Ajax New Past up For

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

SEPTEMBER 2014

CONTENTS

Chairman/Editor's Remarks

Visit to Canada – Malcolm Collis

Richard Llewellyn and D Day

Halifax and HMS AJAX Link

Archivist Report

Membership Secretary Report

Lost Ship Mates

Application Forms

NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. 2015 – 50th Year of the Association. I have asked in previous newsletters for your thoughts on how CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST th we should mark the 50 Year of the Association. When I hear of many Associations that are closing NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis down due to reducing numbers, it is pleasing to know that we continue to find new members. But it is Peter Danks ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road those of you who have been with us since the Association was in its infancy that I need to hear from, so 104 Kelsey Avenue Ten Mile Bank, that the committee can continue to give Members what they wish to see. It is your Association, SO Southbourne Downham Market PLEASE let any of the committee members know your views and we will try to meet them. Emsworth Norfolk PE38 0EU Hampshire PO10 8NQ Tel: 01366 377945 Article from Halifax. Many people have asked me what the connection with Halifax is and I am Tel: 01243 371947 [email protected] grateful to Mrs Sue Hanson for sending me the article from the Halifax Courier which explains it all. [email protected] MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY AGM Agenda. 1. Chairman's Remarks 2. Apologies 3. Minutes of last meeting TREASURER Mrs Judi Collis 4. Matters Arising 5. Treasurer's Report (Including recommendation for 2015 subs; Alf Larkin ‘The Bewicks’, Station Road And a summary of the Memorial Expenditure) 6, Committee Report (Brief verbal report – full Lime Kiln Cottage Ten Mile Bank, report to be included with minutes) 7. Election of Officials – the existing officers are willing to stand No 2 Easton Lane Downham Market th Portland DT5 1BW Norfolk PE38 0EU for 2015. 8. Venue for 2015 Reunion and ideas on how to mark the Association's 50 year. 9. Any Tel: 01305457259 Tel: 01366 377945 other business approved by the Chairman. [email protected] Mobile: 07736 929641 [email protected] It is your Association, please let the Committee know your thoughts on the way ahead for the next year – another land mark year for the Association. www.hmsajax.org

