NEWSLETTER No. 2/2002
MAY 2002
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
President
Shipmate G.W. Toomey
29 Sunningdale Drive, Chapel St. Leonards,
Skegness, Lincs. PE24 5TJ (01754 872116)
Vice President
Mr. A. Edinborough, 32 Warborough Avenue,
Tilehurst, Reading, Berks. RG31 5LA
(0118 9429425)
Secretary
Shipmate E.P. Harrison
(Membership Records,
31 Wood Lane, Fleet, Hants GU51 3EA
Accounts & Newsletter) (01252 613052)
Slops Organisers
Shipmate L. & Mrs J. Taylor
3 Willow Avenue, Swanley, Kent BR8 8AS
(01322 663661)
Welfare Officer
Shipmate R.C. Maynard
G.1 Marine Gate, Marine Parade, Brighton
E. Sussex BN2 5TN (01273-692322)
Archivist
Lt.Cdr. K. Batchelor (SCC) RNR
12 Beacon Road, Ware, Herts. SG12 7HY
Bosun
Shipmate P. Marchant
Parade Marshal
Shipmate A. Quartermaine
Standard Bearers
Shipmate B. Hibbert
Shipmate C.M. Allwood
Organising Group
Shipmate R. Poole
Members
Shipmate A. Price
Shipmate V. Hiscock
Web Master
Shipmate F. W. Bartholomew
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Memory is a funny thing. You will all have noticed that the things that stick in your mind are generally the
extremes, particularly when it's about the places you've served. Somehow all the rotten bits get forgotten, the good bits
stand out and you end up with a romantic view of a place which is probably very little like it really was.
You're probably now saying to yourself "What the h--- is he on about?" What brought this musing on was a
recent return to Malta after having last been there some 34 years ago. I've been wondering since about whether it is
wise to go back to somewhere for which you have quite fond memories.
Some years ago when I took my wife Margaret out to the Far East to see some of the places I visited when
serving in Cossack in the early fifties. I'm sure many of you have done the same. The trouble is that many of the
places of your memories have been bulldozed! The same is true of Malta. Dual carriage roads with crash barriers
down the centre somehow don't go with what used to be a tranquil island. The ramshackle buses are much the same as
they ever were, and driven even more erratically.
Of course what made all those memories were the people with whom you lived and worked, the fun you had,
the parties you went to or held - and you were so much younger!
No it's not a mistake to go back. The thing to do is to enjoy the places as they are today. Change is
inevitable. The place in your memory is somewhere else.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Membership Matters
We are pleased to welcome three new members who have joined since the last newsletter in February. They are
Full Members
Shipmate R.J. McLean
Shipmate W.H. Marjot
Shipmate E.I. Wright
Associate Members
Shipmate L. Hazell
Mrs. C. Taylor
Mr. P. Taylor
Miss C.A. Gooch
Mrs. V. Bird
D57
D57
D57
1954 - 1955
1950 - 1951
1957 - 1958
L. Sea. (UC1)
L. Stoker
ME1
Served in Mohawk and Afridi (Capt(D) in many
operations with Cossack (L03)
Daughter of S/M A.L. Baker (Stoker in D57
1948 - 1951)
Son of S/M P.E. Taylor (L. Cook (S) in D57
1958 - 1959)
Daughter of the late S/M G. Lilley (Boy/A.B. in
D57 1947 - 1949 & 1952 - 1953)
Sister of A/L.Tel J.A. Dilks (killed in L03)
Those of us who attended the reunion at Eastbourne in April had the opportunity to meet up with a number of these
new members. Mrs. Bird, who lives at St. Leonards-on-Sea, along the coast a bit from Eastbourne, happened to be
visiting the town and, whilst walking along the prom, saw our banner strung above the door of the Burlington Hotel.
She popped her head in and was met by George Toomey. She explained that her brother had been killed when L03 was
torpedoed. During the war she was in the WAAF and in November 1941 happened to be travelling north by train.
Among her fellow passengers were some of the Cossack's survivors going home on survivors leave. We are pleased to
now have her in our company and hope that we'll see her at next year's reunion.
Membership now stands at 262 made up as follows:
24 Full L03 members
161 Full D57 members
71 Associate members
3 Honorary members
However, a word of warning. 71 of those members have not paid their subscription for the current year which was due
on 1st May. £5.00 is not a lot to pay for 4 or 5 newsletters a year plus the annual reunion and we don't want to lose
you anyway. A reminder chit will be attached to the front of this newsletter for all those from whom subs are due.
We have however lost one more member to the Grim Reaper since our last newsletter.
S/M Pat Hayes
It was only a chance look at the reports of deaths in the May edition of The Navy News that the following was
spotted:
Pat Hayes, ex PO PTI. Member of the London and Medway RN PTIs. Also TS Exmouth Boy. Aged 77.
George Toomey made a telephone call and confirmed that it was our shipmate who had died on 17th March 2002.
Pat only joined the Association in 1999 but in April 2000 wrote to George Toomey having just completed a 6
month's course of chemotherapy for bowel cancer. He came to his one and only reunion in 2001. Unfortunately
cancer returned with a vengeance.
As a 19 year old he served in the Ajax supporting the Normandy landings and was in Cossack (D57) from 1948 to
1950. Officially he was the Flotilla PTI whilst in Cossack but, as he said, the ships of the Flotilla were hardly ever
in company and mostly he was employed more for seaman's duties than as a PTI. This did nothing for his physical
side and he suffered a bit on returning to UK as he then went into training for the Royal Tournament.
REUNION 2002
As always, the Friday of our reunion weekend starts a bit hectically as the "workers" try to get everything prepared.
The display boards to be erected, the flags and ensigns put up, etc. Fortunately George Toomey had arrived the
evening before and was therefore there to get things organised!
The hotel staff worked valiantly with the influx of bodies and, except for a few whose rooms were not quite ready,
most were soon settled in. This year more arrived on the Friday and, since the Manager had arranged that the last of
the Wallace Arnold guests left that morning, we had the hotel to ourselves for the whole weekend. The weather was
good and soon after arriving many were taking the advantage of it to take a walk along the prom.
Dinner that evening was excellent as usual and soon after most had settled down in the lounges to catch up with the
news from their shipmates. I felt a bit sorry for the group of musicians playing their hearts out in the corner of the
ballroom with hardly more than the odd couple able to drag themselves away for a foxtrot or waltz. They didn't seem
to mind though and, as one of them told me, we're getting paid anyway.
During the evening raffle tickets were sold for a draw for two prizes, a ship in a bottle and a perfect scale model of a
lobster fishing smack. George always does a trawl of antique shops, boot sales, auctions, etc. for suitably nautical
items to be used for such purposes. Unfortunately he never kept the names of the winners but both were highly
delighted.
With many having travelled long distances it wasn't surprising that they disappeared off to bed early and, for the first
time that I can remember at one of our reunions, the bar was closed by midnight because of a lack of customers. Must
be that we are getting older.
Saturday dawned clear and bright and, after a good breakfast, many went off for a walk round town (or were they
dragged off shopping by their wives?) or a walk along the front. Others were also arriving and preparations being
made for the AGM.
The AGM commenced at 11.30 with two minutes silence during which the names of those members who had died in
the past year were read out. On conclusion, we went through our usual procedure where each member stands up in
turn and introduces himself by giving his name, the years he served in Cossack and the rank/rating he was at that time
or, in the case of Associate members, his/her connection with Cossack. Each new member since the last AGM
received a short round of applause. This year we were able to welcome three overseas members - Geoff Embley of
L03 from Canada who seldom misses a reunion, Bob McLean D57 1954-55 from Fort Lauderdale, USA and Dave
Kendall D57 1952-54 from South Australia.
