Spring

2008

This publication Copyright © H.M.S. St. Vincent Association 2008

President: Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo KCB

Contents

Chairman’s Chat ............................................2 The ‘Secretary’s Table’ ..................................2 Membership Secretary’s Ramble ...................3 Crossed The Bar ............................................4 Obituaries.......................................................4 “D’Ye Hear There!”.........................................6 “What Did You Do After St. Vincent,

Daddy?” .....................................................7 “Moby Doc” ....................................................7 What Ship? ....................................................8 An Eerie Tale .................................................8

HMS St. Vincent Weekend in Torquay ........ 10 Fifty Years On: Duncan 11 Fiftieth

Anniversary Reunion ............................... 13 Letters to the Editor ..................................... 16 Book Review................................................ 17 Seaton FNA Reunion 2008.......................... 20 Raffle News ................................................. 21 H.M.S. St. Vincent Association Officers....... 22 Slop Chit (April 2008)................................... 23

The front cover photograph shows Ceremonial Divisions – a view from the Mast (from Bruce Hunt).

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Chairman’s Chat

Since the last newsletter I am sorry to say that it has been quite an unhappy time, Diane and I, together with other Committee members have been spending time at the funerals of Members who have crossed the Bar: Lt. Cdr Peter Charles Lee and Shipmate James Ernest Fry RVM. In spite of Mick’s wife Cathy being very unwell, the National Standard of the Association was also paraded when requested, on both these occasions and as you will see in Mick’s report on other occasions also.

On a happier note I was able to help out with the Duncan 11 Entry 50th Reunion ar-rangements, and as you will see from their article, they had a very lovely day and evening and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The Management Committee met on March 29th with a very full agenda, including, I am very happy to say, two new volunteers to the Committee, a Treasurer and a Newsletter Edi-tor. I am sure that, as we, the Committee do, you would want to wish them both good luck in their new roles. Although the Treasurer, Tony Dewhirst won’t be taking over the books until after the Audit in July, I would like to pay tribute to our outgoing Treasurer, Gerry Har-ris, who despite health problems has done a sterling job.

After this edition of the Newsletter, which has been a joint project between Geoff Rose and Philip Allen, Philip will be going solo, but will have ample support from Geoff as long as he needs it. I also wish to pay tribute to Geoff for all the hard work he has put in on the Newsletter, since taking it on, together with his other task of Membership Secretary [Don’t

cheer, just send money! – Geoff]. Finally I wish to thank all the Members and Guests who supported the West Country

meeting, for their very generous donation of £82 for the Museum and Archive Fund

Malcolm R. Smith

The ‘Secretary’s Table’

Since the last Newsletter I have been lucky enough to be inundated with e-mails re-questing one service or another for the Association. Maintaining an up-dated website has worked well and I have received and replied to approximately 80 mails overall from mem-bers. (Not counting the ones between the Committee members.) This means that more and members are moving towards using the web as their preferred method of communication, which is pleasing. The electronic newsletter list gets longer by the week and has increased to well over thirty now; this is not as high as I anticipated but over time it will be fine as it’s a continuous progression. So if you are a member and have access to the web, let me know if you would like to download your Newsletter via the Association website.

Condolence card: Tony Leyland has kindly sent me some proofs he has designed and printed of a condolence card. These will be agreed by the Committee (I hope) and we can then issue them to the two Almoners, Tony Hoare and Henry DeSilva. Tony volunteered a few months ago to be our ‘southern area almoner’ and has thus far provided sterling ser-vice for the Association to three members who have since crossed the bar. Well done Tony, it’s good to have you aboard. We are currently discussing an idea of Tony’s to add a small page width area in the Newsletter that members can cut out and keep with the names and contact details of both almoners. Watch this space!

The rededication of our tree at the National Memorial Arboretum is also currently being discussed by Committee. As the memorial is only part funded (one third) by the govern-ment, days such as these can prove to be quite expensive. They are about to introduce car

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parking charges at the memorial now too as I understand it. Once agreed, we will of course be informing you all of the details and hope that as many as possible can attend. We will also be having a new stainless steel plaque fabricated by the memorial (one isn’t allowed to have one's ‘own’ design) and this is £235 on its own!!

The Local Learning & Skills Council (LSC) has recently stated that they will combine the College with that of Fareham and have the combined campus on the Daedalus site. We were asked to write a letter of support for the College against these proposals. This was completed and we have received a confirmation of the receipt of that letter, which was ad-dressed to the appropriate authority. Again the outcomes are not known just yet but Fare-ham Borough Council is evidently against the proposal as is the College itself. We will con-vey the outcome when known either via the Newsletter or if between seasons, on our web pages.

As I always like to end on a high, we have some really good news. We have been most fortunate in securing the Services of Phil Allen and Tony Dewhirst as Committee Members. We are all most grateful for Phil and Tony taking over the Newsletter Editor and Treasurer’s posts respectively. The Chairman has thanked the outgoing Committee members and all I can add is my sincere thanks for their input and it has been a pleasure to work with them both. However, I can say that I look forward to working with our new colleagues in the fu-ture. Take care.

Ken Cast

Membership Secretary’s Ramble We’re still doing well on the membership front, with the following new members having

joined since the last issue.

Name Division and Class Date Joined St. Vincent Les Hayward Duncan 371 02-01-1961

John McCourt Blake 441 17-10-1961 Christine Jones Special –

David Still Hawke 95 03-10-1950 Bryan Busby Blake 191 15-11-1954

Roderick Filby Duncan 111 11-02-1958 Douglas Carswell Blake 45 06-01-1953 Michael Northeast Anson/Hawke 28-08-1948 Gordon James Collingwood Div 06-01-1944

John Curnow Anson 212 17-03-1959 Keith Bennie Hawke 13 03-07-1951

Membership Lists

The lists will be provided on receipt of a self-addressed large (A4) envelope with stamps to the value of £1. Apply to:

Geoff Rose 12 Beverley Road Stubbington Hampshire PO14 2NS geoff_rose@btinternet.com

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Keep Us Posted

If you hear of a shipmate’s change of circumstances – an extreme example being a member Crossing the Bar – and suspect that the Committee may not have been informed, would you please contact the Membership Secretary with details. As you will appreciate, it’s rather embarrassing when chasing unpaid subs to find that the ‘offender’ has already gone to a better place!

