NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2007 35
A reminder
Intrepid memorial
President
of those
hands over
THE annual Weymouth branch
Glory days
dinner held at the Weymouth Golf
Club was a bittersweet affair this
year.
MEMBERS of the HMS Glory
During the dinner branch
Association gathered at the
president Rear Admiral Gwyn
National Memorial Arboretum on
Pritchard handed over to his
to dedicate their new memorial
successor Capt Steve Bramley
to all who served in the light fleet
dedicated in Leros
after 26 years at the helm.
carrier between 1944 and 1957.
The new president said that as
Around 70 shipmates and
a serving Royal Navy officer he
partners came from far and wide,
A MONUMENT to the
out to sea in a Greek warship,
hoped to have some influence,
including France and Australia. memory of HMS Intrepid
allowing Albert Poulter and others
particularly on the recruiting
Those who travelled to
has been dedicated on the
to cast wreaths over the spot where
front.
Staffordshire gathered to
Intrepid capsized.
Branch chairman S/M Dave
remember the carrier’s service
Greek island of Leros. The day ended with a dinner
Rodgers presented the admiral
in the Pacific, which included
And the Greeks ensured attended by dozens of veterans
with a commissioned watercolour
repatriating Far East prisoners
there was red-carpet treatment
and local dignitaries, at which
painting of Weymouth Harbour,
of war; fighting for freedom and
for Albert Poulter and others
Mr Poulter gave a speech which
and asked him to accept the
was simultaneously translated into
democracy in Korea in the ’50s
involved in the ceremonies
award of life vice-presidency of
Greek.
and then slowly running down throughout their visit.
the branch.
until de-commissioning in 1957. The series of events began
Remembered too were those with a remembrance service
who lost their lives during this held at the Alinda British
period, either through enemy war cemetery, containing the
action, illness or accident. graves of 180 soldiers and
The memorial was unveiled by five men from Intrepid.
Col Michael Evans RM, Deputy The British destroyer,
Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire. along with Greek warship
Eight standards from the local HHMS Queen Olga,
RNA, FAAA and MNA paraded, were attacked by German
as did Bugler Albert Ray, who bombers on September 26
sounded the Last Post and Reveille. 1943, with the Greek ship
Calendar boys
sinking that day and Intrepid
the following day.
Navy guards and
THE Cape Town branch calendar
musicians attended both the
has proved a big hit, with more
remembrance service and
than 450 being sold worldwide.
the dedication ceremony,
As featured in our May edition,
while onlookers, including
shipmates stripped off for a tasteful
photo of a formal dinner, and the
dozens of schoolchildren,
branch said it hopes a final push at
gathered round.
Christmas would help boost their
The British Embassy
donation to the Simons Town
padre Rev Malcolm
National Sea Rescue Institute.
Bradshaw officiated at both ● Sailors from former wartime destroyer HMS Vesper gather in Skipton for
Copies at £8 each can be
events, then the party moved the unveiling of two memorial plaques by Admiral Sir James Eberle. The
obtained from Mr May – Peter
on along the Port Lakki plaques, on the entrance gateposts to the canal basin in the town, record
Turton – at bl1cks@yahoo.
promenade to the Queen the link between the World War I-built ship and Skipton, which adopted
co.uk
Olga memorial. Vesper during Warship Week in 1942. The link was further strengthened in
The focus then shifted to the 1980s when the Skipton branch contacted former crewmen to organ-
April schedule
the water, with a brief trip ise a reunion, which has become an annual event
THE Channel 4 documentary
on the British Pacific Fleet, The
Day of the Kamikaze, is currently
● Albert Poulter, on board a Greek warship, lays a wreath on the
scheduled to be broadcast in April
waters where HMS Intrepid capsized and sank in 1943 in Portolago
2008. (now Lakki) Bay, Leros
£50 PRIZE PUZZLE
March to
States for
The Royal Naval Association
conference
Once Navy Always Navy
Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism and Comradeship
SEVEN members of March
branch travelled to the United Who can join?
States to attend the National
Association of Naval Photography
• Full Members
conference at Virginia Beach. Serving and Ex-Service members of
Travel delays meant the party
was a little weary when they
RN, RM, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves
reached their destination, but they RFA and RNXS
had to wait for a good sleep.
Instead, they were taken by
• Associate members
THE mystery ship in our October their hosts to a nearby restaurant, Others in sympathy with our objects
edition (right) was HMS Loch where spirits were lifted and sleep
Ruthven, and the U-boat she and was all but forgotten.
especially families
Wild Goose were credited with The next day the March
sinking in March 1945 was U683. shipmates were taken to Nauticus,
The winning entry was from a naval museum which, besides
What does the
N McElroy, of Belfast, who wins housing memorabilia, is now the
Association do?
our £50 prize. home of the nearly-retired 58,000-
This month’s ship (above) came ton battleship USS Wisconsin.
We:
out of reserve to cover for ships One member, Derrick Harman,
• Support the Royal Navy
sent to the Falklands, and ended
go into a prize draw to establish a
was present in September 1945
her active service days as the
winner.
when the Japanese surrender was
• Maintain Naval traditions
Wilhelmus Zakarias Yohannes.
Closing date for entries is
signed in the USS Missouri, sister • Enjoy social activities
Her pennant number has been
January 11. More than one entry
can be submitted, but photocopies
ship of the Wisconsin, and this
removed, but can you name her,
cannot be accepted. Do not include
brought back mixed memories.
• Re-unite shipmates
and identify the Asian navy which
anything else in your envelope: no The party also visited Colonial • Remember the fallen
bought her in the 1980s? The correspondence can be entered into Williamsberg, where British
right answers could win you £50. and no entry returned. settlers first landed, and USS
• Help the disabled
Complete the coupon and send The winner will be announced in
Harry S Truman, the world’s • Look after the needy
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News, our February edition. The competition
largest serving aircraft carrier at
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH. is not open to Navy News employees
Coupons giving correct answers will or their families.
100,000 tons.
• Cheer up the distressed
The climax came on the • Stand together in unity
final evening with a banquet,
MYSTERY PICTURE 154 mementoes and gifts were
exchanged. How to join
The party travelled back ready
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
to start saving for next year’s event
Write to RNA HQ
in Las Vegas. 82 Chelsea Manor Street
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funeral for Alf
London SW3 5QJ
Tel: 020 7352 6764
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THE funeral has taken place of
S/M Alf Woonton, who served
Fax: 020 7352 7385
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
as National Council member for www.royal-naval-association.co.uk
many years and was active in the
Association until quite recently.
My answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The service, at Parndon Wood
Crematorium in Harlow, saw a
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
good turn-out by national and area
officials, standards and shipmates.
034-035_NN_Dec.indd 2 21/11/07 10:45:12
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