Responses from former Shipmates

Feedback

I have received a number of emails from former shipmates and, where I thought it relevant or interesting I have posted them here.  Any reply or comment that I thought appropriate has been made blue typeface.  I hope these will be of interest to others and hopefully I can put you in touch should you wish.

 

If you would like to comment on my website, correct any mistakes that I may have made, or just get in touch you can contact me at:  douglascarr@btinternet.com

Comments

Hello Jock,

Have just been looking at your website.......the Shotley part anyway.  Brilliant stuff.

I was in 362 Class Collingwood...41 Mess by the Parade Ground, and then we moved into 36 Mess top of Benbow.  We were on the Parade. 

Recalled some of the names in your Class, certainly Officers, Instructors etc.  Billy Cottam I met in the Far East, he was on "Crane" I think.  Certainly remember a few other names. Mick Godley - met him some years ago at the Submariners Reunion, he was a Publican then, I know he has recently rejoined the Submariners Association. 

I've tried...a few times, unsuccessfully, to print off the  Order of March Past.  Are you able to print them off satisfactorily, along with the photos? Or did you get them done elsewhere?  I'll gladly reimburse you for any costs involved. 

Was Mick Hone in your Class?  I seem to remember him being Back Classed into ours, I think through being in Sick Bay.

I'm in touch with two of my Class, was in touch with another three, including Mick, but they seem to have "disappeared". 

Regards,

Geoff (Holmes) 10th May 2004

Hello Jock,
I discovered your brilliant website when I was looking through the Ganges guest book, and I must say that reading all the info. and seeing the photos of Flamingo brought back a lot of wonderful memories .
I even spotted myself in the ship's company photos and I can still put names to quite a few faces .
I was an A/B onboard Flamingo in 1955 and I had been at Ganges in 1949 (Boadicea 33 mess), and finished my time in 1964.
Each time I have visited various websites I have always looked for anything concerning HMS Flamingo, but yours is the only one ever to come up trumps .
Thanks for bringing back to me so many pleasant memories of my time on a ship, which I considered to be one of , if not the , best I ever served on .

Good luck to you in all you do . All the best,
Stan ' Mick ' Pearce 16th May 2004

Have just picked up your excellent site from information in "where are you now" in Navy News.   It was a very nostalgic viewing for me,  since I commissioned her at John Browns shipyard in Clydebank on 8 August 1942, brand new from the yard.

 

I was brand new too, as an O.Sig: fresh from Boys@ training at H.M.S. St. George in the Isle of Man.   My very first job, half an hour after joining,  was to muster on the forecastle as flag man for anchor trials off Tail of the Bank in the Clyde.   A most frightening experience,  with Captain Black and Chief Yeoman (?) looking over me from the compass platform!

Amongst my other embarrassing moments were two trips to the foremast top yardarm to retrieve strings of bunting I had been foolish enough not to clip on properly so finishing the yardarm looking like it had a string of dhobying  hanging from it.  Since the ship was at the time flagship of CS2  my interview with the Staff Signal Bosun was not pleasant!

 

I stayed with her for best part of a year,  including Operation Torch, 2 Russian convoys,  relief of Spitzbergen and the inevitable hanging around in Scapa. and forays into the Atlantic.  I left her to transfer to Radio Mechanic training ,  where I was "hijacked" into the Fleet Air Arm late 1943 

 

"Bermuda" was always a most happy ship,  accommodation not  of course what present day ratings would ever tolerate!  The "kye" was always great though during the middle watch,  not least because as  junior on watch I could get down to the warmth of the galley to get it up to the flag deck.

 

I retired as Engineer Lieutenant Commander (AE) in June 1974  after many years of most happy recollections,  not least those of my time in H.M.S. "Bermuda".  I still have the commissioning pennant flown from the foremast during Operation Torch,  6 November 1942.

 

Congratulations on your excellent presentation!!

 

Sincerely,  Dennis Jones. 8th April 2006

Dear Douglas

 

Congratulations on an excellent website. Having spotted details in this month's Navy News, and seeing the mention of HMS Bermuda, my curiosity was aroused so I decided to have a look.  As a result I spent a very pleasant hour or more wandering down memory land!  All the photographs are very good and I recognised some of the faces and also many of the names - Mick Sewell, Tubby Dufty, Chas Newman, Skeffington, Stan Snape, Dickie Bird.  The other PO Tel was Wally Hayhurst who, I think, is the one in the photo with the CREA. The Chief Tel was Dougie Hume (He wasn't too happy when we opted to leave the ship in Feb 1955!!).

