Have you ordered your miniature of the Vernon Monument yet?  It is being sold in a variety of sizes, finishes and prices to raise funds for the planned sculpture at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth to celebrate the Minewarfare & Diving heritage of HMS Vernon which previously stood on the site.  Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.  'Project Vernon' is officially supported by Portsmouth City Council, Gunwharf Quays, the MCDOA, AORNFCD, MWA, RNCDA and the TCA.  Click here for details.

25 Feb 17 - Daily Telegraph obituary for Lt Eric Worsley MBE GM RNVR

As ever, I am grateful to Capt Peter Hore RN for agreeing to produce this obituary, published in yesterday's Daily Telegraph, for veteran Second World War bomb & mine disposal officer Eric Worsley who died on 30 December 2016 (see entry for 30 Dec 16 in News Archive 56).  The published obituary omits some information and images contained in this, the original version:

Eric Worsley

Eric Worsley, who has died aged 102, was twice within eight months decorated for his bravery in dealing with unexploded bombs.

On October 19, 1940 Worsley was on a routine patrol during an air raid over Portsmouth harbour, when at 13.30, after the ‘all-clear’ sounded, he was called to the naval training establishment at HMS Collingwood where 4,000 trainees were sheltering from a 250 kg bomb which was buried nose-down in an open space between buildings.  He recalled “the tail fin was just visible above ground.  The fuses were not visible but I knew that German clockwork fuses had a time delay that could be between about an hour and up to 96 hours.  It wasn’t an option to attach a rope to the tail fin and yank the bomb out of the ground because the Germans had a nice combination of clockwork and anti-disturbance fuses.  I decided to dig while everybody was in the shelters.”

“When a driver and his mechanical excavator volunteered to help “in less than half an hour a circular moat was excavated around the bomb and at least a good yard away from it.  I could now work away with my spade – wondering all the time what the position of the fuses would be.  More earth had to be removed before they could be identified by reading its number.  As soon as there was sufficient room to feel the head of the fuse, I ripped off one of the tubular struts from the tail fin, placing one end on the fuse and the other end to my ear.  Was there a sound of ticking, or was it my imagination?  I doubled over to the nearest shelter, hoping to find a doctor with a stethoscope.  I was lucky, the stethoscope made the tick sound like that of an alarm clock. 

“It was 15.30.  More earth had to be removed to allow the fuse to be withdrawn.  But what if it should drop out on the removal of the locking ring and there was an anti-withdrawal device fitted?  Answer – borrow a reel of cod-line, find a stick to hold the fuse in position after unscrewing the locking ring; attach the end of the line to the stick, and carefully unreel the line out to the shelter of some sandbags 50 yards away, and then pull smartly on the line.  Hoorah – no booby trap!”

“By 16.00, feeling more relaxed, I removed more earth to get at the second fuse, expecting it to be an anti-disturbance type.  After another hour the second fuse was ready for identification.  A bit of broken mirror helps, for this one too is underneath.  What? – a second timed fuse?  The stethoscope confirms it.  I know what to do, but it’s now 1700.  Still feeling sick in the stomach – feet like lead – fingers clumsy from the intense effort needed to stay and finish the job, but thankfully the cod-line method works again, and there’s the indescribable relief of unscrewing the primer.

“What a glorious relief to report to the senior officer, accept a tot of whisky, and watch all hands emerging from the shelters.  The clock setting was for 7 hours.  Hallelujah.”

Worsley was awarded the George Medal for gallantry and undaunted devotion to duty.

Eric Worsley at Buckingham Palace with his parents in 1941

Eric Worsley was born in Nantwich and educated after, winning scholarships, at Winsford Verdin Grammar School and Queen Mary College, London.  He was the science master at Thetford Grammar School when in late June 1940 he was recruited into the Navy as a bomb disposal officer: his only concern was whether he had inconvenienced his headmaster by leaving school precipitately.  On his first day in the uniform of a sub-lieutenant RNVR he crossed the road to avoid the embarrassment of being saluted by an approaching sailor.  A few months later, after a ten day course during which he witnessed a German bomb being disarmed and disassembled, and armed only with his knowledge of science and his personal bravery, he was regularly risking his life to search for and render harmless incendiary and explosives devices over a swath of southern England.

Based in Portsmouth his personal transport was a 500cc Norton motorbike, and his protection from the police a tin-hat painted white: his team followed in a van loaded with their equipment.

March 10/11, 1941, the Second Blitz on Portsmouth was, Worsley recalled, “memorable”.  About 20.00 a 250kg bomb crashed through the roof of a shelter, where a numerous Wrens had taken cover: the girls reportedly raised their legs to let the bomb go by and slither to rest without exploding.  It was the easiest of jobs to defuse, but Worsley remembered the sweat shining on his assistant’s face as he held a torch for Worsley to see. 

In the morning he investigated a bomb crater outside St Ann’s church in the dockyard, using a probe specially made for him consisting of a 12-foot steel rod made in sections so that it could be screwed together like a fishing rod.  Worsley pushed this down the hole until it came up against something solid, and then, by attaching a microphone and headphones, he listened for any ticking.  Worsley was able to give a warning but the bomb was buried too deep to tackle, and at 1330 it exploded without causing any loss of life.  Meanwhile another bomb in the dockyard was buried about 15 feet down and Worsley and his team dug a shaft, shoring up the sides as they burrowed: this was an easy job, he wrote, even when the Admiral Sir William ‘Bubbles’ James and Mr Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister of Australia, came over to sightsee his work.  James was impressed by the cool and efficient manner in which Worsley dealt with the emergency.

 Eric Worsley excavating a UXB (unexploded bomb) at Admiralty House

in Portsmouth Dockyard in 1941

Worsley was awarded the MBE for his bravery and devotion to duty during air raids on Portsmouth.

Worsley was rested by being sent to a desk job in the Admiralty but was rapidly bored and volunteered to retrain as an aircraft direction officer and completed his war 1943-5 in the cruiser Royalist and the carrier Glory.

Postwar Worsley lectured in physics at Hull University, and he settled at Hessle, Yorkshire.

A staunch Methodist, he was modest and unassuming, a lover of all outdoor sport, who took up croquet in old age, and played his last tennis aged 100 against his granddaughter Katie O’Brien, the former ladies’ Wimbledon No 1.

In 1947 he married Sheila Hoskin who survives him with their son and two daughters.

