Ajax New Past up For

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

SEPTEMBER 2017 CONTENTS Chairman's Remarks Newsletter Editor's Remarks Standard Bearer's Report The Longest Tow Memories of the Falklands Conflict– Glyn Seagrave Commemorative Plate Membership Secretary's Report With obituary: Ted Wicks Sale of Ajax to Chile – Clive Sharplin Garden Party – Dan Sherren Ajax Cleaner Road to Salvation Mike Cranswick – Ajax Visit 7th Astute Submarine Name Captain Peter Cobb – Obituary Graf Spee eagle Crossing the Line – Follow up Barnard Court Ajax Charlie Maggs & Joe Collis News from Town of Ajax – Colleen Jordan Roy Turner - Birthday Party 1975 Times of Malta article Archivist Report

Separate Sheet 2017 AGM Agenda

NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR REPORT Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR Thanks to everyone who contributed material for this Newsletter. If you do see any material in 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis any way connected to Ajax, sailors, the sea or similar, that you think may be interesting or Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road humorous please send it to me. Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, Even though the Newsletters are only every three months it soon comes round and again a holiday Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU near the issue date has meant a rushed end. Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 [email protected] [email protected] Talking of holidays; I haven't done too much on the 2019 South America trip this period as I have been waiting to see what comes out of the Reunion AGM when we debate it. Also on the agenda is the MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ question of merchandise and we shall need to think about what we take out to South America – all SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER three ships for the first stage and Ajax & Exeter for the second – any ideas will be welcomed. Mrs Judi Collis Alan (George/Phil) Phillips Alf Larkin Malcolm Collis The Bewicks, Station Road 8 Orchard Way Lime Kiln Cottage Ten Mile Bank 2 Easton Lane Send Hill STANDARD BEARER REPORT – Alf Larkin Norfolk PE38 0EU Send Portland Dorset DT5 1BW Tel: 01366 377945 Surrey GU23 7HS Since the last report the Standard has been paraded at the following events. Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01305 457259 [email protected] Tel: 01483 223299 [email protected] 2nd April Civic Service at Easton Methodist Church Portland [email protected] 25th April Anzac Day Wreath Laying Ceremony Weymouth Seafront 15th May John Garrard's Funeral Colchester Essex www.hmsajax.org 6th June D Day Remembrance Service Victoria Gardens Portland 18th June Armed Forces Veterans Parade Weymouth Seafront CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS 21st June Weymouth Mayor Civic Service, Upwey Church Weymouth 31st July 100 year Battle of Passchendaele Service at Easton Methodist Church Portland I hope you have all had a pleasant summer in mixed weather. It hardly seems possible that we will be 11th August Ted Wicks' Funeral Godalming Surrey putting the clocks back next month!!! The Association has suffered another sad loss with the passing of Ted Wicks, another River Plate Veteran. There was an excellent attendance at his funeral in Armed Forces Veterans Parade – Alf in the middle! Godalming on 11th August – my thanks to all those who attended. We are pleased that Frank Burton, Albert Smith, Jim London and Basil Trott continue to be in good health. The committee have acted on the proposal passed at the last AGM to hold this year's Reunion in Stafford. However the uptake has not been as good as expected, especially as we have asked Isle of Wight Tours to make the arrangements for this year. I would like to suggest that if members at the AGM support a date and venue for the Reunion, that good support is given. Your support is essential if the Reunion is to be a success. It is the one event of the year which everyone has the opportunity to attend. The committee are very keen to implement what members want and I thought for our first visit north of Portsmouth or Gillingham there would have been more support. When considering the date and venue for next year, please bear this in mind. This leads me on to the AGM – the agenda is attached with this newsletter. If you are unable to attend but wish to comment on any item, please let me know in writing or via email if you prefer and I shall input any comment to discussions we have at the time. As I have mentioned on previous occasions, it is YOUR Association and the future lies with you to support events and or make proposals for what you would like to see happening within the Association. While all the items are equally important, may I draw your attention to two items – the visit to South America in 2019 to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Battle and Association Merchandise. At the presentation day for the Chilean Earthquake Medal, initial discussions were held with the Chilean Ambassador and he expressed his support for a visit to coincide with a visit to Montevideo. THE LONGEST TOW? If you are interested in going please let Malcolm know and he can keep you updated as plans take shape. The other item is Association Merchandise – what would you like – this applies to items for Picked this up on Facebook. Don't know anything the ladies as well; in addition items which can be given on special occasions e.g. the visit to South about it so perhaps someone could enlighten me America. please? The AGM is the opportunity to share your thoughts, so please take a few moments to drop either 1982 Indian Ocean – The Singapore Island myself or Malcolm a line. The Newsletter is one of the best that is in circulation but it does rely on Incident … lost all propulsion … towed by Ajax contributions from members. So please take the time to send Malcolm an article for inclusion in … thought to be one of the longest tows in naval future issues. history? The poster remembers getting a share in Peter Danks Chairman the salvage money. Malcolm Collis 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR REPORT Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR Thanks to everyone who contributed material for this Newsletter. If you do see any material in 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis any way connected to Ajax, sailors, the sea or similar, that you think may be interesting or Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road humorous please send it to me. Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, Even though the Newsletters are only every three months it soon comes round and again a holiday Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU near the issue date has meant a rushed end. Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 [email protected] [email protected] Talking of holidays; I haven't done too much on the 2019 South America trip this period as I have been waiting to see what comes out of the Reunion AGM when we debate it. Also on the agenda is the MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ question of merchandise and we shall need to think about what we take out to South America – all SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER three ships for the first stage and Ajax & Exeter for the second – any ideas will be welcomed. Mrs Judi Collis Alan (George/Phil) Phillips Alf Larkin Malcolm Collis The Bewicks, Station Road 8 Orchard Way Lime Kiln Cottage Ten Mile Bank 2 Easton Lane Send Hill STANDARD BEARER REPORT – Alf Larkin Norfolk PE38 0EU Send Portland Dorset DT5 1BW Tel: 01366 377945 Surrey GU23 7HS Since the last report the Standard has been paraded at the following events. Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01305 457259 [email protected] Tel: 01483 223299 [email protected] 2nd April Civic Service at Easton Methodist Church Portland [email protected] 25th April Anzac Day Wreath Laying Ceremony Weymouth Seafront 15th May John Garrard's Funeral Colchester Essex www.hmsajax.org 6th June D Day Remembrance Service Victoria Gardens Portland 18th June Armed Forces Veterans Parade Weymouth Seafront CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS 21st June Weymouth Mayor Civic Service, Upwey Church Weymouth 31st July 100 year Battle of Passchendaele Service at Easton Methodist Church Portland I hope you have all had a pleasant summer in mixed weather. It hardly seems possible that we will be 11th August Ted Wicks' Funeral Godalming Surrey putting the clocks back next month!!! The Association has suffered another sad loss with the passing of Ted Wicks, another River Plate Veteran. There was an excellent attendance at his funeral in Armed Forces Veterans Parade – Alf in the middle! Godalming on 11th August – my thanks to all those who attended. We are pleased that Frank Burton, Albert Smith, Jim London and Basil Trott continue to be in good health. The committee have acted on the proposal passed at the last AGM to hold this year's Reunion in Stafford. However the uptake has not been as good as expected, especially as we have asked Isle of Wight Tours to make the arrangements for this year. I would like to suggest that if members at the AGM support a date and venue for the Reunion, that good support is given. Your support is essential if the Reunion is to be a success. It is the one event of the year which everyone has the opportunity to attend. The committee are very keen to implement what members want and I thought for our first visit north of Portsmouth or Gillingham there would have been more support. When considering the date and venue for next year, please bear this in mind. This leads me on to the AGM – the agenda is attached with this newsletter. If you are unable to attend but wish to comment on any item, please let me know in writing or via email if you prefer and I shall input any comment to discussions we have at the time. As I have mentioned on previous occasions, it is YOUR Association and the future lies with you to support events and or make proposals for what you would like to see happening within the Association. While all the items are equally important, may I draw your attention to two items – the visit to South America in 2019 to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Battle and Association Merchandise. At the presentation day for the Chilean Earthquake Medal, initial discussions were held with the Chilean Ambassador and he expressed his support for a visit to coincide with a visit to Montevideo. THE LONGEST TOW? If you are interested in going please let Malcolm know and he can keep you updated as plans take shape. The other item is Association Merchandise – what would you like – this applies to items for Picked this up on Facebook. Don't know anything the ladies as well; in addition items which can be given on special occasions e.g. the visit to South about it so perhaps someone could enlighten me America. please? The AGM is the opportunity to share your thoughts, so please take a few moments to drop either 1982 Indian Ocean – The Singapore Island myself or Malcolm a line. The Newsletter is one of the best that is in circulation but it does rely on Incident … lost all propulsion … towed by Ajax contributions from members. So please take the time to send Malcolm an article for inclusion in … thought to be one of the longest tows in naval future issues. history? The poster remembers getting a share in Peter Danks Chairman the salvage money. Malcolm Collis 4. 5.

