Semaphore Circular #667 (March 2017)

The Semaphore Circular No 667

The Beating Heart of the RNA

March 2017

The Naval Service Memorial in all its glory. Can you believe it will be three years old in June? It is still very original and unique and well worth a visit if you have not yet had a chance. The memorial is at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas near Burton Staffs. The NSM has its own exhibit in the visitors’ centre – see if you can find it!

This edition is the on-line version of the Semaphore Circular, unless you have registered with Central Office, it will only be available on the RNA website in the ‘Members Area’ under ‘downloads’ at www.royal-naval-association.co.uk and will be emailed to the branch contact, usually the Hon Sec.

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Project Semaphore Update –IPads Guess Where?

Finance Corner RN VC Series – Lt Cdr Malcolm David Wanklyn VC TV Channel 5 – Assistance Please Perth RNA Conference -Update The Blonde Detective Exam Donations for Central Charities HMS QE Return to Pompey Retirement Clock Joke Type 42 Reunion 003 RNRMC Update Skin Cancer Update Open Invite to Portsmouth RNA President Trump False News Joke Book Reviews Londonderry BoA Commemorations May 17 Frog Joke Mini Cruise

“D’ye hear there” (Branch news) Crossed the Bar – Celebrating a life well lived RNA Benefits Page Shortcast Swinging the Lamp Forms Glossary of terms NCM NC AMC FAC NCh NVCh NP DNP GS DGS AGS CONA

National Council Member National Council Association Management Committee Finance Administration Committee National Chairman National Vice Chairman National President Deputy National President General Secretary Deputy General Secretary Assistant General Secretary Conference of Naval Associations

Throughout

indicates a new or substantially changed entry

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Contacts Financial Controller Fax Deputy General Secretary Assistant General Secretary (Membership & Slops) S&O Administrator General Secretary Admin Project Semaphore Branch Support Officer (North)

023 9272 3823 023 9272 3371 023 9272 0782 023 9272 3747

michelle@royalnavalassoc.com

023 9272 0782 023 9272 2983 023 92 72 3747

chrissie@royalnavalassoc.com paul@royalnavalassoc.com admin@royalnavalassoc.com Sharon@royalnavalassoc.com belfastblues_812@icloud.com

07964 721849

Find Semaphore Circular On-line http://bit.ly/RNADownloads or RNA Website / Members Area / Downloads / Circulars / Code (shipmate)

andy@royalnavalassoc.com nigel@royalnavalassoc.com

Snail Trail Mail - Postal Address RNA Central Office, Room 209, PP70, Semaphore Tower, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth Hants PO1 3LT

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Dear Shipmate, We have only had one bomb scare in the last week, as the dredgers for the HMS Queen Elizabeth move to deepen the central harbour area and the ‘berthing pocket’. Chatting to the Naval Base Commander last week, the preparation in Portsmouth Dockyard are going very well – with new logistics buildings completing each week and the major jetty work almost done.

I hope you are enjoying the new look Semaphore Circular. We have been very lucky to have several days (free) help from the COBSEO Communications expert, Alice Farrow. The Circ is now much easier to use electronically, with hyper-links to make navigation easier – and also with a modern slick look. May I please BEG all branch secretaries to pass the Circular out electronically to all branch and club members – as well as covering the essentials at the Branch meeting. We put a lot of effort into producing an up-to-date and informative publication each month for the whole RNA and it is vital that it gets out.

A big thank you to many branches for getting their year-end returns in to us, don’t forget that at the same time you should complete your on-line form at the Charity Commission, a very easy and quick process for those with income under £5,000 in the year. You will be pleased to hear that I have my nose to the grindstone preparing the RNA’s annual report for the National Council on 11 March. I will be sending you a hard copy when it’s approved with the Conference Agenda, raffle tickets in time for your April meeting.

Project Semaphore, the iPads for naval veterans without regular personal access to the internet is going along at a fast pace. Training in London, Harrogate and Hereford starts this weekend, when volunteers will receive their own iPads and those for their candidates. I would love to see more applications for these iPads – I know from feedback than some branches are not aware of this exciting programme. Can I please ask that all branch secretaries cover in the next meeting – new applications to sharon@royalnavalassoc.com.

Libor Minibuses. We have ordered the 3 buses from a company in Essex and hope to have one or more at Perth for you to see and try out. The company does the adaption for a wheelchair hydraulic ramp. We will need a few RNA members to come on the ‘Build visit’ to see the buses and talk about fitting out. If interested give Nigel a ring.

Some more bits and pieces: • We had an excellent visit to Perth, for a planning meeting for the Conference on 3 June.

Bookings have been coming in at a good pace. We think that some are making their own arrangements for accommodation (which is fine), but are not yet booked for the Gala Dinner on the Saturday night. You will not be able to get a ticket on the night – and in fact you need to book the Gala dinner straight away with CONA travel and by 15 April.

• Don’t forget to get your Conference delegate booked in asap.

• Please pass the word on the Biennial Parade on 10 September to your branch and any local naval associations. This is a day for all Naval Associations and is a great reunion too.

Kindest regards from the Central Office team Paul

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Project Semaphore Newsletter- IPads

This Month’s Update from the Project Manager – Sharon Brown.

This month has been all about spreadsheets and collating the data on all the wonderful Volunteers and our candidates to enable the first wave of organisation and allocation of iPads.

May seem simple but in reality was a very administrative intensive process. Our Northern Project contact Alan was visiting the HQ on 28 Feb and we had to ensure that all the iPads for those attending the training in Harrogate and those for their candidates were ready for him to take back.

A full Jacky Dusty evolution!!.

The paper work and recording will not only let us know which shipmates have the iPads it will also provide an audit trail that we can present to the Aged Veterans Fund to support the proper use of the funding if required.

Our first training events are nearly upon us, London on 4 Mar and Harrogate on 5 Mar, as you read this they may have already happened. This means we are close to getting iPads out to those digitally isolated veterans.

Important matters must be addressed…competition results!! First I would like to say thank you for all your efforts assisting myself with the Project and either volunteering to support candidates or applying for your iPad and taking that first bold step to join the digital era. Looking at the data today I can confirm that the winners of a bottle of rum each are: Area with the most candidates – Area 10 with 22 Candidates Branch with the most candidates – Norwich Branch with 7 Candidates I would also like to mention a few individuals.

• Gary Daisley from Rayleigh Branch who stepped in to assist Norwich candidates.

• Mike Rubery and Michael Cook from Bridlington Branch who have proactively created a plan together to support all the candidates in their areas • John Arnold from Crosby Branch who has volunteered to support, on his own, 7 candidates spread across various locations which is currently the most candidates for a single volunteer.

I am looking forward to receiving news of our candidates online in the very near future!!

Sharon Brown, Project Manager, Project Semaphore.

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2.

Guess Where? An Establishment

This month can you name this establishment No hovering or looking on Google or Wiki!!

The answer will be in next month’s edition.

Last month’s answer: Prince of Wales Building, HMS Tamar Hong Kong otherwise known as ‘the upside down gin bottle’ Vice Admiral David Steel (Great friend of the RNA) was first in with the right answer 3.

FINANCE CORNER

Dear Shipmates Year End Returns 2014 They are still 4 Branches who have not submitted their accounts to Central Office for 2014.

Can I please ask for a copy to be returned to Central Office ASAP. I have informed your Area NCM that you have still not submitted your accounts, so they might offer what assistance is required or you can ring Rita or me.

They are: Area 6 Area 8 Area 11 Area 12 -

RNA High Wycombe, RNA B’ham Cotteridge RNA Redcar RNA Banbridge

Year End Returns 2015 Central Office still has 8 Branches and 1 Area that have not submitted their Year End Returns.

Can I please ask for a copy to be returned to Central Office ASAP. They are: Area 1 – Area 2 – Area 6 –

RNA Greenford, Area 1 accounts RNA Reigate, RNA Sidcup RNA High Wycombe 6

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Area 8 – Area 9 – Area 11 – Area 12 –

RNA B’ham Cotteridge RNA Sheffield RNA Redcar RNA Banbridge

When completing the Year End Returns would you please be so kind and use the new formatted form. These can be found on the RNA Website or if you are not connected to the internet you can either ring myself or Rita on telephone 023 92 723823 Part of Decommissioning a Branch Legal requirement – if your Branch is registered with the Charity Commission you must tell the Charity’s Commission that your Branch ceases to exist and the commission must remove it from the register of Charities. You will need to complete a Closure form which can be found on the Charity’s website. General Secretary always happy to provide advice or guidance.

Donations Top 15 donation figures abstracted from various Branches of the 2015 Year End Returns.

Sea Cadets Welfare - (Donated by Branches to assist their own members) RBL RMRMC RNBT Uknown - (Donations made recipients not noted on YERs Hospitals RM Central Fund Hospices SSAFA Ghurkha Welfare Blind Veterans Mayors Charity RNLI Combat Stress

2015

2014

£40,929 £25,897

£20,198 £12,558

£10,661 £7,465 £6,261 £4,855

£7,489 £3,472 £5,235 £240

£2,965 £2,350 £2,344 £2,130 £1,975 £1,725 £1,623 £1,597 £1,525

£900 £924 £2,004 £2,275 £250 £620 £105 £2,310 £1,271

Charity Donations If any Branches are unsure regarding the requirements of donating funds to a Charity please see below.

The rule is simple and depends entirely what is in the mind of the person donating money at the moment they do. This might be money in a bucket or collecting tin, buying tickets for a branch raffle or having an event to raise money for a specific project.

So, if you hold an event or collection and it is COMPLETELY clear for whom you are collecting during the collection, then the money can be passed to that charity (even if you are in RNA rig).

However, general branch and charity funds, profits from branch events and raffles etc can only be given to charities within our charitable object laid down in the Royal Charter. In brief: 7 http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/

• • • • • •

For serving or ex-serving members of the naval forces in need hardship or distress, and their dependents.

To further the efficiency of the Naval Service, including recruiting.

To provide facilities for bring members of the RNA together To perpetuate the memory of those who have served in the Naval forces.

To help members find employment.

To provide members advice on personal matters etc etc.

Therefore the charities that are fine are those charities that specifically help serving and exNaval Service such as RNBT, RNRMC, Pembroke house etc. Help for Heroes is fine since they look after Marines. Sea Cadets are good to help since that can come under recruiting. Joint service charities that look after all 3 services, but do help the Navy, are fine too, such as the Legion, BLESMA, Blind Veterans SSAFA and the Not Forgotten Association. I know that many branches have favourite charities they love to support that aren’t particularly naval. The point is to ensure that whoever is contributing knows where the money goes - a donor is entitled to assume that the money given to someone in an RNA blazer collecting with an RNA bucket will go for RNA charitable purposes. Here are some of the charities I have seen that may have been supported where a specific collection would be more appropriate – there is absolutely no call here for you to stop supporting them, just to ensure we collect within the Charity Law Rules and our Charter.