CHAIRMAN/EDITOR'S REMARKS VISIT TO AJAX ONTARIO I hope you have all enjoyed the fine weather we have experienced this summer – sadly it will soon be Tuesday 10th June 2014 saw Association members muster at UK airports to fly to Pearson autumn and the early nights. International Airport at Toronto before transferring to Ajax on the shores of Lake Ontario. The town of Ajax, Ontario is named after HMS Ajax and a close relationship exists between the Town and our Web Site. Please let Malcolm know if you have some useful additions to the site – please introduce Association with many of its streets named after crew members. your friends as this is the place they will find out how to join and what is going on within the Association. 8 members, including Dennis Talbot from the cruiser and 6 Associate members, who with friends and relatives, totalled 23, travelled from the UK. They were joined by one member and his wife from the Articles for the Newsletter. It was very disappointing not to receive any articles following the States and one Associate and his partner from Australia. The members included four Frigate Dedication Service on 12th April. A huge amount of work had gone into the preparations for the day members, Fred Coates, Mike Fox, Alf Larkin & Nigel Masters who visited Ajax on HMS Ajax in and it would be nice to hear your views on how you saw the day. Did it meet your expectations etc?. 1976,and were later joined by two more, Lunch on 13th December in Portsmouth As mentioned in the June Newsletter, this will be the final Clive Morris who lives event in this the 75th Anniversary year since the Battle in 1939. Arrangements are progressing and in in the States and Ian anticipation of receiving many applications, we have been allocated a larger room which will hold up Cunliffe who lives in to 250 so please take the opportunity to send in your form which was attached to the June Newsletter. Ontario. The 1976 crew There is now no restriction on numbers. It promises to be an enjoyable event, starting with a short had been granted the AGM for members at 1030, followed by a presentation by Jonathan Harwood at 1115. There will freedom of the town and then be a drinks reception at 1230 followed at 1300 by a 3 course lunch, with wine, followed by this was the first time coffee, port, toasts and limited speeches, and on completion approx 1430, Stephen Harwood will they had been back to present some newsreels of the day. We are delighted that Mayor Steve Parish and his wife, Mrs Pat exercise their rights! Brown, Mrs Colleen Jordan, Debbie Steer and maybe others from the town of Ajax will be present We w o k e o n t h e with us. This will be a good opportunity of those unable to go to Canada in June to catch up with their Wednesday morning to news. d e c i d e d l y B r i t i s h weather which made th th The River Plate Families Reunion This will take place over the weekend of the 4 /5 October in getting to the Town Hall Plymouth. If you are interested in attending, please contact Jim Smith on 01302 841806 for further interesting. Here we details. boarded the coach taking us the hundred odd miles Visit to Canada Thank you to Malcolm Collis for the write up on the visit of Members to Ajax in to the Niagara Falls June. I hear that those who went had a most enjoyable week. a l o n g t h e 4 0 1 Niagra Falls Expressway that seemed 4. 5. to be perpetually “rush hour” (www.honourajaxbombgirls.ca) A lovely meal and good company was topped off by stunning night- every time we went near it. As time views of waterfront Toronto, dominated by the impressive CN Tower, the tallest in the world we skirted Toronto the tower until 2010. The journey home was a lot less exciting than the one in. blocks disappeared in to the Friday 13th June saw most members at the Town's Public Library to listen to the first of Jonathan low cloud but as we cleared Harwood's excellent presentations on The Battle of the River Plate. His 45 minute presentation was the city the weather picked up very well received by the public and school children present and he wasn't flummoxed even when one and by the time we parked up of the school children asked if he knew Roald Dahl had been in the war: we were all impressed with at the Falls the sun was out. Jonathan's answer! Dinner that evening saw us all in Magwyers Pub; an establishment that became We agreed on a 5 o'clock quite popular with some members! return and off we went to do our own thing. The Falls are Saturday 14th; after much debate over dress code, we were all very glad we had decided on formal as really impressive, either it turned out we were the guests of honour at the 40th Anniversary review of the Royal Canadian Sea viewed from the top in the Cadet Corps Harwood. Jonathan, Ben & Kate Harwood performed the role of reviewing officers and relative dry or from the undertook the task with great aplomb. The display put on by the Sea Cadets was quite fantastic and bottom in the very wet Maid everyone present appreciate the amount of dedicated hard work that had been put in to it. They really of the Mist boats. The Falls appreciated having “Harwood's” there to review them. dominate the Canadian and That evening, Debbie Steer had bravely invited us all to her place for a BBQ and to watch a certain American towns either side. world cup football match taking place. The hire car again came in useful for a visit to the liquor store Toronto skyline from Lake Ontario All safely back on the bus we to stock up on essentials for the festivities. Ian Cunliffe, who had been in the '76 visit, drove from his headed home to Ajax. house north of Toronto to join his shipmates who he hadn't seen in 38 years. Nigel and Mike, being Next day Malcolm & Judi Collis, along with some of the others, had a drive around Ajax in the car ship's cooks were co-opted to perform BBQ duties. they had hired to visit and photograph some of the streets named in honour of our members, present Sunday 15th; off to the Forest Brook Community Church for a service of remembrance for the 75th and past. Back at the Garden Hilton Inn by 4 p.m. we were all ready to board the limousines, laid on Anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate; the reason for the trip. Association members paraded in. by the committee of the Ajax Bomb Girls, to head to Toronto waterfront to board our cruise ship. The Following a moving service, accompanied by a musical tribute by a local Orchestra, we transferred to six limos were actually donated by a funeral parlour chain with most of the drivers not local. We got the Royal Canadian Legion Club. Here lunch had been laid on for the many present and a convivial in to the city centre quite easily but the last mile or so was thwarted by the total chaos caused by couple of hours passed. Stephen & Henry Harwood's book sold like hot cakes with proceeds being incredible road works and road closures with no obvious diversion routes. Our convoy fragmented split between the Cadets and the Association's memorial fund. Bob Adams, whose father had been the leaving our drivers to find their own way. We probably wasted an hour here but the boat, the Jubilee designer of the Ajax Cruiser, donated his book to various people including the Mayor. Queen, fortunately, waited for us. Once on board we were reacquainted with Councillor's Pat Brown & Coleen Jordon and Cherry Sevigny and others. We We were once again back at the Town Hall on the Monday in Council Chambers where Jonathan & were also joined by Associates Ben & Kate Harwood, Ben formally presented to the Mayor Steve Parish Commodore Harwood's uniform, which occupies who had holidayed in Canada, and Jonathan Harwood pride of place in the Town's display area. Clive Sharplin also presented a print of The Battle for Crete who only arrived that day. The cruise had been featuring HMS Ajax. Malcolm Collis, on behalf of the Association thanked the Mayor for inviting us arranged to raise funds towards a memorial to the once again to his Town and presented him with an Order of Service for the Dedication of the 75th “Bomb Girls” – those that had worked during the war Anniversary Memorial of The Battle of the River Plate held in April in recognition of the Town's at the Defence Industries Limited munitions plant that generous donation. He formally invited him to attend the Anniversary luncheon to be held in is now Ajax: two of them were present Portsmouth. He also presented Debbie Steer with a line drawing of the Frigate that visited Ajax in 1976 along with other gifts in sincere gratefulness for all that she had done to oversee and organise our visit. Before we moved off for the street dedication ceremonies the Mayor presented street signs for J o h n G a r r a r d ' s s t r e e t , Garrardview Street; John, who wasn't present, is one of our River Plate Veterans and officiated at the National Memorial Arboretum. John's street sign turned out to be too long to fit into a suitcase and arrangements were to be made to Dennis Talbot revisiting his street BBQ left to right: Ian Cunliffe, Alf Larkin, have it shipped over! Fred Coates, Mike Fox and Nigel Masters Members at the Church Service 4. 5. to be perpetually “rush hour” (www.honourajaxbombgirls.ca) A lovely meal and good company was topped off by stunning night- every time we went near it. As time views of waterfront Toronto, dominated by the impressive CN Tower, the tallest in the world we skirted Toronto the tower until 2010. The journey home was a lot less exciting than the one in. blocks disappeared in to the Friday 13th June saw most members at the Town's Public Library to listen to the first of Jonathan low cloud but as we cleared Harwood's excellent presentations on The Battle of the River Plate. His 45 minute presentation was the city the weather picked up very well received by the public and school children present and he wasn't flummoxed even when one and by the time we parked up of the school children asked if he knew Roald Dahl had been in the war: we were all impressed with at the Falls the sun was out. Jonathan's answer! Dinner that evening saw us all in Magwyers Pub; an establishment that became We agreed on a 5 o'clock quite popular with some members! return and off we went to do our own thing. The Falls are Saturday 14th; after much debate over dress code, we were all very glad we had decided on formal as really impressive, either it turned out we were the guests of honour at the 40th Anniversary review of the Royal Canadian Sea viewed from the top in the Cadet Corps Harwood. Jonathan, Ben & Kate Harwood performed the role of reviewing officers and relative dry or from the undertook the task with great aplomb. The display put on by the Sea Cadets was quite fantastic and bottom in the very wet Maid everyone present appreciate the amount of dedicated hard work that had been put in to it. They really of the Mist boats. The Falls appreciated having “Harwood's” there to review them. dominate the Canadian and That evening, Debbie Steer had bravely invited us all to her place for a BBQ and to watch a certain American towns either side. world cup football match taking place. The hire car again came in useful for a visit to the liquor store Toronto skyline from Lake Ontario All safely back on the bus we to stock up on essentials for the festivities. Ian Cunliffe, who had been in the '76 visit, drove from his headed home to Ajax. house north of Toronto to join his shipmates who he hadn't seen in 38 years. Nigel and Mike, being Next day Malcolm & Judi Collis, along with some of the others, had a drive around Ajax in the car ship's cooks were co-opted to perform BBQ duties. they had hired to visit and photograph some of the streets named in honour of our members, present Sunday 15th; off to the Forest Brook Community Church for a service of remembrance for the 75th and past. Back at the Garden Hilton Inn by 4 p.m. we were all ready to board the limousines, laid on Anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate; the reason for the trip. Association members paraded in. by the committee of the Ajax Bomb Girls, to head to Toronto waterfront to board our cruise ship. The Following a moving service, accompanied by a musical tribute by a local Orchestra, we transferred to six limos were actually donated by a funeral parlour chain with most of the drivers not local. We got the Royal Canadian Legion Club. Here lunch had been laid on for the many present and a convivial in to the city centre quite easily but the last mile or so was thwarted by the total chaos caused by couple of hours passed. Stephen & Henry Harwood's book sold like hot cakes with proceeds being incredible road works and road closures with no obvious diversion routes. Our convoy fragmented split between the Cadets and the Association's memorial fund. Bob Adams, whose father had been the leaving our drivers to find their own way. We probably wasted an hour here but the boat, the Jubilee designer of the Ajax Cruiser, donated his book to various people including the Mayor. Queen, fortunately, waited for us. Once on board we were reacquainted with Councillor's Pat Brown & Coleen Jordon and Cherry Sevigny and others. We We were once again back at the Town Hall on the Monday in Council Chambers where Jonathan & were also joined by Associates Ben & Kate Harwood, Ben formally presented to the Mayor Steve Parish Commodore Harwood's uniform, which occupies who had holidayed in Canada, and Jonathan Harwood pride of place in the Town's display area. Clive Sharplin also presented a print of The Battle for Crete who only arrived that day. The cruise had been featuring HMS Ajax. Malcolm Collis, on behalf of the Association thanked the Mayor for inviting us arranged to raise funds towards a memorial to the once again to his Town and presented him with an Order of Service for the Dedication of the 75th “Bomb Girls” – those that had worked during the war Anniversary Memorial of The Battle of the River Plate held in April in recognition of the Town's at the Defence Industries Limited munitions plant that generous donation. He formally invited him to attend the Anniversary luncheon to be held in is now Ajax: two of them were present Portsmouth. He also presented Debbie Steer with a line drawing of the Frigate that visited Ajax in 1976 along with other gifts in sincere gratefulness for all that she had done to oversee and organise our visit. Before we moved off for the street dedication ceremonies the Mayor presented street signs for J o h n G a r r a r d ' s s t r e e t , Garrardview Street; John, who wasn't present, is one of our River Plate Veterans and officiated at the National Memorial Arboretum. John's street sign turned out to be too long to fit into a suitcase and arrangements were to be made to Dennis Talbot revisiting his street BBQ left to right: Ian Cunliffe, Alf Larkin, have it shipped over! Fred Coates, Mike Fox and Nigel Masters Members at the Church Service 6. 7.

