28 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2007
London’s
Veterans
last blast
kept out
COMMANDER Mike Riley
in the cold
points out (Letters, June) that HMS
Zulu fi red the last RN broadside RESTORMAL Borough Council
in 1984. and Newquay put on a spectacu-
I agree with him on that point. lar event as a tribute to those who
This was the last twin turret two- liberated the Falkland Islands 25
gun broadside. years ago, with HMS Exeter look-
HMS Zulu was equipped with ing immaculate.
the single gun open Mk 5 mount- When I enquired as to what
ings fore and aft. arrangements had been made for
HMS London’s broadside the veterans, the apologetic answer
(December 10 1981) was in fact was ‘none’ and I was even discour-
the last four gun broadside. aged from going down to the har-
HMS London was equipped bour, where the ceremonies were
with later twin gun 4.5in Mk 6 being held, which was restricted
turrets. I remember it quite well to ‘invited guests only’.
and was B turret maintainer at Seeing many holidaymakers in
the time. the harbour, I went anyway, wear-
Certainly Cdr Rily would have ing my South Atlantic medal.
been the last to report A and Y The opening address welcomed
mountings correct – for HMS every group you could think of
London, it would have been A and – except veterans.
B turrets correct. Chains of office were in abun-
– Lt Cdr Guy Nicholls,
● We looked on Google Earth and could not see Lynx, although the other names were clear. However, sailors from HMS Dumbarton Castle
(above) dug their stones out of Pony Pass quarry, so if anyone did nick the stones it wasn’t them...
dance, all with badges giving them
Admiralty Interview Board access to the marquee. Not only
were veterans excluded, but as
Pension
they passed right in front of me,
none of the dignitaries even saw fit
to acknowledge my presence.
pot-boiler
The missing Lynx?
We buried our dead at sea 25
years ago – every wave is their
headstone.
THERE was no mention in the article about Dumbarton Castle (June) and was about to visit Guayaquil when we were ordered to proceed
I reflected for a while, watching
REFERRING to Mr Sexton’s let- of the ships’ names on the slopes opposite Port Stanley. post-haste to the Falkland Islands, fuelling at Valparaiso and Punta the surf, before leaving early.
ter (June) regarding payment pro- There was no mention of HMS Lynx and I was wondering if it was Arenas on the way. Back into the Atlantic without a run ashore. This event was clearly not for
tection, I am in a similar situation, still on the hillside or whether some rogues had nicked the stones My advice to anyone going south is to pick a vessel with the short veterans, and very evidently not
the difference is that he has been
to help write their ship’s name? name composed of straight lines. Makes rock-shifting easier. planned by the Royal Navy.
misinformed.
In 1964, HMS Lynx had just passed through the Panama Canal – Roger Breakwell, Portsmouth – Ian Inskip, Navigating
Although due to his Naval pen- Officer, HMS Glamorgan, 1982
sion he isn’t entitled to Jobseeker’s
Allowance, if he was in full employ-
ment and paying his stamp, he
could be entitled to Contributory
Jobseeker’s Allowance for six
months based on his NI contri-
butions. Diamond’s name
Falklands
reflections
With regards to payment pro-
WITH reference to your Falklands
tection, he should be still signing
supplement (May) – yes, HMS
on and completing either form
promises lustre
Conqueror is the only nuclear sub-
ABI1 or the ones from his insur-
marine to have sunk another vessel
ers.
(warship) in anger.
Although he gets no money, the
However, since 1945, not so.
ABI1 is his proof of unemploy-
The Pakistani Daphne Class
ment and his insurers should pay
Hangor (Shark) sank the Indian,
on that and more importantly it
British-built type 14 frigate Kukri
will generate a National Insurance
on December 9 1971, with the
Credit, to make sure his pension
loss of 211 crew.
pot isn’t short when he reaches WHEN the city of Sheffield
The Pakistani submarine
65. was offered an affilia-
Ghazi (formerly USS Diablo)
Please pass on this informa-
tion with the new Type also happens to be the only total
tion – I hate to see ex-matelots
45 destroyer HMS Diamond loss submarine in action since
being caught out by receiving duff
the Lord Mayor turned
1945, believed lost to a mine on
information.
down the offer without
December 3 1971. All 82 crew
– C Macdonald, ex RN, Derby
putting it to the people of
died.
Sheffield.
– Sean Smith, Eastleigh
Some people were asked for ...AFTER all the Falklands cele-
their opinion on the decision, with brations are over, perhaps it would
some saying any connection with be time to refl ect on all those serv-
the Royal Navy would be a good icemen who served down south
thing for the city, which I feel before 1982 – the offi cers and
would be correct as it is an honour crew of HMS Endurance, Naval
to both the city and the ship, and Party 8901 and a few others.
brings benefit to both in many Many friendships were built
ways. over the years in Port Stanley and
The statement that has angered the settlements. I myself served in
me and my members is the both polar regions on ships and
one that the name Diamond is submarines.
meaningless. Perhaps time for a polar medal?
This is an insult to the name Or even a Falklands bar?
● The renowned Just Nuisance and to all former Diamond crew. – Peter Fox, Ramsgate, Kent
gazing out to sea It is a very proud name and one
...In 1951-2 I was serving in the
that has served the Navy and the
Jack’s best
original HMS Sheffi eld and fl ag-
country since 1651, serving with
ship of the AWI Squadron.
Sir Francis Drake at the defeat of
Sometime in 1952, the then
oppo
the Armada under the command
president of Argentina, General
of Capt Robert Holland.
Peron, made noises regarding the
The new Type 45 destroyer
Falklands. So our Marine detach-
to bear the name Diamond will
ment, less band, was embarked on
A FRIEND just back from Cape
be the 13th ship to serve with
one of our accompanying frigates
Town took this photo of one of
the name, which I and all my
and dispatched to Stanley.
Jack’s best oppos there in World
members are proud of, and proud to
Thence, all quiet on the South
War 2 – AB Just Nuisance.
be an ex-Diamond crew member.
I bet all the lads who were there
– Ray ‘Legs’ Shipley,
Atlantic Front.
I do not recall hearing of the
remember him.
Chairman, HMS Diamond
Falklands again figuring interna-
– Stan Elmes, Basildon,
Association, Gillingham, Kent
tionally until the events of 1982.
● HMS Diamond, the previous destroyer built in 1950
Essex – P Herlihy, Ruislip
opinion
THE city of Sheffield, which is as far away from the sea as indeed it has for many other cities – with the gradual phas-
any English city can be, has had long and affectionate links ing-out of the Type-42 destroyers.
Leviathan Block, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH
with its affililated ship, But the city of Sheffield has really taken an extraordinary
No.636: 54th year
Even her nickname, the ‘Shiny Sheff’, is a tribute to the decision in turning down the offer of affiliation with HMS
Editorial Business
steel city – the original HMS Sheffield, launched in 1936, was Diamond on the grounds that she is not called Sheffield.
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the first ship to have her brightwork and ship’s bell made of Diamond is a most illustrious name in Naval history.
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stainless steel instead of the traditional brass. And at the risk of fuelling traditional rivalry between
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She was followed by two other HMS Sheffields, and there Yorkshire’s two largest cities, it’s noticeable that one of
Assistant Editors:
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was great grief and a sense of loss in the city when the sec- the strongest affiliations of all is with Leeds, which has not
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