Eric Worsley, born April 9 1914, died December 30 2016

Over the past few years, Peter Hore has been extremely cooperative in writing tributes to members of our small community for publication in the Daily Telegraph.  Other examples have included (in alphabetical order):

CPO(D) Stephen 'Darby' Allan

Cdr Philip Arthur Balink-White MBE RN

Lt Cdr John Bridge GC GM* RN

Lt Noel Cashford MBE RNVR

Lt Cdr Peter Cobby BEM RN

Lt Cdr 'Uncle Bill' Filer MBE GM RN

Lt Cdr Ian Fraser VC DSC RD* RNR

Lt Cdr John 'Futch' Futcher MBE RN

Surgeon Vice Admiral Sir John 'Jab' Harrison

Val Hempleman

Ldg Sea Sydney Knowles BEM

Lt Cdr Bruce Mackay RN

Cdr Peter Messervy MBE GM RN

Surgeon Vice Admiral Sir John 'Doc' Rawlins KBE, FRCP, FRAeS

Lt Cdr 'Robbie' Robinson MBE RN

Lt Arthur 'Bubs' Russell MBE RNVR

Lt Cdr Dennis Selwood OBE RN

Lt Cdr Harry Wardle RN

Lt George Wookey MBE RN 

24 Feb 17 - Gentlemen Who Lunch

Last Tuesday saw MCDOA members Martyn Holloway and Yours Truly (Rob Hoole) joined by fellow member Jon Riches for their regular Tuesday lunchtime gathering.  The reunion took place at Ye Olde George Inn in the picturesque village of East Meon. 

There was the usual lamp swinging but Doug Barlow, the regular third member of the MCDOA's 'Not Quite the Last of the Summer Wine' trio was too busy preparing for his excursion to Dubai to join us on this occasion.

Riches, Hoole and Holloway at Ye Olde George Inn in East Meon on Tuesday

To put personalities in context, Jon Riches (RN Superintendent of Diving 1987-90) qualified on the first ever LMCDO course after the formation of the Branch in 1966 i.a.w. DCI 278/66, Martyn Holloway qualified in 1970 and I qualified in 1976.

23 Feb 17

RN minehunters participate in Gulf exercise

The US Navy website contains this article and the US Naval Forces Central Command (CENTCOM) website this article reporting the start of the 22nd iteration of Exercise KHUNJAR HAAD, an annual multilateral mine countermeasures exercise in the Gulf of Oman, on 22 February.  Participating ships include the minehunters HMS Bangor (MCM1 Crew 7) and HMS Middleton (MCM2 Crew 8), their support ship RFA Lyme Bay, the RN destroyer HMS Daring, the US minehunter USS Dextrous and coastal patrol ships USS Monsoon and USS Squall, the French frigate FS Forbin and the Royal Navy of Oman patrol vessels Al Shamikh, Al Batinah and Al Bushra.

NDG deals with mortar bomb on Rosemarkie Beach

The Aberdeen Press & Journal website contains this article and the Forces TV website this article, including video, describing today's disposal of a mortar bomb reportedly being played with yesterday by children on the beach at Rosemarkie on the Moray Firth.  The video includes an interview with MCDOA member Tony Hampshire, CO of the Faslane-based Northern Diving Group (NDG).

22 Feb 17 - Another wartime bomb dredged up in Portsmouth

The Portsmouth News website contains this article reporting this morning's closure of Portsmouth harbour again after a 500 lb German SC250 wartime bomb was dredged up at 0330 during preparations for the arrival of the new aircraft carriers being completed at Rosyth.  Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit 2 (SDU2) was involved in its removal and disposal.

Bomb caught in the dredge head

(Portsmouth News photo)

MCDOA President-elect Roger Readwin (Captain Mine Warfare & Patrol Vessels, Diving and Fishery Protection) was on the Round Tower to witness the detonation in the Solent.

Roger Readwin on the Round Tower in Portsmouth

Screen capture from a video showing the detonation

Post script: The BBC website contains this article and the Royal Navy website this article reporting the incident.  They feature Lt Mike St Pierre RCN, the Canadian exchange OIC of SDU2.

21 Feb 17 - Navy Divers surface from course with honours

The Royal Navy website contains this article reporting the completion of Clearance Diver course 1601 at the Defence Diving School (DDS) on Horsea Island where certificates and divers’ badges were presented by Commodore Toby Williamson (Commander Operational Training).  The article features MCDOA members Andy Woollven (CO DDS) and Trev Orton (OIC RN Diver Training).

1601 Course

Top row: AB Tetlow, AB Ballinger, AB Price, AB Pendrous, AB Bennett

Front row: AB Chumbley, PO(D) Les Cockerton (Instructor), Cdr Andy Woollven (CO DDS),

Lt Cdr Trevor Orton (OIC RN Diver Training), AB Haigh

(RN website photo)

17 Feb 17 - SDU2 deals with explosive relic at Portsmouth

The Royal Navy website contains this article and the Portsmouth News this article describing the disposal by members of Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit 2 (SDU2) of another explosive relic dredged up in Portsmouth harbour in preparation for the arrival of the new aircraft carriers.  The RN website article features PO(D) Scotty Eaton.

The explosive relic, thought to be "a British-made Armstrong Whitworth munition"

(RN website photo)

16 Feb 17 - MCDO and MWO promotions

Congratulations to the following MCD and MW officers who have been selected for promotion to Lt Cdr effective from 1 October 2017:

I am grateful to MCDOA member Dave Stanbury for supplying this information.

15 Feb 17 - Death and funeral of Lt Cdr Ian McConnochie RAN

I have heard from MCDOA member Cdr Edward 'Jake' Linton BEM RAN (Patron of the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers' Association (RANCDA)) and Capt Mick Edwards OAM RAN (National President of the RANCDA) that Australian MCDO Lt Cdr Ian McConnochie RAN passed away on Monday 13 February with his wife Pat by his side.  Ian saw active service in Korea and Vietnam and was a past President of the NSW RAN CD Association, contributing greatly to taking the State-based CD Association to a National Association.  He was also a member of the HMAS SYDNEY Association.

Ian was born in Portsmouth in October 1931 but lost his father, an Engine Room Artificer, when the submarine HMS UNDAUNTED was sunk in the Mediterranean in May 1941.  He joined the RN as a Writer in April 1949 and transferred to the RAN in October the following year when his mother and sister emigrated to Australia.  He was promoted to commissioned rank in 1963, transferred to the Seaman Branch and qualified first in his class as an MCDO.  He left the Service in January 1980 and was responsible for these articles on the Naval Historical Society of Australia website:

McConnochie – History of a Family’s RN Service 1845 to 1980

The RAN Clearance Diving Team in Vietnam 1967 to 1971

RAN Clearance Diving Operations in the Gulf War 1991

In 1974, Dan Nicholson relieved his fellow MCDOA member. the late Tim Hildesley OBE, as the RN exchange officer on the staff of COMINEWARCOM at Charleston, South Carolina where Jake Linton was the RAN exchange officer.  Dan and Jake were later relieved by MCDOA member Martyn Holloway and Ian McConnochie respectively but Dan renewed his friendship with Ian during an exchange posting in Australia 1978-79.

In November 2005, Dan visited Ian at his home in Sydney (see entry for 28 Nov 05 in News Archive 12):

Ian McConnochie & Dan Nicholson in 2005

Ian McConnochie will be laid to rest at 1130 on Monday 20 February at Hillside Chapel, Palmdale Lawn Cemetery & Memorial Park. Palmdale Road, Palmdale NSW 2258.  Uniforms for serving members.  Medals are appropriate.  POC: Eric McKenzie +61 (0)428 899376.