MEMORIES OF THE FALKLANDS CONFLICT water line we sailed quietly into the sound. Radar spotted a contact some 5 miles in front and up went the Lynx to calibrate our fire. 15 HE to clear their decks then followed by a few salvos into the boat. This account came in from member Glyn Seagrave (Ajax 1975-77) The Islas Des Los Estados erupted into a huge mushroom cloud of flame. It had been carrying Portland, 1st April 1982. We thought it was an April fool, Argentines landing in South Georgia and aviation fuel. 22 dead, 3 survived. No point being quiet now, we made as much a nuisance as we the Falkland Islands. Immediate store ship all leave cancelled. Some crew didn't know where the could. At the top of the channel HMS Arrow was waiting for us and we steamed away as only a type 21 Falklands were. I was a can with all Olympus and Tyne engines at full speed. Again we had been lucky as we later found out member of the ship's company ARA Santa Fe submarine had fired 2 torpedoes at us but they failed. Back to the gun line for us now, aboard the type 21 frigate HMS night time firing as the Argies wouldn't fly at night. We learned 5 land-based exocets had been fired at Alacrity (as was Clive Morris us. who gave an account in the last 25 May 1982. We knew something would happen - Argentine's National Day. It did! We were in close newsletter). We'd just come out proximity to SS Atlantic Conveyor when it got hit by 2 exocet missiles. It had no chance, no water tight of refit and had just about doors to fight the fires and ammunition and fuel all over the place. We fought the fires as best we could completed our 6 week work up from their starboard quarter, trying to shield the crew when they abandoned ship from the swell. There to battle readiness that you do was a real danger the Conveyor would explode so we cast lines to life rafts and slowly moved astern at Portland when you've been dragging them with us. We rescued 76 crew members and had 3 fatalities on board. We committed in refit. So ... we were ready, on their bodies to the deep the next day. 2 days later, we bade farewell to the survivors as they were the ball, let's roll! We sailed to transferred to the British Tay and other ships in the fleet. Plymouth our home port and I subbed a married man who Ironically for us, the sinking of the Conveyor shortened our war. By June 6th our gun barrel had lived in Plymouth so he could expired after firing constantly on the gun line. The replacement barrel had been on the Conveyor. say goodbye to his missis. I Woodward sent us home 12 days before the conflict officially ended. We sailed into Plymouth on June said my goodbyes by telephone 25, battered by the south Atlantic, a rusty, battle weary 21 came home. There was more than a man and as all my tribe lived away. My a dog this time. We were the Navy's first ship home. The welcome back was incredible. last call was to a Wren I'm still in touch with some members of the Atlantic Conveyor, we have a special bond between us. telephonist I'd been seeing at We recently had a memorial service at the Merchant Navy's church in Liverpool, St Nicholas, on May HMS Warrior, my previous draft "Bridgette (she knew my mam), if you hear anything that she should 12th; crosses were laid at the Atlantic Conveyor's memorial. A night we try to forget, but can't, is now know, please do the right thing for me". She knew what I meant! bonded in friendship that only a conflict can bring. 5th April 1982. We sailed from Plymouth, very foggy peasouper, with the ill-fated HMS Antelope, Glyn met up with Clive Morris, who now lives in the States, at the end of May in Plymouth for the another Type 21 frigate, astern of us. No great ceremony for us, we could just make out a man and his 35th Alacrity anniversary. dog on the Hoe. We made our way into the Channel and loads of exercises while we waited for the rest of the fleet to catch us up. The transit to Ascension Island was more of the same; loads of exercises and meetings. It all seemed COMMEMORATIVE PLATE so far away. At Ascension we stored up again, the fleet was here and suddenly it all seemed so real as I received a message from a Ralph Edwards, Retired RCN, Friends of HMCS Haida, Hamilton, the skies were full of helos bringing stores to all the ships that had been flown south. As suddenly as Ontario. As it so happens, the Association visited the Haida, the only surviving Tribal-class destroyer we arrived we set sail ... mass movement to avoid a Soviet satellite orbit spying on our movements. and now a museum ship, last August on route to the Niagara Falls. The further south the colder it became and soon we were being battered by the South Atlantic's worst. They had just come across a plate showing HMS Ajax and on the back; Shelley's England Bone China 5/560 Commemorating the action off The River Plate and enquired if we knew anything about it. May 1st 1982. Kick off. We'd sailed around a minefield south of Port Stanley. I was lookout on the I hadn't seen anything like it and not being an expert I took to Google and replied to Ralph: You've bridge: HMS Glamorgan, HMS Arrow then us on the gun line. We shelled Port Stanley airfield for a probably already searched on the internet but I can find nothing resembling your plate. Shelly was a good 40 mins when the Argentine Skyhawks came from Pebble Island, low over the island so our Staffordshire, England, pottery producing a wide range of china up to 1966 when it was taken over. radar didn't see them - 4 of them. Suddenly one burst into flames, shot down by some of his own men The plate would therefore have been produced between 1939, the Battle date and 1966. I would from the airfield. Big cheer but then the others came for us one to each ship. I saw the Glamorgan hit imagine it was produced for an by canon before I was pulled down by the Master at Arms to cover. I looked up again and the Arrow anniversary and during that was also strafed ... us next and as I looked astern two 1,000lb bombs straddled our ship. Luckily the time possibly the 10th in 1949, timers were faulty and they exploded in our wake, but damaged some deck plates. The Skyhawks 20th in 1959 or 25th in 1964. disappeared and we made our way back to the fleet. Our helo had been up and had been harassed by The HMS Ajax & River Plate an Argentine tug (later captured and renamed HMS Tiger Bay). A bullet had passed through the Veterans Association didn't windscreen and missed the pilots head by inches; one had passed through the driveshaft. A wake up form until 1965 so probably call for sure. didn't emanate from them, Most of the next few nights consisted of shooting the Argentines positions with our 4.5 inch gun and bearing in mind the 1966 cut-off clandestine landings of SBS spotters for the gun line. date. 11th May 1982. We became the Royal Navy's largest minesweeper. Admiral Woodward wanted to Any experts out there? know if the channel of water between the islands had been mined. We were to find out that if indeed it Malcolm Collis had - we would announce it to the fleet with our own destruction. With as many as possible above the 4. 5.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2017 damaged. At the beginning of 1942, Ajax returned to the UK for a refit and Ted was transferred to HMS Cleopatra in time for a new convoy to Malta which sailed from Alexandria on 20th March 1942. I hope you all enjoy this edition of the Newsletter and are enjoying good health; sadly several The ship was soon in action – known as the Second Battle of Sirte and on 22nd March 14 men were members with increasing age are not as fit as they used to be, our best wishes and thoughts are with killed and Ted was among the 5 badly injured crew. Ted was mistakenly put on the dead pile before you all. It's just a month away from our reunion up in Staffordshire – voted for at last year's reunion. someone saw his legs twitch - he lost an eye and half a stomach. The doctors said he'd push thirty five, At the time of writing the numbers attending are very low. Please if you haven't already contacted maybe forty. As his granddaughter said, they clearly IOW Tours and booked your place do so ASAP tel 01983405116. It's really important if we are to didn't know Ted. Many operations followed over the keep the Association going that we know what you, our members, would like. I've received apologies next two years. On discharge from hospital and from some of you because of prearranged events or unable to travel due to increasing age and eventually from the Royal Navy, Ted joined Shell as a mobility but from many of you we have had no response either negative or positive. The AGM is communications expert. He had maintained a 'pen your chance to tell us what you want; have your say or even volunteer to take a role on the committee! pal' relationship with a girl from Rio who he had met The agenda is included with this newsletter so please if you are unable to attend then email, message, for two hours before the war – when Joyce came to write or phone to any of the committee (contact details on the inside of the front page. England and they were married. His work took them I emailed or sent notes with the June newsletter with status of membership fees – many thanks to all over the world. Sadly Joyce died quite some time those of you who responded and paid but I had some promises of payment that have not arrived and ago as did his second wife Ray. the rest, as above, again just NO response. The end of our financial year is August 31st so that the Wicks Avenue in Ajax is named in his honour and by Treasurer can get the books audited in time for the AGM and so I ask you please if you owe for 2016- coincidence one of our Ajax honorary members, 17 to settle up. For those paying by the subscribe button on the website then future payments are on Debbie Steer's son Greg lived in the very street and the anniversary of that date, likewise standing orders. I request that the subs for 2017-18 are paid by they were photographed together at the 2016 Reunion the end of January so that I, if re-elected as membership secretary, will not be wasting valuable time in Portsmouth. chasing payments in the March, June and September Newsletters. Details of how to pay are below. Mike Fox's partner Karen Young lost her courageous Crossed the Bar battle with ill health and Sadly I have to report the deaths of one member and one associate. passed away peacefully on 9th August. We remember Karen ALBERT EDWARD 'TED' WICKS died on 13th July 2017 at the age of 96 (born 4th September at many events, always 1920) cheerful and supportive of Ted was well known to many members being a great supporter of the Mike, pictured here at the Association. His funeral was held at Guildford Crematorium on Friday 11th NMA memorial dinner in August with an excellent turn out of members with Alf Larkin and Dan 2016,. Sherren parading the Association and RNA Standards respectively. The funeral will be held on st Ted numbered amongst the remaining River Plate veterans. Our Chairman 31 August and will be Peter Danks delivered an interesting eulogy covering his naval life from reported upon in the next which the following extracts are taken along with some from Ted's Newsletter, granddaughter Savanna: At 15, after failing to enter the Merchant Navy, he opted for the Royal Navy New members in 1936 where he trained as a visual signaller and after a spell in HMS RAMILLES he was drafted to HMS AJAX, where he spent most of his Bob Chalmers lives in Warminster service. In 1938 he was bound for the South America and West Indies Wiltshire. His father James Waugh Station. Following The Battle of the River Plate when Ajax was in for a refit Chalmers served on board Ajax from 1938 – in Chatham in June 1940 Ted was detailed to help with the evacuation of Dunkirk. 41. He was a member of the Gun crew of Y Later the Mediterranean was where the Turret at The River Plate until the mounting ship and Ted spent a considerable time. was jammed by an enemy shell which failed In October 1940, while escorting four to explode. James crossed the bar in ships to Malta, she came under attack December 1990 aged 77. Bob has donated with the loss of 13 men and suffered various items to the museum in Portsmouth damage which had to be repaired in and has sent us a disc of pictures, this one of Malta. Ted also saw action at the Battle Ajax being painted - James is looking of Matapan in March 1941. towards the camera. Germany declared war on Greece in April 1941 and Ajax helped to land 58,000 troops there and was soon involved in the subsequent evacuation during which she was seriously 6. 7.

