VANGUARD THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION NO.10 AREA APRIL 2007 FALKLANDS ALSO INSIDE: 25TH • WHO KILLED CROMIE? • PEARL HARBOUR ANNIVERSARY • HMS RINGTAIL SPECIAL ISSUE • WELCOME TO NUMBER 11 AREA ONCE ROYAL NAVY - ALWAYS ROYAL NAVY • ONCE ROYAL NAVY - ALWAYS ROYAL NAVY • ONCE ROYAL NAVY - ALWAYS ROYAL NAVY THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION VANGUARD NO.10 AREA EDITORIAL Or is it? After years of fending off questions With the sale of the London premises, it as to why headquarters had to be located in would allow a move to, say Portsmouth, in the London, it would appear it is now full speed hope that the MOD would provide us with ahead to quit the capital. Why the sudden accommodation in some building “going for a change of heart? The Vice Chairman of the song” in the nearby Historic Dockyard Association writing elsewhere in this complex. All well and good so far, magazine cites the reason that only the First unfortunately, the questions raised in the last Sea Lord is resident at the MOD (Navy) in issue of this magazine would still require London. In other words the seat of power has answers. What of the current London HQ’s moved out – that’s strange – it has always staff? Would they be willing to re-locate; - if been our understanding that the government not, generous severance terms would have to were the decision makers and they are firmly be paid to them. Wouldn’t extra staff be Decision Time planted in Westminster. Another reason put required to man the new headquarters over a In our last issue, we set out the pros and forward for the move to the seaside is the lack seven day period? There would be no point cons of uprooting the Association’s of space at Chelsea Manor Street: true, things in having a potential recruiting shop window Headquarters from Chelsea Manor Street in are cramped in the existing premises; one that was closed at weekends when the London to a place to be decided; (although can hardly deny that to hold a meeting of any Historic section of the dockyard was at its Portsmouth was considered the prime kind is not practical. Space is at a premium busiest: after all, that is the object of candidate) preferably one with a RN for other aspects of the operation – i.e. relocating is it not? Would there be any presence. storage of RNA goods and the valuable guarantee that the proposed move would space taken up by computer equipment – so generate any more interest in the RNA? It is Since then, despite many rumours, the necessary in the office world of today. now evident that today’s serving sailor has December Circular Letter gave an insight into other more pressing priorities than an the way matters are progressing on this One thing is certain; the lease on Chelsea organisation as they see it as an “old man’s” subject. Portsmouth as expected has Manor Street is a valuable asset with today’s club, whose members gather once a month emerged the front runner, despite an ongoing property values in the south east. The sale of in their local pub to swap yarns from their time review of the whole operation of the naval this property would realise a considerable in the service. At long last, the Association base ordered by the government in late sum to the Association, and this could well be has decided to concentrate its recruiting October. Whatever its fate, it is almost certain the real reason behind the moves to quit efforts to the 45- 55 year olds who have been that the Historic Dockyard would emerge London. Each year, sees fewer and fewer out of the service say 20 years or so: an unscathed from any drastic cut backs from members remaining with the RNA: fewer initiative this magazine has been pleading for the rest of the Portsmouth operation. members, means less subscriptions – less over the years. Let us hope, there are Therefore, any move to this part of the world subscriptions depletes the income needed to enough of these potential recruits to the RNA would almost certainly be concentrated on administer an association which cannot who will visit the Association’s proposed new some redundant premises in that complex. realistically increase the current subscription home, and join us. If not, we might as well Anywhere else in the naval base would rate given the year on year rises since 2004. stay at Chelsea Manor Street until it is time for present difficulties; mainly due to security With that avenue blocked, any relief afforded the last person to leave to turn off the