30 Jun 10

 

David 'Jimmy' Bond and Mick Beale to swim for Project Vernon this Saturday

 

 

I have received this announcement from ex-CD1 David 'Jimmy' Bond, proprietor of Bond's Nautical Antiques in Dartmouth.  He intends swimming with MCDOA member Mick Beale this Saturday to raise funds for Project Vernon, the campaign to erect a monument in Gunwharf Quays commemorating the minewarfare and diving heritage of HMS Vernon which formerly stood on the site:

 

"Hi,

 

The Dartmouth Chronicle printed the attached article for us in last Friday's weekly edition.  The reporter says he will do a follow-up after the event.  My daughter and I swam eight laps at Blackpool Sands yesterday by way of a practice for Saturday's swim of 10 laps, about 5 km.  It was not easy as apart from the somewhat cold water giving you an ice cream head (water temp is about 13 degrees but it feels more like 0), there was a small swell and even worse a chop that ensured you got a bit of salty stuff on every breath.  It did however abate a bit for the last couple of widths.

 

I have yet to get around the pubs to finalise the sponsor total (trying to stay out of the pubs until Saturday night!) but it must be in the order of £600/700.  Hopefully, if Mick and I can stay awake long enough after the swim and BBQ we will rattle the bucket around town for a few £s.  I thought we would put the bucket money to H4H as well as the Monument, as in the Windemere swim [By webmaster: see first entry for 18 May 10]. 

 

The swim is due to kick off at 1530 on Saturday at Blackpool Sands by kind permission of Sir Geoffrey Newman.

 

Best regards,

 

Jim"

 

This is the article Jim mentions.  Despite the headline, it is stressed that the monument is intended to commemorate all those involved in HMS Vernon's minewarfare heritage (represented by the mine and its fouling sweep wire with cutter), as well as diving, and this fact will be fully explained on an accompanying plaque or interactive display.

 

 

If you wish to sponsor Jim and Mick for this worthy cause, contact them c/o:

 

David Bond

2 Pottery Cottage

Warfleet

Dartmouth

Devon

TQ6 9BZ

 

Tel: 01803 835007 or 01803 833771

 

---

Middleton doesn't choke

 

 

I am grateful to Lt James Nisbet RN, the Deputy Media Operations Officer for UKMCC/Combined Maritime Forces HQ in Bahrain, for this update from Lt Dave Mason RN, the Operations Officer of HMS Middleton (see second entry for 17 Jun 10):

 

MIDDLETON DOESN'T CHOKE

 

On Saturday 26th June 2010, in order to celebrate Armed Forces Day, MCM2 Crew 4 currently in HMS MIDDLETON, set themselves the “CHOKE POINT CHALLENGE”.  The aim was to run, cycle and row the 350nm distance of the Choke Points that HMS Middleton has sailed from Portsmouth to Bahrain.  This includes the Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Bab el Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.  

 

The Ship’s Company took the challenge head on, both in terms of fund raising and training.  Already seen as one of the fittest ships in the fleet, it was time to prove it.  Fund raising began online with money beginning to flood in from all corners of the country, donations ranging from £5 to £100, soon the pot was heading towards the targetted £1,000.  

 

In terms of training, being at sea in a small ship sets its own challenges, with spare space at a premium an element of ingenuity is required with most people utilised the upper-deck rowing machine or undertook circuit training on the sweepdeck during their time off-watch during operations at sea.  Although the upper-deck sounds a very pleasant environment for excercise, temperatures in the region at this time of year are regularly above 40 degrees C, providing a definite mental and physical challenge.  

 

It wasn’t long before MIDDLETON was alongside and the day of the challenge arrived.  Nearly every member of the Ship’s Company signed up to take part in some way, from those who chipped away 30 minutes on the cycle, rowing machine or treadmill, to the 13 members of the Ship’s Company who challenged themselves further by completing all three events back-to-back.  The day started strongly with the CO setting a high individual distance on the row of 7,762m in 30 minutes which looked strong to keep top spot untill AB(D) Penney pipped him with a 7,960m to begin his triathalon of events later that afternoon.  

 

By lunch time the challengers were 20 miles ahead of schedule and, despite several members of the Ship’s Company struggling to walk after the triathalon challenge, things where looking good with LCIS Peggie and AB(D) Whitney leading the race for the best total distance of the triathaletes.  The final competitor, ET(WE) Cameron, began his challenge at 1800 commencing his triathalon with a strong 7,750m row.  The trend continued, with him finally taking the top spot with a whopping total distance of 18.5 miles.

 

 

In total MCM2 Crew 4 completed 417.4 miles and at the time of going to press, over £2,200 had been raised making this event one of the biggest fund raising events for the RNRMC this year, an unbelievable achievement, especially considering MIDDLETON has such a small Ship’s Company and is deployed on high intensity operations.

 

HMS MIDDLETON is currently serving as one of the four OP TELIC MCMV units, safeguarding the maritime seaways within the Arabian Gulf, training with naval units from regional and coalition nations and conducting warm water training.   HMS MIDDLETON sailed from Portsmouth in February conducting the first Operation Telic Hunt Class passage to the Middle East as an individual unit.  She will remain based in Bahrain for the next three years, although MCM2 Crew 4 will be replaced by Crew 7 later this year when Crew 4 returns to Portsmouth to take over HMS Hurworth.  

 

MIDDLETON hopes to raise as much money as possible for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.  If you would like to make a donation please use the link provided.  Many Thanks!

 

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/HMSMIDDLETON

 

 

---

29 Jun 10

 

Northern Diving Group's display at Whitehaven for Armed Forces Day

 

Lt Cdr Jason White QGM RN

 

MCDOA member Jason White, CO of the Northern Diving Group (NDG), says his team commemorated Armed Forces Day at Whitehaven in Cumbria last Saturday as part of the Whitehaven Festival.  They organised a static EOD display, including dressing the locals in an EOD suit, and a diving demonstration alongside one of the Historical Diving Society's (HDS) Working Equipment Groups and Sellafield divers.  NDG was using the RN's new Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment (CDLSE) and this provided a fine opportunity for the crowd to compare old and new military and civilian diving equipment.

 

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

Jason says the festival was a huge success, particularly in view of recent events in the town, and it was great for the team to be involved.

 

---

Historical diving chambers moved to Horsea Island 

 

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan, who is also the Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS), has sent me this welcome news:

 

"Rob,

 

Here are a couple of pics taken during today's removal of the second chamber from ye olde RNPL (Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory at Alverstoke) to the Defence Diving School (DDS) on Horsea Island.

 

The rivetted chamber was the first RNPL chamber, installed in 1944, in which the essential WW II pioneering studies were carried out on oxygen tolerance and submarine escape by free ascent, amongst many more.

 

The later 690-metre chamber broke a series of deep diving world records starting with 450 metres in 1970 and ending up with 660 metres in 1980.  It also enabled the extension of submarine escape to very great depths.

 

The Horsea location is a temporary store and it is hoped that the chambers will be refurbished and placed on public display at the proposed new Historical Diving Society Museum at No 2 Battery, Stokes Bay [By webmaster: see third entry for 16 June 10].

 

Best wishes,

 

John"

 

 

Historical RNPL chambers relocated at Horsea Island

 

 

 

---

28 Jun 10 - Martin Mackey to be next Commander of the Second MCM Squadron

 

I am grateful to MCDOA member Martin Mackey for allowing me to publish this news:

 

"Hi Rob,

 

Following on from my success at the recent SASB [By webmaster: Sea Appointments Selection Board], which you were kindly told about by Phil and Dave [By webmaster: fellow MCDOA members Phil Ireland and Dave Hunkin - see entry for 3 Jun 10], I can confirm that I'm pencilled in to be the next Commander MCM2, taking over from John Craig in May next year.  Mark Atkinson (another MCDOA member - currently SO1 MCD in Fleet HQ) will be my relief.

