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H.M.S. Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 2014

CONTENTS

Chairman/Editor's Remarks

Archivist Report

Sir Henry Harwood – Biography

Armistice Day at the NMA

Membership Secretary Report

2014 - A Year to Remember

HMS Ajax Bells

Town of Ajax Street Dedication

First Day Cover

AGM Agenda

NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. Association Standard CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST I am very pleased to report on the wonderful work that Alf Larkin and members in the Weymouth and NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis Portland area are doing to highlight the Association by parading the Standard at several events. On Peter Danks ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road 9th November there was a big parade in Portland, with members of service organisations marching 104 Kelsey Avenue Ten Mile Bank, from Easton up to the Cenotaph for a service in front of the Portland Heights, followed by 'Up Spirits' Southbourne Downham Market at the British Legion. HMS PORTLAND was in harbour and about 40 crew were marching and they Emsworth Norfolk PE38 0EU later visited the British Legion. Hampshire PO10 8NQ Tel: 01366 377945 Tel: 01243 371947 [email protected] The Standard was also paraded twice in October. On the 11th at the Sailing Academy in Portland [email protected] Harbour a service was held to commemorate the loss of 29 sailors from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS when MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY the liberty was lost in bad weather. TREASURER Mrs Judi Collis Alf Larkin ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road The next occasion was on the 13th October at the Chesil Centre on Chesil Beach. A new stone Lime Kiln Cottage Ten Mile Bank, dedication was unveiled to commemorate the loss of 15 sailors and 2 coastguards in rough seas off No 2 Easton Lane Downham Market Chesil Beach when their landing craft sank. Portland DT5 1BW Norfolk PE38 0EU Tel: 01305457259 Tel: 01366 377945 [email protected] Mobile: 07736 929641 [email protected] www.hmsajax.org

CHAIRMAN/EDITOR'S REMARKS

As we near the end of a very busy year for the Association, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we come to the end of the 75th Sad news from Canada anniversary year we will be working towards marking the 50th anniversary of the forming of the In September I learnt of the sad news of the death of William (Bill) Lumsden from Cherry Sevigny. I Association. May I please ask again for your thoughts on how to mark this achievement – I say am very grateful to Cherry who sent me the following words. achievement because as will be seen from Judi Collis' reports, the membership is growing, and we “On 14th September 2014, the Association lost a friend. Mr William (Bill) Lumsden lost a hear of many other Associations who through reducing numbers, have had to bring their membership courageous battle with Lung Cancer, at the age of 65. His wife, Jackie, whom many of you will to a close. and for this reason we must look ahead. remember, is a current member of the Ajax Town staff. She and Bill served as our hosts and wonderful supporters during the visits by HMS AJAX Association members to the Town of Ajax and Elections in Ajax they truly were among our very close friends. Bill and Jackie attended two of the Reunions in Members will be pleased to learn that Mayor Steve Parish together with Pat Brown and Colleen Gillingham. Bill will be missed by his former colleagues with the Post Office, the Town of Ajax Jordan were re-elected in October and we are very much looking forward to seeing them all in Recreation Department and by his many friends and family.” December. Bill and I shared a love for the Arsenal Football team and I am sure he will have been pleased to see 75th Anniversary Lunch at Portsmouth on 13th December 2014 them win the FA Cup Final earlier in the year. Elizabeth and I had a most enjoyable lunch with Bill, Plans have progressed for this important lunch. Numbers of guests are almost up to 150 and many Jackie, Reid and Cherry when we called in to Fort Lauderdale on our way to Cape Town in Queen who attended the Dedication in April will be attending plus many others who will be attending their Mary. See attached photo. first gathering of members and families. I look forward to meeting you all at what will be a most interesting occasion. I have been in touch with several members who will be unable to attend the lunch and I am looking forward to seeing them at our next Reunion – details of which will be confirmed at the AGM. So if you need to put the date in your diary please contact one of the committee later in the month.

Could I please pass on this information from the Hotel. Disabled access and parking The Royal Beach Hotel has disabled access at the rear of the hotel via a ramp to their staff entrance; upon ringing the bell on the left hand side a member of staff will greet guests and bring them up in a lift. Hotel parking is very limited but public on-street parking in the area is free of charge and there is also a public pay and display car park five minutes' walk from the Hotel at Canoe Lake, Southsea Esplanade, PO4 0ST.

