click email below to send your message ...........
Regular browsers should notice a difference in this page. I've been trying to tidy it up so now there is a separate section for Lost Oppos and Obituaries. Click on the buttons below to view these pages.
Veterans ID Cards
The Government has announced
in February 2019 the introduction of a new ID card for armed forces veterans
which will help them access specialist support and services. View the
full announcement here: 
I see my note below scribed in 2016 regarding a 50 year anniversary reunion fell on deaf ears apart from Rodney (Abby) Absolon offering to host a reunion down under in Sydney. Bit too far and expensive perhaps for us old codgers but thanks anyway Abby for the thought. Anyway next year will be another 50th year milestone ie the de-commissioning of the ship so I'll ask again if anyone is interested in sorting a reunion out. 50 years is a long time and we're not getting any younger! I remember a comment in the last Guest Book from Brigham Young before the 2006 reunion that The Beatles were 4 in number in 1966 but had been reduced to 2. In other words don't delay and get in there before it's too late. Recently and 12 years later Alan Longmuir from the 1970's teeny pop band Bay City Rollers and way after our time onboard has recently passed away so perhaps that's another reminder. With that in mind If you would like to organise a reunion or can think of anyone who would like to do it then please email me at hmscarysfort@gmail.com Unrelated to this Bungy Edwards (Clubs) has just told me he has bought an aluminium Carysfort ship's crest from eBay recently.
Mike Crowe's Monthly Reunion List and RN Shipmates
Owing to a recent change in
Data Protection rules we are unable to display Mike's monthly list of
Reunions to display on our website. But it's not the end of RN
Shipmates and Reunion notifications. He will continue to update it and
you can view it or contact him by using this link:
Guest Book
The Guest Book has been offline since around Nov 2016 and I'll try to explain why without boring you to death. You are probably not aware but when you set up a website you have to pay an annual fee for the domain name ie HMS Carysfort as well as renting webspace for the website on the internet (similar to Council tax - the bigger house/space you need - the higher the fee). To have a Guest Book on a website you also have to find another provider and in my case a one off fee was paid when the website was set up in 2004 to Guestbookworld.com which was run by Leslie Wright a singer/songwriter from Arkansas. This was about the only Guest Book available that was ad free. Just over a year ago Leslie who is now a web designer - check her website out at www.lesliewrightproductions.com sold the rights to Guest Book World for a four figure sum and the new owner decided to start charging an annual maintenance fee - probably to recoup their costs - which I rather grudgingly paid bearing in mind the original deal ie "one off fee". This dit is getting even more boring and I apologise for this but you need to know when Carysfort's website is updated by me a copy is saved on a memory stick/USB/flash drive/disc whatever you want to call it from the last backup. Unfortunately when the Guest Book was being transferred/updated to another server by the new Guest Book owner this process failed. When they tried to re-install it they found the backup disc was corrupted. They tried their hardest to recover the Guest Book but it's gone forever along with the historical entries made over the last 13 years which is really disappointing to put it mildly. We have also lost the tally of the number of visitors to the website which was around 98000 at that time. The Guestbookworld.com owner is absolutely distraught about the situation (but not nearly as much as I am).
However, we have to move on so now in 2017 we have a new Guest Book and we'll have to see how that goes. Please make an effort to sign it. It doesn't cost you anything and lets others see you are still around.
Jim Donaldson 7th February 2017
"C" Class Destroyer Association - Facebook page
For any of you old salts on Facebook the above newly started group may be of interest to you.
John Garrity wrote on 11th July 2016. Many thanks for the help from your website. As a result I have managed to get a Service Medal for my father Ronald Thomas (Yorkie) Garrity who served in the first commission.
It will be 50 years this October since HMS
Carysfort re-commissioned for the last time (6th October 1966). Who amongst
this fine ship’s company is willing to step up to the plate and organise
the 50th anniversary bash for the last commission? Come on! Are we going to let this historic
occasion simply slip by in a wave of lethargy or are we going to get a grip
and celebrate it in true Carysfort style. It's not too late to start getting
it underway so let’s be hearing from you. Is it going to be in
France (Ginge Orme) or Malta (Denis Gilmore) Pompey (Flossie Foster) or
anywhere else? 
Former Lieutenant R A R (Tony) Hill RN has
provided a copy of this commission book 
to view.
The late Peter (Fred) Gannon
Tony Leeks is trying to
gather as much info as he can about Peter, who served in the penultimate
commission for his son. Peter died in a house fire where all his
Naval records and photos were destroyed. If you can help please
contact Tony, who is also ex RN and you can do this by clicking this
icon:
Your help is appreciated.