Also presented was Weld Drive;Captain ARCHIVIST UPDATE James Weld had been a Commanding I am pleased to report that our recent application to the Department of Culture under the Memorial Officer on Ajax 14 September 1942 to 8 Scheme has resulted in a VAT refund to the tune of £3286.67. This, along with the earlier 2012/2013 September 1944 and was in command Gift Aid refund from HMRC of £2252.08 means the Association has a total of £5538.75 of “free” when Ajax was bombed in Bone money I didn't expect when we started out on the fund raising mission. This is great news and will help harbour, D-Day operations and as part of considerably with the December luncheon expenses. the bombarding force for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern The Memorial unveiling in April seems a long time ago and the June visit to Ajax also seems a while France. He was unknown to the back – where is the year going? The next thing we'll know it will be the December luncheon! I have Association but Alf Larkin has elsewhere included an account of our Ajax trip. Judi and I took the opportunity of staying on in subsequently traced one of his relatives Canada and flew over to Vancouver where we hired an RV camper and took ourselves off into the and will present the street sign to him Rockies and Vancouver Island for a fortnight. Fortunately internet enquiries continue to be reasonably quiet during this Newsletter period. House First port of call was Hawkins Crescent. renovations continue apace but we still cannot say there is light at the end of the tunnel: I now have George Hawkins had been in Ajax at the Street Dedication Sharplin Drive two Land Rovers (son's) in the garden to fix so that will prove a useful distraction to building work! time of the River Plate and although he died in 1984 relations live in Ontario and were present for the dedication. Terence INFORMATION SOUGHT ON FORMER AJAX CREW MEMBERS Michael, not yet an Association I would be very pleased to receive information on the following: member, was present for the dedication of his Michaelman Road. Terence was in WILLIAM JAMES LURCOOK HMS Ajax 1943/45 and now lives in Colin Lurcook is seeking information on William Lurcook. William appears to have a street in Ajax Pickering next door to Ajax. and is listed as a Royal Marine Sergeant in Ajax at the time of the River Plate. Next was Collis Lane. Although Joseph visited Ajax in 2005 and received his ALLAN DAVID PIENAAR street sign from the Mayor the street was Jacquelene Pienaar is also after information about her grandfather Allan Pienaar. He was at The Battle still under construction and so not of the River Plate but she is not sure which ship he was in. He was born in 1921 in South Africa and officially dedicated. Joseph died in 2012 was something of a boxer facing a world champion at some stage although Jacquelene doesn't think so Malcolm & Judi were present for the he lasted long! dedication in his memory. Street Dedication Porte Road Sharplin Drive was in honour of Robert LUTHER GRANTHAM MEEK Sharplin who was on Ajax 1940/41 and Joseph Meek contacted me to advise that his cousin's name did not appear on my December 1939 Clive Sharplin was also present for his Ajax ledger. Luther Grantham Meek had been a Telegraphist and joined HMS Ajax 25 January 1938 father's street dedication. and was in Ajax until he was killed in action east of Malta 12 January 1940. Ajax provided cover for Another of our members, Len Porte, was Convoy MF4 to Alexandria with Fleet units and deployed with ships of Squadron east of Fleet. In not well enough to travel to Canada but close range night action with HM Cruisers ORION, SYDNEY and YORK screened by HM Cherry Sevigny & Pat Brown received Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK against Italian convoy in Gulf of Otranto. Two destroyers, Porte Road on his behalf. Vic Wilson on AIRONE and ARIEL were sunk and destroyer ARTIGLIERE damaged. Ajax was hit by 7 shells return to the UK presented the street sign resulting in 35 casualties including 13 killed. to Len. FRANK IVOR SHAW On completion of the street dedications we returned to Council Chambers for Jeremy Shaw from Australia contacted me regarding his grandfather's photograph album. Following lunch. (Photos of this day can be viewed several exchanges of emails we have established Frank was on Ajax's second commission and Street Dedication Collis Lane at: therefore at The River Plate. He also appears to have Shaw Court named after him in Ajax. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B_dVZqxvOp2NZkRYTHJPY3ZBLTQ&usp=sharing) SIDNEY (LES) LESLIE CROMACK That evening most dined at Magwyers knowing that the week in Ajax had flown by and that most Margaret Maybery is trying to trace records of her uncle Sidney (Les) Cromack who served in Ajax as were departing the next day. a Petty Officer after The Battle of the River Plate. Sidney died in 1993. The Association would like to thank all in Ajax for inviting us once again to the Town and for For many of the enquiries the fact that I can point them in the direction of the relative's service record arranging the various events and in particular to Debbie Steer. We all hoped this would not be the last through the MOD is a great help to them. visit. Malcolm Collis 6. 7.

