2018 Reunions and loads of chat by Mike Crowe

Greetings Shipmates and a very Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all.

 

Very many thanks for the good wishes you have sent me and also the contributions and suggestions, the system works because YOU want it to work, and it works even better if you copy this out to your members or, contact them to have their email address put on the circulation list.

 

Read on, lots of good stuff!!

 

 

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25 YEARS OF RN SHIPMATES

 

***------NEW FOR 2018------***

 

            Yes believe it or not, the massive card index filing system started 25 years ago, followed a couple of years later with the Quarterly ‘Lost Shipmates’ newspaper. How many of you have still got the original one, put together on an old Amstrad PCW? And how many of you visited the stands I had at the International Festivals of the Seas in Portsmouth? The last one in 2005 was one of the best.

 

            It was the cost of printing, envelopes and the ever rising cost of postage which put a stop to the ‘Lost Shipmates’ magazine, also the ability of Associations to do their own web sites to say their own thing.

 

            And in all of this time, shipmates and their relatives when a shipmate has crossed the bar, have been contacting me still seeking old shipmates or information. I have therefore started ---- FOR 2018 ----, our 25th year, a new *** SHIPMATES SEEKING *** system. Rather like the old card index filing system, but FREE and no expense, just a bit more finger work on the keyboard.

 

SHIP

YEAR

SHIPMATE

LOOKING FOR

BRANCH

FROM

email

delete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collingwood

1958

Mike Crowe

John McGlynn

Electrical

Glasgow?

[email protected]

Jan-19

 

The ships will be in chronological order, then in date order.

A few do’s and a few don’ts. DO follow the above format. DO keep it brief. DON’T try to get me to add a story, it’s a single line with the ship and date the important thing. REMEMBER that this goes out with the Reunions listings to HUNDREDS of H.M.Ship’s Associations, Royal Naval Association Branches, RNA HQ who update their Reunions listings, Navy News, (who extract and post reunions if there is space), quite a few Royal British Legions, (have I got yours?) and ever such a lot of individuals who contact me. The line will be displayed for a year, so my entry will be deleted in January 2019

 

Who are you looking for? Secretaries, make this an announcement at your next meeting.

 

Just email details as my entry to me ASAP, time is galloping on with ‘The speed of a thousand Gazelles’. (Anybody recognise that saying?)

 

And something else new for you ......... read on.

 

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A ROYAL NAVY REUNION FOR THE UNATTACHED

 

I have had it suggested to me that I organise a reunion for the ex Royal Navy men and women who are ‘not attached to any Ship’s Association’ and therefore are missing out on the camaraderie of a get together of like minded people. Friday to Monday. Friday meeting up and swinging the lamp, Saturday coach trip to somewhere interesting. Gala Dinner Saturday night. .......? Local Sea Cadet Band to give a display and hold a raffle for them? ... Sunday a remembrance service in a local church/cathedral?

 

Shrinking Association? No Association? All join in together? Wives and Partners welcome.

 

Let me know your thoughts ASAP with numbers to [email protected]

 

No commitment to let me know your thoughts, I just want to see if there is the interest.

 

 

 

You have received a message via your web form from:86.180.63.201 mailto:[email protected]

 

  Message reads:

 

  Hi guys, just a quick heads up, I am in the process of creating the Royal Naval Association Riders branch. This group is open to all serving and ex serving members of the RN & RM as well as associate members.

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/253679205005972/?ref=bookmarks

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You have received a message via your web form from :86.144.213.27 mailto:[email protected]

 

  Message reads:

 

  Hi

Just to let you know that the Aircrewmans Association site at www.aircrewman.org.uk is checked EVERY DAY (boring huh)!

 

D A WORTH

Webmaster ACA 

 

 

 

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On Saturday, 2 December 2017, 10:04, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:

You have received a message via your web form from:109.152.43.112 mailto:[email protected]

 

  Message reads:

 

  My dad - who does not use the internet - served on HMS Vestel - minesweeper - torpeoded off Phuket 1945, and earlier the Ausonia. I am happy for you to put this on the website and I will organise a reunion if anyone else contacts the site.

 

Thanks 

 

To

[email protected]

Today at 11:46

Greetings Chris Julia

 

HMS Vestel was an Algerine Class minesweeper and there is an Algerine Association, but I can find no contact for it. I know that it is a big Association and that they have reunions.

 

I will put your posting on the next notice I send out and hope for the best.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike

 

Any offers folks? Contact for the Algerine Association?

 

 

 

‘Admiral Nelson won the Battle of Trafalgar without electricity”

(Unless anybody was there at the time and can prove me wrong, preferably with photos)

Shipmates, since then things have changed and even right up to date things are changing. The Electrical Branch became a stand alone branch in 1947, “The Greenies”. This branch covered the EMs who dealt with the General Electrics and REMs who dealt with the Radio and Radar etc. The ‘Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association’ covered both. However the Royal Navy has moved on and the ‘Weapons Engineering Branch’ came into being covering the ‘R’ side of things.

Therefore, at the request and suggestion of the Royal Navy, the Association has come right up to date as “The Royal Naval Electrical and Weapons Engineering Branch Association”.

Still covering general electrics, radio and radar from pre 1947 and subsequent Electronics right up to the 21st Century

So if you, the reader or anyone you know were ‘Electrical’ in some form or other, contact the Association, go to the next reunion, (bring your wife, partner or neighbour’s wife) and both of you can expect a good ‘Lamp Swinging’ time.

http://www.rneweba.org.uk/index.html

 

Katie Smythe <[email protected]>

To

[email protected] [email protected]

 

Today at 14:26

Hello both,

 I wonder whether you are able to help me?

 We are hoping to run a feature about HMS Hermes for its centenary so I am keen to acquire a selection of images of the vessel. Could you please let me know whether you have anything on file that you could send to me? I have found some at various archive agencies but would love to see some more shots, especially interiors if possible?

 Kindest regards

 Katie

 Katie Smythe

 Daily Mail

Features picture desk

020 3615 1194

Can anybody help? I have sent some info to Katie.... Mike .... (The National Press have found us!!!!)

You have received a message via your web form from:2.96.207.51 mailto:[email protected]

 

  Message reads:

 

  I am trying to ascertain if any of my old shipmates are still alive and if so would like to make contact. During 1944/1947 I served aboard HMS WOLFE a submarine depot ship based in Malta. Prior to that I was trained at HMS 'Ganges' and then based at Chatham...was also at Isle of Man trained as Radar operator

Sincerly

Able Seaman Harry M.Gamp. 

 

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 Is yours here?

 

http://www.rnshipmates.co.uk/reunions.php

 

If not, it’s because I don’t know about it, and if I don’t know, neither do a heck of a lot of shipmates.

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