NEWSLETTER 3/2003 – JULY (The photographs are all shown on the ‘REUNIONS’ page of the Website)

Due to Admiral Eberle's busy schedule we've been unable to get his message to members in time for this newsletter. We hope we'll have it for the next.

Now, from our Chairman, Shipmate George Toomey

Shipmates,

With the 2003 reunion now 3 months down stream we have of course already turned to planning for the next. Having other business in Eastbourne I went down there in June for 2 days to

(a) talk about prices for next year;(b) make representations about the lack of cooling in the dining room and problems with the lift; and(c) to try to sort out some kind of manning for the car park.

The deal that has been struck with Chris Dean, the Manager of the Burlington Hotel, is I think a good as we could expect and only a slight increase on the prices we paid this year. I won't go into the details now - they will be published in a later newsletter together with the rest of the arrangements for the next reunion.

On my first day there, Chris Dean had been away at a meeting and I took the opportunity to meet up with the hotel maintenance man and look at the air conditioning equipment and overhead fans. I was able to trace some faults in the fan switches and other shortcomings. The following day when I met up with Chris he gave me full details of their maintenance programme for this year and it will include updating of the cooling system and overhead fans. This should make a tremendous difference to the cooling of the dining room. The lifts too are to be updated as required. We will make a visit to the hotel in January or February to check on progress made. I also mentioned that the outside flood lights were also left on all night while we were there which made sleeping a bit difficult for some of those at the front of the hotel. This was subsequently traced to a faulty timer switch. The Manager was grateful for having it brought to his attention.

The breakdown of the keyboard player's equipment on the Saturday evening was evidently the first time this had ever happened. The music that evening was saved by the assistant manager hooking up a disc player. However, the Manager said that he was looking into supplying a stand-by unit just in case it ever happened again. Can't ask for more!

As you may remember, I exhausted myself trying to look after the car parking at the reunion this year and, although there was the odd member or two who said they'd take a turn, actually being able to make up a rota proved impossible. We are all getting on in years and it was therefore decided that it might be a better idea to hire an attendant. With that in mind and with the help of Dave Hawkes, one of our Associate members who lives at Eastbourne, who collected me by car from the hotel, I made the rounds of a number of agencies to try to hire a car park attendant for the Friday and Saturday of our next reunion. Except to find that it would cost about £160 plus insurance, food, clothing and tax, we did not really come to any conclusion. The persons who would be supplied would be just someone they'd pick up off the streets which doesn't say a lot. We'll discuss it again with Chris Dean at the beginning of next year.

Peter Harrison and I both seem to have had the same thought about an alternative. We wondered whether anyone of our members who will be attending the next reunion has say a grandson or nephew of, say, about 17 or 18 years of age, who would like to take on this car parking task. It would be a chance to earn a bit of money, and get free accommodation and food for the weekend. I hope I won't be accused of being sexist but I think this would be more suited to a young man than to a young woman. However, I'm open to persuasion. Please let me know if you have someone in mind who would be willing to take it on. By the way Shipmate Eddie Gillam has undertaken to make an opening barrier (a pole which lifts up and down) for the car park. Well done Eddie.

Another item which I discussed with the Hotel Manager was that of the supply of food for the Sunday buffet. This year there was a bit of a problem in that some members found that all the food had gone by the time they got to the table. The main cause we think was that some of the Pipe Band members had brought their families along too, and although the hotel had catered for the band to have a snack they had not catered for families too. I hope that our members did not stock up for snacks on their way home! Anyway, Chris Dean told me that he will increase the amount of food issued, that staff will be on hand to serve the food and possibly have it done by ticket as other hotels do.

I also asked if there could be a supply of ready-made filled rolls and sandwiches at the bar at lunch times on the Friday and Saturday. A number of our members had asked for this since they have had to wait for each individual order to be requested from the kitchen and then brought to the bar when ready. The Manager said he would look into it.

As you can see, we continue to work through the year to try to ensure that your reunion is as comfortable as possible.

George _____________________________________________________________________

Membership Matters

Just before our last newsletter went to print we had a report of our Shipmate Ernie Williams having passed over the bar. The funeral took place at the Old Parish Church of St. Lawrence, Darlaston on Friday 23rd May 2003 and was attended by Shipmates Peter Hampstead, Ron Handford and Bernard Colechin. Bernard reported that it was an impressive service with Standards from the RNA West Bromwich branch flanking the coffin which was covered by our White Ensign. Many members of the West Bromwich RNA, of which Ernie was a member, turned out to pay their last respects. There were many floral trubutes including one which was in the shape of an anchor in the colours of his favourite football club West Bromwich Albion. Our thanks and condolences must go to Mrs. Iris Williams, her husband and family who had been Ernie's surrogate family for the last 40 years.

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Service Details

Our request for details of your service in the RN has not resulted in a deluge of service certificates. So far we have had 12 responses, for which many thanks. Now, what about the rest of you?

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Peggy Miller

It is very sad to have to report the passing of Peggy Miller, wife of William (Dusty) Miller (D57 1958-59). Peggy had been, with Dusty, a regular at our reunions and I'm sure that nobody who also attended would forget her happy disposition and enthusiasm despite having suffered from very disabling arthritis. She was an Associate member in her own right and a shining example to us all of how to get on with life despite the problems that can arise on the way.

Peggy and Dusty were enjoying a barbecue with friends on the evening of Saturday 5 th July when she became unwell. An ambulance was called but she died on the way to hospital of what is now known to have been a ruptured aorta. Our sincere sympathies and condolences go to Dusty.

The funeral will take place at the Medway Crematorium, Robin Hood Lane (Upper), Chatham, Kent on Tuesday 22nd July. Dusty has asked that there should only be flowers from members of the family but donations to the Royal British Legion would be appreciated in Pegg's memory. Refreshments will be available afterwards at the Sans Pareil public house at the top of Frindsbury Hill, up from Strood on the road via Wainscott to Grain.

Outstanding Subscriptions

Despite attaching notes to the front of their newsletters some 24 members have still not paid their subscriptions for 2003/04. A final note will be attached to this newsletter for those still outstanding and no more newsletters will be sent after that until payment has been received. If you are one of those 24, please send in your subscription now or let the Secretary, Peter Harrison, know why you can't pay, or that you do not wish to remain a member.

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Membership

One of the Associate members whose subscription was outstanding at the time of the last newsletter has declined to continue his membership. However, we have two new Associate members since the last newsletter. The first is Mrs. Jan Hennell from Orchard Hill, New South Wales, Australia. She is George Toomey's niece and George hopes that she will be able to do some recruiting for us through the RSL (Returned Servicemens League) organisation there in Oz.

The second is Mrs. June Harver whose cousin Cook Arthur Walker died on 23rd October 1941 when L03 was torpedoed.

Welcome to you both. Current membership stands at 279 made up as follows:

167 D57 members 28 L03 members 78 Associate members 6 Honorary members

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Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of hostilities in the Korean War

On Wednesday 9th July a large body of elderly gentlemen, many with their ladies, took their places in Westminster Abbey for a commemoration service in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Prince Philip.

To be honest, most of us Cossacks who attended have to believe the programme which said that they were there, together with other members of the Royal Family, since from where we were sitting in the North and South trancepts it was impossible to see them. It doesn't help either to have the row immediately in front of you filled with enormously tall guardsman!

Members of the British Korean Veterans Association had earlier marched to the Abbey following a march past at Horse Guards Parade where the salute was taken by His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. After the various dignitaries had taken their seats a fanfare was sounded announcing the arrival of Her Majesty and we all stood and sang God Save the Queen.

The service continued with the singing of "Praise, my sould, the King of Heaven" whilst the Union Flag, the National Standard of the British Korean Veterans Association, and the flag of the Republic of Korea were processed through the Abbey and taken into care during the service. As well as various prayers and readings the Korean Ambassador read a message from The President of the Republic of Korea. The service ended with the Act of Rededication and the Blessing after which the standards were received back by their bearers and borne out. H.M. the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinborough then left by the West Door.

Having sat beside Austin Tarbard and his wife in the North Trancept during the service, met up with S/M's Peter Lee and Stan Hannaford and their wives beforehand, and having seen Lobby Lunn and his wife, John and Jean Hastler, Derek Reid and wife and Paddy Donovan pass by on their way to their seats in the South Trancept, the Tarbards, my wife and I decided to wait outside the North Door where

we had all entered so that we could catch all the others on the way out. Easier said than done! In fact we actually met up with all the others except Paddy Donovan. The temperature in Parliament Square was by the time 86ºF and being all dressed up with ties, etc. we soon said our goodbyes and made our way to somewhere cooler for a sandwich and a long drink!

It is very difficult to believe that 50 years have passed since our days in Korean waters. We, of course, were fortunate not to have any casualties during that war. It was very much worth while to take part in the commemoration not least to say thanks for that. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Remembrance Day Parade 2003

In the last newsletter we asked for members to let the Secretary know if they wished to take part in this year's Remembrance Day Parade at the Cenotaph in November. In order to have a separate Cossack contingent at least 10 are needed. So far only 2 names have been received. It is regretted that unless there is a very rapid additional response now, no application for tickets will be made to the Royal British Legion this year.

Please let the Secretary, Peter Harrison, know as soon as possible, and not later than 31st July, if you wish to take part. ___________________________________________________________________________________

Reunion 2004

Don't forget the dates for next year's reunion. It will be held on the weekend 23rd/24th/25th April.___________________________________________________________________________________

Can you help?

1.Mrs. Betty Gilham who has asked for a membership application form to join as an Associate member has asked whether anyone can remind her of the name of the band which played in HMS Terror at the weekends during her time there. Betty was one of the lucky ones who were able to join their husbands during Cossack's long refit. She tells us that she is pictured in the 1954-55 Cossack year book. The picture shows two babies being christened with the ship's bell being used as a font.