 

I've still got a few months to go up in town and there is lots of work going on to make the obvious case for the RN as the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) takes shape.  It is a fascinating time to be in the MOD, but a real challenge as we deal with the current planning round and the financial constraints therein, the SDSR and the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review all being done whilst we are committed to operations.  How the RN will look at the end of it all is anyone's guess at the moment.  But, the maritime case is strong and MCM, a specialist area in which we enjoy a world leading reputation created in part by the hard work and sacrifices of many MCDOA members, will continue to play a key role in enabling maritime operations in the future.

 

Regards,

 

Martin"

 

Martin Mackey in March 2006 while in

Command of HMS Ramsey 

 

Many congratulations to Martin on his well-deserved appointment and I'm sure we all wish him the best of luck in the forthcoming SDSR battle.  He also tells me that he is getting his head wet today (diver refresher training) at Horsea Island with fellow MCDOA members Kev Giles, John Herriman (RNR) and Angus Benton plus Nick Gwatkin (isn't it time you joined the Association too, Nick?).

 

---

27 Jun 10 - Change of ship's company for HMS Walney

 

I am grateful to Sub Lt Ed Marsh RN of HMS Walney for informing me that MCM 1 Crew 2 took over the ship on 21 June 2010 under the Command of Lt Cdr Angus Essenhigh RN.  HMS Walney completed a six-month deployment with Standing NATO MCM Group 1 (SNMCMG1) earlier this month.

 

---

25 Jun 10 - MWA Monthly Dit Session

 

Last night's Minewarfare Association (MWA) Southern Area monthly dit session, held at The Crown in Fareham, proved an unusually lively affair.  Apart from your humble webmaster, attendees included fellow MCDOA member Bill Kerr plus Bagsy Baker, Barney Barnett (who was given a 30 min extension of leave by his wife), Tony 'Fred' Bassett, Taff Davies, Dixie Dean, John Gunter, Wayne 'Pony' Moore, Taff Reader and Wishy Wishart (who travelled all the way from Scotland to be there).  

 

           

Left: The gang minus Wishy Wishart who took the photo.

Right: All the gang together (Pony's obviously been polishing his halo).

 

MCDOA members Rob Hoole and Bill Kerr

catch up with each other's news 

 

PO(MW) Steve 'Stirling' Moss was also in the pub with members of his Leading Rates Leadership Course (LRLC) in tow.  I had a chat and snapped this photo of him with LS(D) Darren 'Daz' Carvell late of HMS Middleton, one of the students who has just completed the course at HMS Collingwood. 

 

Daz Carvell (left) and Steve 'Stirling' Moss 

 

Dixie Dean will be publishing more photos on the MWA website.

 

---

23 Jun 2010 - Talk by John Bevan

 

MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan gave a splendid talk at Lee-on-the-Solent last night about the Deane brothers (John and Charles) who adapted August Siebe's smoke mask and used it as the first effective surface-supplied diving helmet.  He was introduced by MCDOA honorary life member 'Uncle Bill' Filer GM MBE, now in his 93rd year.  Bill ran the RN Physiological Laboratory (RNPL) at Alverstoke where John achieved a world deep diving record by reaching a simulated depth of 1,500 feet of seawater (457 metres of seawater) in March 1970 (see entry for 8 Jun 10).

 

'Uncle Bill' Filer introduces John Bevan

 

John explained the Deane brothers' local connections and took the opportunity to publicise his new book, 'The First Treasure Divers', which relates the story of their pioneering diving achievements.

 

 

John also touched upon the inception of military diving by Colonel Pasley of the Royal Engineers and enlarged on plans for the country's first museum dedicated to diving, both civilian and military (see third entry for 16 Jun 10).  He was ably assisted by John Towse who relieved Bill Filer at RNPL.  As a member of Southsea BSAC, John Towse was also heavily involved in the relocation and recovery of the Mary Rose.

 

John Bevan and John Towse

 

There was a packed audience and I was delighted to see ex-CPO(D) Clive Egginton who has recently returned from Honduras.  He shared digs with John during the 1970s.  Afterwards, several of us adjourned to 'The Bun Penny' to continue what was a highly informative and enjoyable evening.

 

---

22 Jun 10 - Gentlemen Who Lunch

 

Continuing the MCDOA website's occasional Good Pub Guide, our 'Not Quite the Last of the Summer Wine' trio of Barlow, Holloway and Hoole visited The Fox Goes Free at Charlton near Goodwood in West Sussex today.  We would normally have taken advantage of the glorious weather by having a sail in Barlow's yacht 'Dougout' but he is still 'running in' his recently replaced knee.  We therefore thought it wiser to engage in a country pursuit instead.  In our case, it's the pursuit of the perfect pint of beer!

 

Holloway did the driving, relying on his satnav to guide us along winding lanes through the spectacular scenery of the South Downs.  We had never visited this pub before and were impressed from the start.  It looked idyllic and a large area adjacent to the pub provided ample parking.

 

     

Left: 'The Fox Goes Free' in its beautiful setting.

Right: Holloway and Barlow pose for the traditional 'been there' piccie.

(N.B. Those are compression bandages Doug is wearing, not 'empire builder' socks!)

 

The interior of the pub is spacious, well-appointed and welcoming with a wide range of cider, lagers and ales on tap.  However, we couldn't resist sitting in the large, pleasantly landscaped beer garden at the rear.  The standard of maintenance, cleanliness and attention to detail was impressive; I haven't seen so many potted plants on tables since I was on the bridge of the QM2!

 

     

 

Above and below: The beer garden of 'The Fox Goes Free'

 

     

 

From here, we were able to enjoy the fabulous rolling backdrop of the South Downs in all their sunlit glory.

 

The panoramic view of the South Downs from the beer garden 

 

Barlow got the first round in and, having taken our pints to our table, the usual courteous discussions ensued.

 

     

Left: Barlow threatens Holloway with a deadly Thai Fu 'fork hand' strike during a disagreement.

Right: Things calm down after Barlow moves around the table and looks suitably contrite.

 

Holloway and I chose the Grilled Brie and Tomato Baguette from the imaginative and reasonably priced bar menu while Barlow opted for the King Prawns in Garlic Butter.  Our meals arrived promptly and were served with crisps and a rocket salad garnish.  Holloway and I enjoyed our well-filled and tasty crusty rolls immensely but Barlow found his king prawns were not quite what he had expected.  However, they looked delicious.

 

As usual, everyone left the pub before us.  I hope it's not something we say or do.

 

Where did everyone go? 

 

The brilliant sunshine may have affected my vision but not my taste buds.  I could find no fault at all with 'The Fox Goes Free' and would recommend it to anyone.  I therefore award it an unprecedented five diving helmets (or mines) out of five.

 

---

21 Jun 10 - Wimbish Station Open Day Sat 3rd July

 

Robin Bennett, Secretary of the RE Bomb Disposal Officers' Club (REBDOC) with which the MCDOA is affiliated, has promulgated the following announcement:

 

"Gentlemen,

 

The Regiments have confirmed details of the Open Day on Saturday 3rd July at Carver Barracks [By webmaster: Home of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD)].  It runs from 10:00 - 16:00 (there is no evening do on account of the footy).  Entrance is £2 (to cover the cost of the programme). 

 

The plan is to cover costs, but any profit will go to the PRIs and Regt Charity. There will be a beer tent, "try your hand" type military stalls, military & local charity stalls and an arena with displays and competitions (including a MGOB building competition).  Car parking will be on the airfield (through a separate gate, not the main entrance) and the Regts hope that the old & bold will attend as well as the local civilian population.

