Ahoy Shipmate RNA Torbay Newsletter Volume 5 Issue 2 April 2016

In this issue Editorial Editorial ...... 1 By Shipmate Norrie Millen Chairman’s Corner ...... 2 Hi! Shipmates, Life aboard a warship ...... 3-4 ow has your year been so far? Better than History of the Swastika...... 5-7 mine, I trust. Now three weeks into a Life for John ...... 7 Hvery bad chest infection, which foolishly I US aircraft carrier did not exist . 8-9 aggravated by coming out on cold evening to deliver my Welfare Seminar report to Satan – The wonder dog ...... 9-12 John. Then rubbed ‘salt into wound’ by Welfare Report ...... 12 attending Shipmate Peter Brown’s 90th birthday bash. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fantastic affair, the food and company excellent and it was Water nice to see Peter up and about and surrounded by A woman goes to the Doctor, his extended family. Several after dinner toasts and speeches were worried about her husband's temper. made before I decided on leaving and getting back to my ‘sick bed’ The Doctor asks "What's the Literally counting the minutes until I could get back into a warm problem? The woman says: bed, I had just exited Besigheim Way (South Devon Highway) and "Doctor, I don't know what to do. heading down to the large roundabout to take Teignmouth road. Every day my husband seems to lose As I slowed to exit the slip round, went to change down (gears) and his temper for no reason. It scares found I could not. Just a horrible expensive grinding sound! me." Managed to coast onto the grass of the roundabout, offside wheels The Doctor says "I have a cure for hanging dangerously into lane and placed a call to AA Rescue. As, I that. When it seems that your was considered to be in a very dangerous position, the AA placed husband is getting angry, just take a me on very high priority list, which was good as it only took the glass of water and start swishing it in rescue van and hour to turn up! Eventually towed to a repair facility, I did not get home for two hours after I left Peter’s party. your mouth. Just swish and swish but don't swallow it until he either Now my wallet is £488 lighter because of getting new clutch. I had leaves the room or calms down. intended to pay with my credit card until the garage receptionist Two weeks later the woman comes informed me it would cost me an extra £100 to use a credit card. back to the doctor looking fresh and So beware when using the credit card on large bills, it could cost reborn. The woman says you more money than you want to spend. "Doctor that was a brilliant idea! In closing, I will touch on the In/Out campaign of remaining Every time my husband started members of the EEC. I remember and seem to feel we were much losing it, I swished with water. I better off before we joined the market, I could be wrong. No swished and swished, and he calmed matter how we all feel the politicians will get their way and leave right down! How does a glass of us high and dry no doubt. water do that?" The way I see it anyway! The Doctor says "The water itself does nothing. It's keeping your mouth shut that does the trick". Volume 5 Issue 2 April 2016

Chairman’s Corner Spike's descriptions of exercises on a grand By Shipmate John Soanes scale and conduct of 14 - inch gun shoots The Branch seems to be on a would be hard for most former sailors to steady course at present, New match. His observations of routine in the member S/M Nigel Monks Captain's Office are quite different to the joined us in March and I experiences gained by some of us in small understand another is 'in the ships. However, the passages, which many will pipeline' to join in April or find of most interest, are his views on the May, new members are most wealth of goods, and particularly foodstuffs, welcome, we need some young blood available in the Caribbean and USA. to make sure the Branch continues. Who Comparisons with the extant Post-War knows? We may yet to find a volunteer rationing in Britain are an eye-opener! delegate to represent the branch at Annual This monograph follows other extracts of the Conference. diary kept by Spike throughout his 28 years’ As agreed at the last meeting, I am seeking service in the RN, including clearing the Suez quotes from local stonemasons to re-furbish (or Canal Block-ships in 1956, search for the lost possibly replace) the granite plaque on the Scimitar aircraft in 1958 and the 1000 foot dive memorial to Lieutenant Commander Arthur in 1959. Leyland Harrison VC RN situated on Boy on a Battleship, You will enjoy the 30 Roundham Head, Paignton. pages of Spike's diary if you: ever served in a It certainly needs work as it is beginning to battleship, or ever wondered what it was like to look extremely shabby, especially the live in a floating barracks with over 2000 inscription, it needs to be cut much deeper. others. If you enjoy tales from the Lower Deck, Hopefully, the three quotes will be available at especially seen through the eyes of a Boy the April meeting; we can then seek ideas as to Seaman or can reminisce about the when the how we will raise sufficient cash to pay for the RN still had capital ships, or if you are a work. It is important that we get it done well in student of Social History of the . time for the 100th anniversary on 23rd April £1 from each copy sold is donated 2018. The actual garden area surrounding the to the RNBT. The softback memorial can easily be restored by a local illustrated monograph is available gardener or volunteers from the branch! for a modest £7.50 inc. P & P. A monograph entitled Boy on a Battleship Cheque payable to Ton Class published by the TON Class Association Association, which I am more than happy recording observations of life aboard the to collect and forward. battleship HMS DUKE OF YORK in 1948 by TCA member CPO Spike Wheeler, (A good friend of mine) then a Boy Seaman. There is no one currently serving in the Royal Navy who has ever seen a battleship and very few in the RNA or any other associations, who actually served in one. The monograph is in the form of a diary with comments about daily routine in a battleship. It is a unique record of that era and has a particular value of being life seen through the eyes of a teenage Boy Seaman. As such, it has value for the serious historian, as well as former sailors everywhere.