Left to right: Reid Sevigny, Bill Lumsden, Jackie Lumsden, Elizabeth Danks, Cherry Sevigny and Peter Danks. 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. Association Standard CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST I am very pleased to report on the wonderful work that Alf Larkin and members in the Weymouth and NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis Portland area are doing to highlight the Association by parading the Standard at several events. On Peter Danks ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road 9th November there was a big parade in Portland, with members of service organisations marching 104 Kelsey Avenue Ten Mile Bank, from Easton up to the Cenotaph for a service in front of the Portland Heights, followed by 'Up Spirits' Southbourne Downham Market at the British Legion. HMS PORTLAND was in harbour and about 40 crew were marching and they Emsworth Norfolk PE38 0EU later visited the British Legion. Hampshire PO10 8NQ Tel: 01366 377945 Tel: 01243 371947 [email protected] The Standard was also paraded twice in October. On the 11th at the Sailing Academy in Portland [email protected] Harbour a service was held to commemorate the loss of 29 sailors from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS when MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY the liberty was lost in bad weather. TREASURER Mrs Judi Collis Alf Larkin ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road The next occasion was on the 13th October at the Chesil Centre on Chesil Beach. A new stone Lime Kiln Cottage Ten Mile Bank, dedication was unveiled to commemorate the loss of 15 sailors and 2 coastguards in rough seas off No 2 Easton Lane Downham Market Chesil Beach when their landing craft sank. Portland DT5 1BW Norfolk PE38 0EU Tel: 01305457259 Tel: 01366 377945 [email protected] Mobile: 07736 929641 [email protected] www.hmsajax.org

CHAIRMAN/EDITOR'S REMARKS

Left to right: Reid Sevigny, Bill Lumsden, Jackie Lumsden, Elizabeth Danks, Cherry Sevigny and Peter Danks. 4. 5.

Armistice Day at the NMA indeed most of Ajax's visits elsewhere were for very short periods, with the exception of the It was an honour for the Association when Malcolm and Judi Collis were invited to attend the Falklands. Armistice Day Events held at the NMA and especially when they were asked to host The Earl and Countess of Wessex. See separate article in the newsletter. FRANK ARTHUR WONFOR Roy Wonfor is also seeking information about his father Frank Arthur Wonfor who served on Ajax as Annual General Meeting a Stoker but he only knows it was sometime during the war. Frank came from Hythe in Kent and was A reminder that the AGM will be held at 1030 on Saturday 13th December. May I please remind born in 1913. members who are attending the lunch of this important meeting in the Association affairs. The agenda is on the last page of the newsletter and I would be grateful if you could bring your copies to KENNETH KING the meeting. It is important that we determine a venue and date for the 2015 Reunion – it will be the Yvonne Hutton contacted me about her father Kenneth King who was on Ajax at the River Plate. He 50th year since the Association was formed. was from Bulwell near Nottingham but he died in 1990. Yvonne has offered to send me copies of his photographs and I replied that I would be delighted to receive them to add to the archives as every Article for the Newsletter little helps and we need to preserve history before it is too late. I am very grateful for the contributions for this newsletter. However, I have yet to persuade our new members of the pleasure of writing articles. Please put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard. GEORGE WILLIAM HILLS I also had an enquiry from Linda Yaxley who had received some papers, including a letter from the King, from her mother regarding George William Hills, Boy 1st Class who died on HMS Ajax on the 12 October 1940 but thought he had died at the River Plate. She was hoping I had a photograph of him. I was able to tell her that George was Killed in Action on 12th October 1940, not at The Battle of the ARCHIVIST UPDATE River Plate, but in the Mediterranean, south east of Scilly. HMS Ajax was part of the Mediterranean Fleet and was in battle with several Italian Destroyers when it was shelled killing 13 crew. I also sent Internet enquiries have continue to trickle in during this Newsletter period. her a copy of the Association's March 2011 Newsletter in which there was an article resulting from an enquiry from the sister of another Boy sailor killed at the same battle. The photograph of her brother, INFORMATION SOUGHT ON FORMER AJAX CREW MEMBERS William John Kennedy, in action on Ajax, was included in the article and showed other crew I would be very pleased to receive information on the following: including another very young boy sailor that could well have been poor George.

RONALD JOHNSON Jonathan White is seeking information about his uncle Ronald Johnson. He is not sure when Ronald was on Ajax. Sadly Ronald crossed the bar on 8th October at the age of 88. As so often happens, relatives take an interest in their elders only when it is too late – the moral of the tale is make sure you share your stories before you go!

FREDERICK JOHN MARKS I received an enquiry from a genealogist who was researching a marriage between Vivian Phyliss Gleadell in 1939 and Frederick John Marks listed as being from HMS Ajax. Vivian married again in 1943 as a widow and the genealogist was trying to find out if Frederick died in some battle or of natural causes. Whilst I had an FJ Marks listed at being at the Plate we have no Marks listed as a casualty from any Ajax battles but a visit to the War Graves Commission site showed a Frederick John Marks as having died on 13 September 1943 on HMS Uganda when he was a Royal Marine Bandsman. HMS Uganda whilst serving in the Mediterranean took a direct hit from a German radio controlled guided bomb.