 

I do hope to see some of you there.

 

Yours aye,

 

Robin

 

Robin Bennett

Hon Secretary

Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Officers Club

www.bombdisposalclub.org.uk"

 

---

20 Jun 10

 

News from 'Clive the Dive' Rogerson

 

MCDOA member Clive Rogerson has sent this update:

 

"Hi Everyone,

 

Thought I’d send you a little news.    

 

For those that saw my last photo of MY Mirgab V in St Tropez, I have attached a replacement – MY Mirgab VI (The Naming Committee spent months working that out – honest, they did).  Terrible job, I know, but someone has to do it.  MY Mirgab V went to the US at the end of the last Med season (Boss said “we’d never go to the US”) to attend the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS).  Well, despite lots of interest she didn’t sell, so the Boss decided to bring some friends and cruise the Bahamas.  I liked that plan as I’d never been there.  So having hired some short-term crew we spend two weeks cruising in 3.2m of crystal clear water – problem was my draught was 2.4m – so it concentrated the mind somewhat.

 

Clive's tatty old Mirgab V in St Tropez

 

We returned to West Palm Beach in Florida to do some maintenance and await more interest from buyers.  I was looking forward to Christmas leave, but the Boss decided that a Caribbean cruise was in order (Boss had said that “we’d never cruise in the winter”).  So having cancelled Christmas flights and bought an extra large present for 'She Who Must Be Obeyed', we planned the 1,500 nm trip and proceeded to Grand Bahamas to fix an outstanding mechanical problem and then directly to the US Virgin Islands.  The weather was horrendous with seas up to 5m. The three-week cruise around the US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, St Barts and St Marteen went without mishaps and the weather was glorious.

 

In mid Jan, whilst we were in St Marteen, the Boss decided that I should move to the new yacht and prepare her for the summer season.  So I handed MY Mirgab V over to Captain David Cherrington and flew to Monnickendam in Holland where the ice was 16cm thick and the temp -12C.  Brass monkey weather indeed.  The builder, Hakvoort, is a well known builder of custom yachts up to 50m in length.  The previous Engineer from Mirgab V had been standing by Mirgab VI since Nov 09 so my first task was catch up with where we were and to hire new crew and sort out owner supplied items and get the yacht fitted out with everything that did not involve the owner – a huge list and a large amount of money, and then solve the perennial problem of where to stow it (Designers and Owners never provide enough space (according to Captains)).  As is the norm with most yachts the stated delivery date came and went with us still in the yard.  Not that we could get out anyway as the ice refused to melt, but we finally launched in early March.  In the meantime, MY Mirgab V participated in the Miami International Boat Show (MIBS) and was sold. 

 

When most things had been completed, Mirgab VI moved to Amsterdam for final fit-out during April and May. The yacht was purchased on 7 May and I assumed Command. 

 

Clive's swish new Mirgab VI in St Tropez 

 

We moved to Ijmuiden on 11 May to conduct sea training for the new crew – it was just like doing a work-up but without the warfare stuff or a FOST staff.  On 17 May we departed from Holland and sailed to Cannes via a fuel stop in good old Gib.    Not even time for a postcard or haircut run.  We arrived in Cannes on 28 May.  More work was done by the team from Hakvoort and we received our first guests in June.  We will be cruising the Med for the summer.  

 

For those that like statistics, MY Mirgab VI is 48.9m long, 9.1m beam, 2.9m draught, 585 tons displacement, 686 gross tons.  She has 11 crew and can take 16 guests.  She is privately registered although she is built to LY2 rules (with some exceptions) and she is Lloyds Class.  She has a maximum speed of 13.5 kts and a range of 4,200 nm at 12 kts.

 

Best wishes,

 

Clive 

 

C S J Rogerson

Captain

MY Mirgab VI"

 

Clive, had I known you were getting shot of the old yacht, I might have asked for first refusal.

 

---

Some RN diving heritage from 'Clive the Dive' Egginton

 

Ex-CD1 Clive Egginton has kindly sent this message:

 

"Dear Rob,

 

I have been sorting out some diving pictures and thought you might like to see some of them.  This is when Lt Cdr Ed Thompson and CPO(D) Ted Rose led the Plymouth Deep Diving Team by air up to Fort William for a 90 metre work up in January 1971.

 

All the best,

 

Clive Egginton"

 

 

 

 

     

 

Thanks Clive.  Lovely weather.  It makes you want to join up all over again, doesn't it?

 

---

19 Jun 10 - Diving delight

 

Today's Portsmouth News contains this article describing the completion of CD course by AB(D) Darren Marshall.  The article also features MCDOA member Tom Russell, CO of the Defence Diving School (DDS).

 

AB(D) Darren Marshall at DDS

(Portsmouth News photo)

 

---

18 Jun 10 - Penzance and Walney are Poles together

 

The Navy News website contains this article describing the replacement of HMS Walney (MCM 1 Crew 1), sadly due for premature disposal this year, by HMS Penzance (MCM 1 Crew 6) as a member of Standing NATO MCM Group 1 (SNMCMG1).  The change-over took place in the Polish port of Gdynia in the Baltic.

 

HMS Penzance and HMS Walney at Gdynia

(Navy News photo)

 

---

17 Jun 10

 

Word from our President

 

MCDOA President Colin Welborn and his wife Jo have obviously been having a wonderful time with ex-Superintendent of Diving and former MCDOA Chairman Simon Nicholson and his wife Jeanette on board their Southerly 135 RS yacht Alambil.  Simon and Jeanette are en route to the Mediterranean via the French inland waterways (see third entry for 11 Jul 09 in News Archive 27) and Colin has sent the following Blackberry message:

 

"Rob,

 

Just to say HI!  Seems ages since we spoke and we have now returned from our trip to join Simon and Jeanette Nicholson travel on the Rhone to the Med - pic attached.

 

So sorry to have missed the Zodions!!  Speak soon.

 

Regards,

 

Colin"

 

The Welborns and Nicholsons enjoy an al fresco snack in France

 

---

News from HMS Middleton

 

I am grateful to Lt James Nisbet RN, the Deputy Media Operations Officer for UKMCC/Combined Maritime Forces HQ in Bahrain, for this update:

 

MIDDLETON SET FOR 350 MILE CHALLENGE

 

HMS Middleton is currently serving as one of the four Operation Telic Mine Countermeasures Vessels, safeguarding the maritime seaways within the Arabian Gulf, training with naval units from regional and coalition nations and conducting warm water training.  

 

On the 26th June 2010, in order to celebrate Armed Forces Day, HMS Middleton has set the CHOKE POINT CHALLENGE.  In the quickest time possible, MCM 2 Crew 4 aims to run, cycle and row the 350nm distance of the Choke Points that HMS Middleton has sailed from Portsmouth to Bahrain.  This includes the Strait of Gibraltar, Suez Canal, Bab el Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.   

 

HMS Middleton sailed from Portsmouth in February conducting the first Operation Telic Hunt Class passage to the Middle East as an individual unit.  HMS Middleton will remain based in Bahrain for the next three years although MCM2 Crew 4 will be replaced by Crew 7 later this year when Crew 4 returns to Portsmouth to take over HMS Hurworth.  

 

Middleton hopes to raise as much money as possible for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.  If you would like to make a donation please use the link provided.  Many Thanks!