At the AGM in 2001 the President, George Toomey, put forward a proposal that the that widows of members who died
should be given £25.00 each. There was some discussion but it was then deferred for the proposal to be put to all the
members in the following newsletter. This was done. The Secretary, Peter Harrison said that few had written to give
their views but those that had were overwhelmingly against it. Wives of members in particular had said that the
amount was of no great help and that they were more appreciative of a letter of condolence from the Association and
the support of other members and their wives. It was unanimously agreed that no further action should be taken.
Pat Gaffney, D57 1957-58, proposed that £50.00 should be donated to the HMS Cavalier working party. He said that
he had been one of those working on the ship and funds were needed to pay for sandwiches, etc. for those who gave
their time to chip and repaint and so on below decks. Peter Harrison seconded the proposal and it was carried
unanimously.
Bob Davenport told members how proud he felt to take part in the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph last
November and asked whether it could be arranged for our members to take part again. This was reiterated by Peter
Marchant, Les Taylor and Alan Edinborough who also took part. At least ten are required to have a separate "Cossack
Platoon" otherwise we would be lumped in with the "odds & sods". The President asked members to raise their hands
if they would like to take part. At least ten hands were raised. The Secretary said that he would write to the British
Legion to get their agreement.
George Toomey once again pointed out the need for more volunteers to get involved in the running of the Association,
in particular a replacement for Geoff Lilley to look after recruiting. Keith Batchelor who had taken over the archives
on the death of Reg Doring, had agreed to retain responsibility for the D57 material as well as that for L03. Mrs.
Taylor, wife of Peter Taylor (D57 1958-59), said that she would be willing to take on the D57 work. With our thanks
for her offer, it was left for Keith Batchelor and Mrs. Taylor to decide on how to work together.
As it was asked whether there was any more business, Larry Hazell our most recent, at that time, new Associate
member came forward to the front and presented the President and the Association with three framed cartoons on Naval
topics. These cartoons were beautifully drawn and coloured by Larry himself and he wished to thank the Association
for allowing him to join. He had served in the Mohawk and Afridi, which were often in company with the Cossack
(L03), but since there were no associations for either of those two ships he was most grateful for his inclusion in ours.
The cartoons will be on display with our other memorabilia at future reunions.
There being no other business the meeting was then declared closed and 'Up Spirits' piped.
Members and guests gathered in the lounge/bar area at 6.30 in the evening for drinks prior to going in for dinner. Two
problems arose at this time. Ron Poole had broken his belt and was having difficulty keeping his trousers up! To the
rescue came our Vice President, Alan Edinborough, who quickly produced a spare. Bob McLean, from Fort
Lauderdale, had invited his sister and brother-in-law, who lived in Kent, to the dinner as his guests. His brother-inlaw, who had been inadequately briefed as to dress by Bob, had arrived in full fig, ie dinner suit and black bow tie.
Seeing that he was the only one so dressed he refused to budge from the area behind the glass doors at the foot of the
stairs and said that he wouldn't attend the dinner and was going home. Bob grabbed me and asked me to persuade him
that it was OK. I could sympathise with him but we have had people turn up so dressed before, as well as in less
acceptable dress, and no one has taken exception but no matter what I said I couldn't persuade him to change his mind.
Admiral Eberle came down the stairs in the middle of this and offered to go back up and change into his dinner suit to
keep him company but even that failed. To the rescue came Alan Edinborough again. He provided a shirt and tie,
into which the brother-in-law changed and was thus able, as he said later, to have a very enjoyable evening. Well done
Alan.
Just before seven, members and guests took their places at table and the President and his lady processed in with our
special guest, Admiral Eberle, led by the standard carried by S/M Brian Hibbert, with the piping party calling the still
as they entered the dining room.
On the President and his party arriving at their places the Grace was said by S/M George Bye and everyone took their
seats. Admiral Eberle served in Cossack at the same time as the President, George Toomey, and the others at the top
table were mainly from the same commission. Among them was Mrs. Kam-moy (Kay) Lilley, the widow of Shipmate
Geoff Lilley, and her daughter Catherine.
As readers of the previous newsletter know, I was rather sceptical of the choice of Yorkshire pudding to be served with
the pork medallions. However, I must admit they went well together. The puddings had risen well and were rather
too crispy but the difficulty for the kitchen to get 168 Yorkshire puddings in a perfect state just at the right time must
have been enormous. As usual, the Burlington staff produced an excellent dinner.
Some of our diners obviously enjoying themselves
When coffee had been served, and with an eye on the time, the President called for order and proposed the Loyal Toast.
In this Golden Jubilee year it was responded too with zest. He then gave a short speech in which he mentioned a few
of the things that he remembered of their time in Cossack when he was an S.B.A. and the Admiral was a SubLieutenant. He then presented the Admiral with an engraved tankard as a souvenir of the reunion and asked the
Admiral to say a few words..
Admiral Eberle treated us to a short speech, sometimes witty, sometimes serious, but in which he stressed the
importance of organisations such as ours in keeping up the standards which had been the core of our service lives. He
sat down to rousing applause.
Mr. Ron Cousins, the Eastbourne Director of Tourism and Leisure, then gave a short speech in which he welcomed
everyone to Eastbourne once again and enumerated some of the advantages of Eastbourne as a venue.
The President then asked Mr. Chris Dean, the Manager of the Burlington Hotel, to come forward and thanked him and
his staff for the exemplary way they had looked after us over the last four years. He asked Admiral Eberle to present
Mr. Dean with an engraved tankard from the Association.
As a last duty Admiral Eberle was asked to make the draw from the Door Prize, from the numbered dinner tickets
which everyone attending had received. The winning ticket was number 0102 and the prize, a pair of whisky glasses
engraved with the ship's badge and a bottle of whisky, was claimed by Kay Lilley.
The formalities over, the President and his lady, Pat, led Admiral Eberle and the other top table guests from the dining
room, past the lined up dining room and kitchen staff, to the lounge. The rest of the diners then followed.
Throughout this evening the ballroom was utilised rather more than on the previous one, especially by S/M Peter
Taylor and his family guests. Both he and his son are keen dancers and with their partners gave us all an exhibition.
Incidentally, in case you missed it, the son has now joined as an Associate member. The favourite pastime was still
nattering though.
During the evening the two draws were held, first for the Cash Prize raffle and then for the main raffle of donated
items. For the Cash Prize raffle the numbers were called and the winners invited to collect their prizes. The winners
were:
1st Prize £100.00
2nd Prize £50.00
3rd prizes (4 x £25.00)
Mr. M. Houchen (Ticket No. 439)
Mrs. J. Slade (Ticket No. 296)
Mr. R. Woodford (Ticket No. 519)
Ticket No. 531
Mr. P. Marchant (Ticket No. 507)
Mr. D.J. Kendall (Ticket No. 605)
Ticket numbers up to 466 were purchased by mail before the reunion so that the names of those winners were known.
However, the names of those who purchased their tickets at the reunion, nos. 467 - 708, were not recorded. Despite
notices being placed prominently in the hotel until the last of us left on Monday morning, the holder of ticket no. 531
did not come forward. If anyone still holds that ticket No. 531, an orange one, with the reference no. CVG 9876694,
please let George Toomey or me, the Secretary, know. Except for Mr. Houchen's prize which was sent by post. the
others were collected by the winners at the reunion.
There were dozens of prizes donated by members for the main raffle, for which we are most grateful. As I said earlier,
your generosity is fantastic. All the prizes had been given a sequential number beforehand. The required number of
winning tickets were drawn and affixed to the prize numbered in the order of drawing. All the numbers were also
posted on a board and people were invited to check and collect their prizes. All prizes were claimed.