From MCDOA member Dan Nicholson:

"Hello again Rob,

Thanks for the details about Ian's funeral.  Can’t guarantee appropriate attire but glad to report that we will be there.

Regards,

Dan"

From MCDOA member Martyn Holloway:

"Rob,

Very sad to hear but in peace at last after a long fight.

Dan is visiting Oz at present and no doubt will make every effort to attend.

Martyn"

From MCDOA member Dan Nicholson:

"Thanks Rob,

We have just arrived in Oz and had planned a visit to see Ian THIS WEEK!  We will see his wife Pat.

Regards,

Dan"

14 Feb 17 - LS&GC and VRSM awards

Congratulations to CPO(D) G W Spence and PO(D) M A Sharrock on being gazetted for the award of the Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and to PO(MW) D V Dean on being gazetted for the award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.  Congratulations also to LS(D) C M E Fullen RNR on being gazetted for the award of the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal.

28 Jan 17 - Can you help with these enquiries?

I received these enquiries yesterday.  I will research them at some point but, regrettably, my attention is currently focused elsewhere.  If anyone can help answer them in the meantime, I would be extrememly grateful.

_________________________________________________________

Chariot Mk II Human Torpedo

From Gary Wallace-Potter of the Historical Diving Society:

"Hi Rob,

I wonder if you can help.  We recently had an inquiry from the grandson of Sidney Woollcott.  He has been researching his wartime actives, but has particulary asked for any information about the Mk II Chariots.  Anything you can help with or direct me to?

Best regards,

Gary"

My main Chariot bible is Chariots of War by Robert W. Hobson which contains details and photos of an abandoned Mk II seen by Sidney Woollcott at Pounds scrapyard in Portsmouth before it was restored at Teeside Training & Enterprise at Middlesbrough.  It is now on display at the amazing Eden Camp Museum in Malton, North Yorkshire.

_________________________________________________________

Records of Naval Bomb Disposal (EOD) Teams in 1970s - 1990s

From Robin McDermott:

"Dear Lt Cdr Hoole,  

Please excuse this unannounced approach, particularly from a pongo, but I am currently engaged in researching the early years of bomb disposal robots (focussing on Wheelbarrow) in the British Armed Forces.  I am aware that Royal Navy EOD teams serving in the 1980s were equipped with Wheelbarrow, chiefly as I understand it for the defence of their own establishments. 

Following my initial enquiries for the National Museum of the Royal Navy, where (apparently) there are no associated objects or archives in its collections, I was pointed in your direction.  Might the Association be in a position to help me with this? 

Whilst I acknowledge that it is unlikely that you will have any 3D objects, I wondered if your membership might be able to provide individual accounts of the Royal Navy’s use and deployment of Wheelbarrow, especially if it is accompanied by photographs or similar.  

I should add that I am an ex-ATO, so I already have a little knowledge in this field.  

Best wishes,  

Robin McDermott"

_________________________________________________________

TON class MCMV binnacles

From John Soanes, Chairman of the Ton Class Association:

"Rob,

To my ancient eyes, the binnacle on the bridge of Bronington seems rather different to any other I have seen. 

Was it special?

John" 

_________________________________________________________

Decompression or Recompression chamber?

From David Reith of the Surface Warship Association of Modellers:

"Hi Rob,

My name is David Reith and I'm a member of the Surface Warship Association that builds scale model warships.  I wonder if you could help me.  I'm currently building a 1/48 scale model of HMS Quorn MCMV.  My question is about the chamber on the quarterdeck.  Is this a De- Compression Chamber or a Re- Compression Chamber?

One other item.  I am the assistant event rep of Area 4 of the SWA.  We've attended one of your book launches (Last of the Wooden Walls) in Portsmouth Dockyard in the past (see entry for 10 Mar 12 in News Archive 37).  If you have any events like this in the future and would like us us to put on another model display, please drop me an email.

Thank you for your help.

Dave & Andrea"

Dave Reith and David McNair-Taylor with their models of HMS Penzance, HMS Kirkliston

and HMT Sir Galahad (with TCA member Barry Barnes in the foreground) at the

launch of Last of the Wooden Walls in March 2012

_________________________________________________________

Rolex Military Submariner (MilSub) diver's watch

From an enquirer (name withheld for obvious reasons):

"I am contacting you after being given your details by Mrs Christine Harper of Naval Historical Branch (Naval Staff) in HM Naval Base, Portsmouth.

I have a very rare Naval Divers watch that was issued by Rolex in the 1970s to either Royal Navy divers/ SAS/ SBS.  It is a Rolex 5513 Military submariner (milsub).  There are only around one hundred remaining around the world, and since Rolex do not have any records since their archives were cleared in 2011 you are my only hope for some simple, basic information, ie: which dockyard or ship it was issued to, even a name.  The serial number is 3927017, the m.o.d number is 0552/923-7697 and year 529/76.

I am also awaiting communication from the SBS at Hamworthy." 

_________________________________________________________

If anyone can help with any of the queries above, please send me an email via my Webmaster address and I will forward it to the relevant enquirer.  I will publish responses here in due course unless asked otherwise.

27 Jan 17 - FCDT clearance of Grand Harbour, Malta 

1984 Operation

The Times of Malta has published this article recalling the 1984 operation, undertaken partially by members of the Fleet Clearance Diving Team (FCDT) based at HMS Vernon, to help clear Grand Harbour of wrecks and unexploded bombs.

Former CD Paul Jeacock, one of the FCDT divers involved, has kindly given me permission to publish these images of the operation:

Paul Jeacock fishing for divers in Grand Harbour, Valetta 

Twin-barrelled gun belonging to an unidentified British destroyer

Two-thirds of HMS Jersey's boiler/superheater.  Single dive.  Single lift.

Above and below: Torpedo tubes from HMS Maori lying off Boiler Wharf in Senglea

Recovered chains, mooring anchors, buoys and other debris

David Schembri (Mayor of Qrendi), who features in the Times of Malta article, has kindly provided this photo of some of the FCDT divers involved in the 1984 operation:

Left to right: Bungy Williams (TBC), Rich Edwards, Paul Jeacock, George Rennie and Taff Onda

From David Schembri, Mayor of Qrendi in Malta:

"Dear Rob,

Many thanks for the information re the Grand Harbour clearance that was not just restricted to the SS Talabot but also included the HMS Maori torpedoes, the superheater \ boiler of HMS Jersey, the 30 ton sinkers of the floating dock, mooring chains and anchors, as well as a large amount of WWII debris.

The work was carried out by many dedicated and loyal AFM EOD and PWD divers answering directly to Dom Mintoff.  The clearance and salvage of the wrecks and debris were carried out with the Sea Wolf, an 'A' frame tug boat owned by Cassar Ship Repair Ltd and a grab dredger, the Giddiem owned by the Dredging Works Ltd, and the said Dutch Tuglift 'A' frame.