Jan Masters has also joined us as an Associate THE ATTEMPT TO SELL HMS AJAX TO CHILE member. Wife of Nigel for over 40 years. Nigel was A story blending an icon, religion, politics, patriotism, history and discovery. cook on the frigate from 1976-78. Jan is usually at By Clive Sharplin, Associate Member. home working when Nigel attends our reunions and events, but Nigel has promised to bring her along In 1948 the Admiralty declared that HMS Ajax, a Leander class light cruiser would be sold, not an more often! unusual event for a ship that was being retired after an economic life span of active duty of some 14 years in extremely arduous service surviving some of the Royal Navy's most tumultuous battles of World War 2 including the Battle of the River Plate, the Malta Convoys, Matapan, plus the Mediterranean, Crete and Normandy campaigns among others. A mixture of the dedication of her crews, the skills of her Commanders, the nine Battle Honours she had won and the political propaganda that government had embroiled her with meant she had become an icon of the modern Royal Navy. Churchill's words from his famous speech at a luncheon in the City of London's Mansion NEWS House when her crew were honoured after the Battle of the River Plate “the very mention of her name; I have had good news from Estelle Dolby's daughter Dee that Estelle is back at home and made in a dark cold winter it warms the cockles of the British heart” expressed fervent patriotism. several changes and has found things she enjoys doing. Her interests have moved away from Ajax but However, the British public and press opinion swelled into indignation when they became aware of she will cherish the memories and the people she met but she no longer wishes to receive our negotiations for her sale to Chile, the Admiralty were viewed as selling a national icon to a country Newsletters. I have sent best wishes for the future from the Association to Dee to pass on to her. who just months earlier had attempted to infringe upon British Antarctic territory, it was an insult to every Briton! It was a similar later action by Argentina which provoked a political standoff with the Happy Birthday to the following Members who have birthdays in this Newsletter period United Kingdom which led to the Falklands war in 1982, a 72 day conflict over the sovereignty of the (June - August) incl. Falkland, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands which resulted in an Argentine surrender and Martin Roland Frigate 1967-69 68 on 5th June withdrawal. John Galway Frigate 1977-79 58 on 6th June Bob McMorran Frigate 1968-70 77 on 18th June Chile's (and Argentina's) claim to territorial rights in the Peter Danks Frigate 1965-66 78 on 20th June Antarctica have and still are based upon patently shallow if not Allan Lorriman Cruiser 1943-46 92 on 21st June fundamentally flawed foundations - firstly through claims made Peter Buckingham Cruiser 1946-47 90 on 26th June by the Spanish Empire and mediated through the then recognised Kevin Syder Frigate 1975-79 58 on 30th June arbiter, the Catholic Church, by the Treaty of Tordesillas signed Mark Sheldon Frigate 1982-85 55 on 4th July on June 7th 1494 between Spain and Portugal. The Tordesillas Vic Wilson Frigate 1963-65 72 on 14th July Treaty had later been reinforced by a Papal Bull Es Quae pro Roy Blowers Cruiser 1942-43 92 on 16th July bono pacis issued in 1506. This effectively carved up the newly William Parker Cruiser 1945-46 96 on 17th July discovered portions of the world and by implication, the Fred Coates Frigate 1974-78 78 on 26th July unknown parts, between the Catholic realms of Spain and Dan Sherren Frigate 1977-79 71 on 28th July Portugal. With the later demise of the Spanish empire both Chile Alf Larkin Frigate 1976-78 71 on 4th August and Argentina appear to have assumed Spain's lost mantle as Alan Styth Frigate 1976-77 60 on 10th August rightly being theirs in making their claims based upon their Richard Llewellyn Cruiser 1943-44 92 on 14th August historic Catholic connections. This was more than somewhat Robert Taylor Frigate 1973-74 67 on 14th August premature as Antarctica was not discovered until some 300 years Donald Birrell Cruiser 1946-47 90 on 16th August later! Wilbert Curran Frigate 1967-68 76 on 31st August

The Treaty of Tordesillas Happy birthday to all our Associates; because of the numbers and space I don't individually list you. Originals of the Treaty are kept at the Archivo General de Indias in Spain and the Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo in Portugal There are lots of impressive dates here. Many congratulations to all of you and best wishes for a happy and healthy year ahead. History records many claims from as early as 1622 by seamen of a wide variety of nations but the present SUBSCRIPTIONS claimants of the eventual discovery of Antarctica is Many thanks to all of you who have sent subscriptions either to me or paid by electronic means by now often erroneously attributed to a German-born bank transfer or using the 'subscribe' or 'donate' buttons on our website. Russian naval officer Captain Fabian Gottlieb von Bank details: HMS Ajax and River Plate Veterans Assoc Bellingshausen who on January 27th 1820 with the Account no. 24865868, sort code 30-99-56. ships Vostok and Mirnyi was leading an expedition Cheques payable to HMS Ajax & RPVA sent to Membership Secretary, The Bewicks, Station Road, following in Cook's footsteps. Reaching 24? Ten Mile Bank Norfolk PE38 0EU longitude where Cook had turned away If you pay by bank transfer please email me as there is a long delay before I see the statements. Bellingshausen pressed on and made the first Judi Collis sighting of the Antarctic and circumnavigated the Membership Secretary An unknown artist's impression of the brig The Williams continent, Bellingshausen reached 69° 21'S, 2° 14'W rounding Cape Horn on passage from Buenos Aires to 01366 377945, 07736929641 for texts (land line best for calls) [email protected] Valparaiso 8. 9.

