Crossed the Bar

‘Crossing the Bar’ is a term generally used by the military/ex-military and more specifically the Royal Navy to politely inform and advise of a person that has died.

The term is taken from a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson as meaning to cross the “sandbar” between the tide or river of life, with its outgoing “flood,” and the ocean that lies beyond death, the “boundless deep,” to which we return. The “Pilot” being God.

He wrote the poem after a serious illness while at sea, crossing the Solent from Aldworth to Farringford on the Isle of Wight.

Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Rank/RateNameDateDates Onboard
LieutLeslie E AYLING28/09/20051966-69
ABPeter (Pearl) BARLEY09/04/20221959-61
CdrRichard J BATES06/04/20221966-69
ERA1Ken BEALES04/01/20181966-69
LSAGordon BOLANDJan 20211964-66
LRO(G)Martin BOLAND20061964-66
LSBrian (Robbie) BURNS13/11/20221964-66
RSKen (Kit) CARSON31/12/20121966-69
ABRod CHANNELL18/01/20241944-46
ABChris CHYNOWETH12/09/20171966-69
LMEM(M)Ray CLINGANMay 20181959-61
LM(E)Roger DAVAGE27/03/20211966-69
ABKeith (Walt) DISNEY09/11/20161966-69
ABGordon (Jan) DERGESNK1964-66
ABBill ELLIOTT06/03/20181945-46
LMAVic (Doc) GRAINGE19941966-69
George HALE13/10/20181961-62
TelJohn HEDGES21/07/20111945-46
ABRoy HEIRONS30/06/20221966-69
LSADerek (Taff) HUGHESDec 20241959-61
AB(QA2)Michael (Jock) INNES05/09/20181964-66
Lt CdrJames V KIDD20/11/20051966-69
Po(Sea)Richard (Dick) LALAND09/10/20191945-46
ABKen LAND05/02/20051966-69
POSA(S)Donald LOVERIDGE26/06/20171966-69
A/POELAlastair (Pincher) MARTINJuly 20201961-62
Cook(S)Donny (Jock) MARSHALL20011966-69
PO WtrJohn MEDLAND19/08/20141966
Sub LieutHoward Jock MITTON08/10/20201966-69
M(E)1Peter MOONMay 20171961-62
LieutPeter C D NORMAN25/02/20141966-69
ABTommy NOTCUTT19761966-69
LieutDavid M ODDIE23/02/20221964-66
ABKen (Taff) PERRYMANFeb 20201966-69
ABGerald (Blossom) PETCHEYAug 20211966-69
SPO(V)John ROADKNIGHT04/07/20231958-59
RO2(T)Ronald Mansell SMITH19/01/20201966-69
ABAnthony (Soapy) WATSON22/04/20101959-61
LSBrackley (Ginge) WARNESNK1966-69
PO WtrJohn WILLIS30/05/20071966-69
LEMPete (Scurrs) WHELLAMS20151956-58

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