 

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/HMSMIDDLETON

 

MCDOA member Ben Piper, XO of HMS Middleton, has e-mailed me the photo below and says:

 

"With over 30 competitors signed up across all ranks/rates and branches it promises to raise funds to support the RN’s number one charity, the RNRMC, and be the source of much interdepartmental banter over the next coming weeks and months!  If anyone would be so kind as to sponsor us any amount it would be greatly appreciated.  Even the equivalent of a pint of ale (£2.80?!) or Gin and Tonic (£3.50?!) would help make a difference so be proud of your forces and support the Mighty Midd’s Choke Point Challenge!"

 

Some of HMS Middleton's fun run team in Bahrain

(Ben Piper second right)

 

---

16 Jun 10

 

MCDOA Northern Dinner 2011

 

The Northern MCDOA Dinner for 2011 is announced.  Traditionally held on the Friday closest to the birthday of the MCD Branch, next year’s Dinner coincides exactly with that date: 25th February.  This year’s postponed and ultimately cancelled Dinner had been attributed as one of the 12 available ‘Mess Functions’ attracting contractor support and thus much reduced costs; it is hoped that the 2011 Dinner will be likewise attributed and this will be taken forward by CO NDG, Lt Cdr Jason White QGM at the next Mess Committee meeting. 

 

Meanwhile, the Dinner is booked for 25 Feb 11, whatever the outcome of the committee deliberations, and all members up North should plan their diaries accordingly.  Lt Cdr Bob Hawkins MBE is reprising his role as the event organiser, ably supported by Lt Cdr Matt Offord, Jason (and his relief – Lt  Cdr Kev Stockton), and other local worthies.  Attendance proforma etc. will be forthcoming, however, should anyone wish to register their interest now, or to seek more details, they can contact Bob at: FLEETFASFLOT-PBSCO@mod.uk; 01436 674321 x 4209, or on his private mobile: 07796 390725.

 

Watch the 'Forthcoming Events' page for updates.

 

---

ZOO becomes a Navy diver!

 

The RN website contains this article providing a flavour of a double-page spread about the CD Branch in the lads' mag, ZOO.  The whole article can be read here.

 

---

Historical battery to be turned into new diving museum

 

The Portsmouth News contains this article describing the establishment of a diving museum in No 2 Battery at Stokes Bay to the west of Portsmouth in Hampshire.

 

No 2 Battery at Stokes Bay

(Portsmouth News photo)

 

The museum will be run by the Historical Diving Society (HDS) of which I am a member.  The President of the HDS is diving medicine specialist Vice Admiral Sir John Rawlins KBE, FRCP, FRAeS, an honorary member of the Association of RN First Class Divers (AORNFCD), and its Chairman is Dr John Bevan, an associate member of the MCDOA.  I have been campaigning for a Naval diving museum for some time and will investigate the possibility of collaborating for our mutual benefit.

 

---

15 Jun 10 - 'Hoylake RNLI Detonate Old Bomb'

 

I had to smile at the headline for this article on the Hoylake Junction website describing an EOD task in Liverpool Bay on 30 May 2010, presumably performed by Plymouth-based Southern Diving Unit 1 (SDU1).  The BBC website published this article about the same incident.

 

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14 Jun 10 - A weekend of fun

 

It has been quite a weekend for Minewarfare and Diving Branch reunions and, once again, we were lucky to be blessed with fine weather.  I didn't attend the Association of RN First Class Divers (AORNFCD) AGM and subsequent 'Boys Night' on Friday but AORNFCD Secretary Troy Tempest has posted these photos on the RN CD website.

 

On Saturday, around 130 divers and their guests attended the dinner on board HMS Warrior and it was a great success, mainly thanks to the organisational skills of Troy Tempest and Tim Sizer.  I took Mrs Webmaster along and she thoroughly enjoyed herself, even posing for this photo before we embarked.

 

A fine figurehead:

Mrs Webmaster at the bow of HMS Warrior

 

The evening started with Bucks Fizz on the upper deck before we moved below to the gundeck for a buffet dinner, raffle in aid of Project Vernon and dancing.

 

     

Some of the attendees enjoying their preprandial drinks on board HMS Warrior

 

MCDOA members present included Mick Beale, John Bevan, John Grattan, Vice Chairman Rob Hoole, Chairman Paul Jones, Paul McDermott, Mike Stewart, Howard Trotter and our Honorary Treasurer, Richard 'Soapy' Watson.  However, other illustrious attendees included Vic Anderton, Chris Bairstow, Cris Ballinger, Steve Bielby, Jimmy Bond, Donkey Bray (the younger), Alan Broadhurst, Albert Chapman, Chris Christie, John Cobb, Mo Crang, Mick Curtin, John Dadd, Paddy Doonan, Ian Fleming, Terry Gosling, Don 'Jimmy' Green, Gabby Haines, Mike Handford (who sold a ton of Project Vernon Summer Draw tickets), Mike Harding, Hughie Harrison, Mike Jackson, Chris Page, Phil Kearns, Colin 'Scouse' Kidman, Paul 'Dhobey' Lines, Derek 'Maggie' Lockwood, Joe Maher, Ron Maitland-Flanagan, Ted Mangion, WW II 'P-Party' veteran Ray 'Brum' Maries, Mike 'Pincher' Marten, Bill McGovern, Dave McKenna, Iann Morrison, Harry Neave, Steven 'Peggy' Neil, Roy New, Mike O'Leary, Mike O'Meara, Mick Openshaw, Andy Owen, Ted Setchell, Les Sharpe, Stew 'George' Sissons, Tim Sizer, Jim 'Tommo' Thomson and Troy Tempest.  I hope those I have left out will forgive me.  I was too busy chatting to note everyone who attended or take more photos of the evening but Troy Tempest has published these pictures on the RN CD website.  If anyone would like to contribute more, please e-mail them to me via my webmaster address.

 

Sunday afternoon saw around 70 people of all ages attending the second combined associations (MCDOA, AORNFCD and MWA) barbecue at the Defence Diving School on Horsea Island, brilliantly organised by MCDOA Honorary Treasurer Soapy Watson.  MCDOA Chairman Paul Jones, Hon Secretary Tony Griffiths and Mick Beale, plus their respective wives Yvonne, Debs and Vicky, threw themselves into setting up, 'manning' the bar, running events and clearing away afterwards and we owe them all a huge debt of gratitude.  Other MCDOA members present included Doug Barlow, Stu Harper, Martyn Holloway, Rob Hoole, Mark Savage and Howard Trotter. 

 

Setting for the Horsea Island barbecue

 

As last year, The Zodions, comprising MCDOA committee member Martyn Holloway and his old school friends, provided live music and we are grateful to them for opting to forego their gig at the Isle of Wight Festival in order to entertain us.

 

Martyn Holloway leading The Zodians

 

     

Left: Hughie Harrison and John Cobb with their ladies

Right; Doug Barlow (sporting his new knee) with partner Jill and Steve Bielby's family

 

     

Left: Alan Broadhurst with Gabbie Haines' party

Right: Blamps and his wife with Soapy Watson

 

     

Left: Jimmy Bond holds court

Right: Pincher Marten makes a new friend

 

     

Left: The Devitts enjoying themselves

Right: Dave Payne being his usual colourful self

 

     

Left: Rob Hoole flanked by Pat Curtis and Cllr Irene Strange

Right: Debs Griffiths takes a breather 

 

        

Left: Project Vernon Chairman Paul Jones receives a £200 cheque

from Dixie Dean on behalf of the Mine Warfare Association

Right: The winner of the Best Dressed Dog competition

 

The weekend events raised several hundred pounds towards Project Vernon, the campaign to erect a statue in Gunwwharf Quays commemorating the minewarfare and diving heriitage of HMS Vernon which previously occupied the site.  I am grateful to everyone who contributed in one way or another but wasn't it fun, too?