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Volume 5 Issue 2 April 2016

Life onboard a warship in our much-reduced Royal Navy By Nigel Farndale – The Spectator – February 7th 2016 Submitted by Shipmate Mick Dowling HMS Ulster 1958-60

The helmsman’s a woman, the They still refer to a ‘man overboard’ even wardrooms are unisex... but the stokers are though 10 per cent of the crew are now disappearing in droves women — including, incidentally, the The Royal Navy is known as the Senior ‘helmsman’ in the rescue boat. There was Service because of its illustrious history; some resistance to the introduction of Francis Drake and all that. However the women to frontline duties back in 1990. days when it ruled the waves have long But now no one notices. The wardrooms gone. In 1945, it had almost 900 are unisex, and women do the jobs warships and a million men do. men. By the time of Doing the rounds of the the Falklands ship is a DVD of War, it was down Sailor, the 1970’s to 70 warships BBC TV and 70,000 documentary set on men. Now it is HMS Ark Royal. less than half that, Officers are amazed at with more admirals scenes showing porn than there are fighting mags lying around the ships. wardrooms. That wouldn’t The arrival this year of HMS Queen happen today. They are intrigued that all Elizabeth, the much-heralded new aircraft the officers speak in public-school accents, carrier that has cost £6 billion (for 50-odd which is no longer the case. However what years of life), will draw unwelcome surprises them most is how not much else attention to the Navy’s significant has changed, especially in terms of the manpower shortages. As one senior officer ‘Jack speak’ (as in Jolly Jack Tar). The put it, the carrier will bring ‘new paymaster is still ‘the Pusser’, your bunk is challenges, relearning old tricks perhaps still your ‘grot’ and even some now very and some new — not least how to man it’. un-PC terms survive, such as ‘-gollies’ They put a brave face on things, as you (naval intelligence officers). They still toast would expect. But what is morale really the Queen sitting down, and the toast to like in the Royal Navy? Nelson on Trafalgar Day is still ‘The Immortal Memory’, followed by silence. To find out, I joined HMS Bulwark on manoeuvres in the Mediterranean for a few However, the captain told me other days. I was given unprecedented access — I traditions are being lost to political went up in a £100 million submarine- correctness. The Saturday toast ‘To our hunting Merlin helicopter, and out at night wives and sweethearts; may they never with Royal Marine commandos in one of meet’ has recently been replaced by ‘To our the ship’s four giant assault . families’, which he thinks ‘lacks humour, Most edifying of all, I got the chance to talk somewhat’. He also rues the recent candidly with everyone from the stokers in changing of traditional senior titles, such the engine room to a visiting commodore as ‘flag officers’ to ‘assistant chiefs of naval over dinner in the captain’s cabin. I also staff’, which he thinks has less gravitas and found myself taking part in a ‘man ‘tone’; something about which the Royal overboard’ drill. Navy has traditionally cared deeply. RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -3

