THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION Incorporated by Royal Charter Patron: Her Majesty the Queen

THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION Incorporated by Royal Charter Patron: Her Majesty The Queen

Unity - Loyalty Patriotism - Comradeship

Registered Charity No: 1068408 NEWTON ABBOT BRANCH

NEWSLETTER Jack Chat

Issue 4 – July 2014

DAILY ORDERS Editor’s Bluster………………………………………………………………pg. 2 Contacts…………………………………………………………………….....pg. 3 CrosSea Cadets D-Day…………………………………..,……………..pg. 4 Words of Wisdom?…………………………….………………………...pg. 6 The Loss of HMS Amphion.……………….…….…………………...pg. 7 Longcast……………………………………………………………………....pg. 10 The Secretary lays a wreath.…………………….……………..…..pg. 10 Ship’s Biscuits…………………..………………………….………………pg. 11 Falklands War Memories …………………………………….………pg. 11 Annual Dinner………………………………………………………………pg. 12 Area 4 Meeting…………………………………………………………….pg. 12 Plea for Chairman…………………………………………………………pg. 13 Port and Pate / Skittles………………………………………………..pg. 13 D-Day Dodgers………………………………………………..…………...pg. 13 General Shute……………………………………………………………….pg. 15

EDITOR’S BLUSTER D’ye Hear there. Issue four, who would have thought it? Since my last epistle quite a lot has happened. We had our annual dinner at the Ten Tors Inn at the end of May. A very enjoyable evening was had by all and a very erudite guest of honour in Commander Dunn OBE. I will let you know the part of his speech that he left out to save the Ladies blushes later in this Newsletter!

The Branch successfully hosted the Area 4 meeting, so good was it that the Area Secretary wrote to thank us, and said the tea and stickies were “the best for many a year” A fair number of Shipmates attended Decoration Day at Wolborough Cemetery and three of our members laid crosses on Naval graves. Afterwards we all repaired to the Royal British Legion for a fine buffet. June the 7th saw Nicola and I travelling between Trago Mills and Torquay and back again. We commenced the day by beginning our Flag Day collection at Trago. We then had to make a mad dash to Beacon Quay for the D-Day Commemorations hosted by the NVA. We arrived just in time for the parade followed by an absolutely fantastic service. On completion we hightailed it back to Trago for a few more hours flag Day collecting, and a very successful collection it was, raising over £600 The pitch for the Carnival has been booked, 12th July. We will need volunteers to help man the stall and to assist in putting up the gazebo. Unfortunately Nicola and I will not be able to help this year as Nicola has made me take her on holiday for her birthday. Hopefully we will have another prosperous Carnival. Remember this is YOUR Newsletter. If there is anything you would like to see in it please say, and if there is anything you can contribute please, please, do so. That is all! Yours Aye Dave Cair

CONTACTS

President Pat Mole 01626 369180 [email protected] Chairman S/M Roy Butler 01626 361916 [email protected] Vice-Chairman S/M Dave Morris 01626 351678 [email protected] Secretary S/M Dave Cair 01626 333603 [email protected] Treasurer S/M Nicola Cair 01626 333603 [email protected] Welfare Officer S/M Dave Morris 01626 351678 [email protected]

Branch Delegate S/M Roy Butler 01626 361916 [email protected] Social Secretary Vacant Standard Bearer S/M Mike Davey 07522 446678 [email protected] Asst.SB S/M Dave Cair 01626 333603 [email protected] Slops Bosun S/M Nicola Cair 01626 333603 [email protected] Rum Bosun S/M Dave Cair 01626 333603 [email protected] Tea Bosun S/M Joyce Kiff 01626 351557 PRO Officer S/M Nick Maylem 01626 879467 [email protected] Branch Chaplain Vacant Jack Chat Editor S/M Dave Cair 01626 333603 [email protected]

SEA CADETS D-DAY

On Sunday the 9th of June, Sea Cadets from TS Canonteign, Teign Valley Unit 609, joined HMS Dasher an Archer class P2000 patrol boat as crew for the Torbay 70th Anniversary D-Day sail past.

The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Roger Skelley RN and his training team gave each of the Cadets a turn at the helm instructing them on compass bearings, high speed turns, slow speed manoeuvres and handling a large craft in amongst more than 140 yachts and power boats taking part in the build up to the parade of boats across Torbay.