 

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10 Jun 10 - RN Minewarfare and Diving Heritage - Lt Cdr Stuart 'Jaz' Honour MBE RN

 

I can't remember meeting Lt Cdr Stuart Honour MBE RN, universally known as 'Jaz', but I have learned enough to know that he was a deeply admired and much-loved member of the MCD fraternity.  He was confirmed as a Commissioned Gunner (SD Sub Lt equivalent) on 5 March 1951, promoted to Lt on 1 Jan 1957, promoted to Lt Cdr on 1 April 1963 and placed on the Retired List on 3 July 1972.  However, he continued to serve as a Retired Officer until his untimely death from cancer, induced during diving trials, on 13 June 1977.  Some of his contemporaries and family members have passed me their memories of him and I have pieced together the following pen picture.

 

Stuart Royston Honour was born in London on 3 July 1922 and joined the Royal Navy at HMS St Vincent as a 15 year-old Boy Seaman on 12 October 1937.  MCDOA member Julian Malec OBE remembers Stuart relating this story at his dining out in HMS Vernon in 1972:

 

"In 1938, Stuart told us, he was a Boy Seaman serving in a battleship.  On this particular day his job was the 'Commander’s Doggie', i.e. runner.  Just after lunch, he was standing outside the Commander’s cabin waiting for orders. He suddenly heard the Commander bellow, “Boy, fetch me the Captain.”  

Stuart did not wait to be told twice and set off aft.

As he neared the Captain’s cabin, his way was barred by the Royal Marine Sergeant Keyboard Sentry.

“Boy, where are you going?” asked the Sergeant.

“Commander says to get him the Captain,” said Stuart.

“I hope you are right,” said the Sergeant, and followed Stuart aft.

His way was then blocked by the Captain's Chief Petty Officer Steward.

"Boy, where do you think you are off to?” asked the Chief.

“Commander says to fetch the Captain,” replied the Boy.

“I hope you are right,” said the Chief Steward and tapped gently on the Captain’s cabin door before ushering Stuart into the Captain’s cabin.

The Captain, who Stuart described as 'dear old Captain Sir Archibald someone or other', was having an after-lunch doze in his leather armchair.  His shoes were slipped off and his jacket was undone.

The Chief Steward coughed, “Sir, the Boy has a message for you.”

“Oh does he?" said the Captain.  ”What is it?”

"Commander says to fetch you,” said Stuart bravely.

“Oh,” said the Captain. “I hope you are right.”  He did up his jacket, put on his shoes and told Stuart to lead the way.

They set off forward, the Boy, the Captain, the Chief Steward, the Sergeant Sentry and probably a couple of others, maybe carrying buckets, who just wanted to see the fun.

They arrived at the Commander’s cabin and the Captain went in.  After a few moments he came out again and, as he turned to go aft, he said to Stuart, “I think he may want to see you.”

A few seconds later came the bellow, “BOY!  You idiot.  I said get the Chaplain.”

As Stuart said later, “It pays to get your facts right.”"

 

Stuart's service during the Second World War was as follows:

 

Unknown - 30 Sep 41:	HMS Berwick (Cruiser)
1 Oct 41 - 26 Dec 41:	HMS Victory (Portsmouth Naval Barracks)
27 Dec 41 - 15 Jun 42:	HMS Airedale (Hunt class destroyer engaged in Operation VIGOROUS - the relief of Malta.  Ended up in the sea after ship bombed and sunk by Ju-88s off Libya on 15 June 1942)
16 Jun 42 - 31 Dec 42:	HMS Kongoni  (Naval Base in Durban, S. Africa for survivor recuperation)
1 Jan 42 - 23 Apr 43:	HMS Assegai (Naval Base in Pietermaritzburg, S. Africa for officer training)
24 Apr 43 - 20 Jun 44:	HMS Sussex (Cruiser)
21 Jun 44 - 4 Sep 44:	HMS Excellent (Gunnery School on Whale Island, Portsmouth)
5 Sep 44 - 26 Nov 45:	HMS Dauntless (Destroyer)

 

After the war, Stuart served as follows:

    

25 Mar 46 - 27 Apr 48:	HMS Wakeful (Destroyer)
28 Apr 48 - 6 May 51:	HMS Excellent (Gunnery School on Whale Island, Portsmouth)
7 May 51 - 15 Feb 53:	HMS Peacock (Sloop)
16 Feb 53 - 15 Apr 53:	HMS Excellent (Gunnery School on Whale Island, Portsmouth)
16 Apr 53 - 3 Jan 54:	HMS Vernon (CD course)
4 Jan 54 - 29 Oct 56:	HMS Defiance (TAS and Diving School, Devonport)
30 Oct 56 - 3 Jan 57:	HMS St Angelo (Malta for Med Fleet CD Team)
4 Jan 57 - 17 Feb 57:	HMS Vernon (CDO course)
18 Feb 57 - 1 Feb 59:	HMS Phoenicia (Manoel Island, Malta for Med Fleet CD Team. Appointed MBE)
2 Feb 59 - 2 Oct 59:	HMS Vernon
3 Oct 60 - 12 Sep 62:	HMS Dingley (Diving Tender for Home Station CD Team)
13 Sep 62 - 5 Jan 64:	HMS Vernon
6 Jan 64 - 30 Jun 64:	HMS President (London accommodation while undertaking Long Tactical Course)
1 Jul 64 - 1 May 66:	HMS Plover (Minelayer as CO)
2 May 66 - 12 Feb 67:	HMS Vernon
13 Feb 67 - 17 Feb 67:	HMS President (London)
18 Feb 67 - 30 Apr 72:	HMS Vernon (Includes service at the Joint Services Bomb Disposal School, Chattenden, Kent)
1 May 72 - 1 Feb 76:	HMS Triumph (Heavy Repair Ship, Singapore. Returned Chatham and paid off in late 1975 - I witnessed her arrival.  Stuart was placed on the Retired List on 3 Jul 72 but re-appointed in continuation as a Retired Officer)
2 Feb 76 - 13 Jun 77:	HMS Nelson (RN Barracks, Portsmouth)

 

MCDOA member John Grattan has told me that Stuart was the star Gunnery Instructor (GI) at HMS Excellent, Whale Island when he was selected by the Captain of HMS Vernon 1946-48, Captain 'Jock' Hughes-Hallet (a feared man known as 'Hughes Hitler' or 'Heil Hitler' behind his back), to smarten up the parade ground performance of Vernon's officers.  The CD branch very quickly seduced him away from the Gunnery branch which accounted for the quite awful GIs sent to Vernon thereafter!  Thus Stuart always felt obliged and amused to get as many recruits into the Branch as possible, provided they were amiable hooligans.

 

MCDOA member Mike Gillam first met Stuart in October 1954 when he was the Plymouth Command Bomb & Mine Disposal Officer at HMS Defiance, the Torpedo, Anti-Submarine and Diving school in the West Country.  The school was situated in a straggle of war-built huts called Willcove Camp, perched high on a Cornish hillside just across the River Tamar from the Naval Base at Devonport.  Up until that time, the school had been housed on board three old wooden hulks anchored just below the camp, one of which was HMS Defiance.  The hulks had just been sold to the Paulsgrove Tin and Metal Company for some £12,000 and this had caused Stuart some distress.  Although the hulls were made of wood, he told Mike that at least one of them had both a solid copper ring main and gunmetal torpedo tubes.  Being a clearance diver, he well knew the current value of scrap metal - the company made a small fortune in very quick time.

