34 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2007
Father Bill mourned
Greetings
FORMER Bridport branch do with Nelson and Trafalgar,
chaplain Father William Hill with a published book on the
from South
died peacefully in his sleep subject to his name.
on June 5. Father Bill became a
Father Bill perhaps owed very active member of the Africa
his allegiance more to the RAF branch, and his sincere
than the RN because of his and quiet support, as well
BUSINESS was dealt with in
background. as his selflessness and
rapid order by members of the
But when Bridport’s understanding, made him an
Plymouth branch in order to
previous padre, Father Roger, invaluable friend.
allow 50 members at the April
left the Dorset town, Father S/M Brian Cox, Bridport’s
monthly meeting to welcome an
Bill was said to be surprised Welfare Officer, said: “Bill
overseas visitor.
and thrilled to have been was a wonderful man, and
The branch welcomed S/M
approached to take up the someone that even cynical
Ronnie Gilbert, Deputy Chairman
of the Capetown branch, who
position. old sailors could love and
● S/Ms William Kempson (left), Freddie Westwood and Tom Stallard called in on the way to a family
● S/M Jim Leggett
Despite his roots in the junior respect.
(right) of the Folkestone branch present a cheque for £1,000 to Capt reunion in Scotland and Ireland.
Standard
branch of the Armed Forces, “We will all gladly raise a
Mark Rose of the Salvation Army (white shirt). The money was raised S/M Ronnie, originally
Father Bill did have a major link glass of Nelson’s blood to the
to help the Salvation Army following the earthquake in Folkestone from Glasgow, served in HMS
with the Senior Service, having memory of such a very worthy
when they gave help to the local community. Victorious and HMS Protector
shown in
had a passion for anything to shipmate.”
Picture: Kent Messenger before transferring to the South
African Submarine Service.
After conveying best wishes from
Australia
Neptune Association
the Cape, S/M Ronnie presented a
plaque from his branch.
AREA 5 standard bearer S/M Jim
Leggett took part in the Anzac
Busy month
Day parade in Adelaide, the state
capital of South Australia.
S/M Leggett, accompanied by
for Woking
two cadets from TS Adelaide,
paraded the Area 5 standard and
laid a wreath on behalf of the
Association.
This is believed to be the first
time an area standard has taken
pays visit to Malta
APRIL was a busy month for
Woking branch.
At the monthly branch meeting
Woking was presented with an
impressive engraved stand to hold
part in an Anzac Day parade in
four standards by the Merchant
Australia.
Navy Association Training School/
S/M Leggett thanked everyone
MORE than 60 members of National Arboretum at Alrewas
the loss of the two ships, Aurora Havock, part of Force K, and who College at Gravesend – an honour
at Adelaide branch for their the Neptune Association
in Staffordshire in 2005.
and Penelope were also damaged. had seen the whole episode unfold the branch was pleased to receive,
hospitality and friendship.
and which was in time to be used
visited Malta and Tripoli
Association members asked for
The first couple of days were 66 years before.
the visit as a final ceremony in
spent getting to know the George The party enjoyed a warm in two parades during the month.
Ugly, but
to honour the memory of
memory of the two ships, as they
Cross island and visiting historical welcome everywhere they went The first was organised by the
the 837 men who died in had the opportunity to travel to
sites, including a harbour cruise. in Libya, including a Tripoli branch to celebrate St George’s
HM ships Neptune and
Malta, from where the ships sailed
Then it was off to Tripoli and restaurant where they watched a Day, at St Peter’s Church.
enjoyable
the Commonwealth War Graves display of local dancing. A total of 25 standards were
Kandahar in 1941.
on their last voyage, and to visit
the site of their mining off Libya.
World War 2 cemetery, where six The final act was to return to paraded, with diverse veterans
The pilgrimage followed the
Of HMS Neptune’s ship’s
named Neptune graves are located
Malta for a dedication of a plaque associations also in attendance.