At the slow sail past in line astern behind lead ship HMS Pembroke and HMS Exploit, standing forward, 4 of the Cadets manned the rails whilst other Cadets manned the stern, Cadet Edward Stirland piped the side a traditional boatswains call whilst Cadet Sam Rencher took the helm, under the watchful eye of Dasher's 1st Lieutenant.

Lt. Skelley saluted 30 plus D- Day veterans and members of their families, who had been joined by Rear Admiral Tarrant Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) on board the stationary WW2 motor torpedo boat "Fairmile" along with members of the press.

The sail past continued across the bay passing the old battery at Brixham where signal cannons were fired, before returning to Torquay Sam Rencher

Haldon Quay where Cadets enjoyed home made cake and tea before disembarking. 17year old Senior Cadet Edward Stirland said, "It was exciting and an honour to sail a Royal Navy patrol boat taking part in the parade of boats at Torbay, a parade to mark an historic national event that may never happen again, it's days like this that make me determined to join the service"

WORDS OF WISDOM?

If you're not familiar with the work of Steven Wright, he's the famous Erudite (comic) scientist who once said: "I woke up one morning, and all of my stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates."

His mind sees things differently than most of us do. Here are some of his gems.

1 - I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize. 2 - Borrow money from pessimists -- they don't expect it back. 3 - Half the people you know are below average. 4 - 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name. 5 - 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot. 6 - A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good. 7 - A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. 8 - If you want the rainbow, you have got to put up with the rain. 9 - All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand. 10 - The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. 11 - I almost had a psychic girlfriend... But she left me before we met. 12 - OK, so what's the speed of dark? 13 - How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink? 14 - If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something. 15 - Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm. 16 - When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. 17 - Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy. 18 - Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now. 19 - I intend to live forever... So far, so good. 20 - If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? 21 - Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines. 22 - What happens if you get scared half to death twice? 23 - My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder." 24 - Why do psychics have to ask you for your name. 25 - If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. 26 - A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. 27 - Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it. 28 - The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread. 29 - To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research. 30 - The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard. 31 - The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up. 32 - The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it. 33 - Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film. 34 - If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

And the all-time favourite:

35 - If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

Submitted by S/M Marione Athorne

THE LOSS OF HMS AMPHION IN WW1

HMS AMPHION

At 2300 on August 4th 1914, England declared war on Germany. In anticipation of war the Konigin Luise, a former Hamburg - Holland holiday ferry, had been converted to an auxiliary minelayer by the Germans. On the night of 4th August she left her home port of Emden and steamed south through the North Sea to lay mines off the Thames Estuary. The ship resembled the steamers of the Great Eastern Railway that plied from Harwick to the Hook of Holland, and so she was painted in their colours of black, buff, and yellow to disguise herself.

Meanwhile, at the port of Harwick 80 miles north of London, HMS Amphion (Capt.Cecil H.Fox) and the destroyers of the 3rd Flotilla were preparing to sail. They departed in the early hours of the morning and by daylight on the 5th August they were well out into the North Sea sweeping towards the Heligoland Bight. A few hours after leaving port a destroyer on the screen spoke to a fishing vessel who had seen an unknown vessel "throwing things over the side" about 20 miles north of the Outer Gabbard.

At 1025 Amphion sighted the unknown steamer and sent the destroyers Lance and Landrail to investigate. The steamer was the Konigin Luise which made off at 20 knots, altering course, before disappearing into a rain squall where she began laying mines. At 1030, Lance 7 signalled she was engaging the enemy and is credited with firing the first shot of World War 1. They were soon joined by Amphion (which had won the fleet gunnery prize for 1914) and the German came under very accurate fire.

The Konigin Luise was only lightly armed with two 3.7cm MGs and some smaller weapons and offered little resistance. Commander Biermann brought her onto a south-easterly course hoping to regain neutral waters and draw the British ships into her minefield. However, after receiving numerous hits, the order was given to sink the ship to avoid any further loss of life. At 1222, on fire amidships and with smoke and steam pouring from her funnels, the Konigin Luise rolled over to port and sank at 55.5N 2.32E. 46 of the 100 crew were rescued.

Konigin Luise

During the action the Amphion gun crews from the disengaged side crossed over to watch the firing and showed their appreciation of good salvoes by cheering and applauding. After the action Capt. Fox mustered all hands and reprimanded the men for leaving their posts. He reminded them that they were at war and no matter what the other fellow was doing, each man was to go on with his duty and stick to it. The ship's company rather enjoyed the lecture and saw the sense in it.