- describing it as an "icefield covered with small hillocks”. invaded the British territories of The Falkland islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands There is however a wealth of material and authorative sources such as British Admiralty records, prompting what became known as the Falkland's war when the United Kingdom immediately papers of various scientific bodies including the Standing Committee on Antarctic Research and launched a counter offensive. 72 days later Argentina surrendered and withdrew but the fundamental contemporary accounts like The Journal of Midshipman C W Poynter attributing the discovery to an issue of sovereignty still remains with some observers expecting Argentina's aspirations to strengthen Englishman, a master mariner Captain William Smith in his ship The Williams out of Blyth, with the UK's involvement in Brexit offering her another opportunity. Northumberland, a square rigged 215 ton brig, built in 1811 at the Blyth yard of Messrs Alexander One would have expected this sensitivity between Chile and the UK to have evaporated when in and John Davison (Appendix 1). January 1939 HMS Ajax on her first commission was deployed to Chile together with the cruiser Smith was sailing with a cargo from Buenos Aires to Valparaiso and had sailed further south round HMS Exeter to render humanitarian assistance to local authorities to rescue victims of an earthquake the Horn attempting to catch more favourable winds and had possibly been blown further south. He which occurred on January 27th at Talcuahano. This appears to be the case as in recognition of this was possibly the first to cross the Antarctic Circle since Cook 40 years earlier. On 19 February 1819 humanitarian act Chile presented medals to all crew members for their service in the tragedy, albeit he spotted new land at 62? south and 60? west but did not land on it, this was a full year before some were not formally presented until early 2017 at a ceremony in Cambridge. To be fair to the Bellingshausen's sighting. On reaching Valparaiso on the 11th March 1819 Smith reported his Chilean authorities this delay was almost certainly caused by a breakdown in correspondence several discovery to Captain William Henry Shirreff of the frigate HMS Andromache (Appendix 2) the decades earlier when our Association was in its infancy and a single person was performing all of the senior Royal Naval officer on the Pacific Coast of South America who was initially sceptical of the roles now occupied by the committee. This breakdown was only discovered in 2016 by Malcolm report reputably thinking Smith was confused by sighting only ice. One year later however Williams Collis our Archivist who thankfully promptly put this to rights resulting in this year's investiture. arrived again after retracing his earlier route but that time having made records of his sightings and Against this background the sale of Ajax to Chile was vehemently opposed by Sir Winston Churchill had landed claiming King George island in the process and also the archipelago of the South then Leader of the Opposition who is attributed as the driving influence that stopped the sale process Shetland Islands for England, Shirreff became convinced, so he hired Williams and his ship to make a believing that Ajax as one of the Royal Navy's most iconic ships of recent times should not be sold. survey of the Islands and placed on board alongside Williams Lieutenant Edward Bransfield Royal The Illustrated London News having referred to Chilean incursions into British Antarctic quoted Navy as a witness and three midshipmen C.E Paynter, Thomas Maine Bone and Patrick J Blake. Churchill as saying “nothing could at this moment humiliate Britain throughout South America more They arrived back in Antarctica two days after Bellingshausen's so called “discovery” and they went than the sale of this ship to Chile … it is like selling the shirt that Nelson wore at Trafalgar to General on to discover the Antarctic Peninsula. Credit for this voyage often appears again to be handed out Franco and getting a little extra for the bloodstains.” A cynic might suggest that being a wily erroneously this time to Bransfield alone. From then on there were regular reports of sightings and politician he knew he would gain increased popularity in so doing - or it may have been that he had a landings by a long succession of visitors in the region initially mostly sealers who quickly hunted the personal fondness for Ajax as he had twice been 1st Lord of the Admiralty (1911-1915 & 1939 - seal population almost to the edge of extinction. So for Chile to claim any manner of sovereignty was 1940), and had on several occasions been on board the ship, thus endorsing his opinion as to her iconic and still is patently just ludicrous. status. Smith Island and Cape Smith in the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica are named after William An unofficial Log of Ajax's Ship's Movements held in the Ajax archive at Chatham Historic Smith. He was to die in 1847 in obscurity and poverty, residing in an alms-house, still waiting for Dockyard's library detailed the sale process succinctly in stating: promised financial compensation for his discoveries from a seemingly forever parsimonious 16/2/48 Arrived Chatham & paid off. Preparations made for fitting out Ajax for sale to Chile. Admiralty. 1948 Ajax laid up on the River Fal while the question of eventual sale or demolition was The Treaty Tordesillas has never been recognised by the European non-Catholic countries including discussed. France, Britain, the Netherlands and even Russia who all considered these unknown lands to be Terra 3/49 Sale to Chile cancelled. Nullius, “no man's land or uninhabited ” or theirs for the taking. This basic collective attitude became In 1949 the choice of selling Ajax into service with the Chilean Navy was rejected and changed to one - who finds it claims it, which evolved into “by raising a flag, announcing a few words detailing who of selling her for scrap. But even then Ajax was reluctant to go to her demise as whilst under tow from was claiming it, they became entitled to its sovereignty, took it and kept it.” Any indigenous the River Fal to the scrapyard she ran aground on 9 November 1949, however she was quickly re- population was completely disregarded, their land was treated as “Terra Nullius”. Australia is a floated and on the 18th November 1949 arrived at the demolition wharf in Cashmore's Newport yard, prime example where shamefully the indigenous Aborigines after some 60,000 years of peaceful South Wales for breaking up, by the end of 1950 she had been completely demolished except with the residence were displaced and condemned to be treated as “fauna”. The Aborigines one day saw prior removal of her anchor and ship's bell into safe keeping. The bell was presented to the city of landing on their shore a group of white people all wearing trousers with strange objects on their heads Montevideo where it was installed in the courtyard of the maritime museum from where it was later who they were to learn later were led by a fellow named James Cook who came ashore from, to stolen and never recovered. aboriginal eyes, a peculiar giant floating tree, Cook pushed a stick with a rag on it into the sandy shore (later to be named Sydney Cove) and spoke to them in an unknown language. In fact the aborigines To our eternal regret no one appeared to have thought of preserving Ajax, as was done almost 20 years deduced many of these white people were warriors who all looked the same and carried long sticks later, with the heavy Cruiser HMS Belfast now a fine Museum ship moored off the Tower of London that made a noise and smoked causing their animals to die and sometimes their people. From this or in 1977 when the last existing “C” Class destroyer HMS Cavalier was converted to a Museum ship incident they were to lose their land, their culture, their sovereignty and it forever changed their lives, which after several berths was eventually preserved from 1999 at Chatham Historic Dockyard joining even today they still do not possess full equality and suffer discrimination in a modern affluent HMS Ocelot the preserved Oberon Class Submarine. Let us hope that Ajax lived on in other quality society; a scenario which is front and centre of national domestic embarrassment. forms such as precision tools, ploughs and automotive engine blocks or even in castings or plate in other Royal Navy ships. But her name will always live on in our national history. Since the signing of The Treaty of Tordesillas a whole host of various other treaties and/or decrees embracing Antarctica were made between numerous other nations some with the most scant, if any, APPENDICES (1) Ex Junon a French Class Charmanty Frigate, commissioned 2 May 1786. Captured by HMS Bellona at action of 18 June 1799 in the Mediterranean, justification. In the late 1920's and early 1930's there was a flurry of various activities in the region Commissioned into Royal Navy as HMS Princess Charlotte (I), rated a 38 gun, 3 Decker, 5th rate. Renamed 6 January 1812 to HMS Andromache (II), involving France, Britain, Norway, Germany, the USA, Argentina, Chile, the Soviet Union and more Won Battle Honour at Sans Sebastion 1813. Broken up at Deptford June 1828. recently Australia. In 1939 Chile's territorial claims overlapped the claims of both Britain and (2) 2019 is to witness a replica voyage to celebrate the 200th anniversary of William Smith's voyage of discovery from Blyth with a ship already Argentina. Britain had accused Chile of various naval incursions of its territories and relations purchased and being fitted out for the purpose under the auspices of The Blyth Tall Ship Project. between the two countries became quite sensitive. The fallout from these territorial squabbles can ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS….. rapidly escalate to become critically major issues such as that of April 2nd 1982 when Argentina Mr David Sells President - The Coble & Keelboat Society 10. 11.