Following an exchange of emails it transpired the genealogist was from the Falklands and with that information I was able to add the following to the jigsaw puzzle - He probably, as was usual, joined Ajax at the start of her 2nd commission following refit at Portsmouth on 11/1/1938. I note your Falklands connection and if there is some Falklands connection with your researches then the following may be relevant - Ajax was in the Falklands on the following dates: 12/9/1939 until 21/9/1939; 27/11/1939 until 2/12/1939; After the Battle of the River Plate on 13 December she George William Hills, on the arrived back in the Falklands 21/12/1939 until 29/12/1939 for repairs. She them made her way back left, whilst at HMS Ganges. to Plymouth arriving 31/1/1940 and on to Chatham for repairs and refit where she remained until 29/7/1940 when she was recommissioned. She then spent most of the rest of the war in the For many of the enquiries the fact that I can point them in the direction of the relative's service record Mediterranean. FJ Marks was more than likely drafted to another ship. During this time. through the MOD is a great help to them.

If FJ Marks was aboard Ajax during the whole of 1939 he wouldn't have set foot on UK soil and 4. 5.

If FJ Marks was aboard Ajax during the whole of 1939 he wouldn't have set foot on UK soil and 6. 7.

D- Day 2015 From Richard Llewellyn: The following information might be of interest to your Members who were involved in the Normandy landings either on Ajax or in another role. When I travelled to Normandy this year I did so with a charitable organisation called 'D-Day Revisited'. They have always been on the lookout for new people to join them for a trip to Normandy. This year was supposed to have been their last but because there are grants still being offered for next year by the Lottery Funding they have decided to run one more. Although the coaches run from Wirral to Portsmouth for the crossing they do stop at Motorway Services on the way to pick up Veterans who do not come from the North West. The two coaches usually have 50 veterans and 50 partners/carers plus medical staff etc. It is an extremely well run and very caring organisation. Anyone who might be interested should contact D-Day Revisited by emailing Victoria Phipps who is one of the main organisers. Her e-mail address is: [email protected] There is no charge for Veterans but Partners/Carers who accompany are asked to make a contribution to their costs.

THE RIVER PLATE VETERANS AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION Our sister Association currently does not have its own website so I have set up a link through our www.hmsajax.org website to allow members of the public to make enquiries about HMS Exeter. As a senior instructor at the Naval War College from 1934 to 1936 he studied and taught Trade Malcolm Collis – Archivist Protection and in particular the threat posed by the new German “pocket battleships” He was then appointed Commodore of what was by then the South American Division from 1937 to 1939 in HMS Exeter. His principle concern was to prepare for the protection of trade in that area when war came. Ceremonial and social entertainment in the South American countries were an import part of this. He worked closely with the British ambassadors to influence the governments and naval authorities of the various countries in favour of British interests and to assist the British communities . His friendly ADMIRAL SIR HENRY HARWOOD AND THE BATTLE OF THE personality, his ability to speak Spanish and his skill on the golf course made him the trusted friend of RIVER PLATE all. Admiral Harwood is best known for his victory over On the outbreak of WW2 in September 1939 Harwood's task, with the cruisers Exeter, Ajax and the German “Pocket Battleship” Graf Spee at the Cumberland under his command, was the protection of trade and elimination of enemy shipping off Battle of the River Plate on 13th December 1939. the east coast of South America. His force was one of the hunting groups searching for the Graf Spee in the South Atlantic. On 2nd December Harwood calculated from Graf Spee's reported sinkings that He was born in 1888 and educated in HMS Britannia she was most likely to head his way and attack the focal point of shipping off the River Plate This was at Dartmouth. He went to sea at the age of 16 and where he decided to concentrate his three available cruisers Exeter, Ajax and the New Zealand obtained 1st class passes in all subjects during his manned Achilles. junior officers' courses. After service in the China fleet he specialised in Torpedoes and shipboard Harwood's calculation paid off. Action was joined at 0615 on 13th December 1939. Graf Spee's 11 Electrics. He spent most of WW1 at sea and was inch guns packed a heavy punch but the cruisers had the advantage of speed and their smaller guns awarded the OBE in the post war Honours for were faster firing than Graf Spee's 11 inch. Exeter was very severly damaged and suffered heavy overcoming technical problems in the new casualties but scored telling hits on the enemy before being ordered to retire to the Falklands. The two Battleship Royal Sovereign. He later qualified at the remaining light cruisers dashed in to the very close range of four miles and forced Graf Spee to run for Naval Staff College and the Imperial Defence Montevideo in Uruguay rather than continue the fight College. International law allowed only time to make the German ship seaworthy, not battle worthy, and the Harwood married Joan Chard in 1924. It was a very Uruguayan government ordered Graf Spee to sail by the evening of Sunday 17th December.. By then happy marriage. There were two sons, Henry and Stephen, both of whom followed their father into the large cruiser Cumberland had joined in place of Exeter bringing Harwood's force back to its the Royal Navy. original strength but it would be Wednesday 20th before British re-inforcements could arrive. The British prepared for another battle but Graf Spee sailed on time and scuttled herself outside Montevideo harbour. We now know that she was morally beaten and too badly damaged to face the South America and the Battle of the River Plate long voyage home. After WW1 Harwood spent two years on the staff of CinC South America in the light cruise Harwood was promoted to Rear Admiral and honoured with the KCB (Knight Commander of the Southampton. This gave him a good knowledge of the South American countries and their people and inspired him to learn Spanish. 6. 7.

