SPRING 2011 EDITION
JOURNAL OF THE
HONG KOMG FLOTILLA ASSOCIATION
Welcome to the Spring copy of our newsletter. First, may I thank everyone for their cards and get well wishes. It was a bit scary for Maggie, but pleased to say that all is well now and I believe the anaesthetist got his doses wrong.(Not enough Rum?)
2011 has started off with all sorts of problems; the tragedy in New Zealand and Japan, riots in the Middle East and our depleted Royal Navy. What is the world coming to? And now someone has predicted that the world will end in May – I forget the date, but will let you know in October! We have the Royal Wedding to look forward to in April and I will endeavour to keep this issue as light-hearted as possible - thanks to shipmate Terry Parker who kindly gave me several issues of the Fourth Destroyer Association newsletter in order to make this issue worth reading.
Gordon Griffiths and his daughter were recently invited to Hong Kong to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Sea Cadet Corps. Gordon was a founder member of the Corps and a Lt. Cmdr in the HKRNR, with headquarters next to the China Fleet Club, their ship being HMS Cornflower. Gordon presented his Naval Sword to the Sea Cadets. Pictured with Gordon and his daughter are Jensen Kwok Mei of the SCC and John Fleming a shipmate and resident of Hong Kong. Gordon was invited to inspect the Parade and take the Salute at the March Past. In the Parade were the Sea Scouts, Boy Scouts, The Red Cross and School Band.
Crossed the Bar
November 2010. Paul Dickinson. Served in Hong Kong 1957-1964.
January 2011. Robert Dickerson. LCA 1992. Served in Flotilla 1951-1952
January 2011. Alfred (Alf) Terry. Served in Hong Kong 1947
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Whilst we welcome our new President Ninian Stewart and his wife Liz, below is a letter from our President emeritus Conrad Jenkin:
The Spring Reunion at the Trouville Hotel.
This turned out to be great, despite the squeaky floorboard, but the hotel was very good, the food and staff welcoming, some went swimming (in the indoor pool!) The weather was good. But sadly a few were missed because of illness. Although no entertainment was laid on, our good ladies Pat Renshaw. Liz Stewart and Angela (Angie) Watts, surprised us with a games night consisting of skittles, darts, snakes and ladders and dominoes, oh, and hoop-la. Games for children aged between 5 and 8, But it went down well and everyone enjoyed it. That’s why we stay so young!!
Now looking forward to the October reunion so make sure you are booked in and if you haven’t, please let John Metherell know when you have. We are trying to get the Friday night a ‘quiet’ night so that we can talk to each other.
“If” A sailors version; Put together by our ‘young 92 year old’ Ron Walsh. (With apologies to Mr Rudyard Kipling).
If you can scrub your mess out every day
With honest zeal, to make it clean and bright.
And keep it so, as in the proper ‘pusser’ way
If you can take an order – even though it sounds unjust
Without a murmer of complaint – because you must.
Even though perhaps it is unjustly served.
If you can say the mess-deck P.O’s never caught you
loafing in the heads without a job to do.
If you can raise a smile when things seem at their blackest,
you’re feeling not so good and fed-up too –
If you can find, untold, some little job when things are at their slackest
That’s worth a lot my man – and good for you!
If you can work, unwatched, in rain or bitter cold.
Then faith put in you is a lot, though, ‘tis not told
And you will find you’re not for ever ‘chased’
The gain is much for trust that is so placed.
If you can enter into battle with every confidence –
And stay though p’raps a little nervous, at your gun.
If you can keep it trained and fire every shell,
Your duty’s truly done – and half your battle won.
If you can carry on while tempests howl and rage,
And sea-sickness makes life a living hell.
There is nothing to gain, if our hopes are too high.
Like to wish for the moon up in the sky.
But if what we can gain, we better ourselves by,
We can get it if we go ‘ALL OUT’- and try!
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What Causes Arthritis?
A drunk man smelling of beer sat down on a bench next to a priest. The man’s tie was stained, his face was plastered with lipstick and a half-empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn coat packet.
He opened his newspaper and began reading.
After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked “Say father, what causes arthritis?”
The priest replied. “My son, it’s caused by loose living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt of your fellow man! sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of bathing”
The drunk muttered in response “Well I’ll be damned” and returned to his newspaper.
The priest, thinking of what he had just said, nudged the man and apologised. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come on so strongly, how long have you had arthritis?”
The drunk answered “I don’t have it father. I was just reading that the Pope does !”