THE NOT FORGOTTEN GARDEN PARTY THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY – ROAD TO SALVATION? Member Dan Sherren MSM in his capacity as This article by Jonathan Foreman in the Magazine of the Navy League of Australia was sent in by Chairman of No. 4 Area PRO RNA, along with his associate Clive Sharplin. wife Maureen, were honoured to be invited to “The This paper proposes in essence that the Royal Not Forgotten Association*” Garden Party at Navy cannot be saved in its current form and that Buckingham Palace, hosted by His Royal Highness the problems are likely to be terminal. He Prince Henry of Wales KCVO on Tuesday 30th May describes the RN as little better than a token force, 2017. manifestly unable to carry out many of the Dan sent in the following report: missions expected. Decision makers are unwilling The security organisation for this event was to face up to the obligations required of a major excellent, as it had to be bearing in mind the tragic maritime power. occasion in Manchester of the week before. The two Parts are lengthy and can be found here My wife Maureen and I joined over 2000 former and should you wish to read the full account: serving members of the armed forces on a fair http://votesindefence.org.uk/the-british-royal- HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Portsmouth Harbour for the first weather day with just a threat of rain which luckily navy-road-to-salvation-part-i/ time did not materialise. The meet and greet team were at their best, full of energy and polite humour which made us feel so welcome. Her Majesty the Queen was not in attendance but her MIKE CRANSWICK – AJAX VISIT absence was made up in good measure by His Royal Mike Cranswick and his partner Kathy Marshall visited Canada in May this year. Mike, who served in Highness Prince Henry of Wales KCVO (Harry) who kept 1976 on the 8th HMS Ajax Frigate has his name listed on the Memorial Wall. The trip was mentioned in his security team on their toes, wanting to stop to talk to the last Newsletter and here is Mike's “diary” everyone he came across during his walkabout. Music was provided by the Band of the Corps of the Royal “Friday 5th May 2017 we landed in Toronto to be greeted with steady rainfall. We learnt that Ontario Engineers under the direction of Captain Oliver Jeans, had received an almost unprecedented amount of rainfall in the previous weeks with water levels at the Corps of Army Music who also performed a beating of the Lake causing great concern. The folk living on the Toronto Islands were on the verge of being retreat. Pipe music was played by Pipe Major Duffy, Scots evacuated, with all ferries being cancelled. Guards Association and Lance Corporal Spence, Irish We stayed at the Grand Hotel and Suites, a couple of blocks from the Eaton Centre, making the city Guards. walkable. Although rain was forecast to continue for the weekend, it held off and we were able to An excellent tea was served followed by lashings of explore the city. strawberries Having done some of the main tourist sites on a previous visit, we walked to an area called Kensington and cream; the caterers had obviously done all this Market, not really a market, but a couple of blocks of quirky shops, cafes and bars, more for the before and we made a point of thanking the bohemian and alternative, but interesting none the less. Management team of the company, Ampersand, who Sunday we did the Steam Whistle Brewery tour, which at $12 was good value, as it included a couple of seemed a little taken aback, not being used to being beers and tasters. That same day, we met The Royal Canadian Navy who were in the city centre thanked! celebrating The Battle of the Atlantic, complete with band. His Royal Highness departed around 1700 and we The following day on the recommendation of Hotel bar staff, we went to Don Valley, a few minutes boarded our coach to return to the Union Jack Club outside Toronto to visit The Evergreen Brickworks, this is a reclaimed 'Green' park situated at an old dropping off the Chelsea Pensioners en-route. Brickworks site that used to supply the bricks that built most of Toronto. Fun and educational, it is one *a unique national tri-service charity which provides of the world's top Geotourism sites, cafe, restaurant and good walking trails, one in particular to entertainment and recreation for the benefit of the serving 'Lookout Point' which gives great and alternate views of the Toronto skyline. Public transport easily wounded, injured or sick and for ex-service men and woman gets you to Broadview Station for a couple of dollars, from where there is then a free shuttle to the with disabilities Brickworks, highly recommended for a couple of hours. In the afternoon we managed to get on one of the first operational ferries to Toronto Islands, so that we could get those iconic water shots of the skyline, albeit, it was only running to Wards Island as the others were still inaccessible. Flooding prevented any real exploration and we returned about an hour later, THE NAME LIVES ON complete with skyline snapshots. Monday evening, we went fine dining at 'Canoe' Restaurant, downtown inside the TD Tower and 54 Member Alan Phillips was holidaying in Florida in the spring floors high. I had booked weeks in advance on the recommendation of a friend. Fabulous views of the when he spotted this famous product in a Dollar Store. city, lake and beyond and we timed it to be there for sunset, which was amazing. Not cheap, but great This made me think – what happened to the UK Ajax powder service and food. cleaner so familiar a few years ago? A quick Google and it seems Tuesday, we picked up a rental car and headed off to Niagara Falls where we spent a couple of hours you can still get the product here – just shows how much notice I admiring one of the world's natural wonders, before driving the Niagara Parkway to Niagara-on-the- take as I pilot the shopping trolley up and down the aisles! Lake where we spent Tuesday night. A pretty town with history and an array of small shops, cafes and Malcolm Collis restaurants. After breakfast in the town, we left Niagara-on-the-Lake and hugged the lakeside as we drove back towards Toronto. I was later to learn that there are two seasons in Ontario, one is winter and the other is 12. 13.

Construction! It was a slow drive, hampered by the never ending roadworks. We opted then to get on CAPTAIN PETER COBB RN RTD OBE - OBITUARY to the Expressway, I should say that Expressway is a contradiction in terms as it was worse than the M25! Captain Peter Cobb died peacefully on 24th June aged 87. He devoted his life to Queen and Country, We eventually arrived in Ajax late afternoon and unloaded at the Hilton Garden Inn. Early evening we as a Naval Officer for 33 years and as Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. met Debbie Steer and her son Greg and headed off to Magwyers Pub for food, beer and chit chat. The funeral was held at St Mary's Convent, Burlington Lane, Chiswick W4 2QE on Wednesday 5th Thursday morning, Debbie and Greg picked us up early and we went on a tour of the town and outlying July. areas. There was very little that was recognizable from 1976. We went out to Oshawa to see where the The entry on our website shows he was Captain of HMS Ajax 1st March 1977 to 27th December 1978. ship had docked and also Intrepid Park, site of Camp X, the former Spy School. Onwards then to Veterans Point Gardens for a sneak peek at the wall (more on that tomorrow). It was bitterly cold and Peter Cobb was born in Shanghai in 1930, and educated at Wellington College and the Royal Naval we headed off to The Royal Canadian Legion for replenishments. I took some time to look at the ship's College, Dartmouth. He served in the East Indies and the Mediterranean as a Midshipman before anchor standing proudly outside and wondered about the logistics of getting it there. joining the Submarine Branch in 1950. Fortunately, some things hadn't changed as I recalled spending many a very happy hour inside Branch 322, quaffing copious amounts of beer. We met Butch Andrews, Vice President and ex-navy, who As a Lieutenant he took command in 1958 of HMS Seneschal in the Home Fleet. Promoted to recalled the visit of '76 and taking crew into his home; we sank a couple of beers and everyone there Lieutenant-Commander in 1962, he was appointed to HMS Narwhal until 1964, when he was had a tale to tell of that historic occasion. promoted Commander and appointed to the Submarine Tactical Analysis Establishment at Rothesay An obligatory barbecue followed at Debbie's home where we watched the television footage of the '76 until 1965. He next took over the submarine HMS Dreadnought until 1969, when he joined the staff of visit Director of Naval Plans at the Ministry of Defence in London. Friday morning we attended the Town Hall where we met Councillor Pat Brown and other officials and He was promoted Captain in 1970, and after leaving the Ministry of Defence took command of HMS staff. We had a very interesting tour of the Hall, taking in all the various artefacts and memorabilia that Gurkha from 1970 to 1971, in UK waters, the Persian Gulf and the Far East. In 1972 he moved to are proudly on display. In the council chambers we stood for photographs by the ship's bell before I was Devonport where he commanded the Second Submarine Squadron. Following a course at the Royal presented with a street sign in my name. Completely unexpected, I was both humbled and College of Defence Studies Captain Cobb was appointed to Fleet Headquarters, Assistant Chief of overwhelmed. Pat took us down to Veterans Point where today, it was a bit warmer and we spent more time admiring what the town has put in place. It really is quite stunning and a credit to Ajax. Lunch was Staff, Operations, at Northwood in 1975 until January 1977. then at Magwyers and we were joined by Regional Councillors Colleen Jordan and Shaun Collier. He was appointed to HMS Ajax in March, 1977, and also became Captain of the Eighth Frigate After farewells were bid, we decided to get on the expressway to Toronto before the start of the Squadron. In September 1977 HMS Ajax was adopted by the City of Truro at the Centenary weekend frenzy and made our way to the airport hotel for our overnight stay prior to the morning flight Celebrations. The ship was re-dedicated on 3 December 1977 after a seven-month refit at Devonport. out of Canada. The service was attended by Sir Desmond and Lady Dreyer, and the Mayors of Ajax, Canada, and the I cannot say enough about the welcome we received, it was reminiscent of the welcome we all received City of Truro. over 40 years ago, the town is rightly proud of its unique history and this is evident everywhere. We will definitely return. In April, 1978, the Ajax went to the assistance of an Indian merchant vessel, the State of Kerala, near Falmouth. She had defective steering and was dragging her anchor. A messenger line was passed, but before the tow could be passed, the Kerala surged ahead, towing her anchor. The Ajax, also dragging her anchor, was unable to move seaward without risking a collision, but eventually the Kerala passed WILL THERE EVER BE ANOTHER AJAX? clear and the Ajax, then within a few cables off shore, was able to move into deeper waters. Many of you will recall that when we were making arrangements to commemorate the 75th Captain Cobb left the Ajax in December, 1978. anniversary of The Battle of the River Plate in 2014 the Association was to be invited to the keel laying ceremony of the 7th Astute submarine to be named Ajax … there was some slippage!