Let us know if you remember the band, Betty, the christening, or anything else of interest.____________________

2.Don Lee who was serving aboard the USS Jason in Sasebo, Japan in 1957/58 and worked as an EM3 on Cossack (D57) which was moored alongside. He remembers going down to the messdecks, which were so different from those aboard his own ship, and saw the main power board in the engine room. He was given an HMS Cossack cap tally, which is still proudly displayed at his home. He was very interested to see our web site recently.

Does anyone remember being alongside the Jason? More importantly, were you the one who gave Don the cap tally? You can contact Do direct by e-mail Donjenlee@aol.com or let Peter Harrison know.___________________________________________________________________________________

1940 - The Battles for Norway

By co-incidence, just as I was re-reading "Narvik" by Captain Donald Macintyre, DSO**,DSC,RN a letter arrived with a couple of photo-copies of some pictures published in the Daily Sketch of 29th April 1940. Captain Macintyre's book not only describes the two battles of Narvik but also goes through the operations to try to defend Norway against German occupation and then final evacuation in the face of overwhelming air superiority by Stuka dive bombers. He describes how in the aftermath of the 2 nd

Battle of Narvik, in which Cossack was heavily involved, survivors of HMS Hardy which was sunk in the 1st Battle together with a number of British merchant seamen, were picked up by the destroyer

Ivanhoe. The merchant seamen had come from a number of ships which had been in the area when the Germans occupied Narvik and had been incarcerated in the British ship North Cornwall which was used as a prison. During the battle they had managed to make their escape and make their way to the village of Ballangen where they joined the Hardy's survivors.

Anyway, the point of this story is that the photographs came from David Kendall in Australia. Dave served in D57 as an A.B. 1952-54. One photograph was of the Hardy survivors and the other, reproduced below is of the released merchant navy men. The person front left in the photograph is Dave Kendall's father!

Ceremonies to dedicate a new memorial at Narvik to commemorate wartime operations there were to have been held there in May this year but were postponed because of the situation in Iraq. However, we have just been told that they will now take place on 2nd September. The authorities there are keen to have some veterans of the battles there to take part and we have been asked whether any of our members would like to be there.

Cossack (L03)'s part in the 2nd Battle of Narvik is well documented and members of her ship's company at that time are more than qualified to take part. Although it is likely that accommodation will be found there, the cost of travel would have to be borne by those attending. Anyone wishing to attend should let the Secretary, Peter Harrison, know as soon as possible. ___________________________________________________________________________________

In the last newsletter we left Peter Day's story about his life in the R.N. with him having just having joined HMS GLORY. The final episode follows.

PETER DAY ROYAL NAVY 1938 - 1967(The conclusion)

On 17th Dec 1950 I was appointed to H.M.S. Glory (Aircraft Carrier) as ABCD Officer and joined the ship at Plymouth. We all knew that we were off to the Far East during the Korean War. We completed three periods of six months each with flying operations over Korea, with our base for fuel and stores in either Sasebo or Kure (both Japan).

I believe it was during our second period of flying that we had a very unfortunate problem onboard. I mention no names on purpose, but we were at sea for flying operations off Korea. During these periods at sea we had on watch on the Bridge a Lieut Cdr as Principal Control Officer (P.C.O.) and of course the usual Officer of the Watch (O.O.W.), an Officer of Lieut or possibly Sub Lieuts rank. On one occasion the Captain, who was on the Bridge sitting in his chair, said very loudly and a number of times to the O.O.W., “Get into Station, you’re out of station”. Everyone knew that the four destroyers on the screen kept station on the Carrier, not the Carrier keeping station on the screen. During the Watch, this attitude of the Captain was reported to the Commander who came up to the Bridge and saw the situation for himself. He then consulted the Surgeon Commander and they both

See ‘REUNIONS’

decided that the Captain had been affected by the strain of flying operations in a war situation. They had him removed from the Bridge to his cabin aft and the P.C.O instead of being on the Bridge, had a chair outside the Captain’s cabin aft with instructions to keep him in his cabin - not a very easy job if he insisted on coming out. The poor R.M. Keyboard sentry in the flat outside the Captain’s cabin couldn’t possibly be given that responsibility. Anyway the outcome was that the Captain was flown home to U.K. from at sea off Korea via Singapore and the Commander took temporary command, presumably with the authority of the Admiralty. Before very long, a replacement Captain was flown out. It could be compared with the “Mutiny on the Bounty” when Fletcher Christian took command of the ship Bounty. Anyway it all worked out alright in the end.

In between our three operational periods, we had two welcome breaks, the first to Sydney (New South Wales) where we had a short refit in Sydney Dockyard. During this time we were greatly entertained by the locals, including a week’s leave which I spent on a farm about 30 miles inland from Sydney. Also before we left the area to return to the waters off Korea, we had a splendid dance onboard; the whole of the aircraft hanger area, below the flight deck, was cleared for dancing and entertainment with a number of bars, including a champagne and oyster bar, and a wooden dance floor. The for’ard lift well was filled with water, to represent Sydney harbour and a wooden bridge constructed over it to represent Sydney Harbour Bridge. As so often on these special occasions I was Duty Boy that night but still managed to invite some private guests of my own including John and Lucy McGhee who were old friends from Scotland of Betty, my wife, when she was a girl. The second welcome break was when the ship came back to Malta. Betty came out to join me for a month in Malta and we stayed at the Meadowbank Hotel in Sliema. It was a great four weeks, the hotel a bit basic but there were many parties and festivities.

Then it was back to the Far East for our final flying period and we were on our way home at last. We had reached Singapore when the Coronation Review took place at Spithead (Portsmouth), but Singapore put on a fine display of lights and fireworks including the Chinese Dragon, built on 10 barges which were towed round the harbour. Between Gibraltar and Portsmouth we had a draw amongst the Lieut Cdrs to decide who was going to be Duty Commanding Officer the first night in. The unfortunate chap was the Navigating Officer. However just before we reached Portsmouth he was promoted to Commander and said he wasn’t going to be duty, so we had to have another draw and I won (or lost) this time. Anyway we were living in Fareham at that time so Betty was able to come onboard to have supper with me. I was a bit fed up as I was the longest serving Officer in the ship. I left the ship in July 1953.

Our second son, Colin, was born on 24th March 1950, so he was nine months old when I sailed away in Glory. The evening I left I said to Kenneth, then aged 4, that as I was going away he would be the ‘man of the family’ and have to look after Mummy and Colin. I was told later that when Betty went to bed, there was the patter of little feet and Kenneth appeared in her bedroom with his pillow under his arm. He explained that Daddy said he was the man of the family and the man of the family sleeps in Mummy’s bed!! He was directed firmly back to his own bed.

My time in Glory was followed by 2 years from Oct 53 to Oct 55 at H.M.S.Daedalus, the Naval Air Station and Fleet Air Arm Barracks at Lee on Solent. Here I was a Divisional Officer and Passive Defence Officer which meant I was in charge of the AB and C Defence of the whole airfield and barracks area. There is little to report on this period and on the 20th October 1955 I was given command of H.M.S. Coll (an Island Class Trawler which had been converted to be a tank cleaning vessel) based at Portsmouth. The complement was 1 Officer and 25 Ship’s Company. This entailed cleaning the oil fuel tanks and bilges of H.M Ships, from the Royal Yacht downwards. When we were required in other ports, such as Chatham, Devonport or Rosyth, I would borrow an Officer, usually a Warrant Officer, from Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth to assist with watchkeeping on passage, I had my cabin (en-suite), a small wardroom and a first class Ship’s Company. It was a filthy dirty job and usually we worked straight through from 8.00 am to 3 pm, then cleaned up and had lunch followed by shore leave. The duty watch remained onboard with a Petty Officer in charge.

We worked hard, five days a week, and it was a matter of going straight from one ship to the next. At one stage in Portsmouth we cleaned the tanks of the Royal Yacht Britannia. They were so proud of their paintwork and decks that we were provided with gym shoes and had to walk on canvas to get to the tanks in the bottom of the ship, and not to touch the bulkheads. On one occasion I was asked up the Wardroom for a drink and the following day I invited the Commander and the

Commander (E) across to Coll for a glass of gin. I then found that I hadn’t got a water jug, so one of them went back to Britannia and pinched a glass jug out of their Wardroom. I’ve still got that jug which I call my Royal water jug though it hasn’t got the Royal cipher on it. On another occasion we cleaned the tanks and bilges of the cruiser Gambia up in Rosyth, which took about three weeks.

On 3rd October 1956 I left Coll, the ship was handed over to Dockyard Control and I was given one month as C.O. of H.M.S. Melita (an Algerine Class Minesweeper), joining on 7 th Oct, only four days later, to carry out post refit trials at Immingham on the south side of the River Humber near the mouth. This river runs very fast in and out with the tide and the entrance to Immingham Dock is narrow. It is important to nose the ship in well above the dock entrance (if the tide is running out) and the bow into calm water. Then the stern will swing round and, if judged correctly, the ship will be in the dock gates before the stem swings too far! It was a very pleasant month, living onboard duty free, 3 Officers and myself and a Ship’s Company of about 25. At sea five days a week, exercising and trials, and before we left we gave two big drinks parties, one for the senior management and one for the foremen and chargemen of the firm.

