Ajax New Past up For

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

JUNE 2017

CONTENTS

Chairman's Remarks Newsletter Editor's Remarks 2019 South America Trip News from Town of Ajax – Colleen Jordan Ships Models Jim London Street Sign Presentation The Missing Chilean Plaque Crossing the Line Enigma Earthquake Medal Presentation Falklands Conflict – 35th Anniversary Membership Secretary's Report With obituaries: Len Porte Roy Turner John Garrard Archivist Report HMS Belfast – Clive Sharplin Knock on the door for Alf Larkin Exeter's Telegraph Wheel

NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR’S REPORT Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR Thanks to everyone who contributed material for this Newsletter. A somewhat disrupted end 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis to the Newsletter period meant I wasn't quite as organised as I would have like to have been. Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road If you sent me material and I haven't used it please let me know. Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU I received a strange email from the British Library that I thought might have been a scam at first. It Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 read: [email protected] [email protected] British Library archive website MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ The British Library would like to archive the following website: SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association Mrs Judi Collis Alan (George/Phil) Phillips Alf Larkin The Bewicks, Station Road 8 Orchard Way Lime Kiln Cottage Dear Sir/Madam, Ten Mile Bank Send Hill 2 Easton Lane The British Library would like to archive your website in the UK Web Archive and to make it Norfolk PE38 0EU Send Portland Dorset DT5 1BW publicly available. The UK Web Archive was established in 2004 to capture and archive websites Tel: 01366 377945 Surrey GU23 7HS Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01305 457259 from the UK domain and across the web, responding to the challenge of a digital black hole in the [email protected] Tel: 01483 223299 [email protected] nation's memory. It contains specially selected websites that represent different aspects of UK [email protected] heritage on the web, as well as important global events. We work closely with leading international institutions to collect and permanently preserve the web, and the open UK Web www.hmsajax.org Archive can be seen at http://www.webarchive.org.uk/. We are now archived! CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS Chairman has mentioned the Reunion – I know some of you are double booked with holidays but we have several stalwarts yet to book for the reunion so please do so as soon as possible It has not been a particularly pleasant few months since our last newsletter. We have sadly seen as currently numbers are pretty low. the passing of Len Porte and Roy Turner followed recently by John Garrard one of our Plate Malcolm Collis veterans – all three were tremendous characters and great supporters of our Association. They will be sadly missed at our Reunions and our condolences go to their families. Malcolm and Judi Collis have been very ill and will have to take life at a very steady pace for the next few months. Please speak with other committee members if there is a routine matter seeking resolution.

One enjoyable event took place in Cambridge in March when the Chilean Ambassador, His Excellency Rolando Drago, presented medals which marked the part crew members from HMS AJAX and HMS EXETER played in providing assistance to the town of Concepción following a 2019 SOUTH AMERICA TRIP major earthquake in 1939. The recipients were Frank Burton and Basil Trott and another veteran Not too much to report. Currently 45 have indicated a wish to join us with another 6 maybes – a from that time, Jim London, was also there; Jim already had his medal. There was a very good good coach load! turn-out of Association members, and really good to see Mike Turner who hasn't made the last couple of reunions, two local MPs, members of the Cambridge RNA and local TV and Press We have established a good contact, Richard Cowley, in Montevideo (Richard came to the 2014 ensured a wonderful occasion. Pictures of the event are to be seen in the newsletter, together Anniversary lunch in Portsmouth) and his daughter Sarah in the FCO there, so should make life a with a fuller report. lot easier. Talking to someone who use to live in Montevideo, it seems a day trip to Buenos Aires is possible by taking the fast ferry across the Rio Plata but a long day. In Uruguay we should be able This is the time to remind members to make application to attend the Reunion over the weekend to hire a coach for about US$500 a day, about US$10 each. A Tour Guide can also be arranged. 29th September – 2nd October. Numbers already booked with Isle of Wight are very low and we really need your support to make the weekend a success – remember, it was the members at We also have an enthusiastic contact in Chile who has come up with several suggestions. The the 2016 AGM who voted to hold the 2017 reunion centred round the NMA. sensible mode of transport from Santiago to Conception is to fly … I quite fancy the 6 hour train (one way) to take in the dramatic Andean scenery! The AGM will be held on Sunday 1 October so if you wish to have an item discussed please submit it to me by the middle of August. Do you have thoughts on where you would like the 2018 I'll keep you updated as things progress but in the meantime please do let me have your Reunion to be held, for example? Also nominations for the Committee with a proposer and suggestions and thoughts on the trip. Also, any ideas on gifts to take? seconder are to be with me by mid August please.

Peter Danks - Chairman 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR’S REPORT Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR Thanks to everyone who contributed material for this Newsletter. A somewhat disrupted end 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis to the Newsletter period meant I wasn't quite as organised as I would have like to have been. Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road If you sent me material and I haven't used it please let me know. Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU I received a strange email from the British Library that I thought might have been a scam at first. It Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 read: [email protected] [email protected] British Library archive website MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ The British Library would like to archive the following website: SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association Mrs Judi Collis Alan (George/Phil) Phillips Alf Larkin The Bewicks, Station Road 8 Orchard Way Lime Kiln Cottage Dear Sir/Madam, Ten Mile Bank Send Hill 2 Easton Lane The British Library would like to archive your website in the UK Web Archive and to make it Norfolk PE38 0EU Send Portland Dorset DT5 1BW publicly available. The UK Web Archive was established in 2004 to capture and archive websites Tel: 01366 377945 Surrey GU23 7HS Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01305 457259 from the UK domain and across the web, responding to the challenge of a digital black hole in the [email protected] Tel: 01483 223299 [email protected] nation's memory. It contains specially selected websites that represent different aspects of UK [email protected] heritage on the web, as well as important global events. We work closely with leading international institutions to collect and permanently preserve the web, and the open UK Web www.hmsajax.org Archive can be seen at http://www.webarchive.org.uk/. We are now archived! CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS Chairman has mentioned the Reunion – I know some of you are double booked with holidays but we have several stalwarts yet to book for the reunion so please do so as soon as possible It has not been a particularly pleasant few months since our last newsletter. We have sadly seen as currently numbers are pretty low. the passing of Len Porte and Roy Turner followed recently by John Garrard one of our Plate Malcolm Collis veterans – all three were tremendous characters and great supporters of our Association. They will be sadly missed at our Reunions and our condolences go to their families. Malcolm and Judi Collis have been very ill and will have to take life at a very steady pace for the next few months. Please speak with other committee members if there is a routine matter seeking resolution.

Peter Danks - Chairman 4. 5.

