NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008 29
Campaign
Spirit of
keeps
USS Slater honours
history
SAILOR Pete Goss is taking
veterans
elements of British maritime
history on his latest venture.
He is building a replica of the
informed
VETERANS from the South
wartime RN frigates
Mystery, a 37ft Cornish lugger
in which seven men sailed from
Newlyn to Australia in 1854-5.
Goss’s Spirit of Mystery will
boast a chart table made from
West – including former RAF
a piece of oak which became
serviceman Cllr David James, the
available after HMS Victory’s last
Lord Mayor of Plymouth – were
A VETERAN was able to
raise the profile of the American a three-gun salute from Slater’s To support the USS Slater
refit.
presented with Veterans Badges take a big step back in time
heritage appeal – and to mark
main armament. or send a donation, contact Mr He is also trying to find a piece
at a ceremony which launched a
the overlap between the interests
when he and a colleague
“The last time I had heard the Hitchcock at 101 Kenilworth of Cutty Sark to make a hatch,
two-week campaign to publicise
of DESA and the Captain Class
3/50s go off was in 1945 – a gap of Road, Balsall Common, Coventry and taking a rivet from the SS
the work of the Service Personnel
visited the United States for Frigates Association (CCFA).
62 years,” said Mr Hitchcock. CV7 7EU. Great Britain.
and Veterans Agency under the an ex-Service convention.
“By helping them we can
Veterans-UK name. Don Hitchcock, chairman
help ourselves to have a visible
Veterans Minister Derek
of the Captain Class Frigate
memorial to all of the 78 frigates,
Twigg handed out badges at the
Association, travelled with
the 17 we lost and over 700 British
presentation on board HMS
sailors who died and are now
Portland at Devonport Naval
Association treasurer Ralph
remembered on the CCFA Roll of
Base, accompanied by the Deputy
Parkes−Pfeil to Albany in New
Honour,” said Don Hitchcock.
Lieutenant of Devon, Lt Col Tim
York State for the 32nd DESA “I cherished the conducted tour
Courtenay, in the presence of
(Destroyer Escort Sailors of the USS Slater, and stepped
over 30 representatives from local Association) Convention.
back to being 19 years old again.
ex-Service organisations. The event focussed on the USS
“The mess decks, the WT
Veterans-UK was launched Slater, the last remaining Destroyer
room – I was a coder there – the
in April 2007 to provide a focal Escort of the 563 built at yards
chart room with HF/DF in place,
point for accessing services for around the US in 1943-45. the original radar and simulated
veterans from the many different Of these, 78 were allocated to the ASDIC had all the appearances of
sources of help available. RN under Lease-Lend, and were a World War 2 frigate.
The first services using the named after Nelson’s captains. “Time went into reverse and
name are the Veterans-UK
As the RN ships did not have
memories, stowed away for over
helpline, 0800 169 2277, and
torpedo tubes (enabling them to
60 years, flooded back
website www.veterans-uk.info
carry more depth charges), they
“The USS Slater will be a
– providing advice on issues such
were reclassified as frigates.
permanent memorial to UK-US
as disability pensions, benefits,
Although some of the American
co-operation and the endeavour
housing, medals and much more.
ships went on to see service in the
to protect seaborne trade during
The Veterans Welfare service
Korean War, Vietnam and the Cold
World War 2, and eventually to
is also available to provide one-
War of the 1970s, the USS Slater is
mount a return to the European
to-one advice, in the home if
the last survivor of the design.
mainland and secure the island
needed, including liaising with
She had been sold to the Greeks
bases in the Pacific theatre,” added
local authorities, finding local
in 1951, and with her active life
Mr Hitchcock.
support groups or even just
over, she was the subject of an
As the representative of the
helping with completing forms.
ambitious recovery programme by
CCFA, Mr Hitchcock was invited to
The Veterans Badge was
DESA.
speak to supportive Congressmen,
Big Cig is left out in the cold
launched in May 2004 for World
She was towed from Greece to
to appear on TV and to address the
War 1 and World War 2 veterans.
New York, where she underwent a
AGM of the DESA. HMS ENDURANCE has played a passing iceberg by the ship’s smoke, or it’s blowing a gale and is
Since then availability has been
transformation to take her back to
He also invited DESA her part in No Smoking Day by medical team, as pictured above. -20˚, and it’s just too cold to stand
gradually extended.
her classic fighting configuration. representatives to the annual
giving Big Cig the cold shoulder. Principal Medical Officer Surg shivering on deck,” he said.
