NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2008 33
Ex-Wrens
group has
new name
Restoration project
Wreaths
are laid
AFTER more than two years of
unites communities
for RND
deliberation, the New Zealand HMS Ganges Association
Ex-Wrens Association has a new members and friends have toured
name. Western Front battlefields and
It is hoped the name Royal war graves under the supervision
New Zealand Naval Women’s of Tony and Kathy Thipthorpe.
Association will encourage The weekend visit used Arras as
women currently serving to join its base, and the travellers’ main
the group while still reflecting
IN DECEMBER 1939 the Bootle town hall was a fitting
objective was to lay association
those who served as NZ Wrens
battleship HMS Barham was venue for the reception as it is
wreaths at the RND Memorial
from 1942 onwards. at Beaucourt, on the Somme
By the time the Wrens
torpedoed off the coast of
steeped in naval history, and
battlefield, and at the Menin
amalgamated with the RNZN in
Scotland.
displays numerous battle ensigns
Gate in memory of those sailors
1977, 1,655 women had signed up
The ship limped into the
flown by British warships during
who died in the battles for Ypres,
– and it is hoped many can make
Liverpool docks for repairs, and
World War 2.
including Passchendaele.
the 70th anniversary reunion in
while she was on Merseyside four
At the beginning of November a
Among the battlefields and
Auckland in 2012.
members of her ship’s company
rededication ceremony was held at
monuments visited were those
For details of the association,
who had died during the action
Bootle cemetery for Seamen Watt
at Mons, Thiepval, Tyne Cot,
open to all women who served in
were buried in Bootle cemetery.
and Maguire, the two sailors from
Poperinghe and Vimy Ridge.
a Commonwealth navy, contact
Seventy years later, the secretary
Dundee.
Association vice president S/M
Elizabeth Hedgley at d.hedgley@
of Crosby branch received a letter
The ceremony was opened
Carl Jackson laid a wreath at
clear.net.nz
from Dundee, making enquiries
by Martin Randall, the diversity
Beaucourt, which members were
about the graves of two of the
manager from the prison, and the
surprised to find is “a little off the
Return trip
seamen who had lived there.
service was led by Katy Canty, the
beaten track”.
So began a unique relationship
prison chaplain.
That cannot be said of the Last
BOURNE branch members joined
between the RNA and HM Prison
Wreaths were laid by the
families, the Provost and one
Post ceremony at the Menin Gate
forces with the local Royal British
Altcourse. in Ypres, which draws considerable
● The parade marches to the graves of the HMS Barham sailors in
purchased from donations given
Legion to make a second visit to the
After locating the graves it was
Bootle cemetery
by offenders at the prison.
crowds every evening, year-round,
National Memorial Arboretum.
discovered that they had suffered
A guard of honour was
at 8pm.
Almost everyone had been
some neglect over the years, so around the graves which was filled a letter from John Letford,
provided by Royal Marine Cadets,
And here the association’s
before, but wanted to return as they
S/M Fred Pilgrim, Community with white stone. the Lord Provost of Dundee,
and graveside guard duties were
wreath was laid by S/M Lee
felt there was so much to see and
Development Manager at Once the work was completed informing them that he had traced
performed by the local Sea Cadet
Fleming, with S/Ms Martin Foster
new points of interest every time.
Altcourse, approached the a dedication ceremony took place the families of two of the seamen,
unit.
and Des Kerrigan as escorts.
The branch has also been able
director of the prison and asked at the graveside, attended by who intended to visit the graves at
So came the culmination of
A visit to the Island of Ireland
to obtain a crucifix, which S/M
for assistance with the restoration representatives from the prison, the end of October.
two years of prison partnership
Peace Park rounded off a
Chalky White has restored to a
of the site. the RNA and the offenders that
The Mayor of Bootle, Cllr
work linking offenders with local
memorable and emotional visit.
state where it can now grace future
The director provided much- had carried out the work.
