21 May 13

RFA Cardigan Bay's support for MCM forces in the Gulf

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing the support for MCM forces being provided by the 16,000 tonne Bay-class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) RFA Cardigan Bay during IMCMEX 13 in the Gulf.

RFA Cardigan Bay with Avenger Class MCMV USS Ardent alongside

(RN website photo)

42nd Anniversary Reunion of LMCDO '71

I was delighted to receive this update from MCDOA member Steve Gobey:

"Hi Rob,

Over the past weekend in Bath, we have enjoyed a memorable celebration of the 42nd anniversary of the commencement of our LMCDO course in May 1971.  It was a 100% turnout of all five of us and the main day on Saturday was spent cruising on my narrow boat 'Frobisher' on the Kennet & Avon Canal followed by a fine dinner at Woods Restaurant in Bath. 

LMCDO '71 members Norman Taylor, Chris Massie-Taylor, Steve Gobey,

Hamish Loudon and Julian Thomson

As our IOMCD [Instructor Officer Minewarfare & Clearance Diving], Albert Thompson lives not far away, I had invited him to join us a surprise guest for the cruise.  It was fun to watch the head-scratching and penny-droppings of the others!  Albert proved himself to be a valuable crew member, producing superb bacon butties in the galley and assisting us with the 'Stat Eval' [Minesweeping Statistical Evaluation] of the pubs and beer quality en route!

LMCDO '71 members Chris Massie-Taylor, Norman Taylor, Steve Gobey,

Julian Thomson and Hamish Loudon plus Albert Thompson 

We had not met as a full course since 1981 when we had a 10th celebration in Weymouth/Portland so it was a very busy and fun-filled weekend of reminiscing and catching up.

Best Regards,

Steve"

This is how the members of LMCDO '71 looked at the start of their course in May 1971:

LMCDO '71 Course Photo

(Mike Welford later qualified on LMCDO '72.  Both he and Dave 'Mona' Lott

are domiciled in Australia)

From MCDOA member Mike Welford in Australia:

"Thanks Rob, on the ball as ever....  

What a bunch of vibrant and fit young MCDOs.  Sorry not to be there but presently pressing olives for their oil! 

Trust you are all active divers still?  My last dive was off Montague Island (with the seals) and Niue (viz 50-100 meters) a thousand miles north of NZ.

I have to say that my mentor (or nemesis) has been GSP [Graham Sharp Paul] and I understand he is getting Squeak [Garry] Kennedy and Russ Crane to dive again; two big splashes there?

Winter here so log fires, hot punch and Christmas in June.  Got my 50th at BRNC this year but a very full program (organised by Erica) so little flexibility to go on a narrow boat with the boys.

Keep fit.

Cheers,

Mike" 

20 May 13

Arrangements for the funeral of the late PO(D) Michael Sean Brady

I am grateful to WO(D) Steve Fitzjohn of the Fleet Diving Squadron for the following information:

The funeral service for the late PO(D) Mick Brady (see entry for 15 May 13) will take place at The Downs Crematorium, Bear Road, Brighton, BN2 3PL at 1200 on Thursday 23 May.  The family has extended an invitation to all attendees for a wake on completion at the Good Companions public house, 132 Dyke Road, Brighton, BN1 3TE.

A union flag will be provided by MWS Collingwood and a bugler will be provided by the Royal Marines Band, Portsmouth.  Dress for officers and ratings is 1B with medals, negative swords.  Mourning bands are not to be worn by RN personnel but are optional for Army or RAF attendees.  Establishments will half-mast colours.

Floral tributes or wreaths are welcomed.  The family has requested any charity donations to be made to Macmillan Cancer Support, forwarded via: Ray Trafford, SE Skinner & Sons Funeral Directors, 145 Lewes Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 3LG.

The MCDOA will be making a donation in lieu of a floral tribute.

Team Hallin: Round GB Rowing Race 2013

MCDOA member David Hosking MBE has sent me this announcement (see entry for 4 Apr 13):

"Dear Friends & Supporters,

On Saturday 1st June 2013 I shall again be leading another Team Hallin challenge in an attempt to break another Rowing World Record.  We have entered the Round GB Rowing Race and we shall be racing six other crews in a non-stop, unsupported row around mainland GB trying to beat the current world record of just under 27 days.  Here is a photo of the Team and our boat, getting coaching advice from an Olympic Rowing Champion (guess who?)! [See entry for 11 Aug 12 in News Archive 39.]

Olympic Gold Medal winner Sophie Hosking with crew of Hallin Marine 2

I am very grateful to all those of you who supported my Atlantic World Record breaking row in 2011 [see second entry for 8 Feb 11 in News Archive 33] and I hope to be able to count on your continued support this year.  As well as trying to win this Race, we shall also try and raise £60,000 for our adopted charity Combat Stress.  Currently, Team Hallin have raised over 54% towards this massive target, so if you can assist us by any donation, no matter how small, we would be extremely grateful indeed.  To donate to this worthy cause please either:

Go to the Just Giving link on our website at www.teamhallin.co.uk

OR

Make out a cheque to 'Combat Stress' and send it to me/Team Hallin at 15 Wilton Crescent, London, SW19 3QY.

If you want to see my Team Hallin crew and our new boat 'Hallin Marine 2' [and my daughter Sophie with her Olympic gold medal] then please come to the Combat Stress Press photo session at South Dock Marina [Rope Street, Plough Way, LONDON, SE16 7SZ at lunchtime on Thursday 30th May 2013.  If you are unable to see us that day then why not wave us goodbye from Tower Bridge at 0800AM on Saturday 1st JUNE 2013.

Olympic Gold Medal winner Sophie Hosking christening Hallin Marine 2

Thank you for your continued support and I hope to see some of you at the end of next week.

Regards,

David

Cdr D B Hosking RN (Rtd)

Skipper Team Hallin/Hallin Marine 2

P.S. To track our progress around the coastline, please go to the Race website - a link to which is on our website at www.teamhallin.co.uk." 

N.B. The Founder and Chief Executive of David's sponsor, Hallin Marine, is MCDOA member John Giddens.

HDS Diving Museum update

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), has provided this update about the Diving Museum in No.2 Battery at Stokes Bay and the WWII bunker in Gosport used as the Society's library and repository for the museum's reserve collection:

"VISITORS

A strange combination this weekend.  79 on Saturday including 20 ex-CD1s shown in staff photographer John 'JET' Towse's shot below!  Then 21 on Sunday.

Members of the Association of RN First Class Divers at the HDS Museum

BBC FILMING

On Sunday, the BBC's Antiques Road Trip spent about four hours filming and interviewing John Dadd for a forthcoming episode.  They were insistent that they only wanted one person involved.  So we just pulled faces from behind the camera!

Antiques Road Trip team interviewing former FCPO(D) John Dadd BEM

at the HDS Museum

NEW BANNER

John Dadd, ex-CD Jim 'Tommo' Thomson and Ann Bevan put up our new banner during the week.  The last one suffered during a gale.

New banner above the entrance to the HDS Museum

HMS CHALLENGER DECK PLATE

We have received a wonderful donation from Jason Palalas of a deck plate from HMS Challenger, the RN's last dedicated DSV (Diving Support Vessel).

Deck plate from the former SOV (Seabed Operations Vessel) HMS Challenger

NEXT WEEKEND

Is a bank holiday, so come and enjoy the crack!

JohnB"

The HDS Museum relies on a handful of volunteer guides, at least two but ideally three of whom need to be on site when it is open for business at weekends during the summer.  If you live locally and can spare the odd few hours, please contact John Bevan via this email address or call him on 07802 785050.  You will then be given access to the online roster to fill in your own dates as and when you are available.  You don't have to be an HDS member to get involved in this or any other way.

RN and Dutch divers work together in Bahrain

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing the participation of Portsmouth-based Fleet Diving Unit 3 (FDU3) and their Dutch counterparts in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2013 (IMCMEX 13) in Bahrain.  The article features MCDOA member Nathan Isaacs, OIC of FDU3.

Cdre Simon Ancona RN, UK Maritime Component Commander (UKMCC) and

Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Forces (DCCMF) in Bahrain with

members of FDU3 and Royal Netherlands Navy divers during IMCMEX 13

19 May 13 - AORNFCD 25th Anniversary Reunion

By all accounts, the Association of Royal Navy First Class Divers (AORNFCD) enjoyed a highly successful reunion this weekend.  An informal gathering took place at the Royal Maritime Club on Friday night.  Saturday morning saw a visit to the Historical Diving Society's museum at Stokes Bay (where comments included "I never realised there was so much there..."), the AGM in the afternoon and a formal dinner in the evening.  The proceeds of the weekend are destined for Project Vernon, the campaign to erect a monument at Gunwharf Quays to commemorate the minewarfare and diving heritage of HMS Vernon which formerly stood on the site.