MEMBERS of the Bishops erection of a Neptune and
company – more than 600 men
– and there may have been others
to Force K, particularly Neptune The Mayor of Woking, Cllr
Stortford branch held a
Kandahar Memorial at the – only one sailor survived. Besides
among the 16 unnamed graves.
and Kandahar, in the Malta John Kingsbury, and local MP
celebratory lunch at Ugly village
The memorial service was
Maritime Museum, formerly the Humphrey Malins attended.
hall to commemorate the 60th
followed by a lively reception at
Old Naval Bakery, adjacent to St The branch was asked by the
anniversary of the branch.
the British Embassy arranged
Angelo Fort in Dockyard Creek. Royal British Legion to arrange
Joining branch members were
by the British Ambassador, Sir
The plaque was unveiled by a parade to celebrate their 85th
residents and staff of Pembroke
Vincent Fean.
the President of Malta, and the birthday at a service at St Mary
House, representatives of Harlow
The main event the following
museum accepted a scroll of of Bethany church, Woking, which
Sea Cadet unit and executives of
day was the sea trip on board a
honour bearing the names of all was attended by 26 standards.
the RN Benevolent Trust.
nearly-new 2,500-tonne Italian-
those lost. Even then the pace of things did
Toasts to the Queen and the
built dredger the Jarif.
After a final reception, attended not slacken, with attention turning
branch, and the reply, were
The Libyan skipper, Capt
by sailors from HMS Echo and to the Veterans Day and Falklands
followed by the cutting of the
Rageb el Geszairy, turned out
Maltese Sea Cadets, the visitors 25th Anniversary march through
anniversary cake.
to be an ex-Foxtrot submarine
returned home, describing it as “a the town, which wass due to take
captain, and enjoyed a yarn or two
truly great experience.” place as Navy News went to press.
Dinners at
with the visiting party’s ex-
Opossum CO.
Dartmouth
The captain, crew and
shoreside controllers could
not have been more helpful
A FORMAL dinner was held
as they headed 17 miles out
at Dartmouth to mark the 50th
of Tripoli harbour to the
anniversary of the 1957 Entry of
memorial site.
cadets to BRNC.
There the dredger stopped
Twenty surviving members and
and a service of remembrance
their partners attended, and the was held, during which a
Guest of Honour was Admiral Sir weighted White Ensign
James Eberle. was lowered over the side,
There was also an informal followed by a New Zealand
dinner at the Royal Castle Ensign, in honour of the 150
Hotel and a buffet lunch at the Kiwis lost.
Yacht Club, though bad weather The ship then slowly got
cancelled a planned boat trip. under way as wreaths and
more than 200 individual
Ganges calling
named floral tributes were
cast into the sea as the names
BOB Winslow hopes to set up of the lost were recited.
a Swindon branch of the HMS It was an emotional
Ganges Association.
experience for relatives in the
● MTB 102 rises on the tide before the ceremony to decommission HMS
Anyone in the town who trained
party – and for Association
Hornet, as reported last month. MTB 102 was the fi rst vessel to take up
or worked at the East Coast
member Frank Brown, who
residence there when Hornet – headquarters of the Coastal Forces at that
establishment is asked to contact
had been an AB in HMS
time – was reactivated in 1940
● Association National President S/M John McAnally and S/M
Bob on offcom1@yahoo.co.uk Lesley Mole, wife of the Newton Abbot branch president, cut
or write to him at 77 Gipsy Lane, the cake celebrating the branch’s 50th anniversary. The event was
Swindon SN2 8DH. celebrated by 80 shipmates and guests at the Passage House Hotel
D-Day service
Bob also reminds serving or in Kingteignton, many travelling some distance to attend. Other
MEMBERS of Bolton branch
ex-Navy personnel that there is guests included Cllr Daphne Watts, the Mayor of Newton Abbot,
attended a service of remembrance
an RNA branch which meets at
RNA National Chairman S/M David White, S/M Howard Jefferies, on the 63rd anniversary of D-Day
Harding Street in Swindon; for
the President of No 4 Area, and Lt Ed Bagshaw, of submarine HMS at the Cenotaph in the Town Hall
more details call 01793 522153.
Triumph, the town’s adopted warship square.
● S/M Fred Cooper (left), of the Cyprus West branch, presented a
cheque for £100 to the 57th Sea Scout Group, Episkopi. S/M Fred
is pictured with Brian Nicolle (front left), Paul Graham, James Lloyd,
Jake Collins and Sue Lloyd. The funds will go towards the upkeep
of the group and for training aids. The Sea Scout group boasts 40
members and is based at Happy Valley in the Episkopi Garrison.
Picture: Fez Parker (www.fezphot.com)
0034-035_NN_July.indd 134-035_NN_July.indd 1 220/6/07 11:43:590/6/07 11:43:59
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