I had contact with Chris Bird a wee while back, following his request in NN for info on Johnnie Beddal.  I sent him a copy of a large photo of the Comms Dept's whaler crew, taken while practising for the Fleet regatta, in which Johnnie & I were members. The other members were Spike Kelly(L/Tel) Hughie Macdonald(L/Tel) Chuck Mawson(L/Sig) and the cox was Yeo Phillips (I don't think we did very well in the regatta!!). Chris said that,sadly, Johnnie died some years back. 

The Ganges photos brought back memories too. I have some of them in my own albums. I don't think the modern youngsters could cope with the routine we endured at Ganges. It didn't harm us.  Did meet Pete McCooey many years ago when he was serving as a Radio Officer in the Maritime

Auxiliary Vessel Newton based in Devonport. I left the RN in 1965 after twelve years and spent a year at GCHQ before returning to Devonport and working in the Finance Dept in the dockyard for many years. Pending privatisation of the 'yard in 1985 meant many jobs were being cut, including mine, but I was given the opportunity to move to Carlisle to a job in the RAF's No 14 Maintenance Unit, where I finished up as Cashier - a long way from reading the GYZ  broadcast!!  Retired eleven years ago and we decided to remain here as it is a good area and handy to Scotland and Northern Ireland. I've had an amateur radio licence (G3XWA) for many years and occasionally go on the air and hammer the morse key.  I did receive the Canal Zone medal last year - my one and only one.

 

Again congratulations on the website.  Haven't looked at the Ark Royal section yet but will do later.

 

Regards

Mike Ennis 11th April 2006

Dear Doug,

Have just found your web site via Navy News, At last some photos of HMS FLAMINGO, Let me introduce myself i am Commanding Officer of TS FLAMINGO which is a unit in the SEACADET CORPS, based in Gateshead tyne & wear, we have very little info on FLAMNIGO  therefore if you are willing contact me back so we can talk.

yours

DEREK I BROWN CPO (SCC) 13th April 2006

Many thanks for your kind response to my e-mail,   You seem to have as many mishaps and good times aboard Bermuda as I did!

 

It may be of interest to you that the ladies of Bermuda (the island of course!!) had a silk battle ensign made for the ship, and we actually flew it on the occasion of  our bombardment of a French fort at Mers-el-Kebir,  in Algeria, during the Torch operation.   It was hastily replaced by a normal one as we even more hastily left the area when we were attacked by what seemed to us to be a very large number of  Italian torpedo bombers immediately after.  Luckily their aim wasn't as good as those our "Stringbags" had been at Taranto.  Plus the fact that the skipper was an old destroyer hand who knew just how to comb torpedo tracks.  It would be interestng to find out what happened to the ensign,  also the ship's bell.   Maybe one of your  correspondents might have the knowledge of either artifacts.?

 

One of my other "adventures" as a bunting tosser was the occasion in Gib:,  when as O.D. of the forenoon watch, with eyes glued to the signal tower at ensign hoisting time I managed to beat the time by 30 seconds so that our ensign also beat all the assembled ships by that amount.  Lots of sarcastic signals from various authorities and 7 day's stoppage for me,  Goodbye to Gib: runs ashore for that time in harbour!

 

Please be free to use any of the above or previous info: as you would wish to in your "Feedback" pages.   I'll take a look back in my "archives" to see if I have any old photos to copy to you , although I fear most of these disappeared due to one unfortunate occasion or other. 

 

Thanks for note on the website,  I'll take a good look-out for it.

 

Yours aye!

 

(For ancient interest,  at the time of joining the ship I was "D/JX246109 Ord.Sig.D.A.Jones"

Amazing how one doesn't forget one's old service number!!   You also have my age correct!) 16th April 2006

Does anyone out there know what happened to the ensign?  If so send me an email

 

Just been on your Website, but your Feedback was not responding, so here are my comments

 

Website is great!

My reason for giving you a hit is that I was drafted to Bermuda in Nov. 1949, brought her out of reserve and after working up in the Med. spent 3 years with her in and around South Africa, based at Simonstown.  We got home February 1953 and it was snowing!!