Your humble webmaster, along with fellow MCDOA founder David Sandiford and MCDOA member Jon Cox, attended the convivial dinner on Saturday night without his usual camera but Troy Tempest was kind enough to furnish this photo:

Left to right: David 'Jimmy' Bond, John Ling, Yours Truly (Rob Hoole),

Lawrie Lawrence and Mike Handford

Notable divers present at some time or other during the weekend included Vic Anderton, Bagsy Baker, David 'Jimmy' Bond, Donkey Bray (the younger), Albert Chapman, Chris Christie, John Cobb, Jon Cox, John Dadd, Tony Devitt, Chris 'Paddy' Doonan, Mike Handford, Colin 'Scouse' Kidman, Lawrie Lawrence, John Ling, Ted Mangion, Bill McGovern, Dusty Miller, Mick Openshaw, Bob Oulds, David Sandiford, Les Sharpe, Stew 'George' Sissons, Brian 'Troy' Tempest, Jim 'Tommo' Thomson and Tug Wilson (the older) plus several wives and other guests.  As though being in the company of such icons wasn't enough, I was especially touched to be presented with an AORNFCD tie for services rendered to the CD Branch over the past few years.  Thanks fellows, it means a lot.

Troy Tempest has posted other photos of the weekend's activities here.

18 May 13 - HDS Diving Museum update

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), has provided this update about the Diving Museum in No.2 Battery at Stokes Bay and the WWII bunker in Gosport used as the Society's library and repository for the museum's reserve collection:

"We have just received the donation of a KMB helmet fitted with an "Ultraflow" return-line breathing system.

Kirby Morgan Bandmask 'Ultraflow' helmet

This represents an important benchmark in the evolution of return line systems and complements the Krasberg helmet already in the collection.

JohnB" 

The HDS Museum relies on a handful of volunteer guides, at least two but ideally three of whom need to be on site when it is open for business at weekends during the summer.  If you live locally and can spare the odd few hours, please contact John Bevan via this email address or call him on 07802 785050.  You will then be given access to the online roster to fill in your own dates as and when you are available.  You don't have to be an HDS member to get involved in this or any other way.

17 May 13 - HMS Pembroke in BOA 70 commemoration in Liverpool

Following the participation of HMS Blyth (MCM1 Crew 2 commanded by MCDOA member Tim Davey) in last weekend's commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Atlantic (BOA 70) in London (see entry for 4 May 13), the Royal Navy website contains this article announcing the participation of HMS Pembroke (newly manned by MCM1 Crew 5) in next week's BOA 70 commemoration in Liverpool. 

HMS Pembroke

(RN website photo)

HMS Pembroke is planned to be open to visitors at Canning Half-Tide Dock between 1100 and 1600 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (25 to 27 May). 

16 May 13 - More publicity for IMCMEX 13

The BBC website contains this article (including a video) and the ITV website contains this video, both of which focus on the participation of HMS Atherstone (MCM2 Crew 1) in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX 13) in the Gulf. 

HMS Atherstone's bridge during minehunting in IMCMEX 13

HMS Atherstone's Operations Room during minehunting in IMCMEX 13

The videos include some good action sequences and interviews with MCDOA member Ben Vickery, HMS Atherstone's Commanding Officer. 

MCDOA member Lt Cdr Ben Vickery RN being interviewed for ITV News

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing the participation of UK naval forces in IMCMEX 13.  It includes this photo of MCDOA member Andy Elvin, Deputy Commander, Commander Task Force 52 (CTF 52), UK Mine Countermeasures briefing multinational forces on board the command ship USS Ponce (LPD 15) prior to the start of the exercise:

MCDOA member Capt Andy Elvin RN briefing IMCMEX 13 participants

on board USS Ponce

(US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Keen)

The Navy News website contains this article covering the same story.  It features PO(MW) Si Oldroyd and LS(MW) Chris Heron of HMS Shoreham (MCM1 Crew 7).

IMCMEX 13 involves navies from more than 40 countries whose focus is to promote regional security through mine countermeasure operations in the US 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

15 May 13

Death of PO(D) Mick Brady

MCDOA member Graham 'Tug' Wilson MBE has sent me this sad news:

"Hey Rob,

Don't know whether you heard but PO(D) Mick Brady sadly passed away early yesterday morning after a hugely brave fight with illness.  Scouse Fleming posted the sad news on Facebook yesterday.  A huge loss to his family, his many friends and the diving branch as a whole.

Tug"

CPO(D) Ian 'Scouse' Fleming and the rest of Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit 2 (SDU2) have paid their own tribute and I am sure that all other members of our community will join me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to Mick's family, friends and colleagues.

SDU2's tribute to PO(D) Mick Brady

IMCMEX 13 in the Gulf

The US Navy website contains these articles describing aspects of IMCMEX 13 (International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2013), currently being conducted in the Gulf:

International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2013 Begins

PO(D) Grahame Sheppard and AB(D) J J Brown prepare a REMUS 100 autonomous

underwater vehicle (AUV) in the Gulf of Aden during IMCMEX 12 in September last year

(US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Sunderman)

Old, but Not Outdated: Mine Countermeasures

Aerial view of ships at Mina Salman in

Bahrain in preparation for IMCMEX 13

(US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael Sandberg) 

13 May 13 - Royal Navy leads world's biggest minewarfare exercise

The Daily Telegraph has published this article describing how the UK is leading a fleet of 34 ships plus other units from 41 nations in an international naval show of force after Iranian threats to close the Gulf.  International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 13 (IMCMEX 13), led by Cdre Simon Ancona RN, will involve all four of the RN's minehunters based at Bahrain as part of Operation KIPION.

RN minehunters departing for IMCMEX 13 from their base at Mina Salman

in Bahrain

Older MCDOA members may remember Simon Ancona's sibilant serpentine father Derek as Commander of the RNR's 10th MCM Squadron c.1979-81.  After leaving the Royal Navy, he served as Her Majesty's Chief Coastguard until 1996.

11 May 13 - RN Diving Heritage: Far East Fleet Clearance Diving Team (FECDT) and Singapore

Last week, MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), received this request for information:

"Dear John Bevan,

I note that you are an associate member of the MCDOA and wonder if you can help me with some details of the British Navy divers in Singapore during the 1940s and 1950s.  I think the British Navy had Sembawang Naval Base in Singapore and that they certainly had a 'hard hat' diving operation and/or training school for divers.  The best people to ask would obviously be the old generation of British divers.

I am asking because the Singapore Navy now has a Navy Museum and I am trying to loan them a Siebe Gorman diving setup, i.e. SG pump with fully suited 6-bolt diver.  The Singapore Navy has no antique diving display and is unsure whether an old antique diving display will be suitable.  I told them that almost certainly the British Navy and/or HM Dockyards had a 'diving' presence in Singapore and I have been using Google to see if I could find any old diving photos showing a connection to Singapore.  Can you help?

Best Regards,

P K Chandran

Singapore"

John Bevan responded:

"Hello P K Chandran,

Thanks for your email.  I think the best person to answer your query will be Rob Hoole of the MCDOA, copied this email.

For my own information, I’d be most grateful for pictures of your SG pump and helmet with their serial numbers as I keep an index of all known items for research purposes.

Sorry about apparently not replying to your earlier letter!  Perhaps it was because I’m trying to avoid the temptation to fill my house with helmets!

Best wishes and good luck,

John"

I canvassed the usual suspects and MCDOA member Mike Gillam kindly provided this response:

"Greetings PK,

Your query to John Bevan has been passed on to me, one of the older generation of naval divers, not of the ‘hard hat’ variety, but with a particular interest in Singapore. 

Shortly after the Clearance Diving Branch was formed, teams were sent out to the two major Fleets at that time, in the Mediterranean and the Far East.  The Far East team arrived in Hong Kong in 1951 and proceeded to carry out diving duties with the fleet throughout the region including diving training and the disposal of unexploded ordnance.

Throughout the next few years the team made regular visits to Singapore and Malaysia.  In 1954 it was reported that one of the divers suffered a fatal attack, believed to be by a shark, while diving for the police near Singapore Harbour to recover jettisoned packets of opium.*

In 1958 an additional team was sent to Singapore to deal with the disposal of unexploded ordnance in the area leaving the Hong Kong team to continue training and their duties with the fleet.  The navy had no ‘hard hat’ divers in Singapore at this time although there may have been civilian divers working in the naval dockyard. 