Lee Garrett is looking for
information on his father Ken (Gary) Garrett aka Gary Whistler who served
onboard for part of the last commision. He may have been a TAS rating
because he used to mention "Blossom" to his family (Blossom
Petchey). He may also have been a ship's diver. Lee
would love to hear from anyone that knew him onboard as he is trying to put
together the family history for his Mum's 70th birthday. You can
contact Lee direct by clicking on this icon
Keith Wren of the last
commission bought a copy of the 1959-61 Commission Book at a car boot sale
and sent it to me some time ago. If anyone from that commission
doesn't have a copy of the book Keith is willing to let you have it for free
but you would need to meet the postage costs. For further details
me.
Footnote: It's been claimed by Eddie Howe 3rd February 2016
Chris Wright who is the son
of Alexander Robert Wright (Brummy) would like to hear from anyone from the
first commission who knew his father on the first commission. Chris
thinks he was a Petty Officer. You can contact Chris
direct
Nick Bailey recently got in touch. He was a Lieutenant onboard for this commission; action OOW and Ship's Office and played rugby for the ship. He transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1970 and retired as a Captain RAN. He now lives in Canberra.
This photo has been sent by Richard Bentley who is the late Chief Mechanician David "Dick" Bentley's son. Dick crossed the bar in 1989 and the family are keen to have some background information on why he his having his beard trimmed and when this event took place. They thought the picture was published in a Brisbane newspaper so I am guessing it was probably taken during the 1959-61 commission when the ship visited Brisbane. One other piece of information is Dick's run ashore oppo onboard was called Bert Gill. If you can help please email me and I will pass the information on to Dick's family. Thanks.
Change of email address
Please note the new email address to send photos/dits for the website is hmscarysfort@gmail.com with immediate effect. The old email address of hmscarysfort@fsmail.net will no longer be monitored. Thanks.
The above organisation is trying to raise £20000.00 for a major new exhibition entitled HMS-Hear My Story which will recall, celebrate and honour the serving men, women and ships of the last eventful century. Please visit their website for further details:
Do you want to appear on a Channel 4 TV programme?
The following email has been received from Emma Linstead who is a researcher for Remarkable Television (an Endemol Company - the same company who produces Noel Edmonds' "Deal or No Deal" programme "Big Brother" etc etc).
I'm
currently looking for two or more friends that decided to get tattoos in
the 1950s/60s/70s - be that together or at similar times. Perhaps it
was as a symbol of their friendship or one decided to get a tattoo and the
rest followed suit.
What
we are looking to do is a fairly short sequence where our presenter Katie
Piper meets them and finds out about their story and experience, their
motivations for doing it etc. It’s very much a positive, celebratory piece
about tattoos – we’ve already organised filming with a lady that got
tattoos back in the early 1960s and also one of the UK’s oldest living
tattoo artists as part of this history strand. I’m not sure whether
you are familiar with Katie Piper, but she was involved in a tragic acid
attack and Channel 4 has previously covered her road to recovery.
If you’d like any further information, please do get in touch. My direct line is 0208 222 4690.
Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
Kind
regards,
Emma
John
Garrity, son of the late Ronald (Yorkie) Garrity who was a Stoker onboard
for the First Commission would be grateful to hear from anyone who remembers
his Father. You can contact John direct by clicking the email icon
Best wishes to Alan (Pony)
Moore (14 mess) who is being hospitalised in the next week or two to
have a kidney removed having had earlier surgery for another
ailment. Pony is still a fighting fit 72 years old who I had the
pleasure of meeting up with this week for a pint or three in my local pub in
Hartlepool. Last time we met he was 27 years old and although the
figures are reversed he has not changed a bit - Orry Orris you have changed
your email address so if you want to get in touch with Pony click the email
icon
The photo above was taken when Pony was one of King Neptune's helpers at HMS
Carysfort's Crossing the Line Ceremony on 30th January 1968.
Restoration of HMS Cavalier
Please find enclosed attached letter which I have sent out to other Naval Associations with the hope that I can raise funds for the continued maintenance of HMS Cavalier through legacies or donations and hope that you will encourage former ship's companies of HMS Carysfort to give the matter their consideration. Also, I would like to appeal to those who live in the South East and have some spare time available, to assist the current band of volunteers in helping restoring this very fine ship. Engineering skills are not essential, but would be an asset. It has been estimated that the volunteers save Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust around £80,000.00 per annum.