Action for Kids

Age concern

Accordion Band

Air ambulances Cystic fibrosis

Boys Brigade Donn’s dream house Stroke Clubs Jubilee Sailing Trust Xx boys football club The Sailors Society (Merchant Navy only)

Abbey restoration Dreams come true

Girl Guides Guards associations Scouts RAFA/RAFBF

Headway Kidney cancer

Alzheimer’s Society Breast cancer Fishermans Mission Hospices Marie Cure

Parkinson UK

Red Cross

Sunley foundation

St John’s ambulance

I well appreciate that some of this may have been to pay for services (such as St John’s), but we have to comply with Charity Law. This is a note for your guidance only. Branch Committees should also be aware that the RNA’s preferred charity is now the Royal Navy and Royal Marines charity, who are in the best position to judge where the need is greatest in the Naval sector.

Membership Secretaries I have noticed that some Branches are still sending funds of £10.00 per member to Central Office.

Please note – At the last Conference in June 2016 held in Reading, the Conference delegates approved a motion to Conference, to increase the annual subscription by £4.00 making the annual subscription £14.00 a year.

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Therefore, from the 1 January 2017 Membership fees are £14.00, Overseas £7.00, Life Membership £140.00 (10 x Membership).

If you would be so kind please make sure your Branch Shipmates pay their subscriptions to your Branch Bank Account and not Central Office Bank Account.

Slops Also, at the last Conference in Reading 2016 a motion was passed that the fee for a Certificate of Appreciation was to be £25.00.

Treasurer’s Guide Any Treasurers that hasn’t received the Treasurer’s Guide please let me know and I will send you a copy.

Standard Cover I will be producing invoices at the end of March for the Standard Cover of £8.00, this will reflect in your Spring Termly Accounts. Kept at the same rate now for 7 years!!!

Phew ! that’s all shipmates for now.

Yours Aye Michelle 4.

RNVC Series - Lt Cdr Malcolm David Wanklyn VC DSO & Two Bars Royal Navy Born in 1911 to an affluent family in Kolkata, British India, Wanklyn was influenced into a military career at a young age. His father was a successful businessman and engineer who served in the British Army in the First World War and his uncle was a destroyer commander who had a successful war fighting German U-Boats in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

He joined the RN at the age of 14 and served in various ships until he joined the Submarine Service in 1933 as a Lieutenant.

After the outbreak of the Second World War, he was given command of HMS H31 which he commanded from February until August 1940.

Wanklyn sailed on patrol in the North Sea, during which he sank one vessel. In August 1940 he was given command of newly commissioned HMS Upholder. In December 1940 the submarine was reassigned to the Mediterranean. Wanklyn began the first of his patrols in January 1941 and remained on operations in the Battle of the Mediterranean for the remainder of his career.

During 15 months of operations, Wanklyn led Upholder on 27 patrols and sank 11 Axis merchant and troopships while damaging four more. During his combat career he fought many actions with Regia Marina (Italian Navy) warships. He sank one destroyer and one minesweeper, and damaged a light cruiser. In a rare achievement, he also sank three Italian submarines. It amounted to 128,353 tons of enemy shipping. For the sinking of the heavily defended enemy transport SS Conte Rosso without working Asdic, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

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CITATION FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE ADMIRALTY Whitehall, 6th December, 1941.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the grant of the VICTORIA CROSS for valour and resolution in command of His Majesty’s Submarine Upholder, to: Lieutenant Commander Malcolm David Wanklyn, D.S.O., Royal Navy.

On the evening of the 24th of May, 1941, while on patrol off the coast of Sicily, Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn, in command of His Majesty’s Submarine Upholder, sighted a south-bound enemy troop-convoy, strongly escorted by Destroyers. The failing light was such that observation by periscope could not be relied on but a surface attack would have been easily seen. Upholder’s listening gear was out of action.

In spite of these severe handicaps Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn decided to press home his attack at short range. He quickly steered his craft into a favourable position and closed in so as to make sure of his target. By this time the whereabouts of the escorting Destroyers could not be made out. Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn, while fully aware of the risk of being rammed by one of the escort, continued to press on towards the enemy troop-ships. As he was about to fire, one of the enemy Destroyers suddenly appeared out of the darkness at high speed, and he only just avoided being rammed. As soon as he was clear, he brought his periscope sights on and fired torpedoes, which sank a large troop-ship. The enemy Destroyers at once made a strong counterattack and during the next twenty minutes dropped thirty-seven depthcharges near Upholder.

The failure of his listening devices made it much harder for him to get away, but with the greatest courage, coolness and skill he brought Upholder clear of the enemy and safe back to harbour.

Before this outstanding attack, and since being appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn had torpedoed a tanker and a merchant vessel.

He has continued to show the utmost bravery in the presence of the enemy. He has carried out his attacks on enemy vessels with skill and relentless determination, and has also sunk one Destroyer, one U-boat, two troop- transports of 19,500 tons each, one tanker and three supply ships. He has besides probably destroyed by torpedoes one Cruiser and one Destroyer, and possibly hit another Cruiser.

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5.

TV Channel 5 - Assistance Please

TV Channel 5, are making an exciting two part documentary about Britain’s most famous ships.

The MV Queen Mary will be the focus of one of our episodes. They are looking for individuals who can share their memories and experiences of the Queen Mary.

A key chapter of the Queen Mary’s history is its role during the Second World War as a troop transport ship.

They are looking to talk to anyone that has memories of their journeys on board the Queen Mary. In particular, they want to talk to individuals who can recall the tragic sinking of the HMS Curacoa on the 2nd October 1942; Churchill’s transatlantic journeys; or the presence of German Prisoners of War on board.

For more information please contact Josh Sykes on 07882 436225 or e-mail Josh.Sykes@channel5.com or by post to Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd, 17-19 Hawley Crescent, Camden Town London NW1 8TT Perth RNA Conference 3rd/4th June 2017– Update

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Shipmates would like to be aware of some important points about Conference; •

Bookings are still being accepted for accommodation in the two ‘Conference’ hotels; The Station Hotel, where the Conference/Gala Dinner is being held and the Queen’s Hotel, directly opposite the Station Hotel (90 second walk). However, Shipmates are advised that accommodation booked in these hotels through CONA Travel Service is close to being sold out.

There a number of other accommodation options which can be independently booked for the weekend.

•

Shipmates wishing to attend the Gala Dinner Buffet, on Saturday 4th June, that have not already booked through the CONA Holiday Service in the two ‘Conference’ hotels, must apply for a ticket (£27 per person subject to availability) to: conatravelservices@theukholidaygro up.com or call 01603 886742 ` • It is essential that any Shipmates who have made independent accommodation arrangements and wish to attend the Conference, or official evening functions, at the Station Hotel must contact the CONA Holiday Service to register as limitations apply.

The Scottish Area Committee 11

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thought you would like to know a bit more about Perth and its surroundings, just in case you need convincing to come to Perth for the RNA Annual National Conference 2017 …..

Perth is a small city located on the banks of the River Tay in the heartland of Scotland.

Perthshire is surrounded by beautiful scenery at the gateway to the Highlands of Scotland.

Scone Palace (pronounced Scoon), the original home of Scotland's Stone of Destiny, is close to the city of Perth, and it was here that 42 Scottish Kings were crowned. Scone Palace is open to the public and is well worth visiting.

John Knox preached in St. John's Kirk (where we will be holding the Church Service on Sunday 4th June 2017) in 1559, calling for 'the purging of the Churches from idolatry', a sermon which led to the destruction of the four monasteries in Perth. All the old monastic buildings have long gone, however you can still visit St. John's Kirk, see and the house of the Fair Maid of Perth on North Port.

Balhousie Castle, just north of the town centre has been restored in the Scots Baronial style and is now home to the Black Watch Museum, which is open to the public and worth a visit.

The Art Gallery and Museum in Charlotte Street, is one of the best for a town of this size. As well as featuring the history of Perth, you will find collections of pictures and sculpture (modern as well as historic), furniture, china, silver and costume.

The Round House, a restored water works, is now the home of the Fergusson Gallery, which contains a collection of the paintings, drawings and sculpture of JD Fergusson, the artist at the forefront of the Scottish 'Colourist' movement.

The restored Victorian Lower City Mills, has a massive working water-wheel and working miller continuing to mill the product for which Scotland is famous – Oatmeal. There are demonstrations and multi-language interpretative storyboards, bringing history to life.

The pictures above show the Scottish Area Committee hard at work planning the finer details of Conference along with the members of Central Office staff; at the entrance to the Station Hotel, outside Perth Station, with the welcome to Perth sign and in the planning meeting.

Finally for those Shipmates, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, partners and guest who will not be attending the Conference on Saturday ………..l We’re planning a trip to Balhousie Castle for a tour of the Black Watch Museum (the entrance fee has been waived for this) and a spot of lunch/afternoon tea (cost approx.: £10 – TBC dependent on numbers) for Saturday 3rd June 2017. Visitors will be taken to/from hotels and Balhousie Castle by minibus.

This trip needs to be pre-booked. Please return the attached booking form, there is a blank form at the rear of this edition, if you would like to book any place(s) for this trip. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/

BALHOUSIE CASTLE / BLACK WATCH MUSEUM TRIP BOOKING FORM NAME: RNA BRANCH: NUMBER OF PLACES:

Please return completed from, by no later than 15th May 2017, to: S/M Ally Stirton. A: 63 Brahan Terrace, Perth, PH1 2LN. E: allystirton@hotmail.co.uk 7.

Blonde Joke (We haven’t had one for some months‌.)

The Blond Detective Exam A policeman was interrogating 3 blondes who were training to become detectives.

To test their skills in recognizing a suspect, he shows the first blonde a picture for 5 seconds and then hides it. "This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?" The first blonde answers, "That's easy, we'll catch him fast because he only has one eye!" The policeman says, "Well...uh...that's because the picture shows his PROFILE." Slightly flustered by this ridiculous response, he flashes the picture for 5 seconds at the second blonde and asks her, "This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?"

The second blonde giggles, flips her hair and says, "Ha! He'd be too easy to catch because he only has one ear!"

The policeman angrily responds, "What's the matter with you two?? Of course only one eye and one ear are SHOWING because it's a picture of his profile!! Is that the best answer you can come up with?"

