Items from The News, Navy News and Warship World are reproduced by kind permission of David Brown, Jim Allaway and Mike Critchley respectively. Click on the thumbnails to enlarge them.
30 Mar 07 - Restrictions on Duck Diving in Royal Navy
The following article from today's
Portsmouth News describes
restrictions on duck-diving in the Royal Navy following the inquest into
the death of Lt Paul McAulay at Horsea Island on 28 November 2002.
Just out of curiosity, does the recovery of bricks from the bottom of a
swimming pool while clad in overalls and plimsolls still feature in the standard Naval Swimming Test that I, like
thousands of others before me, passed without incident nearly 40 years
ago?
27 Mar 07
George Wookey Obituary
The following obituary for George Wookey (see entry for 21 Mar) appeared in today's Portsmouth News. He is described as having been appointed as an OBE instead of an MBE but this may have been my fault. If it was, then I apologise unreservedly.
Feedback
Several items of feedback have been appended to the entries for 2, 19 and 21 Mar 07 below.
22 Mar 07 - Funeral arrangements for George Wookey
The funeral service for George will be held in St George's Church, Naturaliste Terrace, Dunsborough, Western Australia at 1100 on Monday 26 March 2007. No flowers by request but donations in lieu to the Busselton Hospice would be appreciated.
Both the Daily Telegraph and the Portsmouth News have expressed interest in publishing obituaries and I have put them in touch with the right people. In the meantime, I am appending tributes to George to the entry for 21 Mar below.
21 Mar 07 - Lt George Wookey MBE RN
George Wookey
(31 October 1922 - 21 March 2007)
MCDOA member Alastair Cuthbert in Australia has informed me of the death this morning of fellow member George Wookey. He had been ill with cancer for some months and was in a hospice in Western Australia. He is survived by his wife, Patrice.
George Wookey was born on 31 October 1922. In 1938, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 15 and was sent to the boys' training ship HMS Impregnable. When war broke out the following year, he was drafted to HMS Colombo in Devonport. In 1942, he was sent to HMS Dolphin for submarine training and then joined the submarine P-36 (although he mistakenly recalled her as L-36 which was never commissioned) for a few months before transferring to HMS Oberon. He also served in the ex-American submarine P-556. At the end of 1943, he was sent to HMS Drake, the Royal Naval Barracks in Devonport, where he qualified as a diver. Just before D-Day in June 1944, he was sent to the submarine depot ship HMS Maidstone in Algiers. He returned to the UK (Portsmouth) in the fast minelayer, HMS Ariadne, and then joined the aircraft carrier HMS Venerable. In 1945, just before the end of the war, he was sent to HMS Seagull, a survey ship.
George undertook a course for commissioned rank in 1948 before joining the destroyer HMS Helmsdale to acquire his bridge watch-keeping certificate. In 1949, he attended the diving school at HMS Defiance in Devonport where he was involved in training X-craft miniature submarine personnel in penetrating anti-submarine boom defence nets. In 1951, he was present during the detailed underwater investigation of the sunken submarine Affray and the following year he helped conduct the original trials of the Squalus submarine rescue bell in the Solent, Falmouth Bay and Tobermory Bay. He spent 1953/4 based at HMS Safeguard, the Salvage Diving Unit at Rosyth. In 1955, he served at HMS Defiance's Diving School at Torpoint and was involved with the salving of the German 'Strength Through Joy' ship M.S. Venus.
George joined HMS Reclaim in 1956 and helped conduct trials with the RN's new one-man observation chamber which reached a record depth of 1,060 ft. He was a Qualified Deep Diver (QDD) and a Senior Commissioned Boatswain when he broke the world deep diving record on 12 October 1956 by descending to 600 ft from HMS Reclaim in Sørfjord near Bergen in Norway. This record still stands for a diver in a flexible diving dress and his own account of this feat can be read via this link. In 1957, he was promoted to Lieutenant and appointed as an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.
In October 1957, George was appointed to HMS Phoenicia for duty at the Diving School on Manoel Island in Malta where he had to investigate the death of a diver following an explosion in the upside down wreck of his old submarine, P-36, in Marsamasett. In 1958, he was engaged in archaeological diving to investigate huge pillars believed to be marble lying on the seabed among the remains of a wreck at Marsamema, Sicily, for Count Piero Gargallo.
In 1959, George returned to the UK to undertake the Clearance Diving and Bomb & Mine Disposal (B&MD) course. He was then appointed as the Staff B&MD Officer for Flag Officer Scotland's Command and spent two months on loan to the Royal Engineers at South Uist on Benbecula for guided missile recovery on the Atlantic range. On Sundays, when not required for firings, he helped search for, and eventually locate, the remains of the S.S. Politician of 'Whisky Galore' fame, sunk off Eriskay in 1942. In May 1961, he was involved in the investigation of a Russian trawler wrecked off Yell in 90 ft of water and soon afterwards he helped remove anti-submarine boom defence nets in Scapa Flow. In late 1961, he was loaned to the Royal New Zealand Navy to command the diving school and deep diving vessel HMNZS Manawanui and returned to the UK in January 1964. In September 1964, he submitted his resignation from the Royal Navy and purchased the derelict Motor Fishing Vessel, MFV 52, which he spent the next two years refitting in Malta. In the meantime, however, he was appointed to the Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Diving Team in Malta as a B&MD Officer in May 1965 but was sent to Aquaba, Jordan in August 1965 to train Jordanian service personnel. His resignation was accepted in September 1966 and he set sail for New Zealand via the Suez Canal. Here, he experienced some difficulties in passing through the canal owing to uncooperative staff.
In May 1967, George arrived in Australia and set up business as 'George Wookey Underwater Services'. During a slack period in September 1973, he became the relief master of the Kuwaiti livestock carrier Al Muahrosa for a round-trip voyage between Fremantle and Kuwait. Having returned to Australia from Kuwait in November 1973, he undertook offshore drilling work for Fleur Texas Mines at Cape Cuvier and spent the next ten years mainly engaged in offshore diamond-drilling development projects. He retired from business in June 1984 and took up consultancy and farming at Witchcliffe in the south-west corner of Western Australia. In 1991, he commenced building a mud-brick home which he completed in 1994. He was introduced to Patrice in 1995 and they subsequently married. An ABC Perth radio interview with George can be heard via this link.
In October last year, George and Patrice were invited back to Norway to attend ceremonies to mark the 50th anniversary of his world record-breaking deep diving achievement. Lt Col Andrew Canning OBE Royal Marines, the British Defence Attaché in Oslo, unveiled a plaque in his honour on the side of the fjord where he had set his record, 50 years to the day after the original event. Also present were MCDOA members Morty Drummond (the Captain of HMS Reclaim at the time), John Bevan (Chairman of the Historical Diving Society) and Chris Sherman (Chief Diving Inspector of the UK Health & Safety Executive). See entry for 16 Oct 06 in News Archive 16 for story and pictures.
I have asked Alastair to pass on the Association's sincere condolences to George's wife Patrice and to provide a floral tribute on our behalf at George's funeral. Further information about George and his achievements, including photos, is available elsewhere on the website. Use the search facility on the Home Page to find them.
