36 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2008
Summer
VC’s name displayed on plaque
programme
A SPECIAL service has been held at New Magasis, some nine miles from Kut.
Malden war memorial to mark the unveiling The next day the Air Service reported
of a plaque which honours a Victoria Cross the Julnar in the hands of the Turks – and
for Area 2
recipient who had not been inscribed on the the leaders of this brave attempt had been
memorial in 1924. reported by the Turks to have been killed.
The recipient was Lt Humphrey S/M John Snowden, associate member
AREA 2 has a busy summer
Osbaldston Brooke Firman VC, who was of Crieff and District branch and vice
programme lined up, starting
killed in action on the River Tigris in president of the Malden and Coombe
with a national competition this
Mesopotamia (now Iraq) on April 24 branch of the RBL, co-ordinated the event
month.
1916. with the help of RNA HQ.
The National Standard Bearers
The London Gazette of February 2 The service was conducted by Chaplain
contest is to be staged at Chatham
1917 describes how an RN crew under Lt of the Fleet the Ven John Green and a
on Saturday June 7, starting at
Firman, assisted by Lt Cdr Cowley RNVR, number of VIPs, including Cdre Adrian
2pm and winding up with an
left Falahiyah in the SS Julnar at 8pm, Nance, deputy president of the RNA, and
awards ceremony at 8pm. carrying 270 tons of supplies in a bid to the Mayor of Kingston-upon-Thames, Cllr
Further details area available reach Kut. Shiraz Mirza.
from Bill Murray on 01634 She was, however, discovered and shelled The Association’s national standard was
304973. on her passage upriver. in attendance, as well as the standards and
Saturday July 5 sees the Veterans At 1am on April 25 it was reported that the members from local ex-Service associations
Day hosted by the Historic Julnar had not arrived, and that at midnight – all under the eagle eye of RNA National
Dockyard at Chatham between
● Standards are displayed at the New Malden war memorial before the service
a burst of heavy firing had been heard at Ceremonial Officer S/M Alan Robinson.
11am and 7pm.
Beat Retreat will be at 6pm.
The following day brings the
Battle of Britain Memorial Day at
Capel le Ferne, Folkestone.
A dress rehearsal at 11am will
precede the event itself, which will
be at 1.15pm. Last attempt to fi nd
St Nazaire
raid heroes
For further details on this event
honoured
contact Robin Green on 01622
681665.
Later that month, on Sunday
July 20, Maidstone branch hold
their Sea Sunday service at 3pm.
Those attending should muster
at Aylesford Community Centre,
missing Britannia
THE daring wartime raid on St
Nazaire by HMS Campbeltown is
commemorated by a monument
near the dock which was due to be
used by Nazi warship Tirpitz.
But the France Nord branch
and the man with the details in
is keen for survivors of the ship
John Cooper, on 01622 675895.
to know that they have taken on
Finally, on Saturday September
AFTER a 25-year search for
The new cruiser HMS Norfolk been so innocent. connection is between the Norfolk
the privilege of attending the
6, the Isle of Sheppey Parade of
was fitting out nearby in 1930, and He is keen to see the trophy back pub near Colchester station and
memorial annually to remember
Standards and band concert will
a silver statuette, a retired
the geographic link in the names in the Navy’s safekeeping before the old cruiser.
the victims of the attack.
be staged. Naval officer is making one
of the two units led to a friendly he slips his moorings, so if anyone He said the pub sign depicts the
The raid was sparked by the
Organised by the Isle of
final attempt to locate the relationship which was sealed with knows of the item’s whereabouts, warship, and there are plenty of
move through the Kiel Canal to
Sheppey branch, the event
missing trophy before he
an exchange of trophies. or discovers they have it on their pictures of the ship’s peace-time
Trondheim by the Tirpitz.
is based at the Sheerness East
The officers of HMS Norfolk mantelpiece, please contact him travels inside the bar.
The Admiralty decided that
Working Men’s Club, from 3pm
calls it a day.
presented the regiment with a at 16 Suffolk Road, Sudbury, It is too far from the sea to
should the battleship break out
until around 8pm.
Lt Cdr Geoffrey Prall has
silver statuette of a sailor in square Suffolk, CO10 1UN. be a sailors’ pub – is the link the
into the Atlantic then the only
Music will be provided by the gathered a file more than two
rig, an item which still travels He would also like to hear from Royal Norfolk Regiment again, or
dock capable of refitting her was at
Snowdon Colliery Welfare Band inches thick, containing letters
with the successor unit, the Royal anyone who can explain what the is there another reason?
St Nazaire, which should therefore
and Whitstable Sea Cadets with
and anecdotes from sailors Anglian Regiment.
be put out of action.
a singalong to round off the
of all ranks and civilians,
In return the ship received the
Operation Chariot did just
evening.
silver Britannia – the regiment’s
that, with the old destroyer being
Tickets cost £14 per person, to
many of whom remember the
crest – which was still on board
rammed into the dry dock gate
include a full buffet, and proceeds
silver statuette of Britannia
when she paid off in Devonport
on March 27 and the charges
will go to the Headley Court
which once sealed a close
in 1950.
exploding the following day.
rehabilitation centre. relationship between cruiser
Records show that the statuette,
Five VCs were won in the
Details from S/M Mick HMS Norfolk and the Royal
along with other trophies, was
combined operation, though it
Withington on 01795 875084, or
Norfolk Regiment. deposited in the local trophy store
cost the lives of around 150 sailors
email mickRNA0603@aol.com
The search has taken in many to await the commissioning of a
and commandos.