Montevideo A 6ft bronze eagle from the Admiral Graf Spee, the German battleship sunk off Uruguay after the battle of the River Plate, is to be auctioned after being salvaged from the wreck. Bids are at $26 million.

Peter Danks responded to Clive: Yes this is an ongoing issue - depends who you talk to. Early last Thanks to Karen Skilling year I spoke to the outgoing First Sea Lord and he said there would not be a submarine named Ajax in (Associate – daughter of Bill the Astute class - run out of money I guess. This was confirmed when I spoke to the present First Sea Swanston) who spotted this in the Lord who gave me a politicians' answer earlier this year. But when my son emailed someone at BAE Times – we may have to increase Systems about 18 months ago, he was told there would be an Ajax coming through. the subscriptions if we are to get So the answer to your question is that I do not know for certain but I suspect it is pretty doubtful. This our bids in! is a great shame to all of us I know. If I do hear of anything certain, be assured our members will be the first to know. 14. 15.

CROSSING THE LINE – FOLLOW UP IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE – Malcolm Collis In the June 2017 Newsletter the production of “Crossing the Line Certificates” featured. Just when I Brenda Kriz sent me Charlie Maggs' biography as it mentioned the Chilean Bronze Plaque and this thought I had solved the mystery of the certificates Alec Taylor, whose father's certificate was within reminded me of the tale my father, Joseph Heber Collis, told. that article, put the cat amongst the pigeons by pointing out that the entries on the two columns on the My father joined the navy in August 1935 and following training as a Stoker sailed on the SS certificate concluded with the “Battle of the River Plate” with “War” before it. The other Tuscania for Alexandria on 27th January 1936 arriving on 4th February. Most of the Fleet was in the entries relate to the ports visited on that cruise Eastern Mediterranean being brought up to war strength due to the mounting Abyssinian crisis. All and are in capital letters whilst the last two are the new arrivals were gathered together and told to listen for their name and assigned ship – father got not. This strongly suggests the certificates HMS Ajax. Father struck up a friendship with a Charlie Maggs that lasted until father left Ajax at the were produced well after the equator crossing end of the first Commission when she arrived back at her home port of Portsmouth on 6th August on 17th August 1938. Although they could 1937: Charlie remained with Ajax for the second commission as he wished to complete his Spanish have been added later, how would it be known course started on board and father was drafted to HMS Acheron, one of the local defence Flotilla of that two panels would be required? destroyers: their paths never crossed again. Alec suggests that the certificates could have Father had tried to join the HMS Ajax & River Plate Association but was barred as he wasn't of the been produced on return to England in 1940. River Plate commission. However, in 2000 he saw a piece in the Navy News about the Association and contacted them again and to his surprise discovered that the Treasurer was none other than I can make out that the certificate has " Printed Charlie Maggs. They had a good long chat on the telephone and looked forward to meeting up again by *** & Miller. The Naval Printers at the October Reunion, 64 years after they had last seen each other. However, fate took a cruel twist Devonport", thereon and the print style of the and Charlie went in for a knee operation but did not survive - he died a week before the reunion. holder's name, date and longitude seem to be the same as the certificate and not added Charles Maggs – HMS Ajax 1935-37 and 1937-40 Extract of separately. Biography (Town of Ajax) As part of my researches I fished out my father's first commission certificate and the style and layout is Charles (Peter) Maggs was assigned to HMS Ajax before World completely different to the second commission one and the name, date and longitude has been added War Two. He was a member of the original steaming party which separately - for some reason he also has one from HMS Perseus from 10th December 1945 which is in a took Ajax from Vickers-Armstrong's builder's yard Barrow-in- still different style with the date and longitude printed but with name added - printed by John Sands Pty Furness on April 12, 1935 to Portsmouth to be fully commissioned Ltd. for service. He was also present when the ship was honoured Whilst Alec may well be right that they were produced at the end of the commission, I just wonder during the final fitting-out period by a visit from The Duke and about the logistics of getting them to those that have moved on to other ships. Frank Burton for Duchess of York, later King George VI and the Queen Mother. example, left Ajax just after the River Plate in the Falklands to set up a radio station and I know he has While in HMS Ajax, Charles worked in the engine room and ran his as it hangs on his wall. the evaporators which turned salt water into fresh water. Unfortunately I had no response from members on the previous article so the mystery will remain just After leaving the Royal Navy Charles joined the police force in that. England where he worked for 26 years before retiring in 1968. Malcolm Collis Charles was a founding member of the HMS Ajax and River Plate Veterans Association and acted as its first treasurer. He was BARNARD COURT - AJAX decorated for his acts of bravery in saving both human and At the beginning of April I received an email from one of our Associates, Colin Barnard, son of Roy animal life while in the Royal Navy, Hastings Borough Police Victor Barnard, (Ajax 24th September 1938 – 24th July 1941 including Chile & River Plate) asking if and Sussex Constabulary. He held the Polish Medal of Valour, it would be possible to receive a street sign and plaque from Ajax for his street, Barnard Court. Roy was a recipient of the Chilean Earthquake Medal that he died in 1974 at the young age of 54. Colin is the only surviving offspring and thought it would be very donated to the Town of Ajax, where it remains on display and unlikely he or his family would ever get out to Canada and he would like his daughters to have some was a member of the Legion of Honour of the Croix de Guerre. reminder of granddad. Colin doesn't know if his father knew about his street in the town of Ajax but if Charlie was at the River Plate taking on the German Pocket he did he never mentioned it. He was a man of very few words. Battleship Admiral Graff Spee, which seems quite fitting: his I did tell Colin that normally signs and plaques are issued when a street is dedicated, usually when the father John Robert Maggs had served in the Royal Navy and veterans or relatives are present although we, the Association, have done quite a few in their absence. It Royal Indian Marine and was in HMS Invincible at the Battle was a pity this didn't come up earlier as we could have had a ceremony when we were last there in of the Falkland Islands on 8 December 1914 during the August 2016. decisive victory over the Imperial German Navy following a Regardless, I contacted Brenda in Ajax and after several exchanges of emails the sign and plaque were British defeat at the Battle of Coronel (Central Chile) on 1 duly produced and posted directly to Colin as requested. November. A large force tracked down and destroyed the Well done Ajax on pulling out all the stops – this may open the floodgates for others whose relatives victorious German cruiser squadron, commanded by Admiral have a street but that has never been dedicated. If you want to check the Ajax street list visit our website Graf Maximillian von Spee. Admiral Graf Spee; his two sons at http://www.hmsajax.org/#/town-of-ajax/4561196397 - bear in mind that several names are were among the German dead. derivatives. Malcolm Collis 16. 17.

