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THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION NO.10 AREA APRIL 2007

FALKLANDS 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL ISSUE

ALSO INSIDE: WHO KILLED CROMIE? PEARL HARBOUR HMS RINGTAIL WELCOME TO NUMBER 11 AREA

ONCE ROYAL NAVY - ALWAYS ROYAL NAVY ONCE ROYAL NAVY - ALWAYS ROYAL NAVY ONCE ROYAL NAVY - ALWAYS ROYAL NAVY

VANGUARD
EDITORIAL
Or is it? After years of fending off questions as to why headquarters had to be located in London, it would appear it is now full speed ahead to quit the capital. Why the sudden change of heart? The Vice Chairman of the Association writing elsewhere in this magazine cites the reason that only the First Sea Lord is resident at the MOD (Navy) in London. In other words the seat of power has moved out thats strange it has always been our understanding that the government were the decision makers and they are firmly planted in Westminster. Another reason put forward for the move to the seaside is the lack of space at Chelsea Manor Street: true, things are cramped in the existing premises; one can hardly deny that to hold a meeting of any kind is not practical. Space is at a premium for other aspects of the operation i.e. storage of RNA goods and the valuable space taken up by computer equipment so necessary in the office world of today. One thing is certain; the lease on Chelsea Manor Street is a valuable asset with todays property values in the south east. The sale of this property would realise a considerable sum to the Association, and this could well be the real reason behind the moves to quit London. Each year, sees fewer and fewer members remaining with the RNA: fewer members, means less subscriptions less subscriptions depletes the income needed to administer an association which cannot realistically increase the current subscription rate given the year on year rises since 2004. With that avenue blocked, any relief afforded by income generated from the Associations investments will be swallowed up in the wages and salaries of its staff, and the day to day running of the organisation. This state of affairs cannot continue for much longer.

THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION NO.10 AREA

Decision Time
In our last issue, we set out the pros and cons of uprooting the Associations Headquarters from Chelsea Manor Street in London to a place to be decided; (although Portsmouth was considered the prime candidate) preferably one with a RN presence. Since then, despite many rumours, the December Circular Letter gave an insight into the way matters are progressing on this subject. Portsmouth as expected has emerged the front runner, despite an ongoing review of the whole operation of the naval base ordered by the government in late October. Whatever its fate, it is almost certain that the Historic Dockyard would emerge unscathed from any drastic cut backs from the rest of the Portsmouth operation. Therefore, any move to this part of the world would almost certainly be concentrated on some redundant premises in that complex. Anywhere else in the naval base would present difficulties; mainly due to security problems, whereas, the Heritage section of the dockyard is open to the general public: which is the main reason for moving Headquarters out of that quiet corner of London.

With the sale of the London premises, it would allow a move to, say Portsmouth, in the hope that the MOD would provide us with accommodation in some building going for a song in the nearby Historic Dockyard complex. All well and good so far, unfortunately, the questions raised in the last issue of this magazine would still require answers. What of the current London HQs staff? Would they be willing to re-locate; - if not, generous severance terms would have to be paid to them. Wouldnt extra staff be required to man the new headquarters over a seven day period? There would be no point in having a potential recruiting shop window that was closed at weekends when the Historic section of the dockyard was at its busiest: after all, that is the object of relocating is it not? Would there be any guarantee that the proposed move would generate any more interest in the RNA? It is now evident that todays serving sailor has other more pressing priorities than an organisation as they see it as an old mans club, whose members gather once a month in their local pub to swap yarns from their time in the service. At long last, the Association has decided to concentrate its recruiting efforts to the 45- 55 year olds who have been out of the service say 20 years or so: an initiative this magazine has been pleading for over the years. Let us hope, there are enough of these potential recruits to the RNA who will visit the Associations proposed new home, and join us. If not, we might as well stay at Chelsea Manor Street until it is time for the last person to leave to turn off the lights. +

PUBLISHER Benham Publishing Limited DESIGN & TYPESETTING David Coffey ADVERTISING Simon Castell ADMINISTRATION MANAGER Kerry Howard MEDIA NUMBER 1089

PUBLISHED April 2007 EDITOR All editorial for publication should be sent to: Area Secretary, Mr Charles Hutton Royal Naval Association No.10 Area c/o 44 Railway Road, Urmston, Manchester M41 0XW Tel 0161 748 6681

NOTICE Benham Publishing and Area 10 RNA, would like to point out that all editorial comment and articles are the responsibility of the originators and may or may not reflect the opinions of the Royal Naval Association, no responsibility can be accepted for any inaccuracies that may occur or the quality for obvious reasons of photographs reproduced.

Benham Publishing Limited, 4th Floor, Orleans House, Edmund Street, Liverpool, L3 9NG Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 www.benhampublishing.com email: admin@benhampublishing.com

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Visit your area website at: www.rna-10area.co.uk

CONTENTS
3 5 6 6 10 11 12 14 16 19 20 22 24 26 28 30 30 32 34 Editorial Chairmans Report Falklands Today Presidents Pulpit A Damn Close-Run Thing Lt. Walter Childs, RN Falklands 1982 Laughter Pages Who Killed Cromie? Reunions News The USS Arizona Your Letters HMS Ringtail Scranbag Obituaries Falklands 25 Combat Stress Branch News Picture Gallery

CHAIRMANS REPORT
Hi Shipmates; Doesnt time fly as we get older? Can you remember when you were at school, and it seemed forever before you reached 14 and left school and got your first job? Then it seemed a lifetime before you reached the magical 21st birthday. Once that had passed, the years seemed to fly by at a rate of knots. I say this as it only seems like a couple of weeks since we were celebrating 2007 and yet when this issue of Vanguard hits the streets, a third of 2007 will have already gone. Sadly, quite a few clubs in the area have had to close due to lack of trading but the branches are still going. I was very pleased to hear the news that S/m Bill Carruthers had been made an Association Life President, an honour richly deserved. Bill has done so much over the years for the RNA. firstly as National Standard Bearer and then Association Ceremonial Officer and has fought back to recover from a stroke. Well done Bill. At the AGM, I breathed a sigh of relief, when Charles our Area Secretary was re-elected, he does so much for the area and he and Diana are the mainstay of Vanguard. I would like to thank all the members of the Area Committee for their support in making my job so much easier. Jan Thomas has done a great job as Welfare Advisor, since taking over the vacancy and is always on hand to help those in need. Vanguard has been given another boost, when Charles and Alan Brooking the Area Treasurer, visited the number 11 Area Conference at Sunderland, they took some copies of Vanguard with them and they went down very well, with a request for more of this issue. Lets face it shipmates, its your area magazine and you cant get a better buy anywhere for a glossy magazine, so come on shipmates buy a copy, we have over 3000 members in the Area and we struggle to sell 1,500 copies, so get a couple and send one to an oppo, remember that your donation of 50pence goes toward the Area Reunion. On the subject of the Area Reunion, we have gone back to Didsbury by popular demand, and it promises to be a great weekend. We have got a great deal on the drinks - Bitter, Lager, Guinness and Becks or Pils at 1.60 and as an added bonus on Saturday and Sunday nights there will be free tots for the men and free drinks for the ladies as well as great entertainment. I know its not a seaside venue, but does it matter. A Reunion in my mind is a chance to meet up with old shipmates, swing the lamp and have a few wets, so those of you who are supporting us are sure to have a good time. Our Area President is still fighting our corner, with all guns blazing as you will see from his report. Steve Caulfield, the Area PRO is doing a great job for us and the Association. Sadly, S/m Fred Atkinson, our National Council Member crossed the bar in February, after a long illness, S/m Ron Fielding will be acting NCM pro tem.. Thats about it from me shipmates. I thank you for your support and many thanks to all those who regularly ask about Olive, my wife. Yours Aye John Dixon (Area Chairman)

FALKLANDS 25
THE ROLE OF UK FORCES IN THE FALKLANDS TODAY
The armed forces continue to protect the Falkland Islands today. Their mission is 'To Deter Military Aggression Against The South Atlantic Overseas Territories'.

ROYAL SAILORS HOME CLUB For Seafarers

A first class club offering hotel and leisure facilities to Serving and ex-serving members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Membership is also open to serving and former Army/RAF personnel with Associate Membership available to the general public.

A combined force comprising members of the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy are based on the Islands. The Falklands Conflict led the way in the Services working together, and this has continued to the present day. The Islands offer excellent training opportunities for the Services, ensuring that they are well trained and well equipped. The relationship between the forces personnel and the locals is very strong and close ties have been forged.

Double/twin/single and family rooms Bars and Restaurants Private function rooms Swimming Pool/Jacuzzi/Steam room Skittles Alley/Snooker room/Gym. ALL AT ATTRACTIVE PRICES Licensed for the Marriage Ceremony
Royal Sailors Home Club, Queen Street, Portsmouth, PO1 3HS TEL: 023 92 824231 FAX: 023 92 293496 Email bookings@sailorshomeclub.co.uk ~ www.sailorshomeclub.co.uk H O M E C L U B . . . H O M E F R O M H O M E

The Falkland Islands are a dependent territory of the UK and will remain so for as long as the Islanders wish to. The Islands have flourished economically and socially since the conflict. The situation in the South Atlantic has changed substantially since the conflict: Argentina is now a democracy, committed to the peaceful resolution of issues over the Islands.

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PRESIDENT S PULPIT

In addition to the foregoing it would be a neglect of duty to overlook the ghost which hovers over every meeting of Caesar and our professionals. Like a Transylvanian vampire, sporting Soviet Union style stainless steel dentures, the Treasury sits on Caesars shoulders muttering his masters mantra,Too CostlyToo Costly. Within the confines of the pre-rigged game of poker our braided professionals have to play with marked cards trying desperately to convince Caesar that their case is just, for the continued welfare of the nature. Inspection of the wreckage of our fleet in 2007 makes for a dismal review and an elegantly braided telescope is not required to identify the fact that our Navy chiefs have long been losing the MOD(N) debate battle for many a long year . Just how well have they been making their points is anyones guess. Are they firm and robust enough? Forceful enough? Have they been clever enough? Above all, it has to be asked, have they all been brave enough? We just do not know how bright, sharp and powerfully our chiefs have been presenting our case in our absence. We do not know just how well they have been fighting our corner, and as things stand it will be 15 to 30 years, and all too late, before we have any opportunity to identify what was said, by whom, to whom, and how that is unless somebody breaks ranks and an Admiral Dannat appears??? What little we have all learned of late is less than reassuring. i.e.; the RN making a deal with one of the transient Caesars to cut the Fleet in order to save 1 billion by April 2008 in return for a promise of jam tomorrow from those very same amateurs! (You could not make this up folks!!) A promise of Jam Tomorrow from those very same amateurs who promised us two new aircraft carriers five years ago. Anybody attended a Carrier keel laying ceremony lately??? Something must change because the survival of our Fleet is clearly in peril because successive Navy Chiefs have proved to be no more effective handling the MOD(N) transient Caesars and that ever present Transylvanian bat than my granny was at surf boarding (she drowned .twice) The worldwide image and once proud profile of our Navy has long been rusting and declining away for far too long. For me the rot began with the closure of the RNs (and the nations) most successful school, the world renown and respected HMS GANGES. That establishment today signifies everything that is wrong with our Navy and our nation. It is derelict, abandoned, crumbling, rusting, when it should have become the Sea Cadet training and holiday centre for our nations youngsters. Somebody failed very miserably back in 1976!! Move on half a decade and we had the pre-Falklands plans for cuts in ships and manpower, delayed only long enough to save the skins of the blundering amateurs who placed those Islanders in danger in the first place then it was a case of job-done, carry on cutting! Onto the fudges concerning the end of the Leander batches and their replacements, the ditching overboard of that marvellous national edifice of pride and history, Greenwich Collage, and still the amateurs ran riot. What did Frank Sinatra and the Royal Tournament have in common? Both played to SRO (standing room only) crowds whenever they performed in London. That annual tournament placed our Navy front and centre before the eyes of our Nation, not merely at the Earls Court venue for those lucky enough to get tickets, but on compulsive viewing television . . . publicity which others would readily kill for. So what did a pot mess of transient amateurs and Service Chiefs do? They killed off the most impressive contact that all three services had with our Nation. . . . . Talk about devasting friendly fire. !! he historic Navy Dockyard at Chatham is already a museum. Will Pompy or Guzz be next? Decisions are being made that are not simply changing history they are denying the lessons of history.

