Town of Ajax Street Dedication

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Town of Ajax Street Dedication Street Name: Pittmann Crescent Name of Veteran: Leonard Henry Pittman Nov. 1, 1914-Nov. 3, 2007 Rank: Gunner, Able Seaman Ship Served: HMS Ajax Date of Service on Ship: 1939 Year of Visit/Dedication: Veteran or Family Visit: Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: Yes Died at Battle: No Leonard Henry Pittman was born on November 1, 1914 in East London, U.K. He grew up in Canning Town, East London with his siblings; Frank, Florrie, Gladys, Billy and John. Leonard joined the Royal Navy for a career in 1933. He had many stories of his adventures at sea. In 1936 he was involved in the evacuation of Spain during the Spanish Civil War. While serving aboard the Ajax he aided the Chilean people after a devastating earthquake in 1939. He also went to the United States where he met and was photographed with child actress Shirley Temple. At the Battle of the River Plate in 1939 it was noted that Leonard fired the first shot from HMS Ajax at the Graf Spee. Early 1930s After World War Two Leonard operated his own furniture restoration business and worked as an electrical engineer at Philco and Plessey. In the 1950s he acted as an advisor on the set of the film ‘Battle of the River Plate’. During the filming John Gregson, who played Captain Bell of the Exeter, sent a telegram congratulating Leonard’s wife on the birth of their daughter. His final employer was Ford UK. Leonard was married twice and had two daughters. In his retirement he had a passion for gardening. Leonard died on November 3, 2007 at the age of 93. His ashes were committed to sea by the Royal Navy at Portsmouth in 2008. Leonard in 2004, two days before his 90th birthday .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Telling the Story of the Royal Navy and Its People in the 20Th & 21St
NATIONAL Telling the story of the Royal Navy and its people MUSEUM in the 20th & 21st Centuries OF THE ROYAL NAVY Storehouse 10: New Galleries Project: Exhibition Design Report JULY 2011 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE ROYAL NAVY Telling the story of the Royal Navy and its people in the 20th & 21st Centuries Storehouse 10: New Galleries Project: Exhibition Design Report 2 EXHIBITION DESIGN REPORT Contents Contents 1.0 Executive Summary 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Vision, Goal and Mission 2.2 Strategic Context 2.3 Exhibition Objectives 3.0 Design Brief 3.1 Interpretation Strategy 3.2 Target Audiences 3.3 Learning & Participation 3.4 Exhibition Themes 3.5 Special Exhibition Gallery 3.6 Content Detail 4.0 Design Proposals 4.1 Gallery Plan 4.2 Gallery Plan: Visitor Circulation 4.3 Gallery Plan: Media Distribution 4.4 Isometric View 4.5 Finishes 5.0 The Visitor Experience 5.1 Visuals of the Gallery 5.2 Accessibility 6.0 Consultation & Participation EXHIBITION DESIGN REPORT 3 Ratings from HMS Sphinx. In the back row, second left, is Able Seaman Joseph Chidwick who first spotted 6 Africans floating on an upturned tree, after they had escaped from a slave trader on the coast. The Navy’s impact has been felt around the world, in peace as well as war. Here, the ship’s Carpenter on HMS Sphinx sets an enslaved African free following his escape from a slave trader in The slave trader following his capture by a party of Royal Marines and seamen. the Persian Gulf, 1907. 4 EXHIBITION DESIGN REPORT 1.0 Executive Summary 1.0 Executive Summary Enabling people to learn, enjoy and engage with the story of the Royal Navy and understand its impact in making the modern world.