News From The Town of Ajax – Colleen Jordan as the history of HMS Ajax at Normandy. They were very appreciative that Jonathon Vimy Ridge 100th Anniversary took the time to travel to London and talk to 80 students from Ajax attended the 100th commemoration ceremonies of the Battle of Vimy Ridge in them about the strong connection between France on April 9, 2017. The Battle of Vimy Ridge, which was part of the Arras offensive, took place their town and the Battle of the River Plate from April 9 to 12, 1917 and is viewed by a number of Canadian historians as a defining moment for and HMS veterans. Canada. Previously, the French and British had failed in their attempts to seize the ridge while Jonathan Harwood meeting J. Clarke suffering huge casualty losses. The Battle of Vimy was the first time that all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together. Although victory came at a large cost Richardson students in London. with more than 10,000 killed and wounded, Vimy Ridge became a symbol of Canadian national achievement and sacrifice and helped Canada earn a separate signature on the Treaty of Versailles that ended the First World War. Ajax HS Students in front of the Vimy J. Clarke Students in front of Canada House, which was the first building liberated on the Normandy monument. Coast by the Allies on D-Day. Accompanied by staff and parents, I was fortunate to be a part of the J. students from Ajax High School and J. Clarke entourage and witness the Clarke Richardson Collegiate, met at profound impact that the tour had on the the Vimy Ridge monument on April 9 students as they developed a deeper to mark the anniversary, along with understanding of the World Wars. As thousands of other Canadians. they paid their respects to soldiers who Canadian Prime Minister Justin had made the ultimate sacrifice, the Trudeau, Britain's Prince William and impact was visible. Later, comments Prince Harry as well as French such as “we learn about this history in President Francois Hollande were just books and from teachers but you don't some of the dignitaries that attended really comprehend it until you see the the event. sites and thousands of graves” and “this has been a life changing experience” Ajax High School students illustrated the value of this tour. It certainly will be an experience that everyone on these tours will never forget. Ajax High School students also visited Arras (Vimy Region), Paris, Bruge, Belgium, Bergen op Zoom Canadian World War 2 Cemetery in the Netherlands, Amsterdam and Berlin. Mike Cranswick's Visit to Ajax They also toured Sachenhasuen Concentration Camp outside of Berlin.

Ajax High School students meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. J. Clarke students visited Churchill War Rooms and the Imperial War Museum in London, Passchendaele and other grave sites Visiting a German Cemetery at Ypres in Belgium, and the Somme, as well as Arras, Juno Beach and Beny Sur Mer Canadian War cemetery in Normandy. Tunnels in Vimy and the Wellington Quarry were also toured. In London the students and staff were fortunate to meet Jonathan Harwood who spoke to Paying respects to their great, great them about his grandfather Admiral grandfather killed at Courcelette, Battle Harwood, the Battle of the River Plate as well of the Somme. 4. 5.

We were thrilled to have Mike Cranswick and his partner Kathy Marshall visit in May. Mike, who JIM FINALLY GETS HIS SIGN served in 1976 on the 8th HMS Ajax Frigate and visited Ajax at that time, has his name listed on the Those of you who visited Canada in 2016 will recall one of the Street Dedication ceremonies was Memorial Wall. Unfortunately, Mike was unaware of the trip to commemorate the wall last August. for London Lane received by Dennis Talbot on Jim's behalf. Jim is an Exeter River Plate Veteran We were happy that he did find out about our tribute to the veterans and was able to visit us. and was overdue a street but Ajax pulled out all the stops. Councillor Pat Brown gave our visitors a tour of the town and Councillor Collier and myself were able to join them at Magwyers Pub for lunch. Debbie Steer also took Mike to places in Durham Region including the Oshawa Harbour and Camp X. We look forward to seeing Mike and Kathy again. Mike sent this email to the Town: Thank you so much for the events of last Friday, Kathy and I were overwhelmed by the reception and thoroughly enjoyed a day that we will never forget. Ajax truly has a unique history and I am honoured to have played a small part in it from the ship's visit back in 1976. Ajax has grown almost out of The start of London Lane recognition since those days, the waterfront and Veterans Point Gardens are Dennis receiving Jim’s Sign stunning and a credit to the town. Thank Whilst we got the sign to Jim is was never officially presented. The plan was to do it at the River Plate you for taking the time to show us those Veterans and Families Association reunion in Plymouth in October 2016 but was not to be. Ray, Jim's landmarks and many others. Of course, son then arranged for it to be presented at the HMS Exeter Association event over the weekend of 3rd to some things hadn't changed, I again enjoyed a beer at The Legion! The warmth and hospitality of the th town folk that I met was reminiscent of 1976 and everyone who was there at that time, had a story to 5 March 2017 at the White Ensign Club reception. Rear Admiral Paul Bennett OBE, former Captain tell. Many thanks to all who made the Town Hall visit so special and for the gifts received, I am very (1998-2000) of the destroyer HMS Exeter (1980 – 2009) performed the honours. proud of my connection to the Town and humbled to feature on the Memorial wall and to be considered for a street dedication. We will be sure to return. Kind regards Mike and Kathy

SHIP'S MODELS One of our members, Ian Wright, Ajax 1945-47, has donated his model ship collection (16) to raise funds for the Association. My level of expertise is limited to looking on eBay but the ones that have sold do not seem to have made much money - they look as if they should be worth a few pounds each? Jim with Exeter Mayor Cynthia Thompson Do we have any members who collect such models, or know about such matters, who can advise on and immediate past Mayor Olwen Foggin - value and best disposal method? One member may be interested if we can fix a price. Exeter Guild Hall Jim with Rear Admiral Paul Bennett OBE They are: HMS Prince of Wales; HMS Duke of Exeter Destroyer crew and crew from York; HMS Hood; HMS Vanguard; HMS Defender with Jim HMS Ramillies; RM Roma; Bismarck; IJN Yamato; USS Missouri; USS Lexington; USS Massachusetts; USS Hornet; Scharnhorst; Gneisenau; Tirpitz; Lutzow As Ray says, dad can be a nightmare to tie None are boxed but does come with a down for photographs and those of us that small pile of delicate bits! know him can but agree! Malcolm Collis Well done Jim and congratulations. 6. 7.