It is upon the Navy, under the good providence of God, that the safety, honour and welfare of this realm do chiefly depend.
By comparison, when facing severe difficulties with various members of the Establishment, our greatest Admiral, who was a mere Captain at the time, openly declared If ministers will not support me in my duties then may they find a severe want of naval officers to support them (let us not forget that prior to Trafalgar he too was promised more ships but he never got them). Apportioning responsibility for todays sorry state of Naval affairs calls for a quick check on how the Ministry of Defence system operates. (It can hardly be described as actually working, but it does work). Within the Whitehall Leaning-Tower-of-Babble there exist hordes of amateurish folk exercising authority over highly trained, experienced and very dedicated professionals. (Pause for a moment dear readers and imagine any stock exchange listed firm operating under that handicap . . . stop laughing!!!

Somebody once said Admirals are very colourful, they flutter about at whim, escaping ones grasp and proving very difficult to pin down The same can be said about butterflies too. Readers seeking more details on this MOD subject are recommended to read Lions, Donkeys and Dinosaurs by retired Naval Officer Lewis Page. (A Heinemann publication) Whilst touring the Gettysburg Battlefield it struck me that although Abraham Lincoln was not a sailor his Gettysburg, with a touch of poetic licence, would serve RNA shipmates well at this time. Two score and thirteen years ago Royal Navy shipmates brought forth into these Islands a new Association, conceived in retirement and dedicated to the proposition that all shipmates are equal. The modern world will little note nor long remember what our long departed shipmates achieved and it is for us, the living, to ensure that the association which they passed into our keeping continues to exist within the spirit which they created, and this Association of the shipmates, by the shipmates and for the shipmates will continue to march behind the standard of free speech for all shipmates. Have you packed your bucket and spade ready for Torquay yet shipmates? It is a delightful spot on the south coast but it had been visited by its share of power-mad dictators Napoleon was a visitor to Torbay in 1815 and then Basil Fawlty displayed his manic conduct. And now, coming to a Conference Hall near you a new show, fresh from the big city Faulty Powers ATTEND AND TAKE NOTES! GETTING THINGS IRONED OUT. There has never been an RN ship names HMS Cast Iron . The Aussie had a Flotilla called Scrap Iron during WW11 one of the vessels, interesting enough, had the name of Vendetta. A sailing ship described as in irons had lost wind power and was making little progress, Nil Momentum, usually due to misjudgement and mishandling. More recently Operation Cast Iron was poorly managed and ran aground, but attempts to refloat this hulk will probably continue. Keep sharp lookout shipmates.

Those fine words above have served our Navy and our nation for close to four centuries. Very sadly, today, that declaration no longer applies.
Why? Who are the guilty men? Who reduced our fleet to its current state? Who was on watch when the fleet in which we served disintegrated to a condition comparable to the decade prior to the battle of Trafalgar? What would the great Nelson have to tell us on that subject? Not for him the likes of the following . . . . The political decision time frame was out of kilter with operational requirements!! Has everybody got that? Everybody understand it? No? Welcome to the club shipmates!! That shifty piece of gobbledygook comes to you direct from the palace of misplaced principles, that monument to Murphys Law in Whitehall.

This amateurish group of civil servants and politicians are led (and I use that word in its most lightest of senses) by an amateur who was placed in position by another amateur and neither of these decision deciding giants have had any training for the posts which they are temporarily holding. (I kid you not shipmates; you just could not make this up). Our freshly anointed Minister of Defence, fresh from Housing or Traffic Control Duties, dons some ill fitting suit of armour emblazoned with stark lettering Numero Uno Difesa and makes his public statement How do I get to the Ministry of Defence? (Some have been known to catch the wrong bus). During recent decades there have been so many of these men in suits of clanking, ill fitting, armour and its your starter for ten to attempt to name all of them. As for what they all had in common?? That is much easier, not one had so much as stood a watch on the bridge of their own constituency high street hamburger Franchise. Nevertheless, they are now the nations Numero Uno shield facing our foes. (Hands up all who are sleeping peacefully??) So are latest amateur leader, lets call him Caesar, takes up office surrounded by his own Praetorian Guard of Honour of junior amateurs of Boames. (Bereft of any military experience) However, all is not lost as the newly empowered Caesar has instant access to all seniors figures within our beloved Navy who are ready to provide Caesar with all details and advice to enable him to act upon that advice and maintain our Fleet to required levels of ships and manpower to continue to ensure the wellbeing of our nation. So what is wrong with that system I hear you cry? That is what our Democratic process is all about, isnt it? Yes it is I hastily reply, but what happens if Caesar opts not to accept the professionals advice? What if he prefers the whisperings and advice of his own, carefully selected Praetorian Guard Boemes? How do we square that with the democratic process? Amateurs have been disregarding or mistreating professionals since Adam was a lad and even Noah questioned the need for an ark!!

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A DAMN CLOSE-RUN THING

Wednesday, with about a week to go until the deadline I had to come up with something both respectful and thought provoking, and to fit it in with a set of night shifts! My first thoughts, apart from taking the phone off the hook and emigrating, were of a rather broad nature which colours work best, what pictures define the Conflict, and how do you show respect for the fallen, whilst celebrating the Islands' liberation? All of these, along with the need to keep a decidedly naval slant on proceedings led me to research the details of what happened 8,000 miles away for those 3 months a quarter of a century ago. We all remember Sir John Nott, the here today, and gone tomorrow politician, intoning in his very measured and cultured voice I regret to inform you that one of our ships has been hit, and Brian Hanrahan's iconic I counted them out, and I counted them all back yet neither of these gave a sense of both the tragedy and sacrifice, and ultimately the success by our armed forces. Digging a little deeper, I found that one of the famous misquotes of Sir Arthur Wellesley after Waterloo, was also uttered after the Falklands - It was a damn close-run thing - and probably no other quote exemplifies the knife-edge that the whole campaign was balancing upon. Armed with a suitable quotation, I then needed to show the sacrifice and danger faced by our forces, concentrating on the Naval setbacks. What better way to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice, than to gather together in one place the names of all the Fallen, side by side with their comrades in arms. The set of photographs, all iconic pictures showing the last moments of onceproud vessels were arranged so that no one picture took overall prominence, yet when taken as a whole presented the viewer with a sense of the murderous violence that modern warfare engenders so different from the sanitised video games and films that most of us are lucky enough to associate with war. The plaintive and haunting words of William Whiting's hymn has also crossed oceans and boundaries and is universally recognised as the Naval Hymn - one can almost imagine it being sung by a warship's young crew in memory of their shipmates. Yet what of the Islands themselves? This little outpost of Britain, half a world away, yet only 300 miles off the coast of South America's major military power. None of us had heard of them, in fact, why were the Argentineans invading islands off the coast of Scotland? Putting aside the politics, the economics and the supposed indifference of the UK government towards less than 2,000 sheep farmers, this country managed to fight a bloody little war with so many risks, under the eyes of the world's media, and with very little in the way of a Plan B. The Islanders remain resolutely British, yet their lives were changed irrecoverably, thrust onto the world stage, their country turned into a garrison, with five servicemen for every Islander. The image of the Islands coloured with the Union Flag shows this simply, effectively and provides a celebration of colour within the starkness and austerity of the design as a whole. So, a magazine cover from start to finish in less than a week. Take some time off for a set of nights, add in a family life and my penchant for beer, It really was a damn close-run thing!

LIEUTENANT WALTER CHILDS, RN

My wife Maureens Uncle Walter, also known as Flynn, was one of the Navys characters. After our wedding I came to know and admire him, bluff, tall and athletic, he spoke with a distinctive Dorset/Hampshire burr. Wally was a kindly soul who loved his native land. His views on politics and religious matters were not to be argued with.
I was told that he had an unhappy childhood; his schooling had finished when he was twelve and he left home and joined the Navy as a boy entrant. By WW1, he had become an Ordinary Seaman and while his early career is vague, it is known that he took part in the Zeebrugge raid under Roger Keyes Senior. The object of the raid was to deny the harbour to U-boats by sinking block ships in the estuary. The supporting force was shipped in requisitioned Mersey paddle steamers, these having the required shallow draughts, (the name Royal Iris comes to mind). Wally was the ammunition number of a Vickers heavy machine gun team. In getting the weapon ashore they were very exposed, and the gun crew were badly shot up. Wally survived by hiding under some railway trucks. He then fought his gun single handed, after which he succeeded in returning aboard carrying a badly injured shipmate. For this exploit, he received the D.S.M. The next we hear of Wally is as a member of a victorious Pompey team in one of the 1920s Field Gun Races at Earls Court. I can remember seeing the commemorative group photographs. The 1920s and 30s were the heydays of the Navy, and Wally served in the Mediterranean Fleet under Admiral Cunningham. He had by then married Maureens Auntie Hilda, and they lived a life of luxury in Malta. Walter had risen through the ratings of the Gunnery Department, and was by now CPO. GI. Auntie Hilda told of regattas, receptions with all the panoply of the British presence in that part of the world. There was no stopping him; he became Chief Gunnery Instructor at Whale Island. Hilda lived in Bournemouth with her relations, and my wife, then a child, recalls visits to the CPOs mess, she said in those days Whale Island had a private zoo. Wally and Hilda never had children, but they both doted on their niece Maureen. Wally was a good swimmer, and he would spend hours in the sea swimming breast stroke with little Maureen astride his back. At times, people would raise the alarm, but the Coast Guard Service knew him well enough to ignore these calls. Eventually, Wally retired into the Naval Reserve, and got a job as a bank messenger with the Westminster Bank at their headquarters in London, the job included a flat; so during the late 1930s Wally and Hilda enjoyed life in the Metropolis with all its glamorous entertainments. 1939 put a stop to that; Wally was recalled as a reservist. Now the rule is that any such recall merits a rise in rating, but Wally was already, as the ex Chief GI at Whale Island, at the top of his profession, so they made him a Warrant Gunner. He told me how he fudged the exam, but there he was, the boy entrant and OD had become a Naval Officer; he rose further to full commissioned rank as a Lieutenant and note this he still wore his DSM which is a lower deck decoration. At first, Wally served in HMS Penelope, but his GI experience came to the notice of My Lords Commissioners, and he was put in charge of the DEMS Gunnery Training School at Roker Park, in Sunderland. His expertise regarding the older weapons that were brought back into use in the armed merchant cruisers was an asset to that service. After WW2, Wally finally retired with Hilda to Bournemouth; he worked his days out as a local bank messenger. He was a keen gardener, filling his house with scrumptious vegetables. He had a flagstaff in his garden, and never failed to hoist his colours on the appropriate occasion. Wally was elected Secretary of the Zeebrugge Veterans Association, and he and Hilda would cross to Belgium and officiate at the annual reunions, he also took part in a broadcast commemorating the raid. Wally lies in a modest grave in Bournemouth; his estate was left to Hilda, who in turn willed it to the Royal Lifeboat Institute. Submitted by Ken Nicholson.

From Concept to Design...

