July 20142014

ASSOCIATION OF OLD WORCESTERS

JULYJULY 20142014

‘A Hundred Years On’ M As will be noted our main feature in this issue (and in January 2015) E is remembering former OWs’ who gave their lives in the Great War and with S the centenary of WWI upon us a big thank you must be given to John ODELL S (52) and Graham SMITH (60) who tirelessly spent many hours extrapolating A OWs’ on the memorial war records from many sources. G Without their commitment we would have never known all their E courageous actions.

F Another thank you to Roger SNAPE (48) who organises the 3rd. R Monday get together at the ‘Liberty Bounds’ pub at Tower Hill at lunchtime. It O would be great if more members in the London area could attend - it is always M a good afternoon and a pint is less than £3!

T Thanks also to Patrick BYRNE (67) and John MASSY (43) for their H spare Dog Watches and old navigation workbooks which will be added to our E memorabilia.

E Earlier this year Michael WHEELER (61) held several meetings and D conversations with Jessica Lewis, curator of 'Cutty Sark' regarding the I possibility of a permanent display for some of our memorabilia on the ship. T Jessica had reviewed the list and photographs that we had sent to her and O concluded that unfortunately there was not sufficient material to create a R meaningful display. Jessica offered some helpful and constructive suggestions, one being an online website display of our memorabilia which is now being - considered. *************** T Record Price at Auction for Worcester R ‘Prize Telescope’ E V News that Bonhams have just auctioned O an engraved telescope given as a prize on the R ‘Worcester’ for almost a thousand pounds may well send OWs’ to their lofts to dig out long P neglected artefacts from their time on board. O On the 28th. January this year a telescope L awarded as a prize in the Summer Term of 1899 to Henry BOWERS (99), L together with a pair of binoculars, fetched £937 at Auction in Knightsbridge. I Both the telescope and binoculars were taken and used by Bowers on the T ‘Terra Nova’ on the voyage down to Antarctica. T After Bowers perished with Scott and Wilson on the return trek from the South Pole, the telescope and binoculars were inherited by his sister, Edith.

Thanks to Clive BRADBURY (61) for this item.

2 AOW AGM and Luncheon 2014 at Winchester A N N U A L

E N On the 9th. April, 2014 our AGM was held at Winchester, John E MARDEN (67) our Chairman chose a choice location, adjacent to the iconic R Winchester Cathedral. Almost 70 members and guests started arriving the day A before and many stayed until the day after. L

The weather was glorious and we all enjoyed the city and the M hostelries for our evening meals. E E A splendid lunch was enjoyed by all after our AGM and another highlight was a guided tour of the cathedral with a sculpture in the crypt by T Anthony Gormley brother of our own Peter GORMLEY (57). I N Roger SNAPE (48) resigned from the Council and our Chairman G thanked him for his many years of service both to the Council and latterly as an obituary writer. Roger was Chairman of the Association for the time 2003 - W 2004. I Our honoured guests were Nigel HOLLEBONE, President of the N Pangbourne Association and Christopher SMITH, President of the Conway C Club. H

E S T E R

2 0 1 Enjoying our lunch AGM is nearly over! 4

Special thanks to John and his wife Pat for a memorable day.

3 A N N U A

G E N E R A L

Members and guests enjoying their M lunch E E T I N G A full Council attendance onboard HQS ‘Wellington’ February 2014 - chaired by John Marden. W I

N C H E S T E R

0 1 4 The next AGM will be held at Dover on Wednesday, 22nd. April, 2015 and will also be a two/three day format.

4 Officers and Council 2014 O F The President of the Association Colin Steere (47) (+) F I Chairman of the Council John Marden (67) C Immediate Past Chairman Christopher Farnfield (61) (+) E R Vice Chairman Michael Wheeler (61) S

Council (15 Members) &

(+) = Past Chairman of the Association C O Bob Baldwin (58) Mike Brace (56) (+) U Clive Bradbury (61) (+) Peter Gormley (57) N Andrew Lansdale (62) Captain Ron Little (57) (+) C Captain Trevor Pollitt (66) David Precious (59) (+) Ian Ward (53) (+) Captain John Watson (65) I L

Honorary Secretary David Glennie (60) 2

Honorary Treasurer John Humphreys (59) 0 1 4 / Members with specific Duties. 2 0 Honorary Auditor James Boxer (62) 1 Dog Watch Editor Captain Trevor Pollitt (66) 5 Obituary Dog Watch Editor Roger Boatman (64) Registrar of Membership David Glennie (60) Stock Keeper Bob Baldwin (58) Website Colin Thurlow (65) Honorary Secretary Yacht Club Peter Gormley (57) Treasurer Yacht Club Ian Ward (53) Yacht Club Shop Alan Devine (55) Ensign Permits Captain Geoffrey Dunster (53)

5 P OW & OC Curry Lunch aboard HQS ‘Wellington’ A S Worcester Table: Left to Right:

T John BUTTOLPH (59), Clive BRADBURY (61), E Clives’ Guest, V Jerry CAREW (59),OBE, E John SAIL (66), Peter GORMLEY (57), N Christopher FARNFIELD (61), T Colin STEERE (47) S - 2

0 On the 28th. February, 2014 several OWs’ and OCs’ were invited 1 aboard HQS ‘Wellington’ to attend their monthly curry lunch. John SAIL (66) 4 specifically arranged for this one to have a table for Old Worcesters and Old Conways next to each other.

We commenced by mingling on the upper deck with a glass of wine on a fine spring day and our friendly banter soon took hold. Later we sat down for our fine curry and a good afternoon was had by all.

Our thanks to John for arranging a joint meeting which, it is hoped, will be followed by more in the near future.

Conway Table: Left to Right.

M. Bloy (74), J. Isbestor (Staff), L.J. Hesketh (66), G. Cowap (56), A.P.M. Davis (48), M. Reeves (59) Con Lloyd-Rawlings (58), M. Burrows (74) Vice- President, A. Hines (72).

Photos taken by our editor

6 East Kent AGM & Luncheon Dover 12th. March, 2014 P A S T

E V E N

L-R: Catherine & Howard RUSSELL (60), Liz & Ian Cook (OC 57), Peter Webb (OC 60), T Clive GODDERIDGE (61) & Brenda (OC Wife) Helena (OC Wife) & Mike PRICE (54) S - It was held on 12th. March at the Dover Town Hall, a very iconic 2 setting. 0 The attendance was 29 members and wives including two Old 1 Conway's and their wives who were friends of Clive GODDERIDGE (61). The 4 venue proved very positive and it has been booked for next years AGM on the 22nd. April, 2015.

We had a raffle which made £96.27 and it will go towards the plaque in All Hallows' Church.

Next year we are planning a two day event next April and I am looking into a couple of ideas of which a cross Channel non - landing trip the night before might be a good idea.

Many thanks to Ron LITTLE (57) for arranging this popular event.

Peter GORMLEY (57), Andrew HOWARD (64), Tony VAN den BROEK (68), Simon and Rick GARDNER (68) FLITCH (68) and Roy BIRD (68)

7 P Battle of the Atlantic Dinner A The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military S campaign of WWII and resulted in the loss of nearly 80,000 seafarers and T around 5,000 ships. After the fall of Europe the main supply route to the UK was from the United States and Canada via the E North Atlantic. The unimaginable V heroism of the Arctic Convoys and the successful protection of this E vital sea corridor through the defeat N of the German surface and U-boat threat, ultimately made possible the T massive logistic build-up that led to S success in North Africa and the - D-Day landings, and then to the defeat of Germany. 2 L-R: Tony DITCHAM (40), Ian WARD (53), Colin STEERE (47) and David PRECIOUS (59) 0 1 A Commemorative Dinner, organised by the Institute of Directors, 4 was held in London on 26th. February in memory of the Battle of the Atlantic. Old Worcester Tony DITCHAM DSC ( who left the ship in 1940)

was one of the two Guests of Honour and a small group of OWs’ were also

present on this special occasion.