Subscriptions

Due to the cost of postage, it is not practicable to send a subscriptions reminder to each member individually. Please keep a weather eye open for your subs due date, or alterna-tively, set up a standing order with your bank.

Geoff Rose

Crossed The Bar The following Shipmates have sadly left us since the last Newsletter.

Our condolences go to their families and friends.

Lt. Cdr. Peter Charles Lee, Hawke 188, 07-01-1954 Crossed the Bar 5th January 2008

James Ernest Fry RVM, Hawke 79, 28-12-1949

Crossed the Bar 28th February 2008

Lieutenant (A) John Carter, 48 Pilots Course, 01-01-1943 Crossed the Bar 27th March 2008

Harold Ullyett, Anson 106, 09-01-1946 Crossed the Bar 2007

Obituaries

Rear Admiral Stanley McArdle

Rear Admiral 'Mac' McArdle, who has died aged 85, rose from boy seaman to command three ships and risked the fierce waters of the North Channel to save life.

Fifty-five years ago some of the worst weather on record swept over Scotland, when on January 31, 1953 McArdle, whose destroyer Contest was sheltering at Rothesay, heard a distress call from the ferry Princess Victoria in the North Channel (between Stranraer and Larne). The first message at 9:45 "Hove to off mouth Loch Ryan. Vessel not under command. Urgent assis-tance of tug required". The stern doors of Princess Vic-toria had been ripped open by the storm; the stanchions supporting these doors buckled, and despite desperate efforts of the crew could not be closed. Walls of water which flooded onto the car deck, the scuppers could not

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cope, cars broke free and Princess Victoria listed heavily. As Contest sailed out into the storm, McArdle heard another message: "Car deck

flooded. Heavy list to starboard. Require immediate assistance". While the wireless operator continued to send out frantic SOS messages, the passen-

gers hauled themselves by lines up the sloping deck of the ferry. One boat was filled with children and women and lowered, only to capsize and spill its occupants into the raging sea where they were swept away. At 13:47 a message Princess Victoria broadcast that she was off the entrance to the Belfast Lough, but a few minutes later she foundered.

In the storm Contest had difficulty finding the wreck site, but by early afternoon McArdle, who was supervising the rescue operation on her upper deck, was able to pluck a few sur-vivors from the mountainous seas. As darkness fell Contest came alongside a weakened man clinging to a raft but as the raft surged in heavy seas the man's grasp slipped. Without hesitation McArdle tied a lifeline round his waist and jumped into the water, where he grabbed the survivor and brought him back to the ships scrambling net but McArdle was exhausted by the effort. Chief Petty Officer Wilfred Warren, seeing that his officer was in difficulty, also put a line round his own waist and jumped into the water. Contest was rolling heavily and all three men were in danger of being swept under her, Mac was swept under the keel, but all were eventually hauled to safety.

128 people died, including the deputy Prime Minister for Northern Ireland, J Maynard Sinclair, and the MP for North Down, Sir Walter Smiles, and all the ship's officers. 34 pas-sengers and ten crew, all men, survived.

McArdle and Warren were awarded the George Medal. Stanley Lawrence McArdle, always known as Mac because he disliked his given names,

was born on September 27, 1922 in Wickham, Hampshire, the son of a colour sergeant in the Royal Marines and educated at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, and he joined HMS St Vincent in Gosport in 1938 as a boy seaman 2nd Class.

McArdle saw service worldwide as a torpedoman before being the only successful can-didate at a fleetboard for promotion to officer in Colombo at the end of the war.

McArdle rose quickly as an officer and, though not a gunnery specialist (one of the guardians of naval ceremonial), he trained the navy for King George Vl's funeral in 1952, for which he was made MVO and by 1957 he was in command on the South Atlantic sta-tion of the Bay-class frigate Burghead Bay.

Contemporaries agree that McArdle's report in 1965, when in command of the frigate Mohawk, was typical of the whole of his career 'a most efficient Commanding Officer who has run a well-organised and happy ship ... ... very successfully. An officer of particular dy-namism and energy, a vigorous, positive man of action who sets a first class example to his team’.

He served in the Admiralty in the directorate of Naval Operations and Trade in 1969, and commanded the guided missile destroyer Glamorgan in 1970. McArdle understood sailors and when one appeared at his table for the award of a Long Service and Good Conduct medal, which was accompanied by a £20 gratuity, he flourished a new note from his wallet (the ship's ‘Scribes’ was hanging around in the passageway to complete the nec-essary forms and to obtain a signature). Sailors enjoyed this theatre and his style of lead-ership and appropriately McArdle was made Director General Personnel Services and Training 1970-73.

His last appointment was as Flag Officer and Port Admiral Portsmouth later Flag Officer Spithead when he was made CB.

In retirement McArdle was a director of British Bus and Endless Holdings, A JP and commissioner of taxes, and a governor of Godolphin School.

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McArdle, who died on December 4, 2007 married in wartime Joyce Cummins and, in 1962, Jennifer Goddard who survives him with their daughter.

This obituary appeared in the 05/02/08 edition of the Daily Telegraph.

Captain John Gower

Captain John Gower, who died last November aged 95, had a distinguished war in destroyers. In 1943-44 he com-manded the new Swift. She was armed with 4.5-inch guns and was part of the famous 23rd Flotilla of British and Nor-wegian destroyers which escorted convoys through the Arctic to Russia.

John Ronald Gower was born on April 7th 1912 in Nai-robi, where his father was a judge in the Colonial Service. The young John entered Dartmouth in 1926. Before the war he served in cruisers and battleships, gaining first class certificates in seamanship.

Gower was immortalised as ‘Lt. Cdr. Robert “The Artful Bodger” Badger’ in the book We Joined the Navy by John Winton. The character was later portrayed by Kenneth More in a 1962 film of the same name.

Gower’s younger brother Derek was killed during the D-Day landings. His youngest brother, Dicky, followed their father into the Colonial Service, and became the father of England cricketer David Gower.

Captain Gower went to live in Scotland, and later moved to Aldeburgh, Suffolk where he died on 17th November 2007.