Veterans wishing to apply for a
Original parts were found in CCFA reunion in Warwick, which
For Big Cig’s third appearance Lt Cdr Matthew Turner thought The Endurance picture was
badge should contact the Veterans-
Mexican scrapyards, and a team takes place on the first weekend of
with the RN he was escorted to Antarctica was an ideal place to used by the No Smoking Day
UK helpline on 0800 169 2277.
went south to fetch them back this month.
the ice patrol ship by CINCFleet quit. health charity in its annual
Postal applications go to
in two huge pantechnicons – a The two Britons took part in
Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, who “Either it’s a crystal clear sunny publicity campaign.
Veterans Services, Service
a memorial service on board the was visiting the Red Plum. day and it’s almost criminal to Ten sailors on board Endurance
Personnel and Veterans Agency
1,700-mile journey each way.
Slater, dropping white carnations Once there he was dumped on pollute the environment with the have stopped smoking this year.
(SPVA), Norcross, Blackpool,
She now sits at Snow Dock on
into the Hudson River in memory
FY5 3WP.
the Hudson River in Albany, but
of Captain-class frigate sailors
Applicants should provide
although she looks well, her hull is
who died in the war.
their name, address, date of birth,
becoming increasingly fragile.
As survivors from each of the
service number, period of service
The cost of dry-docking and
and theatres of service.
repair work is put at around $3 lost American ships also dropped
million, and one aspect of the visit carnations into the river, a volley
Engineering fi rm
by the British pair was to help of rifle shots was followed by
marks bicentenary
Build your own MTB
ENGINEERING company D
Napier and Son celebrates its AS WARSHIPS go, HMS Gay A second theme running
bicentenary this year, one of Archer was something of a bargain through the DVD recalls the
the highlights being a special – ‘Yours for £1 – but needs a little bravery of Coastal Forces veterans
weekend display. work,’ or something like that. who manned Gay Archer’s
Napier produced many The idea appealed to Paul predecessors during the war.
innovative designs, including Childs, and his restoration of this Gay Archer is believed to be the
stamp-perforating machines, classic 1950s MTB has been filmed last survivor of her class of 12.
cars and aero and rocket as a one-hour documentary. They were a development of
engines. Build your own Motor Torpedo wartime MTB designs, and with
They also produced the Deltic Boat was produced by Zagreus three powerful Packard engines
engines which powered the Films, and charts the MTB’s were capable of 40 knots.
Navy’s Dark-class patrol boats. progress from hulk to pristine Build Your Own Motor Torpedo
For details of Napier Powerex condition. Boat costs £9.99 and is available
200 on June 21-22 at the Basic repairs to the wooden from www.zagreusfilms.com
Buckinghamshire Railway hull, replacement of fittings and The boat is due to feature at the
Centre at Quainton, see www. armaments, work on the engines Bristol Harbour Festival between
napierheritage.org.uk and sea trials are all covered. August 1-3, with tours available.
● The Buccaneer is nursed through the outskirts of Leicester in March 1988
Anniversaries for Buccaneer
TWO anniversaries for an iconic Naval aircraft have the restoration team, Mick Coombes, and will stay
been celebrated at the Newark Air Museum. in place for around three months until the bomber’s
A set of temporary markings has been unveiled original 801 NAS markings are reapplied.
on Blackburn Buccaneer S1 XN964 to highlight 50 The museum is also seeking information on a
years of the aircraft and 20 years since this particular famous mission which XN964 was part of – the
machine came to Newark. efforts to break up wrecked supertanker Torrey
Originally owned by the Loughborough and Canyon off Lands End in March 1967.
Leicester Air Museum, it was bought by Newark and Records show the Buccaneer flew missions from
transferred as a wide load early on a Sunday morning RNAS Lossiemouth and RNAS Brawdy – if anyone has
in March 1988. details or photographs, please contact Mick Coombes
The temporary markings – an unusual departure at Newark Air Museum, Winthorpe Showground,
for the museum – were designed by the man leading Newark NG24 2NY, tel 01636 707170.
0029_NN_apr.indd 129_NN_apr.indd 1 119/3/08 10:25:309/3/08 10:25:30
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