George being dressed for his record-breaking
600 ft dive on 12 October 1956
From Lt Col Andy Canning OBE RM in Norway:
Dear Rob,
I had the distinct
honour of unveiling the plaque in
I was, in a way, a
fraudulent entry on to the scene during the weekend in
With my thanks, and
best wishes to all for the funeral of a truly memorable and brave man.
Kind Regards,
Andy
British Defence
Attaché in
Rob,
Thank you for your sad, but not unexpected news re George and a further period of grief.
I telephoned Les Maynard this morning, but he already had the news, and so was informed of the recent spate of other deaths. Les reckons we are coming up the list too fast, and he now intends to go into hiding!
I had a very long telephone call from a Bruce Thompson living on the North Coast of Oz, who is an ex RAN CD (SD) Officer and a mate of Jake Linton. Bruce spent a considerable time with the RN. Anyway, Bruce was also querying rumours of George's death. He had just received a message from a mutual friend of ours, David Strike, the writer and very knowledgeable diving personality. I have directed Bruce to your website where he will obviously find more information than he will have bargained for.
I was amazed at the different names that he knew including Ralph Mavin, and Shiner Wright MCDO. Bruce was joining the RAN Diving section just as Morty Drummond was about to sail home. I couldn't believe that he was talking about Morty as I had only just finished replying to Morty's e-mail when the phone rang.
Thanks again,
Dave (Mona)
Rob,
Devastating news. I am sad to say that I have lost contact with George's son Martin and hence George. I saw that the reunion occurred in Norway and it was great that it happened. It had spurred me on to contact him as we were planning a visit to the West later this year (Erica and I last saw him at the house he built over five years ago...), but we had a death in the family and somehow things got delayed, and now forever.
Thanks for keeping us all informed and our thoughts go out to the family.
Mike
From Sydney Knowles in Spain:
Dear Rob,
I was saddened to hear the news of the demise of the 'King of the Deep'. I met him at Vernon a couple of times and have always admired his achievement. Please pass on my deepest sympathy to Patrice.
Regards,
Sydney
From David Strike in Australia:
Hi Rob,
D'day, Mate!
From John Grattan:
Dear Rob.
I do remember the visit of the Bracknell unit for just a few weeks during the summer of 1966. Concurrently I was CO of the Med Team and had agreed, with the officer's appointer, to take George as a supernumerary whilst he prepared his own MFV for passage from Malta to New Zealand - that voyage is another story as he stopped in Australia. He was never a working member of the team let alone "the boss".
George was a great man who I knew well (he stayed with us) but adding fiction to his record does no good.
Yours,
John
[By
Webmaster: I agree with John and am very keen to keep the record
straight. Obviously, David misunderstood the circumstances of
George Wookey's appointment 40 years ago. My information is that George relieved Lt George
Campbell Foster MBE, DSC, RN
as
the OIC of the
20 Mar 07 - RN Diving Heritage - WWII 'P' Parties
The following query has been received from Phil Clare of Calne, Wiltshire:
"I hope I've come
through to the right contact.
Any info you
have would be most welcome.
Thanks
Phil Clare"
I have sent Phil the following reply:
Hello Phil,
Thank you for
getting in touch. I suspect your father is the Able Seaman
Ronald Clare mentioned in Open
the Ports – The Story of Human Minesweepers by J Grosvenor and Lt Cdr L M Bates RNVR (William
Kimber, London, 1956).
If so, he was a member of ‘P’ Party 1573 and was awarded a Mention in
Despatches (London Gazette 30 April 1946) for “good services in Mine
Clearance and Mine Disposal Operations in NW Europe immediately
before the close of the war with
%20Brixham.jpg)
'P' Party trainee wearing the 'Vernon
RMS set'
at HMS Vernon (D), Brixham
‘P’ Party 1573 was
formed at Barrow-in-Furness (HMS Firework - commissioned at Barrow 1
April 1944) in the charge of Lt Francis
Frederick Pearse MBE RNVR but was suddenly ordered to
The ‘P’ Parties
returned to the Continent in the Spring of 1945 and ‘P’ Party 1573
remained under Pearse with Sub Lt Arthur Storer RNVR (awarded a
Mention in Despatches) and a new young
officer, Sub Lt W S Hailstone MBE RNVR (known as Snowball) to assist
him. They went straight to
Lt Cdr George Gosse GC RANVR (left),
OIC
of 'P' Party 1571, after rendering
safe
one of several German
'Oyster' pressure mines (right) in Bremen docks May 1945
At the end of this
final gruelling task, the Commander
“The successful
completion of the mine clearance in the harbours of
You can apply for
a copy of your father’s naval service record by downloading a
Certificate of Kinship form and a Search Access Request (SAR) form
from the relevant
webpage
of the Veterans Agency website and submitting them to:
DNCM
Data Protection Cell
Building 1/152
PP65 Victory View
HMNB
PO1 3LS
Telephone Numbers: 02392 727531 /
723114 /
726063
I hope this
helps. Please pass my deepest admiration and respect to your
father. He helped originate the fine tradition and
heritage we share in Royal Navy clearance diving today.
Best wishes,
Rob Hoole
"Rob,
I just wanted to say thanks for all that info. I went to visit my dad the other day and I think it helped to bring back a few memories. He told me that one of their Ops was in the Caen Ouisterham Canal. He also spent time lodged with a Dutch family near the Walcheren area. Around the same time, they were on stand-by to go to Arnhem had Operation Market Garden succeeded.
I took him and my mum on a visit to Whale Island a few years ago and he still talks about how well they were looked after - as well as being able to recognise some of the breathing devices in use today.
One of his memories of Brest is the huge bomb craters on top of the pens and the small holes that they made on the inside - he said you could cover them with an old penny.
Once again, many thanks.
Phil Clare"
19 Mar 07 - RN Minewarfare Heritage - WWII Minelaying by Coastal Forces' Motor Launches
Don Cranefield is listed in the website's
WWII Awards for RN Minelaying
and
has sent this correction to the entry for his senior officer's
award: "I served as a Sub Lt RNVR from 1942 to 1945 on MLs
181 and 488, part of the 8th ML Flotilla, and received a MID [Mention in
Despatches] for service
in operation Hostile [series of minelaying operations off the coast of NW
Europe]. My CO was Lt Cdr Kemsley DSO who is, may I say, wrongly
described as being with the 10th and not the 8th Flotilla. I would
dearly love to know if any of my old shipmates are still alive! Don Cranefield"
This is puzzling because the
Official History of British Mining Operations 1939-1945
only mentions the 8th ML Flotilla, based at Milford Haven for the
earlier part of the war, laying mines in the Mediterranean in June 1944.
The Official History
does state that ML 181 and ML 488 were in the 10th ML
Flotilla and describes each mining operation in detail, including date,
time, place, types and numbers of mines laid, forces (MLs) involved and
any incidents that occurred during the operation.
Most of these MLs were converted 110 ft Fairmile A or 112 ft Fairmile B motor launches.