A fascinating presentation outlining the importance of the Battle of the Atlantic was made by Rear Admiral John Lang DL (himself a former Pangbourne Cadet) before Tony shared his war time experiences with the over 100 strong audience. Tony's reminiscences were based on his book ‘A Home on the Rolling Main’ which was reviewed in the July 2013 Dog Watch and he was also recently awarded the Arctic Medal - see the January 2014 issue of the Dog Watch.

Editors note:

See also page 26

8 SW Branch AGM and Annual Day Out P A The SW branch had their AGM at S the Passage House Hotel, Kingsteignton on the 27th. March, T where 28 members and guests enjoyed a fine Lunch. The SW E Branch Committee was again V elected: Chairman, David E GLENNIE (60); Hon Sec, Peter FURNEAUX (61); Hon N Treasurer, Jonathan CHALLACOMBE (68) and Social Secretary, Bill T FOLLEY (66). (see the above picture). The SW monthly lunches continue with S varying success. - ************************* 2 27 members of the SW Branch, including six Old Conways met for our annual Day Out on the 2nd. 0 June. Bill and Hazel FOLLEY (66) organised the event 1 which started with a river cruise 4 aboard the ‘Kingswear Castle’, the only coal fired, paddle steamer in the UK. We embarked at Dartmouth and although we started in a fine drizzle, the weather relented and ended up fine! The cruise was to Totnes and return. On board we had an excellent picnic lunch, supplied by Hazel and Bill. Following the cruise, we crossed the river to the Royal Dart Yacht Club for a Devonshire cream tea. J. Webber (OC) A most enjoyable Day Out with thanks to Bill and Hazel. P. FURNEAUX (61) & P. DIXON (68) T. JEFFERY (65) Val Douglas & June Glennie

Don & Linda HOOPER (52) D. DORNOM ( 51) & W. FOLLEY (66) Kay Swift & I. BERRY (52)

9 F Merchant Navy Day Memorial Service at Tower Hill O Sunday, 7th. September 2014 R T . This Annual Service is H held on the Sunday in September C closest to Merchant Navy Day, O 3rd. September, in memory of M Merchant Seafarers who died in I both the World Wars and in conflicts up to the present day and N organised by the Merchant Navy G Association. After the Service, a ‘Sea E of Red Ensigns’ will be placed on V the lawn at the sunken garden, in memory of lost Merchant Seafarers. A wreath will be laid by the Association and all OWs’ are welcome to attend. E N T S Remembrance Day Service at Tower Hill - Sunday, 9th. November, 2014 2 0 We were very fortunate last year with weather which in turn gave us a 1 very good turn out with OWs’ and the general public. It is always well attended with many relatives placing a ‘Red Ensign’ against their ship on the memorial. 4 The format will be the same again this year where we lay two Association wreaths in the crypt and also one in the sunken garden.

After the Remembrance service many of us return to All Hallows and join in their service and at the end we all mingle with a glass of wine prior to our Sunday lunch.

Many thanks for Ian WARD (53) who once again will be arranging our table in the ‘The Kitchen’ adjoining All Hallows. The service and food is second to none and priced very reasonably.

10 2014 - OWYC Rendezvous at Beaulieu Y A The 2014 Rendezvous was held in Beaulieu on the 10 - 12th. June C deep in the New Forest National Park and on the very pretty Beaulieu river. H Andrew LANSDALE (62) was our Commodore. T Again we were lucky with Mediterranean weather which pleased the sailors and made their journeys a little more pleasurable. Ten boats made the C rendezvous many arriving on the L Monday. U

On Tuesday our festivities B opened with forty-nine OWs’ and friends enjoying an evening barbeque in the R Master Builder's House Hotel. The garden E had glorious views of the river which was N enhanced with all our boats dressed overall. D Alan DEVINE (55) and David HEBDEN (54) E Z

Wednesday heralded another V warm and sunny day. The party was split O with a number going to explore the U beautiful Rothchild gardens in Exbury S famous for its rhododendrons, azelias and - miniature steam railway. The other group made a short sail down the river to Gins, 2 part of RSYC. In the evening we enjoyed 0 our formal dinner with sixty OWs’ and 1 guests. Plaques were given to the ten sailors commemorating their achievement. 4

Trevor CRAWFORD (63), (2016 Commodore) arriving in his 38' motorboat ‘Batchelor Girl’. John COLLINGRIDGE (49) in ‘Runamyle’. David & Ronni DAVIS (51) in their 35' Freestyle. Alan & Cecilia DEVINE (55) in their 38' new boat ‘October Star’. Andrew & Donna LANSDALE (62) sailed in on ‘Saving Grace’. Ian WARD (53) on ‘Spirit of Worcester’ crewed by Bob LINEKER (68) and Peter FERGUSON (54), Ian & Maggie WALKER (55) also sailed ‘Alchemilla’.

Ronni & David DAVIS (51)

11 Y Mike WHEELER (61) crewed by Ben PEACE (60) on A 41' ‘Golden Fleece’ had a less enjoyable passage from C the Crouch and put into Dover for a little R and R before proceeding to Beaulieu via Cowes. Alwyn ALLEN (47) H came on his ‘Cheeky Monkey’ from Hayling T Island. Finally Peter GORMLEY (57) on his 18' Day Sailor the smallest yacht in the OW fleet crewed by an C Old Pangbournian. L

U B Thursday Rob WATSON (59) held his R church service in the pretty Beaulieu E Abbey assisted by Bill Mcrae, chaplain to the college post 1968. The service was N followed by a leisurely lunch and D departure. E Z V Congratulations to those O who come the furthest. Normally Bill U DIXON-PHILLIP (44) from the S Wirral but he was trumpted this year - by Bob KITCHING (57) from 2 Vancouver. Bob is planning a 2017 rendezvous in Vancouver BC. 0 We were also pleased to see 1 the Association President Colin 4 STEERE (47) at our Rendezvous.

Ian WARD (53) and Bob KITCHING (57)

It is with much sadness that we have to announce our Master Ray NEWBURY (44) recently ‘crossed the bar’ and a full obituary will appear in the January issue.

Many thanks to Peter GORMLEY (57) for this report.

Next year we look forward to Bob Lineker's Rendezvous in Pembroke.

12 C W P Proposed Conway Worcester Pangbourne Reunion Sydney, Australia R Tuesday, 20th. to Thursday, 22nd. October, 2015 E A proposal has been put forward by the Conway/Worcester/Pangbourne U Association in Australia to hold a Reunion in Sydney from N I Tuesday, 20th. to Thursday, 22nd. October, 2015. O N The Reunion will be based around the fabulously revitalized Darling Harbour in Sydney and will consist of a series of events over the three days. Darling Harbour has lots of places of interest, an excellent ferry service to all around the S harbour shoreline and involves little walking. Although we would naturally prefer Y members to attend all the events, the programme is being designed to allow members to attend one, some, or hopefully all the events. D N In order that members can have some idea of costs we have obtained some provisional E prices of both the events and hotels. Y Tuesday, 20th.: Evening 'Meet & Greet'. Approx. £30 - £35.00 or $55 - $66 (Aus $) - 2 Wednesday, 21st.: AM/PM Darling Harbour Lunch Cruise Approx. £58.00 or $110 (Aus $) 0 Thursday, 22nd.: Formal Dinner Approx. £70.00 or $132 (Aus $) 1 5 Hotels: It is not yet possible to check prices for 2015 but on the internet the rates for hotels in Darling Harbour for 20th. and 21st. October, 2014 it shows £87.00 going up to £233.00 per night for a double room on a selection of eleven hotels. Depending on how many people show interest in attending we can hopefully negotiate with a couple of strategically placed hotels special rates as done for the Portsmouth 2012 Reunion.

(NB. Hotel prices are quoted in UK Pounds from a UK based internet enquiry.)

All prices for the Reunion events are based on single cost which will be in Australian Dollars. (Rate of $1.86 (Aus $) to £!.00 is used above.

In order that we can assess the viability of the event and help the planning committee in Australia, I would be grateful if you could contact me directly by email (or post) with the information listed on the form on the next page.

Trusting we see you in Australia next year. Peter Hay, NSW Convenor, Association of Old Worcesters, PO Box 228, Islington, NSW 2296, Australia email: [email protected]

13 C Conway, Worcester, Pangbourne Association in Australia W Sydney 2015 International Reunion P Tuesday, 20th. to Thursday, 22nd. October, 2015 R E U EXPRESSION of INTEREST N Title: …… Surname: ………………….. Initials: …….First Name: ………………………… I O Name of Wife / Partner attending: ………………………………………………………………..

