Volume 6, Issue 1 February 2017

Editorial The Rum Tub or Norrie’s By Shipmate Norrie Millen Nocturnal and Nautical Hi! Shipmates, Natter o how was your Festive Season? I hope that a bit In this issue better than mine. I had attended a Memorial church Editorial ...... 1 Sservice at St James in Teignmouth organised by local Norrie’s Natter ...... 2 funeral director for all those that had lost a loved one A slice of Guzz history ...... 2 Battle of Jutland ...... 3-7 during previous 12 months. A beautiful candle lit service Farmer Fleming...... 7 and I am glad that I attended. A few hours later after a HMS Temeraire Mutiny ...... 7 – Fisherman ..... 8-9 short rest I set off for to spend HMS Lusty ...... 10-11 Christmas and New Year with my eldest son. Cod Wars ...... 11-12 Rather than make my usual break at a Travel Hos-Peace-Care ...... 12 Lodge an Ulster shipmate had suggested a two day break of journey with him. The Will Mr. Smith is on his deathbed and On getting into my car, I found that my knows the end is near. The nurse, Satnav was defective. I had only bought it two his wife, daughter and 2 sons, are months previously. Well obviously, I knew the way to with him. Scotland having driven it hundreds of times, however He asks that 2 witnesses be present without the Satnav, I had no idea how to find the way to and a camcorder in place to record his last wishes, and when all is ready my old shipmate who lived in Widnes. he begins to speak: The M5 was a nightmare, down to one and two lanes every "To my son, Bernie, I want you to few miles with a 50 mph speed limit. Then somewhere take the Mayfair houses." south of Birmingham the M5 was closed completely and "My daughter Sybil, you take the signs indicating to take the detour and follow the Triangles. apartments over in the east end." "My son, Jamie, I want you to take At top of exit ramp was a ‘Y’ intersection with no the offices over in the City Centre. indication (or triangle) of which road to take. I took the "Sarah, my dear wife, please take all left road (and wrong one) and spent about an hour roaming the residential buildings on the east around country lanes and hamlets before I saw a sign bank of the river." stating M50 15 miles. The nurse and witnesses are blown away as they did not realize the After getting back on track, I eventually reached Widnes extent of his real estate holdings, via the M62 at about 0400 and then had to ask no less than and as Mr. Smith slips away, the six people for the road I was supposed to stay. nurse says, After my stop and continuing my journey; with M6 being "Mrs. Smith, your husband must have worked very hard to have shut north of M62, I had a long detour via M57 & M58 to accumulated so much property". To get back to M6. Once in Scotland contracted a severe which the wife replied, chest infection and had left emergency COPD kit behind. "The pillick only had a paper route." It hissed down with freezing rain for 9 days and I had to have a £110.00 emergency car repair not long after arrival. Final total Ulster donation to Ten hour, over 500 mile return with detours and with the Rowcroft Hospice £387.00. Bravo thought, maybe maps aren’t so bad after all! Zulu to you all who donated. The way I see it anyway! Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2017

Norrie’s Natter "Your glass is empty O'Flaherty, will you be having another?" "And why would I be wanting two empty The venue for 2017 is proving popular as I glasses?" replied O'Flaherty. have 23 confirmed bookings to date. Now A slice of Devonport Royal Dockyard's history; all you Hampshire ratings and nearby shipmates can attend and have fun with During most of the 18th century rates of pay us. never changed since first agreed in 1650 which up until 1788 ranged from 2s 1d per day for a All those on my Ulster database will have top shipwright down 1s 1d per day for a by now received applications from IOW labourer. Hours were long, In Winter, 0600 to Tours; apart from those who have stated 1800 with an hour for dinner; in summer, they have no further interest in attending or sunrise to sunset, with an hour for breakfast are unable to for health reasons. If anyone and 1½ hours for dinner. Overtime was has slipped through cracks my sincere worked freely and was paid as "tides" or apologies. "nights". A "tide was a period of 1½ hours and 2017 is at The Royal Beach in qualified for a payment of 7½ d and a "night" Southsea, with a shuttle bus longer periods of 5 hours for which 2s on the Saturday to and 1d was paid, Unfortunately the from hotel to local overtime was not always properly attractions. I did email supervised or measured and left out a survey which drew itself open to abuse. An example little response but came of this a clerk at Dock out in favour of the in 1710 claimed for and was shuttle over a dedicated paid 94 nights and 151 tides in a bus trip to a local single quarter. The , attraction. in conducting an enquiry into overtime, came across this claim An idea I floated a couple and remarked. "Now it is plain that of years back about bringing 'tis impossible for him to attend so much along family members fell on ‘stony extra time for that he could not have had above ground, but I am delighted to report this 2 hours in 24 to eat and sleep". year we have at least three family At least he tried! members of shipmates joining our ranks. The faithful few that manage to attend SCOTTISH WEDDING reunions each year, often ask why more At the Scottish wedding reception the D.J. yelled don’t attend. I wish you would, I would "Would all married men please stand next to love to see you all again, as would all the the one person, who has made your life worth others. We had a unique commission and living." a great crew, let’s keep the memories (and The bartender was almost crushed to death. Black Cats) going as long as we are able. None of us are getting any younger and us ‘boys’ are 75 or close to it. So make that effort, come and enjoy ‘Swinging the lamp’ I guess one of the joys of reaching 75 is that I now get a free TV Licence – Whoopee|! Not that there is much worth watching these days. I tend to watch the National & Local news and the odd documentary then switch it off. d d d d d d d d d d d d