Vol I of the Official History (799 pages altogether) yields the
following information about the origin and composition of the minelaying
ML Flotillas, which I have compressed enormously:
From the end of 1940, ever increasing numbers
of Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) and Motor Launches (MLs) became available
and arrangements were made to enable these craft to lay both ground and
moored mines by the fitting of chutes in the former and traps in the
latter. In September 1940, these arrangements began to take shape
but the start of minelaying operations was delayed owing to a lack of
craft and the necessity to modify the A Mk 1 ground mine to ensure it
would operate correctly after subjection to severe washing down before
laying. Eventually, the following minelaying ML Flotillas were
formed:
50th ML Flotilla
formed May 1941 and placed under the orders of Vice Admiral Dover.
This flotilla comprised the Fairmile 'A' MLs 101, 102, 103, 104, 107 and
the Fairmile 'B' ML 220. By
mid-June, MLs 103 and 220 had completed their work-up but ML 101 was
under repair for bomb damage and ML 104 was still fitting out. MLs
103 and 220 carried out the flotilla’s first minelaying operation (NL 1
off
51st ML Flotilla
formed July 1941 and placed under the orders of CinC Nore in August.
This flotilla comprised the Fairmile 'A' MLs 100, 105, 106 and 110. The flotilla
carried out its first minelaying operation (QL 1 off
52nd ML Flotilla
formed mid-1942 and placed under the orders of the Portsmouth Command.
This flotilla comprised the Fairmile 'B' MLs 123, 125, 128, 210 and 213, all manned by Royal
Norwegian Navy personnel. The flotilla carried out its first minelaying operation (KB 1 off Pte de Barfleur) on 6 June 1942 but was
then transferred to the Dover Command to work with the 50th Flotilla.
ML 125 had her bows blown off by a drifting German mine near the
Sandettie Bank on 5 Oct 1942. Her First Lieutenant and Telegraphist were
killed, together with the Base Echo-sounding Officer, and four ratings
were injured with one dying later. She was towed stern first to
Dover by MGB 329.
ML 210 was mined off
10th ML Flotilla
formed in early 1943 and placed under the orders of CinC Plymouth.
This comprised the Fairmile 'B' MLs 157, 159, 179, 180, 181, 183, 184, 185, 186, 259 and
488. The flotilla conducted
its first minelaying operation (Hostile 3 off Lannion) on 3rd/4th April
1943. On 27 November 1943,
ML 488 collided with ML 179 while on passage to the minelaying area and
both boats had to return to harbour, the latter in tow of ML 259.
ML 183
sank after
colliding with East Pier,
By the end of the war, Coastal Forces had
laid 6,300 mines in NW European waters resulting in at least 73 enemy
vessels sunk (38,585 tons) and 61 enemy vessels damaged. Four
minelaying MLs were lost during various encounters with enemy forces
(and sometimes friendly ones), including fire from coastal batteries. I have invited Don to become an associate member of the MCDOA and
sent him this photo of two Coastal Forces minelayers. His
reply is shown below.
Fairmile 'A' Motor Launches
loaded with nine Mk XIX
moored contact
mines (left)
and six A Mk 1/IV ground mines (right)
"Hello Rob,
Thank you for your email re membership. I will return the form as you suggest. The picture you sent is indeed interesting. It is not one of our MLs, and looks from the stern more like what was called an SGB [Steam Gun Boat], being a little longer than our 112ft or so and the hull is a different shape. Ours were more sleek and yacht-like. The stern was a different shape, the bridge and chart-house different, the gun platform in a different location and the wardroom hatch in a different position. We carried four mines with sinkers, the one in the picture has nine. Our funnels were removed to keep a low profile I suspect...and so on. Our 8th ML Flotilla laid mines in the Western Channel and we worked from Falmouth and the Black Bat base in Plymouth. I note from the awards list that there was minelaying by MLs protected by MTBs in the Nore Command, presumably dealing with the Eastern Channel shipping routes. My guess is that your picture is one of those MLs and the place is wherever they had their base. I do remember that there was a base for Coastal Forces (to which we all belonged) at Newhaven. Was it there?
Our whole operation now seems bizarre. We sailed out from Plymouth as a flotilla, four ships in line astern, in two columns. My ship with me as navigation officer for the flotilla leading, on a moonless nights with calm seas, making five knots with our mines. We left at dusk and by dead-reckoning, allowing for the channel tides, arrived at our destination off the coast of Normandy or Brittany or the Channel Isles before dawn. I would then lay our mines and the other ships would see ours going over and lay their own in succession. I would call from the chart-house, "Lay on," and the AB would push the mine overboard and so on till all four were laid. I had previously worked out from tide-tables the depth they should be laid in order to keep below the surface at the lowest tides. On our return, I would confidently tell the Admiralty where the mines were laid and the position marked on the chart. I wonder now how incredibly inaccurate those positions must have been. At least we never heard of anything ever being sunk! By now the dawn was breaking and we were in enemy waters so they sent an MTB or even air cover to see us safely home.
Re my description of sailing across the channel with mines, probably we went at ten knots, not five, or we would never have got there under cover of darkness. Our escort work was five knots! The photograph of the MLs you sent, if operating, as I think, under Nore Command, could have been working from Ramsgate, where we had a Coastal Forces base. Wherever, there was considerable rise and fall of tide.
Don"
Don has also sent this picture
and accompanying text:
"Hello Rob, I am
attaching a picture I painted of the 8th ML Flotilla
leaving Plymouth at dusk to lay mines off the north-west coast of
France. Rame Head is in the background.
On ML 488 can be seen our armament(!): the small gun on the foredeck [normally a 40 mm Bofors], the .303
machine guns on the wings of the bridge, the Oerlikon platform amidships
and the smoke-making canisters on the stern. We carried four mines
with sinkers, which rested on rails and were pushed overboard.
Sometimes we carried four long acoustic mines to lay on the sea bed.
When not mine laying we served as anti-submarine escorts. We
carried the depth charges on racks and pushed them overboard to attack,
making sure we were making full speed of 12 knots for obvious reasons.
The mine laying operation went under the code name of Hostile for which
I received my award of a MID as the Navigation Officer for the flotilla.
The flotilla's CO was Lt Cdr Kemsley who received the DSO.