Extremely frustrated at this point, he shows the picture to the third blonde and in a very testy voice asks, "This is your suspect, how would you recognize him?" He quickly adds "...think hard before giving me a stupid answer." The blonde looks at the picture intently for a moment and says, "Hmmmm...the suspect wears contact lenses."

The policeman is surprised and speechless because he really doesn't know himself if the suspect wears contacts or not. "Well, that's an interesting answer...wait here for a few minutes while I check his file and I'll get back to you on that."

He leaves the room and goes to his office, checks the suspect's file in his computer, and comes back with a beaming smile on his face. "Wow! I can't believe it...it's TRUE! The suspect does in fact wear contact lenses. Good work! How were you able to make such an astute observation?"

WAIT FOR IT ...................

"That's easy," the blonde replied. "He can't wear regular glasses because he only has one eye and one ear!"

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8.

Donations received for the Central Charities

Central Charities RNA – Waterlooville RNA – Builth Wells W Rollings W Entwistle W Roper P Florey D Brown A Macleod- Carey B Harrison Hospital & Medical Care Foy Robert Frank Boraman Kathleen Marie “Kit” Clark M Techrick Muchloved Charity JE Pickles AL Palmer Gurney DG Banham P Martin EJ Horlick

£150.00 £ 50.00 £ 36.00 £ 11.00 £ 11.00 £100.00 £ 11.00 £ 17.00 £ 10.00 £ 68.24 £ 20.00 £ 40.00 £ 20.00 £178.34 £ 31.00 £ 11.00 £ 21.00 £ 11.00 £ 16.00 £ 11.00

In memory of the late C Seaton Norman John Burns William Robb Tosh Jack Andow Leonard Alden Ian Williams Francis Albert Ward Brian Charleston-Stokes

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£ 40.00 £121.67 £ 25.00 £ 35.00 £150.00 £213.50 £328.67 £117.50

HMS Queen Elizabeth Portsmouth arrival - Update A number of Shipmates and branches have contacted Central Office to enquire if there is any information concerning the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth to her home port of Portsmouth.

Unfortunately the problem that we have, is that even the Naval Base Commander can't tell you the date, and may not be able to do so until the last moment. This is because the actual build of the carrier has slipped 8 to 12 weeks and when the ship eventually conducts sea trials, which may go well or not it may slip again. Finally there is an issue in that first entry into Portsmouth Harbour is limited as the ship can only enter when the wind is 15 knots or less and 1 hour either side of high tide.

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Central Office have a good source of intelligence and will let you know as soon as we do. In the meantime the current best guess by the Captain of the Base is either late July or early September.

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Retirement Clock Joke

This is the clock we use in retirement. It needs no batteries or electricity, it is never fast or slow, and it never stops.

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Type 42 Association Reunion 003

The Type 42 Association Reunion 003 will be held at HMS Excellent on 22 Jul 2017.

Open to all who have served on a Type 42 Destroyer, Discounted tickets for all fully paid up association members, new members can sign up to the association via the website.

BGM Start 1230 hrs Finish 1345 hrs Reunion Start 1400 hrs, Finish 2100 hrs HMS Excellent, Sports Field Tickets: Members £10 + 1 Guest £10 & Non Members £30 For Info email: chairman@type42association.co.uk For tickets email: deanpullom@yahoo.co.uk Web site: www.type42association.co.uk click on forum or visit our Facebook page Type 42 Association

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12.

Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC)

An intimate dinner attended by HRH The Princess Royal has officially marked the launch of a year-long 10th birthday celebration for the Royal Navy’s national charity, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).

The dinner, held on HMS Victory in Portsmouth on Wednesday (25 January), was hosted by the Second Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE, who spoke of the special relationship between the Royal Navy and its charity.

Guests at the event, which included Trustees, Vice-Patrons and friends of the RNRMC, such as Mr Nigel Atkinson, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire; Mr Lance Batchelor, Vice-Patron, RNRMC; Sir Michael Hintze AM, Vice-Patron, RNRMC, gathered in Nelson’s Cabin to hear about the charity’s legacy of work – and the imperative to support the Naval Service into the next decade.

Bill Thomas, RNRMC Chairman, said: “The Royal Navy has been central to Britain’s past and is critical to our future. In war and in peace, the remarkable men and women of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines work tirelessly to protect us and the freedom we enjoy.

“We know that longer nine month deployments place additional strain on family life. Social isolation and the need for residential care in old age affect almost 50 per cent of veterans, compared to 28 per cent a decade ago; a growing number of all ages are being assessed for mental health problems.

“We enter our tenth year with a greater understanding of the need and with renewed determination to raise the funds - £10 million over the next three years - to ensure that every member of our extended family knows that we value their service and that we are there for them to provide practical support.”

The event was especially poignant for the Charity as HRH The Princess Royal confirmed the renewal of her Patronage of the charity for another three years.

The birthday launch marks a year-long calendar of events and fundraising campaigns planned by The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, which can be found on the charity’s website (rnrmc.org.uk) and social media channels.

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity was officially registered with Companies House as an incorporated company limited by guarantee on 10 January 2007 and on 2 February 2007 as an Incorporated Charity with the Charity Commission.

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In partnership with the Charity Commission, the RNRMC was able to identify over 60 existing Royal Navy and Royal Marines funds for merger. While some of these funds were small, such as prize funds, others were extremely large, due to a long history of saturation and investment.

Since its formation the charity has distributed over £45 million in grants to those in uniform, to their families waiting at home for their safe return and to service veterans. The charity estimates it has approximately 700,000 members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines family in its beneficiary pool.

Some of the charity’s recent grantmaking projects include funding a family accommodation block of flats at HMNB Portsmouth for families to enable time together; nationwide funding for relationship counselling for families through Relate Counselling; subsidising Kings Camp activity holidays for children at naval bases; and support for veterans and families transitioning from Service to civilian life.

13.

Skin Cancer Update

The Loch Class Frigates Association ( a good CONA friend) very kindly forwarded the following information highlighting relating to skin cancer.

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer you may well qualify for a lump sum or regular pension, if it is believed that the tumour has developed as a result of sun exposure during your period of service.

If you have developed a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) or Melanoma you can apply to the War pensions Agency (particularly if your services was in sunny climates) Veterans UK have a helpful team who are able to support you to complete the necessary application. You can contact them at; https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk or by phone 0808 1914218. Please see below a letter forwarded to the Loch Class Frigates Association highlighting this issue “Dear Andrew I was in the Med from 1952-55. It was sunny in summer!

In later years (60+) I have developed skin patches that have been treated with SOLARAZE or freezing. However, about 10-15 years ago I had to have one surgically removed and last year another on my forehead. When I saw a dermatologist last November he said ” Ex Navy? Served in warm climate? You should be claiming for this?” He promptly downloaded and printed off the enclosed which I forward. I knew nothing of that scheme but am in the process of claiming as the last bit excised was BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma). It has healed very well but I still get scalp issues treated with a prescribed shampoo and cream.

You might think others in the Association also have grounds for claiming. Best wishes and may 2017 be healthy and happy. Sincerely Peter Malindine

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14.

Open invite to RNA Shipmates visiting Portsmouth

Shipmates, whether serving or not, and all Ex–Service Associations are cordially invited to the RNA Portsmouth Club Room for a Tot of Rum, Lunch and a Dinner Time Session [DTS] (lunchtime social) on the Sunday of your reunion weekend.

If you wish to take this offer up please contact the RNA Portsmouth Branch Secretary, as soon as possible. We will need the approximate numbers attending 10 days in advance of arrival.

Our Clubroom is situated upstairs in the Royal Naval Comrades Club, 86 Lake Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 4HF. In addition, we have an Open House in our Club Room every Friday night from 1900. Just drop in if you are in the area, we would love to see you with or without your wife partner/oppos.

Our Club Room is also available for bookings for Birthday Parties, Wedding Anniversaries and Wakes. If you wish to hold your actual Reunion here and the numbers are too many for our upstairs room, with enough notice it is possible to book out the RNC Club Main Bar and Entertainment room downstairs. Please phone or email me for further details.

John “Whiskey” Walker MBE Branch Secretary RNA Portsmouth Branch Royal Naval Comrades Club 86 Lake Road Portsmouth PO1 4HF Tel: 023 9273 3114 Email: secpompeyrna@gmail.com

15.

President Trump False News Joke

President Trump invited the Pope for lunch on his mega yacht, the Pope accepted and during lunch, a puff of wind blew the Pontiff's hat off and right into the water. It blew off about 50 feet, then the wind died down and it just floated on top of the water.

The crew and the secret service were scrambling to launch a boat to retrieve it, when Trump waved them off, saying "Never mind, boys, I'll get it."

The Donald climbed over the side of the yacht, walked on the water to the hat, picked it up, walked back on the water, climbed back into the yacht, and handed the Pope his hat.

The crew was speechless, the security team, and the Pope's entourage were speechless. No one knew what to say, not even the Pope.

That afternoon, NBC, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, CNN all covered the story. Their banner headlines read, "TRUMP CAN'T SWIM"!

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16.

BOOK REVIEWS

The books mentioned below are available from ‘NavyBooks’. Run by naval people for naval people. 100s of titles – 1000s of books www.navybooks.com.

Using Code ‘RNA 101’ at the Checkout Cart RNA members can obtain a 5% on-line discount on all books. (except Magazines, Bargain & Bin End categories) BRITISH WARSHIPS & AUXILIARIES 2017

£9.99

The fully revised, updated and respected guide to the ships, aircraft and weapons of the fleet.

Over 80 colour photos. Complete with pennant numbers and silhouettes. Includes Royal Marine Craft and Border Agency vessels.

The book starts with a “no-holds barred” review of the state of the Royal Navy followed by sections detailing the fleets of the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the support vessels operated under contract by Serco. Also included are the vessels of the Royal Marines, Army and the Border Force. Each class entry includes a full colour photograph together with a class listing, pennant numbers, technical specifications and brief notes. Similar sections cover the aircraft and weapons operated by the Royal Navy.

The book concludes with a listing of those ships preserved within the UK and operating in a secondary role after decommissioning and a summary of those vessels which have been scrapped since the previous edition.

A SUBMARINER’S TALE

£10.99

A true voice of 'submarining' in the 70s and 80s. Ex POTI Chas Cooke tells the story of his life in the Royal Navy but concentrates his tale on life in submarines (boats). He writes with verve and relish, including details of ‘how it was’ that some might perhaps leave unsaid when describing their underwater experiences. The fun side, the dark side and the operational side are all here – but it is the fun side that predominates. The author obviously enjoyed, almost, every moment of his submarine career and is rightly proud to have served as a Royal Navy submariner.

