Ajax New Past up For

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

MARCH 2017

CONTENTS Chairman's Remarks Newsletter Editor's Remarks 2019 South America Trip Standard Bearer's Report Obituary Commander Henry Harwood – Stephen Harwood Grandson in Family Pilgrimage – Navy News Cartoon – Bill Smail National Memorial Arboretum in Winter Graf Spee and the Altmark – Archivist Membership Secretary's Report The Curious Story of the lost Guns of the Graf Spee – Navy News Concepcion Earthquake 1939 - Archivist Archivist Update News from Town of Ajax – Colleen Jordan Frigate's Final Commission Part 2 – Gordon Humpleby River Plate FAQ's

NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S REPORT Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR Thanks for the various positive comments on the Newsletter and for the contributions. Remember, I'll 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis happily receive material relating to members, associates, ships, wars, all things watery and anything Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road else vaguely interesting. Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, Having reported previously problems with the website not displaying properly on mobile devices and Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU my reluctance to move to the latest version, my hand was somewhat forced when it became apparent Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 from the last two joiners that the joining and notification forms were no longer working on the current [email protected] [email protected] version. I have now migrated to Version 6! Unfortunately this means I have lost the members page, quite a few other features and can only have the most simple of contact notifications. I have, however, MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ managed to insert a third party “joining form” that, fingers crossed, seems to be working. On the SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER members page were back copies of the Newsletters, AGM minutes, the Constitution, Committee job Mrs Judi Collis Alan (George/Phil) Phillips Alf Larkin descriptions and membership list. All previous Newsletters can now be found on an open page The Bewicks, Station Road 8 Orchard Way Lime Kiln Cottage http://www.hmsajax.org/#/newsletters/4593662974 (one benefit is you can search for content via Ten Mile Bank Send Hill 2 Easton Lane Portland google – enter key word or name and it should pick it up, adding Ajax will narrow it down). If you Norfolk PE38 0EU Send Tel: 01366 377945 Dorset DT5 1BW require the other information, please contact me. Surrey GU23 7HS Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01305 457259 Tel: 01483 223299 [email protected] [email protected] 2017 Reunion – 29th September to 2nd October [email protected] You all will have received information from Isle of Wight Ltd (IoW). No, we are not going overseas to www.hmsajax.org the Isle of Wight but they are the company handling all aspects of organising our 2017 reunion at Stafford/NMA. They come highly recommended and at the 2016 AGM it was agreed we should approach them. From the committee's point of view it makes life a lot easier and I am sure things will be up to the usual high standard. If you have any issues please feel free to speak to IoW; if you haven't CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS received the package from them please contact me. Well after a very busy 2016, a quieter year with regard to events is planned for 2017. After agreement was given to the Committee to plan the 2017 Reunion, arrangements have been made for this to take 2019 SOUTH AMERICA TRIP place at the Tillington Hall Hotel in Stafford over the weekend of Friday 29th September to Monday The house renovations indoors are finished, ignoring the last half of the attic to be boarded, but I still 2nd October and promises to be a most interesting weekend. On Friday evening there will be an have plenty of outdoor jobs and long overdue Land Rover jobs to do. A wet, snowy and very cold few informal get together with dinner at 1900. On Saturday morning there will be a coach departure from days was a good excuse to stay indoors having stocked up the firewood to keep us nice and warm. the Hotel at 0930 for a visit to the NMA for our Annual Service of Remembrance followed by a road Looking for jobs, Judi suggested I tidied the new cupboard built as part of the hall renovations, now train guided tour of the site for those who wish to do so. Free time will be given for refreshments and crammed full of Ajax material. the coach will return to the hotel at 1500. In the evening Up Spirits will be at 1800 followed by a wine I hadn't realised how many books, pamphlets, files and other material we had amassed so set about reception, prior to our Gala Dinner at 1900. On Sunday after a leisurely breakfast, the AGM will be cataloguing the books. I came across an HMS Achilles booklet entitled “65th Anniversary Tour 10 – held at 1000. At 1130 there will be an optional coach trip to Shugborough Hall, ancestral home of 22 April 2005. Montevideo Uruguay, Buenos Aires Argentina, South America. The Battle of the River Admiral Anston on the estate of Lord Lichfield. There is the option to stay for either 1, 2 or 3 nights. Plate Revisited 2005”, part of the material collected from the late Ken Jones. This year the arrangements are being made by the Isle of Wight Tours Ltd – a firm noted for arranging Over coffee I read the booklet – and had an idea! We've both always fancied “doing” South America many successful Association functions but had only got as far as Ecuador before … how about arranging a trip for the 80th Battle of the River around the country. It is hoped that members Plate anniversary in 2019? who live in the area will support this event. A casual “google” came up with flights to Montevideo on a par with the cost of getting to Toronto and lots of hotels of all standards. It's would be quite a long flight with two legs so thought at least ten days The Association was represented by for a minimum stay but could take in a couple of days in Buenos Aires. The weather in December is as members and the Standard at the funeral of good as any time and to be there for the actual anniversary would be very special and more likely to Commander Henry HARWOOD, elder son attract greater political support and media attention. of Admiral Harwood, at Devizes in January. With my imagination fired up I penned an exploratory email to the other committee members floating Many thanks to those who attended – their the idea, just to make sure I hadn't completely lost my marbles. A promising response came back with presence was much appreciated by the Alan Phillips also suggesting an additional option of hopping over to Chile to visit Concepcion as it family and the Association received this would also be the 80th anniversary of the Chilean Earthquake. The possibility of three new stamps in lovely note from Claire, together with a the passport was very exciting. donation. I emailed those members on my list to gauge reaction and level of support, acknowledging 2019 is a Malcolm Collis must be congratulated for long way off … but will soon go. We wouldn't need huge numbers to make the trip viable but would sewing the seeds of a visit to mark the 80th need a rough idea for planning – transport will be the biggest headache. So far nearly 50 people, far anniversary of the Battle in 2019 with a visit and wide, have indicated that they would be interested in joining the trip so it will be on. I'm sure that to Montevideo. Although it is early days, nearer the time I shall be wondering why I've volunteered again! there seems to be quite a bit of interest in this If you are Yes, Maybe or a No and haven't told me yet please either email me or contact me. I would trip which will be in planned to coincide with also be grateful for ideas where to visit whilst there if you have been there before. I shall keep you all the date of the Battle. posted. Malcolm Collis 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER/ NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S REPORT Peter Danks NEWSLETTER EDITOR Thanks for the various positive comments on the Newsletter and for the contributions. Remember, I'll 104 Kelsey Avenue Malcolm Collis happily receive material relating to members, associates, ships, wars, all things watery and anything Southbourne The Bewicks, Station Road else vaguely interesting. Emsworth Ten Mile Bank, Having reported previously problems with the website not displaying properly on mobile devices and Hampshire PO10 8NQ Norfolk PE38 0EU my reluctance to move to the latest version, my hand was somewhat forced when it became apparent Tel: 01243 371947 Tel: 01366 377945 from the last two joiners that the joining and notification forms were no longer working on the current [email protected] [email protected] version. I have now migrated to Version 6! Unfortunately this means I have lost the members page, quite a few other features and can only have the most simple of contact notifications. I have, however, MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE TREASURER/ managed to insert a third party “joining form” that, fingers crossed, seems to be working. On the SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER members page were back copies of the Newsletters, AGM minutes, the Constitution, Committee job Mrs Judi Collis Alan (George/Phil) Phillips Alf Larkin descriptions and membership list. All previous Newsletters can now be found on an open page The Bewicks, Station Road 8 Orchard Way Lime Kiln Cottage http://www.hmsajax.org/#/newsletters/4593662974 (one benefit is you can search for content via Ten Mile Bank Send Hill 2 Easton Lane Portland google – enter key word or name and it should pick it up, adding Ajax will narrow it down). If you Norfolk PE38 0EU Send Tel: 01366 377945 Dorset DT5 1BW require the other information, please contact me. Surrey GU23 7HS Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01305 457259 Tel: 01483 223299 [email protected] [email protected] 2017 Reunion – 29th September to 2nd October [email protected] You all will have received information from Isle of Wight Ltd (IoW). No, we are not going overseas to www.hmsajax.org the Isle of Wight but they are the company handling all aspects of organising our 2017 reunion at Stafford/NMA. They come highly recommended and at the 2016 AGM it was agreed we should approach them. From the committee's point of view it makes life a lot easier and I am sure things will be up to the usual high standard. If you have any issues please feel free to speak to IoW; if you haven't CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS received the package from them please contact me. Well after a very busy 2016, a quieter year with regard to events is planned for 2017. After agreement was given to the Committee to plan the 2017 Reunion, arrangements have been made for this to take 2019 SOUTH AMERICA TRIP place at the Tillington Hall Hotel in Stafford over the weekend of Friday 29th September to Monday The house renovations indoors are finished, ignoring the last half of the attic to be boarded, but I still 2nd October and promises to be a most interesting weekend. On Friday evening there will be an have plenty of outdoor jobs and long overdue Land Rover jobs to do. A wet, snowy and very cold few informal get together with dinner at 1900. On Saturday morning there will be a coach departure from days was a good excuse to stay indoors having stocked up the firewood to keep us nice and warm. the Hotel at 0930 for a visit to the NMA for our Annual Service of Remembrance followed by a road Looking for jobs, Judi suggested I tidied the new cupboard built as part of the hall renovations, now train guided tour of the site for those who wish to do so. Free time will be given for refreshments and crammed full of Ajax material. the coach will return to the hotel at 1500. In the evening Up Spirits will be at 1800 followed by a wine I hadn't realised how many books, pamphlets, files and other material we had amassed so set about reception, prior to our Gala Dinner at 1900. On Sunday after a leisurely breakfast, the AGM will be cataloguing the books. I came across an HMS Achilles booklet entitled “65th Anniversary Tour 10 – held at 1000. At 1130 there will be an optional coach trip to Shugborough Hall, ancestral home of 22 April 2005. Montevideo Uruguay, Buenos Aires Argentina, South America. The Battle of the River Admiral Anston on the estate of Lord Lichfield. There is the option to stay for either 1, 2 or 3 nights. Plate Revisited 2005”, part of the material collected from the late Ken Jones. This year the arrangements are being made by the Isle of Wight Tours Ltd – a firm noted for arranging Over coffee I read the booklet – and had an idea! We've both always fancied “doing” South America many successful Association functions but had only got as far as Ecuador before … how about arranging a trip for the 80th Battle of the River around the country. It is hoped that members Plate anniversary in 2019? who live in the area will support this event. A casual “google” came up with flights to Montevideo on a par with the cost of getting to Toronto and lots of hotels of all standards. It's would be quite a long flight with two legs so thought at least ten days The Association was represented by for a minimum stay but could take in a couple of days in Buenos Aires. The weather in December is as members and the Standard at the funeral of good as any time and to be there for the actual anniversary would be very special and more likely to Commander Henry HARWOOD, elder son attract greater political support and media attention. of Admiral Harwood, at Devizes in January. With my imagination fired up I penned an exploratory email to the other committee members floating Many thanks to those who attended – their the idea, just to make sure I hadn't completely lost my marbles. A promising response came back with presence was much appreciated by the Alan Phillips also suggesting an additional option of hopping over to Chile to visit Concepcion as it family and the Association received this would also be the 80th anniversary of the Chilean Earthquake. The possibility of three new stamps in lovely note from Claire, together with a the passport was very exciting. donation. I emailed those members on my list to gauge reaction and level of support, acknowledging 2019 is a Malcolm Collis must be congratulated for long way off … but will soon go. We wouldn't need huge numbers to make the trip viable but would sewing the seeds of a visit to mark the 80th need a rough idea for planning – transport will be the biggest headache. So far nearly 50 people, far anniversary of the Battle in 2019 with a visit and wide, have indicated that they would be interested in joining the trip so it will be on. I'm sure that to Montevideo. Although it is early days, nearer the time I shall be wondering why I've volunteered again! there seems to be quite a bit of interest in this If you are Yes, Maybe or a No and haven't told me yet please either email me or contact me. I would trip which will be in planned to coincide with also be grateful for ideas where to visit whilst there if you have been there before. I shall keep you all the date of the Battle. posted. Malcolm Collis 4. 5.

