30 NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2008
Ganges
memorial
Jack and Suzie
dedicated
ONE of the largest ex-Service
associations has dedicated
a memorial at the National
Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas.
The HMS Ganges Association are signed up
● The new plaque at Swaffham War Memorial
boasts almost 4,000 members
worldwide, and more than 200
of them, their families and friends
VETERANS of the HMS Crane
attended.
Association
Local reminder of
Guest of honour was Mrs Peggy
have adopted two crane
Dunlop, wife of the late Capt
chicks at the Slimbridge Wildfowl
Murray Dunlop, president of the
and Wetlands Trust (WWT) in
Gloucestershire.
Service sacrifice
association and the last Captain of
HMS Ganges.
The association contacted WWT last
MEMBERS of Swaffham branch
After the chapel service, year when a project was announced to
were ahead of the curve when it
conducted by padre the Rev John reintroduce the European common crane
came to one of the motions debated
Waller, the congregation moved to to England as a breeding species.
at the National Conference in
the site of the memorial. Cranes had been native to Britain up
ro
Bran
und-up
ch
Dundee.
Association standards and two to the 16th Century, when draining of
Motion number six urged chairman and standard bearer S/M
Sea Cadet units, from Burton- the fenlands and over-hunting led to their
the Association to approach Ernie Heritaget, was supported by
on-Trent and Stafford, provided a extinction as a wild species – crane was a
local authorities to have suitable the local Royal British Legion and
Guard of Honour – and members favoured delicacy of Tudor nobles.
inscriptions added to war Swaffham Town Council, which
noted that the youngsters paraded A group from the HMS Crane
memorials to include those gave a grant towards the cost
to their usual high standards. Association visited Slimbridge to become
members of the Forces killed in of the stone – which had to be
A fly-past by the Battle of better acquainted with their namesakes.
conflict after World War 2. sourced in Italy to match the
Britain Memorial Flight preceded They were particularly impressed by
Swaffham shipmates had existing memorial.
the sounding of the Last Post and the special measures devised by keepers to
already made their move by the Many Service and ex-Service
Reveille. prevent chicks from becoming too used to
time of the Conference. groups were represented at the
The chaplain blessed the human contact, as this might put them at
“Although the Queen unveiled dedication of the plaque, including
memorial and adjacent bench, risk when released into the wild.
the new National Memorial 30 standard bearers, and members
dedicated to Capt Dunlop; The aviculturalists have made a feeder
Arboretum Memorial last year, we of King’s Lynn Sea Cadet unit.
his widow said how much the which resembles the head of a mother
wanted something more local and After the unveiling and
association had meant to her late bird, by modifying a litter picker, and
personal, not only to remember dedication, wreaths were laid
husband. when entering the bird pens, the keepers
those Service personnel, but also to – including one by a woman
dress in a camouflage suit of dull grey to
Stone recalls
help teach the younger generations whose son was recently killed in
simulate the plumage of an adult bird.
the tradition of remembrance, and Afghanistan.
The association has now adopted two
what it is all for,” said branch The event was rounded off by
chicks – Jack (for Jack Tar) and Suzie, as in
Bruce boys
secretary S/M David Harman. three passes from the Battle of
Suzie Wong, the celebrated hostess of the
The project, initiated by branch Britain Memorial Flight.
Wanchai area of Hong Kong, in tribute to
HMS Crane’s long service in the Far East.
A MEMORIAL stone for all HMS Crane was the last of the Modified
who served at boys training Black Swan sloops of World War 2 fame.
Cheshunt celebrate 20
establishment HMS Bruce from She sank two U-boats in the Battle
CHESHUNT branch celebrated sterling efforts, Certificates of
1947-50 has been dedicated at the of the Atlantic and was present at the
the 20th anniversary of its Appreciation were presented to
National Memorial Arboretum in Normandy Landings and at the Japanese re-formation with a buffet and
S/Ms Marion Joy and Vera Everest,
Staffordshire. surrender in Tokyo Bay. dancing.
who have been instrumental in
The service, attended by 23 Her other claim to fame is that she was In his address, president S/M
raising thousands of pounds for
members, families and friends, is the first – perhaps the only? – ship to shoot Victor Everest said that the
branch funds and charity, and to
situated in an area known as the down a jet without use of radar-controlled majority of members are now
Royal Naval Review. guns, when mistakenly attacked by Israeli associates, “enjoying the experience
S/M Dave Wiltshir, co-joined with
Members were delighted with Mystere aircraft during the Suez campaign. of community, comradeship and
his wife Jenny, who organise social
the memorial, which was produced
Her final actions were bombardments respect that is offered.”
events.
by stonemasons A&J Memorials
in Korea and during the Malayan
Members of the branch –
● Former Chief Mechanician Roy Lidgett demonstrating
As serving members have been
of Oldbury.