The rest of the evening seemed to go well with everyone apparently enjoying themselves and the bar doing good
business but all too soon even the most hardy of us had to call it a night.
Despite a gloomy weather forecast it was still dry on Sunday morning, although the wind had risen a bit. As long as
the rain held off we could hold the parade after church. We mustered at the church just after 10.15 and took our
places. Normally a number of other standards from local organisations, RNA, British Legion, etc. also take part and
line up by the doorway into the church. This time the others hadn't arrived so there were only out two standards and
RNA one from the Fort Lauderdale branch brought by Bob McLean. At the start of the service our two standards were
marched in, carried by Shipmates Brian Hibbert and Cyril Allwood, and were taken into safe-keeping by the Vicar.
As usual, although the service is the normal family one, a great deal of effort was made to mark out attendance and to
include us in it. Shipmate Peter Hampstead read one of the lessons. The new Vicar of Holy Trinity turned out to be
one of the old "fire and brimstone" preachers and his sermon will have pleased some but definitely displeased others,
particularly in his references to "gays" and "gay vicars".
At the end of the service the standard bearers went forward to collect their standards. Somehow the connection
between the two parts of the pole of Cyril Allwood's standard had broken and as he placed it in the holster it collapsed
into the two halves. This was most unfortunate as from then on Cyril could only carry the standard at his shoulder.
The earlier starting of the service, and the consequent earlier finish, allowed more time for Admiral Eberle to get back
to the hotel and the saluting base and for the rest of us to get to the Lifeboat Museum from where the parade would
commence. The Pipe Band were already there and had warmed up their pipes and we were soon fallen in. We
marched off led by the band, which was followed by the standards, then our platoon and with a small contingent of the
Eastbourne Sea Cadet Corps bringing up the rear. As we marched along the promenade there were many cheers and
much applause from the crowds of onlookers who lined the way.
At the saluting base awaited Admiral Eberle, resplendent in his Admiral's uniform, and as we reached the base the
"Eyes Right" command rang out. I'm sure that for most of us it had been a long time since we had done that for an
Admiral in uniform. Just before the pier we were halted and turned into line while the Admiral passed along having a
few words with those in the front rank. The Admiral then went on to inspect the Pipe Band, which I understand was
very much appreciated by them.
Admiral Eberle inspects the Cossacks at the end of the parade
What had been an ordinary pedestrian crossing, near where we had halted, had this year become a pelican crossing and
since we could have been charged with obstruction had we marched across against the lights, George Toomey had
managed
to persuade the police to provide personnel to hold up the traffic for us, which made it perfectly legal. Once across we
fell out and returned to the hotel for a well earned drink and, in due course, lunch.
On our behalf, Admiral Eberle presented the Eastbourne Sea Cadet Corps with a Cossack ship's badge plaque to be
displayed at their unit headquarters in thanks for their attendance at our parades. The cadets also took the opportunity
to look at our display boards with their photographs of L03 and D57.
For the majority this was the end of the reunion and it wasn't long before farewells were being said, with hopes to meet
up again next year. Those of us staying on for the extra night busied ourselves with clearing up ready for our own
departure the next day.
Since the reunion George and I have had a few letters telling us how much they enjoyed it. They were very much
appreciated. Looking back it seemed to us to go off very well and the buzz of conversation and the smiling faces
seemed to confirm that the majority at least were enjoying themselves.
One thing to mar the weekend though was that Betty Hiscock, wife of Shipmate Vic, lost her camera. It wasn't until
Sunday morning when she looked for it to take with her for the parade that she remembered that she had put it down by
her feet during the dinner on Saturday evening and had forgotten to pick it up when leaving the dining room. The
dining room staff who cleared away immediately after the dinner, to prepare for breakfast the next morning, did not
find it. What distressed Betty more than just losing the camera was that it contained pictures of the HMS Legion
Commemoration taken a couple of weeks before. The camera was probably pushed around by foot movements
beneath the table so, if anyone accidently picked up the camera thinking it was theirs, please let us know.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
MICK DAVIDSON & THE REASON WHY
Mick Davidson, Stoker Mech. in D57 1949-51, having lost his wife and having had extensive
treatment for cancer, now lives part of the year over in southern California with his step-daughter. When he comes
back to UK he usually gives me a call. This year was no exception and we got to talking about his younger days and I
asked him to write it down. Here it is.
After our chat, later in the day while having a cup of tea, I started to think back to when I joined the R.N., and
why. When I first tried to join I had to report to the Recruiting Office in Middlesboro'. I passed on everything
they asked me until it came to the question of what kind of work I was doing. That did it! I was quickly
escorted out of the building and told in no uncertain terms not to try this on again as I was in a "Reserved
Occupation". I was a Horse-man/Cowman and working two miles outside Hawes at the top of Wensleydale,
a very remote place indeed, and I only did it for a bet!
Anyway, the following year, 1948, it was towards the end of hay-time that I had an accident. I was coming
back to the farmyard on my motor-bike, a Royal Enfield. I had stopped to pick something off the gear
casement and somehow three fingers of my left hand got into the timing chain. It wasn't until I pulled the
clutch to get into gear that I noticed the blood pouring out that I realised I had cut off the fingers. This
happened at about 7 pm on the Wednesday and the village Doc put a lot of penicillin gauze and bandage,
so much so that I couldn't put my jacket back on.
It wasn't until 10 am the following day that I arrived in Darlington - on the School Bus - and spent the next
two weeks in the hospital there.
For the next 5 months I was unable to farm and stayed with my
grandmother in Gateshead all that time.
One day whilst I was in Newcastle I went into the R.N. Recruiting Office and when I told them I was
unemployed I was accepted and that's how I became a member of the R.N. in 1949 at the age of 20.
PS: All in all I have had a wonderful life doing lots of different things, including a lot of poaching when I was
a young un on the land.
You may be wondering why I lived with my grandmother whilst I was recovering from my accident. It was
because my mother died when I was six years old and my father was mostly away working. He never remarried.
As a point of interest, I worked on 8 different farms before I joined up. I started off at a place called
Knayton, near Thirsk, and right up to Slayley, near Hexham. I only worked on a 3 month contract at all the
farms and, if I liked a particular farm, I would stay for another 3 months and then move on. If I wanted a
change I would go to the "hirings" near where I was working, strike a deal with the farmer and away I would
go. I only worked on farms where I could live in.
____________________
Thanks Mick. The Navy must have seemed a cushy number after that. Anyone else got a tale to tell about how they
came to join the Andrew? If you have, why not share it with us?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
One who has written articles for us before is Alan Quartermaine, L. Sea. D57 1950-51. Having risen to become a
T.A.S.I. Alan has a deep interest in all things T.A.S./Mine Clearance and the following article about the Korean War
reflects that. His article was also sent to the 8th Destroyer Association and some of you may already have seen it in
the China Chat.
THE KOREAN WAR
Early days (25th June 1950 to 1951)
The following information are extracts from the war diary of Task Force 95, obtained from the U.S.N. Historical
Centre, including references to Royal Navy operations, and ships' journals. (Prior to 25th June R.N. ships on the China
Station were employed on Yangtse and Amoy patrols, Malaya emergencies and H.K. guard ship).
1.
25th June 1950 - North Korean communist forces invaded the Republic of (south) Korea. The ROK forces
were not equipped or organised to counter the powerful enemy. U.S. troops entered the fray but in the first few weeks
were limited to rear ground action. UN forces were driven back to the Pusan perimeter. Naval forces in the Far East
proceeded with the evacuation of UN nationals, troop lifts, establishment of the blockade of North Korea, limited air
strikes and naval gunfire support. The first marine division was deployed to Korea and joined the holding action along
the Pusan perimeter. Marine air, on arrival, joined in rendering vital close air support. Late June H.M.S. JAMAICA
was hit by shore batteries, first casualties 1st/2nd July, and R.N. ships on 2-day exercise at Okinawa prior to proceeding
to Korean waters (W & E coasts).