Bath) and his three Captains were appointed CB (Commanders of the Bath). There were 73 awards early, before the doors opened for distinguished service and gallantry in the three ships. The South American countries felt freed at 9 o'clock, to allow plenty of from the immediate German threat against them and the battle boosted the confidence of the neutral time before proceedings countries in Britain and the allied cause. It was the first British victory of the war and proved the started at 10 past 10. The NMA superiority of British ships, equipment and manpower. was also open to the general The ships' companies of Ajax and Exeter returned to a tumultuous welcome in London where the public and the crowds soon King presented decorations and medals after which they marched through the City to a reception at started to build. We made our the Guildhall where Churchill made one of his epic speeches; “This battle will long be told in Song way down to the Navy Review and Story” he said. And so it still is 75 years later. Achilles returned to New Zealand to an equally area to The Battle of the River rapturous welcome. but Harwood remained on station in the old cruiser Hawkins until September Plate Memorial – still 1940. magnificent. I laid a wreath and a few wooden crosses and we both took time to reflect. Judi also place a cross on the CinC Mediterranean. (May 1942 to March 1943) and After newly dedicated Land Army After a year and a half at the Admiralty Harwood was appointed to relieve Admiral Cunningham as Memorial in memory of her naval Commander in Chief in the Mediterranean with the acing rank of Full Admiral. It was a mother who passed away difficult time. Our naval forces were very weak. The Navy's most important duties were to interdict earlier this year, she having Rommel's supply lines across the Mediterranean and keep the 8th Army supplied by sea as it been a Land Girl. The Land Army Memorial advanced westward after Montgomery' victory at Alamein. In March 1943 Harwood, now a Vice Admiral in his own right, was appointed second in command of It was soon time to pass the Eastern Fleet based on Ceylon (Sri Lanca). Sadly this appointment co-incided with him having a through security as access was heart attack which forced him to be invalided home. After a year of recuperation he was appointed to now restricted to ticket the less onerous job of Admiral Commanding Orkney and Shetland and after the war was placed on holders, there were police the retired list with the rank of Full Admiral.. He had five years to enjoy his retirement at Goring on everywhere not surprisingly. Thames before he died on 9th June 1950, aged 62. We made our way up to the splendid Armed Forces Memorial on the hill. Not before dashing back to the car to retrieve an umbrella though. ARMISTICE DAY AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM As we took our seats the heavens open. The crowd, I Although we had had quite a lot of dealings with the National Memorial Arboretum in the lead up to guess about 300, all had the the installation and dedication of our Memorial in April it came as something of a very pleasant same idea of sitting there with surprise to receive an umbrellas up – fine unless invitation to attend the parts of you were in the drip Armistice Day service at the zone of a surrounding NMA. I would like to think neighbour! The Litchfield Our Memorial from the newly installed Naval this represents the high Cathedral Chamber Choir sang Service Memorial esteem in which our on regardless. Miraculously memorial is held within the the rain stopped just before we NMA. all stood to receive His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex Prince Edward to a fanfare by the Band of the Royal Corps of Signals. He was accompanied by a number of military and civil dignitaries. A further surprise came a few days before the 11th, an The Armed Forces Memorial is a very moving place at the best of times but to be there on Armistice email requesting that I act as Day surrounded by the huge walls bearing the thousands upon thousands of names of those killed in host for my table for the conflict since the Second World War was extremely poignant. Following the wreath laying we filed lunch refreshments after the out past the section of the outer wall containing the latest names chiselled there for eternity. service and specifically to introduce everyone to the Royal party. Judi and I arrived nice and

The Battle of the River Plate Memorial 8. 9.

The Battle of the River Plate Memorial 10. 11.

Membership Secretary's Update

Crossed the Bar Sadly I have to report upon two of our veterans from the Cruiser.