The Naval Base in Hong Kong was being wound down in the late 1950s and the Far East Clearance Diving Team moved to Singapore in early 1960 to set up The Fleet Diving Centre in HMS Terror at the Naval Base, Sembawang.  This accommodated a professional diving facility, a bomb and mine disposal team and a diving school for the Far East Fleet.  I took over as team leader in May 1960 and remember that one of our first tasks was to commission the diving tank that been sent down from Hong Kong and convert an old battle practice target to act as a platform for diving training.

Above and below: Fleet Diving Centre at HMS Terror,

Sembawang, Singapore in the 1960s

Short diving courses were provided for the Fleet and various other groups such as the Ghurkas and Malaysian Maritime Police Officers.

Bottle stowage at Fleet Diving Centre, HMS Terror

The main duties of the team were to search for and dispose of explosive ordnance, exercise mine countermeasures, exercise the Fleet and the civil authorities against attack by underwater swimmers and conduct underwater ship husbandry, diving training and general diving.  This involved clearing areas still shown as being mined in such places as Eastern Malaysia and the Andaman Islands; exercising the fleet against underwater attack off Pulau Tioman;  CMS underwater screw change wherever that was required; dealing with unexploded ordnance left over from the WWII; salvage; and the never ending task of recovering things that had been lost underwater. 

The largest task while I was there was the clearance of ammunition dumped in the Johore Strait just off Sarimbun at the North end of the island.  Various items of British, Japanese and US ordnance had been dumped in the centre of the strait including bombs, artillery shells, anti-personnel mines, mortar bombs and grenades.  It took the team seven months to search for and recover nearly 400 tons of rotting ordnance, nearly 30,000 items, some of which were too dangerous to move and had to be detonated on a deserted beach nearby.

The Far East Clearance Diving Team finally left Singapore in 1971.  If you have any further queries or would like me to elaborate on anything that I have said, please let me know.  I would be happy to help.

On a personal note, Singapore holds many happy memories for us.  My wife and I first met in Singapore in 1960 when she was working in the British High Commission and it was my first proper job ashore.  It was also where we made our first home together and where our first daughter was born.  We returned there in 1967 when I was Staff Operations Officer to the Inshore Flotilla and where, in 1969, our third daughter was born.  Happy days!

Yours,

Mike Gillam"

* The clearance diver suffering a fatal shark attack in Singapore harbour was LS(D) Charles Brian Larkin, aged 21.  He was killed on 28 July 1954 and is buried in Kranji Military Cemetery.  As recorded here on the Veterans UK website, his name is included on the Armed Forces Memorial and the Roll of Honour at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The archives of the National Library, Singapore contain several articles about the FECDT in Singapore including this story in the Straits Times featuring LS(D) Geoffrey Clifford and MCDOA member Tony Lumbard.  I have also found old issues of the RN Diving Magazine a rich source of information about the team and its activities.  I believe the only users of standard (hard hat) diving dress in Singapore at the time worked for the Singapore Harbour Board.  One of them is mentioned in an article titled 'Salvage in Singapore', published in the Autumn 1960 (Vol 7 No 4) issue of the RN Diving magazine.  It describes FECDT divers assisting in the salvage of the capsized Singapore Harbour Board tug 'Pitho', 340 tons.

Does anyone have anything significant to add?

10 May 13 - HMS Ledbury finds historic sea mine on first day of deployment

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing the detection by HMS Ledbury (MCM2 Crew 6 commanded by MCDOA member Justin Hains) of a Second World War German GC ground mine in Weymouth Bay.  HMS Ledbury is en route to join Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) in the Mediterranean.

SeaFox ROV CCTV image of wartime German mine

(RN website photo)

8 May 13

Four men in a boat

Your humble webmaster enjoyed yesterday's glorious weather helping MCDOA associate member Doug Barlow sail his Westerly Griffon 'Dougout' from her winter quarters at Thornham Marina in Chichester Harbour to her summer berth at HMS Excellent.  Fellow MCDOA member Martyn Holloway, our usual crew mate, was otherwise occupied.  Instead, we enjoyed the company of Doug's son-in-law David Barnard (a retired 'toothwright' Cdr) and Dean Molyneaux (a serving 'greenie' Captain RN).

Dougout's crew waiting for the sluice gate to be opened at Thornham Marina

The favourable wind and tide ensured a swift passage along the shore of Hayling Island, Eastney and Southsea to Portsmouth although there was more than enough time to open the bar and consume a leisurely lunch en route.

Left: David Barnard in the cockpit with Doug Barlow leaning over the coaming

Right: David Barnard with Dean Molyneux at the helm 

We then had to flash up the engine to negotiate the gap into Portsmouth Harbour against a strong ebbing tide.

Following another yacht into Portsmouth

We arrived at the marina on Whale Island without incident and secured 'Dougout' in her summer berth, hopeful that the current weather bodes well for a better sailing season than last year.

Dougout being secured at HMS Excellent, ready for the new season

I saw several familiar faces at the Marina, one of which belonged to MCDOA member Rory Armstrong.  Rory is currently on PWO course and is pictured here with what he describes as 'a work in progress':

MCDOA member Rory Armstrong with his 'work in progress'

HDS Diving Museum update

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), has provided this update about the Diving Museum in No.2 Battery at Stokes Bay and the WWII bunker in Gosport used as the Society's library and repository for the museum's reserve collection:

"BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

A pretty good weekend with 46 visitors on Saturday, 32 on Sunday and 42 on Monday (including a visitor from HDS Poland).  TOTAL of 120 visitors.

WELCOME DUSTY MILLER

Welcome Dusty who joined our Guides team on Monday!

RECLAIM BELL - QUELLE BELLE BELL!

Thanks to British Oxygen and [MCDOA associate member] Gavin Anthony (QinetiQ), we have received 14 gas cylinders for HMS Reclaim's diving bell.  John Dadd and Jim Thomson cracked the installation with the aid of scaffolding, and finished off on Monday by John Dadd, Dusty Miller, Roger Forster and Barry Stayte.

 HMS Reclaim's diving bell being restored to its former glory

Ex-Sat Diving CDs John Dadd and Jim

'Tommo' Thomson with their handiwork

JohnB"

HMS Reclaim was commissioned on 1 June 1948 as the Royal Navy's deep diving and submarine rescue vessel and served until 25 October 1979 (see 'HMS Reclaim - A World Record-Breaker' in the website's Dit Box).  Here is her diving bell in its heyday:

HMS Reclaim's diving bell in its heyday

The HDS Museum relies on a handful of volunteer guides, at least two but ideally three of whom need to be on site when it is open for business at weekends during the summer.  If you live locally and can spare the odd few hours, please contact John Bevan via this email address or call him on 07802 785050.  You will then be given access to the online roster to fill in your own dates as and when you are available.  You don't have to be an HDS member to get involved in this or any other way.

7 May 13 - HMS Ledbury departs for Mediterranean deployment

The Royal Navy website contains this article and the Portsmouth News this article, including a video, describing today's departure from Portsmouth of HMS Ledbury (MCM2 Crew 6 commanded by MCDOA member Justin Hains) for a four-month deployment in the Mediterranean with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2).

HMS Ledbury leaving Portsmouth today

(RN website photo by LA(Phot) Vicki Benwell)

6 May 13

Warm welcome home for HMS Cattistock

The Portsmouth News website contains this article, including a video, describing yesterday's return to Portsmouth of HMS Cattistock (MCM2 Crew 2) from her three-month deployment in the Mediterranean with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) after a brief stopover in Poole (see first entry for 2 May 13).

New departure time for HMS Ledbury

The Portsmouth News website contains this article announcing that HMS Ledbury (MCM2 Crew 6 commanded by MCDOA member Justin Hains) will now pass Portsmouth's Round Tower en route to her four-month deployment in the Mediterranean with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) at approximately 1010 tomorrow (see second entry for 2 May 13).

Death of Rear Admiral Sir Morgan Charles Morgan-Giles DSO, OBE, GM

Today's Daily Telegraph contains this obituary describing the eventful life and career of Rear Admiral Sir Morgan Morgan-Giles who died on Saturday at the age of 98.

Admiral Morgan-Giles joined the Royal Navy in 1933 and qualified as a Torpedo Officer at HMS Vernon in 1939.  In 1941, he was sent to the Suez Canal where he was in charge of the campaign against German air-laid magnetic mines.  This included liaising with the RAF who flew Wellington bombers fitted with giant 'wedding ring' electro-magnetic mine sweeps at low level along the length of the canal.  He was awarded the George Medal for his work in rendering safe various enemy devices in the Suez Canal and received one of his four Mentions in Despatches for clearing the port of Bari in Italy.