The British destroyers now sighted another ship of the same shape and colour of the Konigin Luise. She was flying a huge German Flag and the destroyers began their attack. Amphion recognized her as the St.Petersburg which was carrying the German Ambassador back to Germany from England. Amphion signaled the destroyers to cease fire but in the excitement of the moment they ignored the signal and pressed home the attack. Capt. Fox then put the Amphion between the destroyers and the St Petersburg to deliberately foul the range. 8

At 2100 Amphion and the destroyers set course to return to Harwick. Unfortunately, due to reported problems with mines and submarines, the allocated course ran very close to where the Konigin Luise had laid her mines.

At 0645 the Amphion struck a mine which exploded just beside the forebridge and broke the ship's back. The explosion practically destroyed the bridge and smoke and flames poured from the slits in the conning tower. Except for one man, all the fo'csle gun crews were killed and the bridge occupants badly burnt. As the hands were at breakfast, many were killed or suffocated in the forward messdecks. This included 19 of 21 German survivors.

Capt.Fox stopped engines and proceeded aft to take charge. The ship was well down at the bows and attempts to extinguish the raging fires in the forward part of the ship failed. Abandon Ship was ordered. As most of Amphion's boats were destroyed, the destroyers sent their boats to rescue the crew.

There was no confusion or panic. The men fell in on deck. Within twenty minutes of the first explosion all the survivors were safely on board the destroyers. Among the survivors was Midshipman E.F Fegan who would later win a VC as Captain of the Jervis Bay when it was sunk in WW2.

HMS AMPHION SINKING

Unfortunately, although Amphions's engines were stopped, she still had way on and she continued turning in a circle. At 0703, just as the last boatload of survivors were taken off, she again struck the same row of mines. Her magazine detonated in a huge cloud of pale yellow smoke and the fore part of the ship completely disintegrated showering the attending destroyers with debris. There were several casualties, one 4-inch shell falling on board the destroyer Lark, killing two of Amphion's men and a German prisoner. Amphion then suddenly slid astern and sank at 0705 at 52.11N 02.36E. One officer and 150 men were lost.

Thus, with the war only 32 hours old, HMS Amphion, which had primarily assisted in inflicting the first German Naval loss of the war, became the first British Naval war loss.

Adapted from "With the Harwick Naval Forces" and "Naval Staff monographs Vol.10"

. LONGCAST

Saturday 12th July Carnival Stall Volunteers needed Monday 14th July Branch Meeting 2000hrs Saturday 2nd August Street Collection Helpers required Monday 11th August Branch Meeting 2000hrs Friday 15th August Port and Pate Evening 1930hrs Wednesday 27th August Skittles Vs RBL 1900 for 1930Hrs Monday 8th September Branch Meeting 2000hrs Sunday 21st September Annual Outing Bicton Gardens Monday 13th October Branch Meeting 2000hrs Monday 10th November Branch Meeting 2000hrs

THE SECRETARY LAYS A WREATH

On Saturday 14th June Nicola and I laid a wreath at the War Memorial to commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of the Falkland Islands in 1982 and in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

We also laid a cross in remembrance of a school friend of ours who was killed in action onboard HMS Sheffield on the 4th May 1982.

SHIP’S BISCUITS

THE NAVAL "HARD TACK"

There has always been a need for nutritious, easy to store, easy to carry and long-lasting foods in the Royal Navy. Nuts, fruits, vegetables, live game and fish fulfilled a limited role, but the introduction of cooking and baking various cereals provided a more reliable source of food for travellers, especially at sea. Egyptian sailors carried a flat brittle loaf of maize bread calleddhourra cake. The Romans had a biscuit called buccellum King Richard I (Lionheart) left for the Third Crusade (1189-92) with “biskit of muslin” - mixed corn compound of barley, rye and bean flour. At the time of the Armada in 1588, the daily allowance on board ship was 1lb of biscuit plus 1 gallon of beer. It was Samuel Pepys in 1667 who first regularised naval victualling with varied and nutritious rations. Biscuits remained an important part of the sailor’s diet until the introduction of canned foods and bread. Preserved beef in tins was officially introduced in 1847, although tinned items had previously been used in arctic exploration. Canned meat was first marketed in 1813. In the mid-1850s with improved design and new baking equipment, it became possible to bake bread on board ship. Biscuits have always been made to a large and varied recipes e.g. seed biscuits, fruit biscuits, long biscuits etc. The essential and common ingredients were flour and water, Most flour used today is milled from North American wheat or similar hard grain cereals. It would be difficult to produce an historically authentic biscuit from modern refined flour. Recipe

To produce a similar plain ships biscuit, a medium coarse stone-ground wholemeal flour should be used. Add water to 1lb wholemeal flour and 1/4oz salt to make a stiff dough. Leave for 1/2 hour and then roll out very thickly. Separate in to 5 or 7 biscuits. Bake in a hot oven approx. 420 degrees F for 30 minutes. The biscuits should then be left undisturbed in a warm dry atmosphere to harden and dry out. Biscuits are still purchased for the Ministry of Defence for use in operational ration packs but not for general messing.