In 1948 John Gower married Aimée Joan Winder. She died in 2000, and he is survived by their two sons and two daughters.

“D’Ye Hear There!” General announcements section

From the Acting Raffle Organiser

As you may have noticed, there are no raffle tickets included with your Newsletter. Due to the unfortunate lack of volunteers for the post of Raffle Organizer, we are unable to con-duct our usual mode of raffle this year. Instead, tickets will be sold on the day of the AGM and at the Reunion Dinner in the evening.

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“What Did You Do After St. Vincent, Daddy?” A series of Members’ articles describing life after H.M.S. St. Vincent.

“Moby Doc”

Patrick Parker

From the moment I entered the main gate my life seemed to change for the better. I loved all aspects of the training, especially parade ground drill. I was a class leader and manoeuvring a group around the hallowed parade ground was a delight. Climbing the mast was an exciting experi-ence to stand me in good stead later sailing square riggers.

I was a direct entry medical technician and found myself working on the ITU at RNH Haslar - in-teresting though it was I had joined the Navy to go to sea. Luckily my D.O. got me a draft in HMS Aurora. I joined her in a dishevelled state (the ship not me) in dry dock at Chatham. Getting organ-ised was a challenge as was the subsequent work up at Portland. I seemed to thrive on all this ex-citement and commissioning papers were raised.

After a wonderful voyage visiting Gib, West Africa, and South Atlantic where our Gnat chopper blew up on a Nightex-crew saved and I had to go over to two merchant ships to give medical atten-tion, South Africa 9two episodes of Beira patrol with lovely holidays on Nyali beach, Mombasa, a wonderfully interesting Gulf trip visiting every state including Iran at Bushire and Bandar Abbas. Then to Bombay, Singapore, Bangkok and Western Australia at Albany. We were promised a great time with masses of uphomers etc. I remember standing on the flight deck with my tropicals soaked in starch having razor-like creases expecting to be hailed by nubile young Aussie ladies. As we fell out I walked to the side and saw a middle aged man complete with a pronounced paunch, small pork pie hat and a tiny dog, which was our greeting. However the captain of a whaler came on board to enjoy the delights of the wardroom. We struck up a conversation and he invited me to spend a day whaling.

They hadn't caught anything to date that year but a sperm whale was spotted and put to death in a most inhumane way (something that led me to study whales and oceanography with the OU later) The captain was elated-he was a real character complete (or should I say incomplete) with a wooden leg-having lost it when he stepped into a bight – the rope was attached to a flying harpoon at the time! He named me “Moby Doc” as he was convinced I had brought them luck.

We made our way back to the UK where the procedure to commission was initiated. It was found that I was technically blind in one eye and a frantic search was started as to how I ever got into the navy in the first place (a special medical report had been lost). I also didn't have the re-quired ‘O’ levels either, having taken maths at sea and getting the lowest grade possible. So I had the choice to stay in as a PO forever or to "go outside" and pursue a proper medical career. En-couraged by various medical and Aurora's executive officers I accepted a medical discharge and went off to do ‘A’ levels in physics, chemistry and biology without any ‘O’ levels blindly believing that I could do it well I did and only because the dean of the Royal London Hospital had been a Surgeon Lt., I got an interview and bored him into giving me a place in his medical school. I then joined the RNR (the eyesight standards having been reduced). On qualifying, an automatic two rings were granted. An interest in Aviation Medicine resulted in spending many weeks a year work-ing and flying eventually doing locums for various PMOs. I had wonderful exciting flights and took part in rescues from civilian and RN ships. I went on to practice in hospitals and twenty five years as a GP- all so interesting and an immense privilege.

Nearing the end of my time with the RNR I was posted to HMS St. Vincent as a two-and-a-half doc doing the PMOs locum. It was then a stone frigate in Kensington. It was so nostalgic to see the old cap tally worn by ratings who hadn't been born when I last sported it with its tiddly bow.

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I spent fifteen years with the Sail Training Association and other sail training organisations and every time I climbed aloft to deal with sails with nervous youngsters I thought of my first experience of St Vincent’s mast with great pride.

I am truly delighted and proud to be a St. Vincent old boy.

What Ship?

Do you recognise this Old Girl?

The ship in the last issue was HMS Tenacious

An Eerie Tale

Gary Goodwin (Hawke in 1964)

I should really keep this tale until Halloween, possibly. But as is frequently mentioned in the newsletters there is a need for editorial content I shall send it to you now.

After leaving St Vincent in 1965 I was drafted to Collingwood to attain the necessary electrical qualifications. Once this was done it was off to sea and my first posting was the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious which was in for refit at Pompey.

I was told that she was shortly due to relieve the Eagle in the Far East and that the “Vic” was a good ship to be on.

My first impressions were mixed to say the least as the “Vic” looked initially like a scrap yard, with cables, coils of wire and various bits and pieces hanging off the superstructure.

As I climbed over under and round the mass of stuff strewn across the top of the dry dock trying to fight my way to the gangway I thought “there is no way in God’s earth that anyone can sort out this mess in time.”

As usual I as was proved wrong and we set off on our steaming up trials off Scotland on time and we eventually relieved the Eagle and set sail for foreign lands.

I was at the time an Electrical Mechanic 2nd class and my duties included pump and generator maintenance and it is as part of this role where my tale begins.

We had been at sea for number of weeks as a result of protracted exercises with the American and Australian navy and the Vic was beginning to show her age with numerous

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faults cropping up in different ways. It was a case of sorting out problems as they rose and hoping that they could be permanently rectified when we had the opportunity if and when we could get into Singapore or a mini refit.

One problem that reared its head continuously was water leakage from one of the star-board propeller flanges resulting in flooding of the gland space on deck 10QR. Under nor-mal conditions this would not present too much of a problem as the gland space housed three pumps that could cope with any leakage, however as a result of breakages and lack of spares two of the pumps were U/S which meant that the remaining pump was running 24/7.

I was on duty with my oppo Brian Healy on nights in the main switchboard when an indi-cator showed that the remaining pump had blown a fuse. The duty PO told us to go and sort it out and draw the key to unlock the hatch into the gland space. This was common practice as the gland space was permanently locked unless open for access for repairs or maintenance.