TOWN OF AJAX UPDATE - Colleen Jordan ROY TURNER HONOURED Ajax to host 2018 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Conference The June 2017 Newsletter carried the obituary for Roy Turner who Crossed the Bar earlier in the year in Spain. Roy would have been 90 on 4th August so the In June, Ajax Council announced the Town's Town held a birthday party for him. selection as host of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Conference, June The North Wales Pioneer also reported upon the day: 13-15, 2018 at the 2017 Conference in “Rhyl Town Hall was full to capacity on Saturday as people from all walks of Montreal. life turned out to pay tribute to the man known as “Mr Rhyl”. GLSLCI is a binational organization with a On what would have been his 90th birthday the family of Roy Turner organised membership of over 130 municipalities in the celebration of his life following his death in March this year. Quebec, Ontario and the U.S. working to Mr Turner died in Spain and was cremated in a private ceremony there, but he protect and revitalize the Great Lakes and St. had played such a prominent part in the civic and cultural life of his hometown Lawrence River. that his family – wife June and children Chris, Jane and Vicky – felt that friends As a proud Great Lakes community, Ajax is and associates should have the chance to say their farewells. honoured to host this important event, and a Born in Stoke-on-Trent, he moved with his family to Rhyl in 1938 and he cross-departmental staff committee will be attended Christchurch Primary School and later the county school. working collaboratively to showcase the advocacy work done by the Town to ensure In 1946 he joined the Royal Navy and on returning to Rhyl establishing a the health and vitality of Lake Ontario. For flooring contractor business. He established Rhyl Social Centre, was a youth more information and to watch the 'Chart leader with Rhyl Boys' Club, a founder member of the North Wales branch of You Course to Ajax' video, visit the Variety Club of Great Britain and the Rhyl branch of the Royal Naval www.ajax.ca/greatlakes2018. Association and was a long-serving chairman of Rhyl and District Operatic Society. He served on Rhyl Urban District Council for 21 years and for six years was a county L to R: Councillor Joanne Dies; Mayor Steve councillor. He became one of the UK's Parish; Regional Councillor Colleen Jordan longest serving school governors, and after serving on the board of Christchurch School for over 60 years met the then Prime Minister Tony Blair. His three children all paid tribute to him at From Facebook – the weekend, and Chris revealed that his Town of Ajax circa father had once turned down the offer of 1948. For those who an honour from the Queen. have been there, it's Roy Turner received what he regarded as changed a little bit! his greatest honour in 2013, however, when he became the first Freeman of Rhyl in recognition of his vast contribution to the town. Other speakers at the get-together were his grandson Nicholas Deigman, Joy Maguire on behalf of the Operatic Society, the Rev Stan Walker on behalf of the school governors, his close friend Derek Houghton – and Roy Turner himself. A recording was shown of an interview recorded a couple of years ago in which he recapped his numerous activities and interests, and also spoke of the decline of Rhyl as a family resort. The deterioration began, he said, with the formation of Rhuddlan Borough Council “when all the surrounding villages – Bodelwyddan, Dyserth and others – put their hands into the Rhyl moneypot”. 18. 19.

If he were able to replace any building it would be the old Pavilion which was demolished on safety ARCHIVIST UPDATE September 2017 grounds, he commented. To applause from the audience, the film ended with his comment: “I have had a good life.” A steady trickle of enquiries through the internet. Unfortunately the new contact form on the website isn't too helpful and can lead to brief enquiries being received necessitating follow-up emails. Roy Turner was an enthusiastic chef, and on leaving the Town Hall everyone received a packet of his If anyone knows of any of the below please get in touch with me. favourite oatcakes with a copy of his favourite recipe. WILLIAM KENNETH GARDNER June said, “It was great to see so many Rhylites seeing old friends they had not seen for years. It In the March 2017 Newsletter I mentioned that Jonathan Channing was trying to find out more about would have been his 90th birthday on the day. Spanish eyes was played whilst photos of his life were William Gardner on behalf of his daughter. He was believed to have been a Royal Marine in Ajax shown. We'll keep a Welcome was played whilst a video of Roy talking about his life and Rhyl was between 1939 and 1945. screened and Chris played our favourite Over the Rainbow on the saxophone. Jonathan has come back to me with the following information: Following a trawl through family papers by his son we have now found William's Certificate of Roy's favourite band of all time, Glenn Miller, was played whilst the guests had their refreshments. Service S 1241 (showing service on Ajax 23 Nov 43 to 13 Feb 46). We also have his Birth Certificate All Roy's favourite food was served and lots of Spanish wine was consumed of course! (DOB 6 Sep 25), Notice of Service (Sta 171/39), and Order of Release S 1586 (A) (wef 25 Jul 46). William is shown as Under Age and in the Chatham Division until 22 Nov 43 (after his 18th birthday) and then on Ajax until 13 Feb 46 when he returned to the Chatham Division, presumably for Discharge. The dates certainly explain his Campaign Medals (France & Germany Star, Italy Star and 39-45 Star). He is shown as joining with the Trade of "Fish Fryer". Immensely proud of being a Royal TIMES OF MALTA, Saturday August 2, 1975. Marine on board Ajax in dangerous waters he always said he was a Cook! Perhaps you could ensure he is remembered through the Association? Thanks and Regards, Jonathan Channing. Naval Spectacle in Harbour Member Alan Styth recently posted this article from 1975 on Facebook. FRANK WONFOR I was contacted by a Roy Wonfor after information about his father Frank Wonfor believed to be a stoker on Ajax. I had no record of a Wonfor on our Ajax list or on the Memorial Wall so asked for more The Royal Navy came into Grand Harbour yesterday - a large missiles destroyer, five frigates and information – he came back with the following: three Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships - to give a weekend's rest and recreation to the 2,000 Officers and I'm sorry to say I have very little info. about my father's records but my sister believes he was on the Ratings who make up their crews. As expected, such a spectacle which is becoming all too rare these Ajax at the time the bomb went down the funnel exploding in I believe boiler room B from a days drew the crowds to the vantage points overlooking Grand Harbour even in the scorching conversation they had many years ago. (I did explain this event to him) He has been dead for over 30 summer heat of the early afternoon. years now and the subject came up when my youngest lad was reading up about the battle of the River Plate and the town in Canada that now has a memorial to the Ajax and asked what we knew about his A large proportion of the crowd at the upper and lower Barrakkas and elsewhere consisted of English grandad's time on said cruiser. Sorry I can't be of any more help but it was worth a try. Thanks again for men, women and children either resident or visiting the island. your time. The ships - minus "Tarbatness" which came in during the morning - appeared off the harbour mouth I did a little more digging and realised that we had an exchange of emails in November 2014 in which I led by the sleek 5,250 ton missiles destroyer "HMS Glamorgan". But it was not this ship that came in suggested contacting the MOD to get his record. I did say that if he did follow-up on my email he first. Rear-Admiral J.D.E. Fieldhouse, who is leading the squadron on a round the world cruise, came should have all the available information about his navy career! into harbour wearing his flag in the tanker "Gold Rover", one of the Royal Navy's newest replenishment ships which was making her maiden call in Grand Harbour. FRANK B MORRIS Sally Hall messaged me to say her Granddad, Frank B Morris, had been Then the ships came in, one after the other. First the "Rothesay", a frigate. She went into the in Ajax at the time of the Battle of the River Plate. innermost part of Dockyard Creek past the destroyer "Antrim" which has been in harbour for some I was able to confirm that F. B. Morris does appear on the River Plate time, and berthed alongside the quay. Astern of her came HMS Ajax, a "Leander" class frigate list, but not on the 1940/41 list suggesting he left the ship after her return originally a general purpose frigate now with an "Ikara" missile forward, becoming an anti- to England early 1940 for repairs after the Battle of the River Plate. He submarine frigate. The "Plymouth", "Llandaff" and "Berwick" came next, all mooring between the also appears on the Town of Ajax Memorial Wall although there is not a buoys in Dockyard Creek, completely filling it - a sight reminiscent of pre-war days. Morris street there.