If you were there – this will remind you, if you have only ever wondered about life in a cramped black tube underwater this will give you the facts – and the laughs.

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EXETER - A CRUISER OF THE MEDIUM SIZE:

£20.00

The title of this book are words Reginald Cogswell used to describe HMS EXETER. In June 1926, a grammar school boy from Westbury Wiltshire, he joined the Royal Navy as an Electrical Artificer 4th Class. More than 40 years later, having retired as a Lieutenant Commander MBE, he wrote of his experiences.

The book covers just a small portion of Lt Cdr Gogswell’s naval career, from August ‘36 to February ‘40 when he served as the Warrant Officer (E) aboard HMS EXETER. Those 43 months encompassed peace and war, aid to civil power during riots in Trinidad, helping earthquake victims at Talcahuano Chile, family separation and re-unions, calm seas and the brutal reality of battle. In setting down his memories of peace time ship visits to the ports of South America, the transition to war and the bloody truth of battle at sea and its aftermath Reginald Cogswell opens a window into the Royal Navy of the period and the impact of WWII. This is not a history of naval strategy and tactics or the manoeuvres of battle at sea, but a most beautifully expressed story of one man’s personal experience of peace and war. “fascinating reading and good to see a style of writing like that -- made me feel as if I was there” David Verghese, Naval Historian & Author Release Date: 31 March 2017 BARROW BUILT SUBMARINES:

£25.00

This book forms a part of the NavyBooks series on warships built at the many shipyards around UK. However, it is also slightly different, while the expected technical details and specifications are included, as well as much interesting history of the employment and operations of the submarines pictured, and the men that served in them, every image is a painting and not a photograph. The book starts in 1900 when ‘Vickers Sons and Maxim Ltd’ of Barrow-In-Furness took the order to build the first submarine, a Holland Class, for the Royal Navy. It concludes with a painting of HMS ASTUTE leaving Barrow for sea trials in 2010. The book includes an index of every ‘Barrow Built Boat’ from 1901 to 2016. The book is not only a fine work of art, fit to grace any bookshelf or coffee table but it is also a very useful reference for anyone interested in the history of submarines and, indeed, the history of the Barrow in Furness shipyard.

“This book is a tribute to the work of Barrow shipyard and an easily read capsule of the Submarine Service over the years. I commend it to you”. Rear Admiral Niall Kilgour CB, former Flag Officer Submarines. Release Date: 31 March 2017

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17.

Londonderry Battle of the Atlantic Commemorations 6/7th May 2017

To all Shipmates, The Battle of The Atlantic Commemorations will be held over the weekend 6th and 7th May 2017 in Londonderry.

The Programme is as follows:Saturday 6th May -

1900 for 1930 Dinner in the City Hotel.

Sunday 7th May1015. Parade musters at The RBL Club Waterside.

1030. Parade marches off.

1040. Parade arrives at All Saints Church.

1100. Church Service Commences 1210. Parade marches past en route to The RBL Club where light refreshments will be served.

Should any Shipmate wish to attend the Dinner the cost will be ÂŁ30.00 per head; the cut-off date is 14 April 2016. Please forward a cheque to cover the cost of relevant number of shipmates attending. The Dress for all Functions will be RNA Rig. Should any changes to the above programme arise Branches will be informed soonest. For further details please contact Frank Brown Hon Sec Londonderry RNA. frankjf22brown@gmail.com

18.

Frog Joke (Sorry !!)

A frog goes into a bank and approaches the teller. He can see from her nameplate that her name is Patricia Whack.

'Miss Whack, I'd like to get a $30,000 loan to take a holiday.' Patty looks at the frog in disbelief and asks his name. The frog says his name is Kermit Jagger, his dad is Mick Jagger, and that it's okay, he knows the bank manager.

Patty explains that he will need to secure the loan with some collateral.

The frog says, 'Sure. I have this,' and produces a tiny porcelain elephant, about an inch tall , bright pink and perfect.

Very confused, Patty explains that she'll have to consult with the bank manager and disappears into a back office. She finds the manager and says, 'There's a frog called Kermit Jagger out there who claims to know you and wants to borrow $30,000, and he wants to use this as collateral.'

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She holds up the tiny pink elephant. 'I mean, what in the world is this?'

(Shipmates you will love this !!!)

The bank manager looks back at her and says...

'It's a knickknack, Patty Whack. Give the frog a loan, His old man's a Rolling Stone.'

(You're singing it, aren't you? Yeah, I know you are...)

19.

Update of RNA & Naval Associations Deployment to Ireland on the MV Marco Polo (Renamed HMS Marco Polo) - ‘Mini Cruise’ 29 Sep -02 October 2017 STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS Just a quick update on the Naval Associations Irish Sea Deployment on HMS Marco Polo ‘Mini- Cruise’. The ship is under sailing orders from Liverpool at 1900 on Friday 29th September 2017, full details are available below.

The cruise is currently exclusively booked for RNA and CONA shipmates which can only continue for a limited period Shipmates who would like to attend are required to place a deposit of £100. However, to encourage more Shipmates to book early and ensure the exclusivity the RNA have successfully negotiated with CONA Holiday Service to reduce the deposit so it can be paid in two sums of £50, one now and the other by 31st January.

Come along and get the feel of the sea under your feet and have a ‘stonkingly’ great time. The drinks package alone is worth it! Look; Why not add a ‘Drinks Inclusive Package’ at a supplement of £15 per person per night*. This includes: House wine, draught beer and soft drinks by the glass during meal hours in the restaurants: Draught beer, house wines, cocktails and other alcoholic drinks by the glass from all bars during opening hours (excluding premium brands): Soft drinks and juices by the glass from all bars during opening hours. * The drinks package is only available if all occupants of the cabin book it in advance for the 3 night duration. (Exclusions apply).

So Shipmates what are you waiting for please book up as early as you possibly can so that the cruise remains as a ‘naval deployment’. Full details of the cruise and the booking form can be found at the rear of this Semaphore Circular.

So why not come along and swing that lantern...........

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RNA Longcast

2017 11 March 4 April 07 Apr 07 Apr 06 May 12 May 02-04 Jun 02 Jun 03 Jun 04 Jun 17 Jun 24 Jun 30 Jun 01 Jul 27 Jul 05 Aug 11 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 01 Sep (ish) 06 Oct 09 Sep 10 Sep 29 Sep - 02 Oct 30 Sept 20 Oct 21 Oct 04 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 25 Nov 09 Dec

National Council Meeting Flick Drummond MP visits Central Office Open Day Deadline for SOC nominations Area 5 Quarterly Meeting - Beccles Open Day RNA Conference – Perth AMC /FAC / National Council Meeting/SOC SOC (Wash up) Parade and Church Service 6 Area Meeting – 1300 Chesham and Amersham National Armed Forces Day - Liverpool Open Day RNA Dublin Summer BBQ Mid-year Budget Review Area 5 Quarterly Meeting - Stowmarket Open Day FAC AMC Possible arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth (V flexible date) Open Day National Council Meeting Biennial Parade CONA Cruise ( Liverpool –Dublin- Bristol) Chichester Branch 70th anniversary event RNA Dublin- Trafalgar Night Dinner RNA Chard -30 year Commissioning Anniversary and Trafalgar Night Dinner Area 5 Quarterly - Harwich FAC AMC 6 Area Meeting – 1300 Royston RNA (Eternit Sports & Social Club) National Council Meeting

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D’ye hear there’.....

News from around the Areas and Branches • • • • • • • • • • •

RNA Plymouth Branch RNA Chard Branch RNA Glasgow Branch RNA Bude Branch RNA St Helens Branch RNA Huntingdon and District Branch RNA Rayleigh Branch RNA Cardiff Branch RNA Chichester Branch RNA Paddock Wood RNA Londonderry Branch

RNA Plymouth Branch Plymouth Branch will be holding its 11th Biennial Trafalgar weekend in the Livermead House Hotel, Torquay over the weekend; Friday October 13th – Monday October 16th 2017 2 Nights. Dinner/Bed/Breakfast £124 3 Nights Dinner/Bed/Breakfast £180 Saturday Night Formal followed on Sunday by a Church Service Sunday morning.

For further details please contact : Sue Gutteridge Social Secretary.

E. suzanne5571@virginmedia.com T. (01752) 849176 RNA Chard Branch Chart Branch are holding their 30th Anniversary and Trafalgar Night Dinner on Saturday 21 October 2017. Area 4 members are cordially invited to join Chard Branch at the Shrubbery Hotel Ilminister TA19 9AR 1900 kick off.

The Guest of Honour is Shipmate David White MBE MSM, President of 4 Area. The cost is £25 per person (including Tot Time) with entertained provided by Jaycee’s ‘Golden Oldies’ Disco.

Overnight accommodation at the Shrubbery Hotel is £80 per double ensuite room including breakfast.

Places are limited to 150 on a first come first served basis the booking form can be found at the rear of the this edition.

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RNA Glasgow Branch

On 28 January the City of Glasgow's RNA standard was on display in Elder Park, Govan for the Centenary Commemoration of the tragic loss of life on board the submarine K13 which sank on 29th January 1917.

Admiral of the Fleet the Lord Boyce KG GCB OBE DL laid a wreath at the memorial. The service was conducted by The Reverend Paul Jupp, Honorary Chaplain to the Submariners Association. There was a good attendance at the ceremony despite the weather.

RNA Bude Branch This Branch deeply regrets to report the loss of Shipmate Dick Thomas, who crossed the bar on 18 January 2017. Dick joined the Royal Navy in February 1947 as a Seaman and served in Raleigh, Nelson (Ship), Haslar, Victorious, Excellent, Vanguard, RNB Portsmouth (L/Sea Crse), Far East, Consort - Unicorn (SATCHIMO), Belfast (PO's Crse), Eurania as Petty Officer, Dryad (S.D. Crse) and promoted S/Lt., Scott, Mediator, Raleigh D.O's, released April 1968 as Lt.(SD).

He subsequently served at Cleeve Camp for 20yrs.

A true gentleman who was a highly respected member of Bude Branch.

Safe Passage Dick!

RNA Uxbridge Branch Please see below a dispatch from deepest West London the principality of Uxbridge courtesy of the Chairman Slinger Wood.

Hi Shipmates , On Friday the 3rd of February Boris Johnson MP foreign secretary and MP for Uxbridge paid a visit to RNA Uxbridge to present a medical Defibrillator to the Uxbridge Branch/club in case any old salt decides to fall off the end of the bar !!!!

He spent an hour meeting its members and being shown around the club by our secretary S/M Terry Briggs as our Chairman S/M Slinger Wood was busy running the bar !!!! ( It is not true he was the one about to fall off the end of the bar!) he then presented the Defibrillator to our President S/M Donald Trump Thorpe .