STANDARD BEARER'S REPORT Commander Henry Harwood, Royal Navy. Obituary. Alf Larkin and Dan Sherren attended Devizes for the funeral service of Henry Harwood on 27th Henry was born in London on 25th August 1926. He joined the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, at January with the Association's Standard along with Alan Phillips and Ian Darbyshire (See obituary the age of 13. He went to sea as a midshipman in January 1944 and, after a short period based at Scapa report) Flow in the Orkneys, saw war service in the East Indies fleet based on Trincomalee in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and was present, in the destroyer Vigilant, at the action which culminated in the destruction of The Isle of Portland has for many years been a Royal Manor and they celebrate Her Majesty's the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro in May 1945. Accession every year in one of their churches, where Military Associations and Isle Youth groups After Junior Officers' courses in Portsmouth Henry served in the destroyer Cadiz in the Home Fleet parade their standards and banners. This year on Sunday 5th February 2017 there were ten and in the landing ship Dieppe in the Mediterranean. On 28th July 1951 he married Carol Elizabeth representatives at All Saints Church including Dan Sherren with our Standard. Dangerfield at St James' Catholic Church, Spanish Place, in London. Dan also helped out with this: following a Royal Navy request for RNA assistance, Standards and Henry specialised in Torpedo and Anti-submarine warfare in 1951 and served in training posts at Veterans attended the South African Navy, SS Mendi 100 years Remembrance Ceremony at the Portland and also at sea in a minesweeper. He qualified at the Royal Naval staff college in 1956 and Pyramid's Centre on Southsea sea front on Friday 17 February 2017. Despite the very short notice subsequently served as senior staff officer in a destroyer squadron. This was followed by two years on ten standards from No the staff of the seagoing Admiral in the Mediterranean based in Malta. From 1961 to 1963 he served as 3 and No 4 area and First Lieutenant of the aircraft carrier Ark Royal, mainly in the Far East, after which he was promoted other associations to Commander. After two and a half years at the Ministry of Defence he qualified at the Joint Services which included the Staff College and spent two and a half years as the senior National and NATO Plans Officer at Merchant Navy, HMS Gibraltar. He next served as Commander (2nd in command) of HMS Dolphin, then the submarine Ajax and River Plate base at Gosport, Hampshire, for two years before moving to Naples on the operations staff of the Veterans Association NATO Naval Commander in the Mediterranean between 1971 and 1974. and Fleet Air Arm He was accompanied by his family in Malta, Gibraltar and Naples which gave his children valuable veterans, ensured the experience of living abroad. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1977 after two and a half years in occasion was a very Portsmouth. worthwhile event. 22 veterans also made up Henry then spent eleven years as Bursar (Head of financial, business and administrative services) at a fine body of men to St Mary's School, Calne, in Wiltshire. He found this an interesting and challenging job from which he g r e e t t h e S o u t h retired in 1988. African armed forces The family lived at various places: Titchfield in Hampshire, Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire and then a s t h e y a r r i v e d Rowde, near Devizes, finally to the village of Sandy Lane. Carol died in March 2007 at the age of 79 through the flanks of after 55 years of happy marriage. Henry continued at Sandy Lane until he moved to the Claremont standards. retirement home in Corsham in 2016 where he died on 3 January 2017. Dan, second from left, with Association's Standard The funeral took place at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Devizes on Friday 27 January. A Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr Philip Baptiste, a former Parish Priest of A brief history of the disaster: on January 16, 1917 the 4,230 ton SS Mendi troopship sailed from the Church who Henry knew Cape Town en route to La Havre in France carrying the last contingent of the SANLC comprising 805 well. The coffin was draped black privates, 5 white officers and 17 non- with the White Ensign on commissioned officers as well as 33 crew members. On which were Henry's sword and the morning of 21 February 1917, just south of the Isle medals, also his missal and a of Wight in thick fog, another ship, the SS Darro, 10,000 crucifix. The coffin was tons, travelling at full speed and emitting no warning escorted by Alf Larkin who signals, rammed the SS Mendi: she sank within 20 carried the banner of the Ajax minutes. No steps were taken by the SS Darro to lower and River Plate Veterans boats or rescue the survivors. She stood off and floated Association and Dan Sherren. nearby while lifeboats from the SS Mendi's escorting The format of the Mass was destroyer, HMS Brisk, rowed among the survivors, laid out by Henry and trying to rescue them. The loss of life is thought to be implemented by his daughter between 650 and 800. Helena Graham and her husband Paul. Henry's A big thanks to Dan Sherren for helping out with daughters Claire More and Standard Bearing duties and congratulations on being Frances Scott Dickins read appointed Chairman of the Portland Branch RNA. passages from the bible. Fr Philip gave a most personal Homily. Two of his grandsons, Caspar More and Toby Scott Dickins, greeted the congregation and brought the offertory gifts to the altar. Five of the 4. 5.

The following article about Lee's visit to Ontario in August appeared in the January 2017 Navy News. GRANDSON IN FAMILY PILGRIMAGE AN electronic warfare instructor from HMS Collingwood has made the journey to Canada for a special commemoration event. CPO Lee Hayward travelled 3,500 miles to Ajax, in Ontario, from his home in Littlehampton to represent his late grandfather `Jock' Hunter, and Jock's contribution to the Battle of the River Plate in the 7th HMS Ajax. The event marked the 40th anniversary of the 8th HMS Ajax's visit to the town and the 1976 Freedom of the City. National Memorial Arboretum in winter In attendance were members of the ship's company for Peter Danks received these enigmatic photographs of our Memorial at the National Memorial various memorial tributes, including a march through Arboretum in winter from a friend Tony French. [Having visited in mid-December I can vouch that it the town, in which Lee took part. is a cold and windy place! – Editor] Jock died in 1987 unaware of the policy in the Town of Ajax of naming roads after sailors who served at River Plate. So it was left to chance and his observant wife, Mary, to discover in 1988 the honour which their family name held. After Mary had read a newspaper article about Ajax and the street-naming tradition, curiosity quickly led her to contact the Mayor of Ajax to enquire further as she was sure of Jock's involvement but had heard nothing about this. After checking his Service documents it was confirmed that Jock had served in the battle in HMS Ajax, and that Hunter Drive was to be named in honour of him. Lee has longed to visit Hunter Drive for many years, and recently joined the HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association, which led him to receive an invitation for the Ajax visit, which was reported in our November edition. Lee said: "My wife, Elizabeth, and I were blown away by the overall reception and friendliness of all the people we met in the town of Ajax. "Overall the weekend and events which took place were beyond our expectations immensely. "I felt enormous pride and was so humbled to accept the street dedication of my grandfather's name. "It was really special to be able to say a few words in attendance of the Mayor, residents of Hunter Drive, and members of the HMS Ajax and River Plate Veterans Association on behalf of my family whilst still serving in the Royal Navy." 6. 7. grandchildren George Harwood, Harriet More, Giles Harwood, Edward Scott Dickins and Serena Harwood read the bidding prayers. Tributes from his grandchildren Marina More and Lawrie Bill Smail's latest offering – Graham, both overseas, were included in the order of service. Ben Harwood, Henry's son, who was thanks Bill, keep them accompanied by his wife Kate, gave the address in which he gave a moving appreciation of his father coming. and the happy times they all had together with a special emphasis on his various overseas appointments during which he had served in Malta, Gibraltar and Naples. Frances Scott Dickins' husband John was also present as were Henry's brother Stephen, his wife Julia, and their children Kate, Christoph, Jonathan, Anthony and Sue, Jonathan's wife. The HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association were represented by Alf Larkin, with the Standard, Dan Sherren, Alan Philips and Ian Darbyshire. The family invited all to join them at the Bear Hotel, Devizes after Mass which was followed by a private cremation at the West Wiltshire Crematorium. Stephen Harwood

THE ALTMARK Third: SS Ashlea Captured and sunk 7th October I came across this piece in the archives sent in some time ago by Associate Ken Dyer (son of William between Cape Town & Freetown. Crew captured. Dyer, Ajax 1938 – 45). A neighbour showed Ken an original copy of the newspaper article that he copied.

Fourth: SS Huntsman Captured 10th October on route to Liverpool from India and East Africa. Used as a supply ship and eventually sunk 5th December 650 miles south-west St Helena. Captured crew eventually transferred to Altmark.

Fifth: MV Trevanion Captured and sunk 22nd October on route from South Australia to UK. Captured crew later transferred to the Altmark.