Having drawn the key we made our way down into the depths of the ship until we reached the hatch and duly unlocked it. On lifting the hatch I reached down and switched on the light and we made our way down the ladder into the gland space. The gland space itself was about the size of an average front room but was dominated by a huge propeller shaft spinning madly in a cage which eventually ended where the shaft disappeared through the gland to the propeller.

It was apparent that the pump was not working and a quick inspection proved that the fuse had indeed blown. We replaced it and restarted the pump and waited for a few min-utes to make sure all was okay. It was while we were both standing around that Brian men-tioned how cold it was. As we were well below the waterline this to me seemed logical and I thought nothing more about it. We climbed back up the ladder and I switched off the light and closed and locked the hatch. We returned the key and made our way back to the switchboard.

After about an hour the pump failed again so off we went to repeat the procedure. This time however was slightly different in as much as when we opened the hatch the light was on despite my certainty that I had switched it off after the first visit.

We climbed down the ladder and checked the fuse which was okay so we started to look for another problem. We discovered that one of the brushes was kaput so I left Brian to dismantle it while I nipped back up to the workshop to get a replacement. On my return I found Brian sitting in the passageway above the hatch with a face as white as sheet. I asked what the problem was and he mumbled something that there had been someone else in the gland space with him after I went away. I asked him had someone come into the space while he was down there to which he answered no and as he had not left the space it would have been impossible for anyone to get in without him realising.

I jokingly said it must be a ghost and told him he was a wimp and that I was not scared and to prove it would go down the ladder and do the job on my own.

Can I point out at this stage that I had never believed in ghosts or ghoulish events and considered myself a fairly level headed individual?

Anyway I started to replace the problem brush myself whilst keeping up a conversation with Brian who was in the passage way above.

Do you ever get that feeling that you are being watched? I suddenly felt a sense that a pair of eyes was boring in the back of my head.

I was determined not to look around and forced myself to concentrate on the job but be-lieve it or not I honestly could feel the hair on the back of my head start to stand up.

I rushed the job, restarted the pump, gathered up my tools and made a dash for the lad-der. By now all semblance of cool detachment had gone out the window, all I wanted to do

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was get out of there. As I bolted up the ladder and reached out to switch off the light to this day I am convinced that I saw out of the corner of my eye a figure in the space on the far side of the propeller shaft.

With the light off and the hatch locked I asked Brian what had upset him to which he re-plied that he felt that he was being watched while taking out the broken brush and that he just felt really uncomfortable and admitted that he couldn’t stay in the space on his own.

Needles to say we mentioned nothing to anyone as we just knew that we would be the subject of ridicule.

A few weeks later however another member of the electrical department was required to carry out some work in the gland space and as a direct result of whatever happened during this task the person involved was really affected and reported the incident which resulted in both the Ship’s Chaplains – Church of England and Roman Catholic – undertaking a reli-gious ceremony in the form of an exorcism to address the problem.

It was only sometime later that we were informed that as part of her wartime role The Vic suffered heavy damage resulting in a large number of fatalities amongst the crew.

As the ship was at prolonged action stations there was no alternative than to temporarily remove the deceased to a part of the ship where they could remain until a time could be found to enable a decent burial service to be undertaken.

Where were the bodies kept? You guessed it, Propeller Gland Space 10QR!!!

HMS St. Vincent Weekend in Torquay

Bryan Jervis

On a splendid sunny afternoon on Friday 8th February over 100 members and friends of HMS St. Vincent Association filled the Inglewood Hotel at Torquay for yet another gathering of frivolity and friendship.

Each room sported a selection of fruit, supplied by the hotel and a packet of ship’s bis-cuits (modern chocolate type), provided by Reg Greenham & his committee, courtesy of Lidl. The bar was open and did a roaring trade throughout the weekend, with special prices for us all.

Friday evening we had a spirit raffle. 101 participants gladly donated £1 just to have a go and five were lucky winners. Entertainment after dinner was provided by the hotel and was enjoyed by all.

After breakfast on Saturday 55 members boarded the coach and transferred to Paignton Zoo.

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They were escorted around by Brian, a senior keeper, whose knowledge and experi-ence kept us all enthralled as we gently strolled among the animals. We did notice that he enticed Elsie, our 91 year old Wren, into the elephant enclosure, but Elsie would not di-vulge what went on within. Self service lunch was taken at the zoo and that was followed by a visit to the Cyder Press at Dartington. This was a pleasant enough place to meander around the shops but it was a bit of a tourist trap with prices a little on the high side. Some hairy a***d matelots were espied demolishing ‘99’ ice creams at £1.60 a go! That’s nearly the cost of a pint of beer! We returned to the hotel a little tired so relaxed until it was time (1800) to muster for rum. The Team from the White Ensign Club, resplendent in their an-cient uniforms, were once again on hand to dispense the Nelson’s Blood, at least two times around the buoy for most of us. Ladies had an option of sherry kindly provided by the hotel. At 1900 we were treated to a Gala Dinner consisting of seven courses of well cooked and very tasty food. This was again followed by entertainment provided by the hotel so we all went to bed (eventually), exhausted but happy.

Sunday was a day of rest to ‘do your own thing’ so to speak. Most went shopping for a

raffle prize to donate to the evening bash. By the time we went to dinner the table was groaning with prizes, such was the response. After yet another splendid meal it was ‘Party Time’ organised and presented by Sue, the hotel manageress and organiser of all naval re-unions held there. Party hats, blowing up balloons in a ‘mine’s bigger than yours’ competi-tion, Play Your Cards Right and Karaoke, it all happened and a jolly good time was had by all. The raffle realised £160. It was decided that it be equally divided between the hotel charity and St. Vincent charity. The Hotel donated their £80 to Cancer Research and Reg Greenham and his committee donated their £80 to HMS St. Vincent Museum and Archive Fund.

Monday proved to be the day of ‘parting is such sweet sorrow’ time, but such was the joy in so many hearts that most have re-booked for next year, there being only ten rooms left. It was a super weekend, aided and abetted by sunshine throughout.

The date of the next West Country Weekend Reunion at the Inglewood Hotel is Febru-ary 13th – 16th 2009.