[Show full text]
Ajax New Past up For
H.M.S. Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2012 CONTENTS Chairman/Editor's Remarks Visit to Montevideo Presentation to Frank Burton Archivist Report Membership Secretary Report Missing Royal Navy Life AGM Agenda NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. Honorary Freeman of Rhyl CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST It is with huge pleasure that I include an article describing NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis the very prestigious honour of becoming an Honorary Peter Danks ‘Glenmorag’ Freeman of Rhyl which was bestowed on Roy Turner. I am 104 Kelsey Avenue Little Coxwell sure that all members of the Association send Roy our Southbourne Faringdon sincere congratulations on this tremendous honour. Emsworth Oxfordshire SN7 7LW Hampshire PO10 8NQ Tel: 01367 240382 From the Daily Post, June 22nd, 2012: Tel: 01243 371947 Mobile: 07736 929641 A retired businessman who has given over 50 years’ service to the [email protected] [email protected] community has become the first Honorary Freeman of Rhyl. The Town Council decided to bestow the honour on 84-year-old Roy TREASURER MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Turner as a ceremony on Wednesday night, under new powers recently Alf Larkin Mrs Judi Collis given to town and community councils. 5 Cockles Way ‘Glenmorag’ Weymouth Little Coxwell, Faringdon Born in Stoke-on-Trent, he moved with his family to Rhyl in 1938 and Dorset DT4 9LT Oxfordshire SN7 7LW attended the local county school. In 1946 he joined Royal Navy cruiser Tel: 01305 775553 Tel: 01367 240382 ship HMS Ajax. Roy Turner [email protected] Mobile: 07736 929641 Back in Rhyl, Mr Turner established a flooring contractors business and he became active in the life [email protected] of the community.
[Show full text]
Ajax New Past up For
NEWSLETTER JUNE 2020 CONTENTS Committee Details Chairman's Report Secretary's Report Membership Secretary's Update Bob Batt HMS Achilles Wreath Laying Ceremony Standard Bearer Report New Association Website Battle of the River Plate Commemorative Shield Update Don Birrell Ajax 1946-47 Gifts for Concepción SMS Scharnhorst Wreck Found Faversham Roll of Honour Daily Mirror Pays Tribute Geoffrey Haylett Follow Up Ajax Bell in Council Chambers 2019 Trip Report Publications Thank You Halifax South Shetland Islands Antarctica Archivist Update HMS Exeter Port Engine Telegraph Wheel 1935 - 48 1963 - 85 Nec Quisquam Nisi Ajax www.hmsajax.org 2. 3. I would like to thank the Committee who have contacted Association members to assure them that CHAIRMAN Nigel Masters we are here to help if they require assistance during this uncertain time. The Lookout Golden Cross Terrace This year sees the 65th Anniversary of the Town of Ajax Ontario and we were invited by the Station Road, Swineshead Town's Mayor, Shaun Collier, to attend the Gala celebration in June and incorporate street Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3LP dedication ceremonies. Unfortunately, like thousands of other events, this has been cancelled – Tel: 01205 820127 Mobile: 07743 381153 nevertheless, thank you Shaun for the invitation. [email protected] It has been mooted that perhaps we will do something in 2021 as this will be the 45th anniversary SECRETARY of the Frigate visit and the 66th Town anniversary! My Wife Janet and I, along with Mike Fox, Peter Danks intend to make the trip to celebrate this. Still very early days but if you were interested let us 104 Kelsey Avenue Southbourne, Emsworth www.hmsajax.org know.
[Show full text]
Genitourinary Medicine and Surgery in Nelson's Navy
413 HISTORY OF MEDICINE Postgrad Med J: first published as 10.1136/pgmj.2004.022335 on 5 July 2005. Downloaded from Genitourinary medicine and surgery in Nelson’s navy J C Goddard ............................................................................................................................... Postgrad Med J 2005;81:413–418. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.2004.022335 Surgeons of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic and mix, and management of genitourinary disease during this period. A general overview is given of revolutionary wars, between 1793 and 1815, were solely the life and work of the Royal Naval surgeons at responsible for all health care of the officers, men, and the end of the 18th century. boys of their ships. This paper examines the genitourinary medicine and surgery encountered by the naval surgeons THE 18TH CENTURY NAVAL MEDICAL SERVICE at the time of Nelson. Primary sources are examined to The naval surgeons of the Nelsonian period have explore the presentation, case mix, and management of an undeserved reputation as rough ‘‘sawbones’’ genitourinary disease during this period. A general only able to hack off limbs and pull teeth. Indeed, at the time, Sir William Dillon said of his overview is given of the life and work of the Royal Naval surgeon, Thomas Grey, ‘‘Although an excellent surgeons at the end of the 18th century. The documents that scholar, being nearsighted with a defect in one of were examined contained 39 surgeon’s journals, these his eyes—we did not place much reliance on his ability at amputation.’’ Contemporary accounts were written by 26 surgeons on 13 different ships. The such as this one do little for the surgeons’ journals contained 446 presentations to the sick list of men reputation.
