raising supper at Cleethorpes Memorial Hall to mark Trafalgar Night. The event included a display by Grimsby Sea Cadets, and gifts for a mega raffle were provided by local traders and well-wishers. Guests of honour were Shona Mclsaac, MP for Cleethorpes, and her husband.
Picture by permission ol Isle of Wight County Press.
Branch News Cork & County Having dedicated their new standard at the Irish Naval Base church at Haulbowline, the branch held a dinner dance attended by 170 shipmates and guests from north and south of the border. Guests included the Lord Mayor of Cork; the British Ambassador, Ivor Roberts: the British Defence Attache.
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Cdr Martin Butcher; the US Assistant Military Attache, Cdr Fish; and the Commanding Officer and First Lieutenant of HMS Leeds Castle, Lt Cdr Ian McGhie and Lt Kevin Carter. Leeds Castle was making a courtesy visit to Cork, and while she was there a working party from the ship refurbished the graves of British sailors.
Wigston & District Over 100 shipmates and guests including members of the RAF, RM and Bevin Boys Associations celebrated at a dinner dance hosted by the branch. Life memberships were awarded to the chairman, Shipmate Michael McKilroy, and certificates of appreciation to four associate members. A street collection by the branch
Dartmouth A talk on the misdemeanours of chaplains during Nelson's era was given by guest speaker, the Rev Nick Woodstock, Chaplain of Britannia Royal Naval College. During the evening, the Randall Phillips Memorial Cup for outstanding service was awarded to the branch standard bearer, Shipmate Charlie Pitts.
A tableau of the Battle of Trafalgar, complete with fireworks and music, was presented by the Riviera Hotel to mark Liskeard branch's Trafalgar Night spent there. Over 120 shipmates and guests attended the event at which the guest of honour was the Commodore of HMS Raleigh,
Old Clee
Swindon President of No. 6 Area, Shipmate W. G. Clarke, and his wife Joyce, were guests of honour at the branch's Trafalgar celebration.
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Cleveland Radio entertainer Sue Sweeney starred at a buffet, guest of honour being Capt David Smith RN (retd), chairman of the HMS Trincomalee Trust.
Littlehampton & Worthing Shipmates Phil Brown and Tom Harrison were awarded life membership certificates at a Trafalgar dinner dance at which Littlehampton and Worthing branches combined with Ford branch of the FAA Association. Guests of honour were the Chairman of Arun District Council, Cllr W. Parris, and his wife.
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A former Commanding Officer of HMS Birmingham, Cdr M. C. Evans, was guest of honour at Cardiff's Trafalgar celebration, while the vice president of No. 5 Area, Shipmate Maurice Sheldrake, was special guest at Brentwood's Trafalgar dinner dance.
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Admiral of the Fleet Sir Benjamin Bathurst, former First Sea Lord, was guest of honour at the branch's Trafalgar Night dinner held in 40 Cdo's officers mess. He was welcomed by the branch presi-
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