Next, I had two years and six months, Dec 1956 to May 1959 as Commanding Officer of H.M.S. Mediator (a Bustler Class Ocean Rescue Tug) in the Mediterranean. Our complement was 5 Officers, 4 R.N. Senior Rates, a Signalman, a Telegraphist and 40 Maltese crew. This was to be Local Foreign Service based on Malta, so Betty and Colin were able to accompany me, except that Betty and I flew out to Malta in separate aircraft. Ken unfortunately had to be left at boarding school but would fly out for the holidays. This was at the time of the Suez Crisis and my ship Mediator was down at Port Said. I flew out to Malta in a service flight, from there straight on to Cyprus (without seeing Betty in Malta), and then on to Port Said to join Mediator. Betty and Colin flew out to Malta British Airways, and although we landed very much at the same time we weren’t able to meet. Fortunately we had some very good friends at the R.N.Air Station, Halfar. Commander and Mrs R.C.Allen, who put them both up while Betty searched for accommodation, and Colin was enrolled at the junior Naval School. We, the ship, weren’t delayed too long at Port Said and we returned to Malta when Betty and Colin were safely installed in a flat in Gunlayer Square, Valetta, up on the top floor and 95 stairs from ground level (no lift) , overlooking Grand Harbour where Mediator berthed. So life went on very pleasantly.

Our main job was towing Battle Practice Targets for the ships of the Med. Fleet. On one occasion I had to haul down the Black Flag (which was the permission to fire) because the first salvo of 6 inch shells from a cruiser (who shall be nameless) were landing ahead of my towing ship, whereas the target was half a mile astern! On another occasion the U.S Battleship Iowa was firing at our target, again half a mile astern of us, with its 15” guns. This was very impressive because each turret produced a different coloured smoke from its guns, red, white and blue. It was very good shooting, so much so that not only was the target hit a number of times but a shell must have severed the towing wire and suddenly the target was adrift. That was the end of the shooting for the day but we had to recover the target. There was quite a sea running and I had to manoeuvre the Mediator stern first (with a single screw) up to the target so that one of my lads could jump from our stern down on to it. These Battle Practice Targets were about 30 feet long, very low in the water, very heavy and built with superstructure all made of wood and canvas so that they could be seen from a long distance away.

We also did various towing jobs, such as when the destroyer Undaunted (we called her the Indented) managed to run into the wooden minesweeper Maxton and came off worst herself. We had to tow the Undaunted stern first from Cyprus back to Malta over Christmas. She did pass over to us by heaving line a bottle of whisky in part payment! We also towed the Manxman (Fast Minelayer) from Malta to Gibraltar (I mentioned her earlier in 1941), a Lifting Craft from Malta through the Suez Canal to Aden and a Search and Rescue Operation for a small Italian ship which sent out an S.O.S. This signal came through very early in the morning and we sailed as soon as possible with all the Officers onboard but only two thirds of the ships company. The Naval Provost Marshal kept a list of the addresses of all the Officers and ship’s company so that, providing they were at home at night, they could be contacted. Because we were the first to arrive in the reported position which was thirty miles south of Malta, we became Officer in Charge of the Search and we were later joined by two coastal minesweepers and the Aircraft Carrier Centaur. We searched all day, including aircraft from the Centaur, and were about to give up for the night as it was getting dark, when my First Lieut thought he saw something in the distance. We immediately altered course to investigate and found it was a small boat with six occupants, of whom one had died shortly before. We reported the discovery by signal to C-in-C Med at Malta, took them onboard and returned to harbour at our best speed. The boat had been

adrift having run out of fuel and was a long way from the reported position. The vessel had been overcome by the sea and the Captain and crew had taken to the one lifeboat. It was very satisfying to have rescued the crew but unfortunate that we didn’t find them before the one man had died.

We had some very happy times on board, a number of cocktail parties, boat trips to Comino and Gozo (smaller islands off Malta), escorting the Naval yacht race to Syracuse (Sicily) and a Families Day trip round Malta. Oh, and I almost forgot, Betty’s Mother flew out to Malta to stay with us for a few weeks, Betty and she went across to Syracuse in a small ship called the Star of Malta for a short visit. When she went home she took passage in a Royal Fleet Auxilliary called the Amhurst and greatly enjoyed the voyage.

So, in May 1959, my time in Mediator came to an end and I handed over the ship to my successor, after two years and five months, on the jetty in Syracuse. Betty and I had decided to drive overland from Sicily back to U.K by car. Colin had been flown home to his Aunt in England, and to start at Prep School, St Bede’s at Eastbourne. I had obtained permission from C-in-C Med’s Staff for Betty to take passage in Mediator to Syracuse, we hoisted our car onboard, our heavy luggage had been crated up and dispatched by ship for home. It was a most interesting trip home taking three weeks and calling in at Catania and Messina (Sicily), up the west coast of Italy, Amalfi, Vesuvious, Rome, Perugia, Florence, Bolognia, Padua and Venice. Then over the Arlberg Pass into Switzerland, Lake Constance. Into Germany, Heidelberg, then down the Rhine to Mainz, Coblenz, Cologne, into Belgium at Aachen, Bruges and Ostend for the crossing to Dover.

Back in this country in July 1959 I found myself First Lieutenant of H.M.S.Vanguard (Flag Officer Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth), the last of the British Battleships, and when she went to be broken up we transferred to H.M.S. Sheffield and Mull of Galloway. This was quite a major piece of organisation because I had the job of planning where all the Officer’s cabins, offices, messdecks, storerooms and workshops were to move to. One very large ship to be fitted into two smaller ones. In the end it seemed to work out alright because I had no complaints (strange though it may seem). At one point in this period the Commander of Vanguard was temporarily made Captain of the Reserve Fleet (given his fourth ring and paid for it) whereas I as First Lieut temporarily took over the Commander’s job, as well as my own responsibilities, and didn’t get promoted or paid the extra cash! I was a bit sore at that!!

This brings me to my penultimate (one but last) job in the Navy as a Staff Officer on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief Plymouth, from Jan 1962 to July 1964, first Admiral Sir Charles Madden and then Admiral Sir Nigel Henderson . This was literally an underground posting as the Operations Room was under the lawns of Admiralty House at Mount Wise, Plymouth. My immediate boss was Staff Officer Operations, Commander Spencer Drummond DSC and above him the Chief of Staff to C-in-C and finally C-in-C himself. As Staff Officer Movements I was chiefly concerned with the movements and sailings of H.M.Ships in our area which was the Eastern half of the Atlantic Ocean down as far as the Azores, a very large area.

At first we rented a pleasant little house in Meavy Lane near Yelverton and we were there for six months before we were allocated a Naval Flat (all mod cons and three bedrooms) at Mount Wise over looking the Cremyl Ferry and within less than five minutes walk to work. One of us more junior blokes had to be duty down the Operations Room at night. It worked out pretty reasonably, about once a week or perhaps three times a month. We didn’t have to stay awake all night as there was a bed, with phone adjacent, but you had to be available for emergencies or ships in trouble. I myself also had a naval phone in our flat.

Every year, in the summer, we would join all C-in-C’s Staff for an evening Boat Picnic. Two ferries, which normally did trips across the water from Mount Wise to Cremyl, were commandeered (or hired!) and we, plus our wives, would embark at Mount Wise. Onboard there would be a small Royal Marine Orchestra (in one boat), a considerable bar (both boats), a considerable picnic (both boats) and staff plus wives (both boats). We would then proceed in convoy up the River Tamar, through the Dockyard area up as far as Calstock, a matter of 8 or 9 miles, where we would have our picnic and step ashore if we wished. There was a very pleasant pub in Calstock called The Boot Inn and at other times we often visited it for an evening meal. Then down river, eating and drinking and listening to the music and back to Mount Wise. On landing we then had to make our way to our various homes.

When we were in our flat at Mount Wise it was a simple affair to get home after these parties but before that, out at Yelverton, we had quite a drive across the Moor and there were some very large cattle to be met on the road. On one occasion, three cars fully loaded were going across the moor and he first unfortunately ran into one of the animals, the second car following at a distance was able to stop and help the first car to remove the beast to the side of the road. The third car stopped to see what was going on and a policeman put his head through the window and saw an Officer, who shall be nameless, sitting comfortably on the rear seat behind the driver with his legs stretched out on the shoulder of the driver who in actual fact was his wife!! Of course in those days there were no drinking and driving rules and anyway he wasn’t driving. The policeman with a smile waved them on to proceed with their joumey.

Finally to complete my time in the Navy , from Aug 1964 until May 1967, I was attached to the Sea Cadet Corps as Western Area Training Officer with an office in Bath and looking after 52 Units in 11 counties, an interesting and enjoyable time which entailed a lot of time travelling by car. These units were divided roughly equally between North and South of the Bristol Channel, that is West and South Wales, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire; and south of the Bristol Channel, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and the Bristol area. The units all had their meetings (or parade nights) in the evening and on one occasion I had the unit in Milford Haven one evening to visit and the following evening was Penzance (no Severn Bridge in those days). This was a considerable distance to drive in the day and be ready, Bright eyed and Bushy Tailed, for the parade in the evening. 52 units meant at least 104 visits a year. 365 days less 104 Sats and Suns equals 261 weekdays minus 104 visits equals 157 days. Each unit also had an Annual Inspection attended by the Area Officer and the Training Officer so 157 days less another 52 brought the number of spare days down to 105 for the Office. We had our office in what had been the Empire Hotel in Bath. I solved this problem, if I was visiting reasonably locally, by driving back to the office after midnight and getting the work done in the small hours. All this time we were living in Somerset, 7 miles west of Bridgwater, and some 50 miles from Bath. The house we had bought was in a bit of a shambles and needed a lot of repair work.

At certain weekends we all assembled for National Sports Meetings when all six areas would compete against each other at Swimming and Boxing. At other weekends we had our Area Meetings. Once a year a large number of our cadets would attend a week’s Boating Course down at H.M.S. Raleigh at Torpoint just into Cornwall. We arranged two Tattoos, one North of the Bristol Channel at Port Talbot and one South of the Bristol Channel at Bath for all the units in those regions. These two events included a Royal Marine Band, Marching Displays by the Cadets, Gymnastics and a mini Field Gun competition similar to the Royal Tournament but not quite so sophisticated, finishing up as the Finale with Beating the Retreat, the Evening Hymn and the Last Post.

