32 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008
Nephew
CTCRM welcomes LST&LCA
Writers
honours
A “MOST enjoyable” visit was undertaken by there was a video presentation encompassing all whom we met at CTCRM that it was felt
compile
the Devon Regional Group of the LST and the many facets of the course undertaken by a that the occasion might be commemorated by
his brave
Landing Craft Association to the Commando Royal Marines Commando in training. presenting our group plaque for addition to
Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) at The visitors were then taken on a tour of the many similar plaques embellishing the wall of list of
Lympstone. centre, including the CTCRM museum. the Sergeants’ Mess.
uncle
For most of the group it was their first After a brief pause for light refreshments, “This was undertaken on February 26 when
glimpse of the establishment where those who the group dispersed for photographs and then I and the Group Regional Representative,
victims
aspire to wear the green beret undertake their headed for home. together with our wives, presented the plaque
THE nephew of a soldier who died gruelling training. Group chairman S/M Maurice Hillebrandt to the WO1 (RSM) in the presence of a couple
AT THEIR 18th annual reunion
in the withdrawal from Norway in The three-hour visit started with a buffet said: “Such was our pleasure at this event of dozen or so sergeants assembled for the brief
dinner, held in the WO&SR mess
1940 is travelling to Scandinavia lunch in the Sergeants’ Mess, after which and the warm treatment we received from ceremony.”
in HMS Drake, members of the
to pay tribute to his uncle.
Westcountry Association of RN
Pte Andrew Lee was a 27-year-
Writers had an unusual addition
old bugler with the Hallamshire
Blackpool gears up
to their toast to ‘Absent Friends’.
Battalion of the York and Lancaster
Following the list of members
Regiment which had been trying
unable to attend came the mention
to hold back the Nazis in Norway.
of those writers lost at sea.
Andrew was one of the 36-man
Former Chief Writer Graham
rearguard, the last of 5,400 British
Jewell, the association’s archivist,
and French troops to be evacuated
made the toast, having compiled
from Namsos.
the names of writers listed on
A further 6,600 had already
for Veterans Week
the Plymouth Naval Memorial,
been plucked to safety from
showing all from the Devonport
Åndalsnes, south of Trondheim.
Division lost with no known grave.
Early on May 3 Andrew and his
Further research revealed details
35 companions trudged aboard
of the ships involved plus Christian
destroyer HMS Afridi, the last
names, official numbers, ages and
escort to leave central Norway, but
where the sinkings occurred.
soon after dawn Allied ships came
All told there were 107 of the
under attack. BLACKPOOL is gearing
Service Liaison Committee, has – there will also be plenty to keep veterans along the pier which will branch named, from 1st Writer
Dive bombers struck the
up to host a week of
committed to “honour and unite the rest of the public entertained. act as a centre for information,
Riddells, who went down with
French destroyer Bison, and Afridi
HMS Monmouth at the Battle of
celebrations in honour of
all who served.”
The week will begin with socialising and entertainment,
stopped to haul 69 survivors from Building on the experience
military role demonstrations, while a stage and screen will be Coronel in the early days of World
the sea, the surface of which was
veterans.
of the three previous events,
exhibitions and recruitment erected on the promenade close War 1 to the loss of PO Writer
covered in burning oil.
Veterans Minister Derek Twigg
Blackpool has unveiled an
opportunities – and it is hoped to the pier. Munn and Writer Edwards when
Two hours later the British
announced at the end of January
ambitious programme of events
that one of the highlights will be Announcing the decision in HMS Saumarez struck a mine in
ship was hit by two bombs, that the seaside town had beaten which will take place over nine
a beach assault and landing by January to award the event to the Adriatic in October 1946.
killing 53 of the ship’s company, off stiff competition to win the days from Saturday June 21 to
Royal Marines. Blackpool, Derek Twigg said: The list for World War 1 also
35 Frenchmen and 13 soldiers
event. Sunday June 29.
Throughout the week veterans “Veterans are of all ages with a included seven of the writers’
– including Andrew.
And now the local council, in While the veterans will take
will be invited to deliver talks variety of different backgrounds, predecessors, clerks and assistant
A memorial in Namsos, inscribed
partnership with the Fylde Ex- centre stage – whatever their age
and readings recounting their and they all deserve our clerks, a rank that was rendered
with the names of nine RN ships
experiences, and a local cinema recognition. obsolete by the formation of the
and three British regiments which
will be stage free screenings of “Not only have they honoured Writers Branch in 1867.
suffered casualties, was unveiled by
films depicting life during World their commitment to defend our A dozen writers from the Royal
the British ambassador in 2000.
War 2. country’s interests in service, they Australian Navy and two from the
The Friends of Namsos War
The famous Pleasure Beach have also used their skills and South African Naval Force are also
Memorial have taken part in
amusement park is planning – experiences to enrich their local remembered on the memorial.
ceremonies in Norway every
weather permitting – to hoist a communities. Losses were not only from HM
year since 2000, including the
huge banner on The Big One, “With the establishment of an ships.
Norwegian, French and Russian
Europe’s tallest roller coaster, annual Veterans Day, each year Four of the writers remembered
PoW memorials as well as the
displaying the Veterans Helpline June 27 is our chance to recognise were taking passage in troopships
British version, and also joined
number. the achievements of those veterans and another four died when the
Norwegians in their country’s
The amusement park is also who live amongst us.” infamous unmarked Japanese ship
Constitution Day celebrations.
offering a two-for-one promotion Southport will stage its own marina Lisbon Maru, transporting Allied
One of those making the trip
for veterans during the week, Veterans Day on Sunday June 29 prisoners of war to slave labour
across the North Sea this year
helping to attract a younger in Princes Park, in conjunction
in Japan, was torpedoed by the
will be George Lee, nephew of
audience. with the Veterans Agency and the
American submarine Grouper.