THE CASE OF THE MISSING PLAQUE Chilean Ambassador to London, and was presented on the 28th August, 1982, by Captain Sergio Cabezas, Chilean During my researches into the Chilean Earthquake and preparing for the medal presentation Brenda Navy, and Head of the Chilean Naval Mission to London, Kriz in Ajax sent me several photographs including one of a framed exhibit with a photo of Ajax and and received by Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer, G.C.B., signatures of crew members around the outside but more interestingly a photo of a Chilean bronze C.B.E., D.S.C., R.N., former gunnery officer of H.M.S. plaque and legend below. It 'Ajax', on behalf of the Old Comrades, H.M.S. 'Ajax', was presented to the Town 1937-1940 Commission.” by HMS Ajax 1935 crew member H.R. Daniels in 1987. Another photo was of On Saturday, 5th March, 1983, the Plaque was presented a presentation of another by Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer on behalf of the H.M.S. framed exhibit presented to 'Ajax' Old Comrades, to Captain J. M. Porter, R.N.*, of Sussex Police by another and aboard H.M.S. 'Ajax' at Portland, Dorset, “so that it A s s o c i a t i o n m e m b e r may be held in perpetuity by all Royal Naval ships bearing C h a r l i e M a g g s t h e the proud name of 'Ajax', and with the certain knowledge following year. that future generations of British seamen will, in The two exhibits have remembering the past, prepare diligently for the future. subtle differences. Serve God and Honour the Sovereign." *Jeremy Michael Porter was Captain of the Frigate HMS Ajax 4th April 1981 to May 1983 and died 4th May1985 aged 48. All very interesting but where is the Plaque now and was there a second Plaque that made it to HMS Exeter? T h e p l a q u e a p p e a r s t o b e I thought of the Imperial War Museum and the approximately 10” by 6” and the Navy Museum at Portsmouth. Stephen Harwood inscription reads: had recently visited the IWM and didn't think it was there but thought items for future ships were “THE NAVY OF CHILE held in store. Peter Danks had already visited the TO H.M.S. AJAX & H.M.S. Trophy Store in HMS NELSON and confirmed it EXETER wasn't amongst the Ajax items. IN RECOGNITION OF THE HELP PROVIDED DURING THE I put out a plea on social media for any crew EARTHQUAKE OF YEAR 1939 members in Ajax at the time of the 1983 presentation but that yielded nothing although Glyn Seagrave seemed to think there was another framed exhibit in the St George's Chapel at Chatham – I haven't got many photos of the memorial but the best one I have doesn't show it – can anyone help out on this point? Below the plaque was the caption Fortunately Judi, who is a lot more methodical and patient than me, went through the PRESENTED 5.3.1983 BY archive material and came ADMIRAL SIR DESMOND DRYER GCB CBE DSC RN across this page with the ON BEHALF OF HMS 'AJAX' OLD COMRADES 1937-40 COMMISSION original presentation to THAT IT MIGHT BE HELD IN PERPETUITY Admiral Dryer but more BY ALL BEARING THE NAME OF 'AJAX' importantly was the closing caption at the bottom – “But the The History caption reads: plaque disappeared when Ajax V111 was scrapped”. “This Bronze Plaque which was to have been presented to H.M.S. 'Ajax' and H.M.S. 'Exeter' by the Chilean Navy in late 1939 in recognition of the timely aid given to the Chilean people at Concepción, Case closed? Chile, in the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake of the 24th January, 1939. However, war BUT someone somewhere intervened, and the cruisers went to their appointed war stations and did not return to Chile. In 1982 now has a very nice plaque the Plaque was traced through the good offices of His Excellency, Professor Miguel Schweitzer, hanging on their wall! 8. 9.

CROSSING THE LINE ENIGMA Ajax's second commission started 11 January 1938 David Harris from Western Australia was one of the Association's early success stories thanks to the and involved a cruise down the Atlantic coast of then new website. David contacted us to see if anyone knew or remembered his father Stanley South America crossing the equator where they got Charles (Gus) Harris who was in Ajax at the time of the River Plate and lo and behold John Garrard their certificates dated 17 August 1938, through the (recently crossed the bar) not only knew Gus but trained together at HMS Ganges. They sailed on a Magellan Straits and back up the Pacific coast, with 'banana boat' to the West Indies station. Gus and John initially served on HMS York and joined Ajax the Chile earthquake late January 1939, through the st Panama canal to West Indies where Gus, John, Albert 31 March 1939 where they manned 'A' turret as boys together and were great friends. David & John Smith and no doubt several more, joined Ajax. They remained in close contact. then set off south again. Looking at a bad One conundrum perplexing David was that his dad's service showed him joining Ajax in the West reproduction of the 1939 Summer Cruise, Ajax it Indies on 31st March 1939 but his “Crossing the Line” certificate on Ajax is dated 17th August 1938. seems was scheduled to be in Barbados 17th July 1939 At that time Gus was actually at HMS Dragon, a Boys training ship at Chatham. to 22nd July 1939 and then, what looks like, Para, th I think you really need to be a sailor to understand what “Crossing the Line” is all about but every Brazil 28 July 1939. Para appears to be a region just sailor crossing the Equator for the first time undergoes the delights. south of equator (not sure where the port is) so would have crossed the Equator around the end of July if it stuck to schedule. Ajax would have been in the region when war broke out September 1939 so it The two-day event is a ritual in which previously inducted crew members (Trusty Shellbacks) are would be my guess that David's dad's and John's “crossing the line” certificate should read sometime organised into a "Court of Neptune" to induct the Slimy Pollywogs into "the mysteries of the Deep". late July 1939 rather than 17th August 1938 The extract from the Ajax first Commission Grippo (My father's commission and his crossing the line ceremony (1936)) portrays the seriousness of the event. I don't know how they produced the certificates but must have been run off on board at the time because they wouldn't know exactly what day they would cross over - did they have a surplus of the previous certificates from the 1938 crossing that “accidentally” got used in 1939 – waste not want not? I can just imagine the response they might have got as 17 year old's complaining that their certificates were wrong! – “Don't worry about it boy, we'll sort it out later??

Boys water polo team - Gus far right, John marked

From September 1938 to December 1938 Gus' record lists HMS Pembroke (Chatham) before joining HMS York 23rd December 1938 (Also with surviving veteran Albert Smith). In August 1938 Ajax was on the Windies Station as was York later that year. Whilst investigating the Chile Earthquake medal I spoke to John who confirmed he joined Ajax in April Crossing the line certificate The Boys in 1939 in Bermuda from HMS York with Gus which th st Dated 17 August 1938 – the correctly Rio, Gus front confirms the 31 March 1939 joining date. dated left (William Taylor's certificate) 10. 11.

