NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2007 33
Cromer
Branch is formed at
President
loses five
commissions
members
East Cyprus
ASSOCIATION President Vice
CROMER branch has suffered the
Admiral John McAnally has carried
loss of five shipmates – more than
out the commissioning ceremony
ten per cent of its complement
for the East Cyprus branch.
– in recent months.
During his three-day visit,
The shipmates who have crossed
old Fleet stronghold
S/M McAnally also called in on
the bar were:
the existing Cyprus branch, at the
Roy Parker, life member, former
western end of the island.
vice chairman and former social A GROUP of serving and
The commissioning took place
secretary.
former members of the at the Dhekelia Officers Club in
S/M Roy was heavily involved
the presence of the Commander
with the branch’s carnival float,
Royal Navy recently met
British Forces Cyprus, Air Vice
which was modelled on HMS
in a house in Kirkwall to
Marshal Richard Lacey, the CO
Cromer. formally set in place the
of the Cyprus Squadron, Lt Cdr
Bertie Adams, a former member
necessary procedure to Alex Bush, RN personnel from
of the SBS and a committee
establish a new branch of
Ayios Nikolaos, representatives
member for a number of years.
of other Service associations and
Mavis Purdie, whose attendance
the RNA in Orkney.
shipmates from both branches.
at meetings in recent years had
All agreed the formation
In his address, the president
been limited by illness.
of such a branch was long
underlined the aims and
Alfred King, who joined
overdue, and will reinstate a
objectives of the Association
HMS Ganges in 1935 and was Royal Naval presence in an
– those of “Unity, Loyalty,
discharged in 1949; shipmates area that was once considered
Patriotism and Comradeship”.
believe Alf was a survivor of the
home to the Senior Service. He said how honoured he was
Royal Oak sinking in Scapa Flow.
S/M David Hughes, the first
to be invited to the event, and that
S/M Alf was branch auditor for chairman of the branch, said:
he appreciated how important and
a number of years. “Although for the most part
essential the work is in supporting
Joan Kiddy, who came to the strangers, these ex-sailors, through
ex-Service personnel – a sentiment
branch late in life when she moved a common bond of service, will
echoed by the Commander British
into the RBL Home, Halsey endeavour to perpetuate the
Forces in his address.
House. She became a committee memory of all who served in the
S/M Peter Hill was elected
member. waters round these islands.”
the first chairman of the Eastern
As a Leading Wren Driver The Orkney Islands lie eight
Cyprus branch.
during World War 2 S/M Joan miles off the north of Scotland.
‘drove’ an MFV in Lowestoft for
At the heart of the archipelago of
the MTBs and other vessels.
more than 70 islands lies the shel-
Coventry service
● Founding members of the new Orkney branch of the RNA gather at the Royal Oak memorial
tered anchorage of Scapa Flow
Dinner winners
– named by the Norse invaders
Scapa Flow has many links with live here after I was discharged. be forgotten.
COVENTRY branch, in
skalpr-ei-fl oi, which translates as
doomed ships. “I lived in hope that one day “The Orkney branch of the
conjunction with the Lord Mayor
someone would start a branch of Association, of which I am the
of the city, will hold a service of
A HANDFUL of shipmates had
“where the ships anchor”.
Battleship HMS Vanguard
the RNA, but it never happened, chairman, will grow from strength
remembrance to mark the 25th
particular cause to remember the
“It is the world’s largest natural
exploded at anchor in July 1917
so I advertised myself for ex-RN to strength, and the Royal Naval
anniversary of the sinking of the
60th anniversary dinner of the
harbour – 270 square miles of deep
with the loss of over 800 men.
personnel in the local paper, which presence in these islands will once destroyer HMS Coventry.
Enfi eld branch.
water anchorage, average depth 35
HMS Hampshire left the
finally led to our first meeting. again be felt.” The service will be at Holy
S/M Terry Donovan was
metres, with the deepest point 62
anchorage in June 1916 taking
“Some readers of Navy News S/M David said the branch Trinity Church, Coventry, on May
announced as Messmate of the
metres, so preferred by the Royal
War Secretary Lord Kitchener to
will have memories of Scapa Flow, would welcome any shipmate or 25 starting at 1100.
Year and S/M Adam Mendrys was
Navy in the First and Second
Russia, but she struck a mine off
and I would like to make them a friend of Scapa Flow; contact him Details from S/M Mick Kieran
Associate of the Year.