Andrew and himself a PO in the
Wednesday June 25 will see a Veterans Fund.
It is hoped that the RN Writers
Fleet Air Arm during the war.
veterans gala dinner, and there The day will include
Association, which claims to be the
George, who will lay flowers
will also be air races, a golf day, contributions from Forces careers
world’s oldest military association,
cricket match and beach show all
on the memorial, said: “It was a
teams, cadets, bands, ex-Service having been established in 1887,
geared to veterans of all ages.
very sad day when I learned of
associations and charities, with can arrange for similar lists to be
The town’s Victorian North Pier
Andrew’s death.
the RNA and Sea Cadets among compiled for the memorials in
will be the main focus for National
“But his family knew nothing
them.
Portsmouth and Chatham, now
Veterans Day itself – Friday June Organisers hope this will
about how he died until we heard
that the title of writer is no longer
27. eventually become an annual
recently about the memorial and I
extant, having been superceded by
Golf buggies will help transport event.
decided to come to Namsos with
logistician (personnel).
my son and his wife.
“I would like relatives of men
in any of the Services who took
part in the campaign in Norway to
Time travellers
Token of
gratitude
cosnider joining us in May.”
For details of the annual visit
SHIPMATES from the Wetherby other as required, reflecting the
branch enjoyed a trip to a Heritage comradeship that our organisation
D BOAT Association secretary
contact the Friends of Namsos
Weekend in the Portsmouth area. fosters.
Mike Smith visited the Rev
War Memorial at 72 Warwick
Their itinerary gave them “The grant also enabled us
Albert Braithwaite at his home
Gardens, London W14 8PP, tel
the opportunity to visit all the to pick up locally and provide
in Southsea to present him with
0207 603 1396 or email aajg@
attractions in the Historic Dockyard transport directly to the venues.
an inscribed crystal decanter with
btinternet.com
in Portsmouth, and to venture “We are most grateful for the
the D Boats crest to thank him
for 25 years loyal service to the
Gift Aid plea
across the water to Osborne House support received from Awards for
on the Isle of Wight. All.”
Association.
They also visited the most
The following day Association
RNA HQ feels that following the recent addition to the sights of
treasurer Jo Smith went to St Ann’s
change from covenanting to Gift Portsmouth, the Spinnaker Tower.
Warwick seeks
Church in Portsmouth Naval Base
Aid, momentum on Gift Aid has Supported by an Awards for All
to meet the Rev Martin Poll, who
been lost. grant from the Big Lottery Fund,
has agreed to become the D Boats’
The number of Gift Aid forms, shipmates were able to share the
U-boat victims
new chaplain.
from a membership of 27,680 experience with colleagues from
Jo had made a kneeler with the
stands at a “modest” 3,500. Harrogate and Leeds branches. WARWICK branch has been
D Boats crest and Silver Jubilee
HQ reminds members that The grant helped to cover asked to help trace survivors from
on the side.
this is ‘free money’, which has transportation, accommodation a ship sunk by a U-boat in 1942
The kneeler was presented to
● Sport played a big part in the Naval career of World War 2 veteran
helped to maintain the annual Dave McGaw – but he has had to wait a long time for one of his and entrance fees. – and which features in a bizarre
the church during the Sunday
subscription at £10. greatest sporting achievements. The ex-PTI achieved his fi rst hole- Wetherby branch chairman wartime coincidence.
morning service.
A blank Gift Aid form is in-one at the age of 82 at the third hole of the Swinton Park course in
S/M Fred Wake said: “We are not It has recently been established
included with the February Manchester. Dave joined the Navy in 1941 and served in HMS King
getting any younger and some that the SS Warwick Castle, a
SAMA plaque
Newsletter at Annex B, and once George V until 1946, when he qualifi ed as a clubswinger at Pitt Street
are not able to visit the venues
troop transport of just over 20,000
completed, a Gift Aid declaration in Portsmouth. He was also Senior Rating i/c Royal Tournament in
independently.
tons, was torpedoed on November
for Millom
lasts until it is rescinded. 1961 and the Edinburgh Tattoo in 1962
“The group supported each
14 some 200 miles north-west
of Cape Espichel, Portugal by
MILLOM and District branch in
U413.
Cumbria was presented with a
By a strange coincidence, this
SAMA 82 plaque at their branch
is the same submarine which
meeting in January as a result of a
sank HMS Warwick on February
fund-raising effort.
20 1944 off the north coast of
The plaque was presented to
Cornwall.
vice chairman S/M Liz Watson
The enemy boat survived
as a mark of appreciation for the
a further six months before
£1,200 which the branch raised
succumbing to depth charges off for SAMA 82 and the Falklands
Brighton, Veterans Foundation.
The management of Warwick The money was raised during a
Castle plan to plant an oak tree dinner to commemorate the 25th
in the grounds of the castle in anniversary of the South Atlantic
memory of the ship, and have war, and the evening culminated
asked Warwick branch for help in an auction that raised even
in tracking down survivors of the more cash.
troop ship, whichever Service they Millom and District is only two
were in at the time. years old, but has already raised
Replies should be sent to more than £2,000 for ex-Service
AJ Coles, 41 Coventry Road, charities, air and army cadet forces
Warwick, CV34 5HN. and other local charities.
0032-033_NN_Apr.indd 132-033_NN_Apr.indd 1 119/3/08 08:30:509/3/08 08:30:50
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