Paul Tweed, arranged a reception
charities, the community youth,
meetings and events.
needed resources to a project to Unfortunately, despite great
for the Provost, the families, the and the families of some of our
restore the graves, and a group of efforts, the relatives of the seamen
Thief strikes
Chalky also presented the RNA and representatives from the
brave youth that paid the ultimate
branch with a ship’s bell. offenders was organised to carry
could not be traced.
prison. price to ensure our freedom.
out the work under the supervision Over the next two years the
Montrose tour
at reunion
of Fred Pilgrim. grave site was maintained by
As well as cleaning the graves, offenders at the prison. Eaglets invited to dinner
THE HMS Orion Association
TORREVIEJA branch members
the offenders laid an 18in border Crosby shipmates then received
FORMER ‘Eaglets’ have been tour or a visit to a nautical
had an enjoyable annual reunion
were invited on board frigate
Commandos, 50 years on
invited to a ‘nautical extravaganza’ museum on the Saturday before
at the Royal Fleet Club – with
HMS Montrose when she called
which takes place over the weekend the dinner.
one caveat.
in at Alicante in Spain on her
of May 15-17 2009. Although marking the 1969-
Almost 50 people travelled to
way home from a seven-month
A GROUP of 15 veterans of Cowan RM.
The event, at the Northern 72 commission, all commissions
Plymouth – including Ron and
deployment to the Gulf.
695 Squadron Royal Marines Another was the Saturday
Hotel in Aberdeen, marks the last (1952-72) are welcome.
Charlotte Cozens, who flew in
Shipmates, who were joined by
gathered at Exmouth with their night knees-up at the RAFA Club,
commission of the aircraft carrier Contact ex-LPTI Bill Melvin on
from the USA – and took part
other guests, were given a talk by
partners to mark the passing of where the commemoration cake
HMS Eagle. bill.melvin@virgin.net, tel 01224
in a wreath-laying ceremony at
the ship’s Commanding Officer,
50 years since completing their and buffet were demolished in
‘Eaglets’ and wives or partners 820603 (mob 07740 439987) for
the Naval War Memorial plus a
Cdr Andy Hogben, then taken on
commando training. true Service fashion.
and guests can opt for a distillery details.
church service at HMS Drake.
tours of the warship by Lynx pilot
One highlight of the weekend In anticipation of next year’s The dinner on Friday and the
Lt Alex Coleman.
was a conducted tour of the reunion celebrations, any AGM on Saturday also went well,
The visitors also had the chance
Commando Training Centre ex-695 squadmates are invited all despite the fact that a handbag
to talk to key members of the
(CTCRM) at Lympstone, which to contact Rip Kirby on 01482 and purse had been stolen from
ship’s company.
was organised by WO2 Mark 343586. two of the Orion party at breakfast
on the Friday morning, leading to
£50 PRIZE PUZZLE
Memories of
much time being taken up giving
statements to a (very considerate)
policewoman.
Lympstone
Buggies will
EX-ROYALS have been back
to Lympstone for their annual
reunion, thanks to Brig Charlie help visitors
Hobson and his staff.
S/M Bernard Hallas, PRO of
BRERETON Royal British Legion
York RNA and RMA, said: “If it
in Staffordshire has bought three
is necessary to light the fires and
six-seat electric buggies for the
rekindle our pride in the Corps
National Memorial Arboretum.
our weekend certainly does that.”
Each buggy has four forward-
S/M Bernard saw the speed
facing and two rear-facing seats;
marchers return to base on
on one buggy the rear seat can be
Saturday, then with 97-year-old S/M
folded down to allow space for a
Albert, from Bradford, attended
wheelchair.
● S/M Nobby Hall (left) briefs US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Steve
Sunday parade, at which four new Branham (right) and his SO1 Cdr David Billberg
The buggies are named Pip,
standards were dedicated.
Squeak and Wilfred after the
It was also a chance for veterans
relatively common combination
THE mystery submarine in our
to march past the Commandant,
Stormy reception for
of the Star, Victory Medal and
October edition (right) was HMS
Maj Gen Garry Robison.
War Medal from the Great War,
which in turn took its name from
Artemis.