I came to know a lot of very pleasant and dedicated people in the Sea Cadet Corps, the SCC Officers and their Families and the Civilians who formed the Committees of each unit.

So that was the end of my Service career. I retired in the rank of Lieutenant Commander on 23rd June, 1967 at the age of 471/2, six months short of 30 years, and became a Thatcher (thatching houses) for the next 14 years.___________________________________________________________________________________

Many thanks to Peter Day for that interesting resume of his Royal Navy career. That last job of yours really took me by surprise.

News comes from Bob McLean in Fort Lauderdale, USA. First of all, Bob took part in Memorial Day ceremonies in his capacity as standard bearer for the Fort Lauderdale branch of the British Legion. Below is a photograph (Bob in centre) and report by their Secretary.

TRIBUTE TO THE BRITS By: Dong Bomford

The Royal British Legion were invited to take part in a special Memorial Day Tribute on May 23, 2003 honoring the British casualties in the Iraq war. Three large wreaths on stands were on display in therotunda of the Miami Courthouse on Flagler Street with the names of those fallen from U.S. and British forces plus names of international correspondents killed whiled reporting in Iraq.

Four of our senior members formed the honor guard, Doug Bomford, Bob McLean, Peter Rowley, and Terry Wright with an average age of 75 and we were assigned a piper, Byron Hoffman, for the event. We mounted a four point guard around the wreaths after being piped in by Byron for the period 1030 to 1100 and who then played interrnittently and piped us off when we were relieved by the ROTC cadet Corp. We then proceeded to join the Parade from Biscayne Boulevard up Flagler Street to the Courthouse for the official ceremony at 1200 with various speeches and many patriotic songs. During the British recognition Berle Lee sang God Save the Queen, H.M. Consul, Simon Daley gave the address followed by presentation of the wreath, depicted in the form of a Union Jack from fresh flowers and carried by RBL Honor Guard while Byron played Amazing Grace on the pipes. The British part of the ceremony closed with Richard Pardon singing Land of Hope and Glory, Valerie Bows sang White Cliffs of Dover and We'll Meet Again, strong favorites from the Vera Lynn days.

We were fortunate in spending half the time inside the Courthouse during this long event as it was very hot out there at high noon, but we were lucky that we avoided the rain until we were approaching "The Field Pub" for the final ceremony when it came down in buckets. Our spirits were lifted very shortly after by some well chosen brews and bangers surrounded by onions and mash.

Our thanks go to those of our members taking part in this important ceremony in recognition of British coalition casuaities by the American public for our unqualified support. It was, indeed, an event extremely well arranged and organized by Kevin Sieffert from the Miami Courthouse, but like so many other events, very poorly attended.

____________________

Last year Bob visited his sister in Spain and was very surprised to find a lady in distress. His explanation follows:

THE BOAT

The article below is from my sister in Empuriabrava, Spain. She and her husband retired there last year from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, UK. She wrote it for the monthly magazine of the Catalan Society of the British community of Girona of which she is editor. She said she has taken some poetic licence, whatever that means, and where is the poetic license department of City Hall, anyway? As such it is quite accurate. What is not mentioned (and this is for those of you who have computers), is that on the website of the National Maritime Museum of Greenwich, London, is that on the list of their core ship collection is already a sister vessel number 102, which is under restoration. Directly above it on the same list is another vessel, or more correctly a submarine. It is that of Holland 1 which is actually an display at the British submarine museum at Gosport Hampshire, UK. It was salvaged by my department which was that of the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service salvage department, based at Gosport, a stone's throw from the submarine museum. Our department was under the umbrella of the Captain of the Port, Portsmouth, in other words, boss of the Royal Navy and commercial port of Portstmouth. After having left the Royal Navy, I worked as a civilian from 1974 to 1982, principally as coxswain "D47", the workboat/diving vessel to the salvage mooring and recovery vessel "Golden Eye", which was also based in Portsmouth. The details of the story and recovery salvage of Holland 1, is contained on the British Submarine Museum website, along with a small photo of Golden Eye. Since this operation took place in Devonport, our parent department there was the leader of this project and we assisted. It was shown live on national TV at the moment of recovery and later at the dry dock as it was being emptied to reveal it sitting on the bottom of the dock. It was especially interesting to me as I have studied submarines, their history and development, etc. as my "trade" was that of sonar controller in the RN. In simple terms, a submarine hunter! This was why I was in this job in the first

See ‘REUNIONS’

place. This particular submarine, as Holland 1 suggests, was the very first submarine for the Royal Navy of a batch of six. It was accepted by the Royal Navy from Mr. Holland, the son of an American preacher, who invented the submarine as we know it today. He was paid for the development by the Fenian Society. Who was the Fenian Society? Anyone who says the Founder of the IRA can congratulate themselves on accuracy. Coincidentally, their finance in this project was for use against the British. In short the IRA paid for the development of the British submarine as we know it today. Here endeth the history lesson, according to Bob.

A GRAND OLD LADY OF WORLD WAR II

On a recent visit to me, here in Empuriabrava, my American based family and I decided on a trip to La Bisbal to look at Pots! After a pleasant afternoon wandering in the midst of every flower pot, dish and plate known to man, we wended our weary way home via the L'Escala to Figuares road, which Dear Reader, as you probably know is undergoing construction. At a very congested and consequently slow part of the journey we were passing what appeared to be a Scrap Yard for mortally wounded cars, lorries and boats, when my brother Robert, shouted excitedly "Stop the Car - I've got to look at a Boat". Naturally I did has he commanded as I thought he had gone berserk and we were possibly at some risk! However, it appeared he had discovered to his amazement, a wonderful old lady lying on her side in a very sorry state. She turned out to be, even to the uninitiated, an RAF High Speed Launch from World War II. These vessels were used by the RAF to search for and rescue pilots and aircrew forced to ditch in the Channel. Miraculously she appeared to he in her original colours together with her registration number HSL 2548.

My brother being retired Naval personnel who served for many years was very excited to find such a rarity, and took many photographs of her and unfortunately at this time discovered some severe damage to her starboard side. On his return to the U S A, where he now lives with his American Wife Marilyn, he contacted the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich to find out if Maritime Heritage would have any interest in her and to his delight they were. The following is part of the reply from Stephen Riley, The Director of Maritime Heritage, at the National Maritime Museum, at Greenwich.

"Thanks for your note and photos which arrived safely - in the meantime a colleague here tells me ... HSL2548 - High Speed Launch - is a 63ft "whaleback" built by the British Power Boat Co at Hythe in the period 1941-1942 as their yard number 1953. We have no further details as yet about her career or how she might have found her way to Spain. From the photographs she looks as though she has been in a collision starboard side midships? She's typically double diagonal construction - notoriously expensive to maintain and repair, which may account for why she is where you found her - possibly too expensive to repair? We may be able to put something out on our National Historic Ships Web site asking for any information it's surprising what you can find out! The Website number is (www.nmm.ac.uk) The National Register already includes High Speed Launch 102, built at Marchwood in 1936''.

Of course, if any of you dear readers have any knowledge of her history or how she came to be here in Spain, my brother and I would he most grateful if you would contact me Joan Usherwood on 972 45 19 34 (Email Usherwood @terra.es)__________________________________________________________________________________

ANOTHER OLD LADY

George Toomey sent in a copy of the Mail on Sunday for 22nd June and some of you may therefore have seen the article to which I am referring. It is about a proposal to bring back HMS Vengeance from Brazil to whom whe was sold many years ago. The proposal is the brainchild (?) of a Mr. John

See ‘REUNIONS’

Woodward, the owner of the Fantasy Island amusement park at Ingoldmells, near Skegness and he wants to turn the Vengeance into a seaside tourist attraction. The Vengeance is currently lying in Rio de Janeiro and will be scrapped unless the £2.5 million purchase price is found.

As you can imagine, views of those who served in the ship do not support this idea, although they would like to see her brought back and preserved. To be honest I personally don't have a view. She wasn't completed until January 1945 and has no great wartime history. Although I didn't serve in a carrier, my visits aboard them didn't endear me to them. However, your views may be entirely different. We all know about the difficulties experienced by those experienced by those involved in saving HMS Cavalier and she was already in UK! The Chairman of the Vengeance Association says that they would support Mr. Woodward's plan if it was the only alternative to her being scrapped. If you want to join the campaign to save Vengeance, write to HMS Vengeance, c/o Eastlea, Main Road, Burton Agnes, E. Yorks. YO25 4NA.__________________________________________________________________________________

In the last newsletter in part 2 of Alf Price's childhood diary we read of he and his mother's journey to and their stay in Alexandria. With the Cossack having returned to the UK, Alf and his mother followed hoping to catch up with his father Petty Officer Charles Price. Now read on

MY DIARYThe Childhood Memories of Alfred Price

1938 - 1941(continued)

Our house in Portsmouth was occupied by the same people we had left there when we went abroad. The time seemed to have gone so quickly because it is now November 1939 and I am still wondering when I am going to see my Dad.

Neither Mum or I had seen a barrage balloon until we went to Greenwich and I asked Grandma what they were up in the sky. There were so many of them it was a marvellous sight to me. I had to keep looking at them and I was lucky in being able to see one close to me when we went to Waterloo Station to get the train to Portsmouth. I did think they were wonderful and wished I was older so that I could join the service, although I always seemed to be going somewhere with Mum and I wondered where we should go next. Well I soon found out. We had friends living in Southsea so we went there to live for a little while and it was only a week after we had arrived in England that we found a house and had our furniture out of store and the house furnished ready to welcome my Dad who had written to say he would be coming to Portsmouth and could stay for a few days. Oh Boy was I excited. I had to tell him about not coming back to tea and the concert in Alexandria, how we had waited dinner too and then heard on the wireless that his Flotilla had gone to Scottish waters, and that we had come home as soon as we could get a ship.

