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Last Commission 1966 -69

Best wishes to George Tully who is recovering  from a triple heart bypass operation.  Speedy recovery George.

Last Commission 1966 -69

Jacqueline Land, widow of ex AB (R) Ken Land has advised us of Ken's death in Spain from cancer  on 5 February 2005.  Ken spent 22 years in the RN and attained the rank of MAA.   R.I.P.  

Medals

If you served onboard HMS Carysfort out the Far East between 31 August 1957 and 12 August 1966  you may be entitled to the Pingat Jasa Malayasia Medal.  For further details click on the medal

1964-66 Commission

Can anyone help with a photo and any dits about Acting CPO Dave Reid the ship's Coxswain and ship's diver 21 Jan 64 to 27 Jun 66.  At the Seychelles incident when 32 men were hospitalised after eating Spam, Reid took charge of the shore party and liased with the hospital and staff ashore, displaying a high order of leadership.  For this he received the Commander in Chief's Commendation.  After leaving the ship he went to Drake 28 Jun 66 to 17 Aug 66 and then to Condor 18 Aug 66 to 25 Mar 67.  Whilst at Condor he was awarded the BEM in the New Years honours list, presumably for his service aboard Carysfort.    See the Coxswain's C-in-C Middle East's commendation

Yours Aye,  Barry Scott

PS read my website at www.navysong.co.uk

Last Commission 1966-69

Dusty Miller ex PO Seaman onboard  has written his detailed and interesting memoirs of the last commission

First Commission 1945-46

Read George Tayor's interesting ditty published on the 1945-46 page  

I now have HMS Carysfort  blazer badges available for £10 including post and packaging. Click on the icon above or email me at hmscarysfort@fsmail.net for more info.  They're going fast so don't delay getting your order in.

Not many left and I and won't be re-ordering any more in the near future.  If you are considering buying one - don't delay - it may be too late.

JENNY - BEM

Generations of sailors who visited Hong Kong will mourn the death of Jenny.  She was a much loved figure and an incomparable institution for well over half a century.  She died peacefully on 18 February 2009 at the age of 92.

Much of her life was an enigma.  However, the authors of her twenty seven Certifcates of Service generally agreed that she was born in a sampan in Causeway Bay in 1917.  Her mother, Jenny One, according to her one surviving Certificate of Service, which was copied in 1946 from an older, much battered and largely illegible document, "provided sampans for the general use of the Royal Navy, obtained sand, and was useful for changing money".  Behind her perpetual great gold-toothed grin Jenny complained "I velly chocker.  All time work in sampan.  No lead or lite".  But what she lacked in education she made up more than a hundredfold with her immense and impressive experience in ship husbandry; her unfailing thoroughness and apparently inexhaustible loyalty and integrity; her infectious enthusiasm and her innate cheerfulness.

Officially Jenny's date of volunteering was recorded as 1928.  From then until 1997, when the colony became a Special Administrative Region of China and the Royal Navy moved out, she and her team of tireless girls who at one time numbered three dozen, unofficially served the Royal and Commonwealth Navies in Hong Kong by cleaning and painting their ships, attending their buoy jumpers, and dressed in their best, waiting with grace and charm at cocktail parties.  Captains and Executive Officers would find fresh flowers in their cabins and newspapers  delivered daily.  Many a departing officer received a generous gift as a memento of Jenny.  For all of this she steadfastly refused ever to take any payment.  Instead, she and her Side Party earned their keep selling soft drinks to the ships companies and accepting any item of scrap which could be found on board. 

Jenny's huge collection of photographs - too big she said to be put into books - she stored in a large envelope.  They dated back to the mid 20th century and showed her in the ships she so faithfully served with Buffers and Side Parties along with grateful officers, many of whom became distinguished Admirals.  In two thick albums she proudly kept her letters of reference, all without exception filled with praise and affection for her.  One was a commendation from the Duke of Edinburgh for her work in the Royal Yacht during her visit to Hong Kong in 1959.  She had a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal presented to her in 1938 by the Captain of the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire and a Bar to the LS & GCM from the frigate Leander in 1975.

Most treasured of all Jenny's distinctions was the British Empire Medal awarded her in the Hong Kong Civilian List of the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1980 and with which, under her formal name of Mrs Ng Muk Kah she was invested by the then Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Murray Maclehose.

In latter years Hong Kong was no longer visited by the great fleets of the warships which gave jenny and her Side Party their livelihood and she found it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.  Yet she stayed fit and willing to undertake any work available.  To the end of the Royal Navy's presence in Hong Kong there could be seen in the shadow of the towering Prince of Wales building within the Naval Base, a small round figure in traditional baggy black trousers and high-collared smock with a long pigtail and eternal smile who, regardless of time remained it seemed for ever - just Jenny.

R.I.P. JENNY BEM

Can you help?  I've recently received the following email from Captain Mohan Kuruvilla of the Indian Navy.  