Sixth: African Shell Captured and sunk 15th November 160 miles north-east of what is now Maputo, Mozambique. The crew were allowed to leave by boats but Master (P.P.G. Dove) taken prisoner.

Fifth: MV Trevanion Captured and sunk 22nd October on route from South Australia to UK. Captured crew later transferred to the Altmark.

Sixth: African Shell Captured and sunk 15th November 160 miles north-east of what is now Maputo, Mozambique. The crew were allowed to leave by boats but Master (P.P.G. Dove) taken prisoner.

The caption reads: [16th November 350 miles south-west Madagascar Dutch THIS remarkable picture of the Admiral Graf Spee was taken by Capt. Daniel, a special correspondent motorship Mapia stopped but of The DAILY TELEGRAPH, as she lay in harbour at Monte Video after the battle with the British released] cruisers. Note the signs of damage near the water line. Later the same day she sailed out and was scuttled. The photograph gains in interest because it bears the signatures the correspondent collected of Seventh: Doric Star Captured and the 23 masters and officers of British merchantmen who were prisoners aboard the pocket battleship sunk 2nd December 500 miles west during the engagement. of what is now Namibia on route from New Zealand to UK. From top to bottom, beginning on left, the signatories presumably are: F. M. Newphey and E. J. M. Passengers and crew taken off. Angell (Tairoa), J. Mathendon (Streonshalh), F. Edwards (Huntsman), B. B. M. Quntor (Newton Beech), G. W. Strong (Ashlea), W. Comber (Doric Star), B. C. M. Corry (Huntsman), T. H. Jefferies Eighth: SS Tairoa Captured and (Streonshalh), W. Ray and J. C, Hutton (Doric Star), J. N. Edwards (Trevanion), 0. S. Walker (Tairoa), J. sunk 3rd December off coast of Robison (Newton Beech), J. J. Robinson (Streonshalh), J. L. Coutts (Newton Beech), C. Pottinger what is now Namibia. Crew (Ashlea), A. H. Thompson (Huntsman), W. Stubbs (Doric Star), W. Venables (Trevanion), N. Doyl (Trevanion), J. H. Beazley (Huntsman), P. G. G. Dove (Africa Shell) removed. I did a little 'Googling' and came up with the following Background: Ninth & final: Streonshalh War broke out 3rd September 1939 – Langsdorff ordered to commence raiding operations 26th Captured and sunk 7th December September on unarmed British Merchant ships but not to engage the Navy; it led a hit and run type of 1000 miles east of Sao Francisco, campaign. Brazil on route Montevideo to UK. First to be captured and sunk; SS Clement on 30th September 1939, 75 miles south-east Pernambuco Crew removed. Brazil. Captain F. C. P. Harris, and chief engineer and one injured crew taken on board Graf Spee. Rest of The Merchant refrigerated freighter Tairoa sailed from Brisbane; four days out from Durban she heard an crew put on the boats and pointed to Maceio, Brazil. The three were later put on passing Greek steamer to SOS from the “Doric Star” which was being attacked by the Graf Spee. The Tairoa altered course to try to Cape Verde having promised not to send any signals. (Perhaps such acts lead to Langsdorff being avoid the same fate as the Doric Star but the following morning, 3rd December 1939, Graf Spee was described as a Gentleman and Prince of Honour?) upon her. An SOS was sent but the Graf Spee shelled her without warning, smashing the Bridge, wheel Second: SS Newton and binnacle, wounding three of the crew. Beech Captured 5th At first she was ordered to steam on, but when it was discovered the steering was damaged the crew were October & sunk 8th taken off and the Tairoa sunk by gunfire. Three days later the Graf Spee met a tanker disguised as a October 480 miles Norwegian ship; the Altmark. The Tairoa's Master and the Crew, except the wounded who were in the e a s t - s o u t h - e a s t hospital (chief refrigerating officer, chief officer, chief engineer and the wireless officer), were put Ascension Island. aboard the Altmark. Captain Langsdorff came to the hospital and apologised to the wounded men, saying Crew captured. that he was forced to open fire because radio messages were being sent out and they were the only men wounded out of the nine merchantmen that had been sunk. In addition to its crew of 40 the Altmark had three hundred prisoners living in cramped conditions. Langsdorff ordered the Altmark back to Germany and this was the last time the two ships met. The Altmark tried to make a run for Germany where the captured British sailors would be used as 10. 11. propaganda. However, the British Cruiser HMS Arethusa with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla intercepted her Jill Hitchen, wife of John Mackie Hitchen had attended most of our reunions. At the 50th with two small Norwegian war ships who warned the British not to interfere with the Altmark. Anniversary reunion at Chatham Jill attended in spite of very sore legs and unfortunately John had a Commander Vian of the 4th Flotilla received orders from Winston Churchill to board Altmark even fall in the hotel; they had been unable to join us since then. We heard from John just after Christmas though she was in Norwegian waters. and learnt that Jill had passed away at the back end of last year the funeral had already taken place. The Altmark tried to take cover in Jossing Fjord, a narrow inlet, but was pursued by the destroyer HMS John and Jill were planning to leave their house in East Ewell, Surrey, where they had lived for sixty Cossack. Altmark tried to ram the Cossack but in doing so ran aground allowing specially trained and years and move to Bourne End near their daughter. John was archivist for many years and Jill used to equipped men from the Cossack to storm aboard supply all the committee members with tea and refreshments when we held meetings at their house. the Altmark. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued but the Germans were soon overcome. NEW MEMBERS Kevin Michael Syder – 'Scrumpy' or 'Scrumpicious' served in Ajax from 1975-79. The tanker was searched by the British and the Kevin included this humorous account in his application form: 300 plus prisoners were released and taken on “Joined Ajax 75 as a baby RP, took over from Sam Cook as the Navs Yeo. I was the youngest on board board the Cossack. The Altmark was allowed to for the visit to Ontario. I was stitched up by the CPRI and my sea dads - had to show the local sea re-float on the next tide and continue on its way. The Norwegians were not impressed by the cadets round and of course I asked them if they had any sisters which I meant Nancy … I will say no actions of the British, but in Britain there was more! cheering when the news was heard. I was interviewed by the local TV and was in the papers in Ontario and UK and had a picture taken with a Mounty on the Focsle; the caption read “Kevin gets his Mounty” I have loads of photos. Also Hitler was so enraged by this incident that he when Tubby was skipper, on a lovely day crossing the pond, I was on the forward bollards with ordered the invasion and occupation of Norway. another JS learning to splice for our task book. Tubby sat down and helped us and asked us what socks we liked, what colours, material, etc. We thought he had gone mad! Anyway, it was only when he had The Altmark from Graf Spee with SS Huntsman in background Malcolm Collis - Archivist gone we noticed my oppo had odd socks on and he had been taking the piss. Capt. F8, most senior captain afloat, true gentlemen. The jimmy came flying down and we got the 12th degree; what had we Membership Secretary's Update March 2017 said, what had we asked him, etc. Of course we hadn't. I've got loads of dits like the time on command Best wishes to you all on our first Newsletter for 2017. I've had personal messages from many of you open-line everyone was whispering they loved me and whose turn it was: the PWO was going mental! over Christmas or with 2016-17 subs; increasing age, unfortunately, has meant, for many of you, Also my first run ashore foreign was Gib; they took me to the hole in the wall and sold me to Charles. I visits to hospital or doctors, along with the usual winter ailments. I hope you are all on the road to was so GREEN!! recovery and able to have happy and pain free times around these visits. If you wish us to put details The Ops team even wrote to my mum - should have hid my letters I wrote - in the middle watch in the Newsletter we are happy to do so, just let Malcolm know. Thank you also for all the praise for claiming Able Seaman Jan Rees was divorcing his wife so he could marry me. My mum, worried stiff, the content of the Newsletters; again if you would like something specific included please send it to wrote to the Nav Lt Cdr Robinson - try explaining that one! Malcolm. Having said that, every time I went on leave or weekend someone came with me. I should imagine half the ship's company and half of Guzz came up to Lowestoft in those 4 years. CROSSED THE BAR I then went to the JSSC, then Bronington including Granada patrol, joined Invincible 82 then CNIC. After the December newsletter went to print I had a telephone call from Karen Elliot informing us her Dolphin getting P8 UFNS. father had Crossed the Bar on October 30th, the funeral took My first civvy job - I worked with a Canadian girl when I returned to Canada. I stayed with her family: place on November 17th in Devon. the grandmother, Harriet Beecher Stone, wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. I ended up marrying her sister Kit. Eric Brian Dover I had dual nationality and we lived in London and Chatham, Ontario. We later divorced. My daughter w a s a R o y a l has 2 children and still lives in Chatham, Ontario. Marine and served Since then I lived in Lowestoft with my wife Debbie, have 3 children, a step-child, dog, cat and in Ajax in 1947- chickens. I work for an American company called MWH in the water sector employed as an electrical 4 8 . H e h a d engineer - yes went back to school and got re-educated!” (Kevin - think Malcolm will be wanting reached the age of some more tales for the Newsletter) 87 and always sent a cheery note with Alec and Moira Taylor from Biggar have just joined us as Associate his subs, Karen's family members. Alec made enquiries with the Archivist about his father note and pictures William George Edward Taylor (Buck) back in September and on advice from order of from Malcolm has now got his service history. He served on board Ajax service shows Eric from 11th Jan 1938 until 12th May 1941 and has a street in the Town of Ajax enjoyed life. RIP -Taylor Road. William crossed the bar on 1st October 1987. Thank you for persevering Alec with your application form this week - we have just discovered the website had problems when it updated and the electronic Cyprian Henry Harwood Harwood, elder son of the late Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, became an forms were not being sent to us from the webpage. Associate member when we were planning the Memorial at the NMA and attended the dedication William Taylor - Ajax 1939 ceremony and meal in Portsmouth. Since then ill health has prevented him from joining us at reunions. He Crossed the Bar on January 3rd – a report from his brother, Stephen appears elsewhere Tommy 'Scouse' Murray joined the navy in 1972 and later served in the in the newsletter. Ajax in the mid-seventies, 21st April 76 – 2nd April 78. He contacted us as Henry's family were delighted with the presence of the members of our Association and our Banner he was sure that Alf Larkin was the boxing coach for them when he was at the funeral service; eldest daughter Claire More sent a donation with many thanks. there. He recently come across the Association and wanted some 10. 11. propaganda. However, the British Cruiser HMS Arethusa with the 4th Destroyer Flotilla intercepted her Jill Hitchen, wife of John Mackie Hitchen had attended most of our reunions. At the 50th with two small Norwegian war ships who warned the British not to interfere with the Altmark. Anniversary reunion at Chatham Jill attended in spite of very sore legs and unfortunately John had a Commander Vian of the 4th Flotilla received orders from Winston Churchill to board Altmark even fall in the hotel; they had been unable to join us since then. We heard from John just after Christmas though she was in Norwegian waters. and learnt that Jill had passed away at the back end of last year the funeral had already taken place. The Altmark tried to take cover in Jossing Fjord, a narrow inlet, but was pursued by the destroyer HMS John and Jill were planning to leave their house in East Ewell, Surrey, where they had lived for sixty Cossack. Altmark tried to ram the Cossack but in doing so ran aground allowing specially trained and years and move to Bourne End near their daughter. John was archivist for many years and Jill used to equipped men from the Cossack to storm aboard supply all the committee members with tea and refreshments when we held meetings at their house. the Altmark. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued but the Germans were soon overcome. NEW MEMBERS Kevin Michael Syder – 'Scrumpy' or 'Scrumpicious' served in Ajax from 1975-79. The tanker was searched by the British and the Kevin included this humorous account in his application form: 300 plus prisoners were released and taken on “Joined Ajax 75 as a baby RP, took over from Sam Cook as the Navs Yeo. I was the youngest on board board the Cossack. The Altmark was allowed to for the visit to Ontario. I was stitched up by the CPRI and my sea dads - had to show the local sea re-float on the next tide and continue on its way. The Norwegians were not impressed by the cadets round and of course I asked them if they had any sisters which I meant Nancy … I will say no actions of the British, but in Britain there was more! cheering when the news was heard. I was interviewed by the local TV and was in the papers in Ontario and UK and had a picture taken with a Mounty on the Focsle; the caption read “Kevin gets his Mounty” I have loads of photos. Also Hitler was so enraged by this incident that he when Tubby was skipper, on a lovely day crossing the pond, I was on the forward bollards with ordered the invasion and occupation of Norway. another JS learning to splice for our task book. Tubby sat down and helped us and asked us what socks we liked, what colours, material, etc. We thought he had gone mad! Anyway, it was only when he had The Altmark from Graf Spee with SS Huntsman in background Malcolm Collis - Archivist gone we noticed my oppo had odd socks on and he had been taking the piss. Capt. F8, most senior captain afloat, true gentlemen. The jimmy came flying down and we got the 12th degree; what had we Membership Secretary's Update March 2017 said, what had we asked him, etc. Of course we hadn't. I've got loads of dits like the time on command Best wishes to you all on our first Newsletter for 2017. I've had personal messages from many of you open-line everyone was whispering they loved me and whose turn it was: the PWO was going mental! over Christmas or with 2016-17 subs; increasing age, unfortunately, has meant, for many of you, Also my first run ashore foreign was Gib; they took me to the hole in the wall and sold me to Charles. I visits to hospital or doctors, along with the usual winter ailments. I hope you are all on the road to was so GREEN!! recovery and able to have happy and pain free times around these visits. If you wish us to put details The Ops team even wrote to my mum - should have hid my letters I wrote - in the middle watch in the Newsletter we are happy to do so, just let Malcolm know. Thank you also for all the praise for claiming Able Seaman Jan Rees was divorcing his wife so he could marry me. My mum, worried stiff, the content of the Newsletters; again if you would like something specific included please send it to wrote to the Nav Lt Cdr Robinson - try explaining that one! Malcolm. Having said that, every time I went on leave or weekend someone came with me. I should imagine half the ship's company and half of Guzz came up to Lowestoft in those 4 years. CROSSED THE BAR I then went to the JSSC, then Bronington including Granada patrol, joined Invincible 82 then CNIC. After the December newsletter went to print I had a telephone call from Karen Elliot informing us her Dolphin getting P8 UFNS. father had Crossed the Bar on October 30th, the funeral took My first civvy job - I worked with a Canadian girl when I returned to Canada. I stayed with her family: place on November 17th in Devon. the grandmother, Harriet Beecher Stone, wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. I ended up marrying her sister Kit. Eric Brian Dover I had dual nationality and we lived in London and Chatham, Ontario. We later divorced. My daughter w a s a R o y a l has 2 children and still lives in Chatham, Ontario. Marine and served Since then I lived in Lowestoft with my wife Debbie, have 3 children, a step-child, dog, cat and in Ajax in 1947- chickens. I work for an American company called MWH in the water sector employed as an electrical 4 8 . H e h a d engineer - yes went back to school and got re-educated!” (Kevin - think Malcolm will be wanting reached the age of some more tales for the Newsletter) 87 and always sent a cheery note with Alec and Moira Taylor from Biggar have just joined us as Associate his subs, Karen's family members. Alec made enquiries with the Archivist about his father note and pictures William George Edward Taylor (Buck) back in September and on advice from order of from Malcolm has now got his service history. He served on board Ajax service shows Eric from 11th Jan 1938 until 12th May 1941 and has a street in the Town of Ajax enjoyed life. RIP -Taylor Road. William crossed the bar on 1st October 1987. Thank you for persevering Alec with your application form this week - we have just discovered the website had problems when it updated and the electronic Cyprian Henry Harwood Harwood, elder son of the late Admiral Sir Henry Harwood, became an forms were not being sent to us from the webpage. Associate member when we were planning the Memorial at the NMA and attended the dedication William Taylor - Ajax 1939 ceremony and meal in Portsmouth. Since then ill health has prevented him from joining us at reunions. He Crossed the Bar on January 3rd – a report from his brother, Stephen appears elsewhere Tommy 'Scouse' Murray joined the navy in 1972 and later served in the in the newsletter. Ajax in the mid-seventies, 21st April 76 – 2nd April 78. He contacted us as Henry's family were delighted with the presence of the members of our Association and our Banner he was sure that Alf Larkin was the boxing coach for them when he was at the funeral service; eldest daughter Claire More sent a donation with many thanks. there. He recently come across the Association and wanted some 12. 