Well Dad came and we all went to London again so that Dad could go and see both my Grandma's before he went back to his ship. Of course I would have liked it better if we had all stayed in Portsmouth, just Dad and Mum and Me, but as we always had to share Dad with other people, well we had to do it again, so we all made the best of the time we had him with us and then he went back to his ship H.M.S. COSSACK. Dad told me his ship was doing escort work, convoying ships with food for us from Norway and Denmark. Mum got me a billet with some friends of hers and Dads so I was alright and Mum and Dad could come and see me sometimes. It was nice for me because I knew the people too. It was better than I thought it was going to be. I thought I would have to go with my school, but as the school had gone while I was abroad we were allowed to get our own billet. I lived with my Auntie May at Ragged Hall Lane near St. Albans, the City where my Dad and Mum went to school, so I too went to school there. Mum went to Scotland to see Dad and then after Xmas she came to see me and while she was in St. Albans our luggage arrived from Malta, that we thought we had lost. It seemed too much to expect to get our clothes sent on by friends in wartime, but they came safely and we were very glad of them. There were all our souvenirs as well. Then we heard on the wireless that Dads ship was expected at Leith that day with 300 English prisoners whom they had rescued off the

German ship Altmark. So that night Mum went to Edinburgh because she knew that if the ship was able to come into harbour, it was also able to go out again and that Dad would not be able to write and tell us all about the rescue, so of course I too was anxious to know if Dad had been on board with the Germans too. I have since found out that he was there.

My Auntie May was ill soon after that so I had to be found another billet. Mum came back again from Edinburgh and made arrangements for me to stay with my Dads Cousin at Sandridge three miles from St. Albans so I was still able to be with my school friends when I want to but I had to go to a different school. It was called the Heath school and I liked it there much better than Mount Pleasant where I went when I lived in Ragged Hall Lane. My Auntie Doris at Sandridge had a dog called Ruff and we soon became friends. I went on picnics and of course Ruff came too. My Auntie used to go out with her friends most evenings and weekends. Uncle Bill had an aviary for Budgerigars. Sometimes Uncle lets me feed them. We had a hen and chicks and I helped build a chicken run.

We often go for walks and one Sunday we went for a walk across the fields to Markyate, a village between St. Albans and Luton. One of my school chums lives there too so I went to see him. His name is Jimmy Dockrey. He has an electric train set with four passenger carriages, six luggage vans and two stations with lights on too. The train is worked by a lever on a box. When the lever is moved to the right it goes faster and to the left slower. Jimmy showed me how to work the train and his Father asked me to stay with them for the weekend, which I did. On Saturday morning Jimmy and I went with Mr Dockrey and twenty other men rabbit hunting in a large wood. Several men had guns and there were six boys so we had sticks to hit any rabbit that came our way. Just as I was climbing over a pile of wood I heard a rustle underneath me so I waited for the rabbit to come out. As it come I hit it on the head and killed it. We caught fifty two that day and Jimmys Dad gave me a rabbit to take home to Sandridge when I went. On Sunday morning Jim and I went up a hill across the fields at the back of his house. There we saw a searchlight, A.A. Gun and a sound detector. There were some Air Force men there too and I was very interested. I was getting used to living at Sandridge but I did wish sometimes that I could be with my Mum and Dad in Scotland.

Then one Day Mum wrote and said they were both coming to stay with me at Sandridge for ten days and we did have a nice time. Then both Dad and Mum went to Southampton as Dad had to rejoin his ship there, but they did not stay at Southampton very long as Dad left the ship and went back to his depot at Portsmouth. So Mum went there too and promised to come for me if Dad stayed at the depot long enough to make it worth while. Dad said I could come back to Portsmouth if I liked and I wanted to. So I went back and we went to live in our own house as the tenants had been evacuated owing to a bomb having dropped at the bottom of our garden. There is an air raid shelter in the garden and we found we had to spend most part of the day and all night in the shelter. Dad made an entrance to the shelter with sandbags and a little passage to keep the entrance sheltered too. I helped Dad to fill the bags and we also put sand on top of the shelter and banged it down hard to make it strong. Dad made bunks for us all but we had so many raids and my school was bombed too so I had to be evacuated again. This time I did not go far, only to the Camp at Petersfield where the Portsmouth schools had gone. As my parents were living in Portsmouth I was allowed to go home some weekends and my parents were allowed to come and see me on Sundays at the camp. The camp consisted of nine wooden buildings, five of them were dormitories, there was a dining hall, a wash place for boys and one for the girls, also class rooms. They were all centrally heated. There is also a hall where we play games and have concerts and singing lessons, and we also use it for a Gymnasium. There is a library there too. Sundays we go to a Church in a little village nearby called Sheet. I stayed at the Camp for six weeks.

Then my Dad was sent to Scotland again and this time Dad went to Greenock aboard H.M.S. MANISTEE but it was not a destroyer like H.M.S. COSSACK. It was an auxiliary vessel. I wondered what that would be like and enjoyed the train ride. I like going places. We went from Portsmouth via London and Glasgow and we were fourteen hours on the way. The train was full of soldiers and it was New Years day when we arrived at Greenock and Dad was very pleased we had come to see him. He said that he did not like us staying at Portsmouth after he had gone. It was very difficult to get accommodation at Greenock. It had not been used as a Naval base for many years and there were very few new houses so of course there was very little room for the extra Naval families. We stayed for a week at a boarding house on the main road near the dockyard and Dads ship went away and we were able to see the ship from the Promenade. It was a big ship with two masts but it did not look smart like H.M.S. COSSACK did although when it went away it looked the biggest that had

been at Greenock to me. When it had gone Mum decided we should go back to Portsmouth until Dad came back again.

So we left Scotland before I had seen much of it. We left Glasgow at nine thirty at night and the train stopped at Crewe and again at Rugby. We broke our journey at Rugby and went to see my Auntie Madge. Mum had not seen her for nearly six years and I was glad we went there because I had boys to play with as there were three, Keith aged thirteen, Buddy aged nine and Laurie aged seven. As I had not had much sleep in the train and we had arrived very early in the morning at Rugby, I had to go to bed while my cousins went to school, but I was up on time to go and meet them from school at dinner time. As there was plenty of snow on the ground we had a snowball fight before we all went in for dinner. They all went to school again in the afternoon so I cleared the snow away from the door and then went to meet the boys again. After tea we took a sledge out and played for a long time as there was a full moon and our Mothers were wondering where we were. I did enjoy myself.

We left Rugby at eleven thirty and arrived at Portsmouth at five twenty the next day. We wanted to get some things from our home to take back to Scotland. It was January the tenth. I must mention the date because it will always be one of the most exciting times of my life. We were home from the station in about ten minutes and soon had a nice fire going and the tea made but before Mum would have tea she got the blankets out to air ready for the shelter, and the storm lamp and stove to warm the air in the shelter in case we should have to spend the night there. Well we had only just made things ready when all the lights suddenly went out and we heard a terrifying explosion, followed by guns, the big Naval guns. So of course Mum rushed me off down the shelter with a case. She came too but did not stay long with me. I could hear fires burning but Mum would not let me come out and have a look and she did not come back for a long time. But I could hear her and guessed there were incendiary bombs dropping in our garden so I just waited for Mum to come for me. I had some comics with me that I had bought to read in the train so I was alright. After a long while Mum came in the shelter and said I could come with her down the road to see where the big fires were and of course I went. Well those fires lasted four days and nights. The Church only a hundred yards away from our house was alight also the Co-op bakery and the main stores. Also the big drapers and all the big shops in the Commercial Rd including the Guildhall so we did have some excitement. Mum was very glad that Dads ship was not in Portsmouth dockyard that night. She also hoped that Dad would not hear about the raid on Portsmouth while he was at sea because he knew we had gone to get some more things to take back to Scotland for him before he returned to the Clyde.

We had been in Portsmouth a week when Mum had a letter from Greenock offering us accommodation if we wanted it in Greenock and as Dad was to return to that Port Mum did accept and we were soon on our way back to Scotland. We stayed at the home of the Chaplain of the Port and were made very comfortable. There were two little children but they were both very young and girls. One was called Cicelia and the other Margaret. I went to Finnert school and liked it very much. It was not far from where we lived and we could walk along the seafront and see my Dads ship when it did come in. We were not able to write and tell my Dad we were back in Scotland so we were very anxious to see his ship. I used to go every morning and afternoon along the seafront and then one morning it was there! We had waited a whole month and then it came in at night. So at four o'clock that evening Mum and I went to the dockyard to meet my Dad. Mum had asked the Padre to send a message to Dad just to let him know we were safe at Greenock.

We were afraid he would hear about the raids on Portsmouth but when Dad came he had been out East and had a very bad cold. There was snow on the ground and Mum sent for the Naval Doctor who said Dad had to stay in bed for a week as he had the Flu. It was a change to have Dad home all day. I hurried home from school each day and sat with him talking and playing Ludo and Lexicon. Then at the end of the week Dad went out with us and the next day he had to go aboard as the ship was ready to sail at any time and it did sail away before he could see us again.

Dad had told us he would probably be away about two months and would not be able to write to us and we would be unable to write to him as the ship would not call anywhere. So we just had to wait for the ship to come back. Every day we both went along the Promenade and seemed to expect the ship to be there.

It had been gone three weeks when Mum received a telegram from the Admiralty to say that H.M.S. MANISTEE which was the ship my Dad had gone on had been sunk and Dad was presumed

killed while on active service. Mum did not tell me about it until the next morning, as it was my bedtime when the telegram came, and then Mum only said the ship had been sunk. But I knew she had not told me what was in the telegram and that she was upset. Then Mum said we must go back to Portsmouth to get news of Dad. Neither of us wanted to go as we were looking forward to spending the summer in Scotland.