Several weeks ago I was asked to see if I could come up with a design for the current edition of Vanguard, and rather foolishly I agreed to have a go. Having seen several editions of the magazine, I felt I knew what was expected, a picture with an obvious naval slant, either a warship taken from three-quarters on, or several uniformed men in various poses. So, being the contrary soul that I am, (some would say just bloody minded!), I thought, in one of my Monty Python modes, ...and now for something completely different! This year is the 25th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict, in which the Royal Navy played such a pivotal part. So what better theme for my design debut, than the Falklands Conflict? Having decided upon this, I decided to leave it for a few weeks in the hope that someone else would take up the work! This ploy worked until last week when my father, your esteemed Area Secretary rang me up to remind me of my rather rash promise. So, on the

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FALKLANDS 1982
On 2 April 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. There was, and is, a dispute over the sovereignty of the islands. The invasion was preceded by the landing in South Georgia (a Falkland Islands dependency) of an Argentine party in March. It is probable that the Argentine governments perception had been shaped by efforts by the British to negotiate over the Islands and the impression that the Royal Navy was about to be reduced significantly, including the withdrawal from service of the Antarctic patrol ship ENDURANCE.
The powerful Argentine landing could not be prevented by the small Royal Marines garrison and before long the Falkland Islands and South Georgia were completely in Argentine hands. In the UK immediate steps were taken to assemble a naval task force. The mission was given the title Operation CORPORATE. Initially the Task Force comprised two carriers, HERMES (Flag) and INVINCIBLE, a number of destroyers and frigates and support ships. The first ships of the Task Force sailed from the UK only 3 days after the invasion. An amphibious group based on two assault ships and all available landing ships followed with 3 Commando Brigade (Royal Marines, Paras and other units) embarked. Even before the initial deployment a number of nuclear submarines had been despatched to the South Atlantic. It took some time for the force to make the passage of more than 7000 miles to the area of the Falklands. This was a time of much diplomatic activity; while talks took place, military planning continued. Because of the extent of likely operations, the difficulties of the operating theatre and the great distances involved, there was particular emphasis on reinforcements and logistic support. These involved two key factors: the building up of Ascension Island as a support base, and the requisition of many merchant ships. Such vessels were known as STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade). The first active operation of the Task Force was the re-taking of South Georgia. A small group of ships was sent ahead of the main force (ANTRIM, PLYMOUTH, CONQUEROR and RFA TIDESPRING) together with ENDURANCE and a number of Royal Marines and special forces. This was Operation PARAQUAT and was successfully completed by 25 April. The Argentine garrison was captured, as was the submarine SANTA FE which had been reinforcing the Argentine forces. Some days later the main Task Force moved into its main operating areas east of the Falklands. On 1 May operations began against the enemy ashore with bombardments by naval gunfire, carrier-borne Sea Harriers and a long-range bombing attack by an RAF Vulcan from Ascension. On 2 May the Argentine cruiser, GENERAL BELGRANO, the flagship of one of two surface groups which had been threatening the task force was followed, then attacked, by the nuclear submarine CONQUEROR. She sank with the loss of over 320 lives. From this point onwards the Argentine surface fleet was little seen; some submarine operations were attempted without any success. However, on 4 May, the Argentineans hit back and the destroyer SHEFFIELD was disabled by an air-launched Exocet missile. She later sank under tow in bad weather. The Argentine air force and naval air force had proved their capabilities and remained formidable opponents until the end of the conflict. It was the crucial battle for air superiority which was the key to the whole campaign. Without it, there would have been no liberation of the Falkland Islands. On 15 May, a daring raid was carried out by special forces on Argentine air units based on Pebble Island, north of West Falkland. The aircraft were destroyed. 6 days later, at San Carlos, the major landings took place involving the two assault ships, FEARLESS and INTREPID together with a number of the landing ships and some STUFT vessels including the liner CANBERRA, (used as a troopship), and accompanied by a number of escorts. Small Argentine forces in the area were quickly dealt with and the landing force was rapidly built up. The reinforcing Army force, 5 Brigade, was already on its way in various ships, including the requisitioned liner QUEEN ELIZABETH II. Argentine aircraft reacted to the landings and carried out a series of attacks. Several escorts were hit, leading ultimately to the loss of the frigates ARDENT and ANTELOPE as well as significant damage to others. The aggressive role played by the escorts allowed the transports to be largely unharmed. The San Carlos area, at sea and on shore, was subject to air attacks until near the end. Classic layered defence was used

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to counter them. Sea Harriers were deployed on Combat Air Patrol. Closer in, ship missile systems were employed and guns closer in still. An attempt to use a combination of missile systems in ships worked reasonably well but the Type 42 COVENTRY was sunk by bombing during one such operation. On the same day, 25 May, the STUFT ship ATLANTIC CONVEYOR was attacked by air-launched Exocet and subsequently lost. This was significant as she had been carrying much vital equipment, in particular Chinook helicopters which would have been very useful for land operations. A week after the landings the ground forces were well established. On 29 May, Goose Green 15 miles South of San Carlos surrendered to 2 Para after a fierce fight. The following days were to see considerable progress on land whilst Argentine air activity continued unabated. British naval and air units remained fully occupied dealing with aircraft and providing support to the land forces. On 8 June, two landing ships, SIR GALAHAD and SIR TRISTRAM, which had taken troops to Fitzroy on the south coast of East Falkland were bombed with significant loss of life and damage. On 12 June, the destroyer GLAMORGAN returning from a shore bombardment operation was hit by a shore-launched Exocet missile and damaged. Nevertheless, the Army and Royal Marines advanced steadily to Port Stanley. On 14 June the Argentine forces

surrendered and the Falklands conflict was effectively at an end. The whole campaign had lasted less than 3 months; there were a total of 255 British and 655 Argentine dead as well as three Falkland Island civilians. A total of 68 Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels together with 45 STUFT ships were used. Land forces were mainly 3 and 5 Brigades with significant augmentation. There were also many aircraft involved from all 3 Services. This was truly a CORPORATE venture. The short but intense conflict once again emphasised the value of maritime power. The operation was totally unexpected and not covered by any national contingency plans. Moreover, it took place nearly 8000 miles from the UK. The only way that the Falkland Islands could have been recovered was by the use of maritime

forces, which had to take with them the means to defend themselves against air attack, and eventually win sufficient air superiority to enable the transported troops to be protected on passage, and landed to defeat the occupying forces. In addition, RN surface ships took part in the air battle, destroying at least 15 enemy aircraft; they completely deterred Argentine naval forces from attempting to intervene, and bombarded enemy positions ashore throughout the length of the conflict. RN units took part in every aspect of the conflict, at and under the sea, in the air, and on the ground. The cost was high, but the Royal Navy had fulfilled its mission. Naval Historical Branch November 2006

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LAUGHTER PAGES
IN THE BEGINNING
In the beginning was the word; and the word was God. All else was darkness and void without form. So God created the heavens and the earth. He created the sun and the moon and the stars, so that light may pierce the darkness. The earth, God divided between the land and the sea and these he filled with many assorted creatures The dark, salty slimy creatures that inhabited the seashore he called the Royal Marines and he dressed them accordingly, and the flighty creatures of the air he called Airy Fairies, and these creatures he clothed in uniforms which were ruffled and foul. These creatures were not over popular as their droppings fell on the earth below, but God forgave them because he said, they knoweth not what they do. The lower creatures of the sea God called Skimmers, and with a twinkle in his eye, and a sense of humour that only he could have. God gave them big grey targets to go to sea on. He gave them many splendid uniforms to wear. He gave them many wonderful and exotic places to visit. He gave them pen and paper so that they might write home every week, and he gave them Make and Mends at sea. He also gave them a laundry that they might keep their splendid uniforms clean. When you are God you tend to get carried away. On the seventh day as you know God rested and on the eighth day at 0700 Zulu God looked down upon the earth and God was not a happy God. So he thought about his labours and with his infinite wisdom, God created a divine creature, and this divine creature he called a Submariner. And these Submariners, whom God created in his own image, were to be of the deep, and to them he gave a white woolly jumper to keep them warm. He gave them black, steely messengers of death to roam the depths of the seas, waging war against the forces of Satan and evil. He gave them hotels to welcome them when they grew weary of doing Gods will. He gave them subsistence that they may entertain ladies on nights ashore and impress the hell out of the creatures called skimmers. At the end of the eight day God looked down upon the earth and saw all was well. But still God was not happy, because, in the course of his labours, he had forgotten one thing. He had not given himself a Submariners white woolly jumper. He thought long and hard and finally satisfied his mind. Not just anybody can be a Submariner. Submitted by S/m W Watts Salford Branch BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN? Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS Spotted in a safari park: ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR Seen during a conference: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESNT KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR Notice in a farmers field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES. Message on a leaflet: IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR THE BELL DOESNT WORK) Northampton Hospital: BIRTH CONTROL ADVICE PLEASE USE REAR ENTRANCE Surgeons from big cities were discussing who makes the best patients to operate on. The first surgeon, from New York, says, I like to see accountants on my operating table, because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered The second, from Chicago, responds, Yeah, but you should try electricians. Everything inside them is colour coded. The third surgeon, from Dallas, says, No, I really think librarians are the best; everything inside them is in alphabetical order. The fourth surgeon, from Los Angeles chimes in: You know, I like construction workers...those guys always understand when you have a few parts left over. But the fifth surgeon, from Washington, DC shut them all up when he observed: Youre all wrong. Politicians are the easiest to operate on; there are no guts, no heart, no balls, no brains and no spine, and the head and the ass are interchangeable. A minister decided to do something a little different one Sunday morning. He said Today, in church, I am going to say a single word and you are going to help me preach. Whatever single word I say, I want you to sing whatever hymn that comes to your mind. The pastor shouted out CROSS. Immediately the congregation started singing in unison, THE OLD RUGGED CROSS. The pastor hollered out GRACE The congregation began to sing AMAZING GRACE, how sweet the sound. The pastor said POWER. The congregation sang THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD. The Pastor said SEX The congregation fell into total silence. Everyone was in shock. They all nervously began to look around at each other afraid to say anything. Then all of a sudden, way from in the back of the church, a little old 87 year old grandmother stood up and began to sing, MEMORIES.

GOD IS WATCHING
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of their elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The teacher made a note, and posted it on the apple tray. It said, Take only one. God is watching. Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, Take all you want. God is watching the apples.

DEAR ABBY...
Dear Abby, Ive never written to you before, but I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision. Ive suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs... Phone rings but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently although when I ask their names she always says, Just some friends from work, you dont know them. I always stay awake to look out for her taxi coming home, but she always walks down the drive, although I can hear a car setting off, as if she has gotten out of the car round the corner. Why? Maybe she is in a taxi? I once picked her cell phone up just to see what time it was and she went berserk and screamed that I should never touch her phone again and why was I checking up on her. Anyway, I have never broached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didnt want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her. I decided I was going to park my Harley Road King next to the garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the whole street when she comes home. It was at that moment, crouching behind my Harley, that I noticed that the rocker boxes on my engine seem to be leaking a little oil. Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it back to the dealer? Thanks, Harley Man

DID I READ THAT SIGN RIGHT?

TOILET OUT OF ORDER: PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT In a London department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS In an office: WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN In an office: AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD Outside a secondhand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING

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WHO KILLED CROMIE?