13. information as regards Mr Larkin and is keen to attend our reunions. Tommy would love to hear from THE CURIOUS STORY OF THE LOST GUNS OF THE GRAF SPEE any ex-shipmates or lads from the boxing team. Tommy is back living in Liverpool, his home town and has been there since 1984 after leaving the navy in 1979 … but that's another story, he says! Tommy's The following article appeared in the December 2016 Navy News service history includes HMS Ganges, Vernon, Penelope, Rhyl, Brighton, Raleigh, Ajax, Culdrose, Did you hear the one about the gun salvaged from a German battleship in a secret South American spy Bulwark and Nelson. mission, shipped back to Plymouth running the U-boat gauntlet and accidently scrapped by dockyard Tommy has now joined us and lives with his wife Ann in Fazakerley, Liverpool he is currently Deputy workers? Chief Steward at Everton Football club. If you're waiting for a punchline, there isn't one. It's an astonishing true story unearthed by historian/author/FOST employee and former senior rating Dave Smith which began with four Happy Birthday to the following Members who had birthdays in this Newsletter period photographs unearthed after more than 70 years in the archives at Devonport. (December to February inc.): With nothing more than the label `Graf Spee' fixed to black and white prints of two barrels and several mountings recorded for reasons unknown in July 1942, Dave begin digging around in the archives. Paul Byrne Frigate 1974-75 65 on 12th December Cliff Pantrey Frigate 1972-76 76 also on 12th December The story he eventually Nigel Harcourt Frigate 1965-67 71 also on 12th December pieced together is a mix of Charlie May Frigate 1963-65 78 on 13th December -1 year old on day of Battle Alastair McLean and John Derrick Howitt Frigate 1963-65 73 on 14th December le Carré. Tommy Murray Frigate 1976-78 60 also on 14th December – new member The beginnings are simple Ray Dowsett Frigate 1965-66 75 on 16th December enough and well known. Scot Morrison Frigate 1985 49 on 21st December Damaged by three British Basil Trott Exeter 1936-40 97 on 22nd December cruisers at the River Plate, Douglas Hadler Frigate 1966-68 79 on 23rd December the marauding German. Jerry Kirk Cruiser 1942-43 93 on 31st December 'pocket battleship' Graf Michael Harte Frigate 1963-65 76 on 15th January Spee sought refuge - and Clive Morris Frigate 1974-77 70 on 27th February time for repairs - in the Uruguayan port of Montevideo. Albert Smith Cruiser 1939-41 95 also on 27th February When permission was refused, the battered ship sailed about four miles then was scuttled in full view of a crowd 20,000 strong. Happy birthday to all the above members and to all our Associates celebrating birthdays this newsletter period and apologies to anyone not mentioned in this or previous editions – to rectify this, please And this is where the intrigue begins. complete your update form and send to me, the Membership Secretary. Although the skeleton crew had done a very thorough job of scuttling Graf Spee, the Admiralty was There are lots of impressive dates here. Many congratulations to all of you and best wishes for a happy convinced the charred, contorted hull still contained many secrets. and healthy year ahead. Using a shadowy Uruguayan intermediary, says Dave, the British government bought Graf Spee for the princely sum of £14,000 (about £4.5m today (sic – actually £640,000)), then dispatched one of the SUBSCRIPTIONS country's leading radar experts to South America. Please remember that annual subscription increased following the 2016 AGM to £12, with family membership to £18. Those paying by the subscribe button will have had emails confirming the increase Throughout her clash with the Ajax, Exeter and Achilles, Graf Spee's gunnery had been remarkably good but individual standing orders need to be changed directly with your bank. Thanks to all of you who prompting suspicions her 11in guns had been assisted by radar, a good year ahead of the RN. remembered to do this in time for January, a few have slipped through unchanged so if possible please Despite nearly four months of exposure to the South Atlantic and the Germans' best efforts to wreck update your bank. everything of value, the wonderfully-named radar expert Labouchere Bainbridge-Bell clambered on A gentle reminder that subs were due in January. Sorry to nag, but it really does save lots of time and board, collected the requisite evidence (Graf Spee was indeed equipped with gun-control radar) and, expense if they are paid early in the year. Our financial year starts in the September and several people together with sketches, diagrams and photographs, returned to the UK much to the delight of Naval pay around the reunion in October, those paying on the subscribe button or new payments will go out on Intelligence. that anniversary. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for you and the various methods of parting Delighted with Bainbridge-Bell's haul, the Admiralty wanted more of Graf Spee's secrets and drew up a with your money are listed below. Please ring me if you have any problems. shopping list: armour plating, instruments, samples of welding, any instrumentation still intact and, Subscription can be paid by: above all, the pocket battleship's armament - 4cm guns, one of the twin 10.5 cm anti-aircraft guns, a 15cm 1. Standing Order - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans gun, even one of the barrels of the main 28cm/11in guns. Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 2. Bank Transfer - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Time and tide were against the salvage effort. By mid-to-late April 1940, Graf Spee was increasingly Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 disappearing beneath the waves - one of the flak guns was already submerged. Another, knocked out by 3. Cheques & Postal Orders made payable to - 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans shells from HMS Exeter, was within reach of salvagers who carefully began to dismantle the 20-tonne Association' and posted to Membership Secretary: The Bewicks, Station Road, Ten Mile Bank, Norfolk weapon, recording every detail on camera, before putting the parts into crates for onward transport to the PE38 0EU UK 4. By using the "Subscribe" button on the website and paying by PayPal or credit/debit card – see Even then, there was no guarantee the prize would reach its destination once loaded aboard the steamer http://www.hmsajax.org/#/joining/4560949163 Princesa. “The convoy had cross the dangerous expanse of the Atlantic - a prolific hunting ground for U-boats," Thank you all for your continued support, I was going to say spring is round the corner but after the says Dave. "Two vessels in the convoy, SL34, were sunk by U-46." recent winds maybe a way off! You should have got details of our Reunion from IOW. I look forward to After a six-week journey, the Princesa arrived in Devonport to offload her secret cargo. seeing as many of you there as possible. 12. 13. information as regards Mr Larkin and is keen to attend our reunions. Tommy would love to hear from THE CURIOUS STORY OF THE LOST GUNS OF THE GRAF SPEE any ex-shipmates or lads from the boxing team. Tommy is back living in Liverpool, his home town and has been there since 1984 after leaving the navy in 1979 … but that's another story, he says! Tommy's The following article appeared in the December 2016 Navy News service history includes HMS Ganges, Vernon, Penelope, Rhyl, Brighton, Raleigh, Ajax, Culdrose, Did you hear the one about the gun salvaged from a German battleship in a secret South American spy Bulwark and Nelson. mission, shipped back to Plymouth running the U-boat gauntlet and accidently scrapped by dockyard Tommy has now joined us and lives with his wife Ann in Fazakerley, Liverpool he is currently Deputy workers? Chief Steward at Everton Football club. If you're waiting for a punchline, there isn't one. It's an astonishing true story unearthed by historian/author/FOST employee and former senior rating Dave Smith which began with four Happy Birthday to the following Members who had birthdays in this Newsletter period photographs unearthed after more than 70 years in the archives at Devonport. (December to February inc.): With nothing more than the label `Graf Spee' fixed to black and white prints of two barrels and several mountings recorded for reasons unknown in July 1942, Dave begin digging around in the archives. Paul Byrne Frigate 1974-75 65 on 12th December Cliff Pantrey Frigate 1972-76 76 also on 12th December The story he eventually Nigel Harcourt Frigate 1965-67 71 also on 12th December pieced together is a mix of Charlie May Frigate 1963-65 78 on 13th December -1 year old on day of Battle Alastair McLean and John Derrick Howitt Frigate 1963-65 73 on 14th December le Carré. Tommy Murray Frigate 1976-78 60 also on 14th December – new member The beginnings are simple Ray Dowsett Frigate 1965-66 75 on 16th December enough and well known. Scot Morrison Frigate 1985 49 on 21st December Damaged by three British Basil Trott Exeter 1936-40 97 on 22nd December cruisers at the River Plate, Douglas Hadler Frigate 1966-68 79 on 23rd December the marauding German. Jerry Kirk Cruiser 1942-43 93 on 31st December 'pocket battleship' Graf Michael Harte Frigate 1963-65 76 on 15th January Spee sought refuge - and Clive Morris Frigate 1974-77 70 on 27th February time for repairs - in the Uruguayan port of Montevideo. Albert Smith Cruiser 1939-41 95 also on 27th February When permission was refused, the battered ship sailed about four miles then was scuttled in full view of a crowd 20,000 strong. Happy birthday to all the above members and to all our Associates celebrating birthdays this newsletter period and apologies to anyone not mentioned in this or previous editions – to rectify this, please And this is where the intrigue begins. complete your update form and send to me, the Membership Secretary. Although the skeleton crew had done a very thorough job of scuttling Graf Spee, the Admiralty was There are lots of impressive dates here. Many congratulations to all of you and best wishes for a happy convinced the charred, contorted hull still contained many secrets. and healthy year ahead. Using a shadowy Uruguayan intermediary, says Dave, the British government bought Graf Spee for the princely sum of £14,000 (about £4.5m today (sic – actually £640,000)), then dispatched one of the SUBSCRIPTIONS country's leading radar experts to South America. Please remember that annual subscription increased following the 2016 AGM to £12, with family membership to £18. Those paying by the subscribe button will have had emails confirming the increase Throughout her clash with the Ajax, Exeter and Achilles, Graf Spee's gunnery had been remarkably good but individual standing orders need to be changed directly with your bank. Thanks to all of you who prompting suspicions her 11in guns had been assisted by radar, a good year ahead of the RN. remembered to do this in time for January, a few have slipped through unchanged so if possible please Despite nearly four months of exposure to the South Atlantic and the Germans' best efforts to wreck update your bank. everything of value, the wonderfully-named radar expert Labouchere Bainbridge-Bell clambered on A gentle reminder that subs were due in January. Sorry to nag, but it really does save lots of time and board, collected the requisite evidence (Graf Spee was indeed equipped with gun-control radar) and, expense if they are paid early in the year. Our financial year starts in the September and several people together with sketches, diagrams and photographs, returned to the UK much to the delight of Naval pay around the reunion in October, those paying on the subscribe button or new payments will go out on Intelligence. that anniversary. We are trying to make it as easy as possible for you and the various methods of parting Delighted with Bainbridge-Bell's haul, the Admiralty wanted more of Graf Spee's secrets and drew up a with your money are listed below. Please ring me if you have any problems. shopping list: armour plating, instruments, samples of welding, any instrumentation still intact and, Subscription can be paid by: above all, the pocket battleship's armament - 4cm guns, one of the twin 10.5 cm anti-aircraft guns, a 15cm 1. Standing Order - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans gun, even one of the barrels of the main 28cm/11in guns. Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 2. Bank Transfer - Association Account details: 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans Time and tide were against the salvage effort. By mid-to-late April 1940, Graf Spee was increasingly Association': Number -- 24865868: Sort Code -- 30-99-56 disappearing beneath the waves - one of the flak guns was already submerged. Another, knocked out by 3. Cheques & Postal Orders made payable to - 'HMS Ajax & River Plate Veterans shells from HMS Exeter, was within reach of salvagers who carefully began to dismantle the 20-tonne Association' and posted to Membership Secretary: The Bewicks, Station Road, Ten Mile Bank, Norfolk weapon, recording every detail on camera, before putting the parts into crates for onward transport to the PE38 0EU UK 4. By using the "Subscribe" button on the website and paying by PayPal or credit/debit card – see Even then, there was no guarantee the prize would reach its destination once loaded aboard the steamer http://www.hmsajax.org/#/joining/4560949163 Princesa. “The convoy had cross the dangerous expanse of the Atlantic - a prolific hunting ground for U-boats," Thank you all for your continued support, I was going to say spring is round the corner but after the says Dave. "Two vessels in the convoy, SL34, were sunk by U-46." recent winds maybe a way off! You should have got details of our Reunion from IOW. I look forward to After a six-week journey, the Princesa arrived in Devonport to offload her secret cargo. seeing as many of you there as possible. 14. 15.