N Year of Joining/Leaving …………… email address: ……………………………………......

Mailing Address: ………………………………………………………………………………….. S Y ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

D Int. Tel. No: …………………………………… Mobile No: ……………………………………. N E Kindly advise Malcolm Burgess OC (58) - email: [email protected] Y 7 Katrina Avenue, Mona Vale, NSW 2103 Australia Tel: = + 61 2 9997 1266 - 2 AND COPY

0 Peter Hay OW (57) - email: [email protected] 1 PO Box 228, Islington, NSW 2296 Australia 5

If anyone in the UK is thinking of attending this combined Sydney Reunion next year, Clive Bradbury (61) will be going and will act as UK Co-ordinator and shall be pleased to answer any questions on the event - do not hesitate to contact Clive on 01223 871101 or email: [email protected]

14 Lost Antarctic Explorer Returns to the Records S H Lionel GREENSTREET (04) First Officer on Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ A C It has always struck me as curious that although OWs’ have a proud K history in the annals of Polar exploration, there is an absence of any who had L joined either the ‘Nimrod’ or ‘Endurance’ Expeditions. Shackleton, the leader of E both expeditions, with his Merchant Navy background, would have attracted T much interest at the time among young adventure seeking deck officers. O Peter HAY (57) from Australia, who in 1965 N whilst an officer on the RRS ‘John Biscoe’, was put ‘ ashore to winter over in Antarctica to replace one of S three men from the Halley Base who had died after falling down a crevasse, has now re-discovered F another OW who was awarded the Polar Medal and I who served with Shackleton’s ‘Endurance’ R Expedition. S Lionel Greenstreet, whose father was a T Captain with the New Zealand Shipping Company, left the Worcester in 1904, served his apprenticeship in O sailing vessels and by 1911 had obtained his F Master’s ticket. In 1914, whilst on holiday in F Scotland, he heard of the vacancy as First Officer on the ‘Endurance’ and I immediately applied. He was duly invited for an interview in Plymouth where C the ship was berthed. On arrival he was told the position was his and that he E should go and get his kit as the ship was about to sail, an experience still being R re-enacted by OWs’ in the 60’s when applying to shipping companies. The ‘Endurance’ Expedition has over the years become famous not for B Y its success but for Shackleton’s leadership and man management in the face of crisis after crisis. The horror, in an age before radio communication, of your ship C being caught in the ice and, over the dark winter months, being crushed into L matchwood must have invoked the grimmest expectations for the future. With no I hope of rescue the Expedition camped on the ice having salvaged three 22’ V lifeboats, the ‘James Caird’, ‘Dudley Docker’ and the ‘Stancomb Wills’ . After a E slow drift on the Weddel Ice Shelf for more than five months it began to break up. The members of the expedition were then forced to take to the boats and after B an eight day passage made landfall on the small uninhabited and very R A inhospitable Elephant Island. With no hope of rescue, Shackleton made the D decision to sail the 22’ ‘James Caird’ with five carefully selected crew, 800 B miles across the wild Southern Ocean to the nearest inhabited island, South U Georgia. Sixteen days later, after experiencing some horrendous seas, they made R landfall on the wrong side of South Georgia from the Stromness whaling station. Y

(61) 15 S Undernourished and H exhausted, Shackleton and two comrades A then crossed South Georgia’s unmapped C interior mountain range with its K formidable crevasses and glaciers to L arrive at Stromness to the complete shock E of the residents. With their blackened T faces, blubber stained clothes, scarred by O frostbite and utterly haggard they were N initially mistaken for drunken whalers. ‘ Greenstreet and his twenty colleagues on Elephant Island had to wait a S further five months, sheltering under their upturned boats, while Shackleton made five attempts to rescue them. Eventually the fifth vessel, the ‘Yelcho’, F successfully managed to arrive on August, 29th. 1916 and take them all off to I safety, two years after setting sail from Plymouth. R Lionel Greenstreet arrived home in time to serve in WWI, serving in S the unaccustomed warmth of Iraq on supply barges in the Tigris River. At the T end of the War he came ashore, working in marine insurance before joining up again for WWII at the age of 50 with an RNR commission as a captain of O rescue tugs in the Atlantic and North Sea. He was also involved in towing F sections of the famous ‘Mulberry Harbours’ to France following the ‘D Day’ F landings. I Married twice, he retired and lived in Brixham where a Blue Plaque C was erected in his memory. In October, 1970, he attended the commissioning E of HMS ‘Endurance’, the Royal Navy’s Antarctic patrol ship. R Lionel Greenstreet was the last of the ‘Endurance’ party to pass away and also the longest living having died just short of 90 years. He died on B Saturday, 13th. January, 1979. Y Shackleton’s leadership, is still studied today as a test case C example of good man management in L I a crisis. Curiously, his V incredible 800 mile voyage from E Elephant Island to South Georgia was re-enacted last year with sextant B and compass in a faithful copy of the R same 22’ boat. Its skipper and A navigator was Nick Bubb, the son of D our own John BUBB (60). B

U R Y Researched and written by Clive BRADBURY (61)

16 Old Worcesters and the Great War R

Each November an Act of Remembrance service is held in the crypt of O All Hallows-by-the-Tower, London, where Old Worcesters and their families L gather together and listen to the words of the Commendation prayer which L remind us ‘of all who have died in the service of their country and especially those Old Worcesters’. The service takes place in the vicinity of two memorial plaques, one for each of the world wars, on which commemorative wreaths are O laid each year. F Of special significance at this time is the centenary of the Great War and in this and the next Dog Watch we shall be remembering those OWs’ who H lost their lives in the first conflict - an updated Roll of Honour listing the names of those who died has been prepared with half in this issue and the remainder in O January 2015. N

The first war memorial plaque was originally dedicated by the Bishop O of Rochester on Ascension Day 29th. May, 1919 and was designed by Captain U BARKER, R.D., R.N.R. (73), the then Captain - Superintendent of the R ‘Worcester’ and was dedicated on the Quarter Deck of ‘Worcester II’ and was at the after end of the half deck on ‘Worcester III’, later being moved, with the second world war plaque, to All Hallows where it can be seen today. 1

The inscription on the plaque reads: 9 1 ‘To the glory of God and in affectionate remembrance of old shipmates who 4 gave their lives for their country in the Great War, 1914 - 18.’ - It is interesting to note that about a thousand Old Worcesters took part 1 in the war, the majority of whom were in the Navy as Naval or Naval Reserve Officers with others who were in the Army and the RAF, when it was formed on 9 the 1st. April, 1918 and were transferred from the RNAS. 1 8 It was originally believed that 66 OWs’ were killed and this is the number of names on the All Hallows memorial, but over the years additional deaths have been traced and the total number is now believed to be 79.

Sadly, even this figure may not be accurate as new information is becoming available all the time. We are continually searching our archives, the websites and our memorabilia at Chatham Dockyard.

17 R The Roll of Honour, half of which follows, has been prepared and is initially based on the four historical Worcester books, recorded below. Our O thanks also go to Graham SMITH (60) for his tireless work on the missing L OWs’ for the memorial. It will also be noted that the amount of detail shown on the Roll of Honour varies considerably, regrettably we can only show that L which is within our knowledge. Those OWs’ below the age of 20 are shown with their ages. O As this Roll of Honour was being compiled, it became obvious that it was the practise of the time, to only record those who had died serving their F country in the armed forces. In the world war of 1914-18, some 12,000 died in merchant ships and are recorded on the Memorial at Tower Hill, London. There will be names of Old Worcesters on this Memorial who are not in our H present Roll of Honour and who, nevertheless, will be in our thoughts at this O time. We are unaware of any specific research that has been undertaken to N establish such names of OWs’ or the related details of their loss. Is there a volunteer to undertake this task? We feel that their names should be added to O our Roll of Honour and will be published in a future Dog Watch, if and when U available. Preserving the memories of the war for future generations is the duty R of us all and the courage and sacrifice of fallen Old Worcesters must be remembered. 1 The books are: 9 1 The Thames Nautical Training College HMS ‘Worcester’ 1862-1919, by Captain W.A. MORGAN (76) (1929). 4 - The History of the ‘Worcester’, by Frederick H. Stafford O.B.E. (1929) 1 The Story of the Worcester, by Commander Gordon STEELE V.C., R.N. 9 (09) (1962) 1 A Photographic History of H.M.S Worcester, compiled by Brian BEALE (54). 8 Colin STEERE (47) and Malcolm BORLAND (51) both assisted him.