 

Stuart Honour (far right) with Plymouth Command

CD Team at Devonport Navy Days in 1953

(Photo courtesy of Ernie Croft via Phil Thurtle) 

 

Stuart was responsible for dealing with all the unexploded explosive ordnance found underwater or below the high water mark (MHWS) from North Wales round the coast to somewhere between Portland and Plymouth.  To help him, as Mike recalls, he had a Leading Seaman CD2 (Clearance diver 2nd Class) and a civilian driver; Mike does not remember him having a Petty Officer CD1 although he may well have done so.  It was a busy time with many bombs and mines from both World Wars being trawled up or washed ashore throughout the year.  The winter gales brought them up the beach and the summer visitors found them.  Consequently, Stuart spent much time on the road dealing with the incidents as they arose.  By the time Mike arrived, Stuart was living by himself in the wardroom mess, his wife and young family having returned to their home in Scotland.  The wardroom mess with dining table and bar was situated in one of the brick built huts together with about four cabins separated from each other by some flimsy partitions.  The hut also contained a bathroom with three jumbo size naval baths side by side and another room with some toilets of the thunder-box variety, there being no main drainage on site.

 

The School’s commanding officer lived in solitary splendour in a house next to the camp, also without main drainage.  There were only a few other officers on the staff who all lived out as did most of the ship’s company; the students on course were all accommodated in the naval barracks across the water and were shipped in daily.  So it was all very quiet in the evenings and Mike reports that Stuart was delighted when he arrived to keep him company.  Mike had been appointed for three months to organise and run the first (and only, as far as he knows) NATO Clearance Diving Course.  Willcove camp was a very strange place.  The authorities wanted to close it down to save money but the Navy found it far too useful and used every means to keep it going.  The camp’s allowance for repairs and domestic items such as cleaning gear, toilet paper and light bulbs had been stopped, and so a market garden had been started within the camp and the produce sold locally to raise the necessary finance to keep the school running.  The garden was tended by the ship’s company under the direction of the school’s second-in-command, the Executive Officer.

 

Mike says that Stuart was an easy man to like and they got on well right from the start.  He was very sociable, great fun and loved a party.  He was a big man – not in height but in width and in character.  His very broad shoulders only just fitted into his underwater swim suit and he always needed a hand in putting it on.  He had a big smile and a very loud laugh – his voice carried a long way – presumably the result of his time as a gunnery instructor on the parade ground of HMS Excellent, the naval gunnery school on Whale Island at Portsmouth.  He was good-humoured and even tempered.  Mike once asked him why he never drank brandy and ginger ale (known as a Horse's Neck), a very popular drink in the wardrooms of HM ships at that time.  Stuart replied that it was because brandy made him aggressive but Mike cannot remember him ever being aggressive.  On the contrary, in troubled times, he was always a calming influence.

 

He was an efficient officer who enjoyed his work and took great pride in it.  Mike believes that he was appointed an MBE in the 1959 New Year Honours list as a result of his successful tours of duty in B&MD.  He told many stories of the various operations in which he had been involved; adventures like the time that he attended a buoyant mine that had been washed up in some West country cove.  By the time it had been reported, some adventurous children had removed the top plate and thrown rocks at it so that the detonator placer had been crushed over the detonator.  It was in a highly dangerous condition and so he countermined it in situ.  Those children were lucky.  On another occasion, a winter storm had revealed an old WWI buoyant mine half way up a sand cliff on a remote Welsh beach.  He was removing some of the sand away from it to get a better view when it started to move.  In a short space of time he found himself bounding down the cliff with the mine in hot pursuit.

 

Stuart Honour flanked by AB Albert Strange

and PO(CD1) Bungy Edwards

(Photo courtesy of Cllr Irene Strange)

 

Mike accompanied Stuart on one of his regular trips to the Welsh coast to check on a number of ‘suspicious objects’ that had been found by the police.  Most of them were not dangerous but Stuart usually blew them up to impress the locals and to demonstrate to them the importance of reporting everything of a suspicious nature.  The press were always pleased to learn about such events to fill a few column inches and occasionally provide a dramatic photo.  One such photo in the Western Morning News caused a different sort of explosion in the Commander-in-Chief’s office.  A smiling Stuart was pictured close-by a large mine that he had opened to expose the explosive prior to steaming it out, a technique used on dangerous mines which would have caused damage if countermined in situ.  The problem was that Stuart had a lighted cigarette in his mouth!

 

During the trip when Mike accompanied him, they stopped for the night in a pub in a remote Welsh village.  Stuart was spinning yarns to the locals in the public bar around a large open fire when his eyes fell upon an object on the shelf above the fire.  After being told by the landlord that it was a dud incendiary bomb from a war time air raid, Stuart pointed out that it was only the igniter that had failed, the incendiary material was contained in the bomb casing and still fully serviceable.  The bar was cleared in an instant and the landlord was so grateful to Stuart for taking it away that it was drinks on the house.

 

If Stuart was not away disposing of something explosive, the routine once the students had all been ferried back to Plymouth for the night was for him and Mike to retire for tea to the Wardroom Mess and watch children’s hour on TV.  The bar was then opened for a glass of the standard Defiance tipple of vintage cider and gin in time to watch the news at 6.00 pm.  TV was still in its infancy at this time and the one programme available would then close down for some three quarters of an hour.  So they would replenish their glasses and repair to the bathroom for a long luxurious bath and a chat about their plans for the evening.  Almost inevitably, this would be what in naval parlance was called a run ashore, meaning an evening on the town where they would meet up with chums in the officers club or one of the more public hostelries in Devonport.  This was planned in advance as Stuart was permanently on call and had to leave his whereabouts with the naval telephone exchange.

 

After an evening with friends, they would catch the last boat back and as they crossed the Tamar, Stuart would sing a couplet:

 

"Hey ho the wind blows free,

Oh for a life on the rolling sea."

 

He was a great romantic.

 

Mike says this was the only occasion he and Stuart served together but they met up from time to time in succeeding years and remained good friends.  His last memory of him in the service was at Port Edgar on the Firth of Forth, the legacy minesweeping base from WWII.  Mike was trying to bring HMS Reclaim safely alongside against wind and tide – she only had a single screw and Stuart was there on the jetty to welcome the ship.  All went well and it was another great party.

 

During the Suez crisis in late 1956, John Grattan was serving in the fast minelayer, HMS Manxman.  He remembers the Mediterranean Fleet Clearance Diving Team arriving at Port Said with MCDOA member Phil White (now Philip Balink-White) as the OIC and Stuart Honour as the 2i/c.  Although the team was tasked to deal with unexploded ordnance and wrecked block ships, when John Grattan met Stuart ashore, he had been hijacked by the Chief Pilot of the Suez Canal Company to be his personal bodyguard and was armed with a sten gun.  According to John, it amused Stuart enormously when a terrorist threw a grenade at their jeep but it bounced back off the front tyre and exploded in his face!  That was the end of that but the next incident left Stuart with disturbed memories.  They entered some large room and Stuart had an extraordinary uneasy feeling, looked towards long drawn curtains and just knew someone was behind them.  He opened fire and virtually cut an armed man in two.

 

Some months later, Stuart shared John Grattan's cabin and demonstrated his great kindness and consideration.  John admits to having been going through a very low patch after a spinal injury had made him unfit for Naval flying, his ambition ever since abandoning the idea of being a 'red indian' at the age of six.  They were in Cyprus together when Stuart told him to buck up and accompany him for a dip.  This they did and John's eyes were opened to a new and wonderful world of diving.

 

Stuart Honour (sitting 2nd right) with Mediterranean

Fleet CD Team in Malta Christmas 1958

(Photo courtesy of Dave 'Mona' Lott)

 

On a visit to Tunis, Stuart again shared John Grattan's cabin and was horrified to wake one afternoon, after a very good run ashore the night before, to find his socks being removed by brown arms through the scuttle from his own half asleep feet.  The ship had embarked a famous regiment for the guard of honour at the War Memorial Service scheduled at Medjez-el-Bab.  The battalion doctor had ordered that anyone who had engaged in sexual activity ashore must put his name into a little box at the top of the brow when he came back on board.  This was too much for 'Jack' to resist - Stuart's and John's names were in the box 34 times!

