24 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2008
Life without
Unhappy
Killicks
I READ with great interest the
limits for
letter from Leading Seaman
Gferer (May). First of all, top
marks to your paper for printing
something that a lot of people
wouldn’t think you would (it
confirmed to me that you
indeed do not shirk issues).
Secondly, I must, on the
whole, concur with LS Gferer
reservists
and his observations on the
new Seaman Specialist Branch.
I’ve no doubt that the Navy
News will have quite a few
letters arrive, probably from the
hierarchy of his branch over at
Fleet HQ, painting a wonderful
READING ‘Reviewing the
picture of this new branch
structure and how happy
Reservists’ Role’, and
everyone is with it etc...
Opinion (June), I had diffi- But I too have had first
culty in recognising the RNR hand experience of a lot of the
(and RNVR) as referred to as
new ‘improved’ Killick Spec’s
the ‘Club’ or ‘separate force’
grievances.
in which I served for 38 years
My last job (until (very
from 1949 to 1988; also the
recently) leaving the RN) as an
ISSC instructor at Phoenix gave
remark that not since World
me an awful lot of contact with
War 2 has it been in such
these killicks.
demand. On the whole, those I
There is no doubt that the RN conversed with were not
needs to find the means to fill gaps a happy bunch (to put it
and the RNR is a cheap way of mildly), and I’m talking a huge
achieving this. percentage here, probably
From a Cold War perspective, nearer to 100 per cent if I’m
when the RNR had both officers being honest.
and ratings trained in practically The general consensus was
King Neptune’s
every role to be filled on mobili- that they would put their notice
sation, the present claims seem in tomorrow if it were financially
somewhat over-egged. viable.
The RNR did not just train in Most appeared to be well
its own minesweeping squadron past their 12 years time-in and
on my back
but regularly in integrated squad- would therefore lose out on
rons in RN and NATO exercises their full pension, something
when individual ships were wholly which no doubt applies to LS
RNR-manned and the operational Gferer.
I WAS in the RAF in 1969-70 serving at RAF Changi when an offer of
command often fell to RNR offic- Personally, some of my best
a lift to Hong Kong aboard HMS Forth was offered.
ers of due seniority. It helped clear memories and happiest times
Four colleagues and I were interested and were accepted for
several WW2 minefields in my 24 years in the RN was
available places.
There was a huge NATO com- as a Killick Spec onboard the
During the voyage I saw the stoker with ‘The Hunt’ tattoo but was
mitment to provide whole crews Geordie Gunboat, working for
not impressed as the tattoo looked stretched on his tall frame.
for over 40 Ton-class minesweep- PO (Sea) Ben Casey.
I thought at the time it would look better on me as I was just 5ft
ers and latterly minehunters.
● Reservist AB Simeon Hawkins from HMS Sherwood on an opera- I’d hate to think what it would
5in tall but with a similar broad frame.
Personnel in those danger-
tional tour on board HMS Blyth in the Northern Arabian Gulf have been like if it had entailed
In Hong Kong I made friends with a number of Yanks who were
ous days, for example during
July 2005 and have seen at fi rst able to function in a military/naval
me being so unhappy with my
on R&R from Vietnam. They invited me to a party where everything
the Cuban crisis, served in many
hand the signifi cant changes and environment at the appropriate
job and being forced to retrain
was free (my kind of party...).
roles, in Naval control of shipping,
the distinguished contributions level”.
in something I was neither
After drinking many ‘tigers’ I found myself sitting at the bar alone
maritime HQs, as interpreters, in
referred to in Cdr Payton's letter I believe Cdre Thorne (CMR)
consulted on nor suitable for.
and soon became bored.
medical services, in every engi-
(June). has made it very clear that the role
It really is a huge shame to
I ended up at Pinkies Tattoo Studio with the intention of having
neering, weapons, and communi-
I agree with much of what he of the unit is to support the reserv-
see what’s becoming of the
‘The Hunt’ tattooed on my back, but changed my mind and chose
cations branch, even in the MOD
wrote, not least that there is much ist to reach their full potential, in
branch I loved and the people
a tattoo depicting Neptune protecting a sailing ship from a sea
itself. They flew aircraft and some
still to do and whilst I cannot return the unit requires the reserv-
in it who once made it so
monster.
were qualified submariners, others
foresee what the review might ist to fully assist the Command in
special.