Boys water polo team - Gus far right, John marked

EARTHQUAKE MEDAL PRESENTATION – MALCOLM COLLIS The media were well represented and the event featured on that evening's BBC TV news. Frank, the Ambassador and I were also on BBC Radio Cambridge. I ended the introduction to last edition's report on Frank Burton's and Basil Trott's outstanding medals; “A letter was penned and sent off to His Excellency Rolando Drago Rodriguez Ambassador I commenced proceedings by welcoming all and giving the background to the event; Peter Danks of Chile …” read an extract from Commodore Harwood's diary covering the earthquake. His Excellency Rolando Drago Rodriguez spoke before presenting the medals to Frank and Basil. A letter of grateful thanks To our great delight, the Ambassador respond enthusiastically from Concepción was read out and then presented to Frank and Basil. The Association presented the “… It is with great pleasure that I offer my utmost support to the Ambassador with a plaque who in turn presented a wonderful book of Chilean landscapes. There then initiative … regardless of the time that has passed deserves our followed endless interviews. highest recognition and gratitude. … also to strengthen the long-lasting ties of two countries …” An article appeared in the April Navy News: B e f o r e t h e presentations I, well the Deputy Archivist Judi, s o l v e d t h e mystery of the lack of medal presentations. She f o u n d i n t h e a r c h i v e s a n e w s p a p e r cutting with, more importantly, a caption that read: “The War arrived before the medals struck by the grateful Chilean Government were issued. Later, due mainly to the efforts of Charlie Maggs HonTreasurer Ajax R.P.V. Assoc., they were re-struck and issued. The press cutting dates the re-issue to about 1990 which concurs with Jim London and Ted Wicks' recollection that they received theirs in the early 90's. What probably happened was that the medals were sent to the Association who were tasked with issuing/posting to members who were in Ajax and Exeter during the earthquake. Presumably they didn't manage to get hold of everyone, including Frank & Basil, which would account for the few spares in the archives. Grand Cross of the Chilean Order of Merit presented to Commodore Harwood (Now with Ben Harwood) Having agreed with the Chilean Embassy upon 11 a.m. Friday 17th March 2017 for the presentation the hard work began. A venue close by to Frank's care home was found, a local community centre in Cambridge, invitations were sent out, Navy Media were involved, catering organised, exhibition assembled and many other tasks performed. The big day arrived; the Ambassador arrived in good time despite having caught the train and over 40 The Ambassador with Basil (left) and Frank (Right) gathered at the Community Centre to witness this rather unique occasion. Two local MPs, family members of Basil and Frank including his 6 week old great granddaughter Eleanor; an excellent turn- A wonderful time was had had by all, especially the two stars, Frank and Basil along with Jim out of Association members including Jim London, Exeter, who had already received his medal and London, all of whom are inspirational. I am very grateful, on behalf of the HMS Ajax & River Plate one of our Cruiser veterans, Mike Turner. Our Chairman Peter Danks made the long journey up from Veterans Association, for the splendid turn out of Association members to support the day. near Portsmouth but the greatest distance travelled was by Associates Richard & Lorrie Cooke, all the way from Ajax, Ontario. There was also a good turn-out of the local Royal Naval Association and other Navy representatives. 12. 13.

FALKLANDS CONFLICT A tale of three ships – Peter Danks Ajax 1965-66

The 2nd April 2017 marked the 35th Anniversary of the start of the Falklands War when Argentina In the spring of 1982, I was stationed in Gibraltar as the Supply Officer (Cash) in HMS ROOKE. At invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and South Sandwich the following the end of exercises involving RN ships, a recreational weekend called Springtrain took place. On day. On 5th April, the British government dispatched a naval task force to engage the Argentine Navy board one of the ships, HMS SHEFFIELD, was PO Writer Mike Tavendale. Mike had been the office and Air Force before making an amphibious assault on the islands. The conflict lasted 74 days and manager when I joined ROOKE in October 1979 and had since returned home and was now serving ended with the Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982, returning the islands to British control. In total, his period of sea time, which usually followed a married accompanied draft abroad. The previous 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders died summer, the marriage between Charles and Diane had taken place and they had flown to Gibraltar to during the hostilities. board the Royal Yacht Britannia for their honeymoon. To capture the moment when the yacht sailed from Gibraltar, Captain John Webster, a distinguished artist, had painted a lovely picture with the Thanks to the few who responded to my request to members for a few lines outlining their memories. accompanying boats in the foreground and the Rock in the back. I had ordered one of the limited number of pictures and had it framed. Imagine my disappointment when I found it was too large to go Clive Morris, Ajax 1974-76. I was the PO Caterer on board the ALACRITY. 'Our first day in action into one of my crates for shipping home (I was due home in early April 1982). I had invited Mike up was the first of May when we had two 1,000 pound bombs dropped on us. They landed either side of for an evening meal, where I showed him the picture and explained my predicament and the the ship but due to their delayed fuses exploded in our wake, causing only slight damage. conversation passed on to more interesting matters. Anyway, the news then came through of the problems down South and with it much activity began in the dockyard. The SS Uganda arrived in On the night of 10/11 May we sailed south to north between the two main islands, prior to the Gibraltar to be converted into a hospital ship and then sailed south. Details of the early action came invasion, to find out if they were mined. through and with it the sad news of the loss of HMS SHEFFIELD – thankfully Mike was a survivor. But had my picture been on board, it would have been lost. Fortunately they were not!! But we did come across an Argentina supply ship, ISLA DE LOS ESTADOS which carried quantities of aviation fuel. When our 45 sank her, off Swan Island, she lit A short while later, HMS GLASGOW called in at Gibraltar and PO Writer Ray Miller was on board up the night sky. Her captain was the only survivor. A plaque is now placed in Port Howard on a hill and he had worked for me at HMS CENTURION. We had the same discussion on the picture when he close to Swan Island to commemorate the only surface ship to sink a another surface in that war. came up to supper and he offered to take it home in his ship, much to my delight. But then as activities intensified in the Falklands, I heard that a bomb had penetrated HMS GLASGOW and my thoughts Just before we left to sail home the Argentinian submarine SAN LUIS fired two torpedoes at us and were of the safety of the ship's company. Ray covered the incident as follows “I was 20 yards from the our sister ship ARROW but both missed. spot where the bomb went through – it was utterly terrifying. The bomb came out just above the water line and crew members were able to stem the water that flooded in as the ship turned and flooded the I have been back to the Falklands a couple of times recently and all I can say is that they are still so engine room”. There was good news on that front. My picture was in one of the store rooms but I did grateful for their freedom. not know of any damage. It was not until the ship arrived back in Portsmouth and I was in touch with my friend that I learnt the picture had survived. I was delighted to go to see him onboard and collect Dan Sherren, Ajax 1977-79. From a rather different angle - in April 1982 I was serving under the the picture which now hangs in my lounge. Flag Officer Sea Training at Portland as a Warfare Specialist concerned with training ship's Command Teams in combating the threats of air, surface or sub surface situations. Bearing in mind at It is very possible that there are stories of bravery and much hardship for the ship's companies of the that time we were concentrating on the cold war threat, and therefore delivered our training based on Royal Navy ships involved in the Falklands War, but I thought a little light hearted article might bring Soviet scenarios. some humour. So the three ships were HM Yacht Britannia, HMS SHEFFIELD and HMS GLASGOW. Almost overnight we had to turn our attention to detecting and destroying weapon systems which until then were carried by our allies! I have to say that training Command teams for a real life, on- Dan Sherren, far left, parades going conflict ensured an enthusiastic and focused audience, especially after the first fatalities were the Association Standard at a reported from down South. Falklands memorial service. As the threat to the fleet increased I was sent to Portsmouth to help get HMS Intrepid up to an operational state. HMS Intrepid and HMS Fearless were our only two Landing Platform Docks, as they were only a pair it was usual that one would be operational while the other would be undergoing upkeep. It was the norm that certain pieces of kit would be "store robbed" from one to another. This situation left me with a problem as I had to develop an almost empty compartment into a fully functioning Operations Room for the Command. We managed to get the job done and the ship sailed south for action. To all those involved in the Falklands War, either directly I joined the Royal Navy in 1961 and we trained relentlessly to be ready should hostilities break out. I or indirectly, our gratitude goes was involved in the Borneo and Aden confrontations in the 60's but felt frustrated twenty years later out to you all. when I was left behind as a Staff Warfare Officer responsible for training. In hindsight, myself and my team worked tirelessly to ensure the ships deploying were as ready as they could be and hopefully contributed to saving lives and playing our part in a successful outcome. 14. 15.