A Wellington bomber fitted with 'wedding ring' magnetic minesweeping loop

Admiral Morgan-Giles was the Captain of HMS Vernon from March 1959 to January 1961.  He is shown here as the guest of honour at the Annual Divers' Dinner held in Kimbells Ballroom (later the Playboy Club and the Grosvenor Casino) in Osborne Road, Southsea in 1959:

Captain of HMS Vernon (later Rear Admiral) Morgan-Giles flanked by Cdr Bill

Shelford (the RN's first Superintendent of Diving) and Cdr John Carr OBE (SofD

at the time) at the Vernon Divers' Dinner at Kimbells in Southsea in 1959

5 May 13 - Long Service & Good Conduct Medal awards

Congratulations to CPO(D) N. Smith on being gazetted for the award of the clasp to the LS & GC and to LS(MW) C. P. G. McGregor and LS(D) L. J. O’Sullivan on being gazetted for the award of the LS & GC.  The relevant page of the Supplement to the London Gazette can be viewed here.

4 May 13 - HMS Blyth to participate in Battle of Atlantic commemoration in London

The Royal Navy website contains this article announcing a six-day visit to London by three warships, including HMS Blyth (MCM1 Crew 2 commanded by MCDOA member Tim Davey), to participate in events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic (BOA 70).  HMS Blyth is expected to berth alongside the Royal Naval Reserve unit HMS President at St Katherine’s Dock at 1300 (approx) on Tuesday 7 May and depart at 1645 on Monday 13 May.

HMS Blyth returning to Faslane in December 2012 after a six-month deployment

in charge of Standing NATO MCM Group 2 in the Mediterranean

(RN website photo)

3 May 13 - Latest promotion signal

I am grateful to MCDOA member John Craig for informing me that fellow MCDOA members Alex Bush, John Herriman and Del McKnight have been selected for promotion to Commander according to yesterday's signal.

Also selected were non-MCDOA members:

Lt Cdr Phil Dennis MBE: Former CO of HMS Middleton (MCM2 Crew 6) and HMS Quorn (MCM2 Crew 1)

Lt Cdr Des Donworth: Former CO of HMS Blyth and the now decommissioned HMS Walney (MCM1 Crew 1)

Lt Cdr Chris Nelson: Former CO of HMS Ledbury

Lt Cdr Tony Williams: Former CO of HMS Ledbury and HMS Hurworth (MCM2 Crew 7)

Lt Cdr Steve Higham: Former CO of HMS Middleton and current CO of HMS Cattistock (MCM2 Crew 2)

Lt Cdr Paul Ottewell: Former CO of HMS Penzance and HMS Ramsey and current CO of HMS Grimsby (MCM1 Crew 6)

Congratulations to all concerned.

2 May 13

HMS Cattistock returns from the Mediterranean

The Royal Navy website contains this article announcing the return to the UK of HMS Cattistock (MCM2 Crew 2) from a three-month deployment in the Mediterranean with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2).  She will arrive in Poole tomorrow to renew her affiliation with the village of Cattistock and associated organisations before finally returning to her base at Portsmouth at 1600 on Sunday.

HMS Cattistock

(RN website photo)

The members of MCM2 Crew 2 have been deployed for 12 of the past 16 months, first in HMS Middleton in the Gulf and then in HMS Cattistock in the Mediterranean.

HMS Ledbury bound for the Mediterranean

The Royal Navy website contains this article announcing next Tuesday's departure from Portsmouth of HMS Ledbury (MCM2 Crew 6) for a four-month deployment in the Mediterranean with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2).  The article features MCDOA member Justin Hains, HMS Ledbury's Commanding Officer.

HMS Ledbury

(RN website photo)

HMS Brocklesby returns from pre-deployment training

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing last week's return to Portsmouth of HMS Brocklesby (MCM2 Crew 4) after two months of pre-deployment training including participation in Exercise JOINT WARRIOR 13-1.  After a brief period of leave, her ship's company will deploy to the Gulf for six months in HMS Atherstone, currently manned by MCM2 Crew 1 under the Command of MCDOA member Ben Vickery.

HMS Brocklesby

1 May 13 - Bomb disposal badge authorised for RN EOD operators

Effective from today, Royal Navy Chief Petty Officers and Petty Officers who hold an 8B8, 0808/0801 or DEOC qualification are permitted to wear an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) trade badge similar to those worn by their Army and RAF counterparts (Official Ref: 2013DIN04-055).  CPOs will wear a gold version of the badge on No.1 Uniform/Mess Dress 6mm above the centre cuff button on the right arm and POs will wear it 36mm from the end of the sleeve. 

A red version of the badge is to be worn by all RN EOD operators on CS95 or MTP on the right upper arm or sewn on to the Velcro patch on MTP. 

This badge will not replace the current diving helmet or heraldic dolphin badge worn by Officers and Warrant Officers and there will be no change to the badges worn on No.4 or No.1 Uniform for Junior or Senior Rates.

The origin of RN ratings wearing a bomb disposal badge during and after the Second World War is described in the entry for 8 Jan 08 in News Archive 21.  According to MCDOA Hon Sec Richard 'Soapy' Watson, this information proved helpful in gaining the latest authorisation.

30 Apr 13 - HMS Middleton's divers in Gibraltar

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing a week-long training deployment in Gibraltar for the diving team of HMS Middleton (MCM2 Crew 3).  The five-strong team comprised Executive Officer Lt Sam Jane RN, LS(D) Duncan Watt and AB(D)s Dan Box, Tom Davies and Will Davis.

AB Will Davis takes details from AB Dan Box on a rainy day on the Rock

(RN website photo)

29 Apr 13 - Combined Association Barbecue at Horsea Island on 21 July

MCDOA Secretary Soapy Watson, the principal coordinator of this event, will be on leave on the original date of 15 June so he has postponed it until Sunday 21 July.  He points out that this is just before summer leave and HMS Excellent's Summer Ball is on 19 July so MCDOA members' wives and girlfriends should be around for the weekend.

This popular annual function is open to all past and present members of the RN MW & Diving branches and their guests.  The calling notice and booking form are available for download here or via the Forthcoming Events page.

28 Apr 13 - HDS Diving Museum update

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), has provided this update about the Diving Museum in No.2 Battery at Stokes Bay and the WWII bunker in Gosport used as the Society's library and repository for the museum's reserve collection:

"VISITORS

Another good weekend with 36 on Saturday and 44 on Sunday, not to mention 29 special visitors from the Friends of the Royal Navy Museum on the 25th.

VIP!

We were delighted to receive Nobby Clark on Sunday who was an exchange RN diver on the SEALAB III Project in the USA with [MCDOA member] Cyril Lafferty.

Nobby Clarke with SEALAB exhibit

SPRING IS HERE!

See below for documentary proof of spring flowers bravely reappearing at last!  Thanks to Margaret Marks for planting them in the first place!

Spring at the HDS Museum

BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND COMING

Hopefully we should be in full swing this coming weekend.  Sadly, Ann and I are visiting HDS friends in Sweden over that weekend so please make sure we have a reasonable turnout of guides whilst we are away.

JohnB"

The HDS Museum relies on a handful of volunteer guides, at least two but ideally three of whom need to be on site when it is open for business at weekends during the summer.  If you live locally and can spare the odd few hours, please contact John Bevan via this email address or call him on 07802 785050.  You will then be given access to the online roster to fill in your own dates as and when you are available.  You don't have to be an HDS member to get involved in this or any other way.

Post script: It is good to see that Nobby Clark has visited the SEALAB exhibit at the HDS Museum.  As a PO(D), he wrote these articles which appeared in Vol 15 No 2 and Vol 16 No 3 of the Royal Naval Diving Magazine:

Congratulations to all concerned.

21 Apr 13 - HDS Diving Museum update

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), has provided this update about the Diving Museum in No.2 Battery at Stokes Bay and the WWII bunker in Gosport used as the Society's library and repository for the museum's reserve collection:

"VISITORS

Exactly 100 visitors over Sat (49) & Sun (51)!  So it's picking up again, thanks to the novelty of sunshine appearing!  We were also visited by Sue Deane (yes - Deane!).  Also Mrs Alex Campbell, whose father (CPO Peter Sothcott) died while diving in Portsmouth Dockyard in 1961.

[By Webmaster: Peter Charles Sothcott was a Shipwright First Class serving at HMS Vernon who died while examining the hull of the Type 12 frigate HMS Londonderry in Portsmouth Harbour on 3 March 1961.  He was 34 years old, married, with two children.  He is buried in the RN Cemetery at Haslar and his name is on the Armed Forces Memorial in the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire.]