Pat Fowler I was notified by Doreen Fowler by way of a lovely email. Her husband, Pat Fowler, died on 21st of September. Pat was nearly 96 (6/10/1918) and had been ill for a month. Pat joined Ajax after her return from the River Plate. He served as radar officer and it was he who at the battle of Matapan, March 1941, picked up the signal of the reconnaissance plane which gave our fleet the indication of the enemy fleet. Later in the war he was radar instructor at Plymouth. He always said Ajax was a lucky ship and held her memory dear to him. They were married for 43 years and have a married son and two grandsons; the 9-year-old has a large The Armed Forces Memorial Part of the sculptures with the Memorial photo of the Ajax in his bedroom. As Doreen says - the story continues into the next generation. She also said that Pat always looked forward to the Newsletter and when his sight was failing it was her His Royal Highness took his place to take the March pass salute but not before a Spitfire, despite the task to read it out to him and she thanks the Association for giving him so much pleasure. low cloud, put on a splendid display over us – wonderful. William Fowler Marshall William was an Able Bodied Seaman and another radar specialist when he served on Ajax from 1945 to 1946. He died a few days after his 89th birthday. Peter Danks was telephoned by William's wife Anne while we were in Canada in June and we did manage to get an email circulated but the report did not get into the September newsletter. I have recently spoken to Anne who is doing her best adjusting to life without William.

New members We have five new Associate members to welcome aboard.

P a u l L e o n a r d B a r d e n f r o m Metheringham in Lincolnshire is the son of Leonard Roy Barden who served on Ajax from 1943 to 1945; he was a boy telegraphist. Paul joined us through the HRH taking the salute Spitfire displaying over the Armed Forces web site and sent me the following: Memorial I have been steadily and strategically sifting through my father's files very slowly. He crossed the bar in Perth Western Australia in 2012. We have We made our way to the marquees for refreshments we me trying my best to memorise the other many boxes as yet unpacked since guests names and organisations! The Lord Lieutenant took one side of the marquee and The Prince shipping them all home to UK. There are took the other side; our side. lots of interesting artefacts, memoirs and material to sift through. I have attached a Eventually it was our turn to stand. I was introduced by Sarah Montgomery from the NMA and we letter which my father had framed chatted about the HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association and the River Plate Memorial. I was originating from 10 Downing Street, about to start the other introductions when, much to my relief, he just started chatting individually to Whitehall. The letter is to Mr Colville, the others without introduction – panic over! He came round the circle and back to Judi and we HMS AJAX, from the Prime Minister managed to get another plug in. To be fair to him, he had spoken to probably 100 other people before Winston Churchill and the Foreign coming to us yet remained interested and knowledgeable about the organisations represented on my Secretary Anthony Eden, December table. He told us he had been to the cemetery in Montevideo and passed comment that the nation 28th 1944. seemed to be doing a lot more than we did 25 years ago and I had to agree with him. I thanked for his I hope Association members will find time and he was off. this letter interesting, enjoyable and With proceedings over we made our way home feeling quite elated – much as we had in April. fulfilling. Malcolm & Judi Collis 10. 11.

Membership Secretary's Update

Crossed the Bar Sadly I have to report upon two of our veterans from the Cruiser.

New members We have five new Associate members to welcome aboard.

Additionally, I have attached photographs of my Happy Birthday to the following Members who had birthdays in this Newsletter period father, handsome devil. He was renowned for boxing (September to November inc.): while in the Navy and lost only three of over 100 bouts. Ship's crew who served on HMS Ajax at the Frank Burton Cruiser 1938 – 39 96 on 4th September same time may remember him; he also played the Bob Gee Cruiser 1946 89 on 12th September bugle. John Hitchen Cruiser 1942 – 43 91 on 16th September Mike Turner Cruiser 1946 – 47 89 on 24th September James Laurence McClarnan from Brinsworth, Eddie Greenslade Frigate 1979 56 on 24th September South Yorkshire contacted the Archivist through the George Alan Phillips Frigate 1965 – 66 68 on 28th September contacts page on the web site about his father Robert Trevor Dixon Frigate 1973 – 75 67 on 9th October McClarnan who was on the Ajax from 1939 until Terry Webster Frigate 1976 – 78 57 on 17th October 1946. He crossed the bar in 1987. Malcolm replied Ken Holden Cruiser 1942 – 43 54 on 23rd October with the information below and James has just joined Kenneth Ward Frigate 1968 – 70 67 on 26th October us as an associate member. David (Jan) Pearcey Frigate 1973 – 75 68 on 5th November (Apologies to anyone not mentioned in this or previous editions – to rectify this, please complete I have an R McClarnan, Able Body seaman, recorded your update form and send to the Membership Secretary in the ledger for Ajax at the time of the battle of the River and that he held a DSM. SUBSCRIPTIONS A search of the London Gazette at page 1060 The annual subscription is still £10 with a family membership of £15. A gentle reminder that subs are SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 23 due in January. Sorry to nag, but it really does save lots of time and expense if they are paid early in FEBRUARY, 1940 has the following entry: the year. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for you and the various methods of parting with Robert McClarnan, Able Seaman; who, being in your money are listed below. Please ring me if you have any problems. charge of a Magazine, set a fine example of cheerful, hard and skilful work. Subscription can be paid by: He was one of a dozen DSM recipients from Ajax 1. Standing Order - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans following the Battle Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56