[Show full text]
World War Ii Veteran’S Committee, Washington, Dc Under a Generous Grant from the Dodge Jones Foundation 2
W WORLD WWAR IIII A TEACHING LESSON PLAN AND TOOL DESIGNED TO PRESERVE AND DOCUMENT THE WORLD’S GREATEST CONFLICT PREPARED BY THE WORLD WAR II VETERAN’S COMMITTEE, WASHINGTON, DC UNDER A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE DODGE JONES FOUNDATION 2 INDEX Preface Organization of the World War II Veterans Committee . Tab 1 Educational Standards . Tab 2 National Council for History Standards State of Virginia Standards of Learning Primary Sources Overview . Tab 3 Background Background to European History . Tab 4 Instructors Overview . Tab 5 Pre – 1939 The War 1939 – 1945 Post War 1945 Chronology of World War II . Tab 6 Lesson Plans (Core Curriculum) Lesson Plan Day One: Prior to 1939 . Tab 7 Lesson Plan Day Two: 1939 – 1940 . Tab 8 Lesson Plan Day Three: 1941 – 1942 . Tab 9 Lesson Plan Day Four: 1943 – 1944 . Tab 10 Lesson Plan Day Five: 1944 – 1945 . Tab 11 Lesson Plan Day Six: 1945 . Tab 11.5 Lesson Plan Day Seven: 1945 – Post War . Tab 12 3 (Supplemental Curriculum/American Participation) Supplemental Plan Day One: American Leadership . Tab 13 Supplemental Plan Day Two: American Battlefields . Tab 14 Supplemental Plan Day Three: Unique Experiences . Tab 15 Appendixes A. Suggested Reading List . Tab 16 B. Suggested Video/DVD Sources . Tab 17 C. Suggested Internet Web Sites . Tab 18 D. Original and Primary Source Documents . Tab 19 for Supplemental Instruction United States British German E. Veterans Organizations . Tab 20 F. Military Museums in the United States . Tab 21 G. Glossary of Terms . Tab 22 H. Glossary of Code Names . Tab 23 I. World War II Veterans Questionnaire .
[Show full text]
Battle of Cape Matapan HMS AJAX and the Battle of Cape Matapan
Battle of Cape Matapan HMS AJAX and the Battle of Cape Matapan: 28th – 29th March 1941 By Clive Sharplin (Associate Member) The sea fight of the Second World War known as the “Battle of Matapan” was actually the second of that name to occur in naval history. The first occurred on 19th July 1717 when a mixed force of fifty-seven ships and galleys, Spanish, Portuguese, Venetian and Papal were attacked off Cape Matapan by a Turkish squadron of about the same size. After a fierce fight with losses on both sides the Turks withdrew. The ship HMS Ajax was a Leander Class light cruiser, the seventh ship to bear the name, relatively young having been launched in 1934, first commissioned in 1935. Displacing 9,563tons fully laden, her main armament consisted of 8 x 6”guns mounted in pairs over four turrets with 8 x 21 “ torpedo tubes in two quadruple mountings, steam turbine driven, with a wartime crew of 680. After participating in the first major sea battle of the second World War, the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939 and defeating the German battleship Admiral Graf Spee she returned to Chatham Dockyard for a 7 month long repair and refit during which my Father, Bob, joined her on 10th February 1940 as a Petty Officer Mechanician, he was to be a crew member for more` than a year until September 1941 when he was drafted to the battleship Valiant, thus enduring one of the Royal Navy’s most hostile periods. Ajax emerged back into the fleet on September 30th 1940 being deployed to the 7th Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean.