FALKLANDS CONFLICT A tale of three ships – Peter Danks Ajax 1965-66

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S UPDATE Roy was clearly a well-respected and much loved Rhyl resident as evidenced by a couple Best wishes to you all. of local reports. Thanks also for your messages following Malcolm and my hospitalisation – we are slowly on the mend. Best wishes and speedy recovery to our many members who have been poorly over the winter months and many still undergoing treatment. The Association claimed £325.14 from the government against Gift Aid for the 2015 -16 subs and donations. To date for this year we can claim £232 with a few more to come in, I have 23 payments from members with no gift aid form, so if you pay tax please email or telephone me and I will send the relevant form.

says he will find somewhere to display th th them. River Plate Veteran John Garrard crossed the bar on 20 April. John would have been 95 on 8 May. Roy (Topsy) Turner served on board Ajax December 1946 - December 1947. Roy was accepted for pilot training with the Fleet Air Arm but the cessation of hostilities saw him transferred to the Royal John joined HMS Ganges training base in September 1937 as a Boy, all 5ft 3¼ of him. At the end of 1938 he sailed for the West Indies Station joining HMS York 23rd December then eventually HMS Navy. Roy was trained as a Radar Plot Operator and joined Ajax in Malta. His action station was the st main plotter on the ARL table in the Action Information Centre directly under the Bridge and served Ajax on 31 March 1939 in Bermuda. There, together with other Boys, John was posted to 'A' Turret as the Meteorological Yeoman on board. Roy was involved in the Exodus incident July 1947 (see manually handling, loading and 'ramming' the 6 inch shells. Ajax, along with Exeter and Achilles th Newsletter September 2016 article) formed Commodore Harwood's Hunting Group G and on 13 December 1939 were in the thick of the action against the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Graf Spee off the River Plate, South America. Although born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent the family moved to Rhyl, North Wales when he was ten and Roy considered himself a Welshman. He held many civic positions there culminating in being By the Commodore's own account of the Battle Graf Spee first opened fire at 0618 and subsequently elected mayor in 1958. In 2012 he became the Town's First Honorary Freeman. 'A' turret was running short of ammunition having been firing continuously for 81 minutes! Back in England for repairs, John missed out on the victory parade and Guildhall lunch as he was assigned to Roy and wife June spent much of the winters in Andalusia where, on Monday 27th March, he Crossed remain on the Ajax in Plymouth to offload all the ammunition in preparation for a refit and repairs in the Bar in Malaga University Hospital. Roy was 89. There he had great care and attention and the Chatham dockyard. Ajax was still in dock in Chatham at the time of the Dunkirk evacuations. By now family were present. As June said, “It was for the best that he died in Spain because he wanted a John was 18, 5ft 7½ and rated Ordinary Seaman. Several of the ship's company, including John were Humanitarian funeral with family only present. That would have been so difficult in Rhyl because he sent to Dover to man merchant navy ships to bring soldiers back to England. (See September 2015 was Honorary Freeman of Rhyl and the town would have wanted a Public funeral.” His ashes will be Newsletter article). returned to his home town of Rhyl. In the Mediterranean in 1941 John was still in 'A' turret and saw plenty of action in Greece and Crete June will be enlisting daughter Jane and son Chris to be Associate members. against aircraft and sank two Italian destroyers on a night action. He missed out on Matapan as he left the Ajax in March 1941 to be drafted 17 miles outside Alexandria in the desert (HMS Grebe, a Fleet Air Arm airfield). 16. 17.

CROSSED THE BAR In 2009 Roy and June joined Association members th Leonard Porte served on board Ajax from 1946 to 1948 as AB cine projectionist. Len was behind when they visited Ajax for the 70 Plate anniversary. the camera for many of the Pathé News Reports. Len produced lots of pictures taken at our reunions There Turnerbury Avenue was dedicated which Ken Jones placed in albums now in our archives. Len visited Ajax in 1999 and is infamous for being airlifted to hospital by helicopter following a heart attack. I had a telephone call from David Harper whose partner Christine and her parents had known Len for over sixty years. Len died in hospital following a fall on 7th February, he would have been 89 on April 18th. He had no children. His funeral took place the following day. Early April David had found our contact details in an June, son Chris & Roy at the NMA unopened Newsletter and telephoned. 2014 On our visit to Ajax in 2014 Len's street, Porte Road, was dedicated – Pat Brown and Cherry Sevigny accepted his sign and plaque on his behalf and Vic Wilson brought it back and presented it to Len. David told me he had found them when he was sorting through Len's effects and says he will find somewhere to display th th them. River Plate Veteran John Garrard crossed the bar on 20 April. John would have been 95 on 8 May. Roy (Topsy) Turner served on board Ajax December 1946 - December 1947. Roy was accepted for pilot training with the Fleet Air Arm but the cessation of hostilities saw him transferred to the Royal John joined HMS Ganges training base in September 1937 as a Boy, all 5ft 3¼ of him. At the end of 1938 he sailed for the West Indies Station joining HMS York 23rd December then eventually HMS Navy. Roy was trained as a Radar Plot Operator and joined Ajax in Malta. His action station was the st main plotter on the ARL table in the Action Information Centre directly under the Bridge and served Ajax on 31 March 1939 in Bermuda. There, together with other Boys, John was posted to 'A' Turret as the Meteorological Yeoman on board. Roy was involved in the Exodus incident July 1947 (see manually handling, loading and 'ramming' the 6 inch shells. Ajax, along with Exeter and Achilles th Newsletter September 2016 article) formed Commodore Harwood's Hunting Group G and on 13 December 1939 were in the thick of the action against the German Pocket Battleship Admiral Graf Spee off the River Plate, South America. Although born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent the family moved to Rhyl, North Wales when he was ten and Roy considered himself a Welshman. He held many civic positions there culminating in being By the Commodore's own account of the Battle Graf Spee first opened fire at 0618 and subsequently elected mayor in 1958. In 2012 he became the Town's First Honorary Freeman. 'A' turret was running short of ammunition having been firing continuously for 81 minutes! Back in England for repairs, John missed out on the victory parade and Guildhall lunch as he was assigned to Roy and wife June spent much of the winters in Andalusia where, on Monday 27th March, he Crossed remain on the Ajax in Plymouth to offload all the ammunition in preparation for a refit and repairs in the Bar in Malaga University Hospital. Roy was 89. There he had great care and attention and the Chatham dockyard. Ajax was still in dock in Chatham at the time of the Dunkirk evacuations. By now family were present. As June said, “It was for the best that he died in Spain because he wanted a John was 18, 5ft 7½ and rated Ordinary Seaman. Several of the ship's company, including John were Humanitarian funeral with family only present. That would have been so difficult in Rhyl because he sent to Dover to man merchant navy ships to bring soldiers back to England. (See September 2015 was Honorary Freeman of Rhyl and the town would have wanted a Public funeral.” His ashes will be Newsletter article). returned to his home town of Rhyl. In the Mediterranean in 1941 John was still in 'A' turret and saw plenty of action in Greece and Crete June will be enlisting daughter Jane and son Chris to be Associate members. against aircraft and sank two Italian destroyers on a night action. He missed out on Matapan as he left the Ajax in March 1941 to be drafted 17 miles outside Alexandria in the desert (HMS Grebe, a Fleet Air Arm airfield). 18. 19.