 

Stuart Honour in Benghazi with members of the

Mediterranean Fleet CD Team

(Photo courtesy of Dave 'Mona' Lott)

 

In mid-1960, Stuart became John's First Lieutenant (relieving another great character 'Aussie' Len Graham) when he was driving HMS Dingley and the Home Station CD Team.  They had the most fantastic experiences at both work and play but one of the real highlights was their trip to Copenhagen, accompanied by their wives.  John says that all four of them were present when Stuart caught the falling but naked Miss Australia upside-down in the 'Atlantic Palace' and beat hell out of the Tivoli gardens.  John and Stuart saw a lot of each other over the next few years including another great trip to Copenhagen when John commanded HMS Reclaim.  US Navy diving officer Jim Bladh, an MCDOA member, was also present at the time.

 

1959 RN Divers' Dinner at Kimbell's Corner House, Portsmouth

Left to right: John Grattan, George Wookey,

'Sarge' Sarginson and Stuart 'Jaz' Honour

(Photo courtesy of John Grattan)

 

Coastal minelayer HMS Plover, commanded

by Stuart Honour July 1964 to May 1966

 

The October 1965 issue of Navy News published this article about HMS Plover while Stuart Honour was in Command:

 

 

Stuart Honour served as the RN Training Officer at the Joint Services Bomb Disposal School (JSBDS - later DEODS) at Chattenden, Kent in 1968.  When he departed JSBDS, he was towed away in a Gemini dinghy.

 

Stuart Honour attending mess dinner at JSBDS

(Photo courtesy of his nephew, David Honour)

 

Stuart Honour at JSBDS in 1968

(Photo courtesy of Michael 'Shiner' Brassington)

 

Stuart Honour (in Gemini) being towed

out of JSBDS in 1968

(Photo courtesy of Michael 'Shiner' Brassington)

 

The late MCDOA honorary member Robbie Robinson MBE had this recollection about Stuart Honour and his car:

 

"Jaz had a very elderly motor car.  One felt that it was incomplete without the man with the red flag.  We used to tell him that the reason it didn't have a cigar/cigarette lighter among its equipment was that it had been made before Sir Walter Raleigh got back from the tobacconist.

 

Four of us, all students of the Long Tactical Course used to travel to and from London on this vehicle. [By webmaster: In those days the Tactical School was still in the stable block of the old Military Academy at Woolwich, aka ‘The Shop’.]  Two of the team are now Rear Admirals, Jaz and me, well we're much as we were then, but we'd read our horoscopes many years before and had shrewd ideas about what the stars foretold.  Driving back to London one Monday morning, we had got just beyond Hindhead when Jaz slowed right down to a crawl: he appeared to be studying the 'clock' intensely.  There was a loud cry of joy from him and we all had to join him in singing 'Happy Birthday to You'.  All of the numbers on the 'clock' had changed.

 

I told you that it was an ancient piece of hardware."

 

Artefacts of HMS Plover which Stuart Honour

commanded 1 Jul 64 - 1 May 66

(Photo courtesy of his daughter, Louise Green)

 

Stuart Honour represented the Captain of HMS Vernon in June 1971 when MCDOA member Brian Braidwood was presented with the Queen's Commendation for Bravery by Admiral Sir Horace Law in the great cabin of HMS VICTORY.

 

Stuart Honour (background) as Brian Braidwood

receives QCB from CINCNAVHOME in 1971

(Photo courtesy of Brian Braidwood)

 

In 1975, Stuart was faced with a particularly nasty but very rare type of bone cancer.  He had incurred it several years earlier as the result of a mine investigation trial involving HMS Dingley off Alderney.  The shutter door of the Mine Radiographic Outfit's (MRO's) cobalt 'bomb' stuck open and Stuart kicked it closed: sadly, however, it had touched his shin and this was the source of the primary cancer.  This cancer was so rare that the diagnosis took ages by which time his leg had to be taken out at the hip thus exposing terrible secondaries.  The late Arthur Checksfield telephoned Stuart almost every day and John Grattan visited him at least once a week from MoD Main Building in an effort to help.  Stuart was the only man who took both deep radio and chemo therapy together, so the Ward Sister told John, and though he felt dreadful, he never lost his laughter and sense of humour.  He also gave tremendous uplift to other patients although he was depressed by the number of patients who died.  Having heard on the grapevine that Stuart was in the Royal Marsden Hospital, Mike Gillam also paid him weekend visits from his home in nearby Epsom.  They chatted about old times and Stuart never seemed sorry for himself.  Sometimes he was fine and sometimes he was heavily sedated and didn’t recognise Mike.  On one occasion, Mike heard him give the order "Away, away the sea boat’s crew" in a loud voice that echoed throughout the ward.

 

According to John Grattan, Stuart Honour overcame cancer, painted the outside of his house up a ladder on one leg, fell off a Vernon Wardroom bar stool (very hard to sit on one cheek of one's arse, he told John) before dying rather suddenly on 13 June 1977, possibly owing to pneumonia.  He was only 54.  The world was poorer for his going but those who knew him were enriched for ever.

 

 

Above and below: Some of Stuart Honour's ships' badges

(Photos courtesy of his nephew, Dave Honour)

 

 

John added this Postscript:

 

"There are so many other tales that I could relate:-

 

a] How he was blown across the Libyan desert when poking a burning, trepanned mine - this was part of the B&MD programme that earned him his MBE.

 

b] He and I nearly coming to grief while dealing with an American bomb at Studland Bay after three boy scouts were killed there whilst playing with one of that particular stick - a sombre experience to say the least.

 

c] Our Idiots Club in Alderney - the Australian CD Tom Parker was the only other member.

 

d] Stuart's wife Marion's heart attack when so dreadfully young and other problems on that side.

 

e] His fantastic motor bikes when most have given up riding (maybe learned more sense!)

 

f] Losing an entire visiting US bomb disposal team - what a party.

 

g] His heavily scarred forehead - the result of a car crash in Portland with Jim Neil.

 

It is sad how time goes so quickly and many of the Branch now do not even know the names of the founders."

 

     

Left: Stuart Honour's cap, scarf and wine rack (including his favourite Gordon's gin).

Right: Stuart Honour's medals and other memorabilia.

(Photos courtesy of his daughter, Louise Green)

 

The final word goes to MCDOA member Ed Thompson who has provided this tribute:

 

"I heard on the radio today someone talking of people's 'role models'.  It made me think - how many of us ever get round to telling the world of the marvellous folk we have met, admired and yet not said anything to anyone about? 

 

The late Stuart 'Jaz' Honour was such a person, a strong man, physically and morally whom I admired, respected and wished I had seen more of before he 'crossed the bar'.  Two incidents involving Stuart come to mind:

 

The first was when he had dressed down a senior rating of another service and was taken to task for doing so by a senior officer of that service.  Stuart's reply is worth noting for posterity; it was, "Sir, what I gave that man was a naval blast and not a subject for political discussion!" 

 

The second incident was when my wife and I visited Stuart in hospital after another portion of his leg had been amputated.  On my asking him, "How are you feeling then Boss?" Stuart replied, "Its a sure fire way of losing weight Ed!" 

 

A man, officer and character whom I am sure will long be remembered in the branch."

 

Although Stuart Honour's wife Marion died several years ago from a heart attack, I am still in touch with his daughter Louise in Australia and his nephew David in South Africa.  They both follow events on the website with interest.