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Our sincere thanks must go out to one of our members a Local Councillor Wayne Bridge for securing the funding from the local Councillors pot to be able to purchase this fine piece of equipment.

Mind you I'm not sure if I want a drunken Jack trying to jump start myself if my batteries went flat .

RNA St Helens Branch Thanks go to Shipmate Trevor Howard of St Helens Branch for forwarding this very interesting article below which I am sure Shipmates will enjoy.

I was recently contacted by the Friends of St Helens Cemetery saying that on the 6th February a Service would be held at the graveside for a Royal Yugoslav Petty Officer who had died in Rainhill Hospital St Helens in 1946 and would I attend.

On the 6th February a number of the St Helens Branch along with the Branch Standard and the Branch Bugler attended the Military section of the St Helens cemetery where a short service was conducted by a Greek Orthodox Priest at the Graveside of Petty Officer Alexander Nincic. Also in attendance was his great niece Ivana and her cousin Dubravka. After the short service I related the Royal British Legion response after which the last post and reveille was sounded by the Branch Bugler S/m Gillon after which a wreath was laid on behave of the St Helens Branch by the Branch Chairman S/m Sub Lieutenant Tony Bull.

The relatives of Petty Officer Nincic were extremely pleased at the turn out by the RNA and what they did in respect of the service, and I have been informed by the friends of St Helens Cemetery that they have asked that they be allowed to take the RNA wreath back to Serbia, where they now live to show to Petty Officer Sister who at 94 is still alive. They have been searching for 70 years to trace his where about and had made repeated requests to both the Yugoslav and British Governments for any information that they might have and felt that both Governments had let them down, they put that down to the fact that after the war the new communist Yugoslav Government and the British Government who they say supported the Tito Government just didn't to want to know. I hope that our part in helping out with the memorial service has gone some way to alleviate those thoughts and to show that the Royal Navy doesn't forget those who fought alongside us in the war.

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I thought Shipmates might like to read a brief history of Petty Officer Nincic, Petty Officer Nincic joined the Royal Yugoslav Navy Officers school in 1939 but his training was interrupted when the Italians and Germans invaded Yugoslavia, it would appear that what from what his relatives have said the Yugoslav armed forced became a bit fractionalised, some staying loyal to the King but many others turning against the then Government. Most of the Royal Yugoslav Navy was taken over by the Germans and Italians but a small number which included two MTB'S, one destroyer and one submarine were taken by those loyal to the king and fled to join the British Mediterranean Fleet in Alexandria.

Petty Officer Nincic who was only 17years old and still a cadet heard about the ships going and went and joined them and was put to serve aboard the MTB Durmitor.

After arriving in Alexandria the Durmitor was involved in escorting convoys along the African coast in support of the British forces, it was on one of those escort patrols in 1943 that Petty officer Nincic was unfortunately wounded in the chest by shrapnel . He then put into a hospital in Egypt before being transferred to the Royal Naval Hospital in Malta where he remained until the end of the war. Upon the war ending and the fact that he was unable to be repatriated back to Yugoslavia due to the fact that he had fought under the flag of the now exiled King he was shipped to a hospital in the UK, first to Cardiff and then to a hospital at Rainhill St Helens where he died in July 1946 as the result of his wounds which had also brought on TB. His family were never told that he had died and have spent the last 70 years trying to find out what had happened to him other than he had been in a hospital in Rainhill. They put an item on the internet and it was seen by a Rainhill historian who traced his grave. Petty Officer Nincic was 22 years old when he died. Although Petty Officer wrote to his mother, his father who was put into forced labour by the Germans was later killed in a air raid, he never told his mother how serious his injuries were and they weer never informed when he died although the British Admiralty were informed along with the Yugoslav Embassy.

RNA Huntingdon and District Branch

Thanks to Shipmate Karl Webb for keeping us updated on naval activities in Huntingdon & District.

Over the weekend of 4-5 February 2017, shipmates from Huntingdon & District Branch manned the first charity stall of the year. On Saturday 4th, shipmates Karl Webb and Pete Aston set up a stall in the foyer of Tesco Superstore at Bar Hill, Cambridge. With RNA House flag, RN and RM ensigns proudly on display, shipmates Karl and Pete enjoyed the day chatting with locals and visitors to the stall.

A few enquiries were made about joining the RNA, only time will tell if we get any new members. The day was made even better with a visit from Ryan Feeney (who works with shipmate Clare Aston), seeing that Karl and Pete had been on their feet all day, brought a bottle 27 http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/

of beer for each to drink later that night. On the Sunday, it was shipmates Bill Small and Graham Murray's turn to man the stall at Tesco Bar Hill, another successful day, and after taking the idea from the Saturday, a welcome visit by shipmate Karl Webb (in his new role as Branch President) who also dropped off a bottle of beer for the workers to celebrate with later.

The following weekend brought another recruitment opportunity.

S/Ms Karl Webb and Andrew Bish were invited as guests at Huntingdon Community Radio in order to give a talk on the RNA at national, Area, and Branch level. Karl discussed the overall aims of the Association, and of the charity and community events that the Branch get involved in, whilst Andrew gave his personal take on his time as a Royal Marine and with being part of the RNA family in Huntingdon. In a twist of fate, the radio presenter for the evening was the former Mayor of Huntingdon, Councillor Bill Hensley, who by coincidence appears in the new RNA Membership form (photographed with S/M Andrew Duthie at the Huntingdon Branch annual BBQ) – Bill was really impressed, and has kept a few copies for himself.

Photographs show shipmates at the charity stall in Tesco Superstore and during the radio interview with Huntingdon Community Radio.

RNA Rayleigh Branch A Rayleigh Branch Shipmate who served in the Second World War has been awarded the highest honour from the French government.

Alan Iles, who is now 92, has been appointed to the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre national de la Legion d’honneur by the President of the Republic in recognition of his military engagement and steadfast involvement in the liberation of France during the Second World War. The award was presented to Mr Iles, who lives in Rayleigh, by MP Mark Francois at a special ceremony hosted by the Royal Naval Association.

Shipmate Mark said “Alan Iles served his country during the Second World War including at D-Day where he was on a minesweeper and helped sweep the approaches to the invasion beaches. In view of his role in the liberation of Europe, the French Government have awarded him the Legion d’Honneur and I was privileged to present the medal to Alan on their behalf.”

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The presentation took place in front of his family and friends and fellow shipmates from the Rayleigh Branch of the Royal Naval Association. “We owe a great debt to this Naval veteran who fought so we can live in a free country.” Said Mark.

Alan Iles joined the Royal Navy in January 1943 at the age of 18. He was originally sent to America to help bring a US ship back to Europe but while there, he was seconded to take a frigate from Montreal to Halifax. When he got there, he was seconded for a second time to join the minesweeper HMS Clinton and escort a convey back to Europe. Alan stayed with the Clinton for the rest of the war, going out the night before D Day to lay marker buoys for the flotilla. The next day as they returned they were cheered by the Invasion force on its way to Europe.

After the presentation, Alan and his family headed to the British Legion in Rayleigh for a celebration. His daughterin-law, Maryse Iles, said: “The family is extremely pleased that Alan and the other servicemen who helped liberate France have finally been honoured for their service. As a family we have always been so proud of Alan. It has been interesting for us to find out more since we learned he was being awarded this medal."

Alan would like to thank his friends from the Rayleigh Branch of the Royal Naval Association of which he is a founding member, for making this day so memorable. Alan would like to say a big thank you to Mark Francois MP for the presentation and his kind words in light of the poignant reminder that Mark’s own father served on a minesweeper during the liberation as well.

More Raleigh News..........

This year’s Rayleigh Shipmate of the year winner is S/M Iain Hendry. Iain was presented with his medal and Branch trophy by Chairman Jim Hammond at this year’s Branch AGM on 1 February 2017. Iain was nominated for the award for to his outstanding contribution to the Branch with the ongoing maintenance of the Naval Memorial in Rettendon and his organisation of last year’s 30th Anniversary Mess Dinner. Congratulations Iain!

A certificate presented and signed by Dave Ambrose (Area-5 National Council Member) on behalf of the RNA National Council and received by Jim Hammond (Branch Chairman) on behalf of Rayleigh Branch at this year’s Branch AGM on 1 February 2017.

The certificate now hangs on the wall in the Branch meeting location at the Royal British Legion in Rayleigh.

Well done Jim!

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Congratulations to Shipmate Pete Chivers of Stowmarket RNA Branch. Pete received the John Newsome Trophy at the Area-5 AGM on 4 February 2017 from Area-5 Chairman Tim Jarvis, with Norman Paulding (outgoing Area-5 Welfare Advisor), Paulette Rose (Area-5 Hon. Secretary) and Dave Ambrose (National Council Member for Area-5) in the background. As PRO for the newly formed Stowmarket Branch, Pete’s award winning citation wasn’t read out, but as the only nomination at this year’s Area-5 AGM, must really have been something special! Well done Pete!

Volunteers Required....

The photo of the Area-5 top table was taken at the their AGM on 4 February 2017. From left to right Norman Paulding (outgoing Area5 Welfare Advisor), Paulette Rose (Hon. Secretary) Tim Jarvis (Chairman) and Dave Ambrose (National Council Member). Vacant positions at the head of Area-5 now include Hon. Treasurer, Welfare Advisor, Public Relations Officer and Committee Member.

Fancy being part of something special?

Contact S/M Jim Hammond for details.

In case you’re thinking of leaving these jobs to someone else, Jim Hammond’s RNA responsibilities currently include Branch Chairman, Area Committee Member and Deputy National Council Member, making him one of the busiest shipmates around. It’s time to step up and take some of the responsibilities. Volunteers please step forward and make yourselves known!

RNA Cardiff Branch The third successive and successful Area 7 AGM and Dinner was hosted by the Cardiff Branch at the Holiday Inn Cardiff on Saturday 18t February.

At the dinner Shipmate Mel Howden, who joined the RNA in 1988, who is the Vice President of the Branch, was presented with life membership by the President Cdr Peter Machin and the Branch chairman Andy Clark.

The ‘unashamedly’ Shep Woolley bashed out a tune or two and a splendid evening was had by all!

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RNA Chichester Branch Chichester Branch is organising a celebration of the 70th Anniversary of our foundation in 1947.

Which will take place on the evening of September 30th 2017. The venue will be the Assembly Room, Chichester Council House, North Street, Chichester.