Note: The OW Council is considering, at present, the commissioning of a third plaque to include the names of those missing OWs’ who have died in war, including the Korean war. News will be advised in due course.

This report has been jointly prepared by: T.J. Pollitt (66), J.D. Precious (59), C. J. Steere (47).

May they all rest in peace

18 R O

interned in Norway and died of of anddied Norway in interned F

‘India’

REMARKS

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DIED 4

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09 09 02 08 05 06 10 11 05 10

------

‘Worcester’

YEARS ON YEARS

1907 1907 1900 1906 1904 1900 1908 1908 1903 1908

1907 1907 8

DAMPIER, DAMPIER,

NAME

Major BALFOUR, J.A. HLI J.A. BALFOUR, Major

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Fusiliers when he was killed in action. killed was he when Fusiliers was body His missing. reported was airan fight After 55th. Squadron. to Attached Cemetery. in Nederzwehren is buried He Germany. Obendorf, at found to HMS Appointed 18. Aged ship. his with down went he and explosion an through lost was ship 1917. His Royal the of Battalion Drake of Command In Second He was Dardanelles. at Fought the Somme of Battle the at Division Naval Training 211th. to attached whilst accident aeroplane an after injuries, his of Died Cemetery. Road) (Priory the Huntingdon in buried is He Squadron. to HMS Appointed Dardanelles. the of the passage to force trying ship his aboard action in killed Submarine to HM Appointed ‘UB HMS on serving whilst action in Killed Dorset. Cemetery ship the supply piloting He was and troops Turkish by outnumbered heavily journey, the On stores. with Amara the firepower, Cowley Charles and killed been have to assumed and seen again never was He by the Turks. members crew other captors. his by killed and their gallant for VC posthumously the awarded were Firman and Lt. He bravery. determined

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DIED

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9 known not Year

10 11 16 07 13 02 08 08

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8 -

‘Worcester’

YEARS ON YEARS

1907 1907 1909 1915 1907 1910 1900 1907 1904 1884

NAME

Lt. BROUN, R.C.M. BROUN, Lt. RAF R.A. BUTLER, Lt. E.S.F. BYRNE, Midshipman RNR P.S. CAMPBELL, Cmdr. Lt. RNVR RAF J.H. CAUDELL, Lt. RN E.C. COLCHESTER, Lt. RNR E.D.F. COLLIER, Lt. RNR J.M. COOPER, Sub. Lt. VC C.H. COWLEY, Cmdr. Lt. RNVR

20 R

in in O

L ‘Warspite’ ‘Warspite’

Salaam, East Africa and was and was Africa Salaam, East

- O es - F

Vitasse, France. Vitasse,

- H

REMARKS Memorial. (see page 29 of May 2012 DW for a for 2012 DW May 29 page of (see Memorial. O N Died of influenza at Dar at influenza of Died O

‘General Botha’ Botha’ ‘General

‘Gascon’. ‘Gascon’. On the night of Sunday, 17th. August, 1919, he commanded one of of one commanded he 1919, August, 17th. Sunday, night of the On

Halifax and New York. No other information is available to us. Aged 19. us. Aged to available is information other No York. and New Halifax name His HLI. Company ‘C’ with Private as serving whilst action in Killed 20. Aged France. Memorial, Cemetery Military Etaples the on appears on HMS Served there. buried Irish Royal Battalion) 2nd. to (attached Battalion 3rd. the with serving Whilst 20. Aged Touquet. near trenches in the a sniper by killed was Rifles, of Battalion Collingwood the in serving whilst Dardanelles, the at action in Killed in Memorial Helles the on isinserted name His Lt. asSub. Division. the RN Turkey. of Chamber Glasgow the joined he war the of outbreak the at Natal, in Living of Battle the at wounds his died of He Infantry. Light Highland Corps., Commerce Roll the 36 answered only day, that advanced who strong 800 the Of the Somme. is name His France. Cemetery, Military Etaples the at buried is He night. that Call SATS on the also obituary) full to HMS Appointed avec Palmes. Guerre de the Croix Awarded 1919. January at killed and was Russia on Kronstadt, attack daring the in Boats Motor Coastal the attack, the home andpressed over took STEELE Gordon Lt. the wheel, ships. Capital Russian two torpedoing is He Germans. with fight dog a in killed was and 27th. Squadron the joined He Neuval Cemetery, London the in buried Was engaged in transporting Russians, also convoys of American troops, between between troops, of American convoys also Russians, in transporting engaged Was 9

DIED

1918 12th. August, 1916 12th. December, 1918 12th. December, 1915 1915 June, 4th. 12th. August, 1916 18th. August, 1919 27th. September, 1916

22nd. December, 22nd. December, 1

17 14 10 12 09 12 03 07

------

- 1

‘Worcester’

YEARS ON ON YEARS

1912 1912 1908 1910 1907 1910 1901 1905 1915 1915 8

REED A. A. REED

NAME

Midshipman COWLING, J.W. J.W. COWLING, Midshipman RNR HLI DSC G.T. CREFT, RNR C.C. DANIEL, C.H.W. DARLING, 2nd. Lt. RNVR J.E. DAVIES, Sub. Lt. H.L. HLI DAVIS, Lt. DAYRELL RN DSO* RFC S. Lt. DENDRINO,

21 R

when she was was she when L

‘Viknor’ ‘Viknor’

O in injuries his of died He

61’. 61’.

‘UC

76’. 76’.

he was on passage from the the from on passage was he

Boat

Aged 19. Aged

H ‘UC

REMARKS on escort duty, his ship was torpedoed on the the on torpedoed was hisship duty, on escort

O the when lost was he and torpedoed, was she

Boat Boat -

N ‘Endeavour’

‘Cullist’ ‘Cullist’ ‘Ettrick’ was mined off the Shetland Islands with the loss of all all of the loss with Islands the Shetland off mined was

O U R ‘E49’

Whilst serving on HMS on HMS serving Whilst ship sank. in buried is He Regiment. & Lancs Yorks the with serving whilst action in Killed France. at Colincamps, Cemetery Road the Eusto Cemetery. Woolhampton in Buried accident. aeroplane an in Killed 38th. in the 24 No. Regimental with Forces, Imperial Australian in the Served from died and to Australia and repatriated Armentiers at gassed was He Battalion. Victoria. Cemetery, Mildura the in buried is He poisoning. the gas a as in action killed was and line front the on Regiment Bedford with the Was Corps Gun the Machine of member in two party a raiding of in charge he was AIF in the Lt. 2nd. Commissioned Military the awarded was he which for Armentiers near lines to enemy sorties is He Belgium. Reninghelst, at bombing enemy by in action killed Was Cross. Belgium. Ypres, near Cemetery Military Lijssenthoek at buried on HMS serving Whilst U by Head Beachy 1917, off July, 7th. Winchester. in buried was and Hospital Haslar HMS of in command When vessel his and ain collision involved was he when to England Mediterranean sank. HMS RNR on Midshipman asa service on active Was 19. Aged hands. all with of Ireland Coast NW the off sank and torpedoed HM Submarine U by laid was mine The hands.

4 DIED

1st. February, 1st. February, 1918 1916 1st. July, 1916 14th. July, 1918 20th. July, 28th. November, 1917 28th. September, 1917 1917 27th. August, 1918 4th. August, 13th. January, 1915 1917 March, 12th.