EXHIBITS

For those who haven't been along recently, here are images of two newer exhibits:

DONATIONS

We were lucky to receive Robert McCann (ex-RE diver) on Sunday who donated an RN Manual on the RN comms set (BR 155 C(8)) amongst other things.

FLYING VISIT

A 9-lb eagle owl appeared outside.  The owner was taking it for a walk. It eats mice and rats, but did you know that it's illegal to feed them live mice or rats?  They'd probably shoot the owl if you did!

JohnB"

The HDS Museum relies on a handful of volunteer guides, at least two but ideally three of whom need to be on site when it is open for business at weekends during the summer.  If you live locally and can spare the odd few hours, please contact John Bevan via this email address or call him on 07802 785050.  You will then be given access to the online roster to fill in your own dates as and when you are available.  You don't have to be an HDS member to get involved in this or any other way.

20 Apr 13

Funeral arrangements for John Terry FCSD

I have been advised that the funeral of John Terry, who passed away last weekend (see entry for 15 Apr 13), will take place at 1130 on Tuesday 30 April at Portchester Crematorium.  No flowers, thank you, but all are welcome to attend.

Death of Kathy Forsey

I have received the following sad news from MCDOA member Dave Forsey MBE:

"Rob,

After a long and painful fight against cancer, my wife Kathy passed away peacefully in the Rainbow Room at the the local West Berkshire Community Hospital on Sunday 14th April.  It has been a particularly painful year because our eldest son Peter died in January.

Those who knew Kathy will know how she was always full of fun and laughter and forever an enthusiastic supporter of all things CD.  Those in the Faslane Team in the early 1970s may recall how, after all-night screw changes, it was "back to the Boss's house for breakfast" and, at any slow party, she loved the opportunity to tease with the "Diver who went to Heaven" joke.  She will be sorely missed by me, our daughter Catherine, son Paul and our nine grandchildren.

Her funeral service will be held at 1130 on Friday 26th April at St Michael & All Angels Church in Enborne and will be conducted by the Reverend Rachel Lewis.  The service will be followed by natural burial at Acorn Ridge and all are then welcome at The Craven Arms in Enborne for refreshments.  Family flowers only but donations in her memory may be made to the Newbury & District Cancer Care Trust (NDCCT) and the Friends of the Charles Clore Unit, c/o Camp Hopson Funeral Directors, 90 West Street, Newbury, RG14 1HA, Tel (01635) 522210.

Yours aye,

D"

Dave and Kathy were married on 2 June 1956 and celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at an MCDOA Ladies Night in HMS Nelson exactly 50 years later.

Left: Dave & Kathy Forsey on 2 June 1956

Right: Dave & Kathy Forsey on 2 June 2006

19 Apr 13

HMS Cattistock heads up multi-national mine exercise

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing the participation of HMS Cattistock (MCM2 Crew 2) with ships from Spain, France and Turkey in MINEX 13-1, a multinational minehunting exercise off the coast of Spain.

The Spanish minehunter ESPS Duero from HMS Cattistock

(RN website photo)

Mission accomplished

After 110 miles and 24 hours of near-continuous paddling, Soapy Watson and Andy Brunton completed their sponsored canoe challenge at 0800 this morning.

Above and below: Soapy and Andy completing their epic canoe challenge on Horsea Lake

Andy and Soapy getting used to their

land legs

Andy and Soapy flanked by support team members Stan Stanley

and Nellie Nilsson

It is still possible to support Soapy and Andy by making an online donation on the Virgin Money Giving website here.

Well done, guys.

18 Apr 13

STOP PRESS! Horsea Island Sponsored Canoe Challenge

This was the scene on Horsea Lake at the Defence Diving School (DDS) at 0800 this bright but blustery morning when MCDOA past-Chairman Paul Jones, Commanding Officer of HMS Excellent, started MCDOA Honorary Secretary Richard 'Soapy' Watson and former WO(D) Andy Brunton MBE of DIVEX on their 24-hour sponsored canoe challenge: 

Paul Jones preparing to start off Andy (left) and Soapy (right)

Left: They're off!

Right: Only 125 miles to go

By 0830, the team had covered the first 2.3 miles and are shown here on the more sheltered water opposite Pasley's Pool at the Lock Gates end of the lake:

So far, so good

Soapy and Andy are undertaking this challenge to raise funds for The Vernon Minewarfare and Diving Monument and the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity in lieu of the Devizes to Westminster race from which they were forced to withdraw owing to the special regulations imposed because of the uncommonly harsh conditions (see entry for 29 Mar 13 in News Archive 41).  If you would like to give them your support in person, please drop in before they finish at 0800 tomorrow.  Alternatively, email me your messages of encouragement via my Webmaster address and I will pass them on when I return to Horsea later today.

The team's sponsorship page does not currently permit online donations although this should be remedied later today.  In the meantime, you can still support them by donating straight to one or both of their worthy causes via the links above or by chucking some cash into the collection bucket at Horsea.

Post script: The boys were still looking remarkably fresh at 2300 by which time they had completed over 80 miles.  They had switched to the heavier canoe owing to the choppy conditions:

Cockleshell heroes in the dead of night

In the meantime, the support team comprising Stan Stanley and Nellie Nilsson were manning DIVEX HQ in the old Chief of the Island's office, ever alert to any emergency like two rusty coiled springs.

Stan and Nellie holding the fort

Funeral of ex-CPO(D) Royston Watson 'Roy/Taff' Davey

All Saints Church in Denmead was almost filled to capacity for this afternoon's funeral of ex-CPO(D) Roy/Taff Davey (see entry for 14 Apr 13).  Apart from family, friends and former colleagues at Oaklands RC School in Waterlooville, several members of the RN minewarfare and diving community were present including former WO(MW) Lee 'Barney' Barnett and ex-CDs Chris 'Paddy' Doonan, Bob Fraser, Chris Jones, Pat Stevens, Jim 'Tommo' Thomson plus 'Yours Truly' (Rob Hoole).  Also present were Margaret Peters and Julie Quinn, the respective widows of ex-CPO(D) Jasper Peters (see entry for 30 Apr 07 in News Archive 18) and ex-CPO(D) Jim Quinn (see entry for 18 Oct 2004 in News Archive 8) who were based in Singapore with Roy and his family while serving on the Far East Fleet Clearance Diving Team in the 1960s.

The service started with the sentences, welcome and opening prayer by the Revd Sandra Edwards before the congregation sang 'The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended'.  After a reading from Revelations 21 verses 1 to 7 (Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth), the Revd Edwards delivered a tribute to Roy which described how he was born in Swansea, South Wales in 1934, left school when 15 and joined the Royal Navy at HMS St Vincent at the age of 15-and-a-half.  He qualified as a clearance diver and experienced several adventures in the UK, the Mediterranean and the Far East.  We heard how on one occasion when countermining a mine washed up on a beach, Roy had to ask a member of the public for a match to light the safety fuze leading to the demolition charge.  Roy met Margaret in Malta in 1959 and married her on Guy Fawkes Day the following year.  They subsequently had two daughters although one sadly died 13 years ago. 

After leaving the Royal Navy, Roy taught maths and applied science for 18 years at Oaklands RC School in Purbrook where he was known as 'Mr Sunshine'.  His interests included fast cars and we were told about the MG Q-Type racing car he owned while in the Royal Navy and the red BMW he later drove in civilian life which led to him being referred to as the 'Red Baron'.  He enjoyed taking his family on holidays to Brittany and Normandy and always did the cooking.  He also loved his dogs Monty, Rufus and Winston.  His death was the result of asbestosis diagnosed three years ago.

The congregation then listened to a recording of the Fron Male Voice Choir singing 'Unchained Melody', Roy and Margaret's favourite song, before prayers were said.  This was followed by a rousing rendition of the hymn 'Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer' before the Revd Edwards said the Prayer of Commendation and gave the Blessing.  The coffin and the congregation left the church to the sound of the Fron Male Voice Choir singing the poignant 'Suo Gan' which I always remember as featuring in the film 'Empire of the Sun'. 

Family members then attended the interment in the adjacent cemetery before joining other mourners at the Mead End pub to raise a glass in Roy's memory.

I am sure that all members of our community join me in offering Roy's widow Margaret, his daughter Helen and ex-RN son-in-law Mark and their daughters Olivia and Lily our sincere condolences.  For those unable to attend Roy's funeral service, donations in his memory can be made by cheque payable to either the RSPCA Stubbington Ark or Hounds For Heroes and sent to: South Downs Funeral Service, The Old Post Office House, Hambledon Road, Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants PO7 6NN.  Tel: 023 9223 1567.