Trusting this might all be of
some interest. Don" [By Webmaster:
Don now concedes that he must have served in the 10th ML Flotilla, not
the 8th ML Flotilla which was based in Milford Haven before deploying to
the Mediterranean. Sometimes the memory can play funny tricks.] From Dave Mallinson: Hi Rob, The two vessels in
the photograph [see above] are Fairmile Type Motor Launches and not
Steam Gun Boats but I am afraid I am unable to confirm the location
although it could very well have been taken in Newhaven. I will
pass it on to a contact who may be able to help. Both vessels appear
to be Type 'A' Fairmiles. The outboard vessel is configured as a
Motor Gun Boat armed with a 3pdr HA/LA gun aft and .303 machine guns
situated port and starboard behind the bridge. In addition, she
carries two depth charges and 6 airborne ground mines. In contrast
the inboard boat appears to be configured as a minelayer carrying
nine Mark XIX moored contact mines. The demarcation
between the motor launch, motor gunboat, anti-submarine,
minesweeper and minelayer functions for the Type 'A' & 'B' was finely
divided and individual boats could be configured at short notice to
fulfil any, or a combination of, these functions. Also the weapon
fit could vary considerably from boat to boat. Some MLs were even
armed with single 21" torpedo tubes taken from the ex-USN four stack
destroyers sent to Britain under the Lend-Lease arrangements, and
oddities such as Holman Projectors. This can make identification
of type and function difficult. Interestingly, both boats and at
least one of the two in the back ground are still fitted with their
funnels Unfortunately, I am
unable to identify the actual numbers of the two boats in the photograph
and the location alone may not help as we have discovered the number of
visiting boats in ports such as Newhaven makes identification almost
impossible. Hope this helps. Regards Dave Dave
Mallinson stontamar naval
research 01383 852422 07900 395110 Hi Rob, Yes, both boats are
definitely Type 'A' Fairmile's although, as you point out, their
bridge structures are slightly different. This was often the
case and many of those configured as minelayers, rather than as gun
boats or motor launches, carried a modified bridge. Type
'B' boats
had a different hull form (round bilge as opposed to the hard chine
used on the design of the Type 'A'), scuttles in the hull and a raised
deck over the engine compartment, all design features which if you
look carefully are not present in either of these two boats. I am also informed that it is possible that
the photograph was taken in Dover but I leave the validity of that
statement to others. Type A minelayers, however, did work
out of Newhaven. Kind regards, Dave
From Captain Michael Gordon-Lennox RN: Dear
Rob,
I have consulted the
experts and the conclusion is that these are not SGBs but are Fairmile 'A's of the 50th or 51st ML (or HDML) Flotillas,
the inner one configured as a mine-layer and the outer one standard.
There were only 13 “A's built. As for the
location there is no reason to doubt it is a south coast port and may
well be Newhaven. I
hope this is helpful. I attach our latest
Newsletter.
Any support very welcome! Warm
regards,
Michael Gordon-Lennox
Trust Secretary (TAS officer of circa 1970 vintage!) From Wallis Randall: Sir, They are not Steam
Gunboats, but 'A' class Fairmile Motor Launches. The actual
photo can be seen on page 21 of 'Allied Coastal Forces' of WWII by
John Lambert & Al Ross (ISBN no. 0-85177-519-5) published by Conway
Maritime Press in 1990. Co-incidentally, I was involved in a minelaying operation as 'Sparks' on board HM ML 567 in company with
other MLs of the 8th ML Flotilla in 1944. Another ML, our
sister ship HM ML 493, is shown carrying the mines on pages 222/223
of the same book. We were bound for Leghorn off the north west
coast of Italy and we laid 30 mines [Mk XVII moored mines] in all without any problems.
8th ML Flotilla
by Don Cranefield
More from Dave Mallinson:
Regards,
Wallis Randall
Librarian
Coastal Forces Veterans' Association
From Cdr Alastair Wilson RN (Naval Historian and Author):
Dear Rob,
I handed over as Secretary of the CFHT [Coastal Forces Heritage Trust] to Mike Gordon-Lennox about four years ago, having set it up for the RN Museum in `93. And I have seen the painting before, possibly as an illustration as is mentioned on your site, but I rather think I've seen it in the flesh, as it were. I think someone brought it up to display at an exhibition, or something like that.
I have no great CF connections myself; the nearest I got to it was 15 months in a Fairmile 'B' converted as a Minesweeping Motor Launch. The RN converted about 12 Fairmiles as an interim measure while the Inshore Minesweepers were being built. ML 2840 was then used as HMS Watchful on Fishery Protection duties in the English Channel. We did stream our sweep gear once a quarter or so: AH on the starboard side, AD on the port side amidships, and a LL 'tail' astern, for which the winch was handraulic. No problem in streaming the loop, but bloody murder to recover. With a crew of only 12 + 2, it was a case of all hands to the pumps to get it in.
I do think your web-site is excellent and I'm going to suggest to Roger W-E [webmaster for the Naval Review] that he copies your link to give the current bridge-card; a most useful tool.
Yours,
Alastair
Cdr A. J. W. Wilson RN
Secretary-Treasurer
Naval Review
14 Mar 07
Institute of Explosives Engineers Journal articles
The current issue of Explosives Engineering, the journal of the Institute of Explosives Engineers, contains an article by your humble webmaster about Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and another by MCDOA member Terry Digges containing reminiscences of his distinguished career. The front cover picture, courtesy of D1 Steve Boughton, shows a WWII German GC ground mine being detonated off the Isle of Wight by Southern Diving Unit 2 (SDU2) based at Portsmouth.
MCD officers are entitled to membership of the IExpE by virtue of their EOD/IEDD qualifications.
Veterans' Lapel Badge
The qualifying dates of service for issue of the HM Armed Forces Veteran's lapel badge have been changed from 'up to and including 1969' to 'up to and including 1984' so as to include those who served during the Falklands war. Application details are available on the Veterans Agency website via this link.
10 Mar 07 - Vacancy for Military Diving & EOD Naval Staff Author
A vacancy exists for an ex-serviceperson with at least seven years' relevant experience to write and maintain operational publications about Military Diving and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) for the Fleet Staff Authors' Group (FSAG) at HMS Collingwood. This is a Civil Service Band C2 post. Further details are available from Mr Steve Rodgers (Tel. 01329 332345) and the deadline for the receipt of applications is Friday 16 March 2007.
9 Mar 07
Diver Down - Lt Cdr Michael Paynter Grubb RN
MCDOA member Tim Trounson has drawn my attention to the announcement in today's Telegraph of the death of Mike Grubb on 6 March 2007. Mike was not a member of the MCDOA but qualified as a Clearance Diving Officer at HMS Vernon in 1960 with Lt T W (Terry) Jones RAN and Lt J K (Tom) Parker RAN. He served with the Admiralty Experimental Diving Unit (AEDU) and undertook trials off Alderney and Malta but left the Royal Navy shortly afterwards to join the Coast Guard. He lived at Worthing but then moved to Falmouth where he was a keen ocean yachtsman in his Warrior 38' Tilos, and a pivotal member of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club.
A private family cremation will be followed by a Service of Thanksgiving at Mylor Parish Church near Falmouth in Cornwall at 1200 on Friday 16 March. No flowers but donations, if desired, to the RNLI (Truro Branch) c/o Mr C Cliff, 4 Salt Box Close, Mylor, Cornwall TR11 5NN. We extend our condolences to Mike's family, especially his surviving wife Libby, daughter Nina, son Christopher and five grandchildren.
According to my sources, Terry Jones went on to serve in the Battle Class destroyer HMAS Anzac and ended up living in Sydney while Tom Parker went on to serve as the First Lieutenant of the Ton Class minesweeper HMAS Ibis (ex-HMS Singleton) and ended up living in San Diego.
Bob Hawkins receives his MBE
MCDOA member Bob Hawkins has sent these wonderful photos of his MBE investiture yesterday at Buckingham Palace.