[Show full text]
Naval Accidents 1945-1988, Neptune Papers No. 3
-- Neptune Papers -- Neptune Paper No. 3: Naval Accidents 1945 - 1988 by William M. Arkin and Joshua Handler Greenpeace/Institute for Policy Studies Washington, D.C. June 1989 Neptune Paper No. 3: Naval Accidents 1945-1988 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Nuclear Weapons Accidents......................................................................................................... 3 Nuclear Reactor Accidents ........................................................................................................... 7 Submarine Accidents .................................................................................................................... 9 Dangers of Routine Naval Operations....................................................................................... 12 Chronology of Naval Accidents: 1945 - 1988........................................................................... 16 Appendix A: Sources and Acknowledgements........................................................................ 73 Appendix B: U.S. Ship Type Abbreviations ............................................................................ 76 Table 1: Number of Ships by Type Involved in Accidents, 1945 - 1988................................ 78 Table 2: Naval Accidents by Type
[Show full text]
CHAPTER 8 GREECE N Discussing After the War the Decision to Send British Troops to Greece in Early 1941, Admiral Sir Andrew Cunn
CHAPTER 8 GREECE N discussing after the war the decision to send British troops to Greece I in early 1941, Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham said that the nava l view at the time was that politically the decision was right, but it wa s doubted if the naval, military and air resources were equal to it . No doubt our opinions were somewhat influenced by the fact that we were i n possession of the Libyan coast as far west as Benghazi. From the Navy's point of view this facilitated the supply of Malta and the passage through the Sicilia n Narrows, and conditions would be better still if the advance were continued towards Tripolitania.l The decision aggravated the immediate problem of supply and transporta- tion by sea. Air Marshal Longmore, in his dispatch covering air operations from January to May 1941, instanced as a prominent feature the par t played by the occupation of territory in adding to or reducing the potentia l scale of air attack on ships at sea . As a result of the decision to go to the aid of Greece, the Navy could only view with some concern th e certainty of operations in the Aegean under air attack from the Dodecanes e Islands, and the possibility of losing the advantage conferred by possession of the Libyan coast . It was not, however, the British decision to aid Greece, but the German decision to aid Italy which was the main factor in shapin g immediate events and which, while British successes in Libya were a t their flood, seriously limited the power of the fleet in the central Mediter- ranean.
[Show full text]
H.M.S. AJAX FIRST COMMISSION December 1963 to July 1965
H.M.S. AJAX FIRST COMMISSION December 1963 to July 1965 FORMER SHIPS OF THE NAME H.M.S. AJAX (1) 1767. 3rd Rate. 1,615 tons. This 74 gun Ship of the Line served under Admiral Rodney (1780-2) and was present at numerous actions, including the Battles off Martinique and the Battle of the Saints. She was sold at Sheerness in 1785. H.M.S. AJAX (2) 1798. 3rd Rate. 1,953 tons. A `74' like her prede- cessor, she fought against the French during the Napoleonic Wars, and was present at the Battle of Trafalgar. She caught fire and blew up off Tenedos in 1807. H.M.S. AJAX (3) 1809. 3rd Rate. Another `74', she too fought against the French in numerous actions. In 1846 she was converted to steam and later took part in the Baltic operations during the Russian War of 1854-5. She was broken up at Chatham in 1865. H.M.S. AJAX (4) 1835. 2nd Rate. 80 guns. Launched as H.M.S. Vanguard and re -named in 1867. She spent most of her time in reserve, being broken up at Chatham in 1875. H.M.S. AJAX (5) 1880. Turret Ship. 8,492 tons. Armed with 4-38 ton guns. She was employed on Coast Guard duties, and was broken up in 1904. H.M.S. AJAX (6) 1912. Battleship. 23,000 tons. A unit of the Grand Fleet during the 1914-18 War, she was present at the Battle of Jutland. She was subsequently scrapped in 1926. H.M.S.
[Show full text]
Of Deaths in Service of Royal Naval Medical, Dental, Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service and Sick Berth Staff
Index of Deaths in Service of Royal Naval Medical, Dental, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service and Sick Berth Staff World War II Researched and collated by Eric C Birbeck MVO and Peter J Derby - Haslar Heritage Group. Ranks and Rate abbreviations can be found at the end of this document Name Rank / Off No 1 Date Ship, (Pennant No), Type, Reason for loss and other comrades lost and Rate burial / memorial details (where known). Abel CA SBA SR8625 02/10/1942 HMS Tamar. Hong Kong Naval Base. Drowned, POW (along with many other medical shipmates) onboard SS Lisbon Maru sunk by US Submarine Grouper. 2 Panel 71, Column 2, Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, UK. 1 Officers’ official numbers are not shown as they were not recorded on the original documents researched. Where found, notes on awards and medals have been added. 2 Lisbon Maru was a Japanese freighter which was used as a troopship and prisoner-of-war transport between China and Japan. When she was sunk by USS Grouper (SS- 214) on 1 October 1942, she was carrying, in addition to Japanese Army personnel, almost 2,000 British prisoners of war captured after the fall of Hong Kong in December Name Rank / Off No 1 Date Ship, (Pennant No), Type, Reason for loss and other comrades lost and Rate burial / memorial details (where known). Abraham J LSBA M54850 11/03/1942 HMS Naiad (93). Dido-class destroyer. Sunk by U-565 south of Crete. Panel 71, Column 2, Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon, UK. Abrahams TH LSBA M49905 26/02/1942 HMS Sultan.
