32
NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2008
'ONCE NAVY ALWAYS NAVY
Website launched for island branch
Shipmates pay tribute to Nelson
CYPRUS branch has launched a new website. Pages on the new website www.rnacyprus.org-giveanyone arriving on the Mediterranean island an instant overview and detailed information about the branch, which covers Limassol and the western side of Cyprus. A list of shipmates to contact is also provided. Relevant contributions to the site are always welcome; send material to davidmay@cytanet.com.cy marked 'For the RNA website'. The branch was formed in 2002, and by last year had grown sufficiently to allow a new branch, Eastern Cyprus, to be hived offto reduce travelling time for members in the Larnaca and Famagusta areas. Following the launch the original branch held its regular monthly meeting at the Episkopi Garrison Officers Mess. Stella Pearson, of Victim Support, presented a surprising and encouraging account of the development of the group in the Cyprus military sectors - her organisation is based on the British Forces Germany model. Shipmates living in Cyprus as expatriates reflected that there may well be a need for Victim Support in their areas, and all present were grateful to Stella for highlighting aspects of a service all hoped they would never have to use. The branch welcomed visiting shipmates John Hamer and his partner from Haven branch at Haverfordwest - Cyprus shipmates are always happy to see visitors from other branches. And members raised almost 730 Euros running a stall at the Episkopi Fete in Happy Valley, selling books, DVDs and running a bottle lucky dip.
" Motor Launch 1323, which came under attack in Hong Kong in 1953
Her() ()f Pearl iver is dead W
RW
A YOUNG sailor decorated for his bravery in a clash with Chinese communists more than 50 years ago has died at the age of 75. At the time of his death on October 28, Gordon Cleaver was the chairman of the Hong Kong Flotilla Association. And that association had every cause to look to their chairman with
Y
Granite bench gifted to town
LOOE branch has, in the eyes of treasurer S/M George Butler, in the past had many kind gestures from the town, so it was time for the branch to do something in return. And with all the committee over the age of 80, what better than to provide a facility where people can rest their weary legs? So it was that a granite bench, inscribed Mariners' Rest - Looe RNA, was presented to the town. Made of Cornish granite, the bench is installed at Pennyland, close to the passenger ferry, on a site provided by the chairman of the Harbour Commissioners.
1
" Lois Crosskeys (former ChiefOfficer Lois Francis WRNS), the last Commanding Officer of Wrens establishment HMS Dauntless, with Cdr Giulian Hill, Senior Naval Officer HMS Dauntless
Picture: Peter Shepherd, RNA York
Dauntless link
MORE than 600 members of the Association of Wrens travelled from across the UK and around the world - including Canada, America, New Zealand and Australia - to the national reunion in York. Guests attending the main event, at the city's university campus, included the Senior Naval Officer of new D-class destroyer HMS Dauntless, Cdr Giulian Hill. Dauntless was the name given to the former Wrens training establishment at Burghfield. Former Royal Marine and naval chaplain Bishop Noel Jones was also there, as was Rosie Wilson, Chairman of the WRNS Benevolent Trust, Capt Richard Yeoward and Capt Brian Young,
Diamond day
MELTON Mowbray branch contacted Buckingham Palace to inform the Queen about their upcoming Diamond jubilee. So members were delighted to receive a letter from Balmoral thanking them for their loyalty and wishing them happy celebrations. And those celebrations, at the town's RBL Club, were attended by more than 100 members and their guests.
Naval Quirks
IN JUNE 194-IE FAMEL?
CARRIER I3AT11E OF MflWP'1 TOOV P1..ACE.
° Oo
o
pride, as S/M Gordon embodied the spirit of the Royal Navy. On September 9 1953 Gordon, then a leading seaman, was part of the 11-strong crew of Motor Launch 1323, which was on patrol at the mouth of the Pearl River off Hong Kong - waters in which the People's Republic of China also claimed primacy. In mid-afternoon the captain
patron and president of the HMS Wren Association. Highlights of the afternoon were a concert by the RM Band Association, led by Band Master Ted Whealing RM, and Bishop Noel's splendid address. President of the AOW, Anthea Larken, was the main speaker for the event, and she was caught a little off-guard when she was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a rendition by the band and gathered company of Happy Birthday. It was fitting that York had been chosen as the venue for the reunion, being thehome city of Pat Farrington, National Chairman of the association and a member of York RNA.
COP4FI)SIN&L.'/, FO1 WITH THE O.ÂŹ. ANI? fECOfPIN& PURPOSES, JAPANESE FLEETS NOT IT WAS FOU&HT ACROSS OM-/ IN PIFFEFENT THE INTERNATIONAL TIME ZONES TO EACH PA-CC LINE OTHER,UT/L6O ON
rIFFE1ENr PA'15!
b
a
a
a
" SIM Albert Poulter at the Greek war cemetery at Leros. The memorial was built to honour those shipmates from HMS Intrepid who lost theirlives in Port Lakki on September 26 1943, and was the culmination of a fund-raising campaign by SIM Albert, who was a survivor of the Intrepid.
IF WE LIVE 7 134Ef,
WE COlfl-P JUMP ON A OA1, CROSS THE PATE
t-U'.J
ANt' HAVE A
SECONI' XMAS PAY!
[mail request
RNA Staff continue HQ to attempt to build a list of Association email addresses. It would be helpful if branch secretaries with e-mail access would forward a short message to paddy@royalnavalassoc.com for registration purposes.