A quiet word with the Boss
Before the Ceremony
.jpg)
After the Ceremony
Seeing the photo of Bob with Gareth Edwards, here is one of the Welsh Wizard (fourth from the right) on board HMS Minerva in Bermuda in 1975 during a British Lions rugby tour that included JPR, Phil Bennett, Fergus Slattery, Willy John McBride and Roger Uttley. Everyone is relaxing around the wardroom table and those with longer memories might just recognise the Sub Lt landed with the OOD duty (extreme left).
British Lions on board HMS Minerva in Bermuda 1975
More RN Diving Heritage
I have received the following e-mail from MCDOA member Andy 'Sharkey' Ward, CO of the Northern Diving Group:
Hi Rob,
I've just hosted a visit here at NDG from a Mrs Elizabeth Bell who is the daughter-in-law of the late APO(D) David (Davey) Bell who was one of Buster Crabb's diving oppos in Gibraltar during WWII. Absolutely fascinating and she wants to present us with his medals (including a GM awarded at the same time in 1944 as Buster Crabb). She also brought us a load of press clippings, books about Crabb featuring her late father-in-law and most interestingly of all an old style commando dagger which he used to prise limpet mines off of ships hulls in Gibraltar!
She was put onto us by FOSNNI who was visiting the RBL in Prestwick so we will have a display case made up and mount them here in the section as she wishes them to go to a good home but to stay North of the border. I'll get some photos done and send them to you once we've made it all look pretty.
Cheers for now,
Sharkey
This is excellent news. An actor appeared as Ldg Seaman David Morrison 'Dinger' Bell in ‘The Silent Enemy’, the 1958 film about Buster Crabb in Gibraltar, with Laurence Harvey playing the star role and Michael Craig playing the part of Ldg Seaman Sydney Knowles, Sydney now lives in Spain and we exchange e-mails fairly often via his wonderful wife Frances. I am sure he will be delighted that his old diving buddy's memorabilia has gone to such a good home.
Wanted - Copy of Catt's Nine Lives video
I have received the following request for help:
Dear Sir,
I
am searching for a video made in the 1960s called, I think, Cat's Nine
Lives. Apparently, my father was in it but he has never seen it.
It was a Royal Navy explosives video made by the CD Branch. I saw
it once on my diving course in
Thanks for your time. I shall not be able to check my e-mail for
the next month as I blow into sat in the next two days.
Best regards
Scott Harris
Saltburn By The Sea
8 Mar 07 - Website Links
Reciprocal links have recently been established with the websites of the George Cross Database (its editor Marion Hebblethwaite was present at the dedication of the Bridge Building at Horsea Island), the Naval-History.Net (contains many RN bomb and mine disposal gallantry awards), the RAN 16th Minesweeper Squadron (dedicated to the RAN and RNZN Ton Class minesweepers that patrolled coastal and riverine waters during the Indonesian Confrontation in the mid-1960s), the Toronto Naval Club (the heart of RN expatriate life in Canada) and the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Officers' Club. I am pursuing a more formal affiliation with the latter in the hope that we might revive the tri-service Bomb Disposal Officers' Dinners and other functions we used to enjoy but the final decision rests with our Committee.
Sadly, our link with the Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower on the site of the old RN Ammunition Depot at Priddy's Hard in Gosport will lapse at the end of March because the museum is due to close; such a shame, especially as the fault does not lie at its own door. If you have not yet visited it, please do so before it is too late. The interactive displays in the Mining Hall will provide you with glimpses of someone rather familiar!!!
6 Mar 07 - Peter Anderson's Funeral
Peter Anderson
(1934 - 2007)
As this page attests, it has certainly been a sickly season for members of the Diving Branch. Troy Tempest, Secretary of the Association of RN First Class Divers (AORNFCD), and I attended Peter Anderson's standing room only secular funeral at Portchester Crematorium today. Other members of the Diving Branch present included Nick Carter, Mike Handford, Ron Hartshorn, Maggie Lockwood, John Peach, Dickie Radford and Willy Wilkes. MCDOA associate member Doug Barlow, an old friend of Peter, was also there with his partner Jill. Family members included Peter's wife Sue and her sister Annie, Annie's family, and Peter's brother Paul with his wife Sheila. There was also a large contingent from the Frères de la Côte, a worldwide sailing fraternity in which Peter helped form a British group. The members of this organisation all wore their distinctive tricorn hats, blazers and ties.
Attendees entered to the sound of Dave Brubeck's 'Take Five' before the officiating minister, David Butler, a former Royal Navy Church of Scotland and Free Church chaplain, gave his introduction and provided a short tribute. Roger Hutchings, 'Flag 1' of the Frères de la Côte, then provided this eulogy:
Peter Anderson - A Man of Many Parts and Many, Many Friends
Peter, a future naval diver, business and sports man was born in 1934. He and his brother Paul came from a naval family. Peter became a deep sea diver and his brother Paul served in the Torpedo Branch. During the Second World War, the two boys were evacuated to Wales to avoid the dangers inherent in the bombing of London during the Blitz. After the war, they moved to Dartington Hall near Plymouth where their mother was the Head Cook. Time was to prove that her culinary skills totally failed to rub off on her son Peter. Back in London, Peter resumed his education at St Ignatius College, Enfield. As a young boy, he had a stutter and went to a remedial speech class run by an actress of the day. The boy ahead of Peter imitated his stutter and Peter burst out laughing. The teacher admonished him and then, when he spoke his set piece and stuttered, she thought he was taking the mickey and hit him. Apparently, he never stuttered again.
After a period as a naval cadet at school, Peter, a lad of just 14 years, joined the Royal Navy and was posted to HMS Ganges, the shore training establishment in East Anglia. Although he later became top dog in many of his ventures, he never got to the top of the mast as Button Boy, possibly owing to his life-long fear of heights. After Ganges, he was, as much appreciated years later by many of us here present, posted to Portsmouth as a Radar rate at HMS Dryad on Portsdown Hill. As we look at the hill above us we are reminded of Pete. His next posting was to Deepwater section at HMS Vernon, lying on the site where the shopping and entertainment centre of Gunwharf Quays now stands. Let the Spinnaker Tower again provoke memories of our sincere friend Peter. He must have had some challenging moments when he saw how they had so irreverently developed his beloved shore station. He qualified as a clearance diver and joined the diving vessel HMS Dingley. He served in that ship and two others [including the diving tender HMS Brenchley] for the remainder of his naval career achieving the rank of Petty Officer (CD3). From these exciting days, many of his sincerely good friends, who he would delight in meeting at Divers' Reunions, are no doubt present here today.
On retiring from the Navy as a young, enthusiastic mid-20 year-old, Peter decided to enter the world of commerce and, after a short period working the market stalls in Manchester, returned to London where, no doubt with some influence from his parents, he obtained a license to run the pool cafe in Haringey Arena where his father was a swimming instructor. His mother assisted by doing the baking for her son. This ambitious enterprise got him into deep water (pun intended). The pressure of creditors mainly, apparently, the Walls Ice Cream Company, forced him to shut shop. But Pete being Pete, he was not going to do the dishonourable thing and welch on his debts. To help pay off his creditors, he capitalised on his wealth of experience as a deep sea diver and entered into a lucrative contract with Wimpy, the construction company, and was sent to Bahrain to test oil jetty structures. This contract was followed by 18 months of highly hazardous work off the coast of Malta, monitoring from some depth the laying of pipes into trenches cut into the sea bed by machines directed from the surface. Many years later, how his thoughts must have wandered back to those days when he sailed over those self same waters with Sue in his fabulous 47ft yacht Winsor of Cowes [named after Geoffrey Winsor, the bar manager at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club to whom he made an injudicious promise one night].