Secondly I was with Ark Royal IV in Birkenhead helping with the final inspections and acceptance from Camel Lairds, commissioning and finally out to the Med again, I left her July 1956.

Hope you had as much fun and as many fond memories as I did on both ships.

C Clapham 17th April 2006

Hi Douglas,

Thanks for the e-mail and the info, I am able to fill you in on what happened after she was dicommisioned, her life took a different turn than that of ther Persian Gulf , she was transffered over to the then reborn west German navy and became the "Graf Spae" she survived a further 4-5 years before finally going to the breakers, Have you got a picture of the ships crest in colour if possible, if so could you e-mail a copy to me. For your infomation TS FLAMINGO. is in for a busy year in june we are holding Divisions (do you remember them) with HMS CALIOPE (TYNESIDE RNR DIVISION) at which we will be making our affilliation official in front of the LORD LT of TYNE AND WEAR. so lots of swords & medals etc after that we are involved in various community events as well as the usual SCC compititions etc on top of that we have cadets away on courses at various training centers both RN and SCC.  will stop here.

Derek Brown 25th April 2006

Hi Douglas

I think your web site, while of immediate interest to us "old salts", will be of great interest in years to come to people who research their family history and want to find out more about the cruiser in which "Great Uncle Bill" served in the Med  in the 1950's, or the carrier in which "Grandfather" served.  Other people who would find it of interest are those who collect medals awarded to RN personnel, and like to trace the history of the recipients.  Service Certificates give details of ships in which a person served but a site like yours gives a more in-depth picture of life onboard Bermuda and the Ark.  Actually I do have a small souvenir from the Ark - a morse key which would have been on the flag deck and was used to operate the mast top signal lights!  Another radio amateur managed to get hold of it when the ship was being broken up in Loch Ryan.  He passed it on to me.  He said it came from a radio office, but it is too cumbersome for use on a radio circuit. It is well looked after!

Yes we did go to the Radio Show at Olympia when we were both at Burnham W/T but I can't recall the date. It must have been 1956 sometime. Ah, what age does to the memory!!

Keep up the good work with the site

Regards

Mike Ennis 11th April 2006

I was a leading/seaman on that trip to America on the ARK and I am interested in photos of trip.One in particular was the one taken from the helicopter showing the ARK and the MAYFLOWER in the same shot.Is it possible to purchase it after all this time?..........Joe (Moffatt) 20th August 2006

Dear Mr Carr

I have been looking for information about HMS Flamingo and just come across your website. I was working for the British Council in Aden in 1997-98 and used to climb Jabal Shamsan, the highest point there. On one route, obviously used by the military, someone has left a white-painted inscription: "No 1 Gun, HMS Flamingo". I have always been curious to know when it might have been put there? Do you have any idea when Flamingo might have been in Aden and for what reason?

Thank you and with regards

David Mitchell 13th September 2006

Is anyone out there able to help David Mitchell?  If so, send me an email

Hi there, David

Thanks for your email but I sorry I cannot throw any light on the subject.
We did call in at Aden on our return trip to the UK but shore leave was restricted because of the troubles and we certainly didn't have any landing party exercises at the time that I can recall.

My only suggestion is that it may have been a landing party exercise in a previous commission and some of the gunnery personnel wanted to leave a reminder of their presence there.

I will try to remember to post your query on my website... who knows it might trigger someone's memory. Sadly, though, the passing of time means that the ratings involved (if it was an earlier commission) would be in their mid to late 70's or even 80's... however we can but hope

If you do get any other information do let me know.

Oh! one final thought... you could try posting an entry in the online Navy News (there is a link on my website) 'Jack to Jack' which is used by non-naval people as well trying to get information.

Sorry I cannot be of further help... but it is interesting, is it not?

Regards

Douglas Carr

Hi Doug,

I was a bunting at Ganges from 1951 to 1952 (341) class just a little before you.

I also was at Port Said in 1956 and along side Casino Palace when they blew up the statue of Ferdinand.

I was looking at your photo of the Eagle.  No this is not the Eagle, she is much bigger than that,, I was on her in 1954 and have a photo of her along with many other of my ships in front of me. Aft of the funnel is three gun sponsons before the after mast, on your photo there is no gun sponsons at all, also around 5g2 there should be two port holes (gangway entrances) on your photo there isn't any. I would suggest it could be the Illustrious.