[Show full text]
Town of Ajax History - Recognizing the Past; HMS Ajax
Town of Ajax History - Recognizing the Past; HMS Ajax The Town of Ajax and the HMS Ajax When you look at a street sign in Ajax, you are looking at history: most of our streets have been named after the officers and men that served on HMS Ajax during WWII. The street names include Exeter Road named after HMS Exeter and Achilles Road named after HMS Achilles. Harwood Avenue is named for Admiral Henry Harwood, commander of the Ajax. The Town of Ajax has been assigning street names in honour of those who served on HMS Ajax during the Battle of the River Plate and throughout WWII since 1958. This was later expanded to include the names of those who served on HMS Exeter and HMS Achilles during the Battle of the River Plate Occasionally members of the crew of HMS Ajax or their families visit our Town to see the streets named after them. On such occasions a plaque is placed on the street. The visitor is presented with a street sign bearing his name. We have had several significant events to mark our link with the HMS Ajax and World War II. Ship’s Visit A tradition dating from 1963 has each incoming Mayor extend an invitation for the HMS Ajax to visit. The tradition started when then-mayor William Parish visited Birkenhead, England to attend the commissioning of the eighth Royal Navy vessel to carry the name Ajax. (The seventh vessel was the one involved in the Battle of River Plate). The invitation could not be accepted until a few years later when it was extended by Mayor Clark Mason.
[Show full text]
Discovery Investigations 1930S & NIO 1949-1960
22 NOL Collection 1, C sequence National Institute of Oceanography & Discovery investigations (Mostly NIO, some Discovery Investigations 1920s , 1930s (Incl Scoresby & Discovery II Commissions ,Ellsworth Relief Expedition) C1 Filing system: guide; classification of equipment 1953 C2 Narwhal’s tusk, presented by Sir J. Middleton: correspondence 1948 C3 Dr N.A. Mackintosh – “personal”: correspondence; details of 1947-68 publications; papers relating to a promotion C4 Dr N.A. Mackintosh – research: notes; draft of and appendix to an c. 1972 article on krill C5 Dr N.A. Mackintosh – research: photocopy of paper by R.N. c. 1967 Burukovskiy on Soviet fishery research relating to Antarctic krill C6 NERC joint meeting of representatives of the Antarctic committee 1969 and the Oceanography and fisheries committee’s working group on biological resources in the Antarctic, 1969: papers; reports, including on krill and Antarctic research C7 NERC Antarctic committee: papers; notes by Mackintosh 1968 C8 NERC Antarctic committee: notes by Mackintosh; correspondence 1968 C9 NERC Antarctic committee: papers supplied by Mackintosh on 1968 Antarctic research; correspondence C10 NERC Antarctic committee: papers from a discussion meeting on 1969 recommendations for Antarctic research; notes by Mackintosh C11 NERC working group on biological resources in the Antarctic, 1968-9 meeting, 1968: correspondence; minutes; paper by Mackintosh on krill C12 NERC working group on biological resources in the Antarctic, 1968-9 meeting, 1968: agenda; minutes; proposal; notes C13 NERC working group on biological resources in the Antarctic, 1968 meeting: agenda; terms of reference; origins; minutes; notes by Mackintosh; copy of a paper ‘Observations on krill in the near future’ C14 Micromesistius: correspondence; notes; paper relating to the study 1963-8 of blue whiting; article on plankton C15 Plankton as food (potential Antarctic fisheries): correspondence; 1941-53 article by A.C.
[Show full text]