12 89 11 86 15 99 01 96 13

------

1 YEAR ON

‘Worcester’

1910 1910 1887 1909 1884 1911 1897 1899 1894 1911 1905

NAME

Lt. DOUBLEDAY, G.H.D. G.H.D. Lt. DOUBLEDAY, RN . DSC E.H. FIRTH, Capt. E.A. FREEMAN, Lt. Flt. Sub. RNAS AIF S.W.W. GARNETT, G.S. GILBERTSON, 2nd. Lt. AIF MC, R.H. GILL, Capt. RNR A.E. Lt. GUDGEON, RN R.L. HANCOCK, Cmdr. RNR S.G. HANCOCK, Midshipman RNR J.S. HARVEY, A/Lt.

Boat. He He Boat.

L L

Was reported killed, but killed, reported Was

sank a German U German a sank O

at the Battle of Jutland. A A Jutland. of Battle the at

in action in the Dardanelles. in the in action

at the Battle of Jutland. Aged 20. Aged Jutland. of Battle the at F ‘E34’ ‘E34’

‘Maidstone’.

‘Nessus’ ‘Nessus’

Chappelle Indian Memorial, at Pas de de Pas at Memorial, Indian Chappelle

‘Wolverine’ ‘Wolverine’ and and

- H

REMARKS

‘Queen Mary’ Mary’ ‘Queen O

‘Phoeton’ ‘Phoeton’ N O U R

Killed in action whilst serving on HMS HMS on serving whilst action in Killed loss his mourned clearly and him to attached much was ship this aboard bulldog 20. time. Aged some for HMS on serving whilst hislife Lost Collingwood the in serving whilst the Dardanelles, at service on active Killed in Memorial the Helles on isinscribed name His RN Division. the of Battalion Turkey. 1912. Medallist Gold King’s Was HMS onboard action in Killed action in killed Corps, was Ambulance Anglian East 1st. with serving Whilst 10 Hill in buried is He Gallipoli. Bay, Suvla at wounded the tending whilst Turkey. Gallipoli, Cemetery, he and capsized boat ship’s the Haven, at Milford stores for ashore going When 19. Aged Lancashire. Cemetery Helier) (St. Sefton in isburied He drowned. HM Submarine when DSC his awarded Was Ships on HM served also Cemetery. Hamburg the in buried is He known. are details no more in killed was and RN Division the of Battalion Nelson the into Commissioned Turkey. Memorial, Helles the on inscribed is name His Gallipoli. at action further any do not have We Infantry. Light Shropshire the King’s with He was Belgium. Cemetery, House Cement in the buried is He information. Rifles. Mounted Provincilia Southern the with serving whilst action, in Killed the Neuvre on inscribed is name His and labourers. soldiers over 4,700 Indian commemorates It France. Calais

DIED 4

31st. May, 1916 May, 31st. 1915 28th. April, 1915 June, 4th. 1916 May, 31st. 1915 26th. August, 1918 8th. October, 1918 29th. July, 1915 12th. July, 28th. September, 1917 25th. September, 1915

13 10 07 15 13 99 10 06

08 12

------9

YEAR YEAR ON

‘Worcester’

1910 1910 1906 1909 1910 1905 1913 1911 1895 1908 1905

PARRY, J.I. RNR J.I. PARRY,

NAME

Midshipman HESKETH, W.P. RNR W.P. HESKETH, Midshipman JONES Lt. A/Sub. RNVR R.W. JUKES, Sub. Lt. RN G.G. KITCHIN, Sub. Lt. RAMC S.L. LAMBERT, Private RNR F.K. LEVER, Midshipman RN DSC W.P. LILLIE, Lt. W.RNR LINTOTT, Sub. Lt. MC O.R. LLOYD, Capt. F.M. LOWDER, Corporal 23 N E W S

O F

M E M B E R S Baltic Heroes

Thank you for the article Baltic Heroes (SM, Aug 2013)which took me back to splendid days of Boy's Own and Biggles stories. Mention is made of Lieutenant STEELE (1909), the second in command of CMB88 who, with his senior officer mortally wounded, took the helm and fired two torpedoes at the Soviet battleship Petropavlovsk. Lieutenant Steele (1909) was awarded the VC for gallantry and went on to become the Captain Superintendent of HMS ‘Worcester’ between 1929 and 1957. He was a man of enormous skill, charm and humility who remains revered by thousands of ‘Worcester’ cadets in whose lives he played such a formative role. And revered in an industry in which ‘Worcester’ cadets played - and still play - such a defining part. His contribution to Great Britain's Merchant Navy cannot be understated.

Richard POCOCK (58) Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, Australia

Editors note:

Richard, our President in Australia recently had this letter published in ‘Ships Monthly’.

24 Our Cock Hand - Hedley Fryett (32) N E On the Tees Pilot service the senior Pilot in a watch has for some W unknown reason always been called the ‘Cock Hand’. Hedley, now in his 99th. year and who will celebrate his centenary on July 15th. 2015, also has the S distinction of being ‘Cock Hand’ of the ‘Old Worcesters’. O Hedley was on the ‘Worcester’ from 1930 to 32. He left to become a F Pilot Apprentice on the Tees and then went to sea to get his Tickets, first with British India, then Brocklebank’s and Constantine’s. M Throughout the war Hedley was master of the Tees Pilot Cutter and E gained his Pilots License in 1944, finally retiring in 1980. Hedley was choice M pilot for Furness Shipping and was pilot on many of their ship launches and B trials as well as piloting thousands of other ships and cargo liners visiting the E Tees as no doubt many OWs’ will remember. R Hedley had the honour of piloting the Royal Yacht when the Queen S came to Teesside on her silver jubilee tour, and remembers being told on no account to blow the whistle and disturb Her Majesty.

On retirement Hedley and his wife travelled widely.

Hedley remembers his time on ‘Worcester’ as being ‘brutal and medieval’ but still appreciated the good training in Seamanship and boat handling.

Tony CROMPTON (56) to whom we are grateful for this report, remembers Hedley well as being Cock Hand of No 5 watch ‘when I was a very junior pilot. Being the watch Junior I was obliged to drive Hedley’s old diesel 12 seat landrover as the other pilots refused. The first time I could not find out how to stop the engine and pulled every knob in sight till it finally stopped.

Hedley was on the examination committee for licensing Pilots and he got me thoroughly confused in a number of my exams. Also I well remember having a training passage with Hedley on a Daring class Destroyer into Middlesbrough dock and watched him make it dance’.

25 N Arctic Medal E W We were pleased to hear from Eric LIDDELL (43) whom has S informed us that he has also received his Arctic Medal. Unfortunately we were unaware that Eric received his medal when our article in the last issue was published. Four OWs’ have now been O honoured. F On behalf of our Association congratulations Eric

M ********************* New OW branch in West Wales - by Tim DACE (63) E

M As far back as 2008 a few of us OWs’ had talked of setting up a local B group, but nothing came of it. However, on the 19th. E August, 2013 we had our first get together. Five OWs’ R turned up, together with their wives, and a good time S was had by all. The youngest was, Bob LINEKER (68) and the oldest Phil VANNER (50). Also present were Graham HAY (50), Alun JAMES (50) and Tim DACE (63). The second and third meetings went well, but due to ill health of a member or spouse, the numbers dropped but on the plus side we did have an Old Conway join us. Tim Dace - at our Winchester AGM earlier this year. Our next meeting will be in July and any OW, local or visitor, would be more than welcome.

Please contact Tim by email: [email protected] for further information.

**********************

Thanks to Michael PENWARDEN (50) for sending us details of his uncle’s war at Gallipoli. Lt. Cmdr. Frederick E. GARNER DSC. RN. (14) was with the High Speed Patrol Boats at Gallipoli, joining as a Midshipman RNR and being promoted to Lieutenant RN, he was mentioned twice in despatches and awarded the DSC. He survived the war and left as Lieutenant Commander and died on 1st. November, 1976 aged 79 years.

Editor: His obituary appears in the March 1977 Newsletter.

26 Michael Everard (Hon. Member) N E Michael was recently elected by Council as an Honorary Member. W Here is his potted history. OWs’ will well remember the Greenhithe Everard S link.