In the Lymelight
-
bo4M
of the launch, Lt G Merriman, ordered the launch to close with a Chinese vessel in order to take photographs, but shortly after the Chinese opened fire with small arms then her main armament. The British ship was struck immediately, and within minutes the captain had been mortally wounded, and the coxswain and three able seamen were dead, as was an Army officer who had sailed for some familiarisation. As another seaman tried to gain control of the launch he too was killed by a shell. With the deck awash with blood and sagging on to the failing engines, LS Cleaver - aged 21 assumed command. He rigged the cumbersome emergency steering gear and ordered the course to be followed, helped two survivors put out a fire raging in the engine room, comforted a seriously-injured sailor and tried to ease the suffering of his dying captain. Cleaver and another man cut away the mast which was hanging over the side, and in a rising wind and rough sea he nursed the stricken launch and her five survivors back to safety. Gordon, who later pursued a career in engineering management, was awarded the British Empire Medal for his actions. He is survived by his wife Jean.
BEXHILL-on-Sea branch members heard the tale of a Naval hero at their Trafalgar night Dinner - but rather than Nelson, this hero was much closer to home. Chairman S/M Eric Woodhouse spoke of a daring WorldWar2 rating who rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, and as a sub-lieutenant helped form the RN Commando Division, later taking his own command in the Far East. That man is S/M Phil Humphries, a founder member of the branch and the next president, but it was a day of mixed emotions for S/M Phil as his wife Marie, who he met when she was a Wren during the war, had died just days before the dinner. It was very much a family affair when Brixham branch celebrated their Trafalgar Night dinner and dance. The venue was the Berry Head Hotel, where the hoteliers - Lt Edward Bence RNR and Mrs Sarah Bence - were guests of honour. Among the RN officers present were the branch patron, Cdre Jon Welch, Cdr Kevin Fleming (son of branch chairman S/M Joe Fleming), Lt Kristian Hind (son of branch secretary S/M Jack Hind), Lt Cdr Robert Glenning (retd), a local dentist and Falklands veteran, and serving officer Lt Chris Newman. WOl Ben Carrott, a retired Gunnery Instructor, was also there. All were dressed in full Mess Undress uniform, helping create a nautical atmosphere. Market Harborough branch saw 60 members and their guests gather for a formal five-course dinner at the local golf club. This was the 25th such event held by the branch, and on this occasion Cdre Clive Johnstone - Director of the Naval Staff at Whitehall - was the guest of honour. Cdre Johnstone spoke of the current disposition of RN ships and personnel before he proposed the toast to the Immortal Memory. The upper floor of the Maltravers Social Club was briefly
How time 1lie,
9osh
STANDARD bearers from Axminster and Dorchester branches were invited to attend the dedication ceremony and service for RFA Lyme Bay at Portland. Both branches are affiliated to the amphibious landing ship.
transformed into a naval messdeck for the Littlehampton branch bash, which saw guests enjoy dinner, dancing and a bumper raffle. Guest of honour was harbourmaster Littlehampton Lt Cdr Cohn Hitchcock, who entertained those gathered with his interpretation of 'Lord Nelson the man brought into the 21st Century'. City of Inverness branch mustered 60 members and guests for their dinner at the Waterside Hotel, where the top-table guest was Vice Admiral John McAnally, whose address ranged from current RN commitments to a hilarious take on a letter about life in the Australian Forces. Redruth and Camborne members were in great demand for Trafalgar celebrations, spending lunch-time with members of the Ganges Association (Cornwall Division) at theInn forAll Seasons then moving on to dinner in the Redruth RBL, where they were joined by members of the GPO and WOs Mess at Culdrose. from Helston, Shipmates Falmouth and St Austell branches also joined the evening of chat, music, a pasty supper and Up Spirits. A contingent from the branch, two including standard bearers, later attended the annual parade, serviceand marchpast at Madron church for Trafalgar Day. Derby's new adopted warship HMS Ambush was wellrepresented at the city branch's dinner,where Cdr Mike Moreland (Senior Officer), Lt Cdr Bruce Russell (Executive Officer), Lt Cdr Ian McIntyre, two other officers and four senior rates attended. Cadets fromTS Kenya formed a side party to pipe in the 171 diners and then performed Colours. Sticking with Derby, the city's Rolls-Royce Club was the venue for the Submariners Association (Derbyshire branch) dinner and such was the popularity of the event that applications had to be turned away when the capacity of 40 was reached. On the 30th anniversary of signing on as a Junior Radio Operator, Cdr Mark Litter returned to his native Yorkshire to join Wetherby branch for dinner. Submariner Cdr Lister, who is responsible for operational deterrent policy atWhitehall, spoke of the Royal Navy of Nelson's time as well as its current state. marked the Cheshunt anniversary with a church service at which branch padre the Rev Jane Dicker was assisted by two shipmates. ATrafalgar Night mess deck fish and chip supper for 150 members and guests featured a fancy dress competition. 'Modern-day chick' S/M Pat Oram took the ladies' prize while it was 'not tonight Josephine' for S/M Jenny Wiltshire as herhusband Dave, dressed as Napoleon, took the men's prize. Sea shanties until the Sunset Ceremony was the order of the day at the Bourne branch dinner. The following day saw a Trafalgar Day service in the Abbey Church in Bourne - tickets for both these events are now much sought after in the town. Chatham branch members convened at the St George Hotel in the town for their Trafalgar celebrations. More than 100 attended, including a Naval contingent from DEODS Chattenden in Rochester, andthe guest of honour was Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, chairman of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. More Trafalgar Dinner reports in our January edition