Any way I found your Web site very interesting and bring back many memories of transmitting semaphore across Grand Harbour when all the fleet were there before we sailed to Port Said.

 

Derek Vaughan L/Sig D/JX 905112 25th November 2006

Hi Douglas,

I am still learning to use the computer as I have just had broad band installed,  I found you web site but can't find it now, please send me your web site address!!

You said you were in Benbow Div. did you remember Lt. Gossage. He drove a Bentley with the hand brake on the outside.  He was beaten by a boy coxswain in the Harwich Regatta during the summer of 1952

 

Derek Vaughan 25th November 2006

Hi, Derek

My website is www.navydays.me.uk

Yes I do remember Lt Gossage well and there is a picture of him on the Ganges part of my website when we were duty ceremonial guard. I still remember him shouting "Effort, Benbow" at interdivisional sporting events... don't remember him being beaten by a boy coxwain... bet he didn't like that!

Douglas Carr

Hi Doug,  I'm back again, I had a good look at the Carrier marked probably Eagle and was able to bring it up on a larger screen, the pendant number on the side is R07 now I can't remember for sure who that was!!!  I have had a good look all around your site, very impressive.  I was there during summer 52.  I received the Enright Trophy for the best Coxswain of the year.  It would have been the last Divisions before Summer Leave on the Main Parade Ground. I know we (Ganges} sailed against St Vincent and took all honours. When ever our class was playing rugby or football I would look and see who were sailing and of course volunteer, and many a time I would sail a boat for a Benbow class.          I was in Blake number 4 Mess top of the long covered way. Instructor Yeoman Surridge.  I remember Chief Tel. Mitchell trying to get me to be a sparker when I came over from the Annexe.  You see I was an Ex Arethusa boy and could already read morse etc.   

Where do you live ?  I live in Billingham North East of England

Cheers for now 

Derek Vaughan 26th November 2006

Hi.
Just checking if this is a working address, since the web one for comments is not working.
In short I have a photo of HMS Flamingo on the Shatt al Arab, should you want it. More details if this works.

Tony Woodward 2nd April 2007
 

Hi there, Tony

Thank you for your email and my apologies for you not being able to use the feedback on the Website… I will have to get that changed. Thank you also for your kind offer and yes I would be very grateful to receive anything about HMS Flamingo, particularly the 1955 commission.

Do you have a connection with the ship?

Regards
Douglas Carr 2nd April 2007

Hi Douglas,

 

Many thanks for your reply. Attached is my photo of HMS Flamingo. It was moored up on the jetty at Basra, circa 1951. At the time, I was an RAF photographer, based at Habbaniya, but visiting that area photographing a crime scene for the SIB. With time on our hands, down to the Shatt al Arab.  An invitation to board and of course, some rum! I do not have a copy, but I seem to remember taking a group photo and dropping copies off in Bahrain.  Habbaniya had the only photographic section in the area, so we would visit the various outpost stations from Jordon to Sharjah.

 

Hope that the photo is of use,

 

Regards,

 

Tony 4th April 2007

Dear Douglas,

I have just found your very interesting web-site regarding BERMUDA. I was a Leading Writer D S (Taff) JONES. I joined as a member of the advanced party on 18th Feb 53 and I left on 23rd September 1955. That was a memorable day in my life - it was the day I finally quit smoking!

My days on the Bermuda were the most unforgettable days of my life. My big regret is that I cannot re-establish contact with my close friend on board - Writer Thomas McDonald (Jock) BARR. I know that he stayed in the Navy for his full time and made to it Fleet Chief. Many of your photographs are in my album among many others. I have attached to this e-mail what must be the last photo ever taken of the ship. I found her tied up in Briton Ferry in South Wales awaiting her final journey to the breaker's yard of Thomas Ward.

I didn't seen the reported death of Cdr BOYCE in the Telegraph, but the death of our Executive Officer Cdr E T STANLEY was extensively covered. He had a brilliant record in WW2 as a submarine Commander. He sank about 150000 tons of enemy shipping and was awarded a number of DSC.s. He left the Navy after BERMUDA - a disappointed man because he was not promoted to Captain. He was a strange fellow who, I think, was somewhat shy. Relating to others was not his strongest point. It is strange to know, after all these years, that we were in the company of such gallant heroes.

