NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2008 27
IIn tn the fe firiring lng line
LETTERS to the editor should letters, we cannot publish all of your
always be accompanied by the correspondence in Navy News.
correspondent’s name and We look particularly for corre-
address, not necessarily for spondence which stimulates
WITH reference to Alan Santillo’s experience (letters, December) my
publication. debate, makes us laugh or raises
photo shows HMS Ausonia being “attacked” by Mk 9 torpedoes
E-mail correspondents are important issues.
(the submarine version of the Mk 8) in 1964 off the coast of Malta. I also requested to provide Please try to keep your
was one of many lining the guardrails, watching.
this information. submissions as brief as
However, it’s not as bad as it looks. This was common
practice in the sixties and as an Ordnance Artificer,
Letters cannot be possible – our space is
one I was fully aware of.
submitted over the limited.
HMS Turpin, Thermopylae, Totem telephone. The editor reserves
and Truncheon of the Malta squadron
Given the impres- the right to edit your
used practice torpedoes against HMS
Ausonia that had been prepared
sive volume of submissions.
onboard Ausonia.
Incidentally, Turpin
was sold to Israel in 1965 and became Israeli ship
Leviathan, Totem was sold in 1967 and became the
Israeli ship Dakar but was lost with all hands in the
eastern Mediterranean in 1968 on her way from
WITH reference to Alan HMS Turpin, Thermopylae, Truncheon became Israel ship
Faslane to Israel and Truncheon became Israeli
Santillo’s experience (letters, Totem and Truncheon of Dolphin in 1968.
ship Dolphin in 1968.
December) my photo shows the Malta squadron used So I’m afraid Alan Santillo’s
So I’m afraid Alan Santillo’s experience
HMS Ausonia being “attacked” practice torpedoes against experience was not uncommon
was not uncommon in those days, provided
by Mk 9 torpedoes (the HMS Ausonia that had been in those days, provided the
the ship ‘target’ had a strong enough hull,
submarine version of the Mk 8) prepared onboard Ausonia. ship ‘target’ had a strong
I don’t think it could happen these
in 1964 off the coast of Malta. Incidentally, Turpin was sold enough hull,
days, with the thickness of steel in
I was one of many lining the to Israel in 1965 and became I don’t think it could happen
modern warships. But I’m prepared
guardrails, watching. Israel ship Leviathan, Totem these days, with the thickness
to stand corrected.
However, it’s not as bad as was sold in 1967 and became of steel in modern warships.
– David Thompson,
it looks. This was common the Israel ship Dakar but was But I’m prepared to stand
Weston-super-Mare
practice in the sixties and as lost with all hands in the eastern corrected.
an Ordnance Artificer, one I Mediterranean in 1968 on her – David Thompson,
was fully aware of. way from Faslane to Israel and Weston-super-Mare
Hardly the thanks
of a grateful nation
IT IS with some anger that I write to you regarding my son.
I served in the RN in World War 2 and was very proud when he
Helping Hans
too joined to serve his country in 1974-75. At his passing-out I was
12 feet tall.
After serving 32 years and now a lieutenant commander, he has
THE Grand Admiral’s fl ag from
to retire at the age of 50.
the World War 1 German cruiser
His reward for all those years serving in the Falklands, the Gulf
Emden (pictured above) has been
and many parts of the world is my reason for writing this letter.
handed back to the Germans after
My son has been given a (A4 size) printed certificate with no name
it went missing at Scapa Flow.
or signature.
Now the search is on for the
His name was written on to the certificate and signed by an Able
ship’s bell, which was also lost
when the Germans were scuttling
Rate writer in his presence. This was then handed to him, together
their Fleet.
with a veterans’ lapel badge.
I am sure somebody,
Personally I was disgusted; this is not the Navy I was proud to
somewhere, must know or have
serve in. Is it common practice now?
information on it. Can anybody
At least when I was demobbed, I got a demob suit and trilby.
help?
– D Benson, Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent
– Betty Hockey, Bournemouth Lt Cdr A J Bennett, desk officer for the divisional system policy,
The Emden flag lay hidden
looked into this and told Navy News: “I established that this officer
in a London house for years
inadvertently received a Valedictory Certificate which is issued to
after a British sailor from HMS
ratings only.
Shakespeare clambered on to
“The certificates introduced in April 2005 are facsimile signed by the
the enemy ship and took it as
Second Sea Lord for those who have completed four and half years
a memento in 1919 when the
or more service in the Royal Navy and not unsigned as stated in the
Germans scuttled their fleet.
letter.
He hid the flag under his tunic
“For ratings completing a pensionable engagement the Second Sea
and kept it in his attic. Lord personally signs those certificates (some 40 each month) and
It was handed back to the they are to be presented framed (which the Pusser pays for) in the
German Navy at a ceremony in last unit in which the rating serves to formally recognise the personal
Devonport last December – Ed commitment they and their families have made over a long career.”
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