The overall official in charge of the operations was Col Albert Camilleri with myself responsible for diving operations and the liaising with the Army and civilian divers.  Both Col Camilleri and myself answered directly to Perit Mintoff and where daily meetings were held in this regards.  One must however be fair to comment that the RN Fleet Clearance divers took ownership of the recovery and disposal of the torpedoes from Boiler wharf, and assisted in the lifting of the SS Talabot hull off Pinto Wharf.

The Royal Navy clearance divers formed an integral part of the salvage team due to their expertise in unexploded ordnance.  Prior to the salvage works, an underwater video survey was carried out by the Hydrography department of the ports department with the assistance of a small and selected team of divers and where hours of underwater video footage of the obstructions proved useful in the Anglo Maltese negotiations in order to clear the fareway to the China Dock designed for super tanker repair works as well as the Pinto and Crucifix Wharf designed as a cruise liner passenger terminal.

Maltese divers at the RN Diving School on Manoel Island including two from my village of Qrendi

Thanks a million once again for helping to rediscover our past history and the courage and unselfishness of many others.

David" 

_________________________________________________________

1972 Operation

A similar operation had been conducted by FCDT divers in 1972.  As a result, MCDOA member John O'Driscoll was gazetted for his appointment as an MBE and CPO(CD1) Bernard Edward 'Donkey' Bray and PO(CD1) (later FCPO(D)) Victor John 'Vic' Humphrey for their award of the BEM (Supplement to The London Gazette of Monday, 6th August 1973):

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD

St. James's Palace, London S.W.1.

7th August 1973

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: To be an Additional Member of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order, for Gallantry:

Lieutenant John Francis O'DRISCOLL, Royal Navy

Lieutenant O'Driscoll was the Officer-in-Charge of the Fleet Clearance Diving Team which was engaged in clearing a large number of unexploded bombs from the wreck of the SS Talbot (sic) in Grand Harbour, Malta.  The SS Talbot (sic) had been bombed and set on fire on 26th March 1942 and because of her dangerous cargo was scuttled.  From 16th October to 11th December 1972 the Fleet Clearance Diving Team recovered 73 bombs with a combined weight of 19,500 Ibs.  All the bombs were fused and heavy corrosion had made them stick together.  Many of the bombs were buried in the mud and had to be cleared by water jetting which meant that the divers had to work entirely by touch, visibility being nil.  Each bomb had to be broken out individually using a winch and wire strop and up to two tons tension had to be applied to break each bomb out.  Once the bombs were brought to the surface they had to be continually hosed down to prevent crystallising and becoming extremely dangerous.  The successful completion of this lengthy and highly dangerous operation was due largely to the coolness and courage of Lieutenant O'Driscoll.  His determination and leadership were of the very highest order and in the best traditions of the Service."

_________________________________________________________

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the British Empire Medal for Gallantry (Military Division) to the undermentioned:

Chief Petty Officer Clearance Diver First Class Bernard Edward BRAY P/J898304P

Petty Officer Clearance Diver First Class Victor John HUMPHREY P/J90S626P

Chief Petty Officer Bray and Petty Officer Humphrey were the Seconds-in-Command of the two shifts who were working under Lieutenant O'Driscoll during the period 16th October to 11th December 1972.  Their coolness both whilst diving themselves and directing the operations of others was instrumental in the success of the highly dangerous operation of removing the bombs from the wreck of the SS Talbot (sic).

The leadership and courage shown by Chief Petty Officer Bray and Petty Officer Humphrey were of the highest order and in the best traditions of the Service.

Note that "SS Talbot" was actually SS Talabot.  Confusingly, HMS Talbot was the name of the wartime base in Malta of the 10th Submarine Flotilla. 

Interestingly, the burning ammunition ship SS Talabot was scuttled in Valetta harbour on 22 March 1942 by Lt (later Lt Cdr) Dennis Arthur Copperwheat RN of HMS Penelope, aka 'HMS Pepperpot' owing to the number of shrapnel holes in her structure caused by German bombs and shells.  He had qualified as a Torpedo Officer at HMS Vernon and was gazetted for the award of the George Cross for his heroism (Third Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday, 13th of November 1942):

CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD

 St. James's Palace, S.W.1

11th November, 1942

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the Award of the GEORGE CROSS to:

 Lieutenant Dennis Arthur Copperwheat, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Penelope

For great bravery at Malta. During heavy air attacks on Valletta, Lieutenant Copperwheat was sent in charge of a party of men from H.M.S. Penelope to scuttle a Merchantman, laden with ammunition, which was burning in the harbour.  Owing to the fires, it was impossible to place scuttling charges in the holds, and they had to be slung over the side of the ship.  As they worked, ammunition was exploding all round them from burning stowages on deck.  The ship lay 40 yards from the shore, to which the electric cables for firing the scuttling charges could only just reach.  Lieutenant Copperwheat sent his working party to shelter, and stayed himself fo fire the charges from a position where he was exposed to the full blast of the explosion, which lifted him bodily.  But for his brave action the ship must have blown up, and grave damage would have been done to the harbour.

Moreover, much of the ammunition was saved and some very heavy bombs, part of the cargo, were soon afterwards dropped in Italy.

26 Jan 17 - Advance Australia Fair

Happy Australia Day to all our mates down under.

The Tasmanian Chapter of the RAN Clearance Divers' Association (RANCDA) has kindly extended this invitation (see entry for 17 Jan 17):

Clearance Divers Association Reunion 11-17 September 2017 in Tasmania

The Reunion

The Tasmanian Chapter of the RAN Clearance Divers Association (RNCDA) extends an invite to all members, ex-serving Clearance Divers, current Clearance Divers, and their families to attend the 2017 Biennial Clearance Diver’s reunion.  An invitation is also extended to the diving and EOD communities of allied and Commonwealth defence forces around the world.

Tasmania, the island state, where much is considered world heritage, offers a unique setting for the reunion. 

The reunion activities will be focused in the Hobart area as well as a deployment to the West coast wilderness.  We have chosen the West coast to showcase some of the stunning areas and activities Tasmania has to offer.  A packed program will give visitors the opportunity to not only catch up with old colleagues and fellow warriors, but encourage new friendships while fostering the younger generation to continue the growth of the Association. 

The organisation of any reunion poses many challenges.  We ask that you please bear with us and assist by indicating your intention to attend events early.

If you have any questions you can contact me direct and I will endeavour to answer them.  Please pass the message on and we look forward to hosting you in Hobart September 2017.

United and Undaunted.

Corry Van den Broek 

See here for further details.

22 Jan 17 - Diving Museum calendar of events in 2017 

The 2017 calendar of events at the Historical Diving Society (HDS) Diving Museum at No.2 Battery in Stokes Bay is available for download in pdf format here:

The museum will be open at weekends between 1100 and 1600 from Easter to Halloween.  Volunteer guide Mike O'Meara states that there will a significant new exhibit so, even if you have already made a visit, it is well worth coming back again this year.