There the gun - which fired 105mm (4.1in) recall the circumstances of his award when I phoned him but thought the Admiralty had blocked it for rounds (that's the same as today's field many years; he had been told to wear his as the last one on the left! I spoke to John Garrard who confirmed artillery used by the Royal Marines) was he didn't join Ajax until after this episode, in Bermuda. It also seems that Albert Smith (Ajax) may have pored over by naval architects and also joined then. This left me with four members who were at Conception at the time of the “Terremoto” intelligence experts who were keen to learn on 24th January 1939, two of whom were short of medals. about the thickness of its armour plating and internal workings. A letter was penned and sent off to His Excellency Rolando Drago Rodriguez From their study of Graf Spee, the Admiralty Ambassador of Chile … a full report of the outcome of that letter will appear in the next Newsletter. decided the pocket battleship effectively a cruiser with the guns of battleship - wasn't a BACKGROUND class of ship the Royal Navy should ever The below is a Résumé of Chapter XV111 of “The Cruise of HMS Exeter 1936 – 1939” th consider building. The “Terremoto” January 24 1939 Chile We steamed into the harbour at Valparaiso, looking forward to a repetition of the good times that we had As for the largely-dismantled anti-aircraft experienced during our first visit. We arrived during the forenoon of January 24th 1939 in company with gun, it eventually ended up on a jetty by Dry Ajax and as usual many went ashore in the evening. At approximately half-past eleven, when casinos, Dock No.8 -where these photographs were theatres and cabarets were in full swing, those on shore felt extensive vibrations which threw the civilian taken. "They are probably the only population into a panic but left the sailors for the most part unperturbed. remaining record which prove that a gun The lack of communication between the towns of the from the Graf Spee was actually landed on south was causing great concern among the authorities in British soil," says Dave. Santiago and rumours of a disastrous earthquake around The barrels and some of their mountings the Concepcion and Chillan area began to filter through. stayed in the same place for perhaps 30 years. By then the wartime generation of dockyard workers had The Chilean Government found that affairs were so bad mostly retired and few knew the story behind the gun - so it was almost certainly cut up and sold as scrap. that a total evacuation of the people in the wrecked "Had the historic importance of the weapon been identified earlier, it probably wouldn't have suffered districts might be necessary and so the British such an end," Dave believes. Ambassador offered the services of the Exeter and Ajax. For the historian, delving into the world of espionage, furtive salvage missions and German battle- At 7 a.m. the ship was at sea, steaming for Talcahuano cruisers has been a marked change from his normal area of expertise: wartime submarine operations. (some 270 miles south) at twenty-two knots. Throughout the night there were preparations for the landing. Writing under the pen name David J B Smith, he's published a critically-acclaimed account of submarine On arrival the Commodore landed, and shortly afterwards HMS Unbeaten's role in WW2 (Being Silent They Speak) and is now looking into the full story of the three platoons and a demolition party went ashore. The huge French 'submarine cruiser' Surcouf (it carried a seaplane and a twin 8in gun) which vanished in first intimation that anything untoward had taken place February 1942 making use of documents trawled from archives all over the world. was the presence of cracks along the jetty where the platoons landed. Buses were waiting and these took the platoons through Talcahuano, much of which Chilean Earthquake 1939 – Malcolm Collis was in ruins, and on to Concepcion. The only part really recognisable was the main Plaza. The streets In amongst the archive items and material we collected from the late Ken Jones we came across a few were filled with debris that had to be cleared to get the buses through. The wooden shacks occupied by the medals from Municipalidad De Concepcion Chile – Gratituda Marinos Exeter y Ajax – Terremoto poorer classes were untouched while the brick-built houses suffered most of all. (earthquake) Del 24-1-39 along with about 25 metres of ribbon.