Mum told me not to be surprised if our house was gone too so we were pleasantly surprised to find that we only had a few windows broken but our friends advised us not to sleep in the town if we had anywhere else to go. We did have a friend at Porchester six miles from Portsmouth so we started off at half past three to get there in case it would not be convenient to stay there as we had not seen her for a long time. When we got to the bus stop to wait for the Porchester bus we found a long queue waiting and so we had to wait over an hour. It seemed that although some people came in to their homes in the day-time they did not spend the night there. We were lucky to find Mrs Taylor at home and she was very pleased to have us stay with her. There was a terrible lot of gun firing all night and the planes seemed to be dropping bombs all round and on Portsmouth, and when we went into the town the next morning we saw the damage that had been done during the night. When Mum went to the R.N. Barracks for news of Dad she told me the welfare people had advised us not to stay in Portsmouth but to go and live somewhere in the country if possible.

That day by post we had a letter from friends in Harpenden asking us to come and stay there for a time until we could get accommodation to move our furniture from Portsmouth. So we did pack up our things and leave them ready to move and we went to Harpenden in Hertfordshire. We had not heard any definite new of my Dad so we tried to get rooms but found it impossible to get any accommodation at all so we went back to Portsmouth after getting the promise of one room to store some of our things. Mum said it was best after all to get what we could from our own place into a safe area, so we had to sleep in Portsmouth for a few nights and we did not take our clothes off at all for the first day. We had eight warnings and the guns in the dockyard were going all night. The next morning Mum said that she thought it would be safe to go to bed for a few hours but we still did not get undressed and then before it was daylight the siren went again and we had to get up again.

We went on like that for a week and then on Good Friday night we had an awful raid and Mum fixed up to get our furniture moved to Harpenden the following Thursday. We saw the furniture go and then locked up the house and caught the next train ourselves and arrived in Harpenden just ten minutes after the van had arrived there after its ninety eight miles. That night I did enjoy getting undressed and going to bed and I did sleep too. I did not wake up until nine o'clock the next morning. We were staying with friends at a place called Klondyke which really consisted of twelve houses. We had some of our furniture in one house and the rest stored in another and the houses belonged to the Lady I was staying with, whom my Mum had worked for over eighteen years, before being married; Harpenden being only five miles from where I was billeted while my parents were in Scotland last year.

We had not heard any news of my Dad while we were at Portsmouth and the first day at Harpenden the postman brought the official document from the Admiralty to say that my Dad must have been lost at sea, and that was when my Mum told me the bad news too. But we do hope for news still as we cannot believe that my Dad could have been lost after all the years at sea and with his experiences especially aboard H.M.S. COSSACK. Now that I am writing this diary I am myself wondering when I shall see my Dad and where I shall be when he does come back to us and we three can go and live a real life together like other boys have always done.

We have never lived in our own home together for long at a time because my Dad has always been a Sailor and I am very proud of him.

ALFRED PRICE 22-6-41

___________________________________________________________________________________

Alf Price's story, written as a child and not altered in any way to correct grammar, etc., is I think remarkable. Mrs. Price, his mother, showed an indominitable spirit in following her husband to Malta and then Alexandria at a time when few had travelled abroad and no help was provided to her from service sources. I feel very privileged to have read it and I hope that you feel the same way.

Now, another story from another old sailor who served in Cossack L03. Vic Durey only joined the Association last year but has been quick off the mark in providing us with another insight into naval life. His "A Part of a Life" was written in 1992. As with other life stories we have included in these newsletters it would take up too much room for one edition and will therefore have to be split into several parts. Part 1 begins here.

A PART OF A LIFE1935 - 1947

by Victor John Bunyan Durey

CHAPTER ONE

It all started on the last Monday in May during the year 1935 - the twenty-seventh day of the month. Looking back along the street towards number 27 Lethbridge Road I saw my mother standing at the door waving and at the same time holding the hem of her pinafore to her eye. A tear perhaps? I'm sure it was. Dressed in a brown check suit of sorts and probably wearing the only shirt I possessed and carrying a brown-paper wrapped parcel under one arm, I was off. Off for my first day's duty in the Royal Navy - the King's Navee! I was then a few weeks into my sixteenth year and was on my way to report to the drafting office of the Royal Navy in Whitehall. I have often wondered since what my thoughts must have been as the 48 bus took me along the Old Kent Road towards Westminster. Did I regret the decision taken weeks before to "have a crack at the joining up routine"? Was I thrilled and excited at the prospect or was I just scared and numb? It was probably the latter.

Looking back into the old records I find that in those days I was five foot four and three quarter inches tall (or short!) with a chest measurement of thirty-four inches. My weight was not registered at the time; suffice to say that a few months after recruitment I was a lightweight in the boxing ring and that called for a nine stone minimum and a nine stone seven pounds maximum. A "Little Podge" thus debussed at Bridge Street and wandered down Whitehall to seek out his Kismet!

The Duty Petty Officer, wearing toothpaste advertising teeth that would not disgrace a Cheshire moggy, bade me, "Sit over wiv 'em other blokes". (He was obviously a member of the Chatham Division.) I joined two other scared looking fifteen year olds and we sat hardly breathing for a few minutes before being joined by an adult sailor wearing bell bottoms and with an arm covered by red snipes who was carrying three packages. He gave us one each. He said, Quickly now, we have to catch a bus to Liverpool Street Station and these are your victuals for the trip.” Already they were feeding us - fattening us up for the trip ahead? He escorted us to the railway and here we were to be left to make our own way to Harwich Docks! The train ride through Essex into Suffolk is lost in the past although I do remember that with the sandwich (which was doorstep thick) was a bar of rum-flavoured chocolate! We three munched and lunched at the appropriate time. Introductions had been made - one lad, I cannot remember the name of this “unfortunate”, was sent back home after two days at the base complete with a crop of fuzz on his bonce where luxuriant hair used to sprout. It was discovered that he had flat feet at the final medical check taken two days after arrival and this had to be passed Al before you were fully accepted to serve His Majesty. Unfortunately, one of the first things to happen to us at the GANGES was to have our mops cropped. The other young fellow who made up our trio was Stan Lampard, a fellow Cockney who was to be a close chum of mine during our early naval days. Before we finally “passed out” he was to break a leg at P.T. and so remained at Shotley when I left to join my first ship.

We duly arrived at Harwich and here we were met by yet another beaming Petty Officer who was carrying a piece of rope about 18 inches long. This wicked piece of hemp had a fist-sized ball at one end and was called a “stonikey”. The wielder of the rope’s end led us to a jetty at which floated a boat full of shaven-headed youths. These dozen or so lads were all carrying oars that were about three times their height. We were led down into this boat, which turned out to be a Dipping Lug Cutter, and

took seats in the back. (Only later was I to start calling it the stern.) The Petty Officer screamed out something that sounded like, “Shuvorfforrard, bearorfarf” ! And the boat, lustily being pulled by the dozen lads of the sea, headed out into the sun-dappled waters of the harbour. Across the bay, at the foot of a small cliff, lay the jetty of H.M.S. GANGES, Shotley, Suffolk. We were boarding our “ship”, albeit a stone frigate, from seawards. Our “taxi-crew” passed ribald comments as we left the cutter, mainly about "curly tops" and "Boston haircuts". We had thus arrived at the Training School. The mast (from the original GANGES, a 72 gun ship of the line) towered above us and would do so almost for the next twelve months.

The first few weeks at the GANGES were spent in barrack rooms separated from the main concourse. These were called the Annexe (42 Mess I believe) and we newcomers, who were awaiting our classes to form up, were called "Nozzers". We wore temporary uniforms and soft caps that were almost like berets until we had our proper suits supplied, which were made up by the ship's busy "jewing firms" (tailors). During these early days we were re-examined both medically and scholastically - the former ensuring whether or not we were finally to proceed with training and the latter as to what the training was to consist. Following a written and oral Educational Test it was decided that I was earmarked for Class 171 which was an Advanced Course. Others were allocated to the Signals Branch and the remainder formed Class 45. These were the blokes who would do a General Course and at the end of six months would be ready for sea-going duties. We were all Boys 2nd Class on entry and were paid 5s/3d per week.

In "the Annexe" I was to be given my first job in the Navy - "a Tin Boy" ! I remember I could hardly wait to let my family know that I was a Tin Boy and my first letter to Mum, and I swear this, written on brown square toilet paper, contained this news about my job. We also, on receiving our proper number one suit, had our pictures taken standing behind a Lifebelt emblazoned H.M.S GANGES. This was to grace the clock-box at Lethbridge for a time, plus the letter.

I had been smoking for about two years previous to my call up but that had to cease. It was forbidden to "cop a drag of a fag" and those boys who did and were caught doing so soon knew what a "stonikey" could do. These were the days when the birch was still in use and if any heinous offence was committed a boy would receive a certain number of what were termed "cuts". Whole messes were also disciplined for offences such as late on parade or failing in mess cleanliness and some of the punishments were mind-boggling. If a Mess was under “Shotley Routine” you were to lose a number of little privileges, such as “No Duffs" with your dinner. The Mess tins containing the Spotted Dick or Figgy Pudd or Chinese Wedding Cake (rice) plus Custards were all tipped into the Pig Swill containers. And a rather popular punishment at the time was to have to push a laden kit bag shelving (which was on small metal casters) up “Laundry Hill”. But these were all to be experienced by some after leaving the Annexe. As the “mess tin boy” I was responsible for the mess tins and had to keep them clean and sparkling. After a dish full of “Train Smash” this was some job, I can tell you. (Train Smash was a breakfast of fried bacon and tinned tomatoes).