2.
8th July - H.M.S. COSSACK shelled by shore batteries at Pyongyang-Do.
3.
7th/8th August - H.M.S. COSSACK and H.M.S. COCKADE ordered to search for a U.S. Corsair pilot who
had managed to nurse his damaged aircraft over the land and out to sea off the port of Inchon. He was picked up by
H.M.S. COCKADE,, who later assisted the Dutch destroyer EVERTSEN (ex H.M.S. SCOURGE) who had gone
aground during the rescue attempt. COCKADE towed EVERTSEN off the rock and the tow was later taken over by a
U.S.N. fleet tug.
H. NethMS EVERTSEN was initially incorporated in Task Unit 96.8.2 but shortly after, on 19th July 1950, the east and
west coast support groups were recognised and consolidated into Task Group 96.5, the Korean support group. The
command of the west coast support element, Task Element 96.53 (Task Force 96) had comprised British
Commonwealth ships and the Dutch destroyer EVERTSEN remained with Rear Admiral G. Andrewes, CB, CBE,
DSO.
In addition to his responsibility for the western sea and coastal operations, Admiral Andrewes was charged with the
supervision of all non American United Nations naval forces, for which purpose he set up an administrative
headquarters at Sasebo in Japan.
During the early period of the Korean War, UN Naval Air Service had several unique and unusual missions performed
by the navy's patrol squadrons, in addition to the routine anti-submarine patrols, weather and coastal reconnaissance.
The first of these was the spotting of naval gunfire.
On 2nd August 1950, immediately after the North Korean communist forces attack on the Taegu front in the south-east,
a VP-6 aircraft conducted an aircraft spotting mission for the bombardment of Mokpo, the south-western most harbour
city of Korea by the British naval ships H.M.S. COCKADE and H.M.S. COSSACK. So successful was this mission
that a second mission was conducted by VP-6 on 6th August when spotting services were furnished to the British
cruisers KENYA and BELFAST, the two British destroyers COSSACK and CHARITY and the Dutch destroyer
EVERTSEN (Lieutenant Commander D.J. van Doornick). The targets were the communist control of military
installations in Inchon. The USS SICILY provided four marine Corsairs as escort for the spotting aircraft.
In the meantime, on the days preceding the Inchon landing operation, the D-Day of which was set as 15th September,
the tasks were assigned to Admiral Andrews blockade and covering force, TE 91, to conduct special reconnaissance
missions and cover for units of the attack force moving to the objective area of Inchon.
Thus most of the ships were at sea by 11th September. H.Neth.M.S. EVERTSEN and seven other destroyers and four
frigates from the allied forces formed escorts and carried out close and outer screen duties, remaining at sea until 14th
October, operating in and around the port of Inchon.
19th September
Narrative
The USS ENDICOTT continued support of the 25th artillery division in the Chinaeman area. All ROK personnel
except 32 troops who refused risk of short trip to LST were evacuated at 1330I. Medial aid was required for 100
personnel of LST. Casualties occurred from machine gun fire, mortar fire and drowning. HMS CEYLON with HMS
CHARITY bombarded Fancock Point at 0930I and subsequently returned to duties in the blockade patrol. HMS
TRIUMPH protecting the north flank of the landing in Inchon harbour.
15th September
The second phase commenced with the brilliant navy-marine amphibious assault at Inchon. In this highly successful
operation the First Marine Division supported by carrier-based navy and marine air and naval gunfire support took the
enemy by surprise, captured the port and, in conjunction with the Seventh Infantry Division swept on to take Kimpo
airfield and Seoul and cut the enemy main supply routes to the south. This broke the enemy stranglehold on the Pusan
perimeter and forced his retreat. UN forces, for the First Marines, X US Corps, and Seventh Infantry Division were
deployed by water and landed administratively at Wonsan and Iwon. By late November elements had reached the
Manchurian border; the Marines were at Chosin reservoir. Naval forces, in addition to participation in the amphibious
operations, continued air and gunfire support operations and the blockade. HMS TRIUMPH, HMS CEYLON and 5
destroyers provided coverage north of lat, 37.30 for the Inchon landing. The island of Walnai, in the harbour of
Inchon, was captured.
26th September
Narrative
The USS BRUSH struck a mine off Tanchon at 2603202. The USS THOMAS and USS MADDOX recovered all
BRUSH survivors. The USS MADDOX transferred a doctor, hospital man and key damage control men, along with
medical supplies to the BRUSH. The MADDOX escorted BRUSH at a speed of 5 knots. Damage consisted of one
flooded fire room and a forward compartment damaged, several wounded and 5 dead or missing.
The USS
WORCESTER and USS S.N. MOORE patrolled north-east of Yonghaein vicinity lat. 36.36N. The USS THOMAS,
USS DE HAVEN, USS BRUSH and USS MADDOX are in company at lat. 38.46N, long. 128.36E. COMDESDIV
92 did not observe any coastal shipping from lat. 41.50N to lat. 40N. The SAR plane reported USS BRUSH survivors
in water.
WAR DIARY, COMMANDER TASK FORCE NINETY-FIVE
12 September 1950 - (Conflict started June 1950)
Commander Task Force 95 (early days) Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith, USN, in USS DIXIE (AD-14)
(a)
Designation and composition of Task Force
CTG 95. Korean One (Blockade Group)
HMS Belfast
HMS Kenya
HMS Jamaica
HMS Cossack
HMS Consort
HMS Cockade
CTG 95.2
CL
CL
CL
DD
DD
HMCS Cayuga
HMCS Sioux
HMCS Athabaskan
HMAS Warramunga
HNethMS Evertsen
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
DD
Korean Two (Blockade Group)
USS Helena
USS Brush
USS Thomas
CTG 95.5
- Rear Admiral W.G. Andrews, RN
- Rear Admiral C.C. Hartman, USN
CA75 USS Maddox
DD 745 USS S.N. Moore
DD 883
DD 731
DD 747
Escorts - Captain Unwin, RN
HMS Black Swan
PF
HMNZS Puyuka
PF
HMS Alacrity
HMS Hart
HMS Shoulhaven
CTG 95.6
PF
PF
PF
HMNZS Tutira
PF
Reactivated US Frigates and
other assigned forces
Minesweepers - Captain R.T. Spofford, USN
USS Kite
AMS 22 USS Chatterer
AMS 40
AMS 249 AMS 275
USS Mocking Bird
AMS 27 USS Incredible
AMS 277
Magpie
USS Osprey
AMS 28 *USS Pirate (12.10.50)
*USS Partridge (02.02.51) AMS 31 *USS Pledge (12.10.50)
USS Redhead
AMS 34 *AMS 25 (01.10.50)
* = Sunk and date
CTG 95.7 Republic of Korean Naval Forces - Rear Admiral SOHN WON YIL, Korean Navy
Commander M.J. Luosey, USN - Liaison Officer
PC 702
PC 703
AMS 501
AMS 502
AMS 503
AMS 510
AMS 512
AMS 515
AM 518
PC 701
PC 704 (sunk 26th December 1951)
JMS 302
JMS 303
JMS 306 (sunk 5th May 1951)
JMS 307
N.B. The R.N. provided all the ships of the 8th D.F. and the Flotilla of "Black Swan" and "Bay" Class Frigates.
Summary of orders, information received and decisions reached
CTF 95 warned units against going beyond the 38th parallel. Enemy mine laying has increased. Minesweepers will
be employed in sweeping danger zones in which large ships operate.