Just before Christmas we had a few days in Cambridge with Judi undergoing her latest treatment cycle. Both Basil Trott (Exeter) and Frank Burton (Ajax) live in Cambridge so I took the opportunity to pay them both a visit. Basil was first, good timing as it was his 97th birthday the next day and Basil & Sadie were pleased to see me. We chatted about many things and the Chilean earthquake medals came up. It turns out Basil was there with the Exeter but never received any medals. The next day I visited Frank, 98 last September, and had a great session with him as he told me all about his life. He too confirmed he was at Concepcion but had never received a medal even though he had applied for it some years ago: time to rectify the situation.

Back home it was time to do some digging. I came up with six members who were in either Ajax or Exeter in 1939. I knew Jim London (Exeter) already had his as he told us all about it when we saw him at Jim Smith's funeral. He was First aid stations and a hastily erected kitchen were to be seen in the Plaza where the majority of the wearing it on the right which he explained he was told was the correct position for a foreign medal. From homeless had gathered. A small power plant had been installed making it the only place illuminated at the NMA and Portsmouth photographs I was able to ascertain that Ted Wicks (Ajax) was wearing his but night. The tremors had ruptured all the proper water supplies and the shortage of this precious liquid on the left. It seems Jim got his in the 90s but doesn't remember too much about it; likewise Ted couldn't brought the fear of typhoid. The rush for the water-cart as soon as it made an appearance was pitiful to see. Many of the landing party offered their water that was eagerly accepted. Notwithstanding the terrible 16. 17. shortage our men were offered water with which to make tea; naturally it was refused but this unselfish ARCHIVIST UPDATE March 2017 gesture brought lumps to many throats. During the day many mounted patrols were to be seen to prevent looting, while at Chillan a Government official announced in public that looters were to be executed on A reasonably busy Newsletter period in terms of enquiries with the website having received a total of the spot. 180,000 visits. Hopefully the recent changes to the website won't affect things too much. The platoons were divided up and detailed off for various jobs, including the pulling down of dangerous There are quite a few “Archivy” articles in the Newsletter, for example, the Concepcion Earthquake, structures and the digging out of the bodies of victims from among the debris. At 5.30 p.m. the retire was Graff Spee's guns, the Altmark to name a few. sounded and the landing parties climbed wearily into the waiting buses and made their way back to Talcahuano where the Ajax was now at anchor having arrived during the afternoon. INFORMATION SOUGHT ON FORMER AJAX CREW MEMBERS By 7 p.m. the ship was ready to sail for Valparaiso with some 350 refugees, many of whom were British. Fortunately the weather was good and the sea calm allowing us to keep the quarter-deck awning spread ROBERT JAMES KNIGHT for the whole trip. With curtains down each side it looked like some great marquee. Both waists and the Royal Marine mess deck were also utilised, enabling all to be, if not exactly comfortable, at least Steve Goodwin is researching a sailor named Robert James Knight C/KX78320 who, before he died sheltered from the dangers of exposure. A thick fog during the night slowed progress, and the siren on HMS Curacoa, served on HMS Ajax at the Battle of River Plate as a Stoker PO. He said, “I have a prevented a good night's sleep, arriving at 9.30 a.m. copy of his service record but I'd like to put a face to his name and his story and I was hoping you may The disembarkation of the passengers was witnessed by hundreds of people on the jetty anxious for be in a position to help and perhaps have an image of this sailor. If this incurs any costs I'm happy to news and loved ones. Oil-lighters came alongside and we refuelled and by 2.30 p.m. we went out into the pay or make a donation. Thank you in anticipation.” harbour and anchored in Ajax's billet. I was able to tell him Robert James Knight does appear on the River Plate list and on the Town of Ajax 7.30 a.m. next morning the ship once more proceeded to Talcahuano and arrived there during the dog- historic wall but the Town of Ajax does not appear to have a Knight Street. Unfortunately I did not watches [4 p.m. to 8 p.m.]. On this trip we took a lot of soldiers with us and after they had been have any further details on Robert. disembarked all spaces used by the refugees were scrubbed down with disinfectant in readiness for the I did check the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website which confirmed that Robert 600 odd expected that day. Dawn was hidden by a thick fog and it looked as if the trip to Valparaiso was nd going to be longer than that anticipated. Boatloads of people and baggage began to arrive alongside very perished on HMS Curacoa on 2 October 1942 age 33, son of Alfred James & Mary Arm Knight from early. Hornchurch, Essex. One girl still in her teens with a very young baby was too weak to On the morning of 2 October 1942, Curacoa climb the gangway but willing hands soon lifted her up and brought rendezvoused north of Ireland with the ocean her inboard. The ship left promptly at 8 p.m. in order to arrive in liner Queen Mary, who was carrying 10,000 Valparaiso that evening. Americans. The liner was steaming a zigzag The young girl and her baby were later found sitting in a corner, pattern at speed to evade submarine attacks. dazed and very frightened. They were at once taken to the sick-bay The elderly cruiser remained on a straight where the Chief put the mother to bed, bathed the baby and dressed course at a top speed of 25 knots and would him in one of his own vests and a shirt. News of the poor mother's eventually be overtaken by the liner. plight went round the ship like wildfire and she was bewildered by the number of visitors that she received. A priest who was taking passage christened the baby Juan Exeter Cristiano and on leaving the ship the mother was informed that the sum of thirty pounds (worth £1370 today) had been collected from among the ship's company and given to the British Consul for safe keeping to provide a weekly allowance to supplement her relief. One pair will always be remembered: the organ-grinder and his monkey. After a long argument between the First Lieutenant and the Musician they were allowed to remain on board on condition they were both Each captain believed they had right of deloused. They kept both young and old amused on the quarter-deck and when mealtimes came round way. Captain John Boutwood of the rations for two were issued. Curacoa kept to the liner's mean course During the afternoon the fog lifted allowing a substantial increase in speed and we berthed alongside in to maximize his ability to defend the Valparaiso at about 10 p.m. liner from enemy aircraft, while Our services were no longer required as railway services to the south had been repaired sufficiently to Captain Charles Illingworth of the permit evacuation of the stricken areas by land and several merchant ships were co-operating in the Queen Mary continued their zig-zag pattern expecting the escort cruiser to give way. It was reported evacuation. We had "done our bit" in one of the worst catastrophes that Chile has known as a Republic. It that the Queen Mary sliced the cruiser in two like butter. had been hard but the knowledge that it was being done for the people, long popular among visitors of the Royal Navy to South America, lightened the load considerably.” Acting under orders not to stop due to the risk of U-boat attack, Queen Mary steamed onwards with a The Chilean government was extremely grateful for the prompt and effective assistance given by the damaged bow. She radioed the other escorts to assist: 101 were rescued. Those who witnessed the South American Division and there is no doubt that this was instrumental in cementing the strong collision were sworn to secrecy because of national security concerns. The loss was not publicly support for Britain and the Royal Navy which already existed in Chile. Commodore Harwood was reported until after the war ended. Eventually it was released that 337 had lost their lives in the awarded the Grand Cross of the Chilean Order of Merit (Gold), Captain Woodhouse of Ajax was made a incident. The incident was subject to a protracted court case ending up in the House of Lords where Commander (Silver) and another 41 officers and senior ratings were awarded the Order at Bronze level. the earlier decision of assigning two-thirds blame to the Admiralty and one-third to Cumard White Apparently every member of the two ships' companies received a miniature medal. Star Line was upheld. [I was not aware that such wartime incidents were subject of civilian scrutiny!] Frank Burton recanted the story of him pulling a six year old boy out of the rubble; years later in Cambridge Frank was conducting interviews at work when one candidate recognised him – the same WILLIAM MULLEN boy! When I asked if he could remember his name – Carlos Symmes, s-y-m-m-e-s. Brilliant! David Baille is seeking information on his grandfather William Mullen who he believes was in Ajax Malcolm Collis - Archivist at The Battle of Jutland. [The King George V-Class Battleship, the Sixth Ajax] 16. 17. shortage our men were offered water with which to make tea; naturally it was refused but this unselfish ARCHIVIST UPDATE March 2017 gesture brought lumps to many throats. During the day many mounted patrols were to be seen to prevent looting, while at Chillan a Government official announced in public that looters were to be executed on A reasonably busy Newsletter period in terms of enquiries with the website having received a total of the spot. 180,000 visits. Hopefully the recent changes to the website won't affect things too much. The platoons were divided up and detailed off for various jobs, including the pulling down of dangerous There are quite a few “Archivy” articles in the Newsletter, for example, the Concepcion Earthquake, structures and the digging out of the bodies of victims from among the debris. At 5.30 p.m. the retire was Graff Spee's guns, the Altmark to name a few. sounded and the landing parties climbed wearily into the waiting buses and made their way back to Talcahuano where the Ajax was now at anchor having arrived during the afternoon. INFORMATION SOUGHT ON FORMER AJAX CREW MEMBERS By 7 p.m. the ship was ready to sail for Valparaiso with some 350 refugees, many of whom were British. Fortunately the weather was good and the sea calm allowing us to keep the quarter-deck awning spread ROBERT JAMES KNIGHT for the whole trip. With curtains down each side it looked like some great marquee. Both waists and the Royal Marine mess deck were also utilised, enabling all to be, if not exactly comfortable, at least Steve Goodwin is researching a sailor named Robert James Knight C/KX78320 who, before he died sheltered from the dangers of exposure. A thick fog during the night slowed progress, and the siren on HMS Curacoa, served on HMS Ajax at the Battle of River Plate as a Stoker PO. He said, “I have a prevented a good night's sleep, arriving at 9.30 a.m. copy of his service record but I'd like to put a face to his name and his story and I was hoping you may The disembarkation of the passengers was witnessed by hundreds of people on the jetty anxious for be in a position to help and perhaps have an image of this sailor. If this incurs any costs I'm happy to news and loved ones. Oil-lighters came alongside and we refuelled and by 2.30 p.m. we went out into the pay or make a donation. Thank you in anticipation.” harbour and anchored in Ajax's billet. I was able to tell him Robert James Knight does appear on the River Plate list and on the Town of Ajax 7.30 a.m. next morning the ship once more proceeded to Talcahuano and arrived there during the dog- historic wall but the Town of Ajax does not appear to have a Knight Street. Unfortunately I did not watches [4 p.m. to 8 p.m.]. On this trip we took a lot of soldiers with us and after they had been have any further details on Robert. disembarked all spaces used by the refugees were scrubbed down with disinfectant in readiness for the I did check the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website which confirmed that Robert 600 odd expected that day. Dawn was hidden by a thick fog and it looked as if the trip to Valparaiso was nd going to be longer than that anticipated. Boatloads of people and baggage began to arrive alongside very perished on HMS Curacoa on 2 October 1942 age 33, son of Alfred James & Mary Arm Knight from early. Hornchurch, Essex. One girl still in her teens with a very young baby was too weak to On the morning of 2 October 1942, Curacoa climb the gangway but willing hands soon lifted her up and brought rendezvoused north of Ireland with the ocean her inboard. The ship left promptly at 8 p.m. in order to arrive in liner Queen Mary, who was carrying 10,000 Valparaiso that evening. Americans. The liner was steaming a zigzag The young girl and her baby were later found sitting in a corner, pattern at speed to evade submarine attacks. dazed and very frightened. They were at once taken to the sick-bay The elderly cruiser remained on a straight where the Chief put the mother to bed, bathed the baby and dressed course at a top speed of 25 knots and would him in one of his own vests and a shirt. News of the poor mother's eventually be overtaken by the liner. plight went round the ship like wildfire and she was bewildered by the number of visitors that she received. A priest who was taking passage christened the baby Juan Exeter Cristiano and on leaving the ship the mother was informed that the sum of thirty pounds (worth £1370 today) had been collected from among the ship's company and given to the British Consul for safe keeping to provide a weekly allowance to supplement her relief. One pair will always be remembered: the organ-grinder and his monkey. After a long argument between the First Lieutenant and the Musician they were allowed to remain on board on condition they were both Each captain believed they had right of deloused. They kept both young and old amused on the quarter-deck and when mealtimes came round way. Captain John Boutwood of the rations for two were issued. Curacoa kept to the liner's mean course During the afternoon the fog lifted allowing a substantial increase in speed and we berthed alongside in to maximize his ability to defend the Valparaiso at about 10 p.m. liner from enemy aircraft, while Our services were no longer required as railway services to the south had been repaired sufficiently to Captain Charles Illingworth of the permit evacuation of the stricken areas by land and several merchant ships were co-operating in the Queen Mary continued their zig-zag pattern expecting the escort cruiser to give way. It was reported evacuation. We had "done our bit" in one of the worst catastrophes that Chile has known as a Republic. It that the Queen Mary sliced the cruiser in two like butter. had been hard but the knowledge that it was being done for the people, long popular among visitors of the Royal Navy to South America, lightened the load considerably.” Acting under orders not to stop due to the risk of U-boat attack, Queen Mary steamed onwards with a The Chilean government was extremely grateful for the prompt and effective assistance given by the damaged bow. She radioed the other escorts to assist: 101 were rescued. Those who witnessed the South American Division and there is no doubt that this was instrumental in cementing the strong collision were sworn to secrecy because of national security concerns. The loss was not publicly support for Britain and the Royal Navy which already existed in Chile. Commodore Harwood was reported until after the war ended. Eventually it was released that 337 had lost their lives in the awarded the Grand Cross of the Chilean Order of Merit (Gold), Captain Woodhouse of Ajax was made a incident. The incident was subject to a protracted court case ending up in the House of Lords where Commander (Silver) and another 41 officers and senior ratings were awarded the Order at Bronze level. the earlier decision of assigning two-thirds blame to the Admiralty and one-third to Cumard White Apparently every member of the two ships' companies received a miniature medal. Star Line was upheld. [I was not aware that such wartime incidents were subject of civilian scrutiny!] Frank Burton recanted the story of him pulling a six year old boy out of the rubble; years later in Cambridge Frank was conducting interviews at work when one candidate recognised him – the same WILLIAM MULLEN boy! When I asked if he could remember his name – Carlos Symmes, s-y-m-m-e-s. Brilliant! David Baille is seeking information on his grandfather William Mullen who he believes was in Ajax Malcolm Collis - Archivist at The Battle of Jutland. [The King George V-Class Battleship, the Sixth Ajax] 18. 19.