I did have 'my day' on 12th September 1954 when Mountbatten came on board to promote me, personally, to Leading Writer. I had been chosen as one of 3000 men under his command who were eligible for advancement to be so advanced regardless of the advancement roster. It was called "C-in-C's Advancement". You may remember that the ships company had to march past The Noble Earl after Divisions. Sorry! - it was my fault!

I hope you are enjoying good health in your retirement. I am now 75; in reasonable health and financially comfortable.

Thank you for your splendid efforts.

Stan 29 July 2007

Hi there, Stan

It was good to receive your email and to hear from another former Bermuda ship-mate, and I thank you for sending me the photo of the final days of the ship’s life. I think it would be worth publishing it on my website and (with your permission) I will credit you with it. I have one or two additional pictures to add, some from former friends, and some that I have decided might be of interest from my own album and I really have to get round to updating it.

I was very interested to hear of your C-in-C’s advancement, no doubt an important moment in your navy career, and you may be interested to know that I too was presented the Lord Louis as an Ordinary Telegraphist on that day, having done something that brought me to the attention of the Mountbatten’s signals officer. There were about 10 or a dozen of us, and I remember standing next to an AB whose claim to fame was having fallen overboard while we were either replenishing or doing a jack-stay transfer! There was a ship’s photographer taking pictures of us, but when it came to my turn to be presented, something went wrong with his camera so I didn’t get ‘snapped’. I just wondered if by any chance you had a picture of that group… but of course you may well have been separate from us lesser mortals!!

Well, it was good to hear from you… I too am in reasonable health and now 71 and still work 3 days a week in a management consultancy firm… could do with working less but the money is handy…

If you do have any other photographs that you think might be of interest, I would be pleased to receive a copy

Thanks again for writing
Douglas 31st July 2007

Douglas,

 

Thank you for your e-mail.  I certainly give you permissions to do as you please with the last photo of the old ship.

 

Regarding the others in my possession, can you give me some idea which photos you already have.  I have the usual collection about ZANTE;  two pictures of the Ship's Company;  Many pictures of the ship, including one taken from the air on Pay Day and travelling at full speed;  many pics of the ship lit at night; a group of us on an outing to Rome;  The Admiral coming on board on 12/9/54; oiling at sea from Wave Sovereign;  HMS MANXMAN coming alongside in heavy weather with the keel visible; photos concerning the Royal Tour in HM BRITANNIA.  Sorry, however, I don't have a photo of the Noble Earl apart from one of him shaking my hand.

 

The Mediterranean commission was a very happy one.  It was reported as such in the obituary of our Executive Officer Cdr E T Stanley (with many DSCs to his name).  The ship's complement was 500 ratings and 50 officers but only a handful can now be contacted - a pity.  Of course, it was a long time ago and the 'Grim Reaper' has already called many into his domain.

 

I enjoyed most of the time - but there were moments when I wondered whether I would ever again sit in a comfortable armchair in front of a roaring fire in the company of my loved ones!..I'm sure we all harboured such thoughts from time to time!

 

Regards,

 

Stan

Dear Douglas
I have been passed a link to your site to try and identify my uncle from the ships company photograph.

Both my uncle and father both served in Flamingo during the early 50's and I think they are both on this photograph. My father Jim (Jock) Scullion was a Leading Sig. and my uncle George Field was a Leading Tel.

I think I have identified them on the Left hand ships company photo and being numbers 7 and 9 from the right hand side at the top. I was wondering if you could confirm this for me please.

Sad to say both of them are now deceased, George died
25 years ago and my father died in 2000. Incidently I also served in the RN as a communications rate and left in 1994 as a Chief Radio Supervisor.

I would be grateful if you could help in this matter as my cousins and I are keen to know about the ships company photograph.

Yours Aye

Dave Scullion 14th January 2008

Hi Doug

I have in my possession a shield from the Ark Royal made by i think crew members i bought it from an op shop in Australia on the back written in pencil is the following/lem Drury SK3B Mess HMS Ark Royal C/o FMO Singapore.I wonder if it would be traceable for a moment to someone.

Ray Brown 24th January 2008

The Ark Royal did not go to Singapore during the second commission but was there in the fourth.  If anyone has any information about LEM Drury, please get in touch.