ComTransDiv 111 reported to CTF 95 in Sasebo. ComNavFE despatch 290504z assigned all minesweeping in the
Korean area under the direction of CTF 95. The USS Missouri reported to CTF 95 for operational control. A daily air
search for mines was quested. A report was received that 30 sea mines found in cave 15 miles south of Ulchin in
village of Jupo or Runpo; mines now in custody of ROK Police. The USS Helena will fuel the USS Maddox and USS
Thomas. The Helena helicopter, sorely need in view of mine situation, is out of commission.
30th September 1950
Narrative
The USS Mansfield struck a mine at 38 -45.05' N, 128 -13.40' E, in about 112 fathoms at 1540 while enroute with USS
L.K. Swenson to investigate downed B26 at Lat 38 degrees 45' N 128 degrees 15' E. The Mansfield suffered 28
casualties, 4 critical. The USS Maddox, USS Helena and USS Thomas arrived at the scene and nine patients were
transferred from the Mansfield to the Helena.
Summary of orders, information and decisions reached.
CTG 95.2 ordered cruisers and destroyers to remain 10 miles to seaward. The USS Endicott fuelled by the USS
Helena and despatched on minesweeping mission at lat. 37-39 N. TG 95.2 will conduct harassing fire north of 38th
parallel. The USS Bolster ordered to rendezvous with USS Swenson and USS Mansfield and escort the Mansfield.
The Mansfield reports that she hit the mine while attempting to rescue ditched plane crew. Bow was broken at frame
26 and flooded back to frame 48 below the first platform deck. No personnel are dead or missing.
The Sea War, Korea, Part 2
October 1950 - Back to Square One and a Half
During that period of high spirits when operations in Korea seemed to be in a final, victorious phase, when General
Walker was asking that ammunition deliveries to the Army should be cut back, and General MacArthur was selecting
forces for disposal to other theatres, the United States and Commonwealth navies thinned out their forces. The US
carriers VALLEY FORGE and BOXER, for example, departed for the United States, THESEUS (Captain A.S. Bolt,
DSO, DSC, RN) - which replaced TRIUMPH in October - for Hong Kong. The contingent from the Royal Canadian
Navy was under warning to return to home waters. Among the last to draw back, Admiral Andrewes sailed with part
of his force to Hong Kong on 26th November expecting to be absent for rest and training for several weeks. Some of
the original squadron had been engaged in operations continuously since late June and looked forward to leave as they
arrived in the colony on 28th November. Yet the news from Korea was disquieting as they came ashore. The
Admiral ordered certain measures in case they were called back at short notice. THESEUS, engaged in local training,
re-embarked her aircraft from Kai Tak airfield. All ranks, together with those in HM Ships Kenya and Constance
(Commander A.G.L. Scale, DSC) were ordered to remain in Hong Kong and to declare an address for contact.
At a luncheon party given by the French ambassador in Tokyo on 29th November for the officers of La Grandière,
Admiral Joy took aside the British Naval Attaché to say that he was thinking of asking Admiral Andrewes and the
carrier group to return immediately. Commander Gray was thus able to send a warning to Hong Kong and Singapore
before a formal request was signalled by COMNAVFE on the 30th. Captain Lloyd-Davies, deputising for Admiral
Andrewes in Japan, was instructed to return all his ships in port to sea.
Admiral Brind was in Hong Kong. He reported to the Admiralty that despite the inevitable disappointment at recall
from leave after thirty-six hours ashore and an abrupt separation for many wives, morale was sound.
16th November 1950
Early in November, Chinese communist forces commenced opposing UN forces. On 26th November they struck
without warning and with terrific force at the greatly extended UN forces, driving a deep salient between the Eighth
Army and Tenth Corps. UN forces were in sore straits and in severe danger of isolation and annihilation. Bitter
fighting took place throughout December as our troops fell back. US Naval amphibious forces again played a
prominent part, evacuating thousands of tons of materials and vehicles of war, nearly 200,000 troops and 100,000
civilian refugees. Troops and their equipment were redeployed to the south to resume fighting in a new war. Again,
close air support by navy and marine air and naval gunfire support proved highly effective, and were vital to the
successful execution of these amphibious operations in reverse.
The Royal Navy was needed so urgently because of the sharp reverse on land in Korea. There had been no sudden
appearance of Chinese coastal warships or merchant carriers in support of General P'eng Te-huai's army groups. Vice
Admiral Andrewes could not, at the moment of sailing, have given precise reasons. These became apparent, however,
when he arrived in HMS THESEUS at Sasebo on 4th December, delayed by the stormy passage.
Rear Admiral A.E. Smith, Commander of Task Force 95, told him that there were two immediate naval requirements.
On the east coast, preparations had to be made to evacuate the 1st Marine Division, and probably the entire X Corps.
More pressing, General MacArthur's staff in Tokyo expected that a considerable number of United Nations troops were
likely to be cut off to the west of the River Taedong as the Chinese too P'yongyang. Their only escape route lay
through Chinamp'o.
In any case, considerable stocks of fuel, other supplies and stores, together with the port operating force, had to be
evacuated from the base of the 8th Army. These operations were to be commanded by Admiral Doyle, whose
amphibious craft would necessarily be the prime movers. Admiral Andrewes' commonwealth force was to continue its
responsibilities but was also to assist the evacuation operations as required. HMS THESEUS would increase the level
of air patrolling.
Ships were already hastening to these tasks in an atmosphere of crisis. The apprehensions in Tokyo and Washington
of attack by Russian and Chinese aircraft have already been noted, and these had been transmitted to subordinate
commanders - the Joint Chiefs of Staff sent out a general warning to all United States forces on 6th December that the
Soviet Union might initiate war at short notice.
Naval commanders raised the level of anti-submarine precautions. The port of Chinampo lies twenty-four miles
upstream from the sprawling shoals of the Taedong estuary.
The navigation channels, obstructed under the
supervision of Russian officers in September with moored inertial and magnetic mines, had been swept by a UN force
under American command augmented by Japanese mine-sweepers. Invaluable help in identification of mine locations
was given by North Koreans who had taken part in the laying operation. Even so, it was difficult work, made more
hazardous by the shifting sand and mud banks, and a current which often exceeded five knots. A channel enabled
Lieutenant G.V. Gladstone, DSC, RAN to pilot the US Hospital Ship REPOSE upstream, though she had less than a
foot of water under her keel on several occasions during the journey. The intrepid pilot was not sorry to be instructed
to stay with his charge overnight; the consequence was a rest aboard REPOSE in the company of fifty American
nurses. By this date, port operations were fast expanding to support the final drive of the Eighth Army to the north.
One week later, as the Eighth Army began to stream southwards, this valuable advanced base was becoming a liability.
By early December it was in jeopardy. The nearest naval force was Captain J.V. Brock's Task Element 95.12 on
coastal blockade. It comprised his three Canadian destroyers and the Australian destroyers HMAS BATAAN and
WARRAMUNGA. On 3rd December HMCS CAYUGA and HMAS BATAAN were covering the mouth of the Yalu
River, HMCS ATHABASKAN and MAS WARRAMUNGA were to the south. HMCS SIOUX was escorting the
Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker WAVE LAIRD to refuel the force at a rendezvous south of Ch'o-do Island. Early on the
morning of 4th December a signal reached Captain Brock to assist United States amphibious forces en route to
Chinampo to withdraw forces and stocks. His prime task was to defend these transports. "Be prepared to act in fire
support of the Eighth Army entering Chinampo River swept channel as necessary.
Captain Brock at once hastened to refuel his ships. The attachment of the US destroyer FOREST B. ROYAL to his
task element made it possible to maintain two destroyers on patrol while covering with the other four the transports as
they passed from the south into the Taedong estuary.