Born in a tiny village near Gravesend in Kent, Michael Everard began O learning about ships almost as soon as he could walk. His family’s business, F F.T. Everard & Sons, founded by his great grandfather in 1889 at Greenhithe, built barges and transported cargo on the River Thames. Owning ships was a M hands-on, seven day, business and Michael remembers his father speaking to ship’s captains from a radio at home: he used to be taken to a ship every E Sunday and his first voyage was on a coastal vessel, aged 12. After that he M went on board ship every summer holiday and worked in the ship-repair yard B during the mornings. E R Educated at Oundle School near Peterborough, Michael took a degree in business studies at the City of London Polytechnic specialising in Transport S and including subjects such as maritime law. He then acquired some eighteen months experience with BP Tanker Co. (then a nationalised industry), Unilever Distribution and Ocean Transport and Trading which owned the Blue Funnel Line. When Michael joined F.T. Everard in 1972, he found that the combination of his degree and work experience gave him an invaluable commercial perspective. As he began fixing and chartering ships, he could see that they were not operating to their maximum profit ability and that a different approach would yield more. His father let him make the changes he wanted and, proving he could make a difference to the company’s fortunes, he became a director at a young age.

He spent a lot of time visiting the company’s ships that he managed, mostly barges in dry cargo in the early days and later small tankers: the company also carried containers to Ireland. Michael never lost his fondness for barges and he now chairs the Thames Sailing Barge Match Race, an especially appropriate post because F.T. Everard produced some of the most famous racing barges ever to sail on the river.

27 N Some 48 years after he joined F.T. Everard, and now retired from the E day-to-day work, Michael says that the best thing about the business is the W people. Creating relationships and providing motivation are an essential part of a successful company. F.T. Everard believed whole-heartedly in training - S the budget for it was never cut even in the shipping recession of the 1980’s - and the company won the first ever Lloyd’s List training award. Still, ‘face-to- O face motivation is also really important. I used to go on board and ask an Able F Seaman (AB) - not an officer - what the food was like. If it was OK, I would go to the cook and tell him the crew liked his food, so he knew he was valued. I enjoyed going and talking to people the most’. M E Michael became Chairman of F.T. Everard in 1988 remaining in the M post until the end of 2006, when the company was sold to James Fisher Plc. B and became Fisher Everard. E Michael Everard's charity work includes being Vice-Chairman of R Council and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Mission to Seafarers S (1994-2007). Unsurprisingly, given how much he enjoys his career, Michael Everard would highly recommend working in the maritime industry because it not only offers prospects, but also variety, excitement and enormous satisfaction when a job is well done.

m.v. ‘Alfred Everard’ (1957) approaching Inchkeith Rock - a typical painting that was on the back page of our Dog Watch for many years.

28 J.H. Read 1961 - 63 C.P. Hicks 1941 - 43 O D.A. Wiltcher* 1938 - 39 R.D. Parkin* 1939 - 43 B I P.G. Nicholls 1957 - 58 K.S.J. McConnell* 1941 - 43 T S.D.D. Truman 1939 - 44 N.R. Cameron 1958 - 60 U G.S. Taylor 1945 - 46 P.V. Bicker-Caarten 1941 - 43 A A.W. Howells 1945 - 46 R.A.W. Robson 1942 - 46 R R.B. Wyld 1937 - 39 P.A. Baker 1959 - 62 I R.L. Newbury* 1942 - 44 M.H.F. Smith 1946 - 48 E R. Raw* 1942 - 44 S

News of the ‘Crossing of the Bar’ of the Old Worcesters’ shown in the above table has been received since our last issue. We mourn, with sadness and with those they have left behind; may they rest in peace. As will be noted our obituaries which follow vary from those which cover a lot of ground to those with much less. Members’ assistance in ensuring that we have as comprehensive coverage of all of those who ‘cross the bar’, would be very much appreciated. * = denotes a full obituary will appear later

Captain John Hilton Read (1961 – 63)

John was born in Upper Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand on 8th. March, 1946 and joined the ship in the Summer term 1961 from Wellington College, having gained a NZ Shipping Co. scholarship. He left in the Summer term 1963 and commenced his apprenticeship with NZSC on the mv ‘Otaio’ in September,1963. He obtained his Mates ticket at the ‘Sir John Cass Nautical College’ London, in 1968 and married Janet in 1970. He passed his Master’s in Wellington in 1972 and after his son David was born in May, 1973 he ceased sailing deep sea and joined ‘Rail Ferries’ with whom he was to remain for twenty- one years. Sadly Janet died in 1974 when David was fifteen months old.

29 O In 1975 John married Val and their daughter Kathryn was born in B 1983. He continued to sail with ‘Rail Ferries’ until 1994 when, after a bitter I dispute between the ‘Merchant Navy Guild’ and ‘Rail Ferries’, he took redundancy and retired from the sea for eighteen months. He then joined Strait T Shipping until 2008 when he retired permanently at the age of sixty-three. John U died in Wellington Hospital on 3rd. August, 2012 aged sixty-six. A

R Rex William O’Reilly-Lyons (1962 – 66) I th. E Rex was born in Hove, Sussex on 20 June, 1948 and joined the ship in the Michaelmas term 1962 from Cranley St. Mary School, Sussex. He left in S the Lent term 1966 to join Silver Line. He will be remembered by those on the ship at the same time, as a popular, boisterous and noisy Cadet. He didn’t complete his apprenticeship, preferring a future more in keeping with his temperament, as an entrepreneur. In 1969 Rex shared a flat in Cardiff with OWs’ Roger REID (65), Paul HAYSOM (65), John DANIELS (65) and William BODDINGTON (66) and whilst the others were endeavouring to pass 2nd. Mates, Rex sold used cars parked in the street. In the 1970’s Rex moved to Glasgow and set up Offshore Workboats Ltd. (OWL) which Rex preferred to describe as a Marine Service to the Construction Industry. In the 1980s he met his partner Leonora and they had a daughter Leyla. In 1986 Rex wanted to buy the Clyde Puffer ‘Eilean Eisdeal’ pictured behind Rex in the photo and put John DANIELS (65) in command. This venture didn’t reach fruition! In 1988 Rex was responsible for the management of the very successful Glasgow Garden Festival on the Clyde. One of the spectacular events being the launching and manoeuvring of George Wylie’s paper boat, pictured right.

Sadly, Rex drowned on the night of 23rd./24th. October, 2011, at the age of sixty-three.

30 Captain Robert Balgarnie Wyld (1937 – 1939) O B Bob was born in London on 16th. December, 1922 and joined the ship in the Lent term 1937 from the Imperial Service College and in 1938 was one of I the twelve Cadets who assisted in bringing the ‘Cutty Sark’ to Greenhithe from T Falmouth. The departure of ‘Cutty Sark’ was quite an occasion and in returning U a gun salute from the ‘Flushing Yacht Club’, fired personally by the Skipper an unlucky spark caused an explosion injuring the A Skipper. Bob was commended by Captain STEELE R VC (1909) for ‘bravely remaining at his post.’ He left the ship in the Summer term 1939 to serve his I apprenticeship with Shaw Savill & Albion. E S In 1946 having survived the war unscathed he joined the Rescue and Salvage Tug ‘Turmoil’ as 2nd.. Mate and in 1949 obtained his Master’s ticket.

In 1950 he married Barbara and joined British Rail Ferries plying between Harwich and the Hook of Holland and then Sealink Ferries. His final command was the ‘St. Edmund’ before taking early retirement in May 1979 to care for Barbara who was ill and who sadly died.

In 2000 he emigrated to Tauranga, New Zealand and married Rae, a friend he had known for sixty years.

Bob ‘crossed the bar’ on 30th. January, 2014 aged ninety-one. He is survived by his wife Rae and of his three daughters by Barbara only the youngest, Roberta, survives him, as well as six grandchildren.

Geoffrey Stuart Taylor (1945 - 46)

Geoff was born in Nottingham on 16th. March, 1930 and joined the ship in the Lent term 1945 from the Monkton Combe Senior School. He left in the Michaelmas term 1946. He joined the Merchant Navy for a brief period but found it rather dull so, having been paid off a Merchant ship in Aden with dysentery and returned to the UK as a Distressed British Seaman (see Tony Howells, obituary which follows.), he joined the RAF to train for the Fleet Air Arm. He learned to fly and earned his wings in the de Havilland Moth bi-plane before being posted to East Anglia to fly the Gloster ‘Meteor’, the first military jet aircraft, which he loved. In 1959 he married Mary.