The death of Captain Francis Cromie CR. DSO. RN passed almost unnoticed amid the slaughter of the First World War. Yet on one day, without loss of life, he had stopped the entire German Fleet in the Baltic.
Today it is still uncertain who killed him, the Germans or his Russian allies. The Times reported in September 1918:BRITISH ATTACH MURDERED. RUSSIA TO FIGHT ALLIES - A PETROGRAD OUTRAGE Born in Ireland on January 30th 1882 to an American father and a Welsh mother, Francis Cromie grew up in Pembrokeshire. His father Charles had joined the British army and while stationed at Pembroke Dock married the Chief Constables daughter, Mary Ince Webb-Browne. When Francis reached school age, they settled in Fishguard, where for 10 years Francis was educated at the Free School. In 1891, after moving to Haverfordwest, Francis attended the Grammar School until the summer of 1896. His father moved away in 1894 after divorcing Francis mother. On January 15 1897 Francis joined the Royal Navy and by June 1898 was a midshipman on HMS Repulse. While serving aboard HMS Balfleur, during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, he landed as part of the relieving force of Tiensin. Cromie was commended as showing much zeal and ability with the Naval Brigade. In December 1901 he was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant and in June 1903 promoted to Lieutenant. He then made the decision that was to lead to his death he volunteered for the fledgling submarine service. Not only were submarines dangerous but submariners were despised. In 1901 Admiral Wilson declared that captured submariners should hang, submarines were unfit for gentlemen. Yet Cromie was every inch a gentleman. In 1963, Rear Admiral Brodie remembered him as tall, good looking, with curly black hair and whether in sea-going or any other rig was always carefully dressed. Also, in contrast with some contemporaries, he was polite to the training class, his Portsmouth landlady thought him a lovely man As Captain of HM Submarine A3, Lieutenant Cromie began earning the respect of his contemporaries. Under way off Spithead in February 1906, he dived fully clothed into the sea to rescue a seaman. Initially he held the man up before lapsing into unconsciousness himself. The seaman died but artificial respiration revived Crombe. During 1907 he married Gwladys , and settled in Lee-on Solent. There Dolories Anthea his only child was born, and by 1908 Cromie was commanding a new C class submarine. Promoted Lieutenant Commander in1911 he assumed command of the Devonport flotilla. Next came command of the Navys latest submarine E4 but after just a year he left his family to command the Hong Kong flotilla. However with war approaching, the flotilla returned home in August 1914. At Barrow in July 1915 Cromie commissioned E19, a boat of 664 tons surfaced and 708 dived. At 181 feet long with a beam of 23 feet she was driven by two propellers powered by two diesels at 14 knots on the surface. and Submerged, her speed was 9 knots driven by two electric motors. Her armament consisted of a six-pounder gun and ten 18inch torpedoes. After working up, E19 sailed to join the Baltic submarine flotilla based in Russias port of Reval. (now Tallin in Estonia). Neither E19 nor Cromie would return. The Baltic approaches were mined, forcing E19 through neutral Swedish waters where internment awaited. detection. Dodging and diving she crept through the shallow water. On one occasion her steering failed, and she refused to surface. After four frantic hours she surfaced, listing and out of control. Grounding on Hven they blew more ballast and floated free, only to plunge to 50 feet with a 30-degree bow-up angle. By moving all portable gear forard the boat regained some degree of trim. Surfacing, Cromie found the hatch stuck., forcing it half open he squeezed through only to find he could not re-enter until he had freed the hatch. Still their troubles were not over. Diving to await darkness they found one motor had wiped its bearings. Finally on September 13, after bumping along the bottom at four knots, they surfaced and entered Reval, serenaded by a Russian Naval band. On E19s first patrol her bad luck continued. She became entangled in an anti submarine net to which small charges were fixed, these exploded, alerting the German Sylvania. For two hours the submarine crew struggled to free themselves, twice surfacing to be greeted by shell fire, they eventually escaped and crept away. Their bad luck continued when they sighted the German Svionia on October 3rd and E19 surfaced in front of her. British submarines at this time operated under the Hague Peace Conference rules that stated; Any boat intending to sink an enemy vessel must first stop that vessel,

k
then give her captain a clear warning of the proposed sinking; the submarine captain must then make provision for the crew of his victim, and ensure their safety. The Sivonia refused to stop, so Cromie fired ahead of her, then, after the crew had abandoned ship, he again fired but with little effect. He tried torpedoes but the first failed after launch and the second dived deep and missed. Eventually the Savonia ran aground. A week later they attacked another German ship with four torpedoes. Two missed, one circled just missing E19 and another hit but failed to explode. Again the target ran aground. However, E19s luck was changing, and the next day made history. First she stopped the ore carrier Walter Leonhardt putting the crew aboard a neutral Swede, Cromie sank the ore carrier with charges. Almost immediately, he sighted the Germania and chased her onto a Swedish reef. Leaving her there, Cromie next stopped the Gutrune and after the crew left, sank her with three shells. Again he persuaded a Swede to take the crew. Later that afternoon the Director Rippenhagen strayed into his sights and was also scuttled, a ship being stopped to take her crew. As darkness approached, the final target sailed into view. The Niconiedia was sunk as her crew rowed to safety. The episode became known as the E19 massacre; Cromie had changed German strategy in the Baltic. Next day, not one German vessel appeared, so Cromie stopped the Swedish Nike carrying ore to Germany, believing this broke her neutrality he put a prize crew aboard and escorted her to Reval, where he learned the reason for the lack of targets. The German merchant fleet refused to sail unescorted with Cromies submarine at large. The next patrol started with the Suomi being set alight, then on November 7th E19 sighted the German cruiser Undine . Submerged, Cromie closed to 1,100 yards before firing one torpedo that exploded amidships. As the crew abandoned ship, he moved to the stern and fired a second torpedo that again exploded. Returning to Reval, Cromie was awarded the Order of St. George, Russias highest award for bravery. In winter, with the sea frozen over and shipping immobile, the crews carried out maintenance while living aboard the old Russian cruiser Dvina. While officers shared the Russian wardroom, the men had their own accommodation. The treatment of Russian sailors by their officers shocked the British. Typically they would spit in the face of a saluting sailor, and then order him to turn and bend before kicking him. In cinemas, the Russian ratings were only allowed behind the screen and stood if an officer came or went. British sailors, although in front of the screen, also stood for the Russians, until they realised that the Russians did not afford British officers the same courtesy. The Russians complained, but Cromie backed his men. Unsurprisingly, rebellion was brewing in the Russian fleet and during November, two battleships mutinied. Christmas 1915 came, and on December 31st Cromie was promoted to Flotilla Commander. The British were entertained ashore by expats, who later recalled the high regard the officers and crews had for Cromie. As the weather warmed, the submarines sailed again, although now the Germans tracked them by aircraft in the clear shallow Baltic. During June 1916 E19 was bombarded with over 34 bombs. Although revolution was drawing nearer, the Russian officers seemed oblivious. A British sailor on his way to deliver a report encountered an Russian Admiral, while standing and saluting, the Admiral spat in his face. Returning to his submarine, the sailor reported this to Cromie who immediately took him to the Admirals quarters and demanded and received a personal face to face apology for the seaman. In May 1916, Cromie was awarded the DSO and in August the flotilla became an independent command, boosted by four smaller submarines. These arrived from England by barge along rivers and canals. The following winter, with everything again frozen, Russian unrest grew. On March 15th 1917 Russians sailors paraded to the sounds of the outlawed Marsellaise. When the rebels set fire to the police station next to the British Consulate, Cromie took 80 volunteers to fight the fire, after extinguishing it, they marched back unarmed to the dockyard amid random shootings. The Russians were now openly rebelling and killing their despised officers. Cromie managed to save some, one was a Russian Paymaster and another later joined the Australian Air Force, eventually becoming Winston Churchills interpreter. Meanwhile in Kronstadt the famous island fortress guarding the approaches to the capital Petrograd- the Russian fleet mutinied, the sailors killing all the Admirals along with some

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WHO KILLED CROMIE? continued

100 other officers and imprisoning another 200. They hacked the CinCs body to pieces and threw it piecemeal onto a bonfire in the towns centre. The Russian fleet, now run by a seamens committee threatened to try the Russian officers seconded to the British fleet. Cromie successfully argued that they were subject to Royal Navy discipline. Cromies sailors also saved lives. Dvinas bosun, an elderly warrant officer, refused to join the rebels and was brought before the seamans committee. After he had been humiliated and stripped of his uniform, they decided to hang him. However the British sailors confronted the mob and won his freedom. He escaped to London, becoming the doorman of the Imperial Russian Consulate. Towards the end of April 1917 the patrols restarted and the flotilla moved to Hango in Finland, even though Russian-Finnish relations were becoming strained. With Russia in a state of turmoil the Germans advanced and took Riga. Crobie was advised to put his submarines under the control of the seamans committee. His response was that the Admiralty had ordered him to fight the Germans not to take sides locally. Luckily he won the argument four Russian officers who also had the temerity to question the committees authority were executed. By the winter, the situation in Russia was ready to boil over into full-scale revolution. On November 7th, under protest, Captain Ericsson commanding the Russian cruiser Aurora took the ship up the River Niva to Petrograd. There he resigned his commission and left. At 2140 Aurora opened fire, signalling the start of the attack on the Winter Palace. Back in Hango the Russian CinC had vanished, leaving Cromie commanding the Russian and British submarines. The Bolsheviks, now controlling Russia, were seeking an armistice with Germany, making the British very vulnerable. That winter the flotilla moved to Helsingfors but relations with the Russian Navy were rapidly deteriorating. The Bolsheviks considered the RN to be imperialist and capitalist, the enemy of the common man Cromies command of seven submarines and over 200 men was no longer welcome in Russian waters. In December 1917 the new Sailors Soviet decided to take the Baltic Fleet to Kiel. Cromie was determined this would not happen, and managed to persuade the Soviet that sailing was not wise with Germany still attacking Russia. With the situation worsening, Cromie managed to arrange safe passage overland for his sailors to Petrograd, then Marmansk and finally by freighter home. He and about 20 crew remained to prepare for scuttling his submarines to prevent them falling into the hand of the advancing Germans. Cromie was now also Naval Attache and acting as ambassador in Petrograd. Regular payment for Cromies sailors had long ceased and so he sold the flotillas stock of clothing to pay the seamen. Eventually, with the Germans less than five miles away, they scuttled the submarines at sea, the remaining crew members then returned home, leaving Cromie at the embassy in Petrograd. With the Allies uncertain about the new Soviet Republic and even Lenin and Trotsky unsure what to do next, Russia was a very dangerous place. The Revolutionaries continued to sue for peace but Germany continued to attack. CromIe now set about scuttling three abandoned British merchant ships before they fell into German hands, enrolling anyone he could and cajoling often at gunpoint, he persuaded the Russians to allow him to scuttle these ships at sea. This did not endear him to the Germans who put a price of 1,000,000, rouble reward on his head. Petrograd was rife with intrigue at this time, and Cromie was eventually caught up in it. Allied agents were stirring up trouble among the rebels, while the Soviet secret police had planted two men within British circles where they pretended to be counter revolutionaries (White Russians). One of them, significantly perhaps, is believed to have been German. Cromie was taken in by their story and introduced them to genuine counter revolutionaries. Then, on August 30th, the chief of Petrograds secret police was assassinated, and Lenin was shot in the neck and chest. Turmoil followed. The next day one of the White Russians phoned the British Embassy, arranging to meet Cromie in the embassy at 4pm. Meanwhile, cars, armed soldiers and civilians gathered around the embassy. Confusion surrounds events but at about 4.45pm Cromie opened the door of a conference room to find himself facing an armed Russian. Shutting the door, he told the two White Russians and other embassy staff to remain in the room, Drawing his pistol, he reopened the door and faced down the man. Red guards, however, were all over the embassy and as Cromie descended the stairs, two shots hit him in the head from behind. He fell at the bottom of the stairs, as more armed Russians stormed through the embassy doors. The embassy staff were all arrested and although they released the women that day, it was 13 weeks before the men were freed. Cromies body was taken to the Smolny Institute where it lay unclaimed. The Dutch Ambassador, William Jacob Oudenijk came to the rescue, and persuaded the Russians to release Cromies body, which was taken to the English Church on Palace Quay. Other allied diplomats wanted a quiet burial, but Oudenijk would not hear of it. Organising a proper coffin, he had the body cleaned and prepared. They found a babys glove in one pocket of his civilian suit along with the leather straps from his watch in another, but no watch or money. They tried to retrieve his naval uniform but this was refused. Unable to find a White Ensign for the coffin they used a Union Jack. Cromies funeral took place on September 6th in the packed church. During the journey to the cemetery a coach containing floral tributes followed the hearse. The Dutch Ambassador and Consul walked behind, leading a long procession. Smolensky Cemetery is reached by crossing the river Neva where three Russian destroyers were moored, as the procession approached, the Russians watched. Hearing that it was Cromies funeral, the sailors lined up, came to attention and saluted, much to the annoyance and scorn of the accompanying secret police. Happy is the country that has sons like Captain Cromie. May his splendid and beautiful example inspire us til the end of time said the Dutch Ambassador as the coffin, still draped in the Union flag, was lowered into the grave. Today they lie there still, lost in a cemetery of untended wildness. Home in England, Cromies widow sought to boost Cromies meagre pension. At the time of his death he was, Naval Attach, Acting Ambassador in Petrograd and Commander of the defunct Baltic Fleet. Many masters but few paymasters. The Foreign Officer hinted that it might make a one-off payment of 500. But, Cromie had served his purpose, although the manner of his death was used as propaganda, causing more grief for his family. The King, however, was more grateful. In September 1918, Cromies wife was presented at the palace with her deceased husbands Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath The London Gazette records the award; in recognition of his distinguished services in the Allied cause in Russia and of devotion to duty which he displayed in remaining at his post as British Attach in Russia, when the British Embassy was withdrawn. This devotion to duty cost him his life. Back in Pembrokeshire they also remembered, and his old school erected plaques. His name also graces the County War Memorial, and a road is named after him. Grateful thanks to Pembrokeshire Life and to John Bartlett, for permission to print this article