D-Day Celebrations Membership Secretary's Update September 2014

The 6th June 2014 saw the 70th Anniversary of the D-day landings and in recognition of the part Crossed the Bar played by Ajax information was posted on the Ajax website www.hmsajax.org. Whilst much of our Good news that I have nothing to report for this section. attention has been focussed on The Battle of the River Plate it is vitally important we should not forget the part HMS Ajax and her crew played in other major events, particularly the D-Day landings. New members She left the Clyde on 4th June 1944 and by the 6th she was off Gold Beach, Normandy coast, ready I am delighted to report that we have two new veterans from the cruiser and hope to sign up another, for the D-Day assault. Ajax was the first ship to open fire on D-Day and within eight minutes had Terence Michael, who we met in Ajax in June, along with Ian Cunliffe from the frigate. We also have destroyed her first target, a battery of 5.9 inch guns at Longues, at a range of 12,000 yards. She fired several new associate members probably due to the good feedback we got from the dedication 114 six inch shells with direct hits through two of the 5.9 inch gun ports of the three guns. She ceremony at the NMA in April. Keep the forms coming in; you are all really important to keep the returned to Portsmouth on the 9th. Association going. One of our Association members, Richard Llewellyn, was featured in the BBC 1 series of Dennis William Douglas Lowndes from Morden in Surrey joined us in March. He served on the programmes D-Day 70 Heroes Remembered in which he gave a wonderful account of his cruiser from 1943 to 1945 rating QR3 experiences on that day from the diary he kept. The programme, Episode 2, was screened on 3rd June at 9.15 a.m. William Parker from Rothwell in Northants was made a member by his daughter Valerie as a surprise for his 93rd birthday. He was a marine on the cruiser from 1945 to 1946 and Parker Crescent is in the town of Ajax.

Eddie Greenslade from Orpington, Kent served on the frigate in 1979 A/B (R). Eddie keeps busy as an RNA member Area 2 Bromley and also with The British Legion Orpington District. He joined the Navy in 1975 and amongst his drafts served on HMS Fife as the guard ship to the Royal Yacht during Silver Jubilee year. He also had a spell in Whitehall where the D Day map was still on the wall and finally he was drafted to Sultan Admiralty Interview Board and mentions one candidate who was fitted for his flying suit without sitting and tests, but then he was Prince Andrew!

A particularly warm welcome to Hilary Kennedy-Cooke and Belinda Cooper who are the daughters of Captain Charles Woodhouse who I am sure most of you will know was the Captain of HMS Ajax (1937-40) at the time of the River Plate. He was later the Commander-in-Chief East Indies Station and retired in 1952 in the rank of Admiral. He was a regular attender at the Association's reunions until his death in 1978. Hilary lives in West Wittering, West Sussex and Belinda lives in Farnham, Surrey.

Ajax in action off Gold Beach Peter and Margaret King from Chertsey in Surrey are the sister and brother-in-law of Vic Wilson. Vic is one of our frigate members from 1963-65 and along with wife Jo are regular attendees at our reunions and events this year. Vic has agreed to join the team helping to arrange the anniversary lunch Congratulations to Richard on his starring role and to all the other veterans from that time. The in December so thanks in advance Jo for your help! Association also benefited from Richard's fame as a stamp collector wrote to me; he was after signatures for the recently produced British Forces Philatelic Service 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Last but not least Stephen Harwood has recruited several family members, descendants of Admiral landings special stamp cover. He specifically asked to get Richard's signature and offered to pay £5 to Sir Henry Harwood. It will be fitting to do a special report about the Commodore at the end of the year. a charity of Richard's choice and he nominated the Association. Thanks indeed. The Harwood's have wonderful names: Cyprian Henry Harwood Harwood son of the Commodore comes from Chippenham in Wiltshire Richard had travelled to France to join the commemorative events and we had hoped he would and spoke at the dedication meal at the NMA. submit a Newsletter article of his experiences but unfortunately on his return he underwent a course Jonathan Philip Penny Harwood is a grandson of the Commodore (Stephens's son) and is a of treatment which knocked him for six. I'm sure we all wish him well and look forward to reading his hardworking vet in Petersfield but finds time to do lots of presentations about the River Plate. recollections in the next Newsletter when he is better. Benjamin Maxmilian Henry Harwood and his wife Kate are from near Basingstoke in Hampshire. Ben is grandson of the Commodore (Henry's son). They too are kept busy with family related duties in Malcolm Collis – Archivist spite of full time jobs.