21 Jan 17 - Award of third clasp to VRSM

Congratulations to WO1(MW) Davey Annan RNR on being gazetted for the award of the third clasp to his Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VRSM).  Davey, a 55 year-old IT specialist from Leith, has spent 32 years in the Royal Navy Reserves and has served on the minewarfare battle staff of Commander UK Mine Countermeasures Force (COMUKMCMFOR) in Bahrain.

I am grateful to Cdr Neil Meharg RD RNR, SO1MW(R) at HMS Hibernia, for pointing out that Davey has been a WO since July 2016 and is not a CPO as stated in the London Gazette.

20 Jan 17

World War Two bomb removed from River Thames

The Royal Navy website contains this article, the Portsmouth News website this article, the BBC website this article (including video) and the ITV website this article reporting the removal and disposal of a German SD 50kg bomb dredged up from the River Thames in Central London last night.  The operation, conducted by members of Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit 2 (SDU2) and the Metropolitan Police, forced the temporary closure of Waterloo Bridge, Westminster Bridge and the Victoria Embankment.

RN website images

The Royal Navy article features MCDOA member Del McKnight (CO Portsmouth-based Fleet Diving Squadron (FDS)) and Mike St-Pierre RCN (OIC SDU2).

Divers shed light on wreck of RN’s worst wartime accident

The Royal Navy website contains this article describing a recent survey of the wreck of the dreadnought HMS Vanguard, torn apart by an explosion in Scapa Flow in July 1917 with the loss of all but two of her 845 personnel. 

The dreadnought battleship HMS Vanguard

(Royal Navy website)

The specially approved survey of the war grave was conducted by civilian divers operating from the Orkney-based diving tender MV Huskyan.

Above and below: The wreck of the dreadnought battleship HMS Vanguard

(RN website photos)

The wreck of HMS Vanguard was last visited by the Royal Navy in 2009 when divers from HMS Bangor placed a weighted wreath and white ensign on her shattered hull (see entry for 23 Oct 09 in News Archive 28).

19 Jan 17 - Commander UK Maritime Forces speech at Palace of Westminster

The Royal Navy website contains the text of this speech delivered by Rear Admiral Alex Burton (Commander UK Maritime Forces) to the All Parties Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces at the Palace of Westminster on Monday 16 January 2017.  These excerpts are of particular interest:

INTRODUCTION  

Welcome to 2017 the ‘Year of the Royal Navy’.  How true for a year that will see some extraordinary statements of our island nation's ambition; cutting steel on the Type 26, the arrival of HMS Queen Elizabeth [of which MCDOA member Bob Hawkins MBE is 1st Lt] and much, much more.  But I want to steer clear of this well publicised and hugely exciting strategic intent and spend a few minutes describing why, for those on operations and those of us supporting operations, every year is the year of the Royal Navy.  

2016 was no exception, with on average a third of our service deployed – a shame then that, if you relied solely on the press, you would be forgiven for thinking that 2016 saw your navy alongside on half pay, seeking employment as prison hulks.  So let me dispel those myths.

Why me this evening? Well, I am the Royal Navy's only sea going, fighting, Admiral - in army parlance my peer is General Commanding Three Division Patrick Sanders and for the historians; Sandy Woodward is my forbear.

Let me start with a short reflection on the exploits of a couple of Warships.

HMS DARING [Previously commanded by MCDOA President Rear Admiral Paddy McAlpine CBE]

First, HMS Daring the Type 45 destroyer you may remember photographed in the summer alongside.  Fair, I’d suggest - getting her only leave before deploying in September on a 9 month deployment East of Suez and the Gulf - an area of the world that the Royal Navy could almost call home having spent half a century in the region providing reassurance, deterrence and when required, hard power.

Daring arrived in theatre on the day that an Emirati civilian ship was attacked by the Yemani Ansar Allah group.  In the following 7 weeks she conducted 17 transits between the Southern Red Sea and Bab-El-Mendeb Strait.  This was protecting shipping ranging from HMS Bulwark, HMS Ocean and the maritime joint expeditionary Task Group to 650,000 tonnes of merchant shipping, equivalent to 17 typical WW2 transatlantic convoys of approximately 50 ships.  

I have spent much of my time at sea in the region and I would observe it is the perfect example of a congested battle space - a large number of Gulf warships and aircraft conducting operations in the vicinity of the Straits against Houthi forces ashore, as well as continuous merchant traffic passing through the choke point.  So there is a very real risk of misidentification.

HMS Daring remained ready and available for operations for every day she was tasked; spending 39 days in Defence Watches, a heightened but sustainable internal posture, with a further 97 hours at Action Stations, the Ship’s highest protection posture with every seat manned.  That is longer than she spent alongside during that tasking.  HMS Daring is still deployed and will not return until May...

OPERATIONS

Beyond this, the surface fleet has conducted 50 named operations from chasing Russian submarines in the wilds of the North Atlantic to our decade of duty providing mine countermeasures in the Gulf, and spent 7,106 days at sea, of which 2,630 days almost 40% has been on operations.  30% of the Fleet have deployed away from the UK which does not include those mine countermeasures and hydrographic and patrol vessels more permanently deployed.  

A final fact may put into perspective everything I have mentioned about the tempo and intensity of Royal Navy operations; of the personnel who spend more than 1,900 days away from their families over the course of their career the Royal Navy has 5,260, the Army 310 and the RAF 25.

Effective and calibrated unit action relies on effective command and here the Royal Navy has been the benchmark upon which many other Navies have judged themselves for years.  

2016 was a pretty routine year for us but what might surprise you is how intense that routine is:

THE GULF

Let's start in our second home: For the past 13 years the Royal Navy has held the Deputy Commander’s position in the Gulf for all coalition forces.  Cdre Will Warrender is the Commander of all Royal Naval forces in the region but he is also the right hand man to the US Navy Admiral, Cdr Fifth Fleet.  He has a small team of 86 people and perhaps I can bring to life his responsibilities.  

With an area of operations covering over 4 million square miles spanning the Eastern Mediterranean, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, Northern Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean south to Diego Garcia, he commands over 1000 RN/RM/RFA personnel.  They support a range of aircraft to achieve over 3,000 flying hours including embarked Wildcat and Merlin helicopters, the Merlin detachment operating in support of the Royal Omani Coastguard conducting Maritime Security Operations and the venerable Sea Kings embarked in RFA Fort Victoria who provide a surface search and airborne early warning capability.  We have come a long way since HMS Jufair closed its doors in 1971 and it will not be long before JUFAIR reopens back in Bahrain [planned to re-commission in July 2017].

Staying in the Middle East Region: One of these coalition task forces was commanded by my deputy for 5 months last year and has a standing responsibility for counter terrorism and drugs in the sea areas.  Leading this fight he commanded vessels from the Navies of Australia, France, Pakistan, the United States and the United Kingdom.  He has provided 431 ship Days of support, 2 Focused operations resulting in 80% of the coalition seizures of heroin and 100% of the seizures of hashish, removing over 2000 kgs from making their way to the streets.  Equally important has been the Key Leader Engagement with regional partners including Tanzania, Seychelles and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

And this year we will be bringing to life a key tenet of the Lancaster House agreement.  We will form a combined battlestaff with our French colleagues to deliver this task as CTF 150 again, and current plans have us repeating this in 2019.  So, not exercises but frontline combined operational command with the French.