It's going to be a major celebration for us. Our 60 odd members are determined that it will be a notable affair, especially as this is clearly the year of the Royal Navy. The Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex will be attending, as will be Captain Readwin RN Mine Warfare and Patrols etc. and the Mayor of Chichester. The Chichester Harbour and Selsey Sea Cadets will be making a significant contribution, and music will be provided by the Chichester City Band. The Royal Navy Presentation Team will also be our guests for the evening as will representatives of HMS Hurworth, our affiliate ship. Please see below a provisional outline of the proposed programme; 1845-1900 Arrival and glass of wine.

Sea Cadets to man Council House stairs 1900

Drum Role and standards paraded.

Sea Cadets to line route from Assembly Room doors to stage

1905

Welcome and introduction by President.

1915

Sea Cadets perform hornpipe, music by City Band. Drinks circulate

1935

RN Presentation Team introduced by President

2005

Questions/comments to Team

2020

General circulation, drinks and canapĂŠs

2045

Lord Lieutenant presents awards etc. to Sea Cadets

2100

City band perform selection of naval orientated music plus singing. Further drinks circulated.

2130

President closes proceedings National Anthem

RNA Paddock Wood Paddock Wood branch of the Royal Naval Association held this year’s AGM in the Paddock Wood Social club on Monday 13th February 2017. During this meeting a group photograph [below], was taken to commemorate the Branches 26th anniversary.

The Branch was commissioned on the 13th October 1990 with a parade through Paddock Wood which was lead by a Royal Marine band and 45 RNA Standards. The salute was taken by the guest of Honour, Countess Mountbatten.

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Although the Branch membership has diminished over the years, it still has 33 members who are actively involved in social and local events, and supporting Number 2 Area events.

The Branch meets in the Paddock Wood Social club on the second Monday of each month starting at 1945 [7:45 pm]. We will always welcome visiting Shipmates and other Seafarers to our meetings.

New members are also welcome. The next Branch meeting is on Monday 13th March.

RNA Londonderry Branch The Londonderry Branch supported the HMS Laurentic Centenary events in January 2017 and Shipmate Robert Buchanan, Chairman of the Branch has very kindly forwarded a report on the events.

The International Sailor Statue, the Tower Museum and the Guildhall in Londonderry were among the sights and venues for the Centenary Commemoration of the sinking of HMS Laurentic on 25th January 1917. The five day event organised by the Ulster Canada Initiative, in a joint effort with the Derry City & Strabane District Council and supported by the Royal Naval Association, was hailed as a tremendous occasion and a very fitting tribute to those who lost their lives on that fateful night. The presence of more than thirty descendants of the crew, who came from far and wide, added a very special note to the commemoration.

Wednesday 25th Jan 2017; The Centenary event began with the Mayor of Derry launching an exhibition of HMS Laurentic artefacts in the Tower Museum, just inside the historic walls of the City. This was a very interesting event and the current owner of the wreck Mr Ray Cossum, (an ex matelot) was there with two of his diving friends and they participated in an excellent question & answer session hosted by Ronan McConnell from the Museum Services. The free exhibition will run until June 2017.

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Thursday 26th Jan 2017; The descendants of Laurentic crew members were treated to a guided tour of Inishowen Peninsula, Co Donegal, in Southern Ireland. They visited the most northerly point in Ireland, Malin Head which overlooks the area off the mouth of Lough Swilly where the Laurentic struck two mines and went down with the eventual loss of 354 lives.

Friday 27th Jan 2017; When news of the disaster reached Londonderry, the Mayor, Alderman R. N. Anderson set up a relief effort and a convoy of cars & trucks loaded with blankets, clothing & food was despatched to Buncrana. Later the Mayor held a lunch for the 121 survivors in the Londonderry Guildhall. The present Mayor, Alderman Hillary McClintock decided to replicate that lunch and accordingly the descendants, RNA members and other VIP’s were invited to a centenary lunch in the Guildhall. It was a very well organised event and a group photograph was taken almost exactly the same as the lunch for the survivors taken 100 years ago.

The Royal Navy was represented by Cdr John Gray SNONI and the Irish Navy was represented

by Lt Cdr Ronan McLaughlin.

Cdr John Gray RN, S/m Robert Buchanan Area 12 Ireland Chair, Lt Cdr Ronan McLaughlin Irish Navy, pictured after enjoying a fine lunch in the Guildhall.

On Friday evening there was a Commemoration Laurentic Dinner hosted by the Ulster Canada Initiative. The venue was the Laurentic Restaurant near Fort Dunree in Co Donegal. Yes, it was named after the ship!

Saturday 28th Jan 2017; Services of Commemoration were held at two sites in Co Donegal. The first was at the Mass Grave in the St Mura’s Church of Ireland graveyard in Fahan, where the Londonderry Branch Piper S/m Billy Doherty led the Standards of Area 12 Ireland, Londonderry Branch & Limavady branch carried by S/m Eddie Moore. S/m Arthur Lapsley and S/m Andy Guy respectively. The banner of the Inishowen Friends of Messines was also carried. This group are allied to the Peace School in Messines. Belgium. The Mayor of Derry Alderman Hillary McClintock and Councillor Bernard McGuinness, Co Donegal, were also in attendance.

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The Second ceremony was held at Cockhill Chapel Cemetery in Buncrana, Co Donegal. The Ulster Canada Initiative hosted a reception after the ceremonies. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the RNA by S/m Eric Mitchell, Vice Chair Londonderry Branch. Still and carry on was piped by S/m David Russell.

Sunday 29th Jan 2017; The Irish Naval Vessel, LE Samuel Beckett, under the command of Lt Cdr Darragh Kirwin hosted a Wreath Laying ceremony over the wreck site of HMS Laurentic just off the north coast of Co Donegal. The party of Crews Descendants, VIP’s and RNA members were taken aboard LE Samuel Beckett at Rathmullen on Lough Swilly and we sailed out to the last resting place of the Laurentic. The Rector of St Mura’s Church in Fahan, Rev Judi McGaffin led a service on board and Wreaths were laid by Descendants, VIP’s, RNA and the Ship’s Captain. It was a very moving ceremony, especially for the relatives.

Photos of; 1. Le Samuel Beckett with inshore RNLI rib. 2. Ship’s Captain laying a Wreath with RNLI Offshore lifeboat standing to. 3. Descendant Christine Pfaff with S/m’s Robert Buchanan 34 http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/

and S/m Eddie Lavery. 4. S/m Robert Buchanan and S/m Eddie Lavery presenting Lt Cdr Kirwin with a Crystal Irish Coffee Glass depicting the International Sailor Statue which RNA Londonderry Branch have placed in the old WW2 Royal Naval Base in Londonderry, the base was known as HMS Ferret then HMS Sea Eagle and is now known as Ebrington Square.

We wish to thank Captain Darragh Kirwin and the crew of LE Samuel Beckett for accommodating this, once in a lifetime opportunity for many of the descendants of the ill-fated crew of HMS Laurentic. Congratulations also to the Ulster Canada Initiative led by Don McNeill, The centenary event was a great success and that only happens if a lot of hard work is done by dedicated people. The Derry City & Strabane District Council, led by Mayor Hilary McClintock also share the appreciation of all concerned for the support of this Centenary Event.

Londonderry Branch now look forward to their annual Battle of the Atlantic Commemoration on 6th & 7th May 2017. We will be working with the Council to enhance the experience for our visitors and we invite shipmates everywhere to come along and join us for the weekend. For more info contact Branch Secretary S/m Frank Brown at frankjf22brown@gmail.com Yours Aye, S/m Robert Buchanan Chairman Londonderry Branch Chairman Area 12 Ireland RNA

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CROSSED THE BAR – Celebrating a life well lived • • •

Dennis Whitehead – Margate Branch Logan Harvey Hall – Peterborough Branch Pat Mole - Newton Abbot

Dennis Whitehead – Margate Branch Dennis crossed the bar on Friday 13th January aged 90. He served in the Royal Navy from November 1943 to August 1947, he was later recalled for the Korean war in 1952 to March 1954.

During WW2, he served as a seaman aboard the destroyer HMS Cassandra, on the night of 11th December 1944 the ship was escorting a convoy to Russia and he was on watch with our past Margate branch chairman “Bunny Scott” when at 0602 a torpedo struck forward of the bridge blowing wide open the bow section and claiming the lives of 62 of the ships company. The torpedo was fired from U365 which was sunk two days later by a swordfish aircraft from HMS Campania. HMS Cassandra was towed astern by the frigate HMS Bahamas and later by a Russian tug to Kola Inlet for repairs.

Dennis was invited to the Russian embassy in 2015 where he received the Ushakov medal along with our then chairman Harry Allen, they were later invited to Downing street by prime minister David Cameron. His funeral took place at Margate crematorium at 10:45 on Thursday 2nd February it was attended by Standards and Side Party.

Logan Harvey-Hall - Peterborough Branch It is with great sadness, and a deep sense of loss, the Peterborough Branch of the RNA must announce that S/M Logan Harvey-Hall Crossed the Bar on January 2nd 2017, at age 74 years.

Logan (or Harvey, as he preferred to be called) arrived in England at age 8 years old, and completed his education in Britain. As a teenager he set his sights high and on 26th June 1962, decided to join the Royal Navy.

The selection process assigned him to an Engineering Mechanics course, which on completion launched him into a 12 36 http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/

year career with the navy, from which he emerged as a Petty Officer Mechanician 2. on discharge.

Employment in civilian life moved him around the country before settling in Peterborough, where he joined Peterborough RNA in March 2005, and did throughout his association with the branch, become a very active member.

Harvey eventually assumed a role on Committee, later becoming the Branch Welfare Officer, a job he did diligently, and with great compassion, and enthusiasm. Never slow to lend support to any needs of the branch, when the Standard Bearer was forced to stand down for personal reason, Harvey took up the gauntlets as a novice to the role, but eventually became in all respects a fine example of what a Standard Bearer should be.

In summary, I will say that throughout his time with the branch, Harvey was much liked by all, and was a friend indeed, to those who through infirmity, or isolation, had become inactive to the branch, but still wished to be remembered. His was an arm around the shoulders, and a few kind, comforting words of assurance, to people who through illness, or advancing years, had become weakened, and in many cases disabled. His many years of active Community Service, will be well remembered by all who were fortunate enough to gain strength, and encouragement by his example.

Member of the branch wish him Gods speed, and a safe passage to calmer waters, and a sheltered harbour. May you rest forever, in Peace.

Pat Mole – Newton Abbot Pat sadly passed away aged 77 on 13th November 2016.

After getting permission from his parents at the age of sixteen, he joined the Royal Navy and began his training at HMS Raleigh. He had a successful 24 year career serving on Aircraft Carriers, Submarines and Minesweepers. Pat finished his time in the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer (Mechanician).