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Battle of Jutland May 31st – June 1st 1916 Transcript of the Journal of Petty Officer (Writer) Albert Symonds Submitted by Shipmate Mike Seaward PART II and B.C. against German B.C. and About once a minute or High Seas Fleet). perhaps thrice in two minutes a The fact of this being so was of series of ear splitting reports course due to our relative would indicate that another positions and the time of day. salvo had burst around the Though at 4 PM the sun was ship. Against my will I could still high in the heavens it was never resist hanging over the to the N.W. of us and we were edge and then I saw half a to the West of the enemy. As dozen or four muddy foamy this wonderful afternoon drew looking circles in the water over on and the sun sank lower which black smoke hung. towards the N.W. horizon the Sometimes these pools were one British ships were silhouetted side, sometimes the other. Some against the illumination in the sky. were literally absolutely alongside Writer Symonds The enemy showed up the ship and those indifferently threw masses of water Journal transcribed by Ian Mackenzie, against a mass of onboard drenching us HMS Lowestoft Association low lying dark grey to the skin. and purplish I should say (and this is a carefully clouds. reasoned and considered estimate) that 40 Having stated this most important point I large shells fell within 75 yards of us within can now describe how at 6.17 PM I heard the hour and many others at varying with the keenest satisfaction that Sir John distances out. We seemed to bear a Jellicoe who had been hurrying South with charmed life but it was obvious that such a the Grand Fleet Battleships and armoured position could not last forever. How we cruisers had been sighted right ahead. It escaped for an hour amazes everyone is neither my place nor my province to from the Commander downwards discuss in a descriptive account such but providence was with us. as this, the tactics employed on the st st We did escape until the arrival at 31 May – 1 June. But I cannot allow 6.17 PM of Sir J. Jellicoe and the myself to go any further without Battle Fleet, this caused the expressing my admiration and action to enter a 3rd phase. delight at the masterly gunnery in Before proceeding with the third which the Commander-in-Chief phase of this unique and worked round the Germans to get historic day (a very milestone if good light, by putting them to the not turning point in Naval Westward of him. When one history) I must emphasize one considers that he could not be highly important point which considered as fully prepared for belongs of right to both the 1st and 2nd a General Fleet Action and that he had phases of the action. been obliged to come rushing South to get I refer to the question of light. us out of a hot corner his success is still more magnificent. This highly important factor was very greatly in the enemy’s favour during When the Battle Fleet deployed to the phases one and two. (i.e. Phase One: B.C. Eastward our B.C. passing across the against German B.C. Phase Two: 5th B.S. bows of the Fleet took up their positions in Rum Tub Page - 3 Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2017