FALKLANDS WAR MEMORIES

The following is a first had account of events on the day HMS Sheffield was hit by an Exocet Missle. It is one man’s experience and feelings. Not an easy read but enlightening nonetheless.

I will try to keep it short and to the point from what I can remember of the 4th May 1982. Besides all the stuff you have read about officers not being at their posts and the conspiracy theories surrounding the sinking of HMS Sheffield. This is how I felt and what I thought on that day. We had been in defence watches, 6 on 6 off for what seemed like an eternity, but you get used to it eventually, the tiredness, and the heavy weight of continually been alert begins to tell on you and you just want to wash, eat and sleep, no time for movies or reading a book or any other luxury that takes place on a normal sea cruising. We had been 200 miles out in the exclusion zone as we were a type 42 and were goalkeeping for the rest of the force, with our long range radar and Seadart capability. No one really expected that the Argie airforce would come all this way out. How wrong we were, they wanted revenge for the Belgrano. It was the 4th May, I remember going for lunch before closing up and hearing the football and horseracing on the SRE, all was normal at home, and I was getting angry because those at home should have been thinking about us. (They probably were, no doubts now). I closed up as normal at 12:00 in my position as gun controller, to my right was Seadart Controller, to his right, Missile Gun Director Blind, and to my left was the EW Golly. We heard the usual low hum of incoming and outgoing traffic, and reports to and from various stations, all was normal as it usually was in defence watches. At about 13:50 the captain said he needed to get in touch with Northwood via SCOT, as he was saying that, its seemed that everything just slowed down, Air raid red was reported, two incoming fast flyers were spotted flying low, we were going to engage, but EW was blocked by SCOT, and I believe the attack was vetoed by the flagship, because we had no identity of who they were, and they were considered to be returning CAP, so with a veto on Seadart we couldn’t engage so the 4.5 gun and the upper deck 20mm were on standby just in case. Action stations were called but it was too late, far far too late. 3” Rockets were fired and I fired 2 Chaff C shots, seconds before from what I can remember. Someone told me the Exocet was fired from very short range, didn’t have time to arm the warhead, think it took about 7 seconds to hit us. The next thing anyone knew was the slamming sound of a giant church oak door and the lights went out, computers went down, and the smoke was thick, black and everywhere. Sound of screams, crying, panic, just ensued. We were ordered out of the Ops room and told to get out of the fwd escape hatch as quickly as possible, we felt the heat on our backs from the fires that had started. I felt a slimy substance on the bulkhead as we groped our way up the passageway, when I got out into the light, it was blood. I think at that point I just went into auto, very sharply focused (for a while). We fought the fires for about 5 hours, and by god that deck was hot. Throwing small arms ammo and 3” rockets overboard, buckets of water from the oggin on heaving lines, we had no firemain. Anyway, my feelings were getting very dark by now. Flames headed toward the Seadart magazine rapidly. I was thinking that we were sitting on top of a very volatile bomb now and if I was going to die, then so be it but it better be damn quick, I had no intentions of

12 burning to death, had no intentions of jumping into a freezing oggin, so if I was going to die, I would choose it, and very determined I was about it too. So, tragic isn’t it, here am I alive to tell the tale, but luckier than the Jossman, who had his legs taken off at the waist, luckier than, the killick stoker in the MCR that got caught between two buckled clipped doors and got poisoned by the smoke but died screaming, luckier than the cook who was torn to shreds and was mercy killed by his Bessie oppo (he was unconscious at the time I have to add). Luckier than the galley crew that died, lucky because the PO Chef was cinema king and refused to show a film that afternoon, as he was pissed off at being asked what film was being put on in the JRs dining room and another 70 odd bods would have died that day. Yeah luckier than those 20 bods that died, all I have to do is remember them and that day eh?

PLEA FOR CHAIRMAN

Shipmates, please remember that Roy will be standing down as the Branch Chairman at our next AGM. Can I ask you all to consider taking over this roll. Without a chairman we cannot function as a Branch. If you can take over the roll you will be given as much support as possible by me as Hon Secretary and other committee members. DON’T LET OUR BRANCH DIE!