Johnathan, Ben and Kate were very popular during our visit to the Town of Ajax in June performing various duties and all of us there got lots of reflected 'glory' being in their company. Everyone in the Town from the Scouts and fellow drinkers in the pub really appreciated their input during the week. 8. 9.

D-Day Celebrations Membership Secretary's Update September 2014

Happy Birthday to the following Members who had birthdays in this Newsletter Period (June From the Halifax Courier - Friday, July 18th 2014 – August inc.): Martin Roland Frigate 1967-69 65 on 5th June John Galway Frigate 1977-79 55 on 6th June It’s war: Halifax ‘buys’ a cruiser! William Marshall Cruiser 1945-46 89 on 16th June Bob McMorran Frigate 1968-70 74 on 18th June Townspeople dug deep and raised more than £2 million in Peter Danks Frigate 1965-66 75 on 20th June war bonds to adopt HMS Ajax By David Hanson Allan Lorriman Cruiser 1943-46 89 on 21st June Peter Buckingham Cruiser 1946-47 87 on 26th June The newest memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire - the 300th - has been Eric Dover Cruiser 1947-48 85 on 28th June unveiled to mark the 75th anniversary of one of the great sea battles of the second world war, the Vic Wilson Frigate 1963-65 69 on 14th July Battle of the River Plate. Roy Blowers Cruiser 1942-43 89 on 16th July John Pegler Cruiser 1942-43 94 on 17th July The battle, to run down and destroy the German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, has a special link with William Parker Cruiser 1945-46 93 on 17th July Halifax as one of the three British cruisers who shadowed the Graf Spee in the south Atlantic was Fred Coates Frigate 1974-78 75 on 26th July the Ajax - and the Ajax was adopted by Halifax men and women in February 1942 in a huge Ken (Yorky) Byram Cruiser 1942-45 91 on 4th August fundraising campaign known as Warship Week. Alf Larkin Frigate 1976-78 68 on 4th August Roy (Topsy) Turner Cruiser 1946-47 87 on 5th August During the early stages of the war Britain lost a great many ships to enemy action. To replace Richard Llewellyn Cruiser 1943-44 89 on 14th August them the Government devised Warship Weeks in towns and cities the length and breadth of the Dick Harpour Frigate 1965-67 69 on 14th August country. Donald Birrell Cruiser 1946-47 87 on 16th August Wilbert Curran Frigate 1967-68 73 on 31st August Local communities adopted a naval vessel - an aircraft carrier or battleship for a major city, a cruiser or destroyer in a smaller town and local people were urged to “pay” for it by buying I have only included the members birthdays (if I have them) but best wishes to all our Associate members national savings certificates or Government war bonds. who have had celebrations this year. There are lots of impressive dates here. Altogether there were 1,178 Warship Weeks and they raised a phenomenal amount of money Best wishes and speedy recovery to all of you who have been unwell, there are several of our members towards the war effort - a total of £955,611,589. and associates who have been poorly and in hospital, please let me know if you wish to be mentioned individually. Local communities thus “bought” a staggering 839 ships - eight battleships, four carriers, 49 cruisers, 301 destroyers, 25 submarines, 164 corvettes and frigates and 288 minesweepers. SUBSCRIPTIONS Many thanks to all of you who has sent subscriptions either to me or paid by electronic means. I have marked the Newsletter address label with a red dot for the outstanding ones; please rectify this as soon as possible - send me an email or call if you are in doubt. Subscription can be paid by: 1. Standing Order - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 2. Bank Transfer - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 3. Cheques & Postal Orders made payable to - 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association' and posted to Membership Secretary, The Bewicks, Station Road, Ten Mile Bank, Downham Market, Norfolk PE38 0EU 4. By using the "Subscribe" button on the website and paying by PayPal or credit/debit card – see http://www.hmsajax.org/#/joining/4560949163 This will deduct £10 but many of you pay extra to help with costs (Thanks); any extra donation can be paid through the “Donate” button on the website – see http://www.hmsajax.org/#/memorial- fund/4567554524 Malcolm and I are pleased to announce, after a wait of 7 months and many many hours on the phone, that we now have a BT Landline. Use 01366 377945 if you need to speak to us in preference to either mobile number as the reception here in Norfolk is not great.