31 O When Geoff’s father died he inherited the depository business which his father had founded and B resigned from the RAF to take over the running of the I business, which involved the storage of long and short T term items of high value personal effects. He ran the business for sixty years. Geoff ‘crossed the bar’ on U 20th. February, 2014 aged eighty A -three. R I Anthony Warren Howells (1945 – 46) E Tony was born in Glamorganshire on 14th. S February, 1929 and joined the ship (Foots Cray Place) in the Lent term 1945 from the Porth County School Glamorgan. He left in the Michaelmas term 1946.

Geoff Taylor and Tony Howells in the conning tower of the submarine ‘Thermopylae’ on VJ day.

Six months after leaving the ship Tony was an apprentice on the ‘Ocean Viscount’ on anchor watch off Aden when his old friend Geoff reappeared, having climbed the accommodation ladder and requesting to be hidden. He’d been put ashore with dysentery. Tony talked the Purser into allowing Geoff to be taken back to Liverpool as a DBS. He and Geoff remained lifelong friends. Tony did a further trip on the ‘Clan Cameron’ before being called up for National Service in 1948 in the army. Tony did not return to sea. He’d met Joan, his wife to be, who persuaded him to become a teacher like his father. He qualified in 1952 shortly before marrying Joan. It was to be a career which he enjoyed, culminating in a headmastership at the King James I School, Bishop Auckland commencing in 1973. Tony and Joan had two children, Lisa and Simon. Tony was keen on sport and passionate about rugby. He played for every school he attended whether as teacher or pupil. He played an away game for ‘Worcester’ against ‘Conway’ which ‘Conway’ won. However, a good night out in Bangor ensued. Unfortunately getting back to their accommodation was a problem, being penniless. However, Geoff lay down in the road and fortunately an MG screeched to a halt before killing him and gave them a lift home.

Tony ‘crossed the bar’ on 12th. April, 2014 aged eighty-five, three weeks after Geoff.

32 Paul George Nicholls (1957 – 1958) O

Paul was born in Reepham, Norfolk on 17th. B September, 1941 and joined the ship in the Lent term I 1957 from Gt. Yarmouth Grammar School. He left in T the Michaelmas term 1958 to join Blue Star. He came ashore in 1965 when he married U Annette and helped his father-in-law running his A Garage and Forecourt business which he took over when his father-in-law died in 1976. In 1966 Paul and R Annette added a daughter, Joanna and in 1970 a son, I Gavin to the family. After selling the Garage, Paul and E Annette bought and sold several retail greeting card shops until retiring, when they enjoyed holidaying in Portugal and cruising with P & O. S On the 5th. February, 2014 Paul was feeling fine and enjoyed a game of badminton but the following day he died suddenly, at home, from heart related problems. He was seventy-two years old. He is survived by his wife and two children as well as three grandchildren. Paul was a regular supporter of our various reunions and a long time supporter of Liverpool FC - at his service the congregation, which included David PRECIOUS (59), was in tears for ‘You Will Never Walk Alone’.

************************* D. M. Rowden (1958 - 60)

In the July 2013 issue of The Dog Watch, we reported on the death of D. M. ROWDEN (60) who died in Bowral, New South Wales on 11th. May, 2013. David was a leading light of all things ‘Worcester’ and eleven OWs’ attended his funeral - our photograph was received too late to include in an earlier issue.

L-R Tony MASKELL (61), Tony DENTON (56), Norm STEVENS (44), Peter MARCHBANK (60), Peter GRAINGER (61), Michael ROBINSON (61), Richard POCOCK (58), Andrew LUSHER (62), Ashton CLEARY-FOX (57), Peter HAY (57) and Robin GINZLER (62).

33 O Simon Douglas Duvergier Truman (1939 – 44)

B Simon was born in Mahe, Seychelles, where his I father was working for Cable & Wireless, on 16th. March, T 1926 and joined the ship in the Lent term 1939 from Dorset House School, Littlehampton, Sussex. His U ambition was to enter the Royal Navy via Dartmouth, as a A Midshipman, so he left the ship in the Lent term 1941 to attend Culford School to improve his chances R academically. However, he failed to reach the required I standard and rejoined ‘Worcester’ in the Lent term 1944 to E complete his Merchant Navy training and left again in the Summer term 1944. After completion of RNR training at Greenwich he joined the Royal S Navy and sailed on HMS ‘Rodney’ and HMS ‘Cavendish’ only to be invalided out in 1946. His dreams of a sea career with either the Royal or Merchant Navies were shattered. Simon then taught at two preparatory schools ‘Dorset House’ and ‘Hawtreys’ and was encouraged to get a degree. This he did, gaining a MA degree in Geography at Oxford as well as achieving his ‘half blues’ in both tennis and hockey. However he didn’t return to teaching but joined a Ship Chandlers in London. This lasted only one year. Simon then found his niche in life as a salesman, working for Encyclopaedia Brittanica and thereafter selling everything from fibreglass to frozen food before finally entering into Insurance and Financial Services where he remained for twenty-five years. Simon met Jill in 1962 and they were married in 1963. He ‘crossed the bar’ on 21st. November, 2013 aged eighty-seven and is survived by his wife Jill, sons Philip and Denovan and daughter Jinny as well as numerous grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

Paul Anthony Baker (1959 - 1962)

Paul was born in Doncaster on 24th. September, 1944 and joined the ship in the Michaelmas term 1959 from Caterham Valley Secondary School. He left in the Lent term of 1962 to join Furness Withy but left after obtaining his 2nd. Mate’s ticket. Whereupon he took GCE ‘A’ levels and went on to Guildford University and obtained a degree in Science and Economics, his university time being financed by doing relief work at sea during his holidays. He then worked in marketing computers for Condor Construction, Olivetti and Benson Electronics.

34 In 1979 he married Janet and they had two sons, Benn in 1981 and Duncan in O 1983. Paul bought a 40 foot Loch Fyne ring net herring boat built in 1923 B named ‘Sireadh’ which had been converted to a motor yacht and spent seven I years restoring and converting her back to a gaff rigged sailing boat. The family T then spent five years cruising the Mediterranean and Atlantic, during which time Janet tutored the boys until the time came when they had to commence their U GCSE syllabus and they returned to the UK to live in Hampshire, A Paul then worked as a boat builder and fitted out ocean racing yachts until 2001. They then moved to R Dolgellau, Wales and set up a holiday letting I business, giving them time to enjoy the mountains and E becoming involved in the community. Paul had recently become a grandfather and S was in good health when he had an accident and banged his head. Sadly it proved fatal and he crossed the bar on 24th. March, 2014 aged sixty-nine.

Captain Geoffrey Dermot Shearn (1952 – 54)

Derry was born in Portishead, Somerset on 27th. June, 1937 and joined the ship in the Michaelmas term 1952 from Clifton College, Bristol. He left in the Summer term 1954 to join Port Line. In 1955 he sailed on the maiden voyage of the ‘Port Melbourne’ with another OW, Loriol WILLIAMSON (53). In the mid-1960s he married Jenny, an Australian girl and they made their home in Melbourne. Derry left Port Line to join ANL sailing on a variety of vessels and rising steadily to Master in 1974 until retirement in the mid-1990s. During some of his time with ANL as Master he sailed on their two bauxite carriers alternating shifts with three other OW Masters, Peter HAY (57), Norman LIDDLE (55) and Rick MacALISTER (59). In retirement Derry was a regular supporter of the CWPs and a keen golfer which occupied much of his time. He was diagnosed with Leukaemia and shortly thereafter ‘crossed the bar’ on the 1st. December, 2013 aged seventy-six. He is survived by his wife Jenny, son Adrian, daughter Amanda and numerous grandchildren.