A further message, directly from Admiral Smith, advised Captain Brock that, as enemy land forces endangered the
Chinampo area, he should move up river with all his task group to assist in the defence of the port. HMS CEYLON
would be joining the destroyers on the 5th to add weight to the force.
Captain Brock's inclination was to arrive in the estuary on the morning of the 5th December so as to make the passage
upstream in daylight. In this he was strongly supported by the other ships' captains at a conference aboard HMCS
CAYUGA that afternoon; the swept channel was marked by unlit buoys, some of which had certainly been dragged
from their original anchorage by tide and current. There were recurrent snowstorms - the gale had not yet blown itself
out - and ice floes discharged from the Yalu River were drifting southwards. He decided to signal Captain Kelly for
information as to the local situation, but while awaiting an answer received a message from the USS FOSS, supplying
power to Chinampo: "We are uncovered. Take necessary action immediately". Although the wording amused Task
Element 95.12, it prepared its members for the answer from Captain Kelly which arrived at 2200: support was
required at once, "the local situation may reach emergency basis Tuesday (5th December) forenoon". Captain Brock
gave orders for a night passage up the river.
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER
________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Web Site
Bill Bartholomew, despite a multitude of problems with his computer as well as the now to be expected malicious virus
attack, has continued to make our web site a "must" to see. The following e-mail received by Bill shows how much it
is appreciated by users:
From: Carole Rycroft
Date: April 14, 2002
Subject: Altmark rescue
To whom it may concern. We have just visited your website and on viewing the photo signed by all the crew
of L03 in the Altmark rescue we noticed the signature in the lower right hand corner of J G Caisley to which I, Carole
Roycroft (Ne Caisley) eldest child of J.G. Caisley, recognised my father's signature instantly. (My father sadly passed
away 9th November 1992). I am sure had he been alive today it would have given him immense pride and pleasure to
re-call memories of his time on HMS Cossack.
Thank you to whoever made this memorable moment possible for myself.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
A TRUE STORY
(filched from the HMS CAVALIER Association newsletter)
His name was Fleming and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day while trying to make a living for his family he
heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There mired to his waist in black muck was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming
saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day a fancy carriage pulled up to the
Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of
the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you", said the nobleman, "for saving my son's life."
"No. I can't accept payment for what I did", the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.
farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
At that moment, the
"Is that your son", the nobleman asked. "Yes", the farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his
father, he'll no doubt grow up to be a man we'll both be proud of." And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and, in time, he graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical
School in London and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the
discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son, who was saved from the bog, was stricken with pneumonia. What saved
his life this time?
Penicillin!
The name of the nobleman?
Lord Randolph Churchill
His son's name?
Winston Churchill
________________________________________________________________________________________________
One of our regular contributors, John Batty in Oz, who has given us the hilarious series in the past of "Life Down
Under" and the account of his "Walkabout" over the west of Australia, has been on Walkabout again.
WALKABOUT THE TOP END
PART 1
by John Batty
0900 Friday 12th April 2002, George and I left my home and after a breakfast in a Shell Diner, had now reached a
fork in the road. To the left we could travel the tourist route past the Glass House Mountains and the Crocodile Farm
owned and operated by the world famous Steve Irwin, his wife and small daughter, amongst other tourist delights, or
we could stay on the Bruce Highway until we reached the Sunshine Coast. As most of the traffic was turning left, we
opted for the highway to the right. The long straight stretches would give us a chance to become familiar with the four
wheel drive Swagman Motor Home which we had hired for this trip. A four wheel drive could be a life saver once we
had left civilisation behind.
Having, (with last year’s four months away in mind) decided to stop at only the major places of interest, we
ploughed through Maroochydore, Nambour and Maryborough, and finally pulled into the beachside carpark in the
town of Hervey Bay. A world renowned holiday resort, Hervey Bay takes it’s name from the Bay formed by the
mainland and Fraser Island, a national park recognised as the largest ‘sand island’ in the world, and one of the few
islands in the world which grows extensive rain forests on pure sand. A favourite tourist draw are the wild brumbies
(horses) and dingoes which populate the Island, however, due to tourists continuing to feed the dingoes, familiarity
bred contempt and a few tourists were attacked with two deaths being recorded. This led to large scale culling by the
park rangers. (of the dingoes, not the tourists).
The Bay is one of the best fishing areas in the country and in mid-May to mid August, families of Southern
humpbacked whales stop in the bay for a rest before returning to Antarctica after calving in Northern waters. Whale
watching brings visitors from all over the country. Whale watching boats cruise slowly amongst the pods sometimes
stopping engines and drifting, at which times the whales swim amongst the ships, sounding and giving the tourists a
wave as they plunge back into
the water, being so close sometimes that the camera happy watchers are soaked which always brings a cheer....
Our next stop was at Bundaberg , a town which doubled in size after the discovery of copper in the area, coupled with
timber and sugar which led to the building of a port. One fifth of the countries’ sugar is produced here plus enough to
feed a growing overseas demand. This, and the ever popular rum, really put the town on the world’s map. Bundy and
coke is the favourite tipple of the farmers. A British brewing company have now bought a fifty percent share in the rum
distillery, leaving my local distillery of Beenleigh rum the only ‘all Australian owned’ producer of this nectar.
We decided that as we had now covered just over 300kms we would investigate the town a little closer and maybe taste
it’s most important product. A tavern not far from our caravan park was recommended to us and in no time at all
George and I were enjoying a 12 ounce steak, Idaho potatoes with plenty of cream and a side salad which was a meal in
itself. A couple of ‘’Bundy and Cokes’’ rounded off a perfect day. Though we didn’t kid ourselves, the hard part of
the trip was still ahead..
Detouring around Rockhampton and following the Capricorn Coast, studded offshore with groups of islands, many of
which now house holiday resorts, we played ‘chicken’ with the North Queensland drivers on a 2nd rate highway, and at
a steady 90kph bypassed Shoalhaven Bay, Mackay and Bowen, famous for Bowen Mangoes. Every year, the first box
of Bowen Mangoes to reach Brisbane is auctioned, this year the final bid was over the two thousand dollars mark. (48
mangoes per box). The proceeds of the auction are donated to the Children’s Hospital. 1300klms after leaving
Bundaberg, we arrived at Townsville.
Townsville is the Cultural, Commercial and Industrial hub of Northern Queensland and is Australia’s Largest Tropical
City. Despite this, Townsville is being surrounded and ‘eaten up’ by Thuringowa City, Officially designated a City in
1986 Thuringowa Central has now taken over from Townsville Central.. We stayed over for 36 hours filling ourselves
with local information, huge tiger prawns and Moreton Bay Bugs. (with chips) Not forgetting a couple of Bundies and
coke. It didn’t do our gout much good, but both George and I had packed enough tablets for different ailments to fill a
pharmacy. We spent a couple of hours listening to the locals in the pub. Describing the hardships we would encounter
after leaving the coastal strip behind. Talk drifted around the seven remaining unsolved back- packer disappearances
from “in the middle”.
Finally leaving behind the beautifully placed city with it’s outlook over the Great Barrier Reef on one side and the
Leichardt Ranges on the other, we threaded our way over and through the Range until we stopped for a meal at
Charters Towers.
Famous for it’s (almost) limitless gold fields, Charters Towers had over 100 gold mines in the city between 1872 and
1916, called by the population, The Golden Years... With the same number of hotels and taverns, and a population of
30,000, the farmers struck their own goldmine by selling locally grown beef to the miners.
The famous ‘poet soldier’ Breaker Morant lingered here long enough to run into heavy debt and marry a local girl
called Daisy May O’Dwyer. He left Charters Towers with no regrets and leaving debts and new wife behind him.