Royston (Roy/Taff) Watson Davey

(13 Dec 1934 - 3 Apr 2013) 

Kudos for First MCM Squadron

The Royal Navy website has published these articles today:

First Mine Counter Measures Squadron receives top naval prize.  Congratulations to the Maritime Warfare Battle Staff of the Faslane-based First Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM1) for winning this year's Surface Flotilla Efficiency Trophy in the area of “Mine Counter Measures”  and to HMS Blyth of the same squadron for winning the effectiveness trophy in the field of “Communications”.

Adm Sir Mark Stanhope, the outgoing First Sea Lord, presenting Cdr Andy

Lamb (MCM1) with the Surface Flotilla Efficiency Pennant at Faslane

(MoD website photo)

Aberdeen Royal Navy Officer Honoured.  Congratulations also go to Cdr Andy Lamb (MCM1) on being invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his extensive MCM-associated service including Command of HMS Ramsey, HMS Pembroke and HMS Shoreham at home and overseas.

Post script: The Ministry of Defence website has since published this article covering the above stories.

17 Apr 13 - RN EOD team deals with home-made 'firework'

The Island Echo website contains this article, including a video, describing yesterday's disposal by a Royal Navy bomb disposal team, presumably Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit 2 (SDU2), of a suspicious device found in Sandown on the Isle of Wight.  According to this article on the Isle of Wight County Press website, the item was identified as a home-made firework.

16 Apr 13

HMS Ramsey visits KSA

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing some of the activities enjoyed by the ship's company of HMS Ramsey (MCM1 Crew 1) during her recent visit to Saudi Arabia (see first entry for 3 Apr 13).

Divers from HMS Ramsey and the RSNF HMS Al-Shaqra diving on a reef

(RN website photo)

HMS Ramsey top of the class for fitness

The Royal Navy website also contains this article describing the unsurpassed level of fitness achieved by the ship's company of HMS Ramsey (MCM1 Crew 1), currently deployed in the Gulf.

Fitness with a Mk 44 Minigun on board HMS Ramsey

(RN website photo)

15 Apr 13 - Death of John Terry FCSD

John Terry with his painting of Vernon Creek

I am extremely sad to report that John Terry FCSD finally succumbed to cancer over the weekend.

During the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, John was a member of the Portsmouth Graphics Pool on the fifth floor of Creasy Centre at HMS Vernon.  Apart from his normal work producing illustrations (remember those pre-PowerPoint instructional viewfoils and slides?), technical drawings and diagrams for various naval authorities, ships and units in the Portsmouth & Medway Command area, he painted the striking murals in Creasy's foyer depicting the history of Royal Navy mining and mine countermeasures.  He also painted the mural in the Conference Room depicting 'The Battle of Portobello', famously won in 1739 by Admiral Edward 'Old Grog' Vernon after whom the establishment was named.  John finally retired in 2010 as the Head of Fleet Publications & Graphics based at HMS Excellent.

From the outset, John was a keen supporter of Project Vernon, the campaign to erect a statue at Gunwharf Quays to commemorate the minewarfare and diving heritage of HMS Vernon which previously stood on the site.  He provided a set of conceptual drawings from which one was chosen by an all-ranks committee of serving and ex-serving MW and CD personnel to serve as a logo and to advise and inform the thirteen sculptors who originally bid for the commission in an open competition (see various entries in News Archive 23 and elsewhere).

John Terry's conceptual design

for Project Vernon

The Project Vernon committee, drawing on the free advice of the President of the Royal British Society of Sculptors, applied a rigorous set of criteria to produce a shortlist of three proposals before settling on the design submitted by Les Johnson FRBS.  This was formally adopted in August 2010 (see various entries in News Archive 31).  WO(D) Andy Carss QGM is shown with a maquette of the winning design in this video although the marauding shark, included by the sculptor to add 'an increased sense of danger', was immediately rejected as superfluous.

To kick off project fundraising, John freely donated his talent and many hours of his time to producing 'Danger at Depth', a painting depicting a clearance diver in older-type CDBA securing a demolition charge to a Mk 17 moored mine fouled on the seabed by a severed sweep wire.  His generosity even extended to adding bespoke embellishments to the higher-priced limited edition prints.  The version he produced for me, signed by significant characters in the recent history of RN minewarfare and diving, has hand-painted badges of the principal MW and Diving ships and units in which I served during my 32-year naval career, all at a sizeable premium which went straight into the Project Vernon coffers:

Hoole's Double Remarque print of 'Danger at Depth'

John also donated the original painting to the cause and it duly fetched a five figure sum from a retired member of the CD Branch.

Following the success of 'Danger at Depth', Project Vernon commissioned John to produce a depiction of HMS Vernon's waterfront, intended to appeal to a wider market.  This resulted in  'Vernon Creek', a scene notionally set in 1976 which shows HMS Bronington, HMS Soberton and the ill-fated HMS Fittleton as well as other RN and RNR Ton Class MCMVs, diving tenders, PAS boats and other craft scooting around Portsmouth harbour.  Again, John produced bespoke embellishments for purchasers of the higher-priced limited edition prints.  My version, signed by significant personages in the recent history of RN minewarfare (including a recent First Sea Lord), includes sketches of the main gate and the wardroom:

Hoole's Double Remarque print of 'Vernon Creek'

By my reckoning, sales of John's paintings and prints have grossed over £53,000 for Project Vernon to date with potential sales of another £90,000 remaining in stock.  Why not order a limited edition print of one of his paintings as an enduring testament to this fine man?  Details can be found on the Project Vernon website here and there are prices to suit all pockets.

Above and beyond all this, we will remember John for being a firm friend of the RN minewarfare and diving community.  We offer our sincere condolences to his widow Joy, other family members and friends.  I will publish funeral arrangements when known.

From MCDOA past-Chairman Paul Jones:

"Incredibly sad news to hear of John's passing.  As Chairman of the Project Vernon committee 2008-2010, I was amazed by his wonderful pictures (Diver at Depth and Vernon Creek) produced during that period and how brilliantly understated he was of his tremendous ability. 

An absolutely lovely bloke with an incredible talent that will be inextricably linked with memories of HMS VERNON and his brilliant artwork that seemed to be everywhere - there is even a piece of scenery he painted lurking at the back of Fisher Hall theatre at HMS EXCELLENT!

He will be sorely missed by his naval family and my thoughts are with his family.

Paul Jones"

From former FCPO(MW) Lee 'Barney' Barnett:

"Rob,

VMT for giving us the sad, sad news of John Terry's sudden death.  Dixie [Dean] said he had been given far longer than what transpired.

He was one heck of a guy.  I have a cartoon somewhere amongst my memorabilia that a PO MW Course divied up some 'blue liners' for him to produce.  A most remarkable, talented man who did lots for us guys in blue suits.

My thoughts are with his family and may he find a safe anchorage in the next world.

Yours aye,

2xTs"

14 Apr 13 - Funeral arrangements for ex-CPO(D) Royston 'Taff' Davey

The Portsmouth News website contains this obituary (see entry for 8 Apr 13):

Royston (Roy Taff) Davey : Obituary

Davey Royston (Roy/Taff) Retired R N CPO CD1 Bomb and Mine Disposal. Retired Maths Teacher Oaklands R.C. School.

Who passed away suddenly at Queen Alexandra Hospital on April 3, 2013, aged 78 years.  Will be sadly missed by his loving wife Margaret, daughter Helen, son-in-law Mark, granddaughters Olivia and Lily, niece Jill and nephew Alan.

Funeral service to take place on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at All Saints Church, Denmead at 1.00 p.m. followed by interment in Denmead Cemetery.  Family flowers only please.  Donations by cheque made payable to either the RSPCA Stubbington Ark or Hounds For Heroes may be sent to:

South Downs Funeral Service

The Old Post Office House

Hambledon Road

Denmead

Waterlooville

Hants

PO7 6NN

023 9223 1567

13 Apr 13 - MCDOA President leads forces for largest military exercise in Western Europe this year

Cdre Paddy McAlpine OBE ADC in Malta last November

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing the latest bi-annual Exercise JOINT WARRIOR which starts today.  British warships (including the MCMVs HMS Brocklesby (MCM2 Crew 4), HMS Hurworth (MCM2 Crew 7), HMS Pembroke (MCM1 Crew 8 commanded by MCDOA member Matt Moore) and HMS Grimsby (MCM1 Crew 6)) plus other units will be joined by more than 30 visiting warships, 40 fixed-wing aircraft and 30 helicopters. 

The article features MCDOA President Cdre Paddy McAlpine OBE ADC (Commander UK Task Group) who will command British, Canadian and Dutch ships during the exercise.