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In other areas, the language has changed three bunks high, and rarely see daylight with the times. When I sat in on briefings, because there are no windows on the ship, I understood about 20 per cent of what apart from on the bridge. ‘If it’s steak for was being said because the Navy speaks in dinner it must be Saturday,’ one said to acronyms. When the captain wanted to me. Another complained: ‘We’re in a lower pass on congratulations to the company on pay-band than the stewards, and all they the way they conducted themselves on do is fluff up officers’ pillows.’ He added: shore, for example, he said: ‘BZs all round.’ ‘In the past the main incentive to do this It stands for Bravo Zulu and means ‘Well job for 22 years was the pension, but now done’. that has been cut to a quarter of what it Another surprisingly modern departure was.’ from traditional Navy decorum and reserve Last summer, Bulwark was a familiar sight (think Noël Coward in In Which We Serve) on TV as it rescued thousands of migrants is the way the service is slightly obsessed from overcrowded boats off the coast of with Twitter. It has two million followers, Libya. Though all the crew members I which is pretty impressive, but still. talked to found this humanitarian mission Down in the engine room, I encountered rewarding, the reality was less heart- some disaffection. None of the stokers on warming than the news footage suggested. Bulwark are planning to leave, but One officer told me that when they came elsewhere in the Navy, they are on board, the first question some migrants disappearing in droves, partly because of asked was: ‘Where can I charge my the 2010 Strategic Defence Review. The iPhone?’ And the stench was terrible, with RN agreed to far too many cuts, some the dozen or so Portaloos in the hold 6,000 sailors, only to find they are now unable to cope. 3,000 to 4,000 men (and women) short. Parliament has soon to decide whether or Turmoil in the Middle East and Russia’s not to build four replacement Trident aggression everywhere — Putin is no submarines. The move has majority public slouch at getting propaganda images of his support, but Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola warships firing cruise missiles at Syria on Sturgeon oppose it, so the subject will be to the news — have since forced the hotly debated. In the cabinet room at No. government to take the threats to Britain’s 10, meanwhile, there is now a model of the national security more seriously. Queen Elizabeth, a daily reminder to the Even so, after the defence review last PM of what a useful asset he will soon have November, the Royal Navy was at his disposal, both as ‘hard power’ and underwhelmed by the allocation of a mere ‘soft’. (Russian envoys can expect a few 450 extra sailors to make up the shortfall. invitations to cocktails on board.) They have been told they will have to find So, with all this duality of purpose, is the the rest by transferring sailors from other Royal Navy’s identity crisis set to deepen? ships, which means longer deployments. When I asked Captain Nick Cooke-Priest, The RN will even have to recruit sailors shortly before we sailed into harbour at from foreign navies to fill gaps in specialist Malta, he dismissed the idea, ‘because one engineering, and lately the Admiralty has of our primary functions is to protect the been busy writing to former stokers now in seaways that underpin the nation’s Civvy Street, asking if they will consider economy and that hasn’t changed.’ He did returning. There haven’t been many takers, concede that ‘We do need to get some not least because they get paid so much equilibrium back, after years of managed more in civilian jobs, and life at sea is so decline.’ hard. They sleep in cramped conditions,

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Volume 5 Issue 2 April 2016

History of the Swastika Researched by Shipmate Norrie Millen

The average person (including This conjecture of Aryan cultural descent of the you) sees this flag and German people is likely one of the main reasons immediately thinks of NAZI why the Nazi party formally adopted the swastika Germany, However I know it will surprise you to or Hakenkreuz (Ger., hooked cross) as its symbol learn that History of the Swastika or symbol dates in 1920. back 12,000 years! The Nazi party, however, was not the only party The swastika has an extensive history. It was to use the swastika in Germany. After World War used at least 5,000 years before Adolf I, a number of far-right nationalist movements Hitler designed the Nazi flag. adopted the swastika. As a symbol, it became The word swastika comes from associated with the idea of a racially “pure” the Sanskrit svastika, which state. By the time the Nazis gained means “good fortune” or control of Germany, the connotations of “well-being." The motif (a the swastika had forever changed. hooked cross) appears to have first In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote: “I myself, been used meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, in Neolithic had laid down a final form; a flag with a Eurasia, red background, a white disk, and a perhaps black swastika in the middle. After long representing trials I also found a definite proportion the movement between the size of the flag and the size of of the sun through the white disk, as well as the the sky. To this day, A Maypole topped with a swastika is raised for a shape and thickness of the it is a sacred symbol May Day parade in the Lustgarten in Berlin. The swastika.” in Hinduism, May holiday became an important celebration in the Nazi calendar. Germany, April 26, 1939. Buddhism, Jainism, The swastika would become the and Odinism. It is a common sight on temples or most recognizable icon of Nazi propaganda, houses in India or Indonesia. Swastikas also have appearing on the flag referred to by Hitler in Mein an ancient history in Europe, appearing on Kampf as well as on election posters, arm bands, artefacts from pre-Christian European cultures. medallions, and badges for military and other organizations. A potent symbol intended to elicit The symbol experienced a resurgence in the late pride among Aryans; the swastika also struck nineteenth century, following extensive terror into Jews and others deemed enemies of archaeological work such as that of the famous Nazi Germany. archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann. Schliemann discovered the hooked cross on the site of ancient Despite its origins, the swastika has become so Troy. He connected it with similar shapes found widely associated with Nazi Germany that on pottery in Germany and speculated that it was contemporary uses frequently incite controversy. a “significant religious symbol of our remote The swastika (also known as the gammadion ancestors.” cross, cross cramponnée, or wanzi) (as a In the beginning of the character: 卐 or 卍) is an twentieth century, the The symbol of the Swastika ancient religious symbol swastika was widely used that generally takes the in Europe. It had numerous and its 12,000-year-old form of an equilateral meanings, the most cross, with its four legs common being a symbol of history bent at 90 degrees. It is good luck and considered to be a sacred auspiciousness. However, the work of and auspicious symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism Schliemann soon was taken up by völkisch and Jainism and dates back to before 2nd century movements, for whom the swastika was a symbol B.C. of “Aryan identity” and German nationalist pride RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -5