Pat was married to Lesley for 54 years. They had 3 children, and 6 grand children.

After leaving the Navy, Pat owned his own business in Newton Abbot, Devon. One night in the pub by chance, he met the Chairman of the Newton Abbot Branch of the RNA and was persuaded to join – he served the Branch as Hon. Secretary, Chairman and for the past 18 years President. He loved his time with the RNA - the social life and outings - he and Lesley made lots of lovely friends. Pat was also a trustee of TS Canonteign Sea Cadets Pat had a motto (which sounds like it originated from his time in the Royal Navy) “REMEMBER, BE GOOD……. BUT IF YOU CAN’T BE GOOD, THEN DON’T GET CAUGHT”

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RNA Members Benefits

UK Holiday Group /CONA Holiday Service • Variety of special deals for both Groups and Individuals. 1% of turnover thorough CONA Holiday Service is returned to the RNA. http://www.royal-navalassociation.co.uk/news/323/members-holidays-service Coleman/Ansvar Insurance • Discounted Branch and House hold Insurance - 01323 744149 http://bit.ly/RNACona Funeral Service • Significant discount form Veterans UK www.veteranfunerals.co.uk Tel 07889 009393 Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

•

RNA member entry just £10 plus four guest at £10 each provides access to the all attractions including the Submarine Museum, RM Museum and Explosion!.

Legal Services

•

Free 30 minute legal advice with Coffin Mew. armedforces@coffinmew.co.uk 0800 827168

Breakdown Service

•

RAC Breakdown and recovery service asec@arno.org.uk or 0207 4025231

Organisers of Reunions should be aware the CONA Travel will match or better any other ‘like for like’ Reunion/Group Trips bookings so why not give them an opportunity to impress you. 0844 264 2122 conatravelservices@justforgroups.co.uk 38 http://www.royal-naval-association.co.uk/

Shortcast

• • • • • • • •

R.N. Communications Association – 10-12 March 2017 Loch Class Frigates Association - 30 March 2017 HMS Newfoundland & HMS Kenya - 31 March 2017 HMS Iveston (Jan –May 1991) - Reunion HMS Loch Fada F390 Association – 20-24 April 2017 849 Squadron Gannets – 5 May 2017 HMS Arethusa Association – 13-16 October 2017 HMS Relentless Association - 24-27 November 2017

R.N. Communications Association – 10-12 March 2017 The R.N. Communications Association, AGM and Dinner/Dance will be held in Hull , 10 – 12 Mar 2017 in Hull, for more information please contact the Sec. Carl Beeson, 01752 253746 and 07807-347509 or noseeb@sky.com Loch Class Frigates Association - 30 March 2017 Annual Reunion takes place at the Royal Clifton Hotel, Southport PR8 1RB from March 30 to April 3 2017.

Two and Thee day packages available. Reservations: 01704 533771 quote “372601”, or email: sales@royalclifton.co.uk All members welcome. Membership is open to all who served on any of the Loch Class ships or their variants (Bay Class, Admirals Yachts, survey ships and repair ships). Some of these types of ships have their own ‘Associations’ but you can always join both.

For details please contact Andrew Nunn Hon. Sec. LCFA at andrew.nunn@blueyonder.co.uk HMS Newfoundland & HMS Kenya - 31 March 2017 Veteran’s annual get together will be held from 31 March to 3 April at the 4* Sketchley Grange Hotel, Burbage, Leicestershire. Reunion includes 3 nights half board accommodation, Gala Night Saturday night. Saturday coach tour to Nottingham and River Trent Cruise including a cream tea and sandwiches. Sunday coach tour to Leicester (King Richard III) and Foxton Locks. Also three night’s entertainment.

If you served on any of the Fiji/Uganda class cruisers, aka the Colony Class, you and your family members are welcome to join us. There is no official business, just a weekend of meeting friends and lamp swinging so come and join us. Also available for 2 nights. Contact Isle of Wight Tours, tel 01983 405116 or Alan Waite at alan04@live.co.uk

HMS Iveston (Jan –May 1991) - Reunion There will be a 26 year reunion for the Ship’s Company involved in this memorable five month deployment to be held in the Portsmouth area on 1 July 2017 for all those wanting to attend. We recently held a 25 year reunion where 40% of the crew attended and we would like more to attend the next one.

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Anyone who served on the Iveston during this deployment who wants more information, or if you know of someone who served onboard during this period, please contact Shaun at shaunmckeever@yahoo.com HMS Loch Fada F390 Association – 20-24 April 2017 HMS Loch Fada Association F390 will be holding their 20th Annual Reunion & AGM at the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea, PO4 0RN from 20th – 24th April. This will be our first 4 day reunion weekend.

Friday will be an outing & tour of the Isle of Wight via the Hovercraft. Saturday sees the AGM at 1030 with a 1200 Tot time. The reunion dinner is at 1830 with our Guests of honour being the Lord & Lady Mayor of Eastleigh (our Warship Week Town). Loch Fada was allocated to Eastleigh as their replacement Ship in 1944. Sunday sees our coach outing to Chichester Cathedral & Town. Monday sees us wishing our Shipmates a Safe journey home & looking forward to meeting up for our first ‘Foreign’ reunion in Cardiff in 2018.

Bookings are being made through IOW Tours email enquiries@iowtours.com or Tel No 01983 405116 Info & Queries F390. sec11@virginmedia.com or Tel 01252 310767 or Snail mail F390 Secretary, 91 Ayling Lane, Aldershot, Hants, GU11 3ND 849 Squadron Gannets – 5 May 2017 849 Squadron Gannets. Regroup 2017 at the Mariners' Hotel, Haverfordwest, SA61 2DU May 5 & 6. Contact John Rawling at jsrawl@aol.com HMS Fisgard, Artificer Apprentices Reunion – 9 June 2017 A reunion to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the entry classes S29, S30, and S31 joining HMS Fisgard in 1957, will take place from June 9 to 11 2017 with the Reunion dinner Saturday 10th June The venue, the Royal Beach Hotel, Southsea, situated opposite South Parade Pier, has been booked, with a deposit paid to secure the booking. For details and booking form contact Malcolm Howard at malcolmhowardexrn@yahoo.co.uk HMS Arethusa Association – 13-16 October 2017 HMS ARETHUSA Social weekend - October 13th to 16th 2017 at The Risboro Hotel, Llandudno.

Details and booking forms from - IOW Tours Ltd. HMS Relentless Association – 24-27 November 2017 HMS Relentless Association – 24-27 November 2017 HMS RELENTLESS Association. 75th Anniversary Reunion to celebrate the first commissioning of HMS Relentless will be held at the Tillington Hall Hotel, Stafford, November 24th-27th 2017. All ex-Rusty R's welcome but numbers are limited so call Isle of Wight Tours Ltd asap on 01983 405116 or contact HMS Relentless Association Secretary 02392 599640, email secretary@hmsrelentless.co.uk.

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Swinging the Lamp - March 2017

Date 1st

Year 1907

2nd

1911

3rd

1807

4th

1941

5th

1902

6th

1993

7th

1841

8th

1872

9th

1686

10th

1956

Entry Cap ribbons and bedding issued in lieu of a gratuity, and ready-made uniforms instead of material to be made up. Loan clothing introduced.

First four officers, chosen from over 200 applicants, reported to the Royal Aero Club’s aerodrome at Eastchurch on the Isle of Sheppey for pilot training in private aircraft provided free of charge:Lt C.R. Samson, scout cruiser Foresight; Lt R.Gregory, armoured cruiser Antrim; Lt A.M.Longmore, HMTB 24 and Lt E.L. GerrardRMLI, cruiser Hermione.

The squadron under Vice-Admiral Sir John Duckworth engaged the Dardanelles forts on the return passage from Constantinople.

Transportation of Imperial troops from Egypt to Greece. Ended on 24 April, when the evacuation began. Operation Lustre.

Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service constituted by Order in Council, replacing the naval nursing sisters.

Retirement of CPO W. Price, last of the promised men’ who joined the RN in 1948 and in 1970 were guaranteed employment until age 65. He served for twenty-two years at the RN Detention Quarters, Portsmouth.

Provisions of uniform regulations of 19 September 1810 extended to the Governors of the RN Hospital and Asylum, and the LieutenantGovernors of Greenwich Hospital and of the RN College, Portsmouth.

The wood screw frigate Ariadne, sailing to Gibraltar, hove to when a seaman fell overboard from the main topmast crosstrees 130 miles off the Portuguese coast (40.15N, 12.10W) In an unsuccessful rescue attempt both ship’s cutters were swamped and two officers, Sub-Lt’s Jukes and Talbot, and eight men were drowned.

Pepys signed contract for purchase of rum in lieu of brandy for HM ships at Jamaica.

World air speed record of 1,132 mph (1,823 kph) set by Lt-Cdr Peter Twiss, OBE, DSC and bar, RNVR, flying from Boscombe Down in a 41

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11th

1708

12th

13th

1823

14th

1757

15th

1980

16th

1858

17th

1912

18th

2002

19th

1847

20th

1832

21st

2007

22nd

2003

23rd

1922

Fairey Delta 2 between Chichester and RNAS Ford, Sussex. The first person to fly at over 1,000 mph.

The Cruisers and Convoys Acts allocated prize money to captors at the Crown’s expense; a great incentive to captains and crews.

The first woman in RN to win the MC. Able Seaman Kate Louise Nesbitt (21), a medical assistant attached to 3 Cdo Brigade, for ‘exemplary gallantry’ during a Tal iban ambush in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Kate, all 5ft tall, ran under enemy fire and saved the life of L/Cpl John List of 1 RIFLES who had been hit in the neck. Her MC was awarded by HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace on 27 November 2009. Operation Herrick. Citation: ‘Nesbitt’s actions throughout a series of offensive operations were exemplary; under fire and under pressure her commitment and courage were inspirational and made the difference between life and death, “She performed in the highest traditions of her service.”

Admiral of the Fleet the Earl of St Vincent died. ‘We expect too much of men; we do not make sufficient allowances, and perhaps we are too apt to over rate the services we render them’ Admiral Byng executed on board Monarchafter being court-martialled for dereliction of duty. ‘At 12 Mr Byng was shot dead by six marines and put into his coffin’ – Master’s Log, HMS Monarch.

Fire in A1 boiler room in the commando carrier Bulwark during a visit to Philadelphia. Damage considered too costly to repair.

Shannon’s Naval Brigade at the capture of Lucknow by the forces under General Sir Colin Campbell. Naval Brigade manned all the breaching artillery on one side of the Gumti River. Indian Mutiny Medal: clasp ‘Lucknow’Battle Honour: Lucknow 1857.