Belgian, German, Norwegian and Polish ships of Standing NATO Mine

Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) arriving in Glasgow

ready for the start of Exercise JOINT WARRIOR 13

12 Apr 13 - News from John Craig in the USA

Flashback to John Craig handing over Command of the Second MCM

Squadron to fellow MCDOA member Martin Mackey in June 2011

I am grateful to MCDOA member John Craig for this update:

"Rob,

I stumbled across this article in the latest edition of the U.S. Naval War College's student magazine, The Luce Journal:

Red Diver Up by Lt Cdr Kathryn J. Krause USN (pdf file - 405 KB)

For an establishment that understandably concentrates on the challenging theater (sic) strategic to operational level of war interface, it was a refreshing change for me to think back to the days when dropping a wingnut because of thick neoprene gloves was a matter of life or death (or, more accurately, a matter of knocking-off early or going for yet another mud-run after upsetting the WO(D)!)  

While Newport may not be as attractive as sunny San Diego, we have solid MCDOA representation over here at the moment, and, even though the billets are tagged 'Post-SASB2 (i.e. Cdr) command tour' vice 'good-looking MCD', the UK is well represented in the US Naval War College by me (Joint Military Operations faculty professor) and [fellow MCDOA member] Roger Readwin (US Naval Command College student / Pentagon Liaison Officer (Desig)).  

For those MCDs who have hung up their fins and followed the PWO route (which, for your younger readers, is not half as bad as the ill-informed suggest!), the US Naval War College is a superb location to influence the future leaders of the US (and International) services and agencies in addition to visiting 19 states as part of the Naval Command College course (nice work, if you can get it!).  The NCC also has an enviable statistic that over half of the graduates attain flag rank while some 15% go on to head their service.  If Roger and I try really hard, then one day we might be able to muster up enough stars between us to match Cdre Paddy's one!  We can but dream...  

Yours aye,

John Craig

J A CRAIG

Commander Royal Navy

US Naval War College - Joint Military Operations Faculty"

11 Apr 13

Disposal of wartime ordnance off Essex

The East Anglian Daily Times website contains this article describing today's disposal, presumably by members of Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit 2 (SDU2) of an item of ordnance detected by a Belgian naval vessel off Walton in Essex.

False alarm in Glasgow

The Glasgow Evening Times website contains this article describing a call-out on Tuesday for an RN EOD Team, presumably Faslane-based Northern Diving Group (NDG), to deal with an object in the city's Gallowgate area, subsequently identified as an empty gas cylinder.

10 Apr 13 - RANCDA's ANZAC Day Banner for 2013

I am grateful to Philip Kember, an elected Fellow of the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diver Association (RANCDA) since 1993, for this message and photo:

Philip was awarded the QCB (Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct) in 1966 for the disposal of a Second World War German GY* moored mine washed up on the shore of the Gold Coast at Surfers Paradise in Queensland while serving with RAN CDT2 and the DSM (Distinguished Service Medal) in 1968 for operational service in Vietnam while serving with RAN CDT3 Det 1.  Before leaving the RAN as a PO(CD), he was also awarded the Australian Active Service Medal 1945-75 with clasps for VIETNAM and FESR (Far East Strategic Reserve), the Vietnam Medal, the Australian Defence Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, a partial US Meritorious Unit Citation, a Naval Board Commendation, a C-in-C US Pacific Fleet Commendation and a Returned from Active Service Badge.  By anyone's reckoning, that is quite an impressive tally.

9 Apr 13 - EOD incident in North Devon

The North Devon Journal website contains this article describing last Saturday's disposal of a mortar round at Northam Burrows, presumably by members of Plymouth-based Southern Diving Unit 1 (SDU1).

8 Apr 13 - Death of ex-CPO(D) Royston 'Taff' Davey

I regret to report that ex-CPO(D) Taff Davey passed away in Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham last Wednesday 3 April. 

I am sure that all members of our community will join me in offering Taff's family and friends our sincere condolences.  I will publish funeral arrangements as soon as they become available.

From Mark McGreevy, Taff Davey's son-in-law:

"Hello Rob,

At the moment we are looking at 1pm on 18 April at All Saints Church in Denmead and burial afterwards in the Denmead Cemetery.  I will put a notice in the Portsmouth Evening News next week.

Many thanks,

Mark"

From former WO(D) Don 'Jim' Green, Chairman of the Association of RN First Class Divers:

"Hi all,

Taff retired from the RN as a CPO(D) in the '70s or '80s and took up a position teaching maths, etc., at a private school in Waterlooville.  I am sure his family would be pleased with an attendance from any of his previous colleagues at his funeral, when it is known.

Regards,

Jim Green (Don)"

From former FCPO(D) Dave 'Mona' Lott BEM in Australia:

"G'day Rob,

'Taff' Royston Davey was part of the Med Fleet CD Team when I was there.  This photo of the team on Manoel Island in Malta in 1959 shows him standing fifth from the left.

I know he was part of the Far East Fleet CDT at some time prior to that.  He was also instructing in HMS Vernon when Peter Cobby was the Training Officer.The last time that I saw him was in Waterlooville where he lived after he left the RN and took up school teaching.  I can say that, as usual, I am sorry to see another of the "Old and Bold" go down.

Dave L (Mona)"

7 Apr 13 - Project Vernon: A unique opportunity to visit Studio 434

Project Vernon, the campaign to erect a monument at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth to commemorate the minewarfare & diving heritage of HMS Vernon which formerly stood on the site, has organised a fundraising visit, including a three course lunch, to Studio 434 on Sunday 15 September 2013.  Studio 434 is a unique personal collection of cars and motorcycles about which further information can be found here.

This is a fascinating opportunity to share a very special day with fellow car enthusiasts, petrol-heads and folk genuinely interested in classic cars.  The day will start on arrival at Studio 434 in Potters Bar between 1030 and 1130 with a glass of champagne or fresh orange juice on arrival.  There is plenty of free parking in the vicinity.

1919 Ford Model 'T'

There will be ample opportunity to examine the cars and motorcycles and for photo opportunities with one Studio car in their “Unique photographic cyclorama studio space”.  Please list which particular car you would like to have placed in this special photo area in the booking form linked at the bottome of this article.  We will then arrange for the most popular vehicle to be positioned in the photo area.  Please note that only one such car can be placed in this area during the day.  Recommended, popular models include the Jensen S type; the Daimler DB18; or the Jaguar Mk V… the choice is collectively yours!

1928 BSA S27 Sloper 

The £75 ticket fee for the day includes a high-standard three-course silver service Sunday lunch with wine or soft drinks followed by coffee on completion but the main objective is to put as much money towards the Vernon Monument as possible.

1938 Jensen S-Type Tourer

We plan to provide a professional photographer to help record the day’s events.  You will be free to examine all the exhibits until later in the afternoon.

1946 MG Midget TC

The Studio has generously offered to provide a raffle prize of a car (for one day!) – details to be confirmed.  News of other raffle prizes will be published at a later date.

1952 Series 1 Land Rover

Transport to and from the venue will be on a self-arranged basis for attendees.  The Studio has kindly offered to arrange transport from/to Potters Bar station for those coming by train (approx. 30 minutes from Kings Cross).

1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS

Please also have a browse through Studio 434′s website, which we hope will confirm your wish to attend this special day.

2010 Rolls Royce Phantom

How to book: The venue is limited to 100 guests in total so bookings will be taken on a “first-come-first-served” basis.  A reserve list will be started if appropriate and we need to enrol at least 60 people to make the event viable.  Secure your place by booking on-line and paying a refundable £50 deposit per head here. 

When the threshold of 60 attendees has been reached, you will be emailed a request to confirm your place(s) and pay the balance.  I look forward to seeing you on the day.

6 Apr 13 - RN Divers/DIVEX Horsea Lake 24 Hour Canoe Challenge 18/19 April

I have received this welcome announcement from MCDOA Honorary Secretary Richard 'Soapy' Watson:

"With the disappointment of not being able to compete in this year’s Devizes to Westminster (DW) Canoe Race, both Soapy Watson and Andy Brunton MBE have set their sights on an alternative challenge.  This is to paddle up and down Horsea Lake for 24 hours.  The intention is to reach at least the distance of the Devizes to Westminster (125 miles) in the 24 hour period.  They will be basing the paddle on the DW race.  For example, when they reach 35 miles (which was the distance from Devizes to Newbury) they will have a quick food break of ten minutes or so and then crack on to the next point, Reading at 54 miles.  They will also simulate the 74 portages involved with the DW race and a support crew will keep them fed and watered on the move at these points.