lights. + problems, whereas, the Heritage section of by income generated from the Association’s the dockyard is open to the general public: investments will be swallowed up in the which is the main reason for moving wages and salaries of its staff, and the day to Headquarters out of that quiet corner of day running of the organisation. This state of London. affairs cannot continue for much longer. PUBLISHER PUBLISHED NOTICE Benham Publishing Limited April 2007 Benham Publishing and Area 10 RNA, would like DESIGN & TYPESETTING EDITOR to point out that all editorial comment and David Coffey All editorial for publication should be sent to: articles are the responsibility of the originators and may or may not reflect the opinions of the ADVERTISING Royal Naval Association, no responsibility can Simon Castell Area Secretary, Mr Charles Hutton Royal Naval Association No.10 Area be accepted for any inaccuracies that may occur ADMINISTRATION MANAGER c/o 44 Railway Road, or the quality for obvious reasons of Kerry Howard Urmston, photographs reproduced. MEDIA NUMBER Manchester M41 0XW 1089 Tel 0161 748 6681 Benham Publishing Limited, 4th Floor, Orleans House, Edmund Street, Liverpool, L3 9NG Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 www.benhampublishing.com email: [email protected] Vanguard 3 Visit your area CONTENTS CHAIRMAN’S REPORT website at: 3 Editorial Hi Shipmates; need. Vanguard has been given another boost, when Charles and Alan Brooking the Area Treasurer, visited the number 11 Area www.rna-10- 5 Chairman’s Report Doesn’t time fly as we get Conference at Sunderland, they took some copies of Vanguard with older? Can you remember them and they went down very well, with a request for more of this when you were at school, issue. Lets face it shipmates, its your area magazine and you cant area.co.uk 6 Falklands Today and it seemed forever before get a better buy anywhere for a glossy magazine, so come on you reached 14 and left shipmates buy a copy, we have over 3000 members in the Area and 6 President’s Pulpit school and got your first job? we struggle to sell 1,500 copies, so get a couple and send one to an Then it seemed a lifetime oppo, remember that your donation of 50pence goes toward the Area 10 ‘A Damn Close-Run Thing” before you reached the Reunion. magical 21st birthday. Once that had passed, the years On the subject of the Area Reunion, we have gone back to Didsbury 11 Lt. Walter Childs, RN seemed to fly by at a rate of by popular demand, and it promises to be a great weekend. We have knots. I say this as it only got a great deal on the drinks - Bitter, Lager, Guinness and Beck’s or 12 Falklands 1982 seems like a couple of Pils at £1.60 and as an added bonus on Saturday and Sunday nights weeks since we were there will be free ‘tots’ for the men and free drinks for the ladies as 14 Laughter Pages celebrating 2007 and yet when this issue of Vanguard hits the streets, well as great entertainment. I know its not a ‘seaside’ venue, but does a third of 2007 will have already gone. Sadly, quite a few clubs in the it matter. A Reunion in my mind is a chance to meet up with old area have had to close due to lack of trading but the branches are still shipmates, ‘swing the lamp’ and have a few wets, so those of you 16 Who Killed Cromie? going. who are supporting us are sure to have a good time. 19 Reunions News I was very pleased to hear the news that S/m Bill Carruthers had Our Area President is still fighting our corner, with all guns blazing as been made an Association Life President, an honour richly deserved. you will see from his report. Steve Caulfield, the Area PRO is doing a 20 The USS Arizona Bill has done so much over the years for the RNA. firstly as National great job for us and the Association. Sadly, S/m Fred Atkinson, our Standard Bearer and then Association Ceremonial Officer and has National Council Member crossed the bar in February, after a long fought back to recover from a stroke. Well done Bill. illness, S/m Ron Fielding will be acting NCM pro tem.. 22 Your Letters At the AGM, I breathed a sigh of relief, when Charles our Area That’s about it from me shipmates. I thank you for your support and 24 HMS Ringtail Secretary was re-elected, he does so much for the area and he and many thanks to all those who regularly ask about Olive, my wife. Diana are the mainstay of Vanguard. I would like to thank all the members of the Area Committee for their support in making my job so Your’s Aye 26 Scranbag much easier.