PORT AND PATE

We are holding a Port and Pate evening on the 15th of August, 1930 in the RBL function room. There will be alternatives to the Port and Pate. If you can get along to support the branch please do so. Tickets are only £4.50 so not too pricey. We intend to hold a Port Roll and a raffle so dig out those goodies and I will see you there.

SKITTLES Vs RBL

Our annual Skittles match against the Royal British Legion is booked for the evening of Wednesday 27th August. We are defending our three year winning streak and it is our turn to host the event. Volunteers are needed to play and to help with the food. Again we will need raffle prizes. We will be presenting a cheque to the Poppy Appeal on behalf of the Branch.

D-DAY DODGERS

With all the fuss surrounding D-Day 70 my thoughts turned to my late father in law who was proud to be a D-Day Dodger! In 44 he landed in Scilly and fought his way up through Italy and was at Monte Casino. The D-Day Dodgers is a term for those Allied servicemen who fought in Italy during the Second World War, which also inspired a popular wartime soldier's song.

A rumour spread during the war that the term was publicized by Viscountess Astor, a Member of the British Parliament, who supposedly used the expression in public after a disillusioned serviceman in Italy signed a letter to her as being from a "D-Day Dodger." However, there is no record that she actually said this, in or out of Parliament, and she herself denied ever saying it. The Song

We're the D-Day Dodgers out in Italy - Always on the vino, always on the spree. Eighth Army scroungers and their tanks We live in Rome - among the Yanks. We are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

We landed at Salerno, a holiday with pay, Jerry brought the band down to cheer us on our way Showed us the sights and gave us tea,. We all sang songs, the beer was free. We are the D-Day Dodgers, way out in Italy.

The Volturno and Cassino were taken in our stride We didn't have to fight there. We just went for the ride. Anzio and Sangro were all forlorn. We did not do a thing from dusk to dawn.

For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

On our way to Florence we had a lovely time. We ran a bus to Rimini right through the Gothic Line. On to Bologna we did go. Then we went bathing in the Po. For we are the D-Day Dodgers, over here in Italy.

Once we had a blue light that we were going home Back to dear old Blighty, never more to roam. Then somebody said in France you'll fight. We said never mind, we'll just sit tight, The windy D-Day Dodgers, out in Sunny Italy.

Now Lady Astor, get a load of this. Don't stand up on a platform and talk a load of piss. You're the nation's sweetheart, the nation's pride We think your mouth's too bloody wide. We are the D-Day Dodgers, in Sunny Italy.

When you look 'round the mountains, through the mud and rain You'll find the crosses, some which bear no name. Heartbreak, and toil and suffering gone 14

The boys beneath them slumber on They were the D-Day Dodgers, who'll stay in Italy.

So listen all you people, over land and foam Even though we've parted, our hearts are close to home. When we return we hope you'll say "You did your little bit, though far away All of the D-Day Dodgers, way out there in Italy."

GENERAL SHUTE

As promised in my Bluster here is the part of the speech that Commander Dunn left out about General Shute in his speech at our annual dinner.

But first a little background on the General.

He served in World War I in France and Belgium becoming Commander of 59th Brigade in France during the Guillemontactions in 1915. He went on to be General Officer Commanding of the Royal Naval Division in 1916.

General Shute had an intense dislike for the unconventional "nautical" traditions of the Royal Naval Division and made numerous unpopular attempts to stamp them out. He was particularly critical of the poor management of the latrines which could have led to an outbreak of dysentery. Following a particularly critical inspection of the trenches by General Shute, an officer of the division, Sub-Lieutenant A. P. Herbert, who later became a famous humorous writer, legal satirist and Member of Parliament, wrote a popular poem that summed up the feelings of the men of the RND:

The General inspecting the trenches Exclaimed with a horrified shout 'I refuse to command a division Which leaves its excreta about.'

But nobody took any notice No one was prepared to refute, That the presence of shit was congenial Compared to the presence of Shute.

And certain responsible critics Made haste to reply to his words Observing that his staff advisors Consisted entirely of turds.

For shit may be shot at odd corners And paper supplied there to suit,

But a shit would be shot without mourners If somebody shot that shit Shute.

DISCLAIMER Whilst Jack Chat is the Newsletter of the Newton Abbot branch of the Royal Naval Association, it should be clearly understood that the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the Association, the branch members or the Editor and should not therefore be interpreted as such.