NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2007 29
Respects
paid to
Swiss branch seeks
D-Boat
reunion
VC hero
membership boost
at Nelson
A GROUP of shipmates have
MEMBERS of the D-Boats
paid their respects to an almost-
Association were granted
forgotten Victoria Cross hero in
£10,000 from the Lottery Fund
York.
to hold a Silver Jubilee reunion at
Bombardier Thomas Wilkinson
HMS Nelson.
won his VC at Sevastopol in the
Almost 150 shipmates from
Crimea in June 1855, at the age
THE fledgling Swiss
Nick Anastasi said the main
by organising a lunch with the Dinner will be held at the
the World War 2 Defender-class
of 24
branch of the Association
problem was that membership
British Resident Association Nautique, the restaurant of the
and 1950s Daring-class destroyers
S/M Bernard Hallas, PRO for
around Remembrance Sunday, at Nyon Sailing Club on the shore of
descended on Portsmouth for
the RMs and RNA in the city, is launching a drive to
was currently concentrated in
which he was a guest speaker two Lake Geneva, on October 20.
ceremonial and social events,
said: “Bdr Wilkinson left his small
recruit more members
the west (French) part of the
years ago. Guest speaker that night will be
including a memorial service at
house in the town centre.
– particularly from parts
country, while shipmates were
He would like to see the RNA one of those fabled creatures – a
the Southsea war memorial and a
“He had enlisted in the Royal thin on the ground in the
march-past at Nelson, the salute
Marine Artillery and as soon as he
of the country which are
doing something similar – but Swiss mariner.
eastern (German) part.
in order to ensure its success, he He is Commander of the Swiss
being taken by Cdr Ian Buckel,
had finished his training he was on
under-represented. S/M Nick said the Royal British
would need to recruit members in Army No 10 Motorboat Company
who will serve in the new Type 45
his way to the Crimea in defence
Branch chairman S/M Legion got around the problem that neck of the woods. – the Swiss have nine military
destroyer HMS Dauntless.
of our empire.
The branch is also organising patrol boats operating on the lakes
When it came to socialising, there
“It was there that he performed
a number of events in the in support of police and border
were some poignant reunions.
the act or acts of gallantry that was
coming weeks to ensure that the guards.
Mike Smith (68), from Norfolk,
rewarded by his Sovereign pinning
Association’s profile remains in And on December 5 the
met up with old shipmate Roy
upon his chest, amongst other
the public eye. Nautique is again the venue for
Nunn from Essex – they last met
medals, the plain crimson ribbon
On September 12 an autumn a raclette party – raclette is a
51 years ago when they both
of the Victoria Cross – the highest
drinks party will be staged at variation on the fondue theme,
served in HMS Diamond.
honour in the land.
the Swiss French Agricultural both Swiss culinary customs.
Another Norfolk man, 73-year-
“He came home and, for a short
Machinery Museum in Gingins. Anyone interested in joining the
old Bob Dack, from Downham
time, was a local hero.
Wines will be local, and S/M Swiss branch of the RNA should
Market, last saw his old shipmate
“Working in the stonemason’s
Peter Morgan will provide nibbles contact S/M Nick at Villa Tamigi,
Roy Goodwin, from Kent, 54
yard adjacent to the Minster, the
from his British delicatessen in 34, rue du Village, CH-1274
years ago in HMS Defender.
dust did him no favours and he
Basel. GRENS, tel +41 (022) 3619491
For information about the
died as a comparatively young
The branch’s third Trafalgar or fax +41 (022) 3619519.
Association contact Mike Smith
man with a lung disease. at 206 Main Road, Clenchwarton,
“His grave, situated in York
Cathedral service
PE34 4AA, tel 01553 765530 or
cemetery, marked with a granite email dboats@tiscali.co.uk
headstone in the form of a Victoria
Cross – donated by his comrades
in the Royal Marines – lies
ELY Cathedral was the setting Bishop of Ely.
Busy schedule
undisturbed and rarely visited
for the 20th anniversary After the service there was
REDRUTH and Camborne
except for a very few veterans of
celebrations staged by the City a certain amount of liquid
branch have had a busy couple
today.”
of Ely branch. refreshment – especially as it
of months, attending Falklands
The group which attended the
The ceremony took place was coming up to the branch
anniversary parades, the 60th
ceremony was led by Col David
during an evensong service at ‘tot commiseration’ day at the ● Standards on parade at Beccles branch’s Silver Jubilee service
anniversary of the opening of
Shallow MC RM, and held a
the Norman cathedral which end of July.