In 1964, following his diving adventures, Peter decided once again to enter the world of business and wisely decided that, with his numerous contacts in the Royal Navy, he should be able to secure bulk orders for sports equipment from naval shore establishments. He selected Portsmouth as the ideal location. With his warm personality and engaging manner, he opened a very successful wholesale and retail sports shop [Peter Anderson Sports in Elm Grove, Southsea] catering not just for the Services but also for a grateful local customer base. For relaxation, Pete became a member of Hayling Island Golf Club, going on with his low handicap of three to represent his club and Hampshire. Eventually, a trapped nerve in his neck put an end to these golfing achievements and he embarked on his new-found love of sailing. In 1977, he purchased his first boat Flog, the name, of course, being Golf spelt backwards. By this time he was with Sue, his future wife, his crew, his cook and, as proven in his last days, his comforter who for so long nursed him so bravely through his debilitating illness. All will remember Flog's distinctive sky blue hull and tan sails, and the generosity of Peter and Sue with their sailing invitations and fabulous dinner parties onboard.
Such was Peter's love for the Navy, sailing, golf, the Apsley [a popular pub in Southsea] and Sue that he enjoyed the respect and friendship of an enormous community of friends. His modesty, his ability to tell a good tale his... I could go on for ever, made him one of the best friends that any could wish for. In 1978, Pete and a small group of his sailing friends, including Alan Evans and myself, at the generous invitation of our Normandy Brothers, proudly helped form the Frères de la Côte, GB, his flag number being No.3. For those of you surprised to see various gentlemen wearing tricorns and bearing Pete's remains today, this is part of our uniform, proudly worn. I could wax on interminably about stories and jokes around Pete's life, all told well and taken well by him, but time limits me. These stories feature sailing rallies, Roche Douvre, gear-changing, AIX en Provence [something about the French A9 road], Spain, Cherbourg/Poole, parachuting/parrot shooting [the subject of a misunderstanding with a Frenchman], sorry head, going into a bar and ordering a pound's worth of 'mixed drinks', fatty food, his knowledge of buoys [he knew every one in the English Channel], racing on Spirit of the North, and on and on, ad infinitum.
Eventually, at the end of an amazing career, he achieved a long time dream: retirement from the trials and tribulations of business when he sailed away with Susan, his inseparable companion, to the Mediterranean where he cruised in company with many friends new and old. Several of them are here today. But from this idyllic world, he was cruelly snatched.
Ever the navigator, after suffering illness for almost 18 months, Pete's final words to his brother Paul were, "What course am I on?"
The service continued with the reading of the poems 'Togetherness' by Canon Henry Scott Holland and 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield before the playing of 'Sailing By', the music that precedes the shipping forecast on BBC radio, during a period of reflection. 'We are Sailing', sung by a male voice choir, was played during the committal. The many mourners then attended a reception in the Royal Naval & Royal Albert Yacht Club in Old Portsmouth. Wall displays showed the many aspects of Peter's life and there was a continuous slide show of his more colourful moments, most of which also featured Sue to whom we offer our deepest condolences and best wishes for the future.
As a rather poignant postscript to Peter Anderson's funeral, I have received this e-mail from former FCPO(D) Dave 'Mona' Lott in Australia:
"G'day,
While sorting through my photos, I found the following Crimbo Card from HMS Dingley dated 1957-58. The names I recorded on the reverse are the skipper Lt Cdr [John] Wilson, Ginger Howe (RIP), Tony Sparrow (RIP), Dave Merrill (RIP), Dutchy Vanderson(?), Peter Anderson (most recent RIP), Maggie Lockwood, Willy Wilkes, Bob Pilling (RIP), Jacko Jackson bottle fencing with Shiner Brassington, and Tom Kissack.
Dave (Mona)"
HMS Dingley Christmas card 1957-58
5 Mar 07
Alf 'Wanny' Wannerton's Funeral
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Alf 'Wanny' Wannerton
(27 August 1933 - 17 February 2007)
Troy Tempest, Secretary of the Association of RN First Class Divers (AORNFCD), and I attended Alf Wannerton's non-religious funeral at Chichester Crematorium today. Other RN divers present included Mike Handford, Maggie Lockwood, John Peach, Tony Phipps, Jim 'Tommo' Thomson, Dave Tyzack and Jim 'Willy' Wilkes. Family members included Alf's sister Jean Burns with her husband John and their sons John Jr and Jason, Alf's other sister Frankie Banks with her husband Tim and son Reuben, Alf's brother Bill with his wife Shirley and their son Will with his wife Jackie, Alf's daughter Katrina with her husband Ray, and Alf's other daughter Julie with her husband Ade. There were also several other family members, friends and well-wishers.
We entered the chapel to the sound of 'The February Song' and other music included 'I walk the Line' by Alf's favourite singer, Johnny Cash. Tributes to Alf were provided by the officiating minister, Deborah McGregor, and Alf's son-in-law Ade. We heard how Alf was born on 27 August 1933 near Aylesbury. According to Alf's brother Bill, he was made the school's air raid warden and equipped with a whistle to warn pupils to take shelter under their desks whenever a 'doodlebug' V1 flew overhead. Apparently, there were far more alarms than 'doodlebugs'. We also heard how Alf was a county champion athlete and boxer in his youth. Alf met his late wife Mary in the 1950s and they were were married in Portsmouth on 10 February 1968. After spending most of his diving career in Scotland or Hong Kong, Alf was invalided out of the Navy in 1962 after suffering a spinal bend during deep diving trials in Norway. However, he retained his sense of fun and was to be found drunk in charge of a wheelchair on more than one occasion. He was also renowned for his attempts at gardening (which resulted in something resembling a ploughed field) and cooking casseroles and suet puddings. Sadly, Alf's wife Mary died from a brain tumour in 1987 but he was particularly proud when his daughter Julie presented him with a granddaughter, Rosie, on Christmas Day, 2003. Alf died on 17 February 2007 at Acacia House nursing home in Horndean. The simple but poignant service included a reading of 'Crossing the Bar' by Alfred Lord Tennyson and concluded with the playing of the Last Post and Reveille by bugler Kevin Jones of HMS Nelson's Volunteer Band.
After the service, we decamped to the Royal Sailors' Home Club, now the Royal Maritime Club, in Portsmouth where we drank to Alf and swapped a few yarns. Several of Alf's family expressed their pleasure at seeing our naval contingent but it was our privilege to be present. They have our condolences and best wishes for the future.
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Alf in his naval diving days
Yet another Divers' Reunion held in sad circumstances
From Alf's nephew Jason:
Rob,
We very much appreciated everyone being there. I’ve already added
your website to my favourites.
All the best.
Kind regards,
Jason Burns
Naval Business Manager
DEFENCE SUPPORT (International) LIMITED.