Emergency.
the crane feeding drill at Slimbridge
getting older, the associates have
previously the RN Old Comrades
been responsible for keeping the
in the 1960s and the Lea Valley
Sea Sunday at
branch on an even keel. Group before that – then went on
And in recognition of their to hit the dance floor.
Littlehampton
LITTLEHAMPTON branch held
Drumming up support
their annual Sea Sunday parade,
MEMBERS of Liskeard branch promoted the aims and objectives
led by the band of the Nautical
of the RNA at the Royal Cornwall Show, using their display trailer.
Training Corps TS Implacable.
The fine weather brought out a good crowd of people to view the
Members and civic dignitaries
photos and information, and several potential new members were
marched behind branch standards
provided with application forms.
to the Pier Head where a service
Assistance in manning the stand came from members of
was conducted by the Rev
Bodmin, Launceston, Torpoint and Rame, Falmouth and St
Caswell.
Austell branches.
During the service wreaths were
cast from the Harbourmaster’s
launch into the River Arun to
commemorate all those lost at
How Yeovilton has changed!
sea.
A GROUP from the Yeovil branch traffic control tower, the underwater
After the parade a reception
of the Association of Wrens have escape training unit and the FAA
was hosted by the branch at their
paid a visit to RNAS Yeovilton to Museum, among others.
headquarters, the Maltravers
see just how much the air station They also enjoyed lunch in the
Social Club.
has changed over the years. Senior Rates mess, where they
High interest
They were shown the single chatted with serving personnel
living accommodation block, the air about their time at the base.
CRAWLEY branch held a Veterans
Day service of remembrance in the
Rum do for founders
town’s Memorial Gardens.
Around 30 shipmates and their
SHIPMATES Bazz Crimlisk and Geoff Brewin were both presented
standard attended, along with a
with a bottle of Pusser’s Rum at a party and social afternoon to
section of Crawley Sea Cadets and
celebrate the Scarborough branch’s 30th anniversary.
ex-Service associations.
Both Bazz and Geoff, who were given their gifts by branch
● Delabole branch held their annual croquet match at St Kew, the home of branch president Admiral
Branch chaplain S/M Gordon
chairman S/M Ernie Holtby, were founder members of the branch.
Alec Weir – and home advantage ensured that S/M Weir and Chris Hore won the trophy for Delabole,
Kitney conducted the service,
with St Austell branch members S/Ms Francis Marley and John Durnford taking second place after
which attracted a good deal of
beating last year’s winners, Launceston. With the weather proving inclement, the decision to erect
Choir at Crosby celebration
interest from both the general
tents proved a wise move, and the barbecue and real ale were very popular
public and the local media.
CROSBY members hosted a of medals and other awards, and a
Veterans Day celebration at the performance by the Choir of the
Crosby Club in Liverpool. Irish Guards.
The well-attended event A mural depicting events
started with a parade of standards from the Suez Conflict to the
and a short service, and other Falklands, produced by prisoners
highlights included a presentation at Altcourse, won much praise.
Rachel is signed up
Teenaged record-breaking transatlantic rower Rachel Flanders has
been signed up as an honorary member of Bolton branch.
The 17-year-old was part of a four-woman crew who rowed 3,000
miles from the Canary Islands to Antigua in 74 days, becoming the
youngest to achieve this feat.
In a ceremony at the Bolton Sea Cadet HQ, Rachel was presented
with her honorary membership badge.
Branch secretary S/M Jan Thomas said: “Rachel showed real
determination and courage.
“It is only when one has served at sea for any length of time that
her seamanship can be appreciated.”
The branch has recently changed the venue of its messdeck
meetings to the Derby Ward Labour Club.
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