The Committee hope to see many Members and Associates at the December luncheon so please support The Ajax story. Top left: HMS Ajax, the British light cruiser adopted by the people of Halifax, who raised £2 million. us. If you do want to attend but have difficulties, for example, with transport or whatever, please ring Top right: The German heavy cruiser Admiral Graf Spee, scuttled by her captain in Montevideo harbour after sustaining damage at Malcolm or me, or any Committee member and we'll see what we can do. the Battle of the Rive Plate in 1939. Left: Calderdale’s outgoing Deputy Mayor, Councillor Lisa Lambert, and her consort, her Judi Collis father, Ken Lambert, at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire where a memorial by the HMS Ajax and River Plate Membership Secretary Veterans’ Association was unveiled to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Battle of the River Plate. 10. 11.

Other local Warship Weeks, capsule has the names of all those who lost their lives in the battle and those present at the included one in Todmorden, unveiling of the memorial. which bought a destroyer, HMS Vidette, and Ripponden, which Because of the Halifax connection with the ship Calderdale Council made a contribution towards paid for a corvette called HMS the cost of the memorial and among the 250 at the unveiling were the outgoing Deputy Mayor of Convolvulus. Brighouse paid Calderdale, Councillor Lisa Lambert, and her consort, her father, Ken Lambert. for the submarine Proteus Sue Hanson, the council’s civic support officer, who also attended the event at the arboretum, Hebden Royd the destroyer said: “Halifax adopted HMS Ajax during the war and the people of the town raised a significant Bradford, Queensbury the amount of money for the ship during Warship Week, February 7 to 14 1942. corvette Vervain and Sowerby Bridge the submarine “We have a plaque to acknowledge this at Halifax Town Hall and the ship’s crest is kept at Unsparing. Bankfield Museum.” Halifax’s Warship Week raised The veterans’ association’s secretary, Peter Danks, said: “We are very proud to have unveiled our an astonishing £2,077,565 or memorial which will ensure that all who took part in the Battle of the River Plate will be £21.89 per head of population, a Ajax for Halifax! A mock-up of HMS Ajax in Bull Green, Halifax, to announce remembered always.” national record - until the the town’s fundraising triumph during Warship Week in 1942. following week, when Elland bettered it with £25.01 per head in adopting the destroyer Eclipse. The announcement of the Halifax total came in February 1942, when a Life story of our very own warship mock-up of the bow of the Ajax was constructed outside Bull Green House and one notice, attached to a mast, declared the amount raised while another proclaimed “Ajax for Halifax”. HMS Ajax was launched at Vickers’ shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness in March 1934 and completed in April 1935. The Battle of the River Plate - an estuary between Uruguay and Argentina on the Atlantic coast of South America - in December 1939 Before the second world war she served in the north Atlantic, in the Mediterranean and then in the was the first naval engagement of the war. West Indies before returning to Britain for refit. After spells back in the West Indies and then in the Pacific, off South America, she was then redeployed to the south Atlantic. The heavy cruiser or “pocket battleship” Graf Spee had been posted to the Atlantic even before the start of the war and was a real threat; her six After war was declared in September 1939 Ajax began patrolling off the River Plate, where she 11-inch guns were designed to outgun any cruiser that might be fast enough to catch her and sank the German merchant ship Olinda and intercepted a German merchantman and a passenger between September and December 1939 sank nine ships. ship, both of which scuttled themselves to avoid capture. It was essential that the Graf Spee be stopped and a force of three light cruisers, HMS Exeter, There followed the campaign against the Graf Spee, after which Ajax returned to Britain for a Achilles and the flagship, Ajax, confronted her off the River Plate on December 13. The Graf refit. She then served mostly in the Mediterranean, protecting British convoys to Malta and Spee inflicted heavy damage on the British ships; Ajax was hit seven times, several of her turrets intercepting enemy convoys. were disabled and there were 12 casualties, including 7 killed. In 1942 she returned to Britain for a refit and then, in 1943, while at Bône, Algeria, Ajax was The Exeter suffered worse, with 84 casualties, including 61 deaths, and all her guns out of action disabled by a 1,000 lb bomb hitting a boiler room. and she had to withdraw from the battle. She was towed to Gibraltar for temporary repairs, then to the US for permanent repairs and But the Graf Spee, too, was damaged; she had been hit about 70 times with 36 men killed and 60 returned to the Mediterranean in February 1944 after nearly two years out of action. more wounded. As part of the D-Day invasion of Normandy Ajax bombarded Gold Beach and later supported Although the British guns had caused relatively minor damage her captain, Hans Langsdorff, landings in southern France. Ajax also operated in the Aegean during the reoccupation of Athens. decided to put into Montevideo, the capital city of neutral Uruguay, for repairs. After the war she was used, ironically, to repatriate German sailors from the Graf Spee from While there British intelligence fed false reports to the Germans that a huge force was on its way Uruguay to Germany. to finish off the Graf Spee and Captain Langsdorf ordered the vessel to be scuttled rather than Ajax was decommissioned in February 1948. At first she was intended to be sold to the Indian face the overwhelmingly superior force he believed was awaiting his ship. Navy but in November 1949 Ajax was instead sent to Newport, South Wales, for breaking up. The Battle of the River Plate Memorial, erected at the National Memorial Arboretum by the HMS Ajax and River Plate Veterans’ Association, will be a lasting tribute to those who lost their lives in the battle and to the three allied ships which fought there - Ajax, Exeter and Achilles. The memorial was unveiled by four survivors of the battle, two of them from HMS Ajax. A time 12. 13.

