H.M.S. Ajax & River Plate Veterans Association NEWSLETTER MARCH 2015 CONTENTS Chairman/Editor’s Remarks Events in Uruguay with pictures Battle of the River Plate – Eye Witness Account - Lieutenant Richard Washbourn Speech by Commodore Jeremy Rigby ADC Speech by Commander Andrew McMillan RNZN Archivist Update Membership Secretary Report Visit to the NMA Excerpt from Rear Admiral Jack Steer, Chief of Staff, RNZN Release to Navy Summary with supporting pictures from the 75th Anniversary Lunch on 13th December 2014 50th Annual Reunion – Application Form NEC QUISQUAM NISI AJAX 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. and Alf Larkin and Vic Wilsoleen Jordan, Debbie Steer and Susan Mariglia-Bosgraaf were elected as CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER an Honorary Member. Then elected as Committee members. NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis Peter Danks The Bewicks, Station Road 104 Kelsey Avenue Ten Mile Bank, PUBLICITY Southbourne Norfolk PE38 0EU The committee worked hard to achieve publicity for the 75th anniversary in December. However the Emsworth Tel: 01366 377945 national dailies seemed to have got worn out with other military anniversaries! There was an article in Hampshire PO10 8NQ [email protected] the October issue of the British Legion magazine featuring Basil Trott, Frank Burton and Jim London; Tel: 01243 371947 an article in the June issue of Warship and coverage in the February Navy News. In addition Cliff [email protected] Hoppe produced a CD of the lunch photos and there is a DVD containing some interviews, together with the speeches which were recorded on 13th December. A DVD has been produced by Kit TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Acting TREASURER Harwood with interviews and speeches from the lunch. If there is sufficient interest a compilation SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER DVD could be produced with all the 2014 events. If you are interested in this please let Malcolm Mrs Judi Collis Alf Larkin John (Vic) Wilson Collis know. The Bewicks, Station Road 9 Ashleigh Avenue Lime Kiln Collage Ten Mile Bank Egham 2 Easton Lane Norfolk PE38 0EU ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Surrey TW20 8LB Portland Tel: 01366 377945 Dorset DT5 1BW I was very pleased to received the following email on 14th December from Commander Henry Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01784 439630 Tel: 01305 457259 Harwood, which was addressed to Captain Stephen Harwood, Malcolm Collis and myself:- “Very [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] many congratulations to you and all who helped to bring about the extremely impressive lunch yesterday. I know that it involved an immense amount of hard work by you and all the others who www.hmsajax.org helped bring about such a polished performance in a manner consistent with the customs of our Service. Together with your magnificent start to our anniversary year at the National Arboretum you have ensured that “the memory of this great action will continue to be long told in song and story”. CHAIRMAN/EDITOR'S REMARKS With many thanks from Henry and family. I hope you and your families are well and have managed to avoid the various varieties of flu that seem This was one of many that were received. to be affecting people in different parts of the country. I would like to thank most sincerely the support given by members to the events which the MINNA MORTON Association was involved with during 2014. I am sure those who attended enjoyed the events and I am grateful to Sue Harwood for this lovely short article. many favourable comments were received by those in attendance. Minna Morton, who died in April (2014) at the age of 90, was a friend to many of the British I am pleased to include in this issue, a copy of Commodore James Rigby's speech, as the First Sea community Montevideo and outside. For years she lived in the Prado with her niece Patty, her sister Lord's representative, who spoke at the lunch; reports and pictures from events in New Zealand Ruth who looked after her when she became frail, and a succession of much loved dogs and cats.. which Commander Andrew McMillan, RNZN sent me, plus a copy of his speech at the lunch; events Minna was born in Uruguay and educated at the British Schools before working for Hugh Grindley at from Montevideo together with other interesting aspects of the 75th anniversary. There is a the railways and then for Sandy McDougall, the regional representative of de Havilland and then selection of pictures which Cliff Hoppe took at the lunch – Cliff produces wonderful work in support Hawker Siddley. She went on to be accountant at the British Embassy, where her kindness and of our events for which we are most grateful. approachability brought a constant stream of visitors to her office. On retiring she became a very successful freelance translator. 