REUNIONS NEWS
HMS Ambuscade
Reunion in Crewe Cheshire May 19th 2007 Further details contact; I. Thornton 4 Kimberly Close Thorpe Audlin PONTEFRACT W Yorks WF8 3ER

HMS Antrim [D18}

25th Annual reunion at the Adelphi Hotel Liverpool October 6th Website@hmsantrim.org.uk

HMS Cambrian Association

Reunion at the Norbreck hotel Blackpool May 18th to May 21st 2007. Any interested ex shipmates please contact Don McDonald Tele 01344 774386

HMS Fearless [L10]

25th reunion at the Royal Sailors Home club Portsmouth Friday June 1st Contact Ray Metcalf 23 Sedgewick Close, Gosport, Hants. PO13 9RB Tel. 023 9252 8302 ray.metcalfe@tesco.net

HMS Glamorgan Association

Reunion Dinner at Portsmouth Royal Sailors Home club Saturday June 9th 2007 Further information from jessjames@hmsglamorgan.co.uk

HMS Llandaff Association

2007 reunion at Llandaff institute Cardiff September 28th and 29th. Further details from mail@hmsllandaff.co.uk

HMS St Brides Bay Association

50th anniversary reunion. Possible venue Chester: date to be confirmed. Further information from Del Card 01904 630639 Or; David Lee 01392 725497 (tanzy@lineone.net

HMS Newcastle Association

2007 reunion at the Royal Sailors Home club Portsmouth on September 15thFurther information from David Park 15 Ditton Close Stubbington FAREHAM PO14 2EU Telephone: 01329 314733

HMS Penelope Association

2007 Reunion at the Royal Fleet club Plymouth on 21st -22nd September 2007 Please contact Ron Thomas 07717 685657 email ron.thomas-gourd@coulterconnection.co.uk for further details.

HMS St Vincent Association

AGM at St Vincent College in Gosport Annual Reunion Dinner at the Thorngate Halls in Gosport Saturday 13th October 2007 For Further information please contact: Mrs Diane Smith 02392 584498.

HMS Tiger
Reunion for 2007 is at the Royal Sailors Home club Portsmouth September 29th 30th. No further information at present

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THE FATE OF THE USS ARIZONA

Most shipmates will be familiar of the events which took place at Pearl Harbour on December 7th 1941. What many will not know is the story concerning the battleship USS Arizona. Approximately 10 minutes after the start of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour that fateful morning, USS Arizona was struck by a 16 naval artillery shell which had been modified as an armour piercing bomb. The bomb struck the ship abreast B main turret penetrated several decks, and entered the magazine spaces serving the forward main guns. The bomb exploded, setting off a secondary explosion of the forward powder magazines of the ship. This explosion wrecked the entire forward section of the ship, blew the bottom out, and the USS Arizona sank in under 10 minutes. 1,177 men died in the ship. Among the men aboard that day was Rear Admiral Isaac C Kidd Sr. Commander of Battleship Division One, which included the Battleships, USS Arizona, Oklahoma and USS Nevada. During the attack, Admiral Kidd made his way to the signal bridge of USS Arizona, which lay just behind B turret. He was still at the signal bridge when the fateful explosion occurred. The body of the Admiral, like so many others aboard that day was never recovered. The only proof the Navy discovered regarding his death was his Naval Academy class ring. The ring was not located on the deck of the signal bridge; it was actually discovered melted to the deckhead. In all likelihood, Admiral Kidd was completely vaporised in the explosion and subsequent conflagration following the bomb hit. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour and on 22nd January 2005, the US Navy christened the third vessel named in his honour, USS Kidd (DDG-100) an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer. After the sinking of the USS Arizona and the putting out of the fires which raged inside the vessel; salvage work commenced. The ship was never to rise again from the bed of the harbour. However, as many workable fittingsas possible, including several components of the rear turrets of the ship, were salvaged for later use. Among the other items recovered were the personal effects of Admiral Kidd. These were placed in a trunk and shipped to his widow (Inez Nellie Gillmore Kidd) in Cleveland. She never opened the trunk, and it was placed into the attic of the family home and forgotten. After Mrs Kidd passed away, the Admirals son, Isaac C. Kidd Jr. himself having attained the rank of Admiral, and accompanied by his own son, discovered the trunk in the attic, and opened it, not knowing it contained his fathers personal items from the time of the attack. What an overwhelming and powerful moment it must have been for them. The Kidd family decided to share their discovery. Several of the items discovered in the trunk are now on display at the USS Arizona Memorial Museum in Hawaii. To this day, the

ship is said to weep. Her teardrops take the form of small droplets of oil, which still leak from the ship to break the surface above her. Story by Rich Jacobs With acknowledgements to the US Navy Cruiser magazine

Pearl Harbour: The cost

On Sunday, December 7th, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the U.S. Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii By planning his attack on a Sunday, the Japanese commander Admiral Nagumo, hoped to catch their entire fleet in port. As luck would have it, the Aircraft Carriers and one of the Battleships were not in port. (The USS Enterprise was returning from Wake Island, where it had just delivered some aircraft. The USS Lexington was ferrying aircraft to Midway, and the USS Saratoga and USS Colorado were undergoing repairs in the United States). In spite of the latest intelligence reports about the missing aircraft carriers (his most important targets), Admiral Nagumo decided to continue the attack with his force of six carriers and 423 aircraft. At a range of 230 miles north of Oahu, he launched the first wave of a two-wave attack. Beginning at 0600 hours his first wave consisted of 183 fighters and torpedo bombers which struck at the fleet in Pearl Harbor and the airfields in Hickam, Kaneohe and Ewa. The second strike, launched at 0715 hours, consisted of 167 aircraft, which again struck at the same targets. At 0753 hours the first wave consisting of 40 Nakajima B5N2 Kate torpedo bombers, 51 Aichi D3A1 Val dive bombers, 50 high altitude bombers and 43 Zeros struck airfields and Pearl Harbor Within the next hour, the second wave arrived and continued the attack. When it was over, the U.S.losses were: Casualties USN: 2,008 KIA, 710 WIA. USMC: 109 KIA, 69 WIA. Civilians: 68 KIA, 35 WIA. TOTAL: 2,403 KIA, 1,178 WIA. Battleships: USS Arizona (BB-39) total loss when a bomb hit her magazine. USS Oklahoma: (BB-37) Total loss; when she capsized and sank in the harbour. USS California (BB-44) Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired. USS West Virginia (BB-48) Sunk at her berth. Later raised and repaired. USS Nevada: (BB-36) Beached to prevent sinking: later repaired. USS Pennsylvania: (BB-38) Light damage. USS Maryland: (BB-46) Light damage. USS Tennessee: (BB-43) Light damage. USS Utah: (AG-16) (former battleship used as a target) Sunk. Cruisers: USS New Orleans: (CA-32) Light Damage. USS San Francisco: (CA-38) Light Damage. USS Detroit: (CL-8) Light Damage. USS Raleigh: (CL7) Heavily damaged but repaired. USS Helena: (CL-50) Light Damage. USS Honolulu: (CL-48) Light Damage. Destroyers: USS Downes: (DD-375) Destroyed. Parts salvaged. USS Cassin: - (DD-372) Destroyed. Parts salvaged. USS Shaw: DD-373) very heavy damage. USS Helm: (DD-388) Light Damage. Minelayer USS Ogala: (CM-4) Sunk but later raised and repaired. Seaplane Tender USS Curtiss: (AV-4) Severely damaged but later repaired. Repair Ship USS Vestal: (AR-4) Severely damaged but later repaired. Harbor Tug USS Sotoyomo: (YT-9) Sunk but later raised and repaired. Aircraft: 188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.)

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YOUR LETTERS
Dear Shipmate Editor, Having been on holiday and missing the monthly meeting of my local RNA branch, I have just managed to read the October 2006 issue of the Vanguard. After some interesting reading and a good chuckle at the Laughter Page I turned to the back page and there to my amazement and a feeling of dj vu is a photograph of a Royal Naval Sub. Lieutenant incorrectly dressed! His rank epaulette is on the wrong side which in good old naval parlance means that he is going astern. A round of drinks I believe! No doubt other shipmates have picked up on this error, if they have not; I suggest a visit to Specsavers. S/m Colin Percival (Crewe Branch) Sir, At our Area conferences I try to advise our members through the Delegates and Observers how they may be able to receive assistance from various Welfare organisations. Our Area Secretary sends out the conference minutes which include my report, in the hope that branch Secretarys will pass on the details of the conference reports. Unfortunately, not all Secretariess read these minutes to their members and not all Delegates make notes of what has been discussed at the Area conferences, consequently, many points are not brought to the attention of the branch members. I have been able to give advice to some of our shipmates, but from experience as a Welfare Caseworker I know we have members who need financial help to help replace household items such as kitchen appliances, carpets etc. Help is needed to pay for decorating, beds bedding clothes and the cost of removals. Shipmates, if you need help please let me know and I will put you in touch with people who can help. If you know anyone who needs help, let them know: I can assist. There are those of you who may need respite care following an illness or operation, - we are able to to get that for you as well. There are wives and widows who are able to receive the same benefits, dont let them struggle; let them know that help is there for them also. S/m Jan Thomas.. Area Welfare Advisor issue of Vanguard raised some interesting points on the possible move out of London. Yes it is true that the present HQ. is on the small size as those few shipmates who have visited will agree, indeed it is so small that you can walk past without even noticing the plaque on the wall outside. There is no doubt that it has served the RNA well over the years, in the days when the Royal Navy H.Q. were in the Admiralty and a full staff of serving officers and ratings employed it was a viable option, things have moved on since those halcyon days, the Admiralty incorporated into Ministry of Defence, and only the First Sea Lord is based in the capital: it is time to review the position of our H.Q. We are an ageing organisation and must look to the future: it is well known that over the years, conference have debated this on more than one occasion. The National Council are well aware that a thorough financial review must take place, this will mean finding a property, having a full inspection of any building and any modifications that may need to be done, its location is also important, shipmates must know that all of these points will be properly investigated and checked before any decisions are finalised. Shipmates will be kept informed of progress, this will be communicated by NCMs and in the Circular, it will be up to branch secretaries to make sure their members are informed by reading the circular at meetings, not pushing it to one side and ignoring this element of information Yours aye, Terry Halder. Association Vice Chairman, NCM No11 Area Dear Editor, Todays RNA was given its present title when the Royal Naval Old Comrades Association was renamed just over 60 years ago. Should we now be bringing the premier Association into the 21st century and reinventing ourselves? When the RNA takes part in a parade or march past, what does the ordinary man in the street see? A column of men and women following a flag: and trying and in some cases; failing to keep in step with the band. How many of those spectators actually know who we are; and what we represent? Do they see a number of men and women wearing navy or black blazers with various badges sewn on the breast pockets, and trousers and skirts of varying hues ranging from blue, to navy and all shades of grey? Some wear navy berets, but all too often these resemble anything from a pancake to a souffl: slightly risen. If you dont believe me, take a good look at the next parade. Very few shipmates seem to be wearing the same uniform. How much smarter would we all look if there was a corporate uniform, that was instantly recognised? The ordinary member of the RNA, wearing his present apparel, could be mistaken for ANY exservice organisation. Try asking this question when you are in company Name three ex-service organisations First will be The RBL, closely followed by the RAFA or the Royal Marines, where is the Navy?, certainly not the first in line, (unless you live in or near a port). Could I put forward for discussion the following? A uniform consisting of the following; white shirt, with an RNA tie, navy-blue double breasted jacket with embroidered RNA logo, shoulder flashes denoting that the wearer is a naval veteran and navy blue trousers/skirt and black shoes. Ladies would wear the same outfit. (The jacket and trousers could be based on the present Sea Cadet Officers uniform and if ordered in bulk would be cheaper that single items bought from your local shops. Associate members could also wear this uniform but instead of Naval Veteran shoulder flashes, theirs would read Royal Naval Associate. By the way, my grey skirt is now rather old and decrepit; does anyone know where I can buy another? Diana Hutton (Associate member). Dear Sir, With all the proposed cuts by Government, in Naval ships /manpower, establishments and staffing levels needing to be brought down to a level that the Government deems viable, perhaps the Ministry of Defence should consider the following to save money. In the future the Admiral of the Fleet will be responsible and will oversee the Navy, he/she must be educated to university degree level, with at least 4 useful degrees to his/her name ie; Media Studies, Human Resources, Arts and Crafts and Health and Safety, Sea going or ability to steer large ships an advantage but not necessary as full training will be given on the job. There will be a maximum of six ships of various sizes and each ship will have 2 admirals, with three rear admirals to stand on the rear of the ship, when it is leaving harbour. The staffing level will be at any one time; six captains, 6 WO1s 12 CPOs and 12 POs. Sufficient ratings to man the side, when entering and leaving harbour, if costs are found to be prohibitive i.e.; salaries, insurance, holiday payments etc, each rating will be issued with a cut-out dummy appropriately dressed to affix to the deck, to give the appearance of a full compliment. No more than three ships will be at sea at any one time, no ship will sail further than ten miles from harbour. All ships and personnel to be back in base by 1700, no ship to put to sea between 1700 Friday and 0900 Monday ( this will cut down on overtime and weekend payments). The Royal Marine and Bluejacket Bands will be hired out as session musicians. For purposes of Beating The Retreat on board ships, a large cinema screen will be erected on the upper deck the Admiral will be solely responsible for placing the C.D in the midi system, but if he/she is busy greeting foreign dignities, this would then cascade down the ranks until someone is free. All present Naval Police will be seconded to administer ASBOs in the community. PTIs will be employed by Local Education Authorities to ensure all children are able to do a three mile run daily while under 7s will be required to complete one mile. Redundant catering staff will amalgamate with Jamie Oliver, Antony Worrall-Thomas and the school meal services, all children will be fed a healthy diet, whether they want it or not As there will be a lot of ships surplus to requirements, aircraft carriers to be leased to the Air-force to practise takeoff and landing in confined spaces, fast cruisers to be hired out for deep-sea fishing parties of rich Americans. All ships will be licensed for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs etc, with all fees going to keep the fleet afloat. Evan Evans Llareggub

THE ESCORT CARRIER RULER

S/m Tony Parsons Telegraphist

The Escort Carrier Ruler has a history unique. Of course the men aboard think, shes a bloody freak. One fine day in April, we steamed from Sydney Bay and headed north for Leyte three thousand miles away. The boys aboard were singing and buzzes flew around, until in Leyte harbour we anchored safe and sound. But on the way to Leyte we hadnt time to slack for we passed Jap held New Guinea with a port they called Wewak. One week we spent in Leyte, and again we headed north this time to Sakishima, the Ruler she set forth. For thirty days and thirty nights the Ruler steamed around not once did the men aboard set eyes on solid ground. Now and then wed join the fleet and fuel them through the day, but soon this job was over for they hadnt time to stay. Then early one evening, before the light did fail another carrier came into sight and signalled she had mail. The boys aboard the Ruler jumped up and down with glee, and the saying of the evening was Is there one for me. VE Day we spent there steaming round and round, yet the men aboard the Ruler uttered not a sound. Then one day upon the flight deck before the setting sun, the skipper he did tell us at last our job was done. So we headed south to the Admiralty Isles, but when the Ruler got there we soon lost all our smiles. We went ashore at Pityilu and also at Ponam, but the beer ashore was rationed one bottle for each man. Eight days we spent in Manus,then off again we went, ourselves, four cruisers and a carrier and a Walrus wed been lent. The task force headed northwards to the Jap held isle of Truk, but the Ruler as per usual was definitely out of luck. The first day off the islands we ran into a storm, when the Walrus on the flight deck suddenly became airborne. She took off down the flight deck, over the side without a sound, and the pilot enquired of everyone Have you seen my kite around? Someone up and told him, the pilot looked aghast, he went to see the skipper and someone got a blast. The cruisers let Truk have it, and poured in shells galore the Japs left on the island must have been mighty sore. Later we returned to Manus, and a chap said he would see that the gallant deeds of Ruler went down in history. Three weeks we spent in Manu then off to sea again, we cruised around off Tokyo amidst the heat and rain. For forty days and forty nights we have perspired up here, typhoons are in fashion but weve managed to keep clear. Now the Japs are crumbling and victorys close at hand, the next run ashore we hope will be in the Promised Land. But the skipper is all for it which makes it pretty grim, we feel well never see Sydney if the matter rests with him. So all you fellow matelots wherever you may be just say a prayer for Ruler for her forty days at sea. But forty days are nothing to what were going to do, if the Jap Emperor Hirohito decided to see it through Well that is all for now lads and I think you will agree that the Escort Carrier Ruler has done her share at sea. Submitted by the Oswestry branch

Dear Editor Your interesting editorial in the October

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HMS RINGTAIL

During the summer of 1942, the Fleet Air Arm forecast that it was due to expand by the end of 1943 from 2,665t to 6,350 aircraft. RAF schools had carried out most pilot and observer training on a piecemeal basis, but the Admiralty had always considered it a stopgap measure, rather than a permanent programme. HMS Ringtail was built on 650 acres of requisitioned rich farmland. Four runways were laid of 1,000 yards (900m) and the fourth aligned with the prevailing wind, of 1,240 yards (1,100m). The width of the runways was 30 yards (27m) compared with the standard RAF 50 yards (46m) An Admiralty pattern three storey watch tower was provided, along with 32 mainhill hangers and two Callendar Hamiltons for major servicing. Much of the accommodation was in the form of Nissan huts. The Station was commissioned as HMS Ringtail on September 1st 1943, and planned to accommodate day and night fighters, as well as Torpedo Training Units, a fleet requirements unit and a Radar School. During its operational career, more than 40 squadrons were attached for short periods, training up to operational standards, aircraft type conversion of disembarkation from Aircraft Carriers in the Mersey. The first squadron to appear at HMS Ringtail was808 in in October 1943, which consisted of Supermarine Seafires, which was the naval version of the Spitfire. This squadron was joined a few days later by three further Seafire Squadrons, namely 807,886and897. These all undertook tactical reconnaissance and other types of training. The air station also acquired 758 Squadron, which consisted of Airspeed Oxfords, a twin engine general-purpose aircraft. Fourteen American built Corsairs of 1836 Sqn were attached from 9th January until March 8th 1944, when they embarked on the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious. The remainder of the year saw a succession of British built Fairy Barracudas, (810 and 822 Sqns), Swordfish (835 Sqn) which were affectionately nicknamed Stringbags and Fireflys (1771 and 1772 Sqns) with American Curtis Hellcats (888 and 1840 Sqns), Wildcats (1896 Sqns), and Grumman Avengers 846 Sqns making an appearance too.1772 Squadron embarked on HMS Ruler in January 1945 which then sailed to join the British Pacific Fleet.

The most impressive aircraft to arrive at the air station in August 1944 for further training was the Curtis Helldiver. It was operated by 1820 squadron, which had been formed in the USA during April of the same year. Unfortunately, several aircrews were killed in accidents in these large dive-bombers, which ultimately led to the disbanding of the unit on 16th December. For much of January and February 1944, 823 Sqns Barracuda aircraft were present and prior to embarking for the Indian Ocean. Arriving in March 1944 from Inskip, near Lytham St Annes, 735 Squadron stayed until it was disbanded at the end of April 1946, by that time, the Squadron consisted of Swordfish, Hellcats and Avro Ansons etc. The Barracuda was an aircraft with a dismal maintenance reputation and during a move from Crail in Scotland on September 7th 1944, a Barracuda from 812 Squadron ditched in the Irish Sea only a few miles short of the Air station. Blackpool lifeboat lifeboat rescued the crew of three and recorded that a bottle of rum in the boat stores was subsequently consumed! May 3rd 1946 saw 1772 squadron, the final flying unit depart from the station after that the aerodrome was reduced to a care and maintainance base. The Squadron which consisted of Fireflys, Wildcats and other assorted aircraft had been at HMS Ringtail since late 1945 it later received some Seafires to augment its mixed bag of aircraft. Thereafter the air station was taken over by RNAS Stretton as a sub-storage site, known as the Naval Engine Holding Unit. The Admiralty finally withdrew from the station in 1957 and its grass

area reverted back to agriculture. The airfield was then used occasionally by crop spraying aircraft but large sections of the runways have since been removed, which curtailed the end of flying to and from the former air station. During the 1980s, sport parachuting took place and the control tower was refurbished as a headquarters. Unfortunately, the control tower later became derelict and after a battle to save it was lost, it was sadly demolished in +2004. Some of the small aircraft hangers are still dotted around the perimeter and the Callender Hamiltons have been re-clad. On the former airfield, an industrial estate has sprung up, but HMS Ringtail has not been totally forgotten as some of the roads have been named with connections to the station, such as Ringtail Road and Admiralty Close. In the latter location, the former commanding officers can still be seen. Standing at the HMS Ringtail monument today, it is difficult to imagine the scene all those years ago, the sky full of aircraft and the Fleet Air Arm personnel around the town, enjoying and mixing with the local people, enjoying great nights in the Bull and Dog Inn. We can only admire the courage of those men and women, the new monument being one important way of saying Thank You. It will be a permanent focal point for future generations to learn the important role HMS Ringtail and similar sites played in both local and national history. For further information visit www.hms-ringtail.co.uk Lol Critchley. Hon member: Greater Manchester; FAA.