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It has been used as a decorative order, which became a purely element in various cultures since at religious Catholic Order. But why is least the Neolithic. It is known this symbol so important and why most widely as an important did Adolf Hitler decide to use it? symbol long used in Indian The word ‘swastika’ is a Sanskrit religions, denoting word (‘svasktika’) meaning ‘It is’, "auspiciousness." ‘Well Being’, ‘Good Existence, and It was adopted as such in pre- ‘Good Luck’. However, it is also World War I-Europe and later, and known by different names in most notably, by the Nazi Party different countries - like ‘Wan’ in and Nazi Germany prior to World War II. In China, ‘Manji’ in Japan, ‘Fylfot’ in England, many Western countries, the swastika has been ‘Hakenkreuz’ in Germany and ‘Tetraskelion’ or highly stigmatized because of its use in and ‘Tetragammadion’ in Greece. [4] association with Nazism. This has happened to A Sanskrit scholar P. R. Sarkar in 1979 said that the point where it is seen as meaning Nazis and the deeper meaning of the word is ‘Permanent Hitler. Victory’. He also said that as any symbol it can It continues to be commonly used as a religious have positive and negative meaning depending on symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism. how it is drawn. So in Hinduism, the right-hand swastika is a symbol of the God Vishnu and the Western literature's older term for the symbol, Sun, while the left-hand swastika is a symbol of gammadion cross, derives mainly from its Kali and Magic. The double meaning of symbols appearance, which is identical to four Greek is common in ancient traditions, like gamma letters affixed to each other. for example the symbol of the The name swastika comes pentagram (five pointed star), from the Sanskrit word which is viewed as negative svastika (Devanāgarī: when pointing downwards,   क), meaning "lucky or and positive when pointing auspicious object". upwards. The swastika is a symbol used The earliest swastika ever found by of one of the most hated men was uncovered in Mezine, Ukraine, on Earth, a symbol that represents the carved on an ivory figurine, which dates an slaughter of millions of people and one of the incredible 12,000 years. One of the earliest most destructive wars on Earth. However, Adolf cultures that are known to have used the Swastika Hitler was not the first to use this symbol. In fact, was a Neolithic culture in Southern Europe, in the it was used as a powerful symbol thousands of area that is now Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and years before him, across many cultures and Herzegovina, known as the Vinca Culture, which continents. dates back around 8,000 years. For the Hindus and Buddhists in India and other In Buddhism, the swastika is a symbol of good Asian countries, the swastika was an important fortune, prosperity, abundance and eternity. It is symbol for many thousands of years and, to this directly related to Buddha and can be found day, the symbol can still be seen in abundance - carved on statues on the soles of his feet and on temples, buses, taxis, and on the cover of books. It was also used in Ancient on his heart. It is said that it contains Greece and can be found in the Buddha’s mind. remains of the ancient city of Troy, which existed 4,000 years ago. The ancient Druids and the Celts also used the symbol, reflected in many artefacts that have been discovered. It was used by Nordic tribes and even On the walls of the Christian early Christians used the Swastika as one of their symbols, including the catacombs in Rome, the symbol of Teutonic Knights, a German medieval military the Swastika appears next to the words RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -6