After leaving the Mediterranean John had 6 months on board a corvette HMS Balsam on Atlantic NEW MEMBERS convoys and then back in the Mediterranean for the attack at Anzio (January 1944) Mike Cranswick On D-Day John was in the destroyer HMS Kempenfelt providing supporting gunfire to the Canadian troops on Juno beach bombarding by day and protecting the landings at night from German 'E' boats. Mike joined HMS Ganges in September 1975 and onwards to HMS Mercury. He was due to join Ajax France subsequently awarded him the Légion d'honneur medal (See June 2016 Newsletter article) on her world deployment in Suva, however, the RN decided the ship could manage without a baby sparker until it returned. Hence, Mike joined HMS Blake for a couple of months until Ajax returned to John served the next 2 years in the Pacific Fleet before returning home in January 1946. He signed on Blighty. Mike remained on Ajax throughout 76 and 77 and remembers the trip to Ajax well. By again to complete his 22 years 'man' service and returned to where it all started – HMS Ganges; not as January 78, he was on HMS Fearless and his last draft was HMS Egeria before leaving the mob at the a Boy but as a Chief Petty Officer Instructor. end of 1981. During the Association's Ajax visit of 2014 Garrardview Street He then spent 34 years in the Police, mostly in South Wales, finishing as a DCI running Murder teams. was dedicated in John's honour and Mayor Steve Parish later In 2008 he was seconded to Scotland Yard and was part of a small team that went out to Antigua to presented his sign at the 75th Anniversary luncheon at investigate the murders of a honeymoon couple from Wales who were shot in their holiday suite. This Portsmouth. gave Mike a taste for the Caribbean and in 2010 he retired from South Wales and took up a position as head of CID in The Cayman Islands, working 'Death in Paradise'. He retired from that position as Detective Superintendent last summer but still spends most of his time either in Cayman or Florida. Mike says, 'It's only since retirement that I have started to trawl my past and have been delighted to find so much information on my naval days. It has enabled me to find shipmates from basic training and all the ships I served on, which is wonderful. Some of my best memories are from my time on the Ajax and the visit to Ontario. Ironically, I was in Canada last August but had no idea of the events taking place in Ajax. I was quite taken aback to see the Memorial Wall that contains my name! At the top of the list is the name Aldridge, with no initials, this is Jem (Jeremy), a fellow RO who later became my brother in law. I have been able to update him on my findings of which he also was totally unaware. Jem's wife flew out in 1976 to Ajax for the visit, as did a number of the ships company's spouses.' Mike was able to spend a week in Toronto at the beginning of May on his way back to the Cayman – see Colleen Jordan's article. John also participated in the Memorial unveiling at the NMA in the April. Four Generations of SMITH'S Ken Smith sent in this photograph: Albert aged 95, Ken aged 62, Nick aged 33 and now Alfred Noah who was born on the 18th March weighing in at 8lbs 4oz. It was a fabulous occasion and a fantastic memory which we will no doubt look back on with great pride in the future. Dad has been struggling a little of late with moving about but his determination is still there and we very rarely hear him complain about his aches and pains. As mentioned elsewhere; Albert joined Ganges as a Boy and ended up on Ajax March 1939 in 'A' Turret and was involved in The Battle of the River Plate. John, daughter Fiona standing and Jean – Portsmouth 2014

John's funeral took place on Monday 15th May 2017 at Colchester Crematorium. Joining John's widow Jean and family was one of our other Ajax Plate veterans Albert Smith. Albert was at Ganges same time as John and ended up in Ajax's 'A' Turret as well. Albert, also from Colchester, remembers playing football with John at School. Alf performed Standard bearer duties joining 4 other Standards. Malcolm also attended along with a good number of ex-navy, quite a few of whom were John's students from Ganges in the sixties. 18. 19.