"I am an ex Indian Naval Officer.  I would appreciate if you could kindly send me the wordings of the Bosun's call Waikie waikie....shake your leg"

Can any of you old salts help?  If so please email me and I'll pass it on.  Thanks.

Last Commission 1966 -69

Barry Notcutt, nephew of AB Tommy Notcutt has advised that Tommy died of a heart attack at the age of 33 in 1976.  R.I.P. 

1961-62 Commission

George Hale passed away on the 13th October 2008. R.I.P.

Torrey Canyon 1967

Can you help?  Dr Sam Willis is a maritime historian and a Fellow of Exeter University.  He is giving a lecture at the National Maritime Museum in FALMOUTH in October 2008 and would be grateful if anyone from the 1966-69 commission has any photographs or memories of the Torrey Canyon disaster they would like to share with him.  You can contact him direct by clicking the email icon below:

First Commission 1945-46

Bill Elliot, AB first commission born 19th October 1926 died on the 6th March 2008.  R.I.P.

Patrick Boniface, who has had a book published by Maritime Books on Battle Class destroyers is trying to find out if there is enough material to do the same for CA Class destroyers.  He'd welcome any help you're able to give him in the way of information or photos.  You can contact him at:                                     

1964-66 Commission

At this time, Ron Downes is mourning his son who was lost in Afghanistan last weekend.  There is a book of condolence on the Manchester Evening News website.  A shipmate whose son was proud to serve his country.     Peter Johnson - 12th June 2007

First Commission 1945-46

Rod Channell ex AB first commission born 18th January 1924 passed away on 6th June 2006 aged 82 years.  R.I.P. 

Last Commission 1966-69

Steven Ayling, son of Lt (SD)(WE) L E Ayling - WEO 1966-68 has advised us of the  death of his Father on 28th September 2005.

This plaque in recognition of Leslie Ayling's charitable work was unveiled in The Church of England Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Gibraltar a year after his death at a memorial service held there.  The Leslie Ayling Charitable Trust is intended to support Gibraltar's poor and disadvantaged.   However, from London to Ceuta and Gibraltar he cared for others anonymously.  He gave discreetly, not just donations, but his time and himself. 

For full obituary  

LOST OPPOS

(1) Steve Thatcher would like Ron (Scouse) Kidd to get in touch with  him.  

(2) John  Daley would like to hear from anyone who knew his Grandfather Lawrence Daley who was Chief Stoker onboard.  

1956-58 Commission 

Trevor Akeroyd (Akers) is looking for Phil Sharp his "townie", schoolmate and both at Ganges.

1959-61 Commission  

(1) Tom "Mack" McCallion  is looking for PO Dunlop, AB Higgins and AB Voss.

(2) Taff Hughes is looking for AB J E Thomas from Cardiff and LEM DC Chapple from Lancashire.

(3) Mick Kester wants Mack McCallion to know that he last saw Joe Voss in Plymouth 2 - 3 years ago and will try and chase this up.

(4) Brummy Holmes is looking for EM1 W Williams (Brum) last heard of living in Blackpool and EM1 Ron Abell.

1966-69 Commission  

(1) Bryant Delafield who lives in Baton Rouge Louisana is trying to locate REM1 D J Stevenson.  They met in Subic Bay, Phillipines in 1968.  Anyone who knows his whereabouts please Bryant by clicking on the icon.  Thank you. 

(2) Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Norman Foster and Ron Tutt please email.  I'm working at the house of Commons (17 years).  If you're in the Big Smoke come and say Hi.  Take care.  Buster Brown - AB Gunner - last commission.  Sorry to hear about James Kidd.  We will all miss his whistling?

(3) Graham Holmes is looking for Tubby Aitken who was best man at his wedding 30 years ago.

(14 Sep 2004 - Graham has now caught up with Tubby - thanks to Jimmy Bond - - though we're still waiting for Tubby and Jimmy to register their details on the website!  

(4) John Shorter is looking for Joe Ridley. They were both in the stokers mess.

(5) Bunge (Scouse) Williams would be interested to hear from Norm (Flossie) Foster from Spennymoor, Co Durham, Tommy Notcutt. (Tommy's nephew Barry told us in February 2009 that Tommy died from a heart attack in 1976 at the age of 33 - R.I.P. Tommy) Eddie Evans (where are you Eddie?), Tex Hatton, Blossom Petchey, Little Harry, George Tully or anyone that remembers him.  (7 September 2005 Norman Foster has got in touch and 20 September George Tully) (14 October 2005 Blossom Petchey also contacted) 

(6) Ken Beales would like to hear from Mech2 then 1 Brian Hurditch.     (8 June 2005 - Ken has caught up with Brian with thanks to Len Inglis and they met up at the reunion in October 2006).   

(7) Forbes (Charley) Blanchet is looking for R T  Knights (Bogie), (Bogie got in touch March 2009 but I no longer have your email address Charley.  Click on the email icon to contact Bogie    R McGuire (Mac), Andy Anderson and Chris Page (Ship's Diver).  (Dec 2006 Chris Page got in touch).

If you can help please click email icon below and I will pass the details on.