We were also taught how to polish a parquet floor so that one could use it as a mirror and to scrub tables that were whiter than these sheets I write on. Windows were cleaned both in and out by using screwed-up paper and we also learned the art of cleaning brightwork with cotton waste and Bluebell - sometimes making use of a cotchell of “Aly Slopers” which was a rich brown pungent sauce.

I was one of the first of the “pyjama boys”. We had been supplied with these in preference to the older type of flannel nightshirt, although there were classes of boys kitted up in the old way. We were known as “Jixer” ratings because our official numbers were prefixed J.X. This was to signify that we were the modern [ratings] although poorer than the plain J ratings. An AB J rating had a flat rate of 4 bob a day whilst a JX AB received 3 bob. It was all political and never really affected us Nozzers. Our hair was shorn. Our deceased teeth were pulled. We fed well. We exercised as though we were being prepared for the Olympics. We were taught to swim wearing a Duck Suit. We learned to pull and toss an oar in a landlocked boat. We fell out of our beds before the local cock was crowing to stand outside the mess in Guardsman Style as we awaited a ship’s biscuit and “hot ki” (thick pusser’s cocoa which was guaranteed to put muscles in your braces.) We ran for miles and scrubbed both living quarters and ourselves before tackling breakfast at around 7.15 am. We were finally kitted out and supplied with both a tin Hat Box and wooden Ditty Box. The latter was for our private bits and bobs and was lockable. Photographs and such like were kept in the little treasure boxes - the Ditty. Mine still stows gear even though it is now in the garden shed. A “house wife” was also part of our kit. This

was known as a “Hussiff” and contained scissors, cottons, threads and needles which were all to be used to keep one’s kit shipshape.

During our leisure hours in the Annexe we also had to sew our names into our kits, and this was a tiddley job inspired to keep us occupied, I thought. We had a wooden stamp of our Names and these after dipping in paint were then applied to the sock, shirt or pants and when dry were stitched over. (We had a Fitzgerald and I felt sorry for him - Durey wasn’t so bad). Razors were also supplied - the days of the “cut throat” had ended shortly before our time, although they were still being used throughout the fleet. We had a safety razor with a strop - the blades were one-sided. In the Annexe we were taught the rudiments of marching and how to salute. I remember my first salute on the Quarter Deck and being chided by the Instructor, “Sloppy, boy, sloppy!” (I felt like saying, “There’s no help for us cack-handers”, but looking at the stonikey decided against it). I also remember vividly a black-gaitered Lieutenant-Commander, full of gold braid, and a chestful of World War One medals calling our Instructor “Chief”! Our tutor must be very important to be called chief I thought. Cleanliness was drummed into us as was good husbandry. We began to evolve as tarpots.

Our days spent in the Annexe drew to a close and we were transferred into the mainstream of Shotley. Those of us who had been chosen A.C. found ourselves in Number 27 Mess at the foot of the covered way close to the beach - Anson Division. The adventure was about to begin! Each Division (named, in the main, after old-time Admirals) consisted of four messes. Each mess contained two classes. One mess was Signals including both Telegraphists and Bunting Tossers. One Mess was for A.C. Seamen and the other two Messes were for G.C. Seamen. I was part of 171 Class and we were a few weeks junior to 170 Class. From here on in we were kept busy and our days were taken up gathering experience that was later to stand us in good stead. We trained in gunnery, torpedo and electrical, seamanship and last although not least, in schoolwork. Schoolwork was to occupy us for a good third of our stay at GANGES and I found trigonometry, maths, navigation and such "crams" a boon. Seamanship was the real course, however, and soon we were wrestling with "Rules of the Road" and towing sheep through shallow water! (Not the latter, of course, I kid.) Bends and hitches, knots and splices, sailmaking (you try working a "sailmaker's palm" when you are left-handed), practical boatwork, sailing, lifesaving, and every aspect of seamanship that can be envisaged. Our Seamanship Manual was invaluable. Gunnery was taught as were the basics of electrical work and the functions of torpedo work. We had to be proficient (if somewhat slow) in semaphore and simple Morse code signalling. We were taught to use a Bosun's pipe and to emit from these various calls. How proud we all felt when we were presented (those that made the grade) with our own pipe. You could go on for a "Silver Bosun's Pipe" and this I did. Alas, the "call" was lost later in my career. We were put through our paces both on the parade ground and in the beautiful gymnasium. Our rifle drill became top class despite the weight of the short Lee Enfield - we could fix bayonets with the best and march like marines. We could strip Lewis guns and other weapons and reassemble them. We could master the arts of firing all manner of different weapons, although (with the exception of the .303" rifle) never actually banging off! We were shown that ammunition is in no way dangerous until you forget that it is! We sailed Dipping Lug Cutters (two master) and the more modern one masted sloop type. We coxwained these boats and so gained invaluable experience. We were never allowed to slack - our Instructor Lieutenants (Schoolmasters) would stand no nonsense.

Our hair during these hectic weeks continued to grow and was continually being cropped, and on the 9th November 1935, I found the first rung of the ladder awaiting my foot. I was made up to Boy Ist Class. The G.C. boys who entered GANGES with us now left for sea, looking forward to a duty free fag and all the "pleasures" of a navy cruise. We A.C. boys, now proudly wearing a gold star on our right arm, soldiered on. I have not yet mentioned the mast. Each and every entry must climb the wretched thing quite often up to the crow's nest and once one had to use the "futtock shrouds" instead of the "lubbers' hole" ! This meant that for a spell you clung to the shrouds by hands only and I swear my first grey hair appeared then! But enough of that. Our Captain at the time was an ex-Boy Seaman who had clawed his way to the Highest Point. I believe that his name was Endive or something like that. He was a shortish looking gentleman and seemed happy with his lot. I never at any time thought of emulating him.

Sports of all kinds prevailed - athletics, boxing, football, cricket, swimming, hockey, etc. I found that I was quite a good stick wielder on the hockey field and this despite having to play with right-handed sticks. I was pressured into playing Outside Left and did quite bonnie. Later, years on, I found that I was an ace at Deck Quoits Hockey on the Flight Decks of carriers!

Since we had reached a certain seniority, we found that we could be trusted to have a two hour Sunday afternoon shore leave. This was called “Shotley Leave” and was simply that - a walk down Suffolk roads, nowt else. I remember trying it once. We had a leave taken at home, of course, and we used to keep a chart of how many more “Charlies” there were before our leave was due. The Bugle call Reveille was always sung as "Charley Charley, lash up your hammocks and Charley Charley, stow it away". Not that we had hammocks to lash up every day at the GANGES. They came later and the tiddley “point and graft” work on the ropes of the hammock. In the gym was a very large print-out of the poem written by Rudyard Kipling, “IF”. I got to know every word of that poem, as indeed all others did. My only boxing match was in the I.S.B.A. championship and was against a six foot beanpole called Stone, who waggled nine foot long arms with fists made of stone on the end into my poor old moosh! Giving up the fight game I decided to stick to hockey. At least I had a stick to defend myself!

On being made up to Boy First Class our weekly pay had been upped as well. I now had a stipend of three 'alf dollars a week or seven shillings and sixpence or thirty seven and a half new pence - whatever! The weekly pocket money had risen from one shilling to one shilling and sixpence. The rest was saved for us and would be handed over when leaving GANGES. My father died on February 12th 1936 and I was granted leave. It was about five days if memory serves me correctly and due to this break in routine I missed part of the Gunnery Course. In March we commenced "our finals" and I was rather chuffed by my results. Class 171 disbanded in early April and on All Fools Day I, with a few others, travelled north to Scapa Flow and joined the IRON DUKE, the oldest battleship still in service! I was to spend very little time on this old battlewagon and memory of it is not very clear. We, about six boys, were awaiting the arrival of H.M.S ROYAL SOVEREIGN, a much more modem battleship than the DUKE and the only memories of my first stay in Scapa was my early “scraps” trying to sling a hammock and the awful 6.00 am “scrub decks”, which for us Nozzers (yes, we were back at the bottom of the ladder following being “top johns” at Shotley) consisted of swabbing out the ring bolts! "My Tiny Hand Is Frozen" was a popular song, and if one adds the digits of the feet (we scrubbed in bare bats!) we had then 20 frozen sticks. Most of the older “badgemen” aboard wore '14-18' medals and some marines had caps with no peaks. I believe these were known as Blue Marines. To us they were known as Bootnecks.

I started then to smoke the weed once again. A half pound tin of "Tickler" (ciggie tobacco) cost around two shillings in those days and a box of 25 Players containing beautiful pictures of famous (or infamous) film stars were about 7d. Packets of 20 were a tanner a touch, We lads used to watch the "old stripeys" form a perique of tobacco out of tobacco leaves. These were rolled very tight in a "skin" of spunyarn, sometimes with a little rum (Nelson's Blood!) added to them. The spunyarn was bound tight by use of what I can only describe as a Spanish windlass hung between two hammock rails! After a period of time the incarcerated leaves were bone hard and black, ready then for either chewing or cutting into shag for pipes. In those pre-'39 days we were only allowed to smoke on the upper decks at specified "stand-easies" and leisure times. Large "spitkids" were placed on deck to take up the debris of the smoker including the spit of the chewer. Woe betide any dabtoe who missed the spitkid and hit the deck instead! The fleet, or port, returned to this most northerly of harbours and we could sight across the water the "Tiddley Quid" (the ROYAL SOVEREIGN).

Watch for Part Two in the next newsletter___________________________________________________________________________________

THE

SUPERVISORS

When the body was first made all parts wanted to be

Supervisors

The Brain insisted, "Since I control everything and do all the thinking, I should be the Supervisor".The Feet said, "since we carry man where he wants to go, we should be the Supervisors". The Hands said, "Since we do all the work and earn all the money to keep the rest of you going, we should be Supervisors". The Eyes staked their claim, "since we must watch out for all of you, we should be Supervisors".