the van where also to be found the 1st, 4th Battleships stretching away literally for and 3rd L.C.S. and . The 5th miles to the N.E. and gradually curving B.S. joined up quite naturally at the tail of around the Germans. (Though the speed the line and we remained astern of them of the fleet was only 17 knots) they with the “Faulknor” and her destroyers. presented an inspiring and heartening As our Grand Fleet deployed I saw a spectacle as they proceeded majestically terrible sight, I saw a four funneled cruiser along. apparently steering down between the two Salvo after salvo belched out from the Battle lines, she was moving surrounded long line of these great ships now by splashes and was in hell. At 6.25 that confronted for the first time in their careers terribly familiar column of smoke rose over with the enemy they had waited to see for the spot where I had last seen her. It was so many weary months. Firing was not the end of the “Defence” (armoured very rapid to begin with as the light was cruiser). From amidst the welter of still very poor but as the boot was shifted confusion a second 4 funneled cruiser to the other leg and the Germans became appeared steering outlined against the western sky about West at 7 the Battleships warmed to knots, she was their work and an almost heavily on fire aft continuous and seemed in a bad succession of jets of way. Painfully she flame and brown balls of crept across the end cordite smoke shot out from of our Battle Line the British Battle Fleet. and drew clear of the inferno At 6.47 PM we observed a 3 which was still lashing the water where the funneled German Battleship lying between “Defence” had gone down. the tail of our line and the German line, After we had seen the “Defence” go she was stopped and on fire. Having down and as the “Warrior” hauled across nothing particular at that moment on his out of it, the line of battle became formed hands our Commodore Goodenough and action became general. Shortly decided to run over towards her and work afterwards we were amazed to see our wicked will on her. The fleet at the “Warspite” suddenly turn to starboard and time was only steaming at 17 knots so we steer towards the German Fleet. I guessed saw that we should have no difficulty in at once she had been hit in the steering rejoining the rear of the Battle Fleet. At gear. For three or four thousand yards she 6.50 we turned to about S.E. and ran down went towards them coming under a hail of at high speed supported by our squadron huge shells as the German Battle Fleet or to where this 3 funneled German rather portions of it concentrated on her. I Battleship (probably the Pommern) was prepared to see her go up at any wallowed in her agony. As soon as we got moment as it did not seem possible she within range the Squadron opened fire and could survive, the more so as she seemed we could see several shells, in fact a very to be stopped. This lasted some ten large number burst on her, the six rear minutes when to our astonishment she re- ships of the German line had in my opinion appeared again from amongst the preserved an ominous silence whilst we cascades of splashes and smoke around advanced to batter their helpless brother. her and steaming strongly came up to the It was the calm before the storm for rear of the fleet again. As a matter of fact, when we were about 6,000 yards from the she was ordered shortly afterwards to 3 funneler and 12,000 yards from the repair to Rosyth for Repairs. German Battle line they opened a very Action may now be said to have heavy fire on our Squadron, we fled helter become general Our long line of skelter to get back to the rear of our own Rum Tub Page - 4 Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2017

lines pursued by a perfect shower of 11 I had an impression at the time that inch shells which ‘crumped’ down German T.B.D’s (Torpedo boat destroyers) alongside us in astounding precision. endeavoured to attack our van. The As an instance of what we had for ten distance was so great that I could not be minutes I may mention that Booth and sure. I have since heard it was so and that myself were in the After Control together they were beaten off. At 7.30 PM the making feeble jokes about the shells which Germans had experienced enough for I were greeted by our Control Party with suddenly saw the rear ships of their line hysterical laughter of a somewhat forced alter course 8 points together. So apparent nature, and at 7 PM we observed 3 salvo’s was this manoeuvre that I sent a written of 3 or 4 shells in each strike the water message to the Commodore drawing his together. We agreed that 2 salvo’s attention to it. At the same time his aggregating 7 shells fell alongside the destroyers at the S.E. end (or van) of his starboard side of the ship, distance about line started a smoke screen which by 7.35 15 to 50 yards and one bunch of 3 fell 40 was effective having drifted the length of yards on the port side at the same time. A their line. Under cover of this, they retired. regular stream of about one every 15 Our Battle Fleet held on a Southerly seconds was falling just ahead of the ship course as the enemy had been obliged to on either bow drenching people on the retire to the S.W. and there seemed a bridge with their spray. good chance of cutting them off from At 7.15 we were out of range astern of Germany. A minor incident which now took the 5th B.S. (The Q.E’s) who place deserves recording..A German were loosing off steady was left in a disabled salvo’s from their 15 condition the wrong side of the inch guns. Although smoke screen from its own the sea was flat calm point of view. As we passed at the surface was 7.45 we fired a salvo at 6,400 heaving with a sullen yards and hit it just in time. swell simply due to The “Faulknor” and a the tremendous number of destroyers went number of ships of over to administer the “coup- every size and speed de-grace” which were moving It has just occurred to me about, it was very that if the “Marlborough” was difficult for us to steer torpedoed it might have been due to this. Over the this little hornet that did it, whole scene hung Petty Officer Albert Symonds in for she must have been brown clouds with the happier days visiting Spain in 1911. closer to our line than any vapour from hundreds other German T.B.D. of funnels pouring smoke spread over the However, this is only a surmise. 100 miles of sea (10x10) in which the main At 8.25 “Birmingham” sighted a action was being fought. , perhaps this got the At about 7.15 the Commander-in-Chief “Marlborough”? At 8.30 the Fleet was in had managed to get to the East North East columns of divisions, we the 2nd L.C.S. of the enemy, which later in order to avoid were in line ahead on the starboard beam having his track crossed and as he was of the three remaining ships of the 5th B.S. also being menaced by a destroyer attack (“Warspite” had gone home) At 8.50 PM turned to the South East. The light was we sighted four German T.B.D’s on our now in our favour and during the next 10 starboard bow apparently intending an minutes the enemy Battle Fleet must have attack on the Battle Fleet, probably the 5th suffered very heavily from our Fleet. B.S. We opened fire at once and hit the Rum Tub Page - 5 Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2017