Yours sincerely
Sid Anning sidanning@virginmedia.com
Dear Sir,
Recently, I visited HMS Cavalier
at the invitation of the Chairman Admiral Sir Ian Garnett KCB and his team
to the ‘Leaving a Lasting Legacy Day’ which I found very informative,
and gave those who attended a very good idea and background of Chatham
Historic Dockyard Trust (CHDT) and the challenges it faces, not with just
HMS Cavalier, but all the Historic Ships and artefacts in its possession.
This as you can imagine costs a
huge amount of money, and to put matters into perspective, the Cutty Sark
has had a similar amount of money spent on its refurbishment after the fire,
than the whole of Chatham Dockyard and that of its three Historic Ships in
26 years.
As you will be aware, the costs of
replacing plates, stopping the leaks, and generally keeping HMS Cavalier in
good order costs a considerable amount of money, and there is never enough
to go around – hence CHDT’s ideas of Individuals, Associations, and
Organisation’s leaving a legacy to the Trust.
As we all get older, many Naval
Associations are finding it increasingly difficult to keep going, and
perhaps the Treasurer’s and their Members would perhaps like to consider
donating any residue of funding to a good causes like HMS Cavalier, or
anything else within the Dockyard if they prefer, as every little helps.
If any of you feel that you would
like to help to support and preserve HMS Cavalier, or indeed, anything else
at Chatham Historic Dockyard, or would like to go to a Legacy Day as a guest
of CHDT, please contact Paul Barnard 01634 823844 or email pbarnard@chdt.org.uk
Frank Smith is the recruitment officer for the 8th Destroyer Association - a well respected naval organisation which has members around the country. He is hoping that many ex officers and ratings who served in "C" class Destroyers in the China station between 1945 and 1963 would like to join the association. He is also asking any Royal Naval ex personnel who served in any "C" class Destroyers in other parts of the world to join as well as they would love to hear from you and you could meet many former shipmates. The association now meets in Bridlington (used to be Scarborough) at the beginning of September every year for their reunion and they also produce and send two booklets to members which are well received. Subscriptions are ten pounds per year and if you would like to receive an application form please contact Frank at 2 Rydal Avenue, North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE30 3UG or email him at frankcharity@hotmail.co.uk
Jimmy Green from the 1961-62 commission has managed to purchase the ship's nameplate forty years after she was scrapped. You'll see a photo of this in the 1961-62 ship photo section
HMS Cavalier
We
are delighted to let you know that HMS Cavalier has been crowned “Best
Education Project” in the National Lottery Awards 2010. The winners
of this year's National Lottery Awards were announced at a special
star-studded celebratory Awards event, broadcast live on BBC One from
London's Roundhouse on Saturday 4 September - The National Lottery's Big
Night.
The
winners were chosen by a public vote which took place earlier this summer.
The total number of public votes cast for all the competing projects was in
excess of 192,000.
We
would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those that have shown
their support to HMS Cavalier by voting for us. Without your votes,
this award would not have been possible. With the opening of No.1
Smithery back in July 2010 this has been an important year for The Historic
Dockyard Chatham and winning this award gives great recognition to the hard
work that goes on behind the scenes by our education team to ensure that our
educational visitors (including schools, Scout groups, Sea Cadets and many
others) receive the highest quality experience when visiting the site.
If is also recognition to all the staff and volunteers that dedicate their
time to restoring and ensuring that HMS Cavalier is able to be used as an
important educational resource.
You
can watch the awards event on the BBC iPlayer until Saturday 11th September
if you missed the show (or if you want to see it again!!) by going to http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00tp1wq/The_National_Lotterys_Big_Night/
Once
again thank you for your support
Paul
Paul
Barnard
Fundraising
and Programme Development
Chatham
Historic Dockyard Trust
Tel:
01634 823844
Fax:
01634 823801
Email:
pbarnard@chdt.org.uk
Website: http://www.thedockyard.org.uk
Bungy (Clubs) Edwards, PTI last commission has recently had a hip replacement operation. Hope you will be back doing star jumps soon Bungy.
Best wishes also to George Tully who is recovering from a triple heart bypass operation. Speedy recovery George.
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 
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
Dusty Miller ex PO Seaman onboard has
written his detailed and interesting memoirs of
the last commission
Read George Tayor's interesting ditty
published on the 1945-46 page
BLAZER BADGES
Around 10 or 11 years ago I
ordered 10 of these blazer badges. Thanks to Wal Adamek and Alan
Tully who bought the last two in November 2016. I can re-order them
again if anyone would like them but would need a minimum order of around 6
before doing this as they didn't exactly fly off the shelves. They did
cost around £12.00 including p & p but obviously that was 2004
prices. contact me if interested.
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.
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:
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:
