December 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2019 CONTENTS Committee Details Chairman's Report Secretary's Report Membership Secretary's Update Paintings of Ted Wicks Red Tape of Top Secret? - Bob Adams Chalke Valley History Festival – Richard Llewellyn Standard Bearer Report Who Fired the First Shots at Normandy: Update Q Ship – Heber Collis Graf Spee Captain Who Defied Hitler Captain Tubby Squires Award 2019 Letter from Mayor of Ajax Graf Spee Shrapnel Review of 2019 Reunion Graf Spee Artefact Update Geoffrey Haylett – Mike Cranswick Missing Association Flag Commission 1965 Stokers Mess South America Trip Final Update Ride to the Wall Archivist Update SEPARATE PAGES 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES BALANCE SHEET YEAR ENDING 31ST AUGUST 2019 UPDATED ASSOCIATION CONSTITUTION 1935 - 48 1963 - 85 Nec Quisquam Nisi Ajax www.hmsajax.org 2. 3. Chairman Ken Jones, visit a ropery where you can take part in the making of ropes, just like they CHAIRMAN Nigel Masters did in days gone by; and even go on a “Call the Midwife” tour - the series is filmed around the The Lookout Dockyard buildings, Golden Cross Terrace Station Road, Swineshead We then returned to Hotel. Some of us visited a nearby Pub which had a singer performing Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3LP Reggae and Ska, a great way to finish the weekend .A footnote to this, the Hotel was not at its Tel: 01205 820127 best, poor management, which has since been rectified. Mobile: 07743 381153 [email protected] Moving on we are now only a few weeks away from the South American trip to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate. Malcolm has not stopped his hard work, if anything SECRETARY his workload has increased and as l write there are reports of civil unrest in Chile, the first country Peter Danks we visit, with restrictions put on movement. Our hope is that by the time we arrive it will have 104 Kelsey Avenue Southbourne, Emsworth www.hmsajax.org settled down and be back to normal. Hampshire PO10 8NQ [email protected] We will produce a comprehensive report for our next Newsletter, complete with plenty of Tel: 01243 371947 [email protected] photographs and stories to tell and probably a souvenir booklet. It just leaves me to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN'S REPORT SECRETARY Best Wishes Paul Parker Hello everyone and welcome to December's Newsletter. It 8 Templecombe Road follows shortly after the Association's annual Reunion, for Nige Masters Eastleigh, Hampshire those of you who don't know it took place at the Holiday Inn SO50 8QL in Sittingbourne, Kent. Chairman HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association Tel: 02380 693709 Mobile: 07962 080240 Most of us arrived on the Friday afternoon, me following an [email protected] horrendous journey from Boston, Lincolnshire; in short l can confirm that the M25 is the world's largest car park! TREASURER Ian Darbyshire The Committee then held a meeting followed by dinner and a 28 Antony Road, Torpoint, few drinks. Cornwall PL11 2JR SECRETARY'S REPORT DECEMBER 2019 Tel: 01752 815789 Up early in the morning for breakfast and a short journey to As this is the last newsletter of 2019, may I take this opportunity to wish all our members a very [email protected] Chatham to St. George's Chapel situated in the grounds of the Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. By the time this reaches you, members will be in South ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ University of Kent, formerly HMS Pembroke (Chatham America commemorating the events of 1939 both in Chile, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. It is NEWSLETTER EDITOR Barracks) for the memorial service. It had been four years hoped that the weather is kind and all activities go according to plan. In the information booklet Malcolm Collis since we last visited for our Reunion in Chatham. As reported that has gone to South America attendees it is requested that trip photographs and memories be The Bewicks, Station Road elsewhere, a mystery was solved when we entered the Chapel collated, the idea being that a souvenir booklet will be produced sometime in 2020. I am acting as Ten Mile Bank, Norfolk PE38 0EY - there draped below the Ajax memorial plaque was the Tel: 01366 377945 trip diarist for the Uruguay and Argentina leg and Alan Phillips likewise for the Chile leg. [email protected] Associations Flag. “We” had managed to leave it there after the last service. This will be the second high profile event in the last 5 years. It may not be necessary to wait that MERCHANDISE OFFICER long before we make arrangements for another event. The Committee would like to hear your Michael Fox After the service