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“ZOTIKO ZOTIKO” which means “Life of Life”. It can also be found on the window Life for John! openings of the mysterious Lalibela Rock churches of Ethiopia, and in various other churches around the world. In Nordic Myths, Odin is represented passing through space as a whirling disk or swastika looking down through all worlds. In North America, the swastika was used by the Navajos. In Ancient Greece, Pythagoras used the Swastika under the name ‘Tetraktys’ and it was a symbol linking heaven and earth, with the right arm pointing to heaven and its left arm pointing to Earth. It has been used by the Phoenicians as a symbol of the Sun and it was a sacred symbol used by the priestesses. How and why did so many diverse countries A smiling Shipmate John Soanes on and cultures, across many eras, use the same being awarded Life membership of the symbol and apparently with the same Royal Naval Association by Vice meaning? President Miked Seaward. Awarded for It is ironic, and his outstanding contribution and unfortunate, that a long dedication to the to the Branch. symbol of life and He was a very surprised recipient, as the eternity that was member’s had had a secret paper ballot considered sacred for which resulting in a unanimous vote to thousands of years make the award. Bravo Zulu John, a has become a well-deserved recognition for all of your symbol of hatred. hard work.

The swastika, the Phoenician sun symbol, on the Phoenician Craig-Narget stone in Scotland, and on the robe of a Phoenician high priestess.

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This U.S Aircraft Carrier Did Not Exist There was no USS 'Robin'... December 1942 was one of America’s One of the strange little stories of low points. It was a year after Pearl World War II involves the aircraft carrier Harbor and the Japanese fleet had not USS Robin, which didn’t really exist... yet been crushed. In the South Pacific, There was a carrier that sailors called the Navy had one fully operational fleet the Robin. She and her sailors were carrier, USS Saratoga. Japanese aircraft underneath U.S. Navy and destroyers sent the carrier command, took USS Hornet to the bottom part in American in October. USS battles and Enterprise was launched U.S. battered. Army troops planes with and Marines had just American pilots. begun expelling the last She certainly was of Japan’s troops from a carrier, not to be Guadalcanal — the beginning of confused with another USS Robin, a an island hopping campaign that would minesweeper. eventually extend thousands of miles But the carrier Robin, generally into the Western Pacific. A renewed speaking, was an illusion. Japanese carrier assault could reverse these early, meagre gains. That’s when So what was going on? Turns out, Robin HMS Victorious came to rescue the was the product of the Navy’s American fleet. desperation in the Pacific theatre during the tumultuous months of late 1942 and The carrier first arrived for her refit at early 1943. Robin was actually the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in January 1943. codenamed HMS Victorious, a British After the Norfolk refit, the Victorious Illustrious-class carrier leased to the transited the Panama Canal and arrived United States. at Pearl Harbor in March 1943 to join the At the time, America needed every Saratoga Battle Group, Task Force 14. carrier it could get. Between March and May, the Victorious underwent “Aircraft carriers had additional modifications at arrived at the point of Pearl to specifically handle technological the American versions of development that they the Grumman TBF Avenger gave a range-extension (or British Avenger) and option that was not F4F Wildcat (British available to a battleship Martlet). To complete the fleet,” historian Francis Pike makeover and new look, the wrote in his recent and Victorious temporarily shed her typical exhaustive book Hirohito’s War. British Atlantic “admiralty disruptive “With overwhelming superiority in terms camouflage scheme” (irregular patterns of numbers of carriers, quality of aircraft of dark and light tones) for the American and above all, superb fliers, brilliantly standard navy Gray. led and trained, Japan needed to bring On May 17, the U.S. Pacific Navy to battle as soon as 1943, the possible.” Victorious, HMS Victorious before she became USS now code- Robin. Royal Navy photo named RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -8