 

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From Stuart Honour's nephew, David Honour, in South Africa: 

 

"Hi Rob,

 

I read through the article on Uncle Stuart over the weekend and must congratulate you on a great piece of work, it is a great memorial to a colourful person.

 

I can give you a bit more information on his war service if you want to add it.  He was serving in HMS Airedale during operation VIGOROUS involving the relief of Malta when, on 15th June 1942, the ship was bombed by Junkers 88s resulting in him ending up in the sea.  He was pulled out and, as a result of having taken in a lot of oil, was sent to South Africa to recover at HMS Kongoni in Durban.  On the 1st January 1943 he transferred to HMS Assegai in Pietermaritzburg where he undertook his officer training before being sent back to sea on the 24th April on board HMS Sussex.

 

Thanks again for the article,

 

All the best,

 

Dave"

 

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From Stuart Honour's daughter, Louise Green, in Australia:

 

"Hi Rob,

 

Thank you so much for such a wonderful article on my Dad.  It really brought back such lovely memories of him and my eyes are still awash with tears.  He really was my hero and, as was mentioned, such a large presence during his life for so many people both by his nature and, yes, that loud booming voice usually accompanied by that resounding laugh.  He had such a sense of humour even in those sad times during the latter half of his long fight with cancer. 

 

As a follow-on since the photo was published, I have applied for, and received from the UK, copies of his medals which I have duly had framed along with his Naval scarf and pin for safe keeping.  I also enclosed a couple of my favourite photos of Dad, one of which was "another one" of him dealing with a mine and dragging it along with others along the sand with a lighted cigarette in his mouth!!  I suppose his philosophy was if it is going to blow, then I'll go with it, lighted cigarette or not!!  I have attached a copy for you.

 

The article also mentioned that Dad didn't go for Horse's Necks as his favoured form of "liquid refreshment".  As you'll remember, it was Gordon's Gin, not the other stuff which he likened to lamp oil.  If you look more closely in the wine rack beneath the wooden sculpture made in his likeness, you'll notice the bottle of Gordon's kept there for him.

 

Thanks once again for such an informative and perceptive article of Dad's distinguished career.

 

Kind regards,

 

Louise Green

(née Honour)" 

 

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9 Jun 10 - Cdr Hugh Clark DSC RN

 

Yesterday's Daily Telegraph contained this obituary for Hugh Clark who died on 29 April, aged 62.

 

I was shocked to hear this news because I have fond memories of being Hugh's XO when he was the CO of the minehunter, HMS Wilton, the world's first plastic warship.  In 1979, we visited Aberdeen where his father was a lecturer at the university.  Hugh was a qualified Sea King pilot instructor but he was still a Lieutenant, as were Wilton's NO and GO (both graduates) and me.  Naturally enough, his parents visited the ship and we were all having tea in the wardroom together when he asked them whether they would lend him their car so he could show us around the Granite City.  I'll never forget his mother turning anxiously to his father and saying, "Do you think we really ought to?".  Once a mother, always a mother.

 

Hugh lived in a cob cottage at Breage near Helston in Cornwall and we once interrupted our passage from Portsmouth to Oban and anchored offshore to enable the non-duty watch to participate in the evening Furry Dance through the streets and pubs of the town.  

 

In 1981, Hugh organised the sword arch when he and his first wife, Jackie, attended my own wedding in South Wales.  He was quite a character and a thoroughly good egg.

 

R.I.P.

 

Cdr Hugh Sinclair Clark DSC RN

(3 May 1947 - 29 Apr 2010)

 

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8 Jun 10 - Talk on Diving by John Bevan on 22 June 2010

 

Venerable MCDOA member 'Uncle Bill' Filer has informed me that MCDOA associate member Dr John Bevan will give a talk about diving in the Methodist Church Hall, Hight Street, Lee-on-the-Solent between 1930 and 2100 on Tuesday 22 June.  All are welcome to attend.

 

John Bevan flanked by Mike O'Meara and Kev Giles

at last year's MCDOA Annual Dinner

 

In March 1970, John Bevan and Peter Sharphouse of the RN Scientific Service (RNSS) staff at the Royal Naval Physiological Laboratory (RNPL) at Alverstoke established a new deep diving record in the Deep Trials Unit (DTU) by spending 10 hours at a simulated depth of 1,500 feet of seawater (457 metres of seawater).  This dive was 300 feet beyond the predicted maximum of around 1,200 fsw (366 msw) and was described by American colleagues at the time as “a hyperbaric moon landing”.  HMS Reclaim’s divers participated in the trials and later applied the lessons learned and the decompression tables developed when diving from their ship.

 

Later, John became involved in technical management and consultancy for Comex and Comex-John Brown.  Since 1976, he has run his own very successful underwater engineering consultancy company, Submex Ltd, edited 'Underwater Contractor International' and published 'The Professional Divers Handbook'.  He is the Chairman of the Historical Diving Society (HDS) and has written several books including 'The Infernal Diver' about John and Charles Deane (the true inventors of the diving helmet) and 'Another Whitstable Trade - An Illustrated History of Helmet Diving'.

 

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7 Jun 10 - Navy News items

 

The June issue of Navy News contains these items of MCDOA interest: 

• The wurst of times for Walney: The recent activities of HMS Walney as a member of Standing NATO MCM Group 1 (SNMCMG1).

• A tale of three Hunts: Recent operational changes for HMS Atherstone, HMS Chidingfold and HMS Middleton.

• Gulf flare: The participation of HMS Pembroke and HMS Grimsby in the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference.

• Divers dig deep: the raising of £500 for Help for Heroes by divers based at Horsea Island.

• The mysteries of Maryton: A letter containing a midshipman's memories of this Ton class minesweeper.

• Ramsey comes to town: A home town visit to the Isle of Man by HMS Ramsey.

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5 Jun 10 - Sir Julian Oswald buys Project Vernon Prize Draw tickets

 

 

I attended the AGM of the Association of RN Officers (ARNO) at HMS Excellent today and spent a few minutes chatting to former First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Julian Oswald.  I still have a copy of the Commissioning Order for HMS Berkeley (now HNS Kallisto in the Greek Navy) which he signed as Commander-in-Chief Fleet when I was her first CO (see below).  Before taking Berkeley to the Gulf in 1988 for an eight-month deployment, I accompanied former MCDOA Chairman Brian Mansbridge (then CO of HMS Cottesmore) to Northwood for briefings and Sir Julian was kind enough to come in from MOD Main Building specifically to wish us well.

 

HMS Berkeley's

Commissioning Order

 

Today, Sir Julian was gracious enough to purchase a book of tickets for this year's Project Vernon Prize Draw and was most keen to support our worthy cause.  I still have some books left if anyone would like any to buy or sell on. They are priced at £2 per ticket or £10 for a book of five and there are some phenomenal prizes this year as you can see from this page of the Project Vernon website.  If interested, please e-mail me via my Webmaster address.

 

Postscript:  Sadly, Sir Julian died on 19 July 2011, little more than a year after this event.  His Daily Telgraph obituary can be found here.

 

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4 Jun 10 - Deep sea dozen promote Armed Forces day in Cyprus

 

The RN website contains this article describing a recent joint-service diving exped in Cyprus.  I particularly like the idea of sharing a space with "conga eels".  Would they expect you to join in?

 

Some of the divers on the exped

(RN website photo)

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3 Jun 10 - More good news about Martin Mackey

 

I am indebted to MCDOA members Phil Ireland and David Hunkin for informing me that fellow member Martin Mackey was on today's SASB signal listing those selected for Sea Command.  Many congratulations to Martin for this well-deserved recognition of his leadership qualities and seagoing expertise.

 

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