From Alf's daughter Julie:
Hello there,
Firstly let me introduce myself. My name is Julie Wannerton, daughter of Alf (Wanny) Wannerton whose funeral was covered in your latest news section 5th March 2007.
I discovered your excellent website and was delighted to find a review, for want of a better word, of my Dad's Funeral and Celebration of his Life.
I am determined to keep Dad's memory alive and want to tell Rosie (Dad's Granddaughter) all about him. To that end I would really appreciate any of your members keeping in touch with me and recounting any 'Wanny Stories' I could pass on to her.
Regards,
Julie
Progress Report on HMS Vernon Commemorative Statue
The Message Board in the Members Only area contains a link to MCDOA member David Carey's Powerpoint presentation describing options and considerations for the proposed commissioning of a statue at Gunwharf Quays to commemorate the minewarfare and diving heritage of HMS Vernon.
4 Mar 07 - Fleet Bridge Card
The RN Fleet Bridge Card for Mar/Apr 2007 is now available via the Web Links page.
3 Mar 07 - Reports Wanted on Dedication of Vernon Room and MCDOA Northern Dinner
I was unable to attend the ceremony dedicating the Vernon Room at DDS, Horsea Island on 20 February or this year's Northern Dinner at Faslane on 23 February and would be grateful for any accounts, with photos if possible, to share with other members on the website. Regrettably, I can't be everywhere at once so I rely on the membership for inputs.
2 Mar 07
Behind the Scenes
Thanks to the website, your humble webmaster is bombarded with a continuous stream of questions and requests for help from people outside the Association. Here are some recent examples that may be of interest:
20th Anniversary of the Herald of Free Enterprise Disaster
The RoRo ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized off Zeebrugge on 6 March 1987 and RN Clearance Divers were involved in the search for survivors and the recovery of bodies. In August 2005, BBC producer Karen Wightman asked for help in tracing naval divers involved in the operation to interview for a TV documentary. After obtaining their permission, I put her in touch with MCDOA members Simon Bound and Steve Wild and former FCPO(D) Mick Fellows plus Eddie 'Scouse' Kerr, Pete Still, Ginge Fullen, Mike 'Pincher' Marten, Dave Cowling and Kelvin 'Jess' James. However, when the programme was broadcast on 15 November 2006 it focused entirely on the ship's crew and passengers plus a Belgian SAR diver without mentioning the role of the RN CDs. In November 2006, Simon Long-Price, the News Editor of BBC Radio Kent, asked for help in tracing naval personnel for a forthcoming radio documentary commemorating the same event. I referred him to Karen Wightman and he has since expressed his gratitude for the archived interview recordings and background information he was able to obtain from her.
25th Anniversary of the Salvage of Holland I
Holland I entered service in 1901 as the Royal Navy's first submarine. In Novermber 1913, she foundered off the Eddystone while being towed to the breaker's yard in Wales. On 14 April 1981, her wreck was detected by the Ton class minehunter HMS Bossington and MCDOA member David Sandiford, embarked in MV Seaforth Clansman, was the first to confirm her identity using a CCTV camera secured to a clump weight. The subsequent salvage operation was conducted in 1982 by a team of RN saturation divers led by MCDOA member Duncan Bridge. In February 2007, I was contacted by Bryce Hall who produces TV programmes for The History Channel. He is recording a series about submarine recoveries and wants to feature Holland I in one of the episodes. I have since put him in touch with key players including Duncan Bridge, David Sandiford, Mick Fellows, Mick O'Leary, Colin 'Scouse' Kidman, Ozzie Hammond, Spike Spears, Mark Girdlestone and Mark 'Selfy' Selfridge. As a token of gratitude, his filming director Vincent Lopez is donating $300 to the MCDOA.
25th Anniversary of the Falklands War
Falklands 25 will comprise several events including a Heroes' Dinner with the Prime Minister in the Painted Hall at Greenwich on 14 June to which MCDOA members Brian Dutton DSO QGM, Bernie Bruen MBE DSC and David 'Doc' O'Connell MBE, and former FCPO(D) Mick Fellows MBE DSC BEM* have been invited. There will also be an Imperial War Museum exhibition running 16 May - 31 December which will embrace minewarfare, diving and explosive ordnance disposal aspects of the war. At the request of Victoria Cook of the IWM, I have put her in touch with MCDOA members Neil Holden and Clive Smith of the Minewarfare Training Element (MWTE), HMS Collingwood to arrange the loan of the school's Argentinean 1925 moored mine for display by the museum. I have also forwarded Bernie Bruen's contribution of Falklands War poetry to the Falklands 25 team.
Last week, Lt Cdr Heather Tuppen RNR of Fleet Media Operations asked for help in contacting Falklands war veterans with stories to tell about their minewarfare, diving and EOD experiences. So far, I have put her in touch with MCDOA members Bernie Bruen, Brian Dutton, David 'Doc' O'Connell and Martyn Holloway and former FCPO(D) Mick Fellows. CD Tony Groom has contacted her separately and has already recorded an interview for BBC Breakfast TV. If anyone else would like to be added to the database, please let me know.
HMS Vernon vessels used for Dunkirk
evacuation
On 28 January 2007, I received this e-mail from Dave Mallinson in Newhaven:
Regards,
Dave Mallinson
I was able to send Dave this extract from ‘HMS Vernon
1930-1955’ published by the Wardroom Mess Committee (pp.32-33)
The evacuation of Dunkirk produced intense but controlled activity in Vernon, and every possible boat was manned for the job. The newly-installed loudspeakers in the Wardroom block, now regarded by some as a mixed blessing, were then a great asset. The Commander oscillated between the east ante-room and the hall and called out officers as the boats were reported ready from the pier-head or as requests were received for officers from the Commander-in-Chief. The mess caterer, John Canty, and his storekeeper kitted them up with haversacks of bully beef and biscuits, pusser's dirk [seaman's clasp knife], cigarettes and matches, and with water-bottles and revolvers. Some who accepted a pusser's dirk unwillingly said afterwards that it was the most useful thing out of everything they took. In the hall porter's office was a young Leading Seaman, too young to have even his first badge. He was qualifying for L.T.O. and swotting at his manual, quite unmoved. As the Commander threw messages at him - 'I want to speak to So-and-so' - he put down his manual, looked up the officer's card in the index, dialled his home number, gave the message, and went on reading. At intervals he interrupted his studies to broadcast. A message that would have taken some sorting out without the broadcaster was a signal from the Commander-in-Chief calling for an R.N.R. with an Extra Master's ticket. This was broadcast, and within about two minutes there were six in the hall. The revolving light-tight door at the Wardroom entrance paid for itself that night, as things could be controlled in a calm, fully-lit hall instead of in a windy blackness. Meanwhile, the Chief Routine Officer was collecting crews in Warrior Block in much the same manner.