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“Robin,” along with USS Saratoga, the Yanks were flying on and off her arrived at the as part of flight deck! Task Force 36 commanded by Rear Of Note: Admiral DeWitt Ramsey, USN. The At the time U.S carriers had wooden Saratoga and Victorious would become flight decks and suffered greatly from the core of Task Group 36.3 under Rear attacks, but British carriers Admiral F. P. Sherman along with the had steel decks and fared much better. USS North Carolina (BB-55), USS Massachusetts (BB-59), USS Indiana (BB-58), USS San Diego (CL-53), USS San Juan (CL-54), HMAS Australia (D84, a heavy cruiser) and several escort vessels. Her ship’s crew was British, but her aircrew and aircraft were American. No one involved had any illusions that she wouldn’t be identified as the Victorious by enemy pilots, so she proudly flew her British Jack throughout her time with the Yanks, even when only

Satan the messenger dog who helped Allies turn tide of Great War remembered 100 years on

The black crossbreed dodged German American war reporter Albert Peyson bullets as he dashed across no-man's land Terhune wrote: “The garrison was able to during bloody Battle of Verdun to deliver a hold out until reinforcements came all vital message to French soldiers because one hairy mongrel refused to die Loyal friend: Soldier and while his errand was still uncompleted and messenger dog wearing because he was too loyal to a gas mask Image quit.” A brave messenger Hellish: French infantry dog called Satan during lull in Verdun survived a hail of shelling Image German bullets to Verdun was one of the help turn the tide longest battles in history. It in the bloody Battle was also one of the most of Verdun, which savage. began 100 years ago on More than 300,000 men lost their Sunday. lives in a hellish struggle, which raged Pitifully wounded, he staggered through around the ancient French city on the no-man’s-land with a broken leg. River Meuse from February to December And even after seeing his master shot dead 1916. he pressed on to bring hope to a besieged The Germans first attacked on February battalion – encouraging them to renew the 21. They aimed to “bleed the French army fight and end the enemy push on Paris. white” and force them to surrender, Satan’s amazing dash is an almost- leaving Britain to fight on alone. forgotten act of valour in one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -9

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By autumn, soldiers trapped His Irish setter named Rip was inside Verdun were badly shot dead shortly after being outnumbered and sent to the front. But his outgunned. Supplies were other dog , a black running low, so was crossbreed named Satan, morale. had cheated the guns One French officer said time and again. “the whole valley was When Duvalle saw the turned into a volcano, its black shape sprinting exit blocked by the barrier of across the wasteland he the slain”. knew it was Satan carrying a A small contingent of soldiers vital message. boxed in by the enemy had been He called out, urging him on. When ordered to hold out until reinforcements the dog heard his master’s voice he arrived. quickened his pace, leaping from crater to For days they fought on but no help came. crater. Telephone and telegraph lines were down For the first mile and a half he was able to and no homing pigeons remained to send dash between bushes to avoid being word of their desperate plight. spotted but the second half of his journey Seven men had tried to deliver messages to was across open fields. HQ. All had been cut down. When the Germans spotted Satan they Then the besieged troops, low on food, unleashed their entire arsenal in his ammunition and hope, peered from their direction, determined to stop him trenches during a fresh artillery onslaught delivering his message. and saw an amazing sight. But Satan had Journalist Terhune wrote: “Satan heard his master’s voice and it was enough staggered to his feet, reeling and dizzy. For to spur him on. an instant he seemed to have lost his way. A large winged shadow was racing towards Then he settled into the steady run again. them, moving so fast it almost appeared to “No longer could he travel so fast or use be flying. At first it was difficult to tell the bullet-dodging gait his trainers had exactly what the apparition taught him. Yet it did not was. It wore a hideous occur to his great soul to gas mask and across its call it a day and to shoulders was collapse under his something that wounds and the looked almost like mortal agony that wings. wracked him.” Some soldiers thought Satan stumbled on, his their prayers had been wounded leg hanging answered by a “heavenly limp, miraculously making saviour” like the Angel of Mons it to the French trench where he who supposedly appeared to protect the collapsed shivering into the arms of the heavily outnumbered British army in 1914. waiting soldiers. But one French soldier knew otherwise. The troops gently removed his gas mask Duvalle was a dog handler who trained two and retrieved the letter from the brass tube messenger dogs to carry communications. attached to his collar. It read: “For God’s sake hold on. We will relieve you tomorrow.” RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -10