The "Glamorgan", to which Rear-Admiral Fieldhouse shifted his flag in the afternoon, went to WILLIAM WHITE number eight-buoy, ahead of the "Gold Rover". Finally came the "Tidespring", largest ship of the Graham Harding emailed me with the following message: Hello I was squadron, whose helicopter was kept busy taking photographs as the ships closed Grand Harbour. interested to read about Frank and Basil who were honoured for their efforts in Chile. My father's cousin was also on HMS Ajax at the time, he was the ship's The "Tarbatness" is berthed at Dolphins Wharf. Her arrival earlier than the other ships was a bonus to Telegraphist. His name was William White. I have a Photo of William which I the families of the all Maltese crew, who were at the quayside to welcome her in. would like to pass on to these two ship mates to see if they are familiar with the face. The ships will leave again on Monday morning for two days of exercises, returning to harbour again on Wednesday morning. They will stay until August 11 when they sail east to pass through the Suez The reason is my father was writing a book on the life of William but sadly died Canal and to months of voyaging in the Far East, Australasia and homeward bound through the before completion; just thought that these two chaps could fill in some blank William White - Sub Pacific, the Panama Canal and exercises with ships of the United States Navy. spaces for us. William transferred to submarines and was lost at sea. Mariner. D.S.M. and BAR Senior ASDIC Operator – HMS Submarine TRIUMPH. 20. 21.

I responded that the HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association has a dwindling number of River Plate earthquake but before River Plate. It may well be a common occurrence and could explain why in 1938 your veterans and are down to 3 (at time of email) Ajax vets and 2 Exeter vets. Two will be 99 in September, one 98 father transferred in Bermuda. in September and the other will be 97 soon. I was able to say that a W. J. White appears on the River Plate list David also asked if anyone knew where this well-known photo of HMS Exeter was taken. but not on the 1940/41 list which could mean he left Ajax on her return to England early 1940 for repairs after The Battle. The Town of Ajax has 3 W. White listed; WDS and 2 WJs and I shall copy this to them to check ITEM OF INTEREST their records. Wendy Parga contacted me after information about a blue and gold vintage powder compact which has an emblem on the top and marked The Commonwealth War Grave Commission site has the following for William J White: HMS Ajax. “I cannot find any information online Telegraphist C/JX149044. Died 20/1/1942 aged 21 I HMS Submarine Triumph. He had been award the DSM about it but came across your website. Do any of and Bar. He is remembered at the Chatham Naval Memorial (Panel 59,3). He was the son of Harry and Alice your members know anything about souvenirs for Maud Evelyn White of Epsom, Surrey. The D.S.M. was awarded to William John White for bravery and the ship? I would be interested to date the item and resourcefulness on active service at sea and set an example of bravery and resource under fire, but without possibly find out where it may have been sold”. I performing acts of such pre-eminent bravery as would render William John White eligible to receive the suggested it could possibly be a salvage item from Conspicuous Gallantry Medal. The family do know that he was involved in unloading a ship full of the cruiser but then she sent me a photograph. The ammunition in Malta that was on fire during a heavy German bombing of Valleta Harbour. badge is unlike any of the Ajax badges I have come across so not sure of the significance of the item – This extract is from Wikipedia - Triumph was also used for covert operations, such as landing agents in can anyone shed any light on this please? German occupied areas. She was planned to be used as a rendezvous for commandos in Operation Colossus, but this had to be cancelled when the landing site became untenable. She undertook one such mission in December 1941, in which she successfully landed agents in Greece. She was lost just over a week later, off Greece, probably to a collision with a mine in early January 1942. All fifty-nine crew were lost. There is a memorial to her and her lost crew members in All Saint's Church, Lindfield, West Sussex. JAMES BUCHANNAN NIMMO The date of being lost is given as 14th January 1942 on some sites but the CWGC site shows 20th January for Just before going off to the printers the following mystery arrived from Daryl Nimmo: William – missing presumed dead. No doubt there was an element of secrecy around her loss leading to Thank you for your enquiry about your late grandfather James Buchannan Nimmo, nicknamed Jumbo, who conflicting dates. served in Ajax as an Able Seaman and who you say went on to become a RN Commando. William wrote many letters home to his parents and these are held in Gosport with the Submarine Collections, James Buchannan Nimmo does not appear on the River Plate list or on the 1940/41 list but there is a J. Nimmo Catalogued under number A 200/301, along with other items. on the general WW11 Ajax list on the Memorial Wall in Ajax. I was somewhat mystified by your statement that he was honoured among the war dead after D-Day, V. J. SMYTH apparently lost on a French special forces vessel but that he actually died as an old man in Poole Dorset in about Philip Wall is looking for any information on his great uncle V. J. Smyth. I was able to tell him a Vincent J. 1999/2001. Smyth does appear on the River Plate list and on the 1940 and 1941 lists. He also appears on the Town of Ajax Fortunately searching was made easier due to the unusual names. Memorial Wall. The Town of Ajax in Ontario Canada being named after HMS Ajax has most of its streets I can confirm that according to several sources James Buchannan Nimmo is recorded as having perished in the named after Ajax and River Plate veterans. Whilst there isn't a Smyth street I have copied this message to Ajax war. to see if they have any more information. Other than this I had no further information so suggested the MoD On the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx his date of route. death is given as 4/10/1944 (D-Day landings were June 1944); rank Able Seaman, Service No. C/JX 316082; age 27; serving in Royal Navy in HMLCT. Son of George and Martha Nimmo of Corby Northamptonshire. His WILLIAM JOHN MEAKIN name appears in the Chatham Naval Memorial (Panel 75, 3) If he was 27 when he died he would have been Bill Meakin is trying to contact anyone who knew his father, William John Meakin who served in Ajax at the born around 1917. Battle of the River Plate. He finished his service as Chief Petty Officer in 1948/49. This information is confirmed in his service record at https://www.forces-war- Unfortunately William John Meakin does not appear on the River Plate list or on the 1940 and 1941 lists – records.co.uk/records/2687214/able-seaman-james-buchanan-nimmo-royal-navy-hmlct-377/ giving his there is only a Joseph W. Meakin and he is on the 1940 list. I did not have any further details so again suggested date of birth as circa 1917 and http://www.naval- the MoD route. history.net/xDKCas1944-10OCT.htm although James is shown as missing presumed killed on HORACE COOPER Tuesday 3rd October 1944 while the rest of the crew, In amongst an exchange of emails David thirteen of them, are listed for the next day the 4th. Cooper had a query on his father, Horace This site shows that they perished on H.M. LCT 377. Cooper's, service record. The record states he began service on the HMS Exeter on 22 Her Majesty's LCT 377 was a Mk 3 Landing Craft April 1938. But at that time the Exeter was Tank and it seems she was lost between Marseilles, at Bermuda (between 28 March 1938 and 2 France and La Maddalena, Italy in October 1944, July 1938) — he wonder how he got to possibly on 4 October 1944. Bermuda from England? HMLCT 377 weighed 350 tons, was 191 feet long I replied that it was entirely possible that he with 3 petrol engines producing 920hp giving a did join Exeter in Bermuda. I know that at speed of 10 knots. She carried two 2pdr guns. She least 3 of our members, one of whom is still was built by Redpatch Brown & Co. Ltd. with us, who on leaving Ganges sailed on a (Meadowside, Scotland, U.K.) and launched in "banana" boat to Bermuda and joined HMS 1942. York before being drafted to Ajax. This was in March 1939, halfway through her second A Google search on James Buchannan Nimmo commission after the Conception shows that he and his wife Ruby Miriam Nimmo 22. 23.

(born Hyde) had 9 children. He was born 14th December 1923 and she 24th October 1918. Two of the children appear on Google: Tina Greta Godwin (born Nimmo) born 1959 and died 2000 aged 40 and Jim Ian Nimmo was born 1958 and died 2004 aged 45. (Daryl later confirmed that Jim Ian Nimmo was his late father)

With such an unusual name, even though there is a discrepancy over the date of birth, I think we can safely assume the two to be one and the same. Record keeping must have been extremely difficult to maintain with any accuracy during the war and errors were bound to occur. How he came to be listed as dead will probably remain a mystery but the War Office must have known he wasn't dead as presumably he still got paid! I advised Daryl to contact the MoD as his service record may clear up the mystery.

If anyone has anything to add to these enquiries please let me know. Malcolm Collis - Archivist