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AGM/Reunion Organiser’s Desk

HMS St Vincent Association 12th Annual General Meeting

Saturday 11th October 2008 at 1100

0900-1055 Registration in the Refectory Room, (Tea & Coffee will be available, throughout and whilst the AGM is in progress.)

1100 Annual General Meeting in the College Theatre - Members Only 1230 (Approx.) On completion of the AGM: Lunch.

Lunch this year will once again be Fish & Chips, with a vegetarian alternative of Veggie Burger and Chips. A glass of wine or orange juice will also be available. The cost for this will be £5.50 per head. Please state your preference when ordering.

If you have not received your booking forms for the AGM or the Reunion Dinner please

contact me as soon as possible!

A brief reminder for the evening is as follows:

• The Dinner is being held at the Thorngate Halls, Bury Road, Gosport

• 1830-1900 Reception in the main Ballroom-Cash Bar & Wine Purchasing facility.

• 1845 “UP SPIRITS”

The evening meal this year will take the usual form of a sit down three-course dinner.

MENU

Pate & Melba Toast

Breast of Chicken in Bacon; Roast Potatoes

Chef’s Selection of Vegetables

Profiteroles & Hot Chocolate Sauce & Cream

Roll & Butter

Coffee / Tea After-Dinner Mints

Please state when booking if you have any special dietary requirements. Diane D. Smith: 02392 584498; email diane.smith820@ntlworld.com

Diane D. Smith

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Justice in the RN Pony Moore

Duncan 186 - 1954 We frequently hear today's Justice System being criticised as being too harsh, but hav-

ing just finished reading about the "Trial" of offenders and subsequent punishment of men in the Royal Navy just over 100 years ago, I have to say that in my opinion this could not be further from the truth.

Nowadays, there is a Judge and Jury, a Prosecuting Team and a Defence Team and if a man is found guilty, after the most careful of investigations, he may be punished by a va-riety of means such as imprisonment, probation or one of many lesser punishments. All of which are very mild in comparison with those of the Old Navy.

In those days the Captain of the ship was the Judge, Jury and Prosecutor. If the unfor-tunate seaman on trial attempted to defend himself by word or deed, it was treated as inso-lence. Many of the offences carried the Capital Punishment, Death.

If a man committed murder, he was tied to his victim's body and thrown overboard. If a man was found asleep on watch, he was suspended in an iron cage over the bow-

sprit with a loaf of bread and a knife. He could either try to stay alive by eating the bread, but invariable he would starve to death, or he could cut himself down and drown.

If a man was a thief, he had his right hand cut off. If a man drew a knife on another, his hand was pinned to the mast by the knife. A few of the lesser punishments were, ducking, fasting, keel-hauling, flogging, hanging

with weights on the body, gagging and scraping of tongues, and none of these guaranteed the victim's survival.

These "Laws of Oleron", as they were called, remained in force until an Act of Parlia-ment finally amended them in 1866 when the present day Naval Discipline Act was insti-tuted.

Before any one asks, during my time in the Navy we were not subject to the "Laws of Oleron", and, I did not sail with Nelson.

Fifty Years On: Duncan 11 Fiftieth Anniversary Reunion Tony Dewhirst

It was a bright sunny spring-like day that greeted the 12 members of 11 entry that had mustered at the Home Club, (sorry, The Royal Maritime Club!) by Portsmouth dockyard 50 years to the day after 79 of the most unlikely lads had streamed of the Pusser’s bus onto the infamous parade ground of HMS St. Vincent on the 11th February1958.

We embarked on a day of events that invoked many memories of our time in the early days of our service careers. First to HMS Excellent to be welcomed by the First Lieuten-ant, Lt. Cdr. Alan Cronin RN himself a St Vincent boy, at 61 the oldest serving officer in the R.N. but not looking a day over 45 brought back memories of officers with loud voices and liquorish legs. We had a close up view of the gleaming monarch’s gun carriage that will bear the queen on her last journey to Westminster Abbey.

This was followed by a boat trip across the harbour to land us at Royal Clarence Yard where we had spent many cold hours learning to sail and row (next time I’ll join-up in July), now redeveloped into an expensive looking marina and fancy waterfront apartments. Then on to St. Vincent College to be greeted by the vice-principal Ken Kenyon. We enjoyed a walk around the buildings many of which, including the swimming pool are still in use and the old chief’s mess that doubles as our museum. We all enjoyed a splendid lunch of

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bangers and mash before setting off for Fareham where Cdr. Alun Watts RN, Executive Of-ficer, HMS Collingwood gave us a briefing in the wardroom on the new expanded roll of HMS Collingwood. The photo opportunity with Lord Jarvis re-located from St Vincent was followed by a visit to the short range weapons section where we saw a number of changes brought about by the Falkland experience of 1982. Then a visit to the Communications and Radar Museum, with its curator Lt. Cdr. Bill Legg, who many remembered from their days under training.

HMS Excellent: Nine of us, with First Lieutenant, Lt. Cdr. Alan Cronin RN

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HMS Collingwood: Eight of us, plus Executive Officer, Commander Alun Watts, Lt. Grinsill and two sailors who happened to be passing at the time

Finally, a ferry back to the Club where up-spirits and the loyal toast got our reunion din-

ner under way. It was a pleasure to welcome our chairman Malcolm Smith and his wife Diane whose contacts had made the event organisation possible. Lofty Powers had put a number of retained items of sewn-in kit on display, invoking memories of the many hours spent with needle and red silk struggling to meet the kit muster deadline and finally get out of new entries.

The 100th Anniversary will be celebrated behind the Pearly Gates, St Peter willing, if not we’ll have to hold it in the other place along with the Ganges boys.

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Letters to the Editor

It was St. Vincent that caught my eye! I have, in the last year, discovered that I am the great granddaughter of a Royal Marine Light Infantryman (Red) Portsmouth, 38th Com-pany. I have acquired his service papers and note his longest service "afloat" was on St. Vincent.

He was a Colour Sergeant. He was born in 1840 and joined the Service in January 1859 aged 19 (his attestation was in Newcastle under Lyne - he was born in Congelton, Chesh-ire) and served 22 years until April 1881.

