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NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2008 37
Whimbrel hopes fade
ENTHUSIASTS have been
1968
THE TIME OF
forced to put on hold plans to
YOUR LIVES
968
1988
bring home a wartime sloop as
the centrepiece of a Battle of
the Atlantic memorial.
HMS Whimbrel is one of the
few surviving reminders of the
titanic struggle between the
U-boats and Britain’s seaborne
lifeline in World War 2.
December 1968
She is also one of a handful of
survivors from the vast armada
THERE’S a rescue theme to our which witnessed Japan’s
lookback this month, beginning surrender.
with submarine HMS Odin Whimbrel was sold to
(pictured, right) which saved ten the Egyptians post-war and
souls in the Atlantic. The tanker remains in Egypt six decades
Spyros Lemos broke in two 110 later, although she is no longer
miles west of Corunna and her needed by her navy.
crew took to life rafts. One of The HMS Whimbrel project
those rafts was found by Odin was set up to return the sloop
after the tanker men had spent – which as ENS Tariq has not
54 hours adrift. been too heavily altered from her
wartime days – to Merseyside as
December 1978
a lasting memorial and museum
● HMS Whimbrel – pictured as ENS Tariq in Egypt in 2005 awaiting
to the men who fought the Battle
her fate
JUST one soul was grateful for
of the Atlantic.
HMS Sirius being in Gothenburg
Vice Admiral Michael and we sought a price for the existed, the charity set up to
harbour. LRO George
Gretton, chairman of the vessel that is both achievable buy her would keep going so
Malcolmson (30 years on he’s
Whimbrel Project, said despite and which would meet the that if the Egyptian Government
archivist at the RN Submarine
considerable fund-raising and wishes of our supporters and changed its mind, the ambitious
Museum...) dived into the
negotiations, the memorial team the regulatory bodies. project could be resurrected.
harbour when he saw a young
had been unable to agree a “We have no alternative but “We would like to express
woman fall in. The woman, who
price with the Egyptians. to discontinue our work on the our thanks to all those who
was dumb and deaf, could not
“It just will not be possible project to acquire the vessel have given us such enormous
swim, but George helped her
to meet two conflicting needs: and bring her home,” the admiral support in our efforts over the
to USS Elmer Montgomery. As
the Egyptians have financial and lamented. years,” Admiral Gretton added.
the Americans gave her first aid,
presentational expectations; He said as the Whimbrel still Visit www.hmswhimbrel.org
the leading hand slipped away
unnoticed, and only admitted his
heroics several days later while
‘ditting’ with an oppo.
Unquiet Wettern front
December 1988
TO Hollywood, the ultimate Channel 5 documentary Warship. with a web campaign.
SOMETIMES, it’s the RN
prize is an Oscar.
Away from the evening, The result was a comprehensive
which needs saving... HMS
To those in the world of naval
minehunter HMS Chiddingfold marketing package – web diaries
Southampton piggy-backed
journalism and publicity, the
earned the ‘small ships’ Fleet (blogs), video diaries following
home from the Gulf on a heavy-
ultimate prize is a ‘Wettern’.
Media Award for establishing “a a recruit through commando
lift ship, Mighty Servant, after
And so it was that the ‘naval
fine reputation for public relations training at Lympstone,
she was damaged in the Strait
Oscars’ – named in honour of
with [a] cheerful and positive photograph, and an interactive
of Hormuz. The Saint’s fo’c’sle
the late Daily Telegraph journalist
approach”. training tool ‘Get Fit To Apply’ –
was left with a gaping hole after
and champion of maritime
And HMS Exeter was named which helped prospective Royals
she collided with the container
affairs Desmond Wettern –
winner of the Navy News award prepare themselves mentally and
ship Tor Bay... a vessel ironically
were presented by Countess for maximising efforts to promote
physically for the challenge of
she was meant to escort safely
Mountbatten of Burma in the herself through our pages over the
earning the coveted green beret.
through the strait.
capital. past year. Since the campaign was
Lloyd’s List editor Julian Bray The Wetterns were not the only launched in October 2007, 19,000
collected the Desmond Wettern awards to feature a media wing people have followed the ‘get
Media Award for eight years at of the Senior Service collecting fit’ campaign and 10,000 have
the helm of the shipping bible gongs. signed up to the Corps’ monthly
which was, said judges, “a symbol The RN’s impressive (and newsletter.
of Britain’s maritime journalistic vast) website took top prize at The bottom line is that for
excellence”. the Interactive Media Awards, every £229 spent on the web
Ask Jack
The finest book in the maritime where judges singled out its Royal campaign, one person applied to
world these past 12 months was Marines recruiting section. join the Corps (the average cost
judged to be Tim Clayton’s The Corps needed an extra to recruit a green beret is £7,500,
excellent Tars: The Men Who Made 127 recruits so the RN’s digital or £15,000 for officers) and the
HMS Ark Royal: Seeking a copy of the
Rescue craft, this is approx 6.5m long with anyone’s assistance who worked/used and
Britain Rule the Waves, which marketing agency, Twentysix courses at Lympstone are fully
documentary about HMS Ark Royal The Iron
a Mermaid Ford 4D 200hp inboard engine may have photos of such a craft. This craft is
offered a unique perspective on London, were asked to come up subscribed.
Village which was believed to have been
with a PP jet drive. We believe this craft made from a continuous-welded aluminium
shown on BBC TV. If you can help please
the life of sailors from the days
was in service around the 1970s and are hull, completely sealed weather-deck with
contact Mr K Sowden on 07857 612924.
trying to establish the age/spec and use foam fi lled solid D sponsons. Any help would
of sail.