This I was told looks very good.
clearance divers, and so on.
conclude I am confident that the creating a dynamic organisation
– Colin Clarkson
– Jack Bowen, former RN/RAF/RN,
Both the RN staff officers and
case for the Maritime Reserves is whose key function is to conduct
(recently ex) PO Seaman
Clenchwarton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
permanent staffs became complete
being well articulated within the initial training which encompasses
(now a merchant seaman)
converts to the fact that the RNR
Fleet HQ against a backdrop of engagement with local AFCOs
Southport, Merseyside
...WHEN I was serving in HMS Forth in the Far East (1969-71), we could achieve practically anything,
wider difficult decisions. and extends to responsibility for
had a guy with the Hunt tattoo on his back. given the right encouragement. In
However I fundamentally the full range of ‘day to day’
He was an AB (‘Big Jock’ Purdy) who was, as his name implies, a present times there appears to be a
disagree with his statement that recruiting and RNIPE activity.
big lad with a broad back. shortfall in thinking at MOD.
the RNR unit poses the greatest These Command responsibili-
Helping
I couldn’t imagine the tattoo on a smaller guy, as there was so The aims for the RNR seem too
obstacle to further RNR integra- ties complement and aid the role
much detail in it. It was a beautiful tattoo, and was the only fox and limited and vastly underestimate
tion with the RN. of the SO1s who act as Subject
hounds I saw in my nine years’ service. what devoted volunteers can do
I do not consider that clos- Matter Experts for each speciali-
– Doc Holliday, former AB QA2, Hartlepool from a huge pool of untapped
Handy
ing units will help in the further sation and are charged with deliv-
expertise within the nation.
integration of the RNR into the ering the agreed OC output for
I AM part of a small group which
Mersey Flowers
In my day in three RNR divi-
RN, quite the opposite, it will their area.
is trying to save an ex-RN
sions we had people who designed
leave the reservist more isolated They have made significant gunboat, built in 1883, from be-
and built warships and a lot of
and vulnerable and less able to advances in moving their speciali- ing broken up.
what went into them; worked for
function effectively when called sations closer to the operational The Demon (formerly HMS
radar and sonar manufacturers,
on to do so. requirements of the RN. Handy and HMS Excellent) is
CAPT Sainsbury asked (Letters, William. He often conducts the
worked in nuclear power stations,
I have recently been involved in The Unit Commanding currently in Pounds scrapyard,
May) whether a remembrance service and knows us all on first
and many other industries. Many
the staffing of a policy paper under Officers and the Specialist SO1s Portsmouth.
service is still given for the name terms.
were merchant service, also patrol
the direction of Captain Regions work together in a symbiotic rela- The site has been sold
Flowers of the Mersey. This year being 90 we were
service fishermen.
that developed the template for tionship, which also includes the for redevelopment and any
As a member of the Wallasey all invited to the Wallasey Town
There are really no limits when
the new regional structure for the Naval Regional Commanders, remaining vessels are due to be
Branch RNA, I can tell you that Hall, with additional members
the question ‘who manned the
RNR, aligned with that of the CMR HQ and the newly formed broken up very soon.
every year, on the nearest Sunday from the south of England.
bulk of the Navy in the World
Naval Regional Commanders. Regional Teams. Time is running out for this
to April 23, we commemorate All are welcomed to our branch
Wars?’ is asked.
This paper reviewed and Each has an important role to Victorian Navy and World War
the anniversary of the actions of by our secretary, Shipmate Alf
The present generation has
endorsed a range of recent policy play and to lose any part of this 1 veteran – would any readers be
Zeebrugge and Walcheren. Nelson, and all shipmates of the
forgotten.
papers and very clearly stated that organisation will seriously weaken interested in helping?
The service is conducted by the company are given a tot of rum
Cdr A R Macnaughton, RNR
“the RNR unit remains critical to the whole. Please contact me on 01235
Rev L R Singleton, Chaplain to with a free buffet. ...I HAVE served as the RN XO delivery of a versatile maritime Lt Cdr Martin Clegg 510029,or email savethehandy@
RMA Northern Region and our – Thomas Cockram, at HMS Sherwood, the RNR reservist with appropriate ‘gener- Eastern England Regional SO2 hotmail.com
local Merseyside chaplain, John Leasowe, Wirral unit based in Nottingham, from alist’ skills who is comfortable and (Sherwood) Nottingham – Rob Buckel, Didcot
opinion
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines are the forgotten heroes of the they’re part of the Army and not the RAF.
Leviathan Block, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH
UK’s major operations abroad, an opinion poll by a leading maritime Seafarers UK commissioned the poll as part of its ‘2 Million
charity has shown. Reasons’ fundraising campaign, which aims to raise £2 million to
Three-quarters of people questioned believed they have not help the forgotten naval heroes who often face enormous hardships
July 2008 no.648: 55th year
been recognised for their role in Iraq and Afghanistan, while a when returning home from deployment.
similar percentage felt they did not receive enough support on their But money is only part of the answer – the charity is urging
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