And so it went on, the Heart, the Ears, and finally … the BUM! How all the other parts laughed - to think that the Bum should be Supervisor!!!

Thus, the Bum became mad and refused to funtion. The Brain became feverish, the Eyes crossed and ached, the Legs got wobbly, and the Stomach went sick.

ALL pleaded with the Brain to relent and let the Bum be Supervisor. And so it came to be, that all the other parts did their Work, and the Bum simply Supervised, and 'Passed' a load of crap.

Moral: You don't have to be a brain to be a Supervisor - only a Bum___________________________________________________________________________________

Famous Last WordsFrom John Batty

"Drill for oil?" "You mean drill into the ground to try to find oil? You're crazy." (Drillers who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist in his project to drill for oil in 1859)

"The bomb will never go off. I speak as an expert in explosives". (Admiral William Leahy, US Atomic Bomb Project)

"Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value". (Marechal Ferdinand Foch, Professor of Strategy, Ecole Superieure de Guerre)

"Everything that can be invented has been invented". (Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, US Patent Office, 1899)

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home". (Ken Olsen, President, Chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Co., 1977)"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us". (Western Unional internal memo, 1876)

"The telephone will be used to inform people that a telegram has been sent". (Alexander Graham Bell)

"The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial vale. Who would pay for a message to be sent to nobody in particular?" (David Sarnoff's associates in response to his urgings for investment in the radio in the 1920s)

AH WELL

___________________________________________________________________________________

Some thoughts on old age:

1. No one expects you to run - anywhere. 2. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac. 3. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.4. Things you buy now won’t wear out.5. You can eat dinner at 4 pm.6. You can live without sex but not without glasses.7. You enjoy hearing about other peoples operations.8. When you have a party the neighbours don’t even notice.9. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

FILMING OF "THE YANGTSE INCIDENT"

By Alan Quartermaine

Shortly after Suez in the Autumn of 1956, I was drafted to HMS DELIGHT; a Daring Class Destroyer. One Friday morning, 10 other DELIGHT UWs and I were ordered to report to the Drafting Office to be issued with a loan draft to HMS GANGES. Located 5 miles up the River Orwell, we were to assist RKO Ltd with the making of the film " The Yangtse Incident".

We reported to the Wardroom Annex to be briefed by our Officer in Charge, Lt ReedR.C.N, who had recently arrived from the TAS Academy, HMS VERNON. The jobin hand was to lay Plastic Explosive (PE) to simulate straddles of shell fire on the two ships used to represent HM Ships AMETHYST and CONSORT, HM ShipsTEASER of the 2nd TS Portland and MAGPIE.

The method used to simulate shellfire was to suspend three 8-ounce blocks of PE, complete with detonator and civilian Fixoflex, along a 1500-yard (1371.6 Mts.)length of wire. This was then laid along the riverbed using two local fishermen in their boats. A total of four wires were laid and these were made up in the Drill Shed using trainees to assist. Once laid, the wire was made partially bouyant by attaching a Dan Pellet at each end. Cork floats (secured with "Pussers ginger string") were secured in the middle so that the wire floated just under the surface of the river. To ensure watertight joints in the Fixoflex, which only came in 100-yard lengths, Dunlop solution was used. Apparently so much solution was used that all garages in Harwich area completely sold out.

The two ships steamed as required for the underway filming. We all worked like"Beavers", laying charges and pulling back to "AMETHYST" in a small riverboat to secure the firing leads to 4 accumulators situated on the ship's quarterdeck. Large insulated nails were used to make the correct connections for the firing sequence. At the end of each day of filming, we searched the area for misfires. Suprisingly only one misfire occurred in the two weeks of filming.

It was a happy time and apart from the really nice food supplied to us by the film makers catering company, I ate and socialised in the PO's Mess with some of the actors including Sam Kydd and William Hartnell and I also chummed up with two more POs drafted to Delight (D119).

A nice surprise awaited us at RNB. We all received a registered letter containing ourwages of approximately £33.00 for the 14 days of filming. (£2.10s per day, old money). Not bad when you consider this was on top of our RN pay. Two weeks later I was required to return to GANGES in order to assist in the taking of single shots

.....Happy days.

10. You've stopped trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

11. You sing along with lift music. 12. Your eyes wont get much worse. 13. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. 14. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than weather forecasters. 15. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first._____________________________________________________________________

Never Anger Your Nurse

A bigshot business man had to spend a couple of days in the hospital. He was a royal pain to the nurses because he bossed them around just like he did his employees. None of the hospital staff wanted to have anything to do with him.

The head nurse was the only one who could stand up to him. She walked into his room and announced, "I have to take your temperature. After complaining for several minutes, he finally settled down, crossed his arms and opened his mouth. "No, I'm sorry, the nurse stated, "but for this reading, I can't use an oral thermometer.

This started another round of complaining, but eventually he rolled over and bared his behind. After feeling the nurse insert the thermometer, he heard her announce, "I have to get something. Now you stay JUST LIKE THAT until I get back!"

She leaves the door to his room open on her way out. He curses under his breath as he hears people walking past his door, laughing. After almost an hour, the man's doctor comes into the room. "What's going on here?" asked the doctor. Angrily, the man answers, "What's the matter, Dec? Haven't you ever seen someone having their temperature taken before?" After a pause, the doctor replies, "Yes, but never with a daffodil!"_________________________________________________________________

Subject: Male Rules

We always hear the rules from the female side, now here are the rules from the male side.

These are their rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1 "!!!!1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.1. Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.1. Sunday = sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.1. Crying is blackmail.1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you

need it down. You don’t hear us complaining about you leaving it down.1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints

do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!1. Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think we'd be any good at

choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.

Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.1. Check your oil! Please.1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We refuse to answer.1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or

angry, we meant the other one.1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you

already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.1. The relationship is never going to be like it was the first two months we were going out. Get

over it.1. ALL men see in only 16 colours, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a

fruit, not a colour. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.1. We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind- reading ability is not proof

of how little we care about you.1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know

you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really.1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as navel

lint, the four four two formation, or cricket.1. It is neither in your best interest nor ours to take the quiz together. No, it doesn't

matter which quiz.1. BEER is as exciting for us as handbags are for you.1. Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch to night, but did you

know we really don’t mind that. It's like camping. .........…__________________________________________________________________________________

Well that’s it once again. We hope that you all enjoy the rest of the summer - and don’t forget to get your ‘flu jabs before the winter. And that includes you George. __________________________________________________________________________________

E-MAIL

The latest list of e-mail addresses for members is given below.

Admiral Sir James Eberle AdmiralJim@lineone.netMargaret Atherton MAAthert@aol.comBill Bartholomew bill@hmscossack.freeserve.co.ukFred Barton fred@fbarton90.freeserve.co.ukKeith Batchelor keith@beaconroad.freeserve.co.ukMike Bath soapy@mickbath.freeserve.co.ukJohn Batty cossack@flatrate.net.auJohn Bishop jbishop.cossack@virgin.netTony Brown tony@beaufort83.fsnet.comTom Brown t.mbrown@bmts.comPhilip Bryant philip.bryant@ukonline.co.ukGeorge Bye g_bye@talk21.comRussell Campling russellcampling@hotmail.comJack Caswell Jack1cas@aol.comMike Cook MikeStensonCook@aol.comFred Cook fredcookhome@ntlworld.comFred Cooper frederick.cooper@ntlworld.comStan Edgell edgellas@aol.comAlan Edinborough aedinborough@o2.co.ukGeoff Embley naughtycal@ns.sympatico.caDave Fenton dfenton@rogers.comLiz Foster-Hall liz@foster-hall.freeserve.co.ukPat Gaffney patrick.gaffney@talk21.comBetty Gilham egilham@bushinternet.co.ukAlistair Gordon alfaye.gordon@tiscali.co.ukGeirr Haarr ghaa@statoil.comStan Hannaford stanhannaford@hotmail.comPeter Harrison cossack@attglobal.netDavid Helyar Davehelyar@aol.comDavid Higgins dhiggin8@ford.comTom Kay tom@kaybn13.freeserve.co.ukAlec Kellaway Alec.Kellaway@ukgateway.netGraham Keyes Gkeyes@btinternet.comBrian Lambie bds.classics@ntlworld.comGeoff Lane Geofflane@tesco.netStan Leadbetter alanesewell@hotmail.comBrian Luter b17luter@ntlworld.comBob McLean bisnad@aol.comPeter Marchant peter.bosun@virgin.net

Terry Matthews matthewsllb@tinyworld.co.ukDusty Miller GEMSPEC@FSBDial.co.ukFinn Nesvold f-nesvo@online.noDoug Parkinson dparkinson@onetel.net.ukBrian Patterson bhp.ports@virgin.netJack Price Ppamelajack@aol.comJack Race jackrace2@activemail.co.ukPhilip Remnant bees@premnant.fsnet.co.ukHarry Ripp hripp@hotkey.net.auDon Rush donval.rush@virgin.netKen Satterthwaite kensatt@tinyonline.co.ukPaul Saunders PaulSaunders@bensonclimate.fsnet.comDr. Neil Shand nshand@zip.com.auAnne Smith annepsmith@talk21.comCarol Taylor carol@snookerdebts.co.ukLes & Jean Taylor jeles@taylor3.evesham.netF.M. Thomas f.m.thomas@ntlworldColin Trigg colin@northgate99.freeserve.co.ukMike Tunks miketunks@hotmail.comFrank Weedon frank.sheila@fweedon.freeserve.co.ukDon Whittick dewhit@mail.pacificcoast.netJohn Williams john@josylanja.freeserve.co.uk___________________________________________________________________________________