Unfortunately I have no records for the First World War. Ajax was involved in The Battle of Jutland in the Battle of the River Plate. I also copied in Ajax as they have a Griffiths Drive and H. Griffiths May 1916 but did not suffered any casualties. David did not say when his Grandfather died so I appears on the Historic wall. looked on the commonwealth war graves commission site and came up with two William Mullen's, one who was killed before that date in 1914 and one in September 1918 on the HM Trawler FREDERICK FLETCHER Sealark11. I pointed David towards the MOD site for his service record. Yet another family tree in progress; this time Katrina Deleeuw is seeking help with her researches into her father Frederick Fletcher who was born in Scotland in 1920 who she believes served in Ajax as a RONALD ARTHUR SHEAD rating during the war. Sadly she does not know if he is still alive as the family lost all contact with him On behalf of his father and uncle, Stuart Shead is after information about his grandfather, Ronald when he divorced a long time ago and now her mother has passed away. The family lives in West Arthur Shead who he believes served in Ajax at the time of The Battle of the River Plate as a pom- Australia and she has searched the Registers there but can find no trace of his death nor on the pom gunner and was responsible for destroying sea mines with his rifle! Unfortunately this name electoral roll. does not appear on my incomplete list for those in HMS Ajax at the River Plate neither on the 1940 & My enquiries show an F. Fletcher appearing on the HMS Ajax River Plate list but not on the 1940 or 1941 list nor on the Town of Ajax's Historic Wall Plaque list. 1941 list and that would suggest he left Ajax after the Battle of the River Plate on her return to the UK He will get his father to pursue the MoD route and will update me and Ajax in due course. for repairs in February 1940. F. Fletcher also appears on the Town of Ajax Historic wall and there is a Fletcher Avenue. WILFRED BOND Just to complicate things, a Frederick A Fletcher, Able-bodied Seaman, also appears on the River Plate list for HMS Achilles. Although I did suggest Katrina approached the UK Ministry of Defence Duncan Bond is after information about his father's cousin, Wilfred Bond. Wilfred was born in to get his service record I did not know whether the fact that she did not know if he was still alive, and Tibenham, Norfolk circa 1917 and was around 15 years older than Duncan's father Wesley Bond. nearing 97, or not, would complicate matters Duncan says “Wilfred was a rating Marine Gunner on HMS Ajax during the first WW2 tour which included the Battle of the River Plate. A family story says that before the Battle of the River Plate he swapped his anti-aircraft gun duty with another rating who was then killed at that post during the HORACE GRANVILLE HOWES battle. Wilfred later left the ship to become a Commando, training in Scotland where he married. The Back in 2013 I received an enquiry from a Mark Hopkins about his grandfather Horace Howes who Norfolk family lost touch over the years. Any additional information would be helpful”. received the DSM for swimming up an estuary with mines strapped to him. The award and incident I established that an A. W. J. Bond, presumably Wilfred, does appear on the HMS Ajax River Plate was veiled in mystery. The medal went missing when the son sold the clock with the medal hidden list but not on the 1940 or 1941 list which means he could have well left Ajax before completion of inside and was never forgiven. This appeared in the March 2013 Newsletter. her refit, February – July 1940. W. J. Bond also appears on the Historic wall. Unfortunately I do not have details of the tasks being performed by the 7 who perished at the Battle I have now received another enquiry from the other side of the family from another grandson Mark but it is entirely possible Wilfred escaped being one of them by a stroke of good fortune. Duncan was Rice trying to find out a little more information about his boxing career as he was a Navy Boxing advised to also contact the MoD. Champion. Following an exchange of emails Mark was able to add to the information I had on Horace. JAMES HAZEL It appears that the incident was Operation Royal Marine and a quick Google shows that during the Another enquiry about the Sixth Ajax. Deborah Bailey is researching her family tree and would like Battle of France, 10 May – 25 June 1940, plans were afoot to lay and drop mines in the Rhine and any information on her great grandfather, James Hazel born in 1856. She believes he was a paymaster tributary Moselle and it seems part of the tactics were to send swimmers to place mines on structures. captain on HMS Ajax in 1913 and asked if there was any way I could find out about him? Marks says Horace had laid his mine and started swimming back when one of his colleagues got into I don't have any records pre-WW11 but some records are held by the National Archives. I had a quick difficulty. Horace took the mine back up the river and laid it but was stuck underneath a jetty for a look and one entry was of interest: an individual in the rank of Paymaster with the same surname is while as German boats were patrolling. When he finally swam away he was underwater when the recorded but with the first names of Percy James rather than just James and the date of birth was mines went off; he made it back to his starting point, mission accomplished. Hence the DSM and shown as 7th February 1880 rather than 1856. He is also shown in the National Archives on-line. The partial deftness. th London Gazette entry of 25 February 1916 at page 2098 also has an entry relating to this gentleman; Just before his death Mark contacted the MOD regarding his lost medal and was able to purchase “Paymaster Percy James Hazel has this day been promoted to the rank of Staff Paymaster in His another medal to replace it but unfortunately Horace died before it arrived. Majesty's Fleet.” I also suggested searching 'ancestry.co.uk' but this would involve a fee. In closing all I could say was that being a Naval Captain there is a very good chance he would feature WILLIAM KENNETH GARDNER somewhere on the internet but will be a question searching. Deborah came back to me, “Hi Malcolm, thanks so much for your lovely message. I'm delighted with the info you have sent and will start Jonathan Channing is trying to find out more about William Gardner on behalf of his daughter. He was researching!” believed to have been a Royal Marine in Ajax between 1939 and 1945 but I had no details whatsoever and could only suggest the MoD route.