HMS Cassandra 1960-62: Archie is
of this type of craft. We are in the process be appreciated. Contact John Lanaghan at Documentary maker Marshall
looking for someone to substantiate that an
of refurbishing this craft and are asking for veloii@hotmail.co.uk or tel: 07904 546470.
old shipmate of his, Billy Bailles, was killed
Corwin was named winner of
whilst on Icelandic Patrol. Contact Archie
the Donald Gosling Award for
Miller at archie.miller1@ntlworld.com or tel: the best television, radio or film
01925 470670.
Corvettes: I would like to hear from any
contribution for his BBC children’s
shipmate or association who could provide
Contact sheet
programme Serious Ocean which
information regarding my late father John followed a group of youngsters on
Thomas Charles from Oldham in Lancashire,
now Greater Manchester, who served for most
an expedition to an extreme part
of WW2 in corvettes and on his discharge
of the world.
in 1945 was sent to the naval hospital near Ministry of Defence: 0870 607 4455,
www.fl eetairarm.com
New to the awards this year is
Yeovil or Plymouth. His duties on-board www.mod.uk
Royal Marines Museum: 023 9281 9385,
were mainly in what was the equivalent of Royal Navy recruitment: 0845 607 5555,
www.royalmmarinesmuseum.co.uk an inaugural honour: the Maritime
radar today and I have been told by Naval www.royalnavy.mod.uk
RN Submarine Museum: 023 9252 9217,
Fellowship Award, recognition
AR
Association
N
of
Royal Navy Officers
O
Records, Portsmouth, that his records have Veterans Agency: 0800 169 2277, www.
www.rnsubmus.co.uk
for a lifetime of achievement
ARNO is the Membership Benefits of membership
been lost, and to re-open the search the veteransagency.mod.uk
National Maritime Museum: 020 8312
Association and Charitable Trust include;
name of any ship he served on is required. Medals enquiries: 0800 085 3600
6565, www.nmm.ac.uk by someone in a particular
If there is someone who knew him and could RN and RM Service records: 023 9262
Imperial War Museum: 020 7416 5320,
maritime sector. That sector for
for serving and retired commissioned
*
an Annual Year Book which has many
verify the ships he served in could they 8779 or 023 9262 8667
www.iwm.org.uk
the inaugural award was leisure
officers of the RN, RM, QARNNS, the
interesting articles and useful
contact Mrs Ann Dutson at brian.dutson@ Royal Naval Association: 023 9272 3823, former WRNS and their Reserves.
information
btopenworld.com or tel: 023 9258 1888. www.royal-naval-association.co.uk
and that winner was David King,
*
a secure on-line membership list
2nd MTB fl otilla, Chan Chak, Hong RNBT: 023 9269 0112 (general), 023 9266 chairman of luxury yacht builder
The ARNO Charitable Trust
*
a special rate for roadside
Kong: Seeking any members (or photos) 0296 (grants), www.rnbt.org.uk Competition
Princess Yachts.
provides advice and access to breakdown cover
of the Motor Torpedo Boat escape party British Legion: 08457 725725, www.
charitable funds for those members,
from Hong Kong on Christmas Day 1941, britishlegion.org.uk
The ‘Wetterns’ have traditionally *
temporary membership of the Naval
accompanied by a one-legged Chinese Naval Families Federation: 023 9265 been split between the journalism/
their wives, widows and dependents
Club, Mayfair, London
Admiral, Chan Chak KBE. The party escaped 4374, www.nff.org.uk
literary awards and a rather lower-
who are in need and/or experience *
provision for buying and selling
across Southern China, through Burma to Seafarers UK: 020 7932 0000, www.
The winners of the Joint Force Harrier
financial difficulties.
uniform and/or swords
India and then home. Particularly keen to fi nd seafarers-uk.org
book competition are:
key ‘Fleet Media’ ceremony, the
*
an identity card
any surviving members as we’re conducting SSAFA Forces Help: 0845 1300 975,
John Makinson, Overton, Morecambe;
latter recognising ships or RN/ Membership Association
an escape re-enactment in December 2009! www.ssafa.org.uk
Duncan Weaver, Barnstaple, Devon; *
entitlement to various trade discounts
RM units which best projected subscription: £12 annually or a single
Contact Russell Joyce at ruj001@yahoo. RN Community: www.rncom.mod.uk
James Brand, Wells, Somerset;
* regional social functions (subsidised)
com or tel: 07970 822578. Royal Naval Museum: 023 9272 7562,
George Mortimore, Ryde, Isle of Wight;
a positive image of the Senior payment of £180 for Life Membership.
and many more benefits and services
Ex-RN Rescue Craft: We have acquired www.royalnavalmuseum.org
James Wilson, Alnwickhill, Edinburgh;
Service to the wider community.
Contact details; tel: 020 7402 5231 fax: 020 7402 5533
what we believe to be an ex-Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Museum: 01935 840565,
Rod Weatherall, Langport;
David King, Cowes, Isle of Wight; This year, both awards email: osec@arno.org.uk www.arno.org.uk
Stephen King, Baldock, Hertfordshire;
were merged for an evening of
R Bayley, Melksham, Wiltshire;
NOTICEBOARD ENTRIES
Hugh Axton, Walmer, Kent.
celebration at the Institute of
Please send me details and membership application form:
Directors in London.
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