Berrows WORCESTER Quarterly Edition 3 Publisher: David Hallmark Editor: Paul Francis Layout: Carter Graphics Slaves Carrying our name across the seas set free Lt Cmdr William Eustace RN ACCORDING to Battles of Retd tells the story of HMS the British Navy by Joseph Worcester Allen in 1852, “The atrocities committed by the Algerines, THE fi rst ship to be named and the barbarous massacre of HMS Worcester was by the crews of more than three Cromwell in commemoration hundred small vessels on 23 of his victory at the Battle of May 1816 at Bona induced the Worcester 1651. British government to prepare On the restoration of an expedition to act against the Charles 11, in 1660, the ship forts and shipping of Algiers.” was renamed HMS Dunkirk, a One of the ships which name of a place with which a reached the site for the later HMS Worcester was to be bombardment in August, 1816, closely associated. was the brig HMS Heron on Six further warships were which served Commander named HMS Worcester, being Herbert B. Powell. After launched successively in 1698, bombardment for two days 1735, 1769, 1843 and fi nally in the Bey of Algiers agreed 1919. Two other warships were treaty terms with the delivery renamed HMS Worcester and of “upwards of 1,200 Christian used as Training Ships between slaves and restoration of 1877 and 1968. HMS Worcester pictured in 1919. 382,500 dollars for slaves Nelson served on the redeemed by Naples and Fourth HMS Worcester, a 64 launched in October, 1919, Arctic. On December 23, County of Worcester who have Sicily and peace with the gun warship launched in 1769 built by Samuel White of 1943, she struck a mine in the served with the Royal Navy. Netherlands and a public with a complement of about Cowes and commissioned in North Sea and after repairs However, to indicate the tales apology for the detention of 500 engaged at the time on 1922, spending the interwar and relocation to London as that can be told, mention is the British Consul.” convoy duties in the Channel years in the Mediterranean. an accommodation ship was made of Admirals Britten and Powell later became a Rear under Captain Mark Robinson. On May 25, 1940, her Captain, renamed HMS Yeoman. Tomkinson serving in WW1 Admiral and lived in Worcester In 1782, HMS Worcester Commander JH Allison No Royal Navy warship and of Commander Bullock of at the home he named and was involved in a series was ordered to proceed to has since been called HMS HMS Nelson and Fleet Air Arm which is still known as Heron of engagements with the Dover and to prepare for the Worcester. Commander Bruen serving in Lodge, London Road. He died French around southern India evacuation of troops on the WW2 and Admiral Tennant on December 20, 1857, aged 73 culminating with the Battle of beaches of Dunkirk. On June Other stories ‘The Beach Master on D-Day and was buried in Whittington Trincomalee off Ceylon/Sri 1, badly damaged by bombing, There is not space enough in 1944’. There are many others of Chapel and to which he Lanka. she returned to Tilbury and this edition to reveal enough all ranks and one day we hope bequeathed £200 for repairs The last seagoing warship resumed convoy escort duties about many other citizens their stories can be proudly and £80 to purchase the clock named HMS Worcester was in the Channel and later the associated with the City and told. Lt Cmdr William Eustace. in the tower. Sunset burials Bomb hero of the Falklands Surgeon Commander Paul 27, 1941, and he found himself FROM the London Gazette completed in the early hours Guild): “The Falklands Spirit. Houghton FRCS by John Black trapped below decks whilst October 8, 1982, on the award of the following day. During There is one man I will always FRCS former Consultant the change of weights on of the Distinguished Service the operation, Lt Bruen showed remember as portraying it. His General Surgeon Worcester board raised the bows until the Cross. great personal courage and name was Lt Cmdr Bernie Bruen. and President RCS, London. torpedo hole was out of the “DURING the evening of May impeccable leadership.” He was a RN salvage diver by PAUL Houghton became water and the watertight door 25, 1982, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Sir Nigel was born in 1946 and profession, but in San Carlos Consultant General Surgeon could be opened. Galahad was struck by a 1000 lb lived in The White House, Great Water he did a little more. He at Ronkswood Hospital, He treated everything from bomb which failed to explode. Witley, Worcestershire. He was a big man with reddish Worcester in 1948 and tuberculosis to missing limbs, “Lt Bruen, Offi cer in Charge worked at the Cadena Café, beard and he was never without remained until he retired in head injuries, fl ash burns, Fleet Clearance Diving