Capt Lawrence Oates, 5th Inniskilling Dragoons, died in Antarctica by walking out into a blizzard in a vain attempt to improve the chances of survival for Capt Scott’s party: ‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’ It was his 32nd birthday.

Fearless, last RN steam-powered surface warship,entered Portsmouth for the last time on return from the Indian Ocean.

Admiralty order that Wednesday 24 March be observed as a Day of Public Fasting and Humiliation, Divine Service to be specially performed in recognition of Irish Famine. Reaction of ship’s companies and their pursers not recorded Navigating, Medical and other non-executive officers adopted the uniform jacket of the Executive branch, distinguished by the pattern of their button.

Explosion of a self-contained oxygen generator (SCOG) in submarine Tireless while submerged under the Arctic ice killed two crew members.

Two Sea King Mk VII of 849 Sqn A Flight, flying from Ark Royal on vital ground surveillance missions to support Royal Marines ashore on the Al Faw peninsula, collided over the northern Arabian Gulf.

Two pilots and five observers killed. Posthumous MiD to observer,Lt Tony King. Operation Telic.

Submarine H42, Lt D.C. Sealy RN, sunk with all twenty-six hands in 42

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24th

1960

25th

1945

26th

1912

27th

2007

28th

1968

29th

1996

30th

1912

31st

1956

collision with the destroyer Versatile, Cdr V.L.A Campbell RN, during 3rd Submarine Flotilla tactical exercises with the Atlantic Fleet off Europa Point, Gibraltar. The submarine surfaced 40yds ahead of the destroyer which was steaming at 20 knots.

Yarmouth, first of the nine Rothesay Class Anti-Submarine Frigates, commissioned at John Browns shipyard on the Clyde. She wa steh first ship equipped with the Seacat missile system and became Capt(F) 6th Frigate Squadron under Capt H R Hewlett RN. World’s first deck landing of a high-performance twin-engined aircraft; a de Havilland Mosquito Mk 6 from RAE Farnborough on Indefatigable off Ailsa Craig and Arran piloted by Lt-Cdr Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown RNVR. Leonard James Callaghan, later Lt RNVR and Prime Minister, born at Portsmouth.

The last Sea Harrier FA2 squadron, 801 NAS, paid off at RNAS Yeovilton, having completed operational flying on 9 March.

The beginning of the end of the fathom. The first of the new metric Admiralty charts, No. 3105 of Chiba Ko in Tokyo Bay, published, with depths and heights shown in metres and decimeters. This was followed on 5 April by Chart 2247 of ports in the Black Sea, and on 12 April by Chart 438 of Boulogne.

RM School of Music, Deal, closed and band training moved to old RNDQs in Portsmouth Dockyard. RM at Deal since 1861 Captain Robert Falcon Scott Royal Navy and the remainder of hi sparty died in the Antartic. “It seems a pity but I do not think I can write more. “For God’s sake , look after our people” HMS Siskin, RNAS Gosport, paid off and following day commissioned as HMS Sultan as a TE for ratings of the Mechanical Engineering Branch. The new establishment was named after the old ironclad Sultan which served until 1943 as the RN mechanical training ship in Portsmouth Harbour.

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Nominations for Standing Orders Committee 2017 For the attention of All Branch Secretaries Two members of the standing Orders Committee need to be elected/re-elected at Conference 2017. Those standing down are eligible to be re-elected. SOC elections shall be held in accordance with Rule 18 (c) for the seats held by S/mates Paul Harries (Area 7) and Trevor Howard (Area 10), both members have indicated their intention to stand again.

Each Branch may nominate one Full or Life member as a candidate for election to the Standing Orders Committee, subject to the approval of the Branch to which the candidate belongs. A nil return is not required.

NAME OF NOMINEE

………………………….................................................................

PROPOSED BY…………………………............................ BRANCH

.......................

ADDRESS OF NOMINEE …………………………................................................................. ………………………………………….......………………………………………........................ .......................................................................................................

E mail ...........………………………………………….......

Post code ......................................

Brief history of nominee in the Association. Continue on separate sheet if necessary.

CHAIRMAN .............................................................. (signed).......................................(dated) SECRETARY .............................................................. (signed).......................................(dated) If the Candidate is not a member of the proposing Branch, this section must be completed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Candidate's own Branch.

Candidate's Branch ….......……………………………………….................................................................

We support this Nomination.

Signature of Chairman (Candidate's Branch) .........................................................................................

Signature of Secretary (Candidate's Branch)..........................................................................................

Candidate I accept this nomination and undertake to attend as many Standing Orders Committee Meetings as is possible.

Signature of Candidate ………………………………………….................................................................

This form should despatched to be received at the Central Office no later than 7 April 2017 Nominations received after this date cannot be included in the Ballot.

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Delegate to Annual Conference 2017 Perth Branch secretaries should note the following before submitting their application. a) Each Branch which has complied with Rule 16(c), (No Branch shall be permitted to send a delegate to the Conference unless it has observed the regulations of the Association in regard to the return of balance sheets, the payment of subscriptions and the formation of Branches.

This provision has no application to the right of, and expectation for, ships and establishments to send a delegate to the Conference.) but subject to Rule 10(c), (Associate members are eligible to act as a Branch Delegate at Area meetings and Conferences, provided that they have completed three years continuous membership of the Association immediately prior to election as Delegate) and has been in commission for at least three months by the date of a Conference shall be entitled to nominate one eligible Association Member as its Delegate to attend a Conference. b) Each Branch nominating a Delegate shall send details to the Council to arrive not less than one week before the date of Conference. A Branch may change its nominated Delegate provided the Council is notified not less than twenty four hours before the Conference.

Branch

Area

Name of Delegate Car registration

Passenger Name

Delegate’s Address

Telephone No

Post Code

e-mail Number of Observers Name of Branch Hon Secretary Contact telephone No: (if not branch Hon Sec) Contact e-mail address Name and Address for correspondence (if not branch Hon Sec) NB: A Delegate will not be confirmed as such unless or until the Branch Balance Sheet for 2016 and Annual Subscriptions for Branch Members for 2017 have been received in RNA Central Office (Rule 12 C). Should either not have been received the Delegate's Status will be deemed to be that of an Observer.

A letter confirming a delegates attendance will be sent prior to Conference. This letter should be brought to Conference to confirm eligibility to be a Delegate. There will be no additions to the delegate list on the day.

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CONFERENCE TRIP – Saturday 4 June 2017

BALHOUSIE CASTLE / BLACK WATCH MUSEUM TRIP BOOKING FORM NAME: RNA BRANCH: NUMBER OF PLACES:

Please return completed from, by no later than 15th May 2017, to: S/M Ally Stirton. A: 63 Brahan Terrace, Perth, PH1 2LN. E: allystirton@hotmail.co.uk

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The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust’s Care Home

Providing a home from home for older members of the Royal Naval family 11 Oxford Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 4BS Call 01634 852431 or email enquiry@pembrokehouse-rnbt.org.uk www.rnbt.org.uk

CHARD BRANCH

30th ANNIVERSARY & TRAFALGAR NIGHT DINNER Area 4 Members are cordially invited to join us, for our special 30th Anniversary Dinner on

Saturday 21st October - 2017

The Shrubbery Hotel. Ilminster.

TA19 9AR

1900 (Drinks Reception) for 1930 Three Course Dinner + Coffee & Mints (See overleaf for menu choices & booking form) Guest of Honour

S/m David White MBE MSM President. Area 4 Royal Naval Association

Dancing to Jaycee’s ‘Golden Oldies’ Disco PRICE: £25.00 per person (including Tot Time) Overnight Accommodation at The Shrubbery Hotel at the special discount price of £80.00 per double en suite room including breakfast.

All rooms recently refurbished to a high standard. Normal price per night is £144.00 Make a weekend break of it, and stay for 2-3 nights in beautiful Somerset at £80.00 per room per night

PLACES ARE LIMITED TO 150 - FIRST COME – FIRST SERVED BASIS

Deposit: £10.00 per person (non refundable) SEE OVERLEAF FOR BOOKING FORM & FURTHER DETAILS

CHARD BRANCH 30th ANNIVERSARY & TRAFALGAR NIGHT DINNER — SATURDAY 21st October 2017 The Best Western Shrubbery Hotel.

Station Road. Ilminster. TA19 9AR Recently, the hotel's reception, bar, restaurant areas and ballroom have all been refurbished.

The hotel has 23 recently refurbished bedrooms in a variety of styles with one of the bedrooms specifically designed for wheelchair users. There is also a level access to the hotel for wheelchairs and the less ambulant.

PLEASE BOOK YOUR OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL The Shrubbery Hotel. Telephone: 01460 52108 Please mention Chard RNA Trafalgar Night Dinner for special room rates @ £80.00 double room & breakfast per night

DINNER MENU SELECTOR Starters: Chef’s Home-made Soup Tomato & Basil Seasonal Melon Cocktail, Citrus Fruits, Mixed Berry Compote (v) Marie Rose & Prawn Cocktail ~~~~ Main Courses: Roast Topside of Somerset Beef, Yorkshire Pudding, Gravy Oven Baked Salmon Fillet, Lemon & White Wine Sauce Saute’ Chicken Supreme Wrapped in Parma Ham, Cheese Sauce Roasted Chestnut, Mushroom & Red Pepper Filo Wellington (v) ~~~ Desserts: Traditional Apple Pie, Dorset Clotted Cream Fresh Fruit Salad Fresh Lemon Cheesecake, Mixed Berry Compote ~~~ Coffee / Tea / Herbal Infusions & Mints The menu can be adjusted for those with food allergies or dietary requirements. Please contact with details.

For further details, please contact S/m John Cope. Telephone: 01460 65532. Email: johnacope@btinternet.com .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BOOKING FORM Name(s) of persons attending: .........................................................................................................

Adreess: .............................................................................................................................................

Post Code: ........................................... Telephone Contact No.: ....................................................

MENU CHOICES (Please tick as appropriate) Guest 1 NAME(S): STARTERS

MAIN COURSES

DESSERTS

Guest 2

Soup Melon Cocktail (v) Prawn Cocktail Beef Salmon Chicken Filo Wellington (v) Apple Pie Fruit Salad Cheesecake

PLEASE RETURN BOOKING FORM TO S/m John Cope. Chard RNA. ‘Wayford’, 10 Mitchell Gardens, Chard. TA202HA Enclosing a £10.00 per person (non-refundable) deposit. Cheques made payable to ‘Chard Branch Royal Naval Association’.

FINAL BALANCE OF PAYMENT DUE: Monday 21st August 2017