He had 10 children (perhaps he didn't go to sea as often as I thought!), five of whom, in-cluding my grandfather (who went on to be a bit of a war hero - army) were born at Forton Barracks, Alverstoke. I believe it is possible the children were educated in a naval school and hope to investigate this. He married in 1868 at St. Thomas, Elson, Alverstoke to a Mary Ann Rowland b. 1849 in Alverstoke, daughter of a tailor. He also served on St. George, Minotaur, Ariadne, Argent and Thames. I imagine these ships were "rigged" if that is the correct expression, in his day. He served with the Battalion in Mexico for 233 days in 1861 and Ireland for 95 days in 1867.

I believe he also served in West Africa and wife and family went with him but have no written record of this - the story is that my grandfather was born at sea whilst the family were returning from a tour of duty in West Africa - he was, however, registered as being born at Forton Barracks, not at sea (maybe it saved a lot of paperwork). He was only enti-tled to the Ashanti medal on retirement.

I have just found out in the last few days that he actually had a naval pension and am about to contact Greenwich Hospital (he was an outpatient - I believe the in-patient pension records are at the NA). I just wanted to wish all of you aboard St. Vincent the very best and I am sure George Foster would have loved to have been aboard with you under the flag (or is it under the table!). The military involvement is alive and well in the family - my son is about to complete an Afghanistan tour for the army. I just thought I would share this with you.

Best wishes,

Sue Cassidy

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Book Review

Rob Jerrard

SKUA! The Royal Navy’s Dive-Bomber

Edition: First Author: Peter C Smith

ISBN: 1844154556 Publishers: Pen & Sword Aviation

Price: £25.00 Publication Date: 2006

The author tells us in his Foreword that he had wanted to write this book for half a cen-tury. He quite correctly points out that he has written the definitive history of every aircraft of that type, but not the Skua. Why not the Skua? Well, it seems in Britain we honour eve-ryone and everything except our own and the power lay with the publishers. The Skua was British built and British operated and I am pleased that the story has finally been told, and told in such detail by an author who has written 57 books previously. As with other books by this author, the story is told fully and is the definitive record with many excellent photo-graphs, diagrams and appendices.

We gain an insight into this unique aircraft when we find that Appendix 1 lists her ‘Firsts’.

In her career she notched up: First - monoplane in Royal Naval service; First - all-metal aircraft in Royal Naval service; First - British aircraft to shoot down a Confirmed German aircraft in the Second World War; First - aircraft in the world to sink a major warship by dive-bombing; First - British aircraft to have a bomb-ejector fork for bomb to clear propeller in dive; First - British aircraft with sleeve-valve engine; First - British aircraft to feature Koffman starter gun for engine; First - British aircraft to mount four Browning guns clear of prop. No CC gear; First - British aircraft to feature two-speed propeller (two pitch positions); First - and only aircraft to be fitted with anti-spin tail parachute; First - British aircraft equipped with radio-homing beacon on new VHF;

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First - British aircraft to have front gun reflector sight; First - British aircraft fitted with oxygen bottles and supply lines.

The first five chapters cover the birth and production of the aircraft before Chapter 6

takes us ‘Into Battle’. The third ‘first’ records the ‘First Blood’ when: ‘During the period 25 to 26 September 1939, both No. 801 and No. 803 Squadrons were

embarked aboard Ark Royal, which was operating in the North Sea. The Skuas were fly-ing continuous patrols over the fleet. A section of No. 803 Squadron's Skuas were launched when a Dornier 18 sighting was made. Their target had the dubious distinction of becoming the first German aircraft to be destroyed by any British service in the Second World War. This aircraft fell to the Skuas of Lieutenant B S McEwen, with Petty Officer B. M. ‘Horse' Seymour and Lieutenant C. L. G. Evans, with Lieutenant W. A. Robertson. After a brisk chase and skirmish, she was finally shot down by ‘Horse’, a Telegraphist/Air Gunner (TAG), from the back of his aircraft. The German floatplane was forced down on the sea reasonably intact and stayed afloat until the destroyer HMS Somali closed with her and took off the crew before sinking her’.

The shooting down of the Dornier 18 is often cited as the first kill by a British Aircraft in World War II – in fact the first was by Sgt. F. A. Letchford, an observer/gunner in a Fairy Battle Bomber of 88 Squadron RAF on the 20th September 1939. Sgt Letchford's claim was not confirmed straight away. This presumably is why the author in this book correctly uses the term, ‘Confirmed’.

The book records very many of the actions in which the Skuas were evident. It details the fate of many crew members, with lists giving an insight into losses such as Table 22 on Page 153. In the attack on Scharnhorst, 13 June 1940, the Royal Navy effectively lost a whole squadron of highly trained veteran airmen when eight Skuas were destroyed with six deaths plus (one death from wounds and nine captured).

It wasn’t always the enemy - even in those days it could be friendly fire! Unfortunately on 28 May 1940 two Skuas were intercepted by a full squadron of 24 Spitfires, which im-mediately attacked them from astern, badly damaging both aircraft and reference is made to the account of Midshipman Hogg (Sub Lieutenant (A) Graham Angus Hogg DFC & Bar RNVR) ‘The Camouflaged Coward 1956’. Sub Lieutenant Hogg is credited as having shot down four enemy aircraft in the air with eight shared kills.

There are extensive detailed footnotes with each chapter, which combined with an ex-cellent index, makes this a valuable asset to any library where readers have an interest in Royal Naval aviation. It covers the sinking of the Königsberg in unprecedented detail.

The book is dedicated to the memory of Skua TAG Richard S ‘Dickie’ Rolph BEM, whose advice regarding getting this book published was “remember the story of Bruce and the spider…don’t give up.’

Rub Your Boots With Wax Jonathan Gibson

What do the following have in common? The Operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan, Erding-ton, Gunnery Instructors, James Bond, and felines have to do with HMS St Vincent? Read on and all will be revealed

It was a cold but sunny day as I left home, in South London, to catch the 159 bus to Blackfriars via Westminster Bridge. It was the start of the journey to HMS St Vincent via HMS Discovery. In writing this article I have tried to compare life at HMS St Vincent with life today forty five years on.