Happy Birthday to the following Members who have birthdays in this Newsletter period ARCHIVIST UPDATE (March to May) incl. Fortunately a fairly quite Newsletter period in terms of enquiries; hopefully I managed to respond to Glyn Seagrave Frigate 1975-77 59 on 6th March all although some were a little late. Terry Pearce Frigate 1975-77 also 59 on 6th March The recent changes to the website seem to have been implemented without issue so fingers crossed it William Smail Cruiser 1943-44 92 on 8th March continues and the site is now in the mobile realms! Dennis Talbot Cruiser 1947-48 86 on 14th March Michael Fox Frigate 1973-78 64 on 14th March Angus Alec MacDonald Hugh (Bing) Crosby Frigate 1976-77 78 on 18th March I received a website enquiry from Robert Robin Graham whose father was in Exeter in the Java Sea Nick Ransley Frigate 1975-77 83-85 64 on 19th March and was at the Anniversary reunion in Exeter at the beginning of March when Jim London received Graham (Lottie) Brayshaw Frigate 1965-67 68 on 22nd March his street sign. He informed me that later he was in Scotland at the Faslane Naval Base and met a Mr Richard Dalziel Frigate 1965-66 73 on 30th March Charles MacDonald whose late brother it seems served in HMS Ajax at the River Plate and later in George Barlow Frigate 1965-66 70 on 31st March Crete. Terry Herbert Frigate 1963-65 73 on 8th April I telephoned Charles and ascertained that his brother Angus Alec MacDonald was indeed in Ajax at Michael Barclay Frigate 1975-77 59 on 8th April the time of the River Plate as a boy Radio Operator (he was born in 1923 and was 15 years older than Ian Cunliffe Frigate 1974-76 62 on 10th April Charles and died 5 years ago) The Town of Ajax have two MacDonald's on their Historic Wall list but Ian Darbyshire Frigate 1976-78 61 on 19th April with initials A.J.H. & D. Charles wasn't too sure what Robert was expecting from him and had no David Humpage Frigate 1977-79 57 on 21st April desire to join the Association but did mention that Angus' wife and family might be interested so I said Nigel (Jan) Masters Frigate 1976-78 61 on 22nd May I would send him a Newsletter that he could send on to the rest of the family. Barry Clutton Frigate 1968-70 82 on 26th May INFORMATION SOUGHT ON FORMER AJAX CREW MEMBERS Happy birthday to all the above members and to all our Associates celebrating birthdays this newsletter period and apologies to anyone not mentioned in this or previous editions – to rectify this, HENRY HUBBARD please update me with your birthday and anything else you wish me to include in my report John Hubbard is seeking information about his Uncle Henry Hubbard who he believes was a crew member of HMS Ajax during the war and was aboard during the Normandy Campaign. Whilst I had many Hubbards on the various lists and websites, none fitted Henry and the best advice was to contact SUBSCRIPTIONS the MoD for his Service Record. Please remember that annual subscription increased following the 2016 AGM to £12, with family membership to £18. Those paying by the subscribe button will have had emails confirming the WILLIAM GEORGE HARPER increase but individual standing orders need to be changed directly with your bank. Thanks to all of Michelle Harper is also seeking information on William George Harper who is believed to have been you who remembered to do this in time for January, a few have slipped through unchanged so please a Petty Officer in HMS Ajax in Argentina during the war. update your bank. Whilst we have three Harper's listed as being in HMS Ajax during the war (Initials only) there is no William George. If he was in Ajax in Argentina it seems likely he was present at Battle of the River A gentle reminder that our financial year runs from September to August so the 2016-17 subs are now th overdue. Sorry to nag, but it really does save lots of time and expense if they are paid early in the year, Plate (13 December 1939) as the Rio Plata lies between Uruguay and Argentina. Ajax, along with several people pay around the reunion in October, those paying on the subscribe button or new HMS Exeter & Achilles formed part of the South Atlantic fleet patrolling South America. The Battle payments will go out on that anniversary. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for you and the of the River Plate occurred a few months after the start of war and following her engagement with the various methods of parting with your money are listed below. Please ring me if you have any German Pocket Battleship Admiral Graf Spee Ajax was badly damaged and eventually returned to problems. England for major repairs. She never did return to South America but spent the rest of the war in the Meditterraen. Subscription can be paid by: Forces war records listed only one William George but as the record related to a gentleman born in Standing Order or Bank Transfer - Association Account details: HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans 1919 but killed 28/12/1942 – fourth engineer officer in the Merchant Navy, it seems likely not to be Association: Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 this William George Harper. Again the MoD route was recommended. Cheques & Postal Orders made payable to - HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association and posted to Membership Secretary: The Bewicks, Station Road, Ten Mile Bank, Norfolk PE38 0EU KENNETH WILLIAM THOMPSON Son Mark was after information about his father Kenneth William Thompson who he believes served By using the "Subscribe" button on the website and paying by PayPal or credit/debit card – see in Ajax at some stage. Unfortunately, although there were quite a few Thompson's on the various lists http://www.hmsajax.org/#/joining/4560949163 none matched so I could only recommend the MoD route. Thank you all for your continued support. You should have details of our Reunion from IOW earlier in the year, please find out the form and join us if you can – or contact us. I look forward to seeing as If anyone has anything to add to these enquiries please let me know. many of you there as possible. Malcolm Collis - Archivist 20. 21.