Royal Naval Air Station:. Burscough 1943 - 1946

To most people the small village of Burscough in West Lancashire is just another rural community, once it was on the banks of the largest inland lake in the north of England, called Martin Mere, it also had a Priory. This being only two examples but take a closer look at its history and quite a different picture emerges. Buscough also had a Royal Ordnance Depot during the Second World War, and in World War 1 had a Remount Depot, near to Lathom. So for a rural community the area is rich in military history as well.
On what is now an expanding industrial estate is located the remains of a Second World War aerodrome. The older generation of local people knew it had been there, others had spotted the old hanger dotted around or like myself, had learned to ride a motor-bike as well as driving on its former runways. I have always had an interest in aviation, my father was in the RAF, and I had been a member of the local Air Cadets I still raise funds for them. Over the years, I wanted to learn more about the historic site and its wartime role. It was three years ago that I discovered that the aerodrome was a Fleet Air Arm station called HMS Ringtail, and not RAF as most people thought. I was also very concerned that the site was disappearing under an ever-expanding industrial estate and in consequence, there was no recognition of its previous existence and role. After speaking to local people and a fellow researcher Mr Ray Jones, I decided that we needed some sort of focal point for veterans, their relatives and local people to honour the personnel who served at HMS Ringtail. It was then that the campaign started to have a monument erected on the site as a permanent memorial. After a mammoth fundraising and publicity effort, and with the help of many people and thanks to Buscough Parish Council, the monument was built and a heart-warming dedication ceremony took place in 10th October 2004. Over 400 people attended, with the veterans marching behind six standards and a brass band. The event which was covered by National and Local media, included a flypast by a RAF Training aircraft. A reception was held afterwards. Every year at 11am on the 11th November, wreaths are to be laid at the memorial, which is situated on a grass verge near the B5242 roundabout between Burscough and the Beaufort Hotel. At a recent ceremony in Manchester, I was made an honorary member of the Greater Manchester Branch of the Fleet Air Arm Association, in recognition of my efforts in securing the construction of the new memorial. This award held with pride, means that I am able to represent the FAA Association locally at events and also give presentations about HMS Ringtail and the FAA.

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SCRANBAG
Bog off
When we do the shopping we are met with offers such as; Buy one, get one free, or three for the price of two etc. We may think this summat for nowt is a recent innovation, but it may date back to WW2 because on the morning of August 22nd 1940 a Blenheim Bomber on a routine reconnaissance patrol reported a depot ship with a Destroyer and a Submarine moored side by side in Bomba Bay off the Libyan coast. As the RAF had no Torpedo aircraft available, it fell to a flight of Swordfish aircraft from HMS Eagle which were at the time, disembarked at Dekhelia. It was decided that these three aircraft would be sufficient for the task. The flight of Swordfish was led by a Marine, Captain Ollie Patch and Lieutenant Welham (who had torpedoed the Italian Battleship Cavour at Tarranto) and is now President of the Leeds branch of the FAA Association. The third Swordfish was piloted by Lieutenant Cheesman. They stood well out to sea to avoid detection and then turned in towards the land right in line with the targets. As they raced in at 75knots!; and that with a following wind, they spotted a second Submarine entering the harbour. The crew had their washing hanging on the jumper wire and were lounging on deck: they even waved to the aircraft as they flew towards the targets. They soon changed their tune as Ollie turned to attack and slammed his torpedo just below the conning tower. That was one down. The other two Swordfish split to engage the remaining three ships from either side. Lieutenant Welham hit the Destroyer which caught fire, and Lieutenant Cheesmans torpedo hit the other submarine. The burning destroyer set fire to the depot ship and as the three aircraft reformed to return to base, the depot ship blew up. Four ships for three torpedoes a better offer than Mr Sainsbury or Mr Tesco could give, dont you think? Submitted by S/m A Reeson York & District RNA Branch accommodate these ships. To date, there appears to be a delay in actually ordering the two carriers which in present day costs, come in at 3.1 billion let alone the bill for the aircraft ordered from America to operate from them. No mention has yet been made of where the manpower will come from to crew these ships: by 2013 which is the earliest possible date one of these ships could be operational, the navy may have shrunk in numbers to a point when the remaining ships will have to be decommissioned to complement what increasingly look like expensive white elelephants. With the Astute class submarine programme way over delivery date and budget, two of the new type 45 Daring class destroyers will not now be built. Whichever Admiral draws the short straw in having to address our national conference in June, he will have to dig deep into his notes to assure us that all is well in todays navy. the RNA club, and no 10.00+ a year membership required at your local hostelry, is it any wonder that our clubs are being driven to desperate measures in order to survive. Add the burdens of health and safety, catering legislation VAT and the impending smoking laws many of our clubs are considering is it all worth while continuing to cater for an ever decreasing number of RNA members. So, if many of our clubs have had to resort to enrolling club members only, what are our governing body going to do? close down the club? And, risk losing the rapidly decreasing bone- fide members they do have; or get off their backs and leave them to conduct their affairs in peace. Surely, the branch is more important than the club.

Hole in One
An "illustrious" 1SL was leaving Main Building for the final time. Before being driven away, he addressed the massed ranks of the Naval Staff and other N.Os serving in London and gave a brief resume of achievements whilst in office. On the painful subject of the recently cancelled CVA01, he announced "you do not require a full set of clubs to play the course". Whereupon, a voice from the back was heard to declare, loud and clear: "But, you do need a bloody ball!" Obviously, nothing changes...

The Vanishing Fleet

In early January several sections of the press reported the disturbing news of plans to mothball a significant number of ships currently in commission, in order to make savings of over 250million the forecast shortfall in the defence budget. Ships expected to be reduced to reserve status were named as the type 22 frigates, Cumberland, Chatham Cornwall and Cambletown. Two type 42 Destroyers; Exeter and Southampton were also named. In addition, doubt remained over the fate of the Portsmouth base which is at present subject to a government review into its future. If there is any truth in these reports: and there are plenty of indications that all is not well with the Navy at present, it does raise the question of the continued need for three dockyards, to maintain an ever decreasing fleet. Hence, the present review ordered by the government into the three naval bases Portsmouth currently rumoured likely for the chop. But what of the plans to base the two new super carriers in Portsmouth? Facilities to maintain these vessels are already in hand at this base, including a deep water channel which has been specially dredged from Spithead to

The Strategic Review

This was initiated by the deputy President of the Association, in an attempt to get to grips with the long term aims of the Association. Did anyone understand the questions in the review?

Have a Gay Day

Times have certainly changed in todays navy with the announcement in the January edition of Navy News of the Tri- Service conference of Lesbian and Gays, Bi-sexual and Transgendered which took place at the Union Jack club in January. In a report carried in a daily newspaper also in January, an article dealt with the RAFs efforts to boost recruiting. It would appear, in desperation to attract recruits they have consulted the Gay rights group Stonewall for help in this direction: all rather bewildering to us veterans.

Club-land
The penny appears to have finally dropped in the upper echelons of the Association that not all our clubs are Playing the Game. Recent membership returns and branch permit applications have been at variance with the actual numbers of people borne on the books of several of the RNA branches with club premises. As the rule book states, to be a member of an RNA club, you also have to be a member of the Association. Thats fine in theory - unfortunately, in todays world most RNA clubs have to rely on anyone who walks through the door in order to survive. With the local Weatherspoons and in a lot of cases the nearest pub selling drinks far cheaper than

Flying the Flag with the Royal Artillery

Members of the Oldham Branch of the Royal Artillery Association on a visit to the National Arboretum in Staffordshire last year, came across the Standard of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla (1942 45). The Standard which is laid up in the Arboretum Chapel aroused the interest of their Association Branch Secretary, who incidentally is an Associate member of the Oldham RNA branch, and an avid reader of this magazine. The accompanying photograph shows the Standard being held by their Standard Bearer Peter Shaw.

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OBITUARIES
Dear God be good to me; The Sea is so wide, and my boat is so small. S/m Joseph Lynch, GC (Wallasey) Former Chief Petty Officer Joseph Lynch who died aged 93 on October 7 2006 won the George Cross while serving in the cruiser Nigeria in the Falkland Islands in 1948. He was also the holder of the BEM. On the night of February 26th 1948 the Nigeria was lying at anchor at Port Stanley. While disembarking from the motor cutter at the port boom a leading seaman missed his footing on the Jacobs ladder and fell into the sea. It was dark with a rough sea state, and blowing a gale. Dressed in heavy oilskins the leading seaman was having difficulty retaining his hold on the ladder and could not pull himself up, nor could he make for the cutter because of the extreme cold and his cumbersome clothing. Joe Lynch was sitting in his mess when he heard the pipe Away Sea Boats Crew Dressed only in a singlet and trousers he made his way along the boom down the ladder and into the water alongside. With Leading Seaman Hughes who had by this time lapsed into unconsciousness he swam with the man to a motor boat lying off 20 yards away because of the heavy swell, and the seaman was hauled aboard. Lynch then swam back to the ships side, but was unable to climb the ladder. Returning to the sea boat a second time he was successfully taken on board. Originally awarded the Albert medal for saving Leading Seaman Hughes life, he was re-invested with the George Cross at Buckingham Palace in 1973 Having left the Navy in 1953, after a spell working for Cadburys as a production line manager; he eventually joined HM Customs and Excise based in Liverpool and Heathrow. He was a leading figure in the Wallasey branch for many years. S/m Alan Ette (Kendal) Allan Ette who crossed the bar was a Founder member of the Kendal branch and was its branch Secretary for 27years. S/m W Webb DSM (Liverpool) Shipmate (Bill) Webb former Chairman of the branch sadly crossed the bar after a fairly lengthy illness. Bill was awarded the DSM for his wartime service with the 15th gunboat Flotilla based in Kingswear South Devon. It was from there, that the gunboats were engaged in operations landing and taking out secret agents in 1943 -4 from enemy occupied France. They also rescued escaped allied airman. Bill never spoke of his award, but was proud of it. Sadly, he lost his original DSM medal; this was mislaid in the post and never returned to him having been sent for refurbishment to a reputable medal supplier. Although it was replaced, it was not the same as the original awarded to him by the late King George 6th. Bill was also remembered for instigating the removal and restoration of a memorial plaque to American airman who had lost their lives in WW2. The plaque, which stood in the Festival Gardens Liverpool in 1984 had become overgrown with weeds and generally neglected. Thanks to Bill the restored plaque now sits proudly in the grounds of the RNA club. January this year after a long illness. His funeral took place on 30th January attended by shipmates and the Branch Standard. Walter served in the Royal Navy during his National Service and was the Branch Secretary for a number of years. Mrs Edna Clarke - Ramsey Branch Secretary. S/m Fred Atkinson National Council Member (No.10 Area) Fred Atkinson who died on February 6th 2007 at Wythenshawe Hospital Manchester had been the National Council member for No.10 Area since 1994. He was 59. Fred had been an enthusiastic member of the RNA for over 20 years he was also Chairman of the Wythenshawe RNA branch and club. Prior to his election as National Council Member, he was for three years the deputy NCM for the Area. He retained a keen interest in the Submarine service joining the Submariners Association before leaving the service. He became the Secretary /Treasurer of the Manchester branch and for a short period was the Associations national Secretary. He was born at Irby on the Wirral on May 14th 1947 joining the Royal Navy at HMS Ganges on February 5th 1963. After initial training in the Engineering branch as an ME (Stoker) he joined HMS Ark Royal in January 1964 He also saw service in HMS Tiger (1967) before transferring to the Submarine branch at HMS Dolphin Gosport in June 1967 for training. He served on various submarines, mainly the A class boats until his discharge from the service in 1974. On discharge, Fred joined Scragg industries as maintenance and Security staff until 1975 when he took up the post of boiler man at Manchester University rising to shift/day charge fitter. He remained at the University until ill health forced him to retire in 1996. In 1967 Fred married his childhood sweetheart Angela, and together they raised three children, David, Paul and Kerry. Fred suffered several heart attacks and had undergone heart bypass surgery. Although his health was fragile he never let it interfere with his love of the RNA and SOCA,.and his duties as National Council member for this Area.