Breaker Morant was a name he earned by his strange ability to ride and tame any wild horse he mounted, without the
horse fighting against him. Morant’s real name was Harry Harbord and he went on to fight in the Boer war in a
specially picked mounted commando group. He was executed by firing squad under British law on a doubtful charge of
murdering prisoners. This has been a thorn in the side of Australians ever since.
Twentieth-century Charters Towers is famous for Beef, it’s many boarding schools and it’s record number of
properties which are cared for by the National Trust. Both George and I wished we could have stayed longer. . The
town was originally named Charters Tors after the Tors on Dartmoor, England, and graduated to Towers over the next
hundred years.
TO BE CONTINUED
THE REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE
If you read the report on the reunion earlier in this newsletter you will have seen that we have been asked to try to get
the Cossacks on parade again in this year's ceremony. Subject to the British Legion agreeing to our participation, it is
necessary to get a good idea of how many wish to take part. In due course we will be asked how many tickets will be
required (only those with the tickets will be able to get into the area).
Remembrance Sunday this year will be on 10th November. If you wish to take part please let the Secretary, Peter
Harrison, know as soon as possible. The more that we have on parade the better and it would be nice to have a proper
Cossack platoon.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
CAN YOU HELP?
While on the subject of remembrance, it is worth remembering that some of our members are now well into their 80's,
particularly those who served in L03. Many of them have health problems too which restricts what they are now able
to do.
I have recently been in correspondence with Harry Redman, who joined L03 in 1939 and was one of the survivors from
her sinking. Harry, who celebrated his 82nd birthday on 23rd May, has a back problem and, although he has 3 good
sons who do the gardening, etc. for him, being unable to get around much means that he gets very bored. He looks
forward to our newsletters but very much misses the occasional letters he used to get from the late Reg Doring. What
he would really like is for some of our members, obviously other L03's preferably, to write to him. He said that he
would answer every letter.
Harry's address is:
9 Andrews Close
Totton
Southampton
SO40 8EL
So come on chaps. Get those pens out and get the correspondence going.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signs that you are getting old in the nineties
You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Facts on file
TRUE...
My mind is like lightning - one brilliant flash and it's gone!
It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.
Just remember...if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.
We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.
The 50-50-90 rule: Any time you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get
it wrong.
It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.
Laughing stock - cattle with a sense of humour.
You can't have everything, where would you put it?
Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's population.
If the shoe fits, get another one just like it.
Eat right. Stay fit. Die anyway.
The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat drinking beer all day.
Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
Shin: A device for finding furniture in the dark.
As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in public schools.
When you're swimming in the creek, and an eel bites your cheek, that's a moray!
(if you don't understand it, try singing it)
A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
It was recently discovered that research causes cancer in rats.
The only cure for insomnia is to get more sleep.
Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.
I wished the buck stopped here, as I could use a few.
I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
When you go into court you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people that weren't smart enough to get out of jury
duty.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
The H.M.S. LEGION Commemoration
You may remember that in the Cossack Chronicle (newsletter 4/2001) which went out at the end of October last year,
there was a piece under "Can you help?" asking for members to attend the HMS Legion 60th anniversary remembrance
and dedication ceremony.
Jim Swain, the Chairman of Cheltenham R.N.A. was put in touch with several L03 members who said they would
attend, and Alan Edinborough our Vice President and me, your Secretary, decided to go too to represent the
Association. I eventually received a preliminary programme a few weeks before the event and was asked if one of the
L03 survivors would give a five minute talk about his experiences and also to provide an exhibition of memorabilia for
display there. Geoff Embley, one of those rescued by the Legion, was one of those who said he would attend. He was
coming over from Canada for our reunion and decided to come over early so that he could be present. As he said, had
it not been for the Legion he might never have survived. Remembering the piece that Geoff had written about his
experiences for the "Survivors' Narratives", I had no hesitation in detailing him off for the 5 minute talk. Well ..., I
asked him and he said "Yes".
That set my pulse racing! All our display boards were stored at the hotel in Eastbourne and the memorabilia with Alf
Price or Keith Batchelor somewhat remote from me. Fortunately I'd got a vast collection of photographs stored on my
computer and, with a next-day delivery of a notice board from a discount office supplies company, was able to put a
reasonable display together. The photographs of the remains of Cossack (L03) still afloat several days after being
torpedoed formed a central part of the display.
To put the reason for this event into context it would be as well to give the reader some idea of how it came about.
In November 1941, Cheltenham residents raised £1,000,000 (30 million pounds in today's money) to pay for a
destroyer. The result was HMS Legion, the 2,699 ton destroyer which was then adopted by the town. The Legion's
finest hours came in the same year when she rescued survivors from the converted cruise liner Rajputana, HMS
Cossack and HMS Ark Royal. However, the following year she herself was sunk, by German dive bombers as she
waited to enter Grand Harbour, Malta.
A plaque of remembrance was subsequently erected in Cheltenham town hall and each year Cheltenham R.N.A. has
held a service of commemoration there. However, like many such organisations, numbers are dwindling and, in this
60th anniversary year they felt it was time to hand on the responsibility - to T.S. Legion, Cheltenham's Sea Cadet Corps
unit.
Thus on Saturday 23rd March we met up in The Drawing Room of Cheltenham Town Hall where the ceremony was to
be held. At least most of us did. Brian Hibbert was there with our standard, Vic and Betty Hiscock were there, Peter
and Betty Day were there, Alan Edinborough was there and Margaret, my wife, and I were there. But where was our
star turn - Geoff Embley? Nowhere in sight! Fortunately, in view of what can happen on a journey from Nova Scotia
to Kent and from Kent to Gloucestershire, I had asked Peter Day to have something prepared and to be ready to
substitute if necessary. Having set up our display, the time for commencement of the ceremonies drew nigh. Still no
sign of Geoff.
We took our seats, and Peter Day took the place on the dais reserved for the speakers. The Mayor and Mayoress of
Cheltenham had arrived at the entrance to the Town Hall lined with Sea Cadets and standards, including our own. The
Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Clive Lloyd, was welcomed by the Chairman of Cheltenham R.N.A., Jim Swain. A
sea cadet struck Six Bells on the Legion's bell (it had been recovered from the wreck of the Legion near the entrance to
Grand Harbour, Malta, subsequently presented to Commander R.F. Jessel DSO, DSC, RN and then passed on to the
Cheltenham Sea Cadet unit).
During the course of the Mayor's address, a figure squeezed along the back of the dais and took a seat. Yes, it was
Geoff. After the Mayor's speech, Oliver Jessel son of Captain Jessel told of his father's affection for HMS Legion and
how he always considered it his best and happiest ship. He, Oliver, had actually been christened aboard the Legion
with the ship's bell being used as the font.
Next there were the five minute talks by the survivors, one from Ken Hawkins of the Ark Royal, one from Geoff
Embley, one from Bert Upton of the Rajputana and the last from Louis Levy of the Legion. Geoff had us laughing and
in tears as he described his survival and grateful thanks to those who rescued him.
On conclusion of those talks everyone adjourned to the entrance hall of the building and gathered round the plaque for
a short service in tribute to the fallen, conducted by the Rev. Jeremy Whales. The final act was for the R.N.A.
Cheltenham to pass on the legacy to T.S. Legion. This was done in the form of a bosun's call salvaged from the
Legion as she sank.
Everyone was invited back to the Victory Club for light refreshments afterwards. Our display, round which many had
gathered as soon as it had been erected, was again surrounded after the ceremonies and it was some little while before it
could be packed away and finally make our way to the club. That was easier said than done though. Cheltenham is
full of one-way streets and getting from A to B which appears to be close by can involve a very convoluted journey.