Finally, sticking to the Middle East, Command of the Minewarfare task group in the Gulf has been vested in the Royal Navy since 2006.  This means routinely taking command of a multi-national MCM Task Force of up to 700 people including air, surface and underwater MCM assets alongside the command and support ship from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the four mine counter-measures ships permanently based in Bahrain. 

It is worthy of note that many of our mine warfare Senior Rates may conduct 8 tours in a 10 year period in the Middle East.  Indeed, some personnel have never deployed in the traditional sense as they simply fly from the UK to Bahrain and back..."

18 Jan 17 - MCDOA trio celebrates 30th anniversary of entering BRNC Dartmouth

Having featured MCDOA Martin Mackey in yesterday's entry, I was delighted to receive this message from him today:

"Hi Rob,

I thought you’d be interested to hear about a recent reunion that took place over the weekend 6 – 8 Jan 17.  Don Crosbie, Chris O’Flaherty and I had the pleasure of meeting up at BRNC to celebrate our 30th anniversary since joining the RN, along with over 30 others of our entry nicely mixed between serving officers and retirees. 

Reunion of BRNC Dartmouth's 1987 entry

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves over the whole weekend which was marked by a mess dinner on the Saturday evening at the college with a fantastic meal on the upper gallery in the Senior Gun Room (and songs), after dinner drinks in the Senior Gun Room bar and then a lock-in until the early hours of the Sunday morning at the Royal Castle Hotel.  We had a fantastic time and the three of us made the most of catching up. 

Martin Mackey, Chris O'Flaherty and Don Crosbie

on The Quarterdeck at BRNC Dartmouth

One of the celebrants is now serving in the RAN and told me that they don’t sing at mess dinners anymore.  I can’t imagine a mess dinner without singing.  As ever, hooting with the owls and soaring with the eagles is becoming much more difficult to do these days, not so much the hooting, but definitely the soaring.   

Chris is currently DCOM CTF 52 in Bahrain, Don is the RNLO to Commander 7th Fleet and CINC Japanese Self Defence Fleet, and I’m on the Directing Staff of ACSC at JSCSC.  Both of them will have finished their current jobs and be back in the UK well before the next MCDOA dinner.  We all hope to be there.

Regards,

Martin

[If you want to expand the abbreviations in my text for the readers: DCOM CTF 52– Deputy Commander, Commander Task Force 52; RNLO – Royal Navy Liaison Officer; CINC – I’d hope everyone knows that; ACSC – Advanced Command and Staff Course; JSCSC – Joint Services Command and Staff College (Shrivenham).]"

17 Jan 17 - RAN CD Association Biennial Reunion - Tasmania

I am grateful to Capt Michael 'Mick' Edwards OAM RAN, National President of the Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers' Association (RANCDA), for this invitation which I am sure applies to all ranks of Clearance Diver:

"Good evening,

I am pleased to advise that planning is presently underway for our Biennial reunion in Tasmania Sep 2017.  Accordingly, your members, particularly those having served on exchange or with RAN personnel, are cordially invited to attend.

Details are available at www.tascdreunion.com.  Please disseminate as required.  

United and Undaunted.

Mick

Michael Edwards  | President  

RAN Clearance Divers Association" 

Mick was one of four RAN exchange officers who underwent Minewarfare training with MCDOA members Martin Mackey and Jonathan Lee at HMS Nelson (Gunwharf), previously HMS VERNON, in 1991 prior to serving as Ops Officer of HMS Atherstone.

Here are MCDOA members Martin Mackey and Jonathan Lee celebrating the 25th anniversary of MWO 1/91 at the association's dinner last year (see entry for 20 Nov 16 in News Archive 56):

From Capt Mick Edwards OAM RAN:

"Thank you Rob,

Of course I regret that none of us could muster the time to make it back for the 25th.  I am sure our passage back will be inevitable and only a matter of time (if we are allowed in!).  Now that you have also dragged some of the more reticent of our warriors from their hiding spaces by revealing emails, I will be able to email them in future!  

The Colonials on this 1991 Vernon course included:  

Front:

Myself - Lt Cdr Michael Edwards, OAM (Rtd) - see www.oropesa.com.au

Cdre Jay Bannister, RAN

Rear:

Cdr Scott Hamilton, RAN

Capt Bryan Parker, RAN  

(All the above were inducted into the the ‘Caledonian Northern Scotland Naked Drinkers Club’)  

Lt Cdr Paul Davey, RN (in the photo he had switched to the dark side - although he will always belong to us!!!)  

United & Undaunted.

Best wishes,

Mick" 

15 Jan 17 - A message from ex-CD James Coombes

Former Royal Navy Clearance Diver James 'Pat' Coombes and his family had to abandon their 50 ft yacht Dove II in the Caribbean on 21 December after its rudder disintegrated as reported in the entry for 11 Jan 17.  James has since sent me this message:

"Hi Rob,

I'd like to thank everyone who has helped us out already.  The funds we've raised up to now have helped us buy a dinghy and engine to get around St Martin.  A guy here has given us the use of his boat to stay on at anchor in the lagoon.

We are very grateful for everyone's help as we have lost everything.  The support messages from all around the world are keeping us sane.

We have been in contact with the US Coast Guard and Chris Parker who is a weather routeing expert.  We are not sure if our yacht is going to drift around the north of the islands or pick up on the north Atlantic current towards Bermuda.  We are trying to keep positive but we are slowly losing hope as the days pass by.

James (Pat)"

In the spirit of Branch solidarity, please consider donating via the Coombes' Go Fund Me webpage if you haven't done so already.  It was set up by Will Marks who was on board the yacht Tilly Mint which rescued Pat and his family from their drifting boat.  All funds from the campaign go directly into James 'Pat' Coombes' bank account.

GoFundMe: Coombes Family - Rescued at Sea

14 Jan 17 - Polish MCM support ship visits Portsmouth

The Royal Navy website contains this report of the visit to Portsmouth of the Polish Navy's multitask logistical support ship ORP Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki.  She appears to be designated as the next flagship of Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (SNMCMG2) in the Mediterranean.

ORP Kontradmirał Xawery Czernicki alongside in Portsmouth Naval Base

(RN website photo) 

13 Jan 17 - SDU1 deals with wartime phosphorous grenades in Plymouth

The Plymouth Herald website contains the following articles (including videos) telling the unfolding story of the disposal of ten 'Dad's Army' self-igniting phosphorous (SIP) grenades by members of Plymouth-based Southern Diving Unit 1 (SDU1) near the Derriford roundabout on Tuesday 10 January.