leading one, though the dusk made begins, this Squadron and especially this shooting very difficult. We drove the others ship had been under very heavy shell fire off and they vanished with their tails down. most noticeably from 5 – 6 PM when th At 9 PM heavy firing and flashes ahead astern of the 5 B.S. and again from 7 – and to the S.E. I found out afterwards this 7.10 PM when running away from the rear was the 3rd L.C.S. and our B.C. who had ships of the German line. During all this st been feeling their way to the Eastward to time from 2.30 – 10.00 PM May 31 which see if our Fleet was trying to get between is the time Part I ends we had been at the Germans and their base. At this stage Action Stations of the proceedings only 3 German B.C. When it became dusk we went to night were going about together. At about 9.15 Defence Stations and I went to the bridge or 9.30 we eased to 17 knots, we were as our arrangements are that the Gunnery astern of the Battle Fleet and course Lieutenant should control one side and South. that I control the other. In conversation At about this time I drank a little tea with him (Burroughs) we had agreed that which I found, it had no milk or sugar but it as in the event of a night action it was was good. Booth also found a slab of improbable, or at all events devoutly to be chocolate in his cabin At approx. 9.40 we hoped that we should not be engaged both suddenly saw a flotilla of destroyers sides at once, that if we did get into action rushing at us, just as we were about to I should go down into the battery and open fire we saw they were our own. preferably the waist, and after As they dashed past our line (how end generally, as owing to their we cursed their haphazard distance from the bridge, behavior), one of them fired a 4” communication to these positions at us, but didn’t hit anyone. I and the guns there are precarious. imagine a Gun layer lost his It is therefore advisable to have an head. At 10 PM searchlights Officer on the spot if possible, for were suddenly switched on, coolness in a night attack is away on our starboard beam. obviously essential. I notice that I keep on using The time of which I am now st the word ‘suddenly’ I can only plead that writing is 10 PM on 31 May having during these slow dragging hours most of watched the night action described at the the events did happen ‘suddenly’ In the end of Part I, I decided to rest for a little. I glare of these searchlights we saw a was on the bridge at the time and looking number of destroyers making an attack round I discovered the canvas cover of a which apparently failed as the ships with searchlight, curling myself up in this I lay the searchlights opened a very rapid fire down at the base of the steering compass. and scored at least one hit as a big The narrative will now assume a explosion took place on one T.B.D. We distinctly personal character but this is thought they looked like our own T.B.D’s inevitable for did I attempt to give a but were not sure. (Was this the flotilla that general description of our night action I passed us half an hour before and did we should be bound to fail. It would be see “Tipperary” sunk?) In a few minutes impossible for one individual to do so. I the lights went out and we were once more can simply record what I experienced and straining our eyes in staring out on all what I saw together with what I heard sides. immediately afterwards. In this account of the great action I take At 10.15 I heard someone say that a line of up the threads of the story where we have cruisers had been seen on the beam, just left off. In case the reader has getting up I went aft and looked in on my become confused by the times I will briefly way at the After Control where Control state that up to the moment when Part II where I found Mr. Cabage (Bosun) and Rum Tub Page - 6 Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2017

Booth who declared they could see HMS ‘TEMERAIRE’ MUTINY. German cruisers on the beam. It was a Submitted by Bob Styants Engineroom Association German scouting group consisting of “First HMS ‘Temeraire was a Bismarck” or “Rion”, “Augsburg”, “Kolberg”, 98 gun second rate ship “Rostock” ? of the line launched Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y 1878. She was the second royal naval His name was Fleming, and he was a poor ship to bear the Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make name. Commissioned a living for his family, he heard a cry for help 21st. March, 1799 coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his under captain Peter tools and ran to the bog. Puget. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a th terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free Puget was only in command until 26 . July 1799 himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from during which time he oversaw the fitting of ‘Temeraire’ for sea: he was superseded by captain what could have been a slow and terrifying th death. Thomas Eyles 27 . July 1799. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the The ship was serving in the French Revolutionary Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly and , mostly on blockades or dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced convoy escort duties. himself as the father of the boy Farmer Built at Chatham, she entered service on the Brest Fleming had saved. blockade with the Channel Fleet. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You Missions were tedious and seldom relieved by any saved my son's life." action with the French fleet. "No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Many of the crew had been serving continuously in Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At the navy since the start of the Revolutionary War that moment, the farmer's own son came to the 1793, and had looked forward to returning to door of the family hovel. England now that peace seemed imminent. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. The first incident of note came when several of her crew heard rumours they were being sent to the "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. West Indies, and agitated with the rest of the crew "I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with to refuse to obey orders to sail anywhere but the level of education my own son will enjoy, if England. the lad is anything like his father, he'll no Rear Admiral Campbell and Captain Eyles assured doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud the men they did not know the ship’s destination, of." And that he did. and the men dispersed. Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best However, about a dozen ringleaders remained schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's determined, and made discreet inquiries amongst Hospital Medical School in London, and went the rest of the crew. on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the Eventually having determined that the majority of discoverer of Penicillin. the crew if not supporting a mutiny, would not oppose it, and that it would be supported by the Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who ship’s marines, as well as the crews of other ships was saved from the bog was stricken with in Bantry Bay: they decided to press ahead with pneumonia. their plans. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The mutiny began with the crew closing the ship’s The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph gun ports, effectively barricading themselves below Churchill . His son's name? deck. Sir Winston Churchill. They refused orders to open them again, jeered the Someone once said: What goes around comes officers and threatened violence. around. Discipline began to break down among the mutineers, some became drunk, and officers were struck by rowdy seamen. Continued on page Rum Tub Page - 7 Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2017

Joseph Watt - the fisherman who went to war and refused to surrender Submitted by Shipmate Mick Dowling

Joseph Watt, (a fisherman in the run-up to the Great in their task by an Allied fleet of motor-launches, War), earned a reputation for daring deeds because destroyers, cruisers and aircraft. he would go out into the North Sea in the wildest On December 22 1916 four enemy destroyers and a of storms to make a living. light cruiser from the Austro-Hungarian Navy However, nothing he encountered as attacked the barrage, taking the drifters by surprise. the part-owner of the Annie, a The Gowanlea was hit by an enemy shell Dundee-built steam drifter, that blew away the funnel. Watt gave the could ever have prepared order to prepare to abandon ship and him for the dangers he as the lifeboat was being lowered, faced after volunteering with their only compass aboard it, a for military service – or second shell hit and sent the lifeboat for the encounter that down. A third shell hit the boat at the would enable him to earn the waterline but fortunately the enemy (VC), Britain was driven off by the timely arrival of and the Commonwealth’s most six French destroyers. prestigious bravery award. However, Gowanlea was a wreck and several One of five children, Watt was born in the Scottish members of her crew lay dying among the debris. fishing village of near Banff on June Eventually Gowanlea caught up with another drifter 25 1887. His father, also Joseph, had died at sea and she was led back to the safety of the port. After while fishing for haddock when Joseph Jr was just being repaired, Gowanlea returned to her patrol ten years old. duties in early 1917. Determined to follow his father’s career, Watt On the night of May 14/15 1917 the Austro- served an apprenticeship in the fishing boat White Hungarian Navy launched an all-out attack on the Daisy. After the outbreak of the Great War in Barrage with the aim of wiping out so August 1914 Watt volunteered for the Patrol many Allied vessels that their U-boats would be Service and was commissioned as a skipper in the able to access the Mediterranean and Allied Royal Naval Reserve on January 11 1915. shipping lanes. Nine ships, including light cruisers, sailed from Cattaro, confident of causing massive After a few months of patrolling the North Sea he damage to the Allied flotilla because of their vastly was posted to , along with hundreds of other superior size and guns. fishermen. In the meantime, Watt had married on August 5 1915 to Jessie Ann Noble, a fisherman’s The enemy ships separated before beginning their daughter. attack on the barrage at 3.15am. At the time, 47 drifters were stretched across the straits in seven Once in Italy, Watt was appointed to groups, with the Gowanlea on the far the command of HM Drifter western side of the barrage. Watt Gowanlea, an 87ft wooden was on board with a crew of vessel. With its crew of nine eight and their dog. As soon as and armed with a solitary firing was heard, Gowanlea and tiny six-pounder gun, slipped her nets and made for the Gowanlea was part of a the Italian coast. flotilla of commandeered steam drifters based in the heel However, within minutes she ran of Italy. into the Novara, one of the light cruisers taking part in the attack. When the The crew, mainly Scottish Fraserburgh men, two vessels were only 100 yards apart, the Novara were a close-knit team. As part of the so-called signalled to the Gowanlea – by dipping her flags , the task of Gowanlea and her and blowing hard on her siren – to abandon ship. crew was to prevent Austrian operating “Surrender” was not, however, a word in Watt’s out of Cattaro, 140 miles to the north, entering the personal vocabulary and the offer was refused. Mediterranean via the straits separating Italy from Albania. No fewer than 120 drifters provided a 24- hour net barrier across 44 miles of water, supported Rum Tub Page - 8 Volume 6 Issue 1 February 2017

Instead, calling for full steam ahead, Watt HMS ‘TEMERAIRE’ MUTINY. encouraged his crew by shouting: “Three cheers, lads, and let’s fight to the finish!” Continued from page 7 As the Gowanlea made straight for the enemy ship, When one of the marines who supported the mutiny the drifter’s gun team opened fire with their six- was placed in irons for drunken behaviour and pounder gun, with menacing accuracy. violence, a crowd formed on deck and tried to free The enemy response was both swift and him. predictable: they brought their nine 3.9-inch guns to Rear Admiral Campbell gave orders for the marines bear on the Gowanlea and two shells caused instant to arrest those he identified as ringleaders: the and significant damage. marines hesitated, but then obeyed the order, immediately placing a number in irons. One blast carried away the port railings and smashed the boat’s bulwarks while the other Deprived of their leaders the mutiny collapsed, plunged through the deck, disabled the gun and though the officers were vigilant for some days detonated a box of ammunition. In the second afterwards. explosion, one member of the crew was blown News of the mutiny created a sensation in England, away from the gun and severely wounded. Two and the admiralty ‘Temeraire ‘to sail immediately further shells landed on the drifter: Watt, whose cap for Spithead while an investigation was carried out. had been ripped by shrapnel, narrowly escaped Vice Admiral Mitchell was granted extraordinary death when one of these shells struck the powers regarding the ‘death sentence’ and wheelhouse. Temeraire’s marine complement was hastily But Gowanlea was able to limp away under her augmented for the voyage to England. own steam as Novara moved on, convinced that the On the ship’s arrival, the fourteen ringleaders were Gowanlea was sinking. The raid lasted just over an swiftly court martialled in aboard HMS hour, during which 14 of the 47 drifters were sunk ‘Gladiator’ some on 6th. January 1802, and the rest and several more damaged. As the cruisers on the 14th January. withdrew, they left behind a scene of destruction After deliberations, twelve were sentenced to be and chaos. hanged, the remaining two to receive two hundred Gowanlea, despite being badly damaged, even lashes each. joined in the rescue effort and managed to help the Four men were duly hanged aboard ‘Temeraire’ wounded from the drifter Floandi before making and the remainder were hanged aboard several of for port. Watt’s VC – the only one for the action – the ships anchored in Portsmouth, including HMS was announced on August 29 1917. ‘Majestic’ HMS ‘Formidable’ ‘Achilles’ and HMS ‘Centaur’. Watt, who was aged 29 at the time of his VC action, was also rewarded with the Italian Al After the executions ‘Temeraire’ sailed Valore Militare and the French Croix de Guerre. In immediately on the delayed voyage to the West total, the action also led to the award of two Indies, remaining there until ‘The Peace of ’ Distinguished Service Orders, six Distinguished was signed and finally ratified, then returning to Service Crosses, five Conspicuous Gallantry England. Medals, 18 Distinguished Service Medals and 31 Laid up during ‘Peace of Amiens’ Temeraire Mentions in Despatches. returned to active service with the resumption of the wars with France, again serving with the Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, the First Sea Lord, Channel Fleet, and joined Horatio Nelson’s delivered a speech in praise of the crew of the blockade of the Spanish-Franco Fleet in Cadiz Gowanlea and other small British ships: “The 1805. enemy has been up against the grit of the British sailor. It is this spirit which will win the war and I She fought only one fleet action ‘The Battle of hope win it quickly.” Trafalgar’ but became so well known for her actions, and subsequent depictions in art and Watt fell ill shortly after his VC action and spent literature, that she has been remembered as the six weeks recuperating in hospital on . After ‘Fighting Temeraire’. his release he was promoted to chief skipper but he st At ‘The ’ 21 October, the ship refused to discuss his VC action, even with his went into action immediately astern of Nelson’s wife. His VC was presented to him by George V at flagship HMS ‘Victory’. Buckingham Palace on 6 April 1918 Continued on page 12