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I have heard a buzz that shipmates Len Garcia and Brian Brough are making their final visit to Hong Kong this autumn. They say every year that it is their ‘last time’. Unfortunately Brian has not been too well and Len is hoping he will be fighting fit by then, and ‘The Old China Hand’ is going to lose a lot of revenue if they don’t make it. So get well Brian – we’re all wishing you well.
Don
Another Royal celebration this June, is the 90th Birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
The Prince was 18 when in 1939 he joined the Royal Naval College to undertake an officers’ training course. He went on to win the Eardley-Howard-Crockett prize as best cadet, and the Kin’s Dirk as best all-round cadet of his term. As a young naval officer, Prince Philip had an active and distinguished war. He spent 1940 in the battleship HMS Ramillies in the Indian Ocean and in 1941 joined the battleship HMS Valiant, which took part in the Battle of Matapan off the coast of Greece. The Prince was mentioned in Despatches for his role operating the searchlight during the Night Action
In 1944, the Prince was First Lieutenant of the new fleet destroyer HMS Whelp. The ship joined the British Pacific Fleet in the Indian Ocean and was present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese signed the surrender on 2nd September 1945. Prince Philip continue to serve in Whelp until the destroyer returned home in January 1946.
In February 1947 Prince Philip became a naturalised British subject, renouncing his Royal title and taking the name Philip Mountbatten. Five months later on 10th July 1947, the engagement was announced of Lieutenant Mountbatten and the 21 year old Princess Elizabeth.
Shortly before their marriage on 20th November 1947, King George VI named his future son-in-law Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron of Greenwich with the style of His Royal Highness and appointed him to the Order of the Garter. The Duke of Edinburgh continued with his duties in the Royal Navy including the command of HMS Magpie in 1950.
In 1956, Prince Philip founded the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme to promote the personal development of young people. Since then the Award has attracted over six million participants in more than 125 countries.
Prince Philip is known for his interests in wildlife, Science and Technology and Art and sport has played a predominant part in his life. He has been a keen sailor, cricketer and polo player, but perhaps is best known for his association with other equestrian sports. He has been an active participant in carriage-driving and representing Great Britain on a number of occasions.
An exhibition will be taking place in Windsor Castle from 12th February2011 to 22nd January 2012 celebrating Ninety Years, bringing together photographs, paintings, memorabilia and items illustrating the many interests of His Royal Highness as well as his extensive work as Patron or President of 800 organisations.
May I add that HRH is also very well known for his dry wit which the media insist on calling ‘gaffs’
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The following are some tips for when you reach the autumn of your years:
1. Kidnappers are no longer interested in you
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first
3. No one expects you to run – anywhere!
4. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac
5. Thing you buy now won’t wear out.
6. You can live without sex – but not without glasses.
7. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge
8. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks in the room!
9. You sing along with elevator music.
10. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service.
11. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can’t remember them either!
12. You can’t remember where you read this list.
And finally – never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on thesame night
The following is some light-hearted banter between Peter Yeates and John Fleming, I’m not sure if perhaps Peter had been at the wine again but we all know Peter is our greatest supporter – enjoy it!
Received this earlier from John Fleming.. 7th March 2011
Wings, in case John Fleming does not know the answer to your questions on the LCAs, I will answer them for you, being a matchbox crew member.
The Commanding officer in question was Edgar Ellis he was in the flotilla from September 1950 till June 1952, he commanded
LCA(P) 1911. The (P) standing for Parent boat, each of these Parent boats had attached additional boats (F) these were the work horses of the matchbox flotilla, used for flame throwing.
There was 6 LCAs (P) namely 1684, 1915, 1682, 1891, 1911, 1992, Jim Ockendon would know all the (F) boats
Robin Dickerson served on LCA (P) 1992 from 1951-1952.
Just to add my bit to the story I also served on LCA 1992 (P) for about 3 months before they paid off in 1953
Hope this helps
DEAR SHIPMATES
I RECENTLY WROTE TO JOHN FLEMING AND STAN COBB.
HERE IS WHAT I SENT.
SPOKE WITH RON WALSH TONIGHT. OUR SECRETARY KEEPS A VERY CLOSE EYE ON OUR COXSWAIN AND HE IS AS WELL AS CAN BE EXPECTED AND WILL BE AT BOURNEMOUTH. IT IS AMAZING THAT HERE I AM 74 AND HE WAS A HKF COXSWAIN AND I REMEMBER HIM AND HIS MONKEY, AND NINIAN AND EVERYTHING AND I WAS 18 AND HE WAS THEN 35 YEARS OLD...1955.