David Kearney from Stroud in Gloucestershire got to know about us by coincidence. A very good 2. Bank Transfer - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans friend of his visited Stephen Harwood and the Ajax memorabilia in the house sparked a conversation Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 about their fathers. This was on the 3rd October and David emailed Stephen the next day as below: My father died when I was just five so I have no first-hand memories of any discussions about the 3. Cheques & Postal Orders made payable to - 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans battle or his time in the RN. I have some bits and pieces from his time in the Fleet Air Arm and Navy Association' and posted to Membership Secretary: The Bewicks, Station Road, Ten Mile Bank, and my sister has others. Norfolk PE38 0EU My father was the observer on Ajax's seaplane and his very good friend, whose wife was my Godmother, 'Drunky' Lewin was the pilot. 4. By using the "Subscribe" button on the website and paying by PayPal or credit/debit card – see By co-incidence my wife and I are off on holiday to New England and Ontario next week. We are http://www.hmsajax.org/#/joining/4560949163 planning to visit Ajax town near Ontario where I believe there's a Harwood Avenue and a Kearney Drive. May I and Malcolm wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2015. Thank you David and his wife have just returned and the Town of Ajax and managed to arrange a street for all your support in 2014, it has been a special year with lots going on! dedication while they were there. See the street dedication page for Richard Edward Neville Kearney. David and his sister Sarah Carruthers will be attending the lunch at Portsmouth. Anne Adams, wife of Bob has joined us as an Associate member. Bobs father 'Ajax' Adams designed the cruiser. Anne was with us in Ajax in June and has been a regular attendee at our reunions. We will be exchanging photographs at Portsmouth.

Elizabeth Danks has become a family member. She has supported Peter our Chairman, Secretary and Newsletter Editor, for many years, being unpaid message taker, newsletter packer and many more jobs. Thank you Elizabeth and we hope you are enjoying Peter looking after you after your spells in hospital.

Congratulations to Clive and Liz Last issue we welcomed 3 new Harwood Associate members and I will be encouraging a few more at Sharplin, our Australian members Portsmouth! Please see the brief history of Admiral Sir Henry Harwood. who were married on October 18th at Castlemaine, Victoria. Clive and Liz joined us in Ajax. 12. 13.