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Then they saw the “wings” on Satan’s back It is not clear what became of Satan. Some were actually two baskets. Inside each was accounts say that once his job was done he a carrier pigeon scared almost to “treated his tortured body to the death. luxury of death”. Others claim The captain scrawled he slowly recovered from two messages giving his injuries and retired co-ordinates for the from the army a national German gun battery hero. that was reducing But there is no doubt the town to rubble. He how badly the battle told his commanders devastated Verdun and he would hold on but the surrounding countryside. begged them to take out the Names of the 162,000 French guns. dead are listed on the battlefield He pressed the notes into small metal Douaumont Ossuary memorial. tubes attached to the pigeons’ legs and cast The carnage was so appalling both the them into the air. French and Germans referred to Verdun as German snipers were waiting and shot “Hell”. A crescent of land covering 25,000 down the first pigeon but the second acres around the town was soaked with so escaped and flew to HQ. much arsenic from exploding shells that the government bought the land and An hour later the roar of the French guns declared it a “red zone” where nobody was began and the German battery fell silent, allowed to live. They planted forests across smashed to rubble. the region but 100 years on much of the It was the beginning of the end for the land remains grey and lifeless, the trees enemy. unable to grow because of the poisonous chemicals seeping through the soil. Satan was not the only canine hero from the First World War. More than 50,000 Just setting foot in those woods can be dogs served in the trenches. They deadly. They are still littered by performed some of the most dangerous unexploded shells – up to 15% of ordnance jobs: carrying messages, pulling fired during the First World War did not ammunition carts, and detonate. acting as sentries near In 2007 a mine blew up, the top of the trenches, killing two workers who to quietly alert their were carrying it to a owners to enemy munitions plant to be intruders. defused. It is rumoured that The following year the Adolf Hitler kept a dog government decided to when he served as a lance fence off the worst affected corporal on the Western Front. area for ever, the Place-a-gaz in the Britain even set up the War Dog School of Spincourt Forest. Instruction in 1917 to recruit and train In these eerie woods the scars of history’s animals. Run by Lt Col Edwin Richardson, longest battle will never heal. it trained many of the 7,000 pets given by owners to fight – and in many cases to die Bizarrely, despite no British forces taking – for their country. part, the battle prompted hundreds of wartime parents to name their babies Verdun. RNA Torbay Newsletter Page -11

Volume 5 Issue 2 April 2016

A total of 901 children were given the Unsurprisingly 15 were called Somme after name including a brother of Hollywood the 1916 battle in which British and actor Richard Burton. The next most Empire troops suffered 420,000 popular battle baby name was Ypres with casualties. 71. Welfare Report A Group of chaps, all aged 40, discussed By Shipmate Norrie Millen where they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would meet at Wetherspoons in Uxbridge because the Our President Shipmate looked remarkable waitresses had big breasts and wore mini- th skirts. well at his 90 birthday bash and it was great to see him surrounded by his family Ten years later, at age 50, the friends once and friends. again discussed where they should meet for lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would It’s that time of life, we always seem to have meet at Wetherspoons in Uxbridge because couple of shipmates in the ‘Walking the waitresses were attractive. The food and Wounded’ category and we wish them all a service was good and the beer selection speedy recovery. was excellent. I would like to request that you phone Ten years later, at age 60, the friends again email/about any problems/medical issues so discussed where they should meet for that I can, (if you wish) let the other lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would shipmates know in my monthly report. As it meet at Wetherspoons in Uxbridge because stands, by the time I get to give my report, there was plenty of parking, they Could dine two or three shipmates have already in peace and quiet with no loud music, and it reported shipmates under the weather. was good value for money. As I mentioned in last issue I am part Ten years later, at age 70, the friends Volunteer Veteran's Support Group in discussed where they should meet for Kingsteignton. There are other groups in lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would Torbay and South & East Devon. Ivybridge, meet at Wetherspoons in Uxbridge because Budleigh Salterton to name but a few. If you the restaurant was wheelchair accessible know of anyone that would like some and had a toilet for the disabled. support, either at home or with a group do let me know. Ten years later, at age 80, the friends discussed where they should meet for The group supports veterans and serving lunch. Finally it was agreed that they would personnel who suffer from PTSD and meet at Wetherspoons in Uxbridge because associated mental health issues, It is a they had never been there before. casual drop in for Coffee/Tea (& small eats) Kingsteignton from 1230 – 1400 every Wednesday. The group in Goodrington are in a temporary home located at

St Georges Church Hall Barn Road Goodrington TQ4 6NG Contact: Norman Williams [email protected] However, they are hoping to move to a more central location in Torbay area in near future.

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