DOES TIME MATTER ?..NOT AT ALL.
JOHN FLEMING WROTE THIS TO ME THIS EVENING, AND IS WELL AND HIS LITTLE SON WHO TAKES EVERY MORNING TO SCHOOL AND BACK ACROSS THE BORDER IS WELL. WHAT A WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP THAT IS.
HOWEVER STAN COBB WROTE TO ME EARLIER THIS EVENING. STAN COBB WAS THE LDG. TEL ON 3512 UNDER NINIAN AND RON WALSH...AND HERE WE ARE STILL ALIVE AND KICKING...
IN THE HONG KONG FLOTILLA- WE HAD A POLICY-
WE ON THE 3510 DID-THAT IS WHAT INDEPENDENCE IS FOR....& IN OUR BRITISH WAY WE WERE VERY INDEPENDENT !
WE STILL ARE IN THE HKFA.
IT WENT LIKE THIS:-OUT EAST...
DEAR JUNK-
WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO STOP- THIS IS A NO GO AREA- AND A PRACTISE FIRING RANGE AND WE WANT YOU PLEASE TO LEAVE...SO MOVE AWAY.
WE TRIED FIRST FIRING IN FRONT OF THE JUNK...THE SKIPPER BEING THE MOST INTELLIGENT BEING ABOARD NATURALLY, WOULD FIRE THE WEAPON...THAT IS ....A LEE ENFIELD CIRCA BOER WAR 1900 .303 CARBINE
NOTHING FANCY YOU UNDERSTAND TO THREATEN THEM...SUCH AS LATER.... AN SLR OR AN S80
THEN IF THEY DID NOT STOP...SOMEONE WOULD BE DETAILED OFF TO FIRE A BURST ( A RATHER DRAMATIC BURST YOU UNDERSTAND)
IF THAT DID NOT WORK AND SUCCEED....................... TO DISSUADE THE JUNK.... THEN MORE STERN AND PURPOSEFUL WEAPONS WERE USED..
NAMELY THE 1940'S VINTAGE BREN AUTOMATIC RIFLE. ONE WHOLE MAGAZINE WHAT IS MORE ....
IF THAT DID NOT DETER THE PRESENCE OF THE JUNK WHERE THE CAPTAIN DID NOT WANT THEM TO BE...THEN....... THEN THE 20MM OERLIKON ANTI AIRCRAFT AUTOMATIC WEAPON WOULD BE
EMPLOYED..AND MOREOVER WITH A DETERMINED PATRIOTIC ZEALOUS ( NERVOUS) NATIONAL SERVICEMEN AS NO 2 LOADER OF PANS..( WATCH YOUR FINGERS ) ..( IMPRESSED ? I DID EVENTUALLY BECOME NO I OERLIKON...
MOSTLY NOTHING WOULD NOT DETER THE JUNKS FROM BEING WHERE THEY WANTED TO BE...EXCEPT........THAT IS...............IN 1957 WE HAD A NEW SKIPPER WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND...UNDERSTAND THAT ONE WAS NEVER MEANT TO ACTUALLY HIT THE JUNK...BECAUSE THAT WAS
NOT BRITISH.. AND MOREOVER NOT ALLOWED...ONE NEEDED TO COMMMUNICATE WITH FLAG AND THE ADMIRAL MIGHT BE AT LUNCH...
THE SKIPPER 3510....HIS NAME WAS LT DE BERE GIBBS ( FRANCIS GIBBS) VERY POSH AND VERY NEW...PARTICULARLY LIKED STEAMING CLOSE TO LIN TIN -DEEP WATER BAY...AND SILLY THINGS LIKE THAT..
HE DECIDED TO FIRE FIVE .303 ROUNDS INTO THE JUNK...ACTUALLY INTO THE JUNK...NO MESSING..FIRST TIME...SHOCK HORROR FOR SEASONED PATROLEES LIKE WE..
IT MOVED ( THE JUNK THAT IS) FASTER THAN SHIT THROUGH A GOOSE...
COMMENDATION
I don’t know what happened to the end of the story! But we, on 1329 were far more experienced and disciplined. If we were ordered to fire across a Junk’s bows, we did just that – with our Bofors and not more that 6 feet in front, which always produced a good result.