LOST SHIPMATES THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE th Finding your old shipmates. 'Needle in a haystack?' I know what you mean because I am looking for 75 Anniversary Luncheon one from 1958 and 'time is running out'!!! As the founder of 2 ex Royal Navy Associations, I know To be held at the Royal Beach Hotel, St Helens Parade, Portsmouth PO4 0RN that every little bit of publicity counts, and to this end I am looking into another avenue. This is radio, Saturday 13 December 2014 with its own show, on a regular basis. Full Name ...... How will it work? I am in final negotiations with a Radio Station which is a 'Nostalgia Wireless Station'. Mainly music and topics of interest, but they broadcast nothing later than the 1960's, which is Address...... the main 'target' of many Associations and adverts in the Navy News. However, ex RN Shipmates who served after this time will still be attracted to the 'Wireless Station' especially to the Associations which would have a mention in the following way...... The theme is on a personal basis where someone is looking for an ex shipmate with a bit of a 'lamp Telephone ...... swinging story' and a piece of music of the time. Expanded to make a bit of a story, mine is that I am looking for a John McGlynn who joined H.M.S.Collingwood at the same time as me, and about 30 Email ...... others, at the end of January 1958 to do our Electrical, Radio or Radar Training. John had a problem of getting out of bed in the morning as did many others, but I helped John in that as a very early riser I was Connection with which ship? ...... often in the washrooms when 'Call the Hands' was piped. Consequently I was first in the queue or near the front when the huge Howe Messdeck opened for breakfast, but before I left the mess I would make sure John had his feet on the deck and took his enamel mug with me as well as my own, bringing him back a cup of tea or coffee when I returned to the Mess, usually to find John still in the same position. Please reserve places for the luncheon including the following guests (please give full Sitting on his bed with his feet on the ground! My postal and email address would be published and a names and connection to event): plug for John to join us at 'the next reunion of the Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association in October …. (or whenever). And then a piece of music of the time. 1...... BUT, this 'Nostalgic Wireless Station' I am talking about, is not only a local one transmitting on 91.5fm, but also on the internet which as you know goes World Wide. It is that medium I am targeting. 2...... I envisage an afternoon slot during the Afternoon Watch, 'especially for those on a Make and Mend', and to this end the Station is in agreement. The station is Angel Radio Isle of Wight 3...... http://www.angelradioisleofwight.moonfruit.com/ 4...... The wireless Station is run by volunteers, many of course ex Service, so they are interested. Donations are made for the running of the Station but they would go to a different address and I would know nothing of these, so any article or lamp swinging tale would not be dependent on a donation. I feel sure I have your support to finalise negotiations, which are basically 'when do we go?' Well the Please list any dietary allergies/requirements e.g. gluten-free for you or your guests. answer to that is just as soon as I have a few more 'Lamp swinging stories' to add to the ones already contributed. The Station likes the idea and is waiting for me......

Looking forward to hearing from you with your first 'Lamp Swinging story' for broadcast. Who is ...... missing from your reunions, the one everybody remembers? (And what were the antics everybody remembers?) When is your next reunion? How did the last reunion go? And what piece of music ...... would be suitable and appropriate for you? Local newspapers around the country have received a press release to attract the attention of the ...... readers who have served in the Royal Navy to the radio show. Will they be listening to your 'Lamp Swinging Tale'? ...... Mike Crowe RN Shipmates, 7 Heath Road, Lake, Sandown, Isle of Wight, PO36 8PG I enclose a cheque for £______made payable to the HMS AJAX and River Plate Veterans Association. LATEST NEWS The messages are coming in and we transmit on a Wednesday Afternoon from the end of the month. Please return to: Tell your members to tune in http://www.angelradioisleofwight.moonfruit.com/ put an entry in to Malcolm Collis, The Bewicks, Station Road, Ten Mile Bank, Norfolk, PE38 0EU. find your old shipmates. 14. 15.

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