2015 REUNION AND AGM One of Minna's best stories was how, as a girl, she had gone down to the sea front in December 1939 This year will mark the 50th Reunion since the Association was founded. The Dinner will be at the with her family to see the Graf Spee leave harbour. Her grandfather, who had been in the Royal Navy, King Charles Hotel, in Gillingham on 7th October, with the Church Service and AGM on the lifted his arm towards the pocket battleship and uttered the curse “Cruz Diablo, devil blast ye black”. following day. An application form for the dinner and accommodation, which should be sent direct At that point, suddenly the Graf Spee blew up. Minna said that her grandmother turned to him and to the Hotel, is printed with this newsletter. Additional copies can be downloaded from the web site. said “Now, Jack, see what you've done”. We hope that as many of you as possible will attend this event and with your suggestions we plan to make it a special event. GREETINGS SENT DURING DECEMBER The following greetings were sent by Stephen Harwood in early December 2014. MEMENTOES To mark the 75th anniversary, a first day cover (£6) - an example was in the December newsletter; a a) To Ambassador Ben Lister-Binns in Montevideo; message from the Harwoods. bookmark (£1) and a lunch brochure (£1); were produced. There are a few of these special items “On the occasion of your remembrances in this the 75th anniversary year of the Battle of the River available – if you would like to purchase any of these items, please contact Malcolm Collis before Plate, we send the Uruguayan people best wishes from the Harwood family. Our thoughts and they run out. prayers are with those who died in the battle”. We quote from a letter home from my father during his first visit to Montevideo in HMS AJAX after the battle:- AGM AND ANNUAL ACCOUNTS “Montevideo was a most hectic time. On arrival the jetty was black with people who broke The AGM took place on 13th December 2014. The minutes and accounts will be published in the through the police and cheered quite wildly. Then my calls; as I passed through the streets and was next issue – I felt it important to cover the 2014 events in detail first. Main points, Alf Larkin recognised we were cheered and waved at – Bravos etc – quite impressive as it was entirely proposed annual subs remain at £10 – please let Judi Collis have your subscriptions, if not already spontaneous. At each official call there was a crowd waiting, much noise, many handshakes etc – sent. Malcolm Collis was elected a Life Member as acknowledgement of his tremendous work with all from Uruguayans” the Memorial and Col existing committee were re-elected with Judi Collis being elected Treasurer 2. 3. H.M.S. AJAX & RIVER PLATE VETERANS ASSOCIATION. and Alf Larkin and Vic Wilsoleen Jordan, Debbie Steer and Susan Mariglia-Bosgraaf were elected as CHAIRMAN/SECRETARY ARCHIVIST/WEBMASTER an Honorary Member. Then elected as Committee members. NEWSLETTER EDITOR Malcolm Collis Peter Danks The Bewicks, Station Road 104 Kelsey Avenue Ten Mile Bank, PUBLICITY Southbourne Norfolk PE38 0EU The committee worked hard to achieve publicity for the 75th anniversary in December. However the Emsworth Tel: 01366 377945 national dailies seemed to have got worn out with other military anniversaries! There was an article in Hampshire PO10 8NQ [email protected] the October issue of the British Legion magazine featuring Basil Trott, Frank Burton and Jim London; Tel: 01243 371947 an article in the June issue of Warship and coverage in the February Navy News. In addition Cliff [email protected] Hoppe produced a CD of the lunch photos and there is a DVD containing some interviews, together with the speeches which were recorded on 13th December. A DVD has been produced by Kit TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Acting TREASURER Harwood with interviews and speeches from the lunch. If there is sufficient interest a compilation SECRETARY MEMBER STANDARD BEARER DVD could be produced with all the 2014 events. If you are interested in this please let Malcolm Mrs Judi Collis Alf Larkin John (Vic) Wilson Collis know. The Bewicks, Station Road 9 Ashleigh Avenue Lime Kiln Collage Ten Mile Bank Egham 2 Easton Lane Norfolk PE38 0EU ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Surrey TW20 8LB Portland Tel: 01366 377945 Dorset DT5 1BW I was very pleased to received the following email on 14th December from Commander Henry Mobile: 07736 929641 Tel: 01784 439630 Tel: 01305 457259 Harwood, which was addressed to Captain Stephen Harwood, Malcolm Collis and myself:- “Very [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] many congratulations to you and all who helped to bring about the extremely impressive lunch yesterday. I know that it involved an immense amount of hard work by you and all the others who www.hmsajax.org helped bring about such a polished performance in a manner consistent with the customs of our Service.