Plea for
locations in the UK and as far new Norfolk.
Around 20 French standards
afield as Hong Kong, Australia, That happened in 1970, but
joined the France Nord standard
Canada, Trincomalee and the by the time the County-class
at the commemoration ceremony
Andaman Islands. destroyer was ready to join the
this year, which was held in very
memorabilia
But none has pointed to the Fleet the trophy had ‘walked’
wet and windy conditions.
location of the statuette, which – it was not in the store, nor was
French marines and a French
was last known of in Devonport there any record of it having been
navy and marine band supported
CHESHUNT branch members
Naval Base in 1950. issued.
the event, which was also attended
and guests joined with shipmates
Its history dates back to 1928 Lt Cdr Prall believes the missing
by the British Naval Attaché in
from Edmonton and Enfield to
when the 2nd Bn of the Royal Britannia may be innocently
Paris.
commemorate St George’s Day by
Norfolk Regiment was quartered adorning someone’s sideboard –
holding a mess deck supper.
for four years at the South Raglan though the means by which it
Memorial
Around 170 people attended
Barracks in Devonport. originally got there might not have
the event at the Conservative Club
in Waltham Cross, with a fish and for Quebec
chip supper and dancing to the
music of Sid Lawrence.
Museum hosts veterans
A NEW memorial has been
Up Spirits was piped and St
unveiled at the Argyll Holiday
George toasted in true Naval style
THE Fleet Air Arm Museum by Admiral Terry Loughran
Park in memory of the men of
with a tot of rum, and Master-at-
will be the focal point for and David Laws MP.
Combined Operations who were
Arms S/M Joe Wright supervised
Veteran’s Day events in Registrations will be
killed in the World War 2.
the rum bosuns.
Somerset at the end of this handled by Julia Hodson
The holiday park is at the
● Standards are paraded in Londonderry in remembrance of the
As the branch approaches
month. at the museum, on 01935
former home of HMS Quebec,
Battle of the Atlantic
the 20th anniversary of its re-
There will be free entry to 842610 or email Juliah@
No 1 Combined Training Centre,
formation, PR officer S/M James
the museum, at Yeovilton, on fleetairarm.com
near Inverary in Scotland.
Murphy is putting together a
Sunday June 29 as young Throughout the day visitors
history of Cheshunt, and would
and old, veterans and non- will see stands, workshops
like to hear from anyone who
Atlantic service
Some 250,000 personnel
passed through the gates of the
base between 1940 and 1944, and
veterans gather to celebrate and displays and be
has photos or memorabilia from
at times the number of people
the Royal Naval Old Comrades
the contribution made by all entertained by AsOne Theatre
LONDONDERRY branch were a short service was held and a billeted there could have been
Association.
the Armed Forces, and to Production, presenting a
behind a series of events last wreath was laid in memory of as high as 15,000 in a local
In 1980 they met at the George
learn about how they can “fusion of drama, song and
month to remember the Battle of the many sailors who passed that community of just 500 souls.
pub in Cheshunt (otherwise
record their family history for projected image” reflecting
the Atlantic.
point but never returned. The Royal Navy was represented
known as the Force and Firkin).
posterity. music inspired by 20th
at the unveiling of the memorial
Prior to that the branch was
Organisers are encouraging Century conflicts.”
The programme began on the
On returning ashore there
by Capt Mark Bavistock of HMS
known as Lea Valley in 1955,
all eligible veterans to register The event will be free to
Saturday afternoon with a cruise
was just enough time to clean
Neptune and Maj Paterson RM
meeting at the Falcon at Waltham
for an Armed Forces Veterans enter, with doors opening at
down Loch Foyle, during which
up before a dinner dance, at
from Faslane.
Cross.
badge, a number of which 10am. The presentation of
a buffet lunch was provided by
which the guest of honour was
The memorial was unveiled by
Contact S/M James on 01992
will be presented on the day badges will be at 2.30pm.
the branch.
Surg Cdr George Gardiner, the
At the mouth of the Foyle
Commanding Officer of HMS the Duke of Argyll.
638551.
Caroline, the Belfast RNR unit.
Shipmates were also joined
From the fi rst
by the Mayor and Mayoress of
Londonderry, while those who
didn’t attend the dinner were
to the latest
entertained at the Services Club.
THE new president of Uxbridge
On the Sunday the shipmates
branch has been presented with
mustered at the Services Club
his Life Membership certificate by
for a parade to All Saints
the branch pioneer.
Church, where they were joined
S/M Gerald ‘Buster’ Brown was
by detachments from HM ships
handed the prized certificate by
Bulwark and Caroline.
S/M Martin Zak, secretary of the
The parade was led by the
branch and Uxbridge’s very first
Churchill band.
Life Member.
Rector the Rev Malcolm Ferry
S/M Buster has been a
conducted the service, and the
member of Uxbridge for some
Lessons were read by Area 12
20 years, holding a number of
president Cdr Campbell and
official positions from committee
chairman S/M William Roulston.
member through to chairman and
The Act of Remembrance was
vice president.
led by the rector, and a wreath
He took on the role of president
was laid by Londonderry branch
in April when S/M Henry Avery
chairman S/M Robert Buchanan.
crossed the bar.
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