NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007 7
Was my ancestor
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AFTER reading the supplement on the slave trade for a number of years. His Afro-American origins are
cannot publish all of The editor reserves
(March) I thought that I would write to you about apparent in his description in which he was described
an aspect of the Navy’s involvement which has a as “complexion – swarthy, hair – woolly.”
your correspondence the right to edit your
direct bearing on my family. He also married a Stonehouse girl and had several
in Navy News. submissions.
My great-great-grandfather, one Benjamin Niles, children, one of whom was my paternal grandmother,
married a girl from Stonehouse, part of what is now whom the above description fitted well. Not knowing
Plymouth, and on the marriage certificate it said he anything at the time about the above we used to tease
was of West Indian origin, having at one time resided her, saying that somebody must have got ashore from
in America. the Armada.
Research indicated that he had come to the area The story doesn’t quite end there. My younger son
after the battle between HMS Pelican and USN also joined the Navy and after completing training
Argus in 1813. at Dartmouth decided to go into submarines. When
It was assumed at first that he had been on the he went to selection the board insisted that he had a
Argus, captured, sent to Dartmoor prison and at blood test as he had been on holiday in the sun and
some later date released to take up residence in had come back brown indeed.
Stonehouse. They were afraid, apparently, that if he had African
Later it was found that he had actually been on the blood he might be susceptible to sickle cell anaemia.
Pelican and had originally come from Santa Cruz in As we again didn’t know anything about the fam-
the Dutch West Indies. ily history at the time we were to say the least both
The likelihood is that he was bought to serve as a amused and puzzled.
freeman in the Navy, something which happened at He did go into submarines and his last command
that time. was as Captain of HMS Vigilant, one of the bomber
I couldn’t confirm that but I have a discharge flim- fleet.
sy for his son, also Benjamin, who served in the navy – Alan Green, Mevagissey, Cornwall
It’s all a blur on
Campania
WITH regard to helicopters landing on an RN ship I was told the helicopter came from HMS
(March) I have a photograph (above) of one landing Anson, the ship on the extreme left of the picture
on the flight deck of HMS Campania in early 1943. – how true this is I don’t know – can anyone else
It was broadcast on the Tannoy that the first one confirm it?
on the deck would get a flight – I never made it. – F J Udell, ex-LAMO Stevenage, Herts
More letters on page 38
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