Tavistock Road CLOSED after workers find eight grenades

Royal Navy bomb squad at scene of unexploded grenades on Tavistock Road

Watch as Royal Navy bomb squad remove objects in Tavistock Road

Bomb squad reveal exactly what they found - and blew up

12 Jan 17 - RN Bomb & MIne Disposal Heritage: The Whitstable mines

I received this query earlier today:

"Good morning,

My name is Mark Harrison and I am an archaeologist and historian researching the defence works that were constructed along the Kent Coast during WW1 and WW2.  During the course of my work I have come across two interesting stories, both involving parachute mines that landed on the inter-tidal mudflats to the west of Whitstable at Seasalter.

The first was rendered safe and taken to Whitstable from where it was driven to HMS Vernon for examination.  It appears this action was painted by war artist Eric Ravilious.  

The second case involved two mines that sunk into the mud, following an attempt to destroy by use of a charge.  Two excavation shafts and a railway had to be constructed to remove the mines and render them safe.  

Do you have an historian that may be able to assist in my research?  

Best wishes,

Mark

Mark Harrison BSc(Hons) FSA

The Forgotten Frontline - Director" 

_________________________________________________________

I sent Mark this response:

"Hello Mark,

Oddly enough, I received a query back in 2010 about 'Dangerous Work at Low Tide' which depicted the second successful clearance of a World War II German parachute mine, on Whitstable Sands, in early 1940.  It came from James Russell who was researching a book about the English war artist Eric Ravilious and I included the resulting exchange of emails in the fourth part of the entry for 31 Mar 10 in News Archive 29 of the MCDOA website:

Also see:  

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ravilious-in-Pictures-Sussex-and-the-Downs/178658518971

http://jamesrussellontheweb.blogspot.co.uk/p/ravilious-at-dulwich-picture-gallery.html  

Historian Chris Ransted, author of ‘Bomb Disposal and the British Casualties of WW2’, sent me this extract from 'Of Mines and Men' by Lt Cdr G.A. Hodges GM VRD RNR.  It describes the event portrayed in the Ravilious painting.

Dangerous Work at Low Tide by Eric Ravilious, 1940

(MOD Art Collection)

I am blind copying James and Chris on this in the hope that they might shed further light on the Whitstable incidents.

Best wishes,

Rob"

_________________________________________________________

I was then delighted to receive this response from Chris Ransted:

"Hi Mark,

Have you looked at the file ADM 1/14438 at The National Archives?  It covers:

HONOURS AND AWARDS (85): Mine disposal services, 1941-1943 with photographs of operations: awards.

STRATEGY AND TACTICS (82): Mine disposal services, 1941-1943, with photographs of operations: awards.

I have attached these photos of the recovery of the two acoustic mines at Seasalter that are in the file.  

As it happens I am just in the process of having another book published on wartime bomb disposal and I mention these two Seasalter mines.  I can't really add anything to the information held in the file mentioned above, other than a bit of background on Leading Seaman (Act.) R.N. Pensioner Frederick Henry Roberts Pickett who was in charge of the party of Seamen digging for the mines.  He was born in Plumstead in 1900 and joined the navy as a boy in 1915 and initially served on the troop transport ship, HMS Powerful.  

Hope that's of help.  

Best regards,

Chris"

_________________________________________________________

The war artist Eric Ravilious also created these paintings in his 'Submarine Series' of 1940:

The Whitstable Mine by Eric Ravilious, 1940

(National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)

The Diver by Eric Ravilious, 1940

(National Maritime Museum, Greenwich)

_________________________________________________________

Mark Harrison replied to Chris's email thus:

"Hi Chris,

Many thanks.  I was aware of the file but not the exact reference number.  I think this image may be from the same file.  Sorry about the quality.  We are hoping to locate both shafts using geo-physics but I need to focus the potential locations by overlaying archive images with contemporary images.  These shots also show a range of other conflict archaeology - in particular anti-invasion obstacles (scaffold fencing, posts etc.).

We are also hoping to pinpoint the location of the single mine that was painted by Ravilious.  We have confirmed where it was brought ashore.

Thank you for your help.  

Mark

Mark Harrison FSA

The Forgotten Frontline - Director"

_________________________________________________________

Mark Harrison also sent this message:

"Hi Rob,

Many thanks.  I will keep you apprised of our findings.

Mark Mark Harrison FSA

The Forgotten Frontline - Director" 

_________________________________________________________

Finally, art historian James Russell sent this message:

"Dear Mark and Rob,

Thanks for getting in touch.  This is a fascinating story, but I'm afraid I can't add anything except to say that 'Of Mines and Men' is well worth reading - though I'm sure you already know that, Rob.

Actually there is one little thing.  A couple of years ago I curated a Ravilious exhibition at Dulwich Picture Gallery and included 'Dangerous Work at Low Tide'.  Who should turn up but the son of Commander West, who led the defuzing operation.  It turned out that he had another Ravilious picture, painted for Commander West and showing HMS Actaeon.

Good luck with the project,

James"

The 'Commander West' to whom James refers must have been Harold West DSC*.  This is from WW II Awards for RN Diving and Bomb & Mine Disposal in the website's 'Branch History' section: 

This is an excerpt from my friend and colleague Hans Houterman's excellent Unit Histories website:

This is the Ravilious painting of HMS Actaeon owned by Harold West:

HMS Actaeon (the former HMS Ariadne) by Eric Ravilious, 1942

(Cdr Harold West DSC* RN)

Regular devotees of the MCDOA website will know that the hulk of the HMS Actaeon depicted in the painting is the former 26-gun screw frigate HMS Ariadne (1859).  As Ariadne, she and the hulks of the 50-gun fourth rate frigate Vernon (1832) and the lighter Florence Nightingale were commissioned as HMS Vernon on 26 April 1876 to become the floating home of the Royal Navy's Torpedo Branch at Portsmouth, independent of HMS Excellent. 

HMS Ariadne (the later HMS Actaeon in the painting above) as part of HMS Vernon in 1896

The hulk of Ariadne (1859) was used for accommodation but was renamed Actaeon in 1905 after moving to Sheerness where she became a floating torpedo school.  In November 1906 she was joined by the hulk of the former screw corvette HMS Dido (1869) which was renamed Actaeon II.  The floating establishment was also used as an auxiliary First World War patrol base between 1914 and 1918 but closed in 1921 and the vessels were broken up in 1922.  Harold West commanded the Torpedo School ashore at Chatham during the Second World War and probably wanted a painting of its predecessor.

HMS Ariadne's figurehead at HMS Vernon in the 1980s

Confusingly, the hulk of the 50-gun frigate HMS Vernon (1832) was also renamed Actaeon (VERNON IV) in 1886.  She replaced the hulk of the original Actaeon (1831), added to the RN's then embryo floating mining and torpedo school at Portsmouth in October 1879, and was used as a workshop.  She was sold in 1923 when HMS Vernon moved ashore to what was then the Army's Gunwharf and is now the marina, shopping and residential development known as Gunwharf Quays.