BOB'S TIME IN THE BELFAST – CLIVE SHARPLIN Gloucester. After many more design changes under the 1936 programme two ships were ordered the The following piece was sent in by Associate Member Clive Sharplin whose father, Bob Sharplin, was Belfast and Edinburgh which became known as the Modified Town Class. in Ajax in the Mediterranean (see http://www.hmsajaxatcrete.com.au) and later served in HMS Belfast, Belfast was built by Harland & Wolfe at a cost of £2,141,514, launched on 21st September 1936, a Town Class of Cruiser - the first of her name. commissioned into service on 5th August 1939 and initially joined the 18th Cruiser Squadron with the Now an Australian citizen I have lived for the last 40 years in Victoria travelling back to the UK every Home Fleet. Her service life in the Second World War was short but not without honour. Her first task two or three years. So in July 2016 my wife and I were visitors to HMS Belfast's engine and boiler was as part of the Northern Patrol, a maritime blockading line to prevent seaborne supplies reaching rooms, she being the only surviving ship in which my father had served and now a Museum ship Germany by stopping and searching merchant ships. Together with her consorts they stopped and sent moored on the Thames. into Port 48 vessels for inspection. On 9th October 1939 she caught the largest merchant vessel up to that time when she stopped and captured the German Hamburg-South American Line's ship SS Cap Norte Bob had followed the previous four generations of our family by volunteering to join the Royal Navy th built 1932 on charter to North German Lloyd and renamed Sierra Salvada but disguised as a Swedish on his 18 Birthday and upon joining in Chatham had been Rated as a Stoker 2nd Class. After 23½ ship named SS Ancona. An armed prize guard was put aboard and she was sailed into an English port for years' service and a 3 badge man Bob retired in the rank of Chief Petty Officer Mechanician First Class which all of Belfast's crew were paid prize money. This ship was subsequently converted to a troop ship in February 1953 aged 42. He had been at the battles of Matapan, Crete, the Malta convoys and was on named Empire Trooper and was finally scrapped in 1955. the deck of the battleship Valiant when Italian charioteers on midget submarines planted mines against her hull in Alexandria putting her out of service for five months, then at Normandy in the cruiser Belfast's war service was short because on 21 November 1939 when leaving the Firth of Forth she hit a Mauritius. He served commissions in 16 different ships, from cruisers, battleships and the 1923 magnetic mine with devastating results, the explosion put her engines out of action and the ship broke aircraft carrier Hermes down to an ocean going fleet tug, with temporary assignments to 9 others. her back. The damage was so severe at first it was thought that she would have to be scrapped. However she went into dock for repairs and modifications which took three years re-joining the fleet in On my Belfast visit I went down into the boiler and December 1942. Belfast had been redesigned and rebuilt to become arguably the largest and most engine rooms where I experienced the eerie feeling of powerful Cruiser in the Navy. standing on the plates in front of her engine controls where 68 years before Bob had stood fulfilling his From February 1943 she was engaged in convoy escort and blockade patrol duties. In December of that rating as “Chief of engine room watch at sea”. year she was part of the naval force which caught and sank the German Battleship Scharnhorst at the Standing there as if in his shoes was for me an battle of North Cape. In March 1944 she was part of the force in one of the attempts to sink the German extremely emotional and moving experience, a feeling battleship Tirpitz in a Norwegian fiord putting the German ship out of action for several months. Four I will never forget which prompted me to carry out months later Belfast played a major role in the D-Day invasion fleet as the flagship of Bombardment further research about the Belfast enabling me to better Force E leading a naval force to bombard Gold and Juno two of the five beaches chosen for the understand my father's life aboard her - this research I landings. A month later Belfast commenced a major refit to prepare her for a commission in the Far East Main engine controls station would now like to share with you. station based in Hong Kong. So to the Cruiser Belfast - The design of the Town Class of Cruisers evolved from the 1930 conference Bob's record show him as changing from one flag ship to the next leaving the cruiser Sussex, where he for the Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armament, commonly known as the London Naval Treaty. had spent the last twelve months, in Hong Kong on 30 December 1948 and joining Belfast the next day. The design was a result of complex and lengthy discussions between the United Kingdom, Germany, Belfast had just arrived in Hong Kong to relieve Sussex as Flagship 5th Cruiser Squadron, British the Empire of Japan, France, Italy and the United States, signed on 22 April 1930, which regulated Pacific Fleet. On 17 April 1949 Bob was drafted out of Belfast to HMS Pembroke at Chatham no record submarine warfare and limited naval shipbuilding. has yet been found as to how he was moved from the Belfast in Hong Kong to Chatham or how long that took. As a result the British Admiralty called for the Director of Naval Construction (DNC) to produce a series of four sketch designs for their consideration of a new Class of cruisers in compliance with the From April to July 1949 Belfast oversaw attempts to free HMS Amethyst trapped by the Chinese in the Treaty. The critical design parameters they requested were a main armament of twelve 6” guns Yangtze River in what became known as “The Yangtze Incident”. As an aside this is when one of the mounted in four triple turrets, nine 4” long range AA (anti-aircraft) guns in triple turrets and an most famous signals in modern Royal Naval history was made. Upon Amethyst's escape the ship endurance range of 7,000 nautical miles at 16 knots. From then on there was an almost endless stream signalled “Am south of Woosung, have re-joined the fleet. No damage. No casualties. God save the of changes demanded of the DNC with ships being ordered at various stages of the design development King”. many of them influenced by how competing navies were designing and building ships to their 25 June 1950 the Korean War erupted when Communist North Korea invaded South Korea a war that interpretations of the stipulations imposed by the Treaty. Some nations, particularly Germany, Japan was to last three years. The United Nations was mobilised to defend South Korea so Belfast found and Italy sought to deliberately circumvent the Treaty's stipulations and to conceal those actions; herself between 1950 and 1952 being used for gunnery support to allied UN land forces. She was used actions which were quickly exposed in the advent of the Second World War. in this capacity so much that the barrels of her 6” guns had to be replaced. After being relieved by the This Admiralty decision was to see the emergence of a new class of light cruiser under which ten ships Cruiser Ceylon in September 1952 she returned to the UK arriving on 4th November to once again face were built in three variants. The first two ships ordered by the Admiralty in 1933 were designated as the an uncertain future and a period of indecision. The Korean War armistice was signed on 27 July 1953 “M” Class to be named Minotaur and Polyphemus. In November of the following year the designation while Belfast remained in limbo until March 1955 the ship was paid off and was taken in hand by HM was changed from “M” to “Town” Class and these two ships were renamed Newcastle and Dockyard, Devonport for modernisation to suit then “current naval doctrines”. In 1959 a decision was Southampton (generally becoming known as the Town Class or Southampton sub Class) when taken to re-commission her in the UK for further service in the Far East as Flagship of the 5th Cruiser delivered to the Royal Navy on March 5th and 6th 1937 respectively. Additionally, orders were placed Squadron for two commissions finally returning home on 19th June 1962. Belfast was under the 1934 programme for three more ships, Sheffield, Glasgow and Birmingham (generally decommissioned on the 24th August 1963 and underwent a short refit to prepare to pay off into Reserve known as the Sheffield Sub Class). One unusual feature was that Sheffield's ships fittings were in December 1963. From May 1966 to 1970 she became accommodations ship for Portsmouth Reserve manufactured from stainless steel instead of the traditional brass in attempt to reduce the amount of Division moored in Fareham Creek. In June 1968 a joint committee from the National Maritime cleaning required by the crew; she was accordingly given the nickname “Shiney Sheff”. Museum, the Imperial War Museum and the Ministry of Defence reported that a scheme to save the ship was practical and economic but in early 1971 the government decided against preservation so that on 4 In March 1935 among other changes the AA capability was increased by adding a fourth twin May 1971 she was declared “for disposal” to be sold for scrap. mounting. The 1935 programme saw three more ships ordered; the Manchester, Liverpool and Strenuous efforts to save her then emerged in the establishment of the HMS Belfast Trust such that in 22. 23.

July 1971 the government agreed to hand her over to the Trust. She was towed to London from Portsmouth and fitted out as a Museum Ship and from 1 March 1978 placed under the care and management of the Imperial War Museum and now lies at a permanent mooring on the River Thames between Tower Bridge and London Bridge opposite the Tower of London.

HMS Belfast today Although no longer part of the Royal Navy she has special dispensation to fly the White Ensign and is also the headquarters of the City of London Sea Cadet Corps. Now a popular tourist attraction, Belfast receives over a quarter of a million visitors each year with all nine of her decks open to the public. [Our Association has held its Reunion there in the past] Sadly cancer took Bob across the bar on June 3rd 1978 just one day before his 68th birthday and one day before the 50th anniversary of his visit to the Chatham Royal Navy recruiting office. (Photos Sharplin family archive)

KNOCK ON THE DOOR FOR ALF LARKIN Judi reported in the March 2017 Newsletter that Alec and Moira Taylor from Biggar, Scotland had joined the Association. Alec's father, William George Edward (Buck) Taylor, joined Ajax January 1938 through to May 1941 and thus was at the Chile earthquake and The Plate. Alec shared the Newsletter with family members. Meanwhile, at the other end of the country on the sleepy Isle of Portland, Dorset, Alf Larkin had a knock on his door: it was Alec's sister who lives just down the road from Alf, bearing photos of Ajax, Graf Spee and the earthquake. It seems Buck Taylor lived on Portland where he was a prison officer until he crossed the bar in 1987. We have several members living on Portland and several of them are ex-prison service – must be something in the air!

HMS EXETER'S PORT ENGINE TELEGRAPH WHEEL Following publication of the March 2017 Newsletter I received lots of positive feedback including from Fiona Tilke. Although Fiona and Brian are members of Exeter's River Plate Veterans and Families Association many of you would have met them at our 2014 events. Fiona also informed me they both featured that night (7th March) on the More4 programme, 'Building the Dream' where they build their own dream home – with very impressive results. Part of the interior filming briefly panned across an artefact with HMS Exeter thereon but was gone before it registered with me. I contacted Fiona who sent photographs and an explanation. Fiona's father was CPO W.E. Greene who received a DSM for the part he played at the Battle of the River Plate aboard HMS Exeter. The artefact, pictured, is Exeter's Port Engine Telegraph Wheel and was presented to Fiona's dad by the Governor of the Falkland Isles, Sir Herbert Henniker Heaton because he was the last one to use it. Fiona also has letters from the Governor to the CinC Plymouth.