35 O Captain Michael Herbert Frederick Smith (1946 – 48)

B Mike was born in Poole, Dorset on 29th. I August, 1932 and joined the ship in the Michaelmas T term 1946 from Poole Grammar School. He left in the Michaelmas term 1948 to join Silver Line and U remained with them until 1984, rising through Master A to Marine Superintendent. In 1958 he married Anne and they had two R children, Julie and Richard and in due course Mike and I Anne had two grandchildren. E In 1984 Silver Line was taken over by V Ships and he remained with the new Owners until retirement in 1992 aged sixty. One S of his jobs during this time was to set up a satellite office in Southampton in his capacity as Operations Director. During retirement he continued to enjoy yachting and golfing. He was Vice Captain and President of the Epsom Golf Club from 1973 until 2014. Mike ‘crossed the bar’ in Epsom Hospital on the 19th. May, 2014 from cancer of the bladder, aged eighty-one and at his funeral the Association was represented by Colin STEERE (47), Graham SMITH (48) Mike FALKNER (48), Roger SNAPE (48), Patrick PHILLIPS (52) and Christopher FARNFIELD (61).

Captain Nigel Robert Cameron (1958 – 1960)

Nigel was born in Hove on 25th. October, 1943 and joined the ship in the Michaelmas term 1958 from Seaford College. He left in the Michaelmas term 1960 to join Booth Line. It was on a trip with them up the Amazon that he met his first wife, a Canadian, in 1964. They married in the UK the same year and had three children; Guy, Sarah and Louise. After passing his Masters at Southampton University they emigrated to Toronto and Nigel joined Imperial Oil in the mid 1960’s. He rose to command VLCC’s until in the late 1970’s when he moved to British Columbia and joined BC Ferries. At this time he settled on Salt Spring Island having remarried Mei Hua from Taiwan. They had two children, Megan and James who are currently completing their University courses. Nigel retired in 2002 and enjoyed boating activities at his lakeside home, managing his extensive woodland plot and enjoying the tranquillity of Salt Spring Island. Nigel ‘crossed the bar’ on 29th. January, 2014 aged seventy.

36 Doreen Steere - wife of our President Colin Steere O

Doreen Vosper was born in Cardiff on the 1st. May, 1935 and sadly B died in March this year. I In 1940, the Vosper family moved to Pontypridd to get away from the T bombing of Cardiff Docks. Doreen attended Coedpenmaen Junior School and later Pontypridd Intermediate Girls School in Treforest. She was amused with U P.I.G.S. emblazoned on her hat badge and blazer! A Just before she was due to sit her school certificate Doreen was diagnosed with diphtheria, which resulted in all her school books and many R personal possessions having to be burnt. She made a full recovery and without I her certificate took an apprenticeship as a ladies’ hairdresser - a skill she never E lost. Doreen first met Colin at her brothers stag party in 1953 and they S married in 1957 and lived in London. Sewing became a passion for Doreen and she taught young girls and was an expert seamstress making her own clothes and curtains for the ten homes they shared. Doreen loved all social events. A highlight for her was the Association of Old Worcesters Reunion in 2012 when she, along with the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, welcomed HRH Princess Anne to the Portsmouth Guildhall and shared a table with the Princess for dinner.

Colin and Doreen attended many functions and dinners together for our Association along with ‘Conway’, Pangbourne and ‘Mercury’. It is believed that Doreen attended more than a hundred OW functions.

Being born in Wales, music was also her life and she was a very accomplished pianist - at her funeral we heard play ‘Rustle Of Spring’ a very difficult piece and it was beautiful. Doreen’s contribution to our Association was recognised by the high number of OWs’ who attended her funeral at Biddenden, Kent. Our condolences are extended to Colin who still plays a very active role in the Association.

I have very fond memories of Doreen - always happy, kind and good company. At our 2012 Reunion she was in charge of us volunteers and kept us busy and because of her work in the background made the Reunion as we all saw it. - Editor.

37 R.J.K. Baldwin, 70, Carlton Hill, Herne Bay, Cost Inland Europe ROW £ £ £ £ S Kent, CT6 8HR L Cheques payable to Association of Old Worcesters O P email: [email protected]

Tel: 00 44 (0) 1227 374236 C H O.W. Ties (Colours) 10.00 1.75 2.75 3.75 E O.W. Ties (Striped) 10.00 1.75 2.75 3.75 S O.W. Ties (Crown and ‘W’ logo) 11.50 1.75 2.75 3.75 O.W. Scarf in Pure Wool - 65” x 9” 25.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 T O.W. Cravats 14.00 2.00 2.75 3.75 O.W. Blazer badges 12.00 1.50 2.25 3.00 Tie Clips with ‘Worcester’ crest. 3.50 1.50 2.25 2.50 Cuff Links with ‘Worcester’ crest. 8.00 1.25 2.00 2.75 Webbing Belts, with ‘Worcester’ crested buckle. 15.00 2.75 3.75 4.75 (Size: Max 44”) Lifeboats of Brightstone Bay 1.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 HMS Worcester - A Photographic History. 15.00 4.00 7.00 10.50 Paperback. Edited by BMS Beale OW ‘For Valour’ - The V.C.s of ‘Conway’ & ‘Worcester’ 1.00 0.75 2.00 3.00 Members address list, printed copy 10.00 3.50 4.50 6.50 Members address list, available in PDF Format by 5.00 email Print of HMS ‘Worcester’ - W.M. Birchall 1.00 1.50 2.00 3.00 ‘Worcester’ - Eagle Comic, coloured side elevation 5.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 Copy of a lithograph by K. Martin - ‘Ingress 1.00 1.50 2.00 3.00 Abbey’ HMS ‘Worcester’ - Wall Shields (standard or 45.00 4.50 5.00 8.00 personalised logos) HMS ‘Worcester’ - Notelets (Packet of 10) 3.00 1.75 2.75 3.75 Harold Wylie Coloured Prints (Large) 545 x 325mm 20.00 7.00 9.00 14.00 Harold Wylie Coloured Prints (Small) 400 x 225mm 12.50 4.00 5.00 8.00

38 Items From The Portsmouth 2012 Reunion S Whisky Glasses presentation box - in pairs 35.00 10.00 L China Mugs with crest & Portsmouth 2012 5.00 10.00 for O six mugs P Polo Shirts with Crest & Portsmouth 2012 (navy) - 12.00 4.00 6.00 9.00 Sizes L, XL & XXL C Table Flags - Worcester Ensign complete with stand 10.00 H A Photographic History of HMS Worcester 150th. 20.00 7.00 11.00 19.00 Anniversary Edition by B.M.S. Beale - Hardback E Baseball Caps with crest (navy) 9.00 S Placemats (10” x 8”) with crest (colour lighter than 8.00 previous ones) T Coasters with crest - colour lighter than previous 3.00 ones. Special Price for set of 6 Placemats & Coasters 60.00 10.00 Special Price for set of 8 - as above 75.00 12.00

OWYC SLOP CHEST From: A. J. Devine, ‘Knightly Lodge’, Fawsley, Daventry, Norhants. NN11 3BA email: Alan Devine - [email protected]

Cost £ Inland £ Europe £

Yachting Caps - OWYC Logo 14.00 2.00 4.00 Yachting Caps - OWYC Logo & Braided Peak 16.00 2.00 4.00 Worcester Ensigns - 48” x 24” - Bunting 70.00 2.00 4.00 Worcester Ensigns - 36” x 18” - Bunting 60.00 2.00 4.00 OWYC Burgees - 24” - Bunting 35.00 2.00 4.00 OWYC Burgees - 18” - Bunting 30.00 2.00 4.00 OWYC Towelling Scarf 10.00 2.00 4.00 HMS ‘Worcester’ - Wall Shield - Standard logo 35.00 2.00 4.00 HMS ‘Worcester’ - Wall Shield—Personalised logo 35.00 2.00 4.00

39 C Members are encouraged to make contact with the Association, either through email, using 10 Point Times New Roman Font, if possible, or direct to the O Honorary Secretary at: N T A HONORARY SECRETARY C T DAVID GLENNIE 25, WOOLBROOK RISE SIDMOUTH W DEVON I EX10 9UD

T TEL: 01395 578 722 H email: [email protected] T H

E EDITOR

A TREVOR POLLITT 46, GOLDCREST CLOSE S THAMESMEAD S LONDON O SE28 8HZ

C TEL: 07796 583 328 I A email: [email protected]

T I O N Association of Old Worcesters Website:

(www.hms-worcester.org.uk)