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For sailors, our warships become part of us Submitted by Shipmate Mick Dowling Lusty was a special kind of home and place PETER ROBERTS of work, but without those things that we Daily Telegraph December 12th 2016 usually associate with such environments. No The final voyage of HMS 'Lusty' is a sad space for ornaments, gadgets, double beds or event for all those who made the ship - even a large wardrobe - warships are designed and were made by her. around function and equipment crew quarters are one of the last elements squeezed into any As HMS Illustrious departed Portsmouth vessel That can feel claustrophobic, but at the yesterday for a breaker's yard in Turkey, even same time allows a focus on what is absolutely hardened sailors felt real grief. necessary. Sailors understand that what they Having dined on board with really need are human qualities not Captain Mike Utley and his physical objects; comradeship, officers some years ago, I humour, resilience and grit. could understand that. Ships' companies pride The relationship themselves on finding no task between matelots too great or too difficult. (sailors) and their ship is Whether rescuing fellow a special feeling that seafarers from the oceans in never dies. Force 12 gales, hosting world When warships deploy, leaders for peace talks, or sailors often do not know where they evacuating British citizens, captains are able will end up or what mission they will end up to drive their people with a single purpose, and performing - delivering aid to communities to change that purpose at a moment's notice. devastated by natural disasters, deterring This flexibility and agility is one reason aggressive states in far-flung seas, or going to why national leaders often have a real affinity war where shipmates will die. The world has a with aircraft carriers. Many of these tasks are habit of changing quickly and events rarely performed by the ships out of the allow ships to return home to make additional public eye, but when a carrier is called upon, it preparations. Ships sail ready for almost every sends a very public message - not to allies, but contingency, as do the sailors in them. Those to adversaries. Successive prime ministers matelots also embark on these deployments called for Lusty, and her sister-ships from the together. No one is a spectator - no one stays Invincible class, more than others. back on an airfield, or commands from a Unusually, Lusty was commissioned at sea bunker miles away from the action. en route to the Falkland Islands in 1982. She The naval ethos is: "All of one company" spent much of the Nineties in the Every sailor accepts the same level of danger, off the former republic of Yugoslavia, and later the fame highs and lows, and the same enforcing the no-fly zone in Iraq. In 2000, she separation for months at a time. The bond was the linchpin for military operations in between the people on board is based on trust- Sierra Leone, inserting Special Forces two that your "oppo" will protect you when needed, years later into Afghanistan. By 2006, she was fight alongside you when called upon and share evacuating civilians from Lebanon and came to in your troubles and woes. When you are the public eye again in 2014 delivering aid thousands of miles from a friendly port, there is after a hurricane in the Philippines. Those who no fire brigade to fight a fire, no repairman to served in Lusty might recall some of these fix the engine, and no one else to protect you operations, but it is more likely that they will from enemies. Everyone in the ship runs out of remember the people they served with. The milk and fresh food (or loo roll) at the same landing of a damaged ("convertible", as he is time. said to have called it) Harrier jump-jet by