HMS Actaeon (VERNON IV), the former HMS Vernon, in 1904

11 Jan 17 - A former RN Clearance Diver who needs our support

The Daily Mail website contains this article and The Times website this article (behind a paywall) describing the plight of the Coombes family who crossed the Atlantic last month and had to abandon their 50 ft yacht Dove II in the Caribbean on 21 December after it lost its rudder.  The head of the family is James 'Pat' Coombes (nicknamed after the well-known actress), a former RN Clearance Diver who served in HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Grimsby.

Former RN CD James 'Pat' Coombes

This is an extract from the family blog:

"James

November 4, 2016 · by westerlyadventures · in James.

Hi. 

I’m dad, husband and captain.  I am the reason we have started this crazy adventure.  I have wanted to sail the world since I was a child.  I joined the Royal Navy at 21 and became a clearance diver for 8 years.  I then met Fran, left and lived in Newquay, working as a carpenter and creating our little family.  This has been its own adventure but the pull to cross oceans has remained.  We have worked hard to finally fulfil this dream.  This summer I got some miles under the belt crossing the Atlantic from Grenada to Portugal with a good friend and feel confident to move my family off land and onto water."

This is the latest extract from his family's blog:

Where to go from here?

January 11, 2017 · by westerlyadventures · in Uncategorized. ·

Ok family, friends and readers.  I’ve been letting Fran run with the blog and oh my god she’s been doing a Stirling job.  170,000 views in the last 5 days, we’re blown away by all the support and generosity we are receiving from people all around the world.  My writing skills are nowhere near Fran’s so please bear with me and my babbling.  I keep meaning to sit down and write my side of the story, to try and give a little insight into what I think went wrong for us.  My head is in all out find the boat mode at the moment, with no time to sit down and concentrate on writing it all up.  I’ll get there soon I hope.

I’ve put help posts on various sailing forums in hope that someone comes back to me saying they’ve spotted the boat.  I’ve had a lot of positive help and advice feedback, but I’ve also had numerous people giving me the should’ve, would’ve, could’ve comments. 

Within hours of posting on the first forum I had a guy contact me, offering me to come and stay on his yacht, then we could go out and search for Dove II.  His name is John Blair from Tenby, Wales on board his 42′ Bavaria ‘BALLYHOO’ in Falmouth harbour, Antigua.  When I met John, we got along great as we had a lot in common.  He runs a mackerel fishing boat out of Tenby and has spent his life on the sea.  I cannot express in words how grateful I am. 

I also want to thank Glenn Tuttle the net manager at Seven Seas cruising association’s HF radio service “KPK” who has links with the US Coastguard and Navy and Chris Parker from marine weather and communications. 

Finally thank you to Will Marks for setting up a gofundme site and Bethany Rush for linking it to the blog by clicking help us out at the top of the home page.  You’re both awesome.

A GoFundMe webpage has been set up by Will Marks, a fellow sailor in the Caribbean: 

"On December 21st, 2016 the Coombes family were forced to abandon Dove II, their sailboat and home, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.  James, Fran, Tony, Heath, and Isla were at the beginning of their journey around the world when catastrophe struck.  After saving money for years, preparing the boat for months, and having made it 3/4 of the way across the Atlantic, their rudder completely disintegrated because of heavy wind and waves.  With no way to control the boat, they spent three days being punished by 4 to 6 meter waves while trying to jury rig an emergency rudder.  With their repair attempts being repeatedly thwarted by the bad conditions, they were forced to abandon ship into their liferaft and be rescued by another sailboat.

The Coombes family is safe, but they have been left with nothing.  They were able to take little more than the clothes on their backs when they abandoned ship.  Their wordly possessions and their very home itself were left behind on Dove II.  They are currently stuck in St. Martin, trying to figure out how to move forward.

While the family is currently attempting to recover the boat, the outlook is not good.  The search costs as well as the future expense of re-establishing their lives are going to be enormous.  Let's rally behind this wonderful young family and help them get back on their feet after this disaster.

Thank you so much."

In the spirit of branch solidarity, please help if you feel able:

GoFundMe: Coombes Family - Rescued at Sea

From an anonymous serving MCDOA member:

"Rob,

I read about Pat Coombes and his family’s ordeal in The Times.  While it’s easy to be a ‘Monday morning quarterback’ in terms of reflecting on the fine line between adventure and irresponsibility the simple fact is that they are in a tight spot and need a bit of help.  I myself will be donating a day’s diving pay to the fund and perhaps our generous community might consider doing the same.  After all, none of us are terribly far from our own ‘hero to zero’ moment…  

By all means stick this on the news page; preferably anonymised but happy to have it attributed to me if you don’t ‘do’ anonymous!"

10 Jan 17 - Awards of LS&GC medal and clasp

Congratulations to CPO(D) G W Grayson on being gazetted for the award of the clasp to the Long Service & Good Conduct medal and to CPO(MW) S Baxter on being gazetted for the award of the Long Service & Good Conduct medal..

7 Jan 17 - ENS Cowan (ex-HMS Sandown) joins SNMCMG1

The Naval Today website contains this article reporting that ENS Admiral Cowan (ex-HMS Sandown) has joined Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1) which normally operates in the Baltic.  The Estonian minehunter is named after the Royal Navy's Admiral Sir Walter Henry Cowan who helped Estonia and Latvia fight for independence from the Russian Empire.  Admiral Cowan commanded a light cruiser squadron sent to the Baltic in 1919 to help keep sea routes open for the two countries.

ENS Admiral Cowan (ex-HMS Sandown)

(Estonian Navy)

6 Jan 17 - Fire destroys former HMS Ledsham

The Forces TV website contains this article reporting that the former Ham class inshore minesweeper HMS Ledsham has been destroyed by fire.  She was berthed at Deptford where she had become the centre of an artist's cooperative called the Minesweeper Collective which comprised a printing studio and venue for art and music events.  From The Minesweeper blogspot:

History of the Ham Class Minesweeper LEDSHAM

THE MINESWEEPER:

 HMS LEDSHAM (M.2706) was built by J. Boison, in Poole 1954, Hull and launched on 30 June 1954.

Completed 22 March 1955. 

1955 to 1956 Senior Officer's ship 232nd Mine Sweeping Squadron.

1957 to 1965 Operational Reserve, Rosneath.  Then Land Cradled.

1967 Clyde Division RNR as Accomodation Ship.  Possibly did service on the Suez Canal for clearing the mines. 

21 April 1971, she was sold to Metal Recoveries, Newhaven for BU.

She is entirely wooden and a rare surviving example of shipbuilding.

Click on this link to see the minesweeper HMS LEDSHAM coming alongside HMS GANGES, for ten seconds at the very beginning of this archival film from 1956, with the crew and the Duke of Edinburgh on board.

HMS Ledsham at HMS Ganges during a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956

1 Jan 17 - New Year Honours

Congratulations to PO(D) Martin 'Doc' Doherty on being gazetted for his appointment as an MBE (Ordinary Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Military Division of the New Year Honours.

The full list of military honours and awards is available here:

The Military Division of the New Years Honours list 2017