Team, Worcester, as a waiter and as one, his pipe and two, his fi ddle. 1976, although continuing to splinter wounds and survivors was tasked with its removal. a labourer for Worcestershire It took him 22 hours aboard the The bomb was lodged in a County Council, Highways Sir Galahad the fi rst time she work in Worcester and in other of HMS Eagle, the aircraft Nigel “Bernie” Bruen. countries in Africa and the carrier, who had skinned diffi cult position, surrounded Department before a student was hit, cutting a way out for Caribbean and Nazareth, Israel. themselves sliding down her by broken batteries which career in arts and drama a distinguished career ending the 1000 pounder. When it was His career with the Royal barnacled hull as she rolled over. had splashed acid around the presenting his own invented as Commanding Offi cer HMS safely over the side, Bernie Navy started in 1940 with the He was present when his compartment. The decision ‘hytesenemic lighting shows’ at Gavington in 1988. He was went straight away to another destroyer class HMS Zulu and ship conducted sunset burials was taken to raise the bomb to concerts for The Animals and awarded the MBE and DSC. ship to help get rid of a second convoy duty on the Arctic at sea and his photograph the vehicle deck and dispose of The Yardbirds and The Cream ITN Reporter Michael bomb. The last time I saw him Convoys. In 1941, he joined the of those most poignant of it over board. and Jimi Hendrix followed by Nicholson wrote on the cover fi ve Paras were being buried battleship HMS Nelson which ceremonies was a reminder of “This diffi cult and joining Britannia Royal Naval of Bernie Bruen’s book Keep and Bernie played a Scottish was torpedoed on September his wartime experiences. dangerous task was successfully College Dartmouth, beginning Your Head Down (The Book dirge in the pouring rain.” Underwoods Steel Stockholders Ron Smith & Co. Halls – Land & Property ARC Surveyors Limited www.underwoods-steels.co.uk www.ronsmith.co.uk www.hallsgb.com www.arcsurveyors.net WORCESTER Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce www.hwchamber.co.uk The past: WITHOUT the dedicated work of those mentioned here, we would know very little about the past of our city. They are… THE founder county historian is the antiquarian Thomas Habington, but at his death in 1643 his papers were unpublished (and remained so The history makers until the 1890s). He greatly influenced By Robin Whittaker (immediate past County Archivist) and Chairman of Worcs. History Society and President of the succeeding historians, including Dr Thomas’ 1736 Survey of the Worcs. Local History Forum and editor of Worcs. Archaeology Society Transactions. Cathedral Church of Worcester and Dr Nash’s great county history of 1781 Collections for the History of Worcestershire. The first dedicated history of the city is Valentine Green’s two-volume History and Antiquities...of Worcester (1796). Many more books appeared in the 19th C. Dr Prattinton continued the antiquarian tradition , his papers ending up with the Society of Antiquaries. John Noake, a journalist (and mayor of Worcester), published newspaper articles and books in mid-century. The 20thC saw a number of specialist books, including Willis Bund’s on the Civil War, McMenemy’s History of Worcester Royal Infirmary and A gathering on August 1 of some of the City’s historians, in no particular order. Mike Grundy, Iain Rutherford, Victoria Bryant, Lisa Snook, Jim and Margaret Panter, David Morrison, Chris Philip Barker’s ground-breaking Guy, Miriam and Godfrey Harvey, Jacquie Hartwright, Barbara Jenkins, Val Hibbitt, Mick Wilkes, Richard Shaw, Vaughan Wiltshire, Clive Haynes, Paul Hudson, Robert Loveless, David Nash work on city archaeology, (hidden), Tom McSweeney, Sandy Cale, Roberta Davis, Howard Robinson, David Hallmark and the WAAS Field team, Tim Cornah, Simon Woodiwiss, Linda Griffin, Graham Arnold, Richard started in the 1960s. Bradley, Rob Hedge, Aidan Woodger, Tom Vaughan, Carolyn Hunt, Liz Pearson, Derek Hurst, Laura Templeton, Elspeth Iliff, Andy Walsh and others, apologies from Robin Whittaker, Adrian Gregson, James Dinn, Philippa Tinsley, Pat Hughes, Malcolm Haynes, Tony Spicer and Malcolm Atkins, Tim Bridges and others. Industrious collector Bill Gwilliam published two seminal volumes on ‘Old Worcester’. F.V. Follett wrote a history Societies: Professionals: of the Royal Grammar School TWO of the oldest local collector’s book, the Civil War diary THE last half-century has seen a major under James Dinn actively produces and W.R.Chignell produced two societies are the Worcestershire and papers of Henry Townshend, early impact on the study of the City from reports and articles and the County volumes on the County Cricket Archaeological Society (www.