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In February 1962 I joined HMS St Vincent as a member of 47 Entry. Prior to joining St Vincent I was at an approved school! Not quite, it was the Royal Wanstead School (RWS) which was a boarding school on the edge of Epping Forest, in Essex. The time was rapidly approaching when I would be leaving school and going out into the world to make a living.

The R.W.S had quite a few old boys who would return to the school in their uniforms. “Fish-face” Marshall was one who went to Ganges as a stoker and another lad went to St Vincent. On the occasions we were allowed home from school during term time, on my re-turn journey I would see the lads from the Ganges at Liverpool Street Station, carrying their little brown cases, waiting to catch their train, and the seed was now set.

Join the Navy and See the World

Mick Cameron mentioned in his article the number of times he will travel back to those days at St Vincent. Yes I agree with him, because I do the same thing.

It was always my ambition to go sailing but because of a clash of personalities with the teacher at school I never went sailing. Imagine the pleasure and the excitement when CPO Bullock said to me, “Gibson where is your kit? You are going sailing.”

Heaven? Ecstasy? Yes is my answer and to this day memories of that sail in a ‘Monta-gue’ whaler are fantastic. Portsmouth Harbour is both those, heaven and ecstasy.

In a recent addition of the magazine there was a photograph of a whaler being hoisted and because they forgot to take the bung out it was bending in the middle. Well a certain intellectual-looking lad did a similar thing but not quite. This lad moored his whaler between two posts and then proceeded ashore by climbing over umpteen boats and was greeted with the words, “What have you done? Go and move your boat because when the tide goes out it will be hung out to dry.” Never mind, now it is my time to take the stick.

I remember the time when we were learning to go along side a ship moored out at sea. It was my turn to go on the wheel and I thought I was doing rather well (a touch of Mr. Phil-ips from the Navy Lark). When suddenly the Boats Officer said, “I have command, because if you had carried on we would have sunk!”

Who remembers that first morning in New Entries? Outside it was pitch black when all of a sudden the lights in the mess came on and we were rudely awakened. Calling the hands at 5.30am indeed! About five years ago a tom cat, now ex tom cat, adopted me and, when I was convinced he was a stray, relented and started feeding him. No prizes for guessing what his name is. Give in? It is “Vincent”. Vincent has the habit of jumping on the bed and reminding me he is hungry. Yes 5.30 in the morning the same time we were called on that first morning in New Entries.

If the question was asked, who did you fear the most in “St Violent?”, then the answer would most probably be Gunnery Instructors. I was attending the rehearsal for the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Mikado and noticed a new member of the Society. Hearing a strong West Country accent became interested and the truth came out. He was an ex GI and a friendship quickly was formed. My pal Jack had a fine bass voice, no doubt helped by barking out orders on the parade ground. Regretfully he crossed the bar about six years ago.

Another year I was appearing in another Gilbert and Sullivan Opera, The Gondoliers and the costume for the male chorus was surge trousers and white fronts. Would you be-lieve it you could still see the creases in the trousers, and the trousers were of the three piece fly style.

Who can forget those immortal words, “March on the Guard and Band!” and the reply, “Band by the centre, Guard by the right, quick march!”

Lynne is a member of Erdington Operatic Society and one night we were waiting to go on stage the only way I could pluck up the courage to ask her out was to imagine I was the

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guard commander. Yes I did stop three paces in front of her and in my mind saluted here. The last words of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre are appropriate, “Readers I married her.”

Yes I agree with Mick Cameron those days at “St. Violent” are nether far away. I nether experienced the passing out parade and the final kit muster because Jock McLeod, Brian Keenan and I were on our way to start a career in the Fleet Air Arm at HMS Condor at Ar-broath in Scotland.

The Navy taught me a lot of things like the distance flags used when replenishing at Sea: Red, yellow, blue, white, and green hence the title of this article, “Rub your Boots with Wax”

In 1973 I left the Royal Navy having reached the dizzy heights of an Acting Petty Officer. Did I regret leaving the Navy? No! In my trade as an Airframes/engines mechanic, the op-portunities were becoming limited. Do I regret leaving the Portsmouth Area? You bet I do! I originally come from London but I will always consider Portsmouth as my home.

Lynne and I love going to Millbrook in Cornwall and the holiday starts with the Torpoint ferry. Fantastic I am back at sea reliving my days at sea on H.M.S Virago, H.M.S Victori-ous, and H.M.S Zulu. My first run ashore from Devonport when, as a young sea going sailor of only seven days, I went ashore from the Virago and was petrified when I saw the spider scene from the James Bond movie Dr No. Some sailor!

The sad truth is all those ships have gone but the “Vic” has been reincarnated into a submarine. The Air Stations, Arbroath. Lossiemouth, Portland, and Lee on the Solent where I served, have all gone. However the latter is probably seeing more air activity as a coast guard station than when it was a Naval Air Station, especially in the last thirty years of its life.

Seaton FNA Reunion 2008

Mick O’Keefe

The weekend started with picking up 3 other people; Pauline who is a good friend of Cathy and me and has been for some 30 years, and another couple who we have known for 25 years, and is a R.M. Assoc. member. We arrived at Seaton at 1440 in sunshine but a tad cold, the site was quite small only catering for about 200 guests. We booked in found our chalets and then settled down to the task in hand (long drive – DRINKING time) Dinner was at 1800 so only 4-5 pints consumed.

During dinner I found Robbie who is the secretary of the FNA to check out what was happening over the weekend. He told me that he hadn't heard from the padre so it looked like church parade was off, so could I parade St Vincent Standard at the AGM at 0900 in the morning. Whoopee time off!

That evening there was the usual Bingo and quiz and a 50p bar until 2300, also the resident band for dancing and a show by the resident entertainment staff (not bad either). We hit the bar steadily not sure how many but it was flowing very well, off to bed I think 0230ish.