She was correctly identified
Marshland aid
Nobby the Bobby
newspaper cartoon characters.
They were deemed necessary, at
by Richard Horsburgh, of
MORE than £900 was raised
a cost of around £26,000, to allow
Farnborough, who wins £50. for Headley Court rehabilitation FORMER Cyprus branch stalwart Commissioner in the Royal Turks
all veterans and their families,
This month’s ship (above),
Complete the coupon and send
centre at an event hosted by Mike S/M Nobby Hall barely had time
and Caicos Island Police.
including those who need help
which shared her name with
it to Mystery Picture, Navy News,
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth PO1 3HH.
and Jo Smith at the Marshland to greet his new colleagues before
In his first week at work the
getting about, to visit every corner
a town in North Wales, was Coupons giving the correct answer Maritime Museum near Kings he had to prove his mettle.
islands were hit by Hurricane
of the 150-acre Arboretum site.
completed in 1960 and had a will go into a prize draw to establish Lynn – including £325 collected at Nobby, once of the Sovereign
Hanna which, while a less-
busy life, including coverage of
a winner. the D Boats Association AGM.
Base Areas Police, is now Assistant
dangerous Category 1 storm,
Flying visit
the Cyprus evacuation, spells on
Closing date for entries is January managed to inflict some damage by
patrol off Belize and in the Gulf,
9 2009. More than one entry can
Rumour unfounded
going round in a circle and blowing FOLLOWING an invitation from
be submitted, but photocopies
and was part of the Falklands
cannot be accepted. Do not include
through for a second time. Capt Jones USN, 13 members of
Task Group. anything else in your envelope: no
‘Nobby the Bobby’ and his Redruth and Camborne branch
She was deliberately sunk in
correspondence can be entered into
colleagues then had two days to visited the Joint Maritime Facility
THE Kent Fleet Air Arm ventures for that,” he said.
mid-1985.
and no entry returned.
clear up before the Category 4 at RAF St Mawgan.
Association is alive and kicking, “My comment must be that
What is the name of the ship?
The winner will be announced in bruiser Hurricane Ike smashed As part of the conducted tour
our February edition. The competition
according to their president. when the last one through the
We have removed her pennant
through the British Overseas the party were shown around the
is not open to Navy News employees S/M Peter George said there
door switches off the lights, then
Territory, damaging more than Terminal Equipment Building
number from the picture. or their families. was a rumour abroad that the we are defunct – and not before.”
90 per cent of buildings in some (Underwater Surveillance), and
organisation was defunct.
communities. they also enjoyed a barbecue at
MYSTERY PICTURE 166
“I can assure you and your
Ceres reunion Quickly co-opted on to the the air station.
readers that we are very much
emergency planning committee,
Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
alive!” said S/M George.
THE seventh reunion of HMS
Nobby was soon advising both
“We are a vibrant body who
Ceres (Wetherby) 1946-58 will
Sunday salute
the Governor and the Prime
meet once a month at venues
be held over the weekend of August
Minister and made the liaison ASSOCIATION President Vice
Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . up and down the county,
14-16 2009 at the Crown Hotel,
officer for the US Coast Guard, Admiral John McAnally took the
fundraising.”
Harrogate, North Yorkshire.
who sent a flight of helicopters salute at Maidstone branch’s Sea
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The association was due to
All shipmates who served at
and a support team. Service.
celebrate Taranto Night as Navy
Ceres and Moorlands are welcome,
The Royal Navy were also S/M McAnally was joined
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . News went to press. along with partners. quick to assist the islands, in the by the Mayors of Maidstone
“We are very active in the Fly Contact S/M Richard Knight, shape of Type 23 frigate HMS and Tonbridge, and by branch
My answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Navy 100 preparations for 2009 41 Glenfield Ave, Wetherby LS22 Iron Duke and tanker RFA Wave chairman S/M David Blackman
and will be supporting it and all 6RN, tel: 01937 581404. Ruler. and other officers and members.
032-033_NN_dec.indd 2 21/11/08 12:44:22
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