2014 - A YEAR TO REMEMBER by comparison with Ajax! In May I was invited to a Press reception on Belfast by the Imperial War Museum, who are now custodians of Journal and Diary, where I met the Prime Minister and the Lord This year, being the 70th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings, I have been privileged to have Mayor of London, the latter a very affable gentleman, before being given a tot of real Pusser's Rum taken part in a number of events associated with that memorable time. None of which would have prior to lunch! happened if it had not been for the fact that I was a member of HMS Ajax's ships Company at that time. If, on June 6th 1944, we had been able to pause and look 70 years into the future, who would Also in May I attended a ceremony in Liverpool to welcome the pipes of Bill Millin at a stopover on have believed that there would be any special celebrations or commemorations to mark those events. their sea journey from Scotland to Portsmouth prior to being taken to Ouistreham and eventually on And as for terms like Heroes Return, and Heroes Remembered, etc., we would probably have to the town of Colville Montgomery. We did meet up with them again in Portsmouth and later at a laughed. Whilst there certainly were Heroes taking part in the events of D-Day, not to mention other ceremony when the Pipes were presented to the Mayor as a gift to the town. For those who may not war time events over the years, at that time most of us just thought of ourselves as getting on with the know, Bill Millin was the Piper to Lord Lovat ,who commanded 1st Special Service Brigade and was jobs that we, as miniature spokes in a giant wheel, had been given to do. From which you will gather commonly regarded as a 'mad bastard'. He ordered Bill to play as the Brigade came ashore on Sword that the word Hero sits very uneasily on my shoulders. I wonder how others feel about that? Beach as part of the second wave. Armed with nothing other than his Pipes he marched up and down the Beach and continued to play. The Germans apparently said they didn't shoot him as they thought I am not dismissing the events of D-Day and the part that all of us played, some more so than others, he was mad and it would bring them bad luck. There is much more information about Bill Millin to be because we all laid our lives on the line. In fact the date, 6th June, each and every year since then, was found via Google. engraved in my memory to an even greater extent than my birthday or Christmas. Which seems strange because we lived in S W London during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz and dramatic On 1st June I, and my partner, joined up with other Normandy Veterans and their partners / carers, as though those days were they never had quite the same impact. But when the war in Europe and the Far well as medical staff and a piper and Drummer, for the Coach journey from Cheshire to Portsmouth, East was finally over and we got demobbed picking up other Veterans on the way to make a total of 50 Veterans and their carers. All this was organised by D-Day Revisited. We checked in at the Queens Hotel in Southsea and were entertained the war was pushed into the backgrounds as we all looked for jobs and got on with our lives. It is only to Dinner by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth. The following day we took part in a ceremony with the in the last 5 years I suppose, that a number of things have happened that made me pause and actually Power Boat Squadron who were to cross to Normandy and be based on the River at Pegasus Bridge. look back at those War years, and especially D-Day and realise what a momentous event it was. It was here we got our first taste of the intense Media attention which was to stay with us until we This year, as last year I returned to finally arrived back in England some days later. We were entertained to lunch by the Portsmouth Normandy with a charitable organisation Naval Base Trust before going to Southwick House for an insight into the D-Day planning and a 'send called D-Day Revisited and had the off' dinner in the Mess Hall. opportunity not only to explore the The following day we embarked on Brittany Ferry's flag ship 'Normandie' for the crossing. We were l a n d i n g b e a c h e s a n d t h e g u n accompanied by the Millin Pipes and given a Royal Navy 'Solent Salute' as we steamed out of emplacements which were designed to Harbour and passed the Southsea seafront, with Royal Airforce planes overhead. We had an eventful hold back an invasion, but also to meet voyage with a free drink at the bar, entertainment by 'The Candy Girls' and a wreath laying ceremony many of the local inhabitants, including 7 miles out from the French coast applauded by many of the ship's passengers. We checked in at the those who remember the events of the 6th Novatel in Caen which was to be our base for the next few days. Days which have been so well June. These were emotional meetings, not documented in so many different ways that I will not repeat them. Suffice to say we had a memorable just because of the gratitude these men time in Normandy being included in various ceremonies as well as being well entertained by Mayors and women expressed for their liberation and citizens of a number of towns between Sword and Utah Beaches. But most important of all were but also to hear how desperate life had the reflective times at become for them under Nazi domination. various Cemeteries when I know I was not the only person who felt we remembered all those humbled to learn of the desperate times of all Nationalities who that these people had to endure and it is never returned to their good to know that all French children learn about the circumstances that their parents endured and homes and whose remains why they must never forget how they got their freedom again. All the pupils from one school, who still lie in Normandy. were visiting Pegasus Bridge, wore pullovers bearing the words "I am a child of freedom. Merci , Dear Veteran". Thanks to the initiative of John Phipps who heads up When I look back at my life one of the things which remains a mystery to me is how my D-Day Revisited, in Midshipman's Journal and my little pocket diary which I kept to record the events of D-Day have September a group of 23 survived. We emigrated to Africa many decades ago and lost most of our 'professionally' but oh so Veterans plus carers were badly packed belongings as they sat on the quayside in the port of Beira during the rainy season, and I invited as guests of the shed even more of my personal bits and pieces when I got divorced, and yet two things which Earl of March, who runs attached themselves to me without my really being aware of them until a couple of years ago, were the Goodwood Estate in the Journal and the Diary!! Sussex, to take part in a re- The Diary, which almost fits into the palm of my hand, assumed some importance this year because a enactment of the role BBC researcher heard about it with the result that in April I was invited to London by the BBC and which West Sussex did the filming for the programme, which went out on the 2nd June, on HMS Belfast - which is large played in the lead up to D- Day. This was their 14. 15.