The establishment was almost cleared. Some manned Vernon's boats and tenders and set off for Dover via Newhaven, some joined the port organisation for manning Dutch skoots at Poole, the Long Course were rushed to the beaches. At the time they were learning Fire Control at Whale Island. They returned to Vernon by boat in the dinner hour and were issued at the pier-head with sandwiches for twenty-four hours and a revolver. Then off to Lee and thence by Albacores to Hawkinge. That evening they were briefed at Dover as beach-masters to take charge of embarkation from the beaches east of Dunkirk. They sailed after dark in destroyers and landed by motorboat soon after midnight, to start a very hectic and strenuous few days. There were some consolations - one or two got a new uniform suit out of the affair and all avoided the Low Power exam.
HMS Vernon Picket Boats in WW II
(Manned by Vernon Auxiliary Company under the
First Lieutenant (Lt Cdr J Hext Lewes RN))
Vernon's ratings from Bincleaves manned a Dutch skoot and the mobile torpedo discharge vessel Bloodhound also set out from Bincleaves [Weymouth]. It is difficult to say exactly which of Vernon's power boats got as far as Dunkirk, as the official accounts differ; it seems that at least two did. The longest list gives two diesel torpedo recovery boats, one steam picket boat and two petrol power boats.
Very soon afterwards Vernon, and notably the Long Course again, was involved in the attempt to evacuate the 51st Division from St Valery. A number of demolition parties were instructed and kitted up in Vernon, for despatch to Continental ports. One of the last of these was led by Commander C. D. Howard-Johnston, an A/S specialist who was later to cement the connection by becoming Captain of the Vernon T.A.S. School. His party embarked in the Wild Swan and set off for St Malo with eight tons of explosive. They were invited to find their own way back and were provided with £300 in notes for the journey across (occupied) France. They eventually returned via a very distracted Channel Island.
The collapse of France and the threat of invasion brought the war closer to Vernon's doorstep. At Portsmouth, Vernon was made responsible for a section of the port defences from the Dockyard Main Gate to Clarence Pier. Sentries were re-disposed with a special eye to parachutists. `Pencil' plans were made for destroying the cranes and jetties at Vernon Creek but no charges were ever laid, as the risk from fools meddling and from air raids always remained greater than that of invasion. Vernon's demolition parties toured the south coast laying charges in many piers and jetties. Some of these were at once removed by the military, owing to a temporary misunderstanding.
I also found this extract from ‘The
Torpedomen – HMS Vernon’s Story 1872-1986’ by Rear Admiral Nicho
At Ramsgate were the drifters Lord Cavan, Silver Dawn, Fisher Boy, Jacketa and Formidable,under the command of Lieutenant Commander A J Cubison, waiting for orders to recover German ground mines by trawling. They were commanded by Royal Naval Reserve skippers, all fishermen from the Hull and Grimsby deep sea fishing fleets. Each ship had a crew of ten; a mate, a chief engineer, cook, signalman, four deckhands and two stokers. The name Formidable had been reserved for the new aircraft carrier under construction and the name of the drifter was changed to Fidget, much to the annoyance of the skipper.
With the situation at Dunkirk deteriorating rapidly, Cubison was instructed to stand by to assist in the evacuation. Armitage, the second-in-command, was under orders to return to Vernon but he contrived to remain with the flotilla, particularly as it seemed unlikely that the little ships would be able to make more than one visit to the beaches. They had been given the job of acting as ferries between Dunkirk harbour and the larger ships lying in the approaches. At 1630 on the afternoon of 28 May the flotilla, led by the Lord Cavan, sailed from Ramsgate and proceeded at full speed towards Dunkirk where it arrived at 2200. As they approached the flames of burning buildings and ammunition dumps illuminated the night sky. Inside the harbour all was quiet, although wreckage littered the entrance.
As soon as each drifter had embarked one hundred and fifty men from the East Mole, they tried to transfer the troops onto larger ships in the roadstead. In the dark and confusion it only proved possible to transfer a few loads. Cubison decided that it would be best to take the soldiers direct to Ramsgate. The drifters left Dunkirk at 0230 and arrived at Ramsgate without further incident. There the ships were cleaned and refuelled and, with the exception of Lord Cavan which had remained at Dunkirk, the four drifters were ready to sail again at 0500, accompanied by the 80 foot echo-sounding yacht Bystander. They were back at Dunkirk by 1030, by which time many more fires were blazing and the air was thick with smoke from burning oil.
Armitage, in charge of the four drifters and the yacht, was surprised to find no sign of other shipping and, with the sound of small arms fire from the harbour, concluded that the Germans must be in possession of the port. Alongside the East Mole was a troopship which Armstrong approached in the Fidget to get news of the situation. The troopship's electric bells were ringing, there was no sign of life and she was sinking. In the absence of other ships, Armitage decided to lead his little force into the harbour. Securing alongside the jetty, he stepped ashore to find the mole littered with equipment and suitcases but the whole place was deserted, except for the armed boarding vessel King Orry whose crew informed him that there had been a severe bombing attack; the destroyer Grenade had been hit, she was burning fiercely and the sound of small arms fire was caused by her ammunition exploding.
The Captain of King Orry, which had been badly damaged, was anxious to escape but no sooner had she cleared the harbour in the strong running tide than she rolled over and sank. Bystander picked up thirty-two of her crew and with fifty soldiers already embarked, made her way back to Ramsgate. By now the drifters were waiting at the inner end of the mole anxious to embark as many soldiers as possible before the ebbing tide grounded them. There was no sign of life, so Armitage decided to land and find the Army. Before long he found an officer and asked for a thousand men as quickly as possible, but they only drifted down the mole in small parties. The whole business seemed interminably slow. Armitage remarked: “At a time like this knowledge of the Taoist philosophy of indifference is an advantage, nothing more can be done so you are free to sit on the sandbag and stare at the scenery.”
After what seemed a lifetime, the loading was completed. Surprisingly, there were no accidents, although it had been necessary for soldiers with full kit to climb down ladders from the top of the mole to the wheelhouse of each drifter. The soldiers, weakened by lack of sleep, could hardly make the descent but the sailors rallied round and the tired men were half rolled and half lifted from the wheelhouse roof to the deck. From time to time bombing caused delays, but the drifters suffered no damage and by 0230 on Thursday 30 May the last ships were away, each carrying 180 soldiers. If it had not been for the unintentional but sustained efforts of a friendly destroyer to sink Fidget, the return journey to Ramsgate would have been without incident. When scarcely a mile out of Dunkirk in the narrow western channel, a fast moving destroyer was sighted dead ahead at no great distance. Since Fidget fully loaded could not make more than six knots little could be done to get out of the way. Armitage ordered a turn to starboard in accordance with the rule of the road, sounded his siren and flashed a light but it was to no avail; the destroyer ploughed down upon her. At the last moment, fearing that Fidget was going to be cut in half, Armitage rang down full speed astern. The destroyer struck a glancing blow with the side of her bow, causing the drifter to bounce down her side. The soldiers remained remarkably calm, except for two who jumped overboard and were later recovered by the destroyer. To Armitage's surprise Fidget suffered little damage but it might have been much worse.
The drifters reached Ramsgate at 0900, where they disembarked their passengers. There was now no time to consider a plan of campaign; each ship began to act independently and by 1800 they had sailed again for Dunkirk where they arrived at 2330. On that last evening of the evacuation Armitage found that the harbour was full of