Andy and Soapy will have a support crew based at Divex Southern Facility at Horsea Island with Stan Stanley and Mick Openshaw along with CPO(D) Scouse Fleming.  'Paddle HQ’ will be down at the Divex Field Office (old Chief of the Island Office) where Stan Stanley will have the kettle on throughout so please feel free to visit; they will have safety cover throughout the 24 hours so someone will be there to host visitors irrespective of time of day.

Soapy and Andy training on Horsea Lake

They have received 'Green Lights' from the Commanding Officer of HMS Excellent (MCDOA past-Chairman Cdr Paul Jones RN) for the use of Horsea Lake along with the Commanding Officer of the Defence Diving School (Lt Col Paul Youngman RE) for waterspace management.

The challenge will be undertaken between 0800 on 18 April and 0800 on 19 April.  Cdr Paul Jones has very kindly offered to start the paddle.

Naturally a full risk assessment will be carried out to protect everyone’s interests and close liaison will be maintained with DDS waterspace management to ensure that the event does not impact at all on DDS diving training.

Sponsorship has been fantastic and it looks like they will raise £1,500 for the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity and The Vernon Minewarfare and Diving Monument.

Again, Soapy and Andy would like to say a very BIG Thank You to everyone who has contributed.

It would be great to see you all at Horsea during that 24-hour period so please come down.  Contact Soapy on 07980 552710 to get your name for the gate prior to 18 April."

5 Apr 13 - Re-enactment of Rendering Mines Safe at Explosion! this weekend

Avid re-enactor Tony Boyle will be demonstrating the role of a Second World War Rendering Mines Safe Officer (RMSO) this Saturday and Sunday at the Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower's 'Spirit of the 40's' Weekend.  The museum is situated in the former Royal Naval Armament Depot at Priddy's Hard in Gosport. 

Here is Tony in action last year with the replica German LMB/GC ground mine he has built from scratch, complete with parachute, fuze pockets and internal components (see entry for 22 Dec 11 in News Archive 36):

I have helped Tony with his research and, like others before him, he has kindly agreed to make a donation to Project Vernon as a token of his appreciation.  He is ever keen to make his demonstration even more accurate.

4 Apr 13

Team Hallin back in business

I am grateful to MCDOA member David Hosking MBE for this announcement:

"Dear friends & supporters of Team Hallin,

Happy Easter to you all.

At long last the refit to 'Hallin Marine II' is now finished and over the last eight days Team Hallin's new crew have been conducting sea trials on a very cold River Thames in order to test themselves and the 'new' boat/equipment in preparation for another Rowing World Record attempt.  This time we hope to row this summer non-stop and unsupported around mainland GB. 

Team Hallin including David Hosking far left

Please see attached summary report and photos from the sea trials held this Easter.  In addition to trying to win the Round GB Rowing Race starting from Tower Bridge on Saturday 1st June 2013, Team Hallin will also be attempting to raise £40,000 for their adopted charity, Combat Stress.

Team Hallin including David Hosking second left

Thank you for your past interest in our Atlantic World Record Row in 2010 [see second entry for 8 Feb 11 in News Archive 33] and please continue to support us and Combat Stress in this summer's race around GB.

Best wishes and regards,

David

Skipper 'Hallin Marine II'

www.teamhallin.co.uk"

Team Hallin is sponsored by Hallin Marine, founded in 1998 by MCDOA member John Giddens in Singapore.  John is still the company's Chief Executive and, like David Hosking, was a student on LMCDO '83A with 'Yours Truly' as their Course Officer.

RN divers called to EOD incident in River Tees

The Middlesborough Evening Gazette website contains this article describing yesterday's recovery of a mortar shell from the River Tees at Yarm by a Royal Navy Clearance Diving unit, presumably from Faslane-based Northern Diving Group (NDG). 

More photos are available on Demotix.com here.

3 Apr 13

HMS Ramsey visits KSA

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing a goodwill visit to King Abdulaziz Naval Base at Jubail in Saudi Arabia by HMS Ramsey (MCM1 Crew 1).

HMS Cattistock visits Algeria

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing a goodwill visit to Algeria by HMS Cattistock (MCM2 Crew 2), leader of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group Two (SNMCMG2).

The Algerian patrol boat Al Mirfak from HMS Cattistock

(RN website photo)

HDS Diving Museum update

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), has provided this update about the Diving Museum in No.2 Battery at Stokes Bay and the WWII bunker in Gosport used as the Society's library and repository for the museum's reserve collection:

"TURNOUTS

A big "THANKS" for the excellent Guides' turnout over Easter - though only a modest visitor turnout, with no thanks to the Arctic conditions.  Friday: 22; Saturday: 14; Sunday: 55 (the sun came out!) and Monday: 39.

VIPs

However we were honoured with visits by Councillor Chris Carter, Palmerston forts expert David Moore and BSAC Vice President Tony Marshall - who generously donated a prototype RN SABA set, a triple set and lots more.

NEW EXHIBITS

The new exhibits are looking superb and attracting very favourable comments.

GUIDES ROSTER

Please keep an eye on Gavin Anthony's Guides' Roster for 2013 to make sure we have at least three on duty per day.

CD PLAYER

One of our CD players has retired hurt.  If anyone has a spare CD player in the loft/garage/shed looking for a home, please let Ann know.

JohnB"

The HDS Museum relies on a handful of volunteer guides, at least two but ideally three of whom need to be on site when it is open for business at weekends during the summer.  If you live locally and can spare the odd few hours, please contact John Bevan via this email address or call him on 07802 785050.  You will then be given access to the online roster to fill in your own dates as and when you are available.  You don't have to be an HDS member to get involved in this or any other way.

2 Apr 13

An inspirational message from Al Nekrews

I am grateful to MCDOA member Al Nekrews QGM for this message (see entry for 22 Mar 13 in News Archive 41):

"Rob,  

I hope this finds you well?

I did send you an email last week (which has bounced back to my hotmail account?) to thank you for the mention of my QGM award and to thank Dave Hunkin for being kind enough to put it all together.  I am of course delighted at the award and hope that it will only add to the profile of the Branch and our continued contribution to the Joint EOD Community.  We certainly need to be forward leaning with respect to future EOD requirements, especially with the ‘draw down’ from Op HERRICK, while everyone in Defence looks to reorganise EOD capabilities and responsibilities.  There is a lot of hard work being done at FDS and NCHQ to ensure we continue not only to support Land operations, but more importantly, develop our niche Maritime EOD capability to meet future threats.  I was especially delighted that my No.2, Leading Diver ‘Waggy’ Waghorn was awarded the Fleet Commander’s Commendation on the same day as my QGM; his contribution to the success of our deployment as the first ever Royal Navy High Threat IEDD Team is immeasurable.  

On a completely separate note, it was great to read of Hunkin Junior’s success at the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race.  I know Adam personally and was very proud to hear about his achievement – he’s a real chip off the old block and a very determined young man.  It was really unfortunate that Soapy and Andy were unable to participate this year but I am sure they will join me in congratulating Adam… and to top it all – what a great present for Dave’s 50th birthday!

I hope to catch up at the summer BBQ.

Regards,

Al Nekrews"

MCDOA website achieves new high

During March 2013, the MCDOA website was accessed by 33,802 distinct host servers, the first time this statistic has exceeded 33,000.  The number of people accessing the website is likely to have been even higher because many servers (e.g. the MoD's and US Military's) are shared by several users.  Overall, internet surfers in 115 different countries and territories made 872,809 successful requests for pages, images and files and downloaded 32.77 gigabytes of data.

1 Apr 13 - A proud MCDOA member

I was delighted to receive this announcement from MCDOA member Dave Hunkin OBE:

"Hi Rob,

It was really disappointing to see that Soapy and Andy couldn’t compete in this year’s Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race but there was at least some MCDOA representation this year if only as a ‘support slave’!

My son Adam competed in the Junior Doubles race for the first time this year.  The Juniors (15-19) paddle the 125 miles & run the 77 portages over four days with three nights camping en route.  At 15, he and his partner William Hassall were some of the youngest competitors on the course and were delighted to finish in a time of 21hrs 43mins 26 secs.

Although spread over four days, it still provides huge challenges for the Juniors who paddle each day 34, 36, 38 and finally the 17 miles to Westminster Bridge.  They completed a huge amount of highly structured training over the last few months which took them from capsizing five times during the Essex Series Race in January to today’s great result.

Dave Hunkin with his son Adam

Please excuse the gratuitous ‘proud Dad phot’ but it is my birthday!

Best wishes,

Dave Hunkin"

Well done Adam (and happy birthday to his supportive Dad).

NDG responds to incident at Glasgow Airport

The Scottish Herald website contains this article describing a call out for Faslane-based Northern Diving Group (NDG) to deal with a suspicious package at Glasgow Airport today.

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