However, we made it eventually and were soon enjoying a thirst-quencher. A super spread of sandwiches, etc. had
been put on and was very much enjoyed. Opportunity was taken at this time to present the Cheltenham R.N.A. with a
Cossack ship's badge plaque. Before leaving Jim Swain showed us around the club, and particularly the R.N.A. Room.
The club as a whole is used by a number of ex-Service organisations, of which the R.N.A. is just one.
All of us Cossacks thought that the whole thing had gone very well and were very pleased and grateful to have been
able to take part.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
SHIP DRAWINGS
Also in the last newsletter was a piece about Ship Drawings. As it said in that article, we had received two prints from
Mr. Youngman, one a drawing of the Cavalier and one of Cossack (L03). There was insufficient room to display both
drawings at the reunion but that of Cossack was.
On return home after the reunion and influenced by the voting of the donation of £50 to the Cavalier working party
expenses at the AGM, it was realised that the Cavalier drawing could be put to good use. Pat Gaffney was contacted
and it was suggested that the drawing could be auctioned or raffled by them to raise more money for their cause. It
was duly sent off and we have subsequently received, via Pat, the thanks of Barry Knell who runs the working parties
and the news that they raised another £50 from it.
Perhaps we could do the same for the Cossack drawing. Anyone got a spare £50?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
RUSSIAN CONVOYS
George Toomey found the following letter, published in a newspaper, and feels that it should be brought to the notice
of our members.
For years, we in the Russian Convoy Club have striven for recognition of what
those brave Merchant Navy, Royal Navy and other servicemen went through to supply
Russia during World War II.
Now President Putin of the Russian Federation has decreed that the Defence of
the Soviet Arctic Region Medal should be issued to those veterans and the Russian
Embassy has requested full details of all members who are eligible for the award.
The lists will have to be prepared from members' own applications, and they
must provide official documentation, ie service record document, discharge book, etc.
An application form can be obtained from the membership registrar, R. Powell,
51 Priory Oak, Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan CF31 2HZ
JIM PRATT DSM
Hartpury, Glos.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Let each one of us count our respective blessings and be thankful !!!
Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight; Just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.
Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard
of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and
be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in some third world country, working twelve
hours a day, seven days a week, for less than £10.00 to feed her family.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the
opportunity to take that walk.
Should you notice a new grey hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to
examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering; what is life all about, what is my purpose? Be thankful, there are
those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things
could be worse. You could be them!!!
Should you decide to send this to a friend; You might brighten someone's day!
Let each one of us count our respective blessings !!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
I'm not too sure who sent these in. They are from cuttings of two letters printed in a newspaper and I hope that no one
will be offended by their inclusion here in these days of political correctness.
Navy larks
Girls beware
Beside today's Royal Navy,
George VI's senior servive would have
seemed coy.
I trained at HMS
Impregnable (Letters) as a visual
signaller in 1943. This shore
establishment at St. Budeaux, Devon,
closed in 1944. My class, V97, was
the last there before its relocation to
Rosyth.
In 1944, a buzz went around
Rosyth dockyard that Wrens were going
to take over a nearby shore
establishment and its name would have
to be changed. To what we were never
told - but at the time it was HMS
Impregnable.
I'm not sure HMS
Impregnable would ever have been
suitable as a Wren establishment. I
was told its name was an acronym for
"I Must Play Round Every Girl's
Naked A*** Before Leaving England.
Harry M. Farrar
Reger Condor
Worthing
________________________________________________________________________________________________
NAVAL MUSEUMS
Some publicity material has been received from the Museum of Naval Firepower with the request that it should be
displayed. Not having a headquarters building (although George Toomey said he would buy us one if he ever won the
Lottery - don't hold your breath) it is difficult to display it anywhere. It would also be too costly to to reproduce it and
send it to you.
If you didn't know about Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower, it is situated at Priddy's Hard in Gosport and, as its
name implies, it provides a look at the Navy's history of weaponry. During the period 4th May - 3rd November 2002
there is a special anniversary exhibition entitled "Exocet! Naval action in the Falklands War". The museum is open
every day from 10 am and has a waterfront Coffee Shop where you can sit and watch the harbour life go by.
If you are taking the family on a visit to Portsmouth Dockyard, why not include Priddy's Hard too. If you have access
to the Internet more information can be obtained by visiting their web site at www.explosion.org.uk or, if not, by
telephone on 023 9250 5600.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
FRANK'S FUNNIES
From time to time Frank Spendelow (D57 1946-47 Yeo. of Sigs.) sends in some bits and pieces. You may remember
some of Spendelow's Snippets in past newsletters. Here are some more.
Overheard in a bus: But, my dear, it isn't automatic. You have to turn a switch.
Young lady acknowledging an introduction: Oh. I've heard so much about you.
side.
Now I'd like to hear your
Overheard at a football match: God what a game. I wish I was watching it on telly.
Wife to henpecked husband: Of course I want you to have opinions of your own. I just don't want to hear
them.
Girl to suitor: I think a double wedding would be nice. You marry someone else and so will I.
Woman driver to companion after parking car: That's close enough! We can walk to the kerb.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
SOME OF THOSE THINGS YOU ONLY DO ONCE!
__________________________________________________
______________________________________________
E-Mail
The latest list of e-mail addresses for members is given below. Don't forget - let Peter Harrison know of any additions
or changes.
Margaret Atherton
Bill Bartholomew
Fred Barton
Keith Batchelor
John Batty
John Bishop
Tony Brown
Tom Brown
Philip Bryant
George Bye
Mike Cook
Colin Dean
Stan Edgell
Alan Edinborough
Geoff Embley
Dave Fenton
Liz Foster-Hall
MAAthert@aol.com
bill@hmscossack.freeserve.co.uk
fred@fbarton90.freeserve.co.uk
keith@beaconroad.freeserve.co.uk
cossack@flatrate.net.au
jbishop.cossack@virgin.net
tony@beaufort83.fsnet.com
t.mbrown@bmts.com
philip.bryant@ukonline.co.uk
g_bye@talk21.com
MikeStensonCook@aol.com
colinsuedean@lineone.net
edgellas@aol.com
aedinborough@genie.co.uk
naughtycal@ns.sympatico.ca
dfenton@rogers.com
liz@foster-hall.freeserve.co.uk
Pat Gaffney
patrick.gaffney@talk21.com
Stan Hannaford
stan.hannaford@lineone.net
Peter Harrison
cossack@attglobal.net
David Higgins
dhiggin8@ford.com
Tom Kay
tom.kay@lineone.net
Alec Kellaway
Alec.Kellaway@ukgateway.net
Graham Keyes
Gkeyes@btinternet.com
Brian Lambie
bds.classics@ntlworld.com
Stan Leadbetter
alanesewell@hotmail.com
Bob McLean
bisnad@aol.com
Peter Marchant
peterbosun@tinyworld.co.uk
Terry Matthews
matthewsllb@msn.com
Dusty Miller
GEMSPEC@FSBDial.co.uk
Brian Patterson
bhp.ports@virgin.net
Jack Race
jackrace2@activemail.co.uk
Harry Ripp
hripp@hotkey.net.au
Dave Rush
donandvalrush@netscapeonline.co.uk
Ken Satterthwaite
kensatt@tinyonline.co.uk
Anne Smith
annepsmith@talk21.com
Carol Taylor
carol@snookerdebts.co.uk
Colin Trigg
colin@northgate99.freeserve.co.uk
Mike Tunks
miketunks@hotmail.com
Frank Weedon
frank.sheila@fweedon.freeserve.co.uk
John Williams
john@josylanja.freeserve.co.uk
________________________________________________________________________________________________
THAT'S ALL FOLKS