Revival Festival where everybody dresses to remember the 40s, 50s and 60s! Apart from Car racing, Arm, advising that a colleague was in possession of an Ajax bell and wished to donate it to the including a race for Formula 1 cars of the 60's there was a grand parade of over 100 assorted WW2 Association. There then followed an exchange of phone calls and emails with Sharon Read. Several Service vehicles on two, three and four wheels, not to mention the Tank tracks. Following on behind years ago she worked as a carer for a lady from the Cashmore family and the lady gave Sharon the the main procession were 23 of us Veterans who each had a Wyles Jeep and driver to do a slow lap bell; for many years since then it has been displayed on her mantelpiece. However, as she had no real around the race track following on behind the other assorted modes of transport. Overhead a fly past attachment to it, she considered it needed a rightful home and sought out any organisation who may of two Lancaster Bombers and 2 Spitfires and a Hurricane, Another unforgettable 'one off' event! wish to have it and spoke to Terry. In October a group of us from the Cheshire and Wirral branch of the Normandy Veterans Association The bell duly arrived and was identical to both the Kennedy and Harwood bell. By chance, at the participated in the Service of Dedication of the Normandy Memorial in the National Memorial River Plate Veterans and Families reunion in Plymouth this year I was approached by a member who Arboretum, attended by the Duke of Gloucester who is Patron of the NVA. Needless to say I took the had a photograph of another such bell that an acquaintance had purchased believing it to be a genuine opportunity to visit the very mess bell – it too was identical to the others; fortunately he only paid £38 for it! impressive River Plate Memorial A quick internet search revealed a limited number in circulation: one was sold at auction for £140. stone. More recently we went down Another account details how one was acquired by slightly underhand means for an undisclosed to London for the Laying up of the amount, but in reality the previous owner probably had the last laugh as that bell too was a salvage NVA Standard in St. Margaret's one. Church, Westminster Abbey. Our wonderful Coach driver managed to Although the souvenir bells, and indeed the other artefacts, do not have great value they are get us to the Tower of London to nevertheless very nice pieces to have and we are extremely grateful to Sharon for her generous spend time admiring the spectacular donation. The bell will be put to good use in future to call order at the Anniversary luncheon in sea of red Poppies in the Moat. I Portsmouth and reunions. guess this special year will draw to a close as we attend services at local Malcolm Collis War Memorials to remember those who died in all the many wars which have been fought since the end of the Town of Ajax First World War. In a way that is the Street Dedication thread which has bound us all together this year. Street Name: Kearney Drive Name of Veteran: Richard Edward Neville Kearney Feb. 2, 1912-Jan. 23, 1964 Rank: Lieutenant, Seaplane Observer Ship Served: HMS Ajax HMS AJAX BELLS Date of Service on Ship: 1937 - 1940 HMS Ajax cruiser was decommissioned in February 1948 Year of Visit/Dedication: n/a and initially intended to be sold but this deal did not take place Veteran or Family Visit: n/a as Winston Churchill thought that the history of such an Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: Yes Died at Battle: No important vessel would be better preserved by being broken up. She ended up at John Cashmore Ltd Ship Breakers in Richard (Dick) Kearney was born in Antwerp, Belgium on February 2, 1912. Newport, South Wales, on 18 November 1949. His father, Michael worked for the British Consulate. He spent his whole career in the Royal Navy having entered Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in As part of the salvage process, Cashmore's no doubt would 1925. His first ship after training was HMS Resolution, and he served as a have sought to recoup as much as they could from materials of Midshipman. worth and from the bronze work and teak decking etc. were Dick served on HMS Ajax from December 1937 to February 1940 and was the produced various artefacts. One such artefact was a bronze observer in the seaplane during the Battle of the River Plate. For his actions bell set upon a teak socle, about 9 inches high overall and during the Battle he was 'Mentioned in Despatches'. inscribed “H.M.S. Ajax. Broken up by John Cashmore Ltd During Dick's career he served on over twelve ships, 1949”. It would appear quite a few were made, along with and received many honours. While onboard the aircraft various paper knives, gavels, barrels and the like. One bell carrier HMS Formidable, Dick received the Order of the British Empire was previously presented to Admiral Harwood and now in (OBE) as acting Commander. From early 1944 to mid-1945 Dick worked possession of Stephen Harwood. directly with the Admiralty onboard HMS President as assistant Chief Naval A previous exchange of emails with Sylvia Redfern, the sister Representative for duty at the Ministry of Aircraft Production. st Dick married Susan Catherine Edwards in 1957 and they had two children of Boy 1 Class William John Kennedy who was killed in the David Neville, born November 19, 1958 and Sarah Elizabeth, born February Mediterranean in July 1940 (reported in the March 2011 Newsletter) revealed that the family had 9, 1960. approached Cashmore's for a memento and were presented with such a bell. Dick retired from the Royal Navy in 1962 with the rank of Commodore and In August of this year I received an internet enquiry from Terry Roberts, a retired PO of the Fleet Air lived in Camberley, Surrey, England where he died on January 23, 1964. 16. 17.

“This brilliant sea fight takes its place in our naval annals and in a long cold dark winter it warmed the cockles of the British hearts.” Winston Churchill Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the

BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE Philatelic Officer th British Forces Post Office 707 13 December 1939 www.bfps.org.uk

The Committee has been working closely with the British Forces Philatelic Society to produce a first day cover of The Battle. Details of how to obtain them will be on the website or contact Malcolm Collis. They will be available, along with commemorative tumbler and bookmark, at the December luncheon in Portsmouth and later.

AGM TO BE HELD ON 13TH DECEMBER 2014 To be held at the Royal Beach Hotel AGENDA 1. Chairman's Remarks 2. Apologies 3. Minutes of Last Meeting 4. Matters Arising 5. Treasurer's Report Alf Larkin a) accounts for year ended 31st August 2014 b) subscriptions for 2014/15 6. Committee Reports a) Archivist Malcolm Collis b) Membership Judi Collis c) Newsletter Editor Peter Danks 7. Election of officials Position Nomination Proposer Seconder Chairman Peter Danks M Turner J Hitchen Sec/Newsletter P Danks M Turner J Hitchen Treasurer Judi Collis A Larkin P Danks Archivist Malcolm Collis K Skilling R Llewellyn Membership Judi Collis R Llewellyn K Skilling Standard Bearer Alf Larkin M Collis P Danks Ctte Member Vic Wilson P Danks A Larkin 8. Events in 2015 – Annual Reunion - 50th Reunion Date – suggested 7th October Venue – suggested King Charles Hotel, Gillingham 9. Life Membership 10. Any other business approved by the Chairman 18.

BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE Philatelic Officer th British Forces Post Office 707 13 December 1939 www.bfps.org.uk