HMS Seahawk and the Sea
short but poignant service at the
was led by the Dean. At one point in proceedings
Sunday parade at Falmouth.
graveside. Silver service for Beccles
Strong links with the the branch secretary piped on
The two Standard Bearers were
The sound of bugles playing
cathedral have been forged S/M Peter’s bosun’s call – a call, also at Lands End to greet Jane
the Last Post and Reveille, and
BECCLES branch has celebrated Michael and St Felix in the Suffolk
during the two decades – and branch members were reliably Allen after her six-week walk from
appropriate hymns, were the
its silver jubilee at a special village of Rumburgh for a service
one member of the branch, informed, had been used by the John o’Groats, raising funds for
veterans’ way of “paying tribute combined church service which
conducted by branch padre S/M S/M Peter Walker, is a former Duke of Edinburgh himself. the RBL Poppy Appeal.
to all heroes – passed but not also celebrated Sea Sunday.
Michael Leigh-Pearson.
forgotten,” according to S/M More than 80 people gathered
Among those present were
Hallas. at the Priory Church of St
Area 5 chairman S/M Janet King,
the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress
££50 PRIZE PUZZLE50 PRIZE PUZZLE
of Beccles, Mr and Mrs Chris
Punt, Beccles branch president S/
M Richard Ling, branch chairman
S/M Ted Thompson and branch
vice president S/M Percy Kent –
one of the original six who signed
the commissioning certificate in
1982.
The church was beautifully
The Royal Naval Association
decorated for the occasion with
flowers, including the three- Once Navy Always Navy
masted sailing ship situated by
the font and a display in the
Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism and Comradeship
sanctuary.
Sea cadets from the Beccles Who can join?
unit TS Brave acted as Sidesmen
• Full Members
for the occasion.
After the welcome, and during Serving and Ex-Service members of
the first hymn, six standards were
RN, RM, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves
paraded to the altar rail and placed
in the sanctuary – those of Beccles, RFA and RNXS
Area 5, the National Standard of
• Associate members
the RN Patrol Service, the Fleet
Air Arm Association (Great
Others in sympathy with our objects
THE mystery ship in our July
Yarmouth), the Royal Marines
especially families
edition (right) was HMS Abdiel,
Association and the Royal
pennant number N21.
British Legion.
The £50 prize for the correct
The Rt Rev Eric Devenport,
What does the
answer goes to D F Trigger of
former Bishop of Dunwich, gave
the address, in which he recalled
Tavistock, in Devon.
Association do?
his time at HMS Royal Arthur
This month’s ship (above) was
and “how delightful the CPOs
We:
the first of three RFA vessels
Coupons giving correct answers will
were – so kind and understanding; • Support the Royal Navy
which transferred to the US
go into a prize draw to establish a
a collection of fine gentlemen,
Military Sealift Command in the
winner.
Closing date for entries is never to be forgotten…”
• Maintain Naval traditions
1980s.
October 12. More than one entry • Enjoy social activities
We want to know her RFA can be submitted, but photocopies
name, and the name she
cannot be accepted. Do not include
Double 25
• Re-unite shipmates
assumed under the Stars and
anything else in your envelope: no
• Remember the fallen
Stripes. The right answers could
correspondence can be entered into
and no entry returned.
win you £50.
The winner will be announced
at Newark
• Help the disabled
Complete the coupon and send in our November edition. The • Look after the needy
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News, competition is not open to Navy NEWARK branch has celebrated
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH. News employees or their families.
its silver jubilee at the RAF
• Cheer up the distressed
Association Club in the town. • Stand together in unity
MYSTERY PICTURE 151
The Mayor and Mayoress of
Newark, Cllr and Mrs Bryan
Richardson, were guests of honour, How to join
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
along with Area 9 president
S/M George Holmes and Area
Write to RNA HQ
chairman and National Council 82 Chelsea Manor Street
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
member S/M Keith Crawford.
S/Ms Bas and Robert Spurr,
London SW3 5QJ
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
both founder members, were Tel: 020 7352 6764
among more than 70 Newark
Fax: 020 7352 7385
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
members who attended, along
with members of Mansfield and www.royal-naval-association.co.uk
Bingham branches.
My answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S/M Les Fletcher was presented
with Life Membership for 25 years
continual membership, during
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . which he has served as secretary,
vice chairman and social secretary.
0028-029_NN_SEP.indd 228-029_NN_SEP.indd 2 220/8/07 17:53:480/8/07 17:53:48
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48