Saturday (head in a sling) wander off to breccy usual layout as per Pusser’s breakfast, then swiftly change for the AGM. Three Standards were paraded: St Vincent, The FNA, and The Commando Carriers Assoc. After the AGM a tot for standard bearers as it should be, then we went on a trip to Exeter White Ensign club until 1600 returning to Lyme Bay Holiday camp for bath & dhoby before dinner. Up spirits was piped as we entered the din-ing hall; I also had Queens as it should be for a rum rat. Then, back into the Ballroom to perform and watch the usual entertainment for the evening, I did dance with two of the en-tertainments team just to show them how it's done(they were pleased) and of course, drink-

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ing till you drop or otherwise get led away. I failed to tell you that Joe Erskine was also with us so Duncan 617 were well in tune.

Early rise again Sunday morning breakfast then wonder about time we went into Seaton but not too far as Cathy had only come out of hospital on the Wednesday, when we got back, Mitch (another Duncan 617 boy) had popped in to see us but only stayed for a cou-ple of hours to catch up on things then went back home.

At 1300 a coach-load of us went to Honiton RBL for a lunchtime ‘sesh’ then back for the night-time’s entertainment at 1630. The photos were taken before the night-time’s ‘sesh’ on Sunday. The team did a stint called ‘Great Britain’ which was quite good as they sang songs from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England; then after there was a comedian also very good. Once again 50p bar until 2300 then bed at approx 0230 again, and home Mon-day after breakfast. This is the account of the FNA weekend as I remember it. HMS St Vin-cent Standard was paraded once again with PRIDE

Raffle News There isn’t any! See page 6.

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H.M.S. St. Vincent Association Officers President:

Vice President: Chairman: Secretary: Treasurer:

Public Relations: Membership Secretary:

Newsletter Editor: AGM and Reunion Organiser:

Slops Manager: Archivist:

Almoners:

Raffle Organiser: Webmaster:

Admiral Sir Raymond Lygo KCB Lt. Alan Dobson Malcolm Smith BEM. Tel: 02392 584498 Ken Cast. Tel: 01329 668464 Gerry Harris/Tony Dewhirst David Coleman. Tel: 01305 260761 Geoff Rose. Tel: 01329 668596 Geoff Rose/Phil Allen Diane Smith. Tel: 02392 584498 Dave Hazlewood. Tel: 02392 580218 John Clifford. Tel: 01329 282152 Northern Area: Henry DeSilva. Tel: 01624 880863 Southern Area: Tony Hoare. Tel: 01403 267833 Vacant and awaiting a volunteer! Roger Lyons

����- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Slop Chit (April 2008) Code Description Remarks Size Colour Item Cost Qty. Total

A Poly-Cotton Polo Shirt Embroidered with the Association Logo £18.50

B Heavyweight Polo Shirt Embroidered with the Association Logo £20.00

C Crewneck Sweatshirt Embroidered with the Association Logo £21.00

D V-Neck Sweater Embroidered with the Association Logo £23.50

E Nylon Rain Jacket Embroidered with the Association Logo £27.30

F Poly-Cotton Casual Jacket Embroidered with the Association Logo £35.00

G Polyester Tie Navy Blue with the St Vincent Logo £8.00

H Cufflinks Gilt Enamelled with the St Vincent Crest £13.00

J Lapel Badge Gilt Enamelled with the St Vincent Crest £6.00

K Beret Badge Embroidered with the Winged Horse £2.50

L Blazer Badge Embroidered £7.00

M Blazer Badge Gold Wire £12.50

N Reversible Cummerbund Embroidered with the St Vincent Crest £22.00

P Wine Bottle Apron Printed with the Association Logo £3.50

Q Ship’s Crest 5" Circular Shape on Wooden Mount £20.00

R Crystal Glass Tankard Engraved with the Association Logo £27.50

S Glass Tankard Engraved with the Association Logo £11.00

T Glass Tumbler Engraved with the Association Logo £8.00

U Ball Pen Printed with the Association Logo £1.00

V Substitute Leather Key Fob Foil printed with the Association Logo £0.50

W Substitute Leather Book-mark

Foil printed with the Association Logo £0.50

X Cotton Baseball Cap Embroidered with the St Vincent Crest £5.00

Y Rayon Cap Tally Woven HMS St Vincent £2.00

Z Short Sleeve Casual Shirt Embroidered with the Association Logo £25.00

A1 Crystal Glass Decanter Engraved with the Association Logo £40.00

B1 Crystal Decanter Set Engraved with the Association Logo £50.00

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C1 Pewter Tankard Engraved with the Association Logo £30.00

����- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Code Description Remarks Size Colour Item Cost Qty. Total

D1 Real Leather Key Fob Colour printed with the Association Logo £3.00

E1 White Gloves For ceremonial occasions £4.00

F1 Umbrella Colour printed with the Association Logo £10.00

G1 Pack of 6 Drinks Coasters Colour printed with the Association Logo £10.00

H1 Car Windscreen Sticker Colour printed with the Association Logo £1.75

XMS Christmas Cards St V. Main Gate Scene. Pack 10+Env £10.00

Sub Total £

P & P £

Total £

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1. Items A & C available in the following colours: Navy. Royal Blue. Red. Bottle Green. Black. White.

2. Item B available in the following colours: Navy. Red. Black. White. 3. Items D & E available in the following colours: Navy. Royal Blue. Red. Bottle Green.

Black. 4. Item F available in the following colours: Navy. Red. Black. White. Bottle Green. 5. Item Z available Short Sleeve only. State collar size. 6. State your 1st & 2nd colour preference & chest size with your order. 7. B1 is a Decanter Set consisting of Decanter plus two Glass Tumblers. 8. Orders will be placed on the 1st of the month. Allow 28 days for delivery thereafter,

subject to availability. 9. Cheques or Postal Orders to be made payable to: HMS St Vincent Association.

10. Postage & Packing: For orders up to £24.99 (£2.50). Between £25.00 and £49.99 (£3.50). Between

£50.00 and £99.99 (£4.75) Orders over £100.00 (£6.00). FOR OVERSEAS RATES ON ALL ORDERS PLEASE ENQUIRE. Send your written order with Total Payment to:

D.N. Hazlewood, 10 Weymouth Avenue, Gosport, Hampshire. PO12 4NR

Please Note: Umbrellas will be treated as a sepa-rate item for purchasing and mailing due to their dimensions. So the brolly will cost £4 in postage which will be in addition to any other Slops pur-chased on any single or-der.