Other obituaries include; Shipmates: Ray Woan and Roy Christopher (Leyland). Pat O Donnell, Ernie Gerrard Cyril Cooke Iris Dodd (Liverpool). Elwyn Evans and Frank Pullin (Llandudno). Ken Townson (Macclesfield). Joe Whittiker and Tom Harris (North Manchester). Norman Haywood and Tom Parsons (Oswestry). George Tucker (Skelmersdale). Leslie Pollard (Southport) Joseph Lynch GC (Wallasey) J Madden and J Parrish (Wythenshawe).

S/m John Morrow (Manchester Branch RMA) John Morrow who died suddenly aged 83 in late December, was the founder member of the Manchester and Salford branch of the RMA. in 1946. He was also the Founding member of the Manchester and District Liaison of ex Service Associations (MADLEA) John was for a time an active member of the Trafford RNA branch. A native of Southern Ireland, he moved to Manchester in the late 1930s joining the Royal Marines during the Second World War. His funeral at Dunham Massey (Altrincham) on January 4th 2007 was attended by representatives of the RMA, RNA RBL and MADLEA. The Last Post was sounded by a Royal Marine Bugler from the RM base at Lympstone. S/m Walter Clarke (Ramsey) Walter Clarke 78 yrs of Ramsey R.N.A branch crossed the bar on the 23rd

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LINKING THE PAST WITH THE FUTURE FALKLAND ISLANDS

Twenty five years ago the UK launched an audacious campaign to recapture the sovereign territory of the Falkland Islands. This classic, resoundingly successful amphibious operation, the first since Suez in 1956, was conducted at a distance of over 8000 miles from the home base with only the airfield and anchorage at Ascension Island as a staging post. A maritime operation from first to last, carrier based combat air support was critical in achieving air superiority and the collective protection of high value units could only be achieved with a balanced fleet of frigates, destroyers, submarines and organic helicopters. The sea based logistic effort was augmented by indispensable support from the RAF maintaining an air bridge from the UK to Ascension Island and by parachuting dropping light spares direct to the Task Force in the South Atlantic. So what has changed? The sea is still the indispensable medium for Global trade and provides access to areas of strategic interest and operations from the sea are not constrained by access, basing or over-flight considerations. Now, as then, the MOD is responsible for the external defence and security of Britains Overseas Territories but the world continues to change and increasing global insecurity, competition for resources, reliance on energy supplies and uncertain regional partnerships provide a compelling case for deployable intervention forces. There is therefore a continued requirement for a balanced Fleet to provide the Government with flexible platforms capable of assured global reach, designed for agility in operations with capabilities from small to large scale. As in Operation CORPORATE there is a requirement to sustain not only our ships at sea but also land and air forces operating remotely, limiting the logistic and force protection footprint ashore. The new generation of support ships in the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) project are being designed to meet this challenge. Operation CORPORATE ably demonstrated the traditional maritime and amphibious qualities of mobility, poise, self protection and self sustainability and offered the Force Commander flexibility to deal with a broad range of situations. The requirement for this capability has not diminished with time and it is vital for the UK as an island nation - to maintain an amphibious capability to operate within a naval, Joint or coalition task force and provide early and rapid entry to theatre when Host Nation Support (HNS) is fragile or denied. The combat air support and strike capability offered by the Sea Harriers embarked in HMS INVINCIBLE and HERMES defined the requirement for a sea deployable expeditionary air wing and Carrier Strike remains a vitally important insurance for the UKs future and well being. It offers, uniquely, the opportunity for intervention overseas when other means are not available. It presents an option for the Government to demonstrate early presence, influence and coercive or deterrent intent, without commitment. And it will become an indispensable tool across the spectrum of Defence activity, from influence to highintensity war-fighting. As an expression of flexible national power projection, it is unrivalled.

25 YEARS ON: BATTLING WITH COMBAT STRESS

Background: Combat Stress is the only UK charity that exists to provide specialist help and care to ex-Servicemen and women suffering from psychological injury caused or aggravated by their Service life. Service and support to date: Since the foundation of the Society in 1919, we have worked with over 85,000 ex-Servicemen and women, drawn from all branches and all ranks of the Armed Services and Merchant Navy. Combat Stress has two core roles through which it delivers its services: 1. A nation-wide Welfare Operation, delivered locally through a network of Regional Welfare Officers who cover the UK and Ireland. 2. Admission to one of the three shortstay Treatment Centres, located in Surrey, Shropshire and Ayrshire, is on a short-term basis for remedial treatment. At these centres, well-recognised therapies are provided. (See opposite) The veterans that the Society cares for have seen active service in every theatre of operation that the UKs Armed Forces have been involved in since 1945, including peace-keeping operations. We are currently looking after just over 300 veterans of the Falklands War and whilst we recognise that the 25th Anniversary is an important occasion, many will find 2007 a difficult year, even after all this time. We are very busy: in the last year alone (2006) we received 994 new referrals overall and now have close to 8,000 registered veterans. The average age of our veterans today is 43 years and our commitment to all our veterans is for life. As a result of the conflict and ongoing operations in Iraq, Combat Stress is already seeing a significant

number of Iraq veterans seeking help and support. The Society is currently dealing with over 160 such cases although this is viewed as the bow-wave of those still to come forward. Although the primary responsibility for the care and treatment of ex-Service men and women lies with the NHS, Combat Stress provides a continuity of support to the ex-Service community. And finally The cost of providing these services is in the region of 6 million per year, of which 2.8 million is provided by the Veterans Agency through veterans in receipt of a War Pension with the Treatment and Travel augmentation. As a charity, we are always seeking finance to fund our efforts and the Society is hugely grateful to those who have given support through fundraising activities. If you would be interested in a fundraising for us, or indeed need our help, then please do get in touch. www.combatstress.org.uk

rebuilding traumatised lives

Combat Stress, The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, is the only charity to specialise in helping the needs of ex-servicemen and women with psychological injuries caused through service to their country. We help veterans from the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy, from all ranks and all conflicts and of all ages through a nationwide network of welfare officers and three short stay remedial treatment centres in Surrey, Shropshire and Scotland The demand for our care shows no signs of abating; we take on about 800 new clients each year. We have never been busier and are already working with the first veterans of the Iraq War to add to the list of the many men and women of recent conflicts and peacekeeping operations who currently need our help and support. We have a lifetime commitment to all our clients. Your financial support is vital to ensure we can continue to offer support long after the battle is over.
Registered Charity No 206002 Combat Stress Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX 01372 841600 contactus@combatstress.org.uk www.combatstress.org.uk

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BRANCH NEWS
SALFORD February was a significant month as the branch celebrated 25 years in the RNA. At the Area AGM in Liverpool the Area President presented S/m Ron Fielding, our new Branch Chairman with our 25th Anniversary Certificate. And on Sunday February 18th the branch celebrated the event with a small luncheon at Monroes, where once again the Area President did the honours and presented our certificate to the retiring Chairman S/m Mike Tunnicliffe, who has had to stand down due to his wifes illness. The luncheon was only a small affair as we are now few in number. Our guests comprised of Area President Cdr. Harry Harley and his wife Joan, S/m Charles Hutton and his wife Diana and S/m Steve Caulfield and his wife Ann. Monroes did a splendid job with a most excellent lunch and there were plenty of drinks, courtesy of the branch, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and if they didnt, well that was their fault!. Time passes very quickly and it doesnt seem 25 years since we commissioned, but we have made it and I wish to thank all those shipmates of Salford RNA, who have been with us for most of those years. We may be a small branch but I am proud to say that the branch has the Area Chairman, the acting Area NCM and the Area Standard Bearer. As Mike, our retiring Chairman once said We may not have the quantity, but we have the quality. Thanks you shipmates for all your support over the years and God Bless You all. Shipmate John Dixon, Branch Secretary.

President and retiring Salford Chairman

Salford Chairman receives 25 year certificate from Area President

TRAFFORD At the October meeting S/m Charles in his capacity as Area Secretary had the great pleasure of awarding S/m Joe Sharples (Branch President) Life Membership of the Association. Joe has been a tireless and dedicated member of the branch, and richly deserved the honour. Twenty members of the branch travelled to Llandudno and joined Shipmates from Runcorn branch and Llandudno, during a weekend away at the resort, and celebrated the Battle of Trafalgar with a wreath laying ceremony and parade. At the annual Remembrance Service, the branch was not as well represented as in previous years. This was due to several members having gone down with the flu.

Salford crew

S/m J Dixon & Ron Fielding with 25 year certificate

December saw us celebrating the 90th birthday of the father of the branch, S/m Harold Worsley, although Harold has suffered indifferent health over the past few years, he always tries to attend meetings, we wish him improved health in the future. S/m Len Milward was certainly surprised to receive a Certificate of Appreciation , for his service to the RNA, as both branch and Deputy Area Standard Bearer, so surprised was Len when S/m John Ault presented the award, he was rendered speechless!!. Although a little late, all the members of Trafford wish health and happiness to all shipmates. S/m Diana Hutton WHITEHAVEN The Whitehaven and District branch are few in numbers but we keep active, and we travel around. We have attended Maryport and Millom branches for their Standard dedications. We were also at Barrow recently for the visit of HMS Cumberland; one of our shipmates attended the Captains cocktail party. Next day, several other shipmates were welcomed as guests of the Wardroom. We also travelled to Faslane Naval Base for a weekend, as guests of the WOs and Senior Rates mess. Whilst there, we were welcomed aboard HMS Vanguard and the American submarine Hyman G Riechaver. We were also invited guests at three events organised by the local SCC unit including a visit on board TS John Jerwood when she visited Whitehaven during the summer. In October, the branch celebrated Trafalgar Night. Our year came to a close when the branch members and their wives and friends enjoyed a Christmas Dinner. We have already, arranged a couple of events for 2007 and we wish all our shipmates the kindest regards for the coming year. Mrs Lily Robbs Branch Secretary YORK A party of eighteen of the ships company from our very own adopted ship HMS York descended upon us armed with the necessary equipment and decorated a teenagers community rooms, made articles of furniture and brightened up the gardens of a local primary school. Their Commanding Officer, Tim Cryar RN made a special visit to Applefields School and presented the head with a cheque for 1,380 donated by his company to help the school during the next financial year in different activities. It was not all hard work. Commander Cryar and his stalwarts joined the York branch of the RNA for a buffet and the necessary liquid refreshments and answered the call of Up Spirits as only sailors can.

SEAFARERS UK is the only charity

that supports all seafarers: from the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and fishing fleets. It funds programmes that help veterans, including those from the Falklands conflict, rebuild their lives.

The charity was set up in 1917, as King Georges Fund for Sailors, to recognise the courage shown by the Mariner, and to provide support for the excellent organisations existing for his help and comfort in sickness and distress. Last year Seafarers UK gave 2.7 million to charities that support seafarers in need and their families. This will help to alleviate some of the problems often encountered by those who have spent their working lives at sea: ill-health, disability, debt, family breakdown, homelessness and poverty.

BP Marine

S/m Len Milward receives Appreciation certificate

SEAFARERS UK RELIES ON DONATIONS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE ITS WORK AND WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS.

S/m Joe Sharples Life membership

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PICTURE GALLERY
certificate Len Milward receiving of Appreciation

Runcorn Members at Lla ndudno

Llandudno parade

at Llandudno Trafford Members

at Llandudno Wythenshawe Members

Llandudno Trafalgar Da y parade

Up Spirits Wo ods Style at L landudno

Oswestry Branch new HQ

Llandudno parade

r Night p Spirits Trafalga Buxton Branch U

to HMS Nelson Trafford members visit

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