HARRY GRIFFITHS (GRIFITHS) If anyone has anything to add to these enquiries please let me know. Alan Hampson is also constructing a family tree and is searching for information on his uncle Harry Griffiths or Grifiths who was in Ajax at the River Plate and believed to be a gunner. I was able to tell him that I did have an H. Griffiths (with 2 f's) on the River Plate list but not on the 1940 or 1941 list Malcolm Collis - Archivist which would indicate he probably left Ajax on her return to the UK for a refit in February 1940 after 18. 19.

News from the Town of Ajax March 2017 – Colleen Jordan The campaign features eight ambassador posters, Canada 150 Mural Mosaic showcasing a close up portrait and three personal On Sunday, January 22, 2017 Ajax Council unveiled the 150 Mural Mosaic to kick off the Canada facts. Each poster features 150 celebrations. Over 200 participants painted more than 800 individual tiles to make up the mural, a n A j a x r e s i d e n t which is now permanently installed at Ajax Town Hall. representing various cultural, ethnic and The Mural Mosaic team, consisting of artists Lewis Lavoi, Paul Lavoi and Phil Alain launched their religious backgrounds bold plan to create 150 murals consisting of over 80,000 individual paintings from all Canadian including Indigenous, provinces and territories that when connected, would form one gigantic mural mosaic. Indo-Guyanese, Pakistani, Jamaican, Muslim and Ukrainian. Residents can learn more about the ambassadors, subscribe to updates and get involved at www.ajaxforall.ca.

Vimy 2017- 100th Celebrations

Over 80 students from two Ajax high schools, Ajax High School and J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate, will be making the pilgrimage to take part in events to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The Royal Canadian Legion Ajax Branch 322 generously donated $1250.00 to each school to help offset costs. Ajax High School students will be visiting France, the Netherlands and Germany while the J. Clarke students will visit London, Belgium, and Normandy. Both groups will be in Vimy on April 9th to attend the 100th anniversary ceremonies.

Photo credit: News Advertiser

#AjaxForAll

A j a x C o u n c i l i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h OCASI - Ontario C o u n c i l S e r v i n g Immigrants launched #AjaxForAll, a public awareness campaign to encourage residents to s e e b e y o n d r a c e , s t e r e o t y p e s a n d assumptions. As nearly half of the Town's p o p u l a t i o n i s comprised of visible minorities, Ajax is very proud of its diversity and views it as one of the Town's greatest assets. 20. 21.

Vimy 2017- 100th Celebrations

Photo credit: News Advertiser

#AjaxForAll

HMS AJAX – F114 THE FINAL 12 MONTHS Venice, as many will know, is a nice place to visit. Two things stick in my memory of this visit; one Part Two by Gordon Humpleby was a grand parade of gondolas and various other small boats down the Grand Canal out into the lagoon. The other was of a carabinari on the stern of their police launch, keeping boats away from the … Continued from December 2016 issue Royal Yacht. You must be able to picture a big proud carabinari, plumed hat and machine gun at high port, when the cox'n suddenly shot ahead to warn off a boat. The sudden surge of power caught the We met with the Royal Yacht in Cagliari, Sardinia; then to La Speiza for our first proper visit and Med carabinari out at and backwards he went over the stern guard rail – he was very soggy when he was moor (stern on). For those who haven't accompanied the Royal Yacht, it is a minefield of dress rescued: that will stay in my mind forever! regulations; always civilian clothes for Officers and Senior Rates but depending on the distance the The Royal couple flew home from Venice; the Royal Yacht disappeared and we joined an anti- Royal Party are away, either jacket and tie or negative jacket and sometimes ties as well. Junior submarine exercise off Crete for a few days. A visit to Alicante followed for a wind down. On the Rates either full or half blues but always uniform. way there, the chippy, chief shipwright, came round, his workshop was on the port side of the funnel It was in La Speiza that the 1st Lt sent a signal to the Royal Yacht's 1st Lt along the lines of “we are and my office was on the starboard side. “What about this next lot of planned maintenance, is it worth willing to comply with all your rules and regulations but it would help if you let us know what they issuing it?” My reply was, “does the cabinet unbolt or is it welded in position?” “Bolted” he said. “So are”, with a P.S. of, “and there are blue bell (metal polish) runs from some of your scuttles”. The tell me when you've unbolted it”. He did and the whole thing went over the side. The chippy was reply was somewhat unprintable and also that the yacht's side was nothing to do with us! It was hard chuffed – he'd never had such a spacious workshop! keeping our ship in tip-top condition knowing it was to be scrapped when we got home. We had six days in Alicante but that got extended to eight because it is considered bad form to visit We visited Civitavechia (the port for Rome) and a merchant ship joined us in dress ship overall. Gib after a Spanish port. Strange but true - also the first time I'd passed Gib without calling in and then Although the CPO Yeoman had to pay a visit and explain dress ship flags did not pass a message but it was back to Guzz. were purely random and they should take down their derogatory signal, which was done before It is quite sad to pay off for scrap, get rid of the stores, and the crew disappearing a few at a time. We anybody else noticed. weren't able to fly the paying off pennant as we entered harbour as it was too windy. On towards to Syracuse in Sicily but anchored out with INS (Italian Navy Ship) EURO, a frigate, also I had not noticed before, but I was having photos of my ships mounted with their cap tallies. There is a accompanying us. We got along very well with their crew. Although you see it on maps and charts, I full stop after Ajax on the cap tally. Some old salts had seen the picture framer at work and didn't realise how narrow the channel is between the mainland and Sicily, and there are power cables commented on it. One view is there is a full stop after a ship's name if it is not a British name. Does from pylons either side although very high owing to the cliffs on the mainland. anyone know? Next stop was Bari and Trani on the Adriatic coast although only half day visits so not a lot for us to do. The Italian Navy put on coach trips for us to Florence, Pisa and Rome. We were now on our way to Venice, the grand finale of the trip. On the way there was to be a sports 'make and mend' versus the Royal Yacht. Apparently this stems from the Queen wanting to see the sailors enjoying themselves. Although the ship was going for scrap we had to have our accommodation (ladder) altered to suit the Royal Barge as Royal persons are not allowed a bigger step than six inches. This turned out to be unnecessary as the transfer was to be by light jackstay - Charles and Di did not attend! At the briefing before the jackstay it was pointed out that the Royal Yacht does not shout orders but uses hand signals. “That's OK” said I, “we'll do the same”. “No you won't Buffer, they like to see ordinary sailors shouted at”. To be as relaxed as possible my foot was on the bottom guardrail and a nonchalant hand on the top guard rail whilst being spied by Charles and Di from the Royal Yacht bridge wing. We entered Venice and turned opposite St Mark's Square and berthed to the right of the Bridge of Sighs. Our official photo of the visit is in the same position as countless visiting warships and cruise liners.

Ajax at Venice May 1985 Ajax Cruiser at Venice September 1946 22. 23.

Ajax at Venice May 1985 Ajax Cruiser at Venice September 1946 24.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - RIVER PLATE

C 27 What were the Germans' problems in Montevideo? All were depressed by their defeat and Langsdorff realised he had sailed into a trap by entering Montevideo in Uruguay. Although adhering strictly to international law in its treatment of Graf Spee, Uruguay was a country that was strongly pro-British. He realised that in the ship's present state, with a large hole in the bows, his chances of reaching Germany through the north Atlantic winter storms were low and he was not prepared to sacrifice his ship and a thousand men as a target for British gunnery. The local ship repairer refused to work for him. Dockyard labour had to be brought over from Buenos Aires in neutral Argentina and the Montevideo harbour authorities were uncooperative. An aircraft chartered by the Germans for a reconnaissance flight over the estuary refused to cross the coast line on the pretext that visibility was not good enough. On Friday 15th December Graf Spee's gunnery officer, Fregattenkapitän Ascher, the ship's official recognition officer whose judgement was much respected, reported that he could see HMS Ark Royal and three destroyers and it was assumed that HMS Renown with her 15 inch guns would soon arrive. This was reported to Berlin who replied that they had already sunk Ark Royal and the Fuhrer himself demanded photographs (German claims to have sunk Ark Royal became a British national joke until she was truly sunk in November 1941). The German Admiralty intelligence doubted the report but gave credence to the man on the spot. On Saturday 16th December both the British Naval Attaché and his assistant made telephone calls to the British Ambassador in Buenos Aires supposedly asking for fuel to be provided for Ark Royal and Renown in the next day or two. It was known that these telephone lines were tapped by the Germans and the news that major British units were gathering appeared in the evening papers. For good dramatic effect these calls were combined into one and made a good scene in both the 1956 film and the 2006 BBC Timewatch programme. Millington-Drake has written that the details of the scenes in the Legation at Montevideo are fictional. It seems probable that by this time Langsdorff's mind was already made up and that these calls did not affect his judgment. By then he had accepted that scuttling was his only option left. Reliable information on this ruse is difficult to find but while Millington-Drake regarded the Naval Attaché's phone call as fictional as far as the Legation in Montevideo was concerned, there was undoubtedly wide coverage in the press. Ascher had probably mistaken the oiler Olympus for Ark Royal and the three cruisers for destroyers.

C 28 What were the British problems during this time? The possibility that Graf Spee was leading the British force into a trap could not be discounted. There were three possible escape routes from Montevideo for her. However because of shallow water the 15 mile gap on the northern side of the estuary which allowed an entirely safe depth of water was anticipated to be the most likely route that she would choose to take. Initially Harwood had only Achilles and the damaged Ajax with only two operational turrets. Neither ship was equipped with radar to detect a break out by Graf Spee in the early morning mists. Once Cumberland had joined the force and one of Ajax's damaged turrets had been made operational, Harwood's force was restored to its original strength.