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Lieutenant Commander Jack London in 1998 The Agony of Aging. will have been a defining moment in Lusty’s On the morning that Daylight Savings Time history for many, but the identity of the crew is Ended, I stopped in to visit my ageing more than any single event. friend. He was busy covering his p**** with black shoe polish. I said to him, "You better Neither is it as simple as the people making get your hearing checked, You're supposed the ship. For many, the ship also made the to turn your clock back". people. The sense of loss that many sailors felt yesterday was because they recognised how THE COD WARS: fundamental Lusty was to their own sense of I don’t suppose we will forget them. I know it identity. The next generation of sailors will wasn't easy going not alone for the harsh undoubtedly feel a similar bond with the Royal weather. Navy's new carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth. We The Cod Wars were a series of skirmishes can only hope that the next generation of the between Great Britain and Iceland during the British public can feel a similar sense that the 1950's and again in the 1970's. new ship is part of the nation's identity, as we Although the situation was then/fully resolved did with Lusty. without bloodshed, it did illustrate some major political issues dealing with fishing rights in Peter Roberts of the Royal United Services territorial waters; and the right of a country to Institute retired from the Royal Navy in 2013 protect its valuable natural resources. HMS ‘TEMERAIRE’ MUTINY. As human pressure on the environment increases, incidents like the cod wars could Continued from page 9 happen again. During the Although the cod wars may seem petty; they battle were a very important event in history. ‘Temeraire’ Iceland began to come into its own as a NATO came to the power during this period when it realized it had rescue of the leverage by reason of the NATO base there. beleaguered Issues with cod fishing were more widely ‘Victory’ and recognised and global awareness leading to fought capturing fishing quotas for European countries. two French ships, winning public renown in Cod once existed in great numbers across the Britain. North Atlantic, and had been extensively After undergoing substantial repairs, ‘Temeraire’ fished by a variety of nations: great fortunes was employed blockading the French fleets and were made. supporting British actions off the Spanish coasts. Iceland relied heavily upon the cod fishing She went out to the battle 1809 defending convoys industry and became concerned when long against Danish attacks and by 1810 was off ranging ships from other countries began to the Spanish coast again helping to defend Cadiz fish off its shore: although the practice was against the French army. technically legal, it threatened cod stocks in Her last action was against the French off Toulon, Iceland. when she came under fire from shore batteries. In 1958, Iceland took action; extending an The ship returned to Britain for repairs, but was laid exclusive economic zone beyond its up: converted to a and moored in the recognised international territorial waters, until 1819. pledging to enforce the zone with the Further service brought her to as a assistance of a quota system backed up by the receiving ship, then a victualling depot, and finally Icelandic coast guard. a . Britain resented this and sent fishing vessels The Admiralty ordered her to be sold in 1838, and into the exclusive economic zone along with she was towed up the Thames to be broken up. naval escorts; setting off the first cod war in the autumn of 1958.

After a few months of deliberate collisions, net cuttings and warning shots, the war ended with

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a treaty and agreement to take future disputes A young 12-year old girl, looking after her dying to the International Court of Justice. grandfather in a local Devon hospice, was inspired to write this poem below. This appeared in a local However, the cod wars were not over, in 1972 newspaper and has now been set to music. I think you Iceland extended the exclusive economic zone will be moved as much as I was. again in an attempt to revive the failing fishing industry by forcing international producers out Britain and Iceland almost went to war in 1973 but the crisis was averted after a series of It’s like a slice of Heaven NATO talks. When you find yourself in hell However, in 1975 another cod war did break out when Britain refused to recognise the The dying given dignity exclusion zone and Iceland once again sent The living treated well. their coastguard to enforce it In a world fraught with emotion This time Iceland threatened to withdraw from It’s a place for finding peace NATO and close a NATO base unless their A place of calm and loving demands were met and a final treaty was reached. Where the fears you’ve had However we did get a lot fish & chips! can cease. It’s quiet, not depressing Like a haven in a storm Thou’ focused on the dying It’s atmosphere’s still warm When at the edge of reason When life’s its most unfair Be thankful and be grateful Thank God for Hospicecare Josie Sanders Age 12

Murphy dropped dead the moment he arrived home from a vacation in the tropics. He was laid out in the coffin for friends and neighbours to pay their last respects. "He's got a great tan," Mrs Doolan from next door mused. "The holiday did him the world of good." "And he looks so calm and serene," said Mrs McGuiness. "That's because he died in his sleep." explained Mrs Murphy, "and he doesn't know he's dead yet , but when he wakes up, the shock will kill him!"

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