World Wars as a safe anchorage for
Orkney and 650 men – including
promise – all our shipmates who at Ardcoille, Holm Road, Kirkwall, at 38 Rookery Lane, Keresley,
S/Ms Eddie and Lyn Costello
its fleet,” said S/M David.
Kitchener – died.
never came home, and those who Orkney KW15 1PY, or email Coventry CV6 4HE, tel 02476
were awarded Certificates of
“Not only because of its
In January 1918 almost 180 men
served in Scapa Flow, will never d.hughes14@btinternet.co.uk 722057.
Appreciation for their long service
sheltered location, but because it
died when destroyers HM ships
and dedication to the branch.
had three main exits – Hoy Sound,
Opal and Narbrough ran aground
Hoxa Sound and the Eastern
in a blizzard after returning from a
Tetcott book
Approaches, so no matter what the
patrol in a blizzard.
state of the wind or tide the fleet
In October 1939 the Royal
could always get in and out.
Oak, at anchor, was sunk by the
THE January edition of Navy
“From this harbour on May
opportunistic U47, killing 833.
News featured a book about HMS
31 1916 the Grand Fleet sailed
S/M David continued: “I met
Tetcott, which gave rise to some
and intercepted the German High
my wife, who comes from Orkney,
enquiries.
Seas Fleet off Jutland.
whilst serving in the Royal Navy,
For details contact Holsworthy
“What followed was the largest
so it was inevitable that I would
Museum Society, Manor Offices,
ever sea battle, and we will never
Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6DJ, tel
see the like again.
Airmen visit
“6,200 of our shipmates never
The Royal Naval Association
01409 231458, or email holsworthy
museum@btinternet.com
returned home.”
squadron
Once Navy Always Navy
Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism and Comradeship
£50£50 PRIZE PUZZLEPRIZE PUZZLE
THE Yorkshire branch of the
FAA Association paid tribute to Who can join?
their former president by visiting
his old squadron
• Full Members
Lt Cdr John Wellham DSC, the Serving and Ex-Service members of
last of the pilots from the Taranto
raid, who died last year, com-
RN, RM, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves
manded 815 NAS when they were RFA and RNXS
based in the North African desert.
Albert Firth said: “As secretary
• Associate members
of the Yorkshire branch, I applied Others in sympathy with our objects
and was successful in obtaining a
grant from ‘Awards for All’.
especially families
“This was to fund a trip to visit
815 NAS at Yeovilton, organised
What does the
THE mystery ship in our February Her pennant number has been
in memory of our past president.”
edition was HMS Mull of Kintyre, removed from the picture.
The branch is seeking young-
Association do?
and her sister was the Mull of Complete the coupon and send
er members; Albert can provide
We:
Galloway.
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News,
more details; contact him on
The £50 prize for identifying
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH. 01924 525656, or email faafirth@
• Support the Royal Navy
the ships goes to Mr J Morley
Coupons giving correct answers will hotmail.com
• Maintain Naval traditions
of Wirral.
go into a prize draw to establish a
winner.
This month’s ship was one
Closing date for entries is May
Good news
• Enjoy social activities
of the 93-strong Ham class of 11. More than one entry can be
inshore minesweepers, and was submitted, but photocopies cannot
from Cornwall
• Re-unite shipmates
of all-wooden construction.
be accepted. Do not include any- • Remember the fallen
She was launched by PK
thing else in your envelope: no cor- CAMBORNE and Redruth
Harris on March 25 1955, and
respondence can be entered into
branch is in excellent condition,
• Help the disabled
sold just over 12 years later in
and no entry returned.
according to reports to the branch • Look after the needy
The winner will be announced in
July 1967.
our June edition. The competition is
general meeting.
Can you name her? The cor-
not open to Navy News employees
Members of the committee
• Cheer up the distressed
rect answer could win you £50. or their families.
were re-elected, and there was • Stand together in unity
a big thank-you to all members
for their support, especially the
MYSTERY PICTURE 146 two standard bearers, who each
How to join
attended 38 ceremonial events on
behalf of the branch.
Write to RNA HQ
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Grave visited
82 Chelsea Manor Street
London SW3 5QJ
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DURING a tour of World War
Tel: 020 7352 6764
1 battlefi elds, S/M Doug Turk,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
chairman of the HMS Morecambe
Fax: 020 7352 7385
Bay Association, laid a cross at www.royal-naval-association.co.uk
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the grave of Surg Frank Pocock, of
the Royal Naval Division, killed in
action on September 29 1918.
My answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He won the DSO during the
raid on Zeebrugge in April 1918,
and the MC on the Somme.
032-033_NN_apr.indd 2 16/3/07 10:53:22
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