we returned to the hotel for lunch, of sorts, thoughts on the next event – some of the Frigate members might like to think of commemorating 6 Bown Hill followed by our AGM in the afternoon. A great deal of it being the first commissioning and perhaps also the date F114 went out of service. SO PLEASE THINK Southwell, Portland taken up finding volunteers to take the many gifts to South ABOUT IT. The committee are happy to listen to ideas from members and if possible try to Dorset DT5 2ED America on our forthcoming trip. implement them. Tel: 01305 823436 [email protected] One very important item was finding a replacement for Judi There is a separate report on the Reunion and it was nice to see support from families from the and I am delighted that Paul Parker agreed to take on the role local area. COMMITTEE MEMBER of Membership Secretary – a big thanks to Paul and an Alan (George/Phil) Phillips The minutes of the AGM are attached and for non-attendees please read them and get in touch 8 Orchard Way especial welcome to the mysteries of the Committee! with any of the committee members if you see anything of interest or any item that you might feel Send Hill, Send, Surrey GU23 7HS In the evening we had “Up Spirits” and wine reception, Tel: 01483 223299 able to support. I say this most times, but it is your Association and the committee will try to [email protected] followed by the Gala Dinner and entertainment by Guitarist meet the needs of you. “Andy” who seemed to enjoy himself! STANDARD BEARER Peter Danks Secretary Alf Larkin Sunday morning arrived and after breakfast some boarded the Stonecleave coach and set off for a visit to the Historical Dockyard at 26 Wakeham Portland Chatham. This really is a fantastic day out with lots to see and Dorset DT5 1HN do, including: you can board a WW2 Destroyer, HMS Tel: 01305 457259 [email protected] Cavalier, a nuclear Submarine, HMS Ocelot and a Victorian sloop, HMS Gannet, view the excellent models of former 2. 3. Chairman Ken Jones, visit a ropery where you can take part in the making of ropes, just like they CHAIRMAN Nigel Masters did in days gone by; and even go on a “Call the Midwife” tour - the series is filmed around the The Lookout Dockyard buildings, Golden Cross Terrace Station Road, Swineshead We then returned to Hotel. Some of us visited a nearby Pub which had a singer performing Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3LP Reggae and Ska, a great way to finish the weekend .A footnote to this, the Hotel was not at its Tel: 01205 820127 best, poor management, which has since been rectified. Mobile: 07743 381153 [email protected] Moving on we are now only a few weeks away from the South American trip to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate. Malcolm has not stopped his hard work, if anything SECRETARY his workload has increased and as l write there are reports of civil unrest in Chile, the first country Peter Danks we visit, with restrictions put on movement. Our hope is that by the time we arrive it will have 104 Kelsey Avenue Southbourne, Emsworth www.hmsajax.org settled down and be back to normal. Hampshire PO10 8NQ [email protected] We will produce a comprehensive report for our next Newsletter, complete with plenty of Tel: 01243 371947 [email protected] photographs and stories to tell and probably a souvenir booklet. It just leaves me to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN'S REPORT SECRETARY Best Wishes Paul Parker Hello everyone and welcome to December's Newsletter. It 8 Templecombe Road follows shortly after the Association's annual Reunion, for Nige Masters Eastleigh, Hampshire those of you who don't know it took place at the Holiday Inn SO50 8QL in Sittingbourne, Kent. Chairman HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association Tel: 02380 693709 Mobile: 07962 080240 Most of us arrived on the Friday afternoon, me following an [email protected] horrendous journey from Boston, Lincolnshire; in short l can confirm that the M25 is the world's largest car park! TREASURER Ian Darbyshire The Committee then held a meeting followed by dinner and a 28 Antony Road, Torpoint, few drinks. Cornwall PL11 2JR SECRETARY'S REPORT DECEMBER 2019 Tel: 01752 815789 Up early in the morning for breakfast and a short journey to As this is the last newsletter of 2019, may I take this opportunity to wish all our members a very [email protected] Chatham to St. George's Chapel situated in the grounds of the Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. By the time this reaches you, members will be in South ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ University of Kent, formerly HMS Pembroke (Chatham America commemorating the events of 1939 both in Chile, Montevideo and Buenos Aires.