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NEWSLETTER
1/96
Dear.
. .
I send out two Newsletters each year, one in the Spring and
one In the Autumn.
At the moment I am preparing the Spring Newsletter while the
East wind howls outside, bringing the temperature down to
below zero, and sounding ~re like a harbinger of a cruel winter.
This causes me to look forward eagerly to our annual dinner
which should coincide with balmier weather.
The
dinner will be held on Saturday May 18th in the Royal Sailors
Rome Club,Queen St:,Portsmouth.This year,for the first time,
it will be held in the Nuffield Lounge (on the right of the
main foyer) Instead of in the main dining room. The time 1730
for 1800.
The menu, chosen by the Committee is: -Crofters Soup * Roast
Beef wi th Yorkshire Pudding Roast and Croquette Potatoes
Broccoli and Baby Carrots Fresh Fruit Sal ad with Cream Coffee
and hats A glass of wine will be served during the dinner,
and further wines may be purchased from the waitresses. Provision
can be made for those who are vegetarians, or who require
a special menu.
The dinner will be preceded by a minute's silence In memory
of those who cannot be with us, and this will be followed
by a toast to Barham. For the toast a tot of rum will be provided
for each male diner, and a glass of sherry for each lady.
The actual cost of the dinner itself is £15.75 per head but
as the Association's funds are reasonably healthy, due to
generous donations and a substantial legacy, the Committee
have decided that H. N. S. Barham survivors should pay only
£5 per head for a ticket and Associate Members and guests
£15. If you wish to attend will you please complete the attached
slip and send it to me with the appropriate remittance before
May 8th.
Cheques
should be made out to HMS.Barham Survivors Association. Applications
for tickets should be accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.
To facilitate the preparation of a table plan please PRINT
your name and the name(s) of your guest(s) clearly on the
attached slip. Please also state the name(s) of those with
whom, or near whoa you wish to sit. It has been decided that
we should hold a raffle after the dinner, and all contributions
will be gratefully received You are again reminded that the
dinner Is also our A.G.M. and it therefore provides an opportunity
for anyone to comment on the way that the Association is organised
and run.
It Is also an opportunity to propose the replacemnt of any
member of the Committee, or to reinforce the Committee by
joining it.
The
post of Secretary is still open, and there is a vacancy; for
at least one other Committee member. Please therefore consider:
volunteering for one 0± these vacancies, or as a replacement
for any o~ the existing members.
A booking has been made to hold the 1997 dinner in the Nuffield
Lounge of the Club on 17th May 199?. It is hoped that as many
as possible will attend the Morning Service in St: Ann's Church,
in the Dockyard, at 1000 on Sunday May 19th (1996). On 18th
October 1995 the Association was represented at the annual
Seafarer's Service in St: Paul's Cathedral by George Parker,
Bill and Eileen Graves, Joy Fisher and Phyllis Coleman. When
the Field of Remembrance was opened at Westminster Abbey on
9th November 1995 three poppy crosses and two badge crosses,
in memory of those who lost their lives in the ship, were
planted in the R.N. and R.M. sections by George Parker. George
also arranged for a poppy wreath to be laid at his local church.
Mrs. Blake, the niece of Royal Marine Kenneth Gurney (who
lost his life in the ship) took part in a Remembrance Day
parade and laid a wreath in memory of Earham at the Cenotaph
in her home town of Sandbach,in Cheshire. Our Remembrance
and Wreath Laying Service held in Westminster Abbey on Saturday
25th November 1995,was again well attended. Slips were returned
indicating that 125 people would be attending the service,
and although it was impossible to carry out a count at least
that number were present.
The service was sincerely and sympathetically conducted by
thc resIdent canon, Canon Donald Gray. During the service
the Association's standard was paraded by George Parker. The
beautifully prepared wreath was again donated by "Flowers
by Patricia" of Morden,Surrey, and was laid at the foot of
one of the candlesticks by two of our survivors, Tommy Cropp
and David Holmes.
A
wreath in the form of a White Ensign was again donated by
John Cross and was laid at the foot of the other candlestick.
Among
those attending was Mrs.Hockaday,the 94 year old widow of
the ship's schoolmaster, who lost his life in the ship, and
the great grandson of Surgeon Commander Sorley, who also lost
his life in the ship. The Surgeon Commander's granddaughter
asked whether it was possible to introduce her to someone
who had known her grandfather.
After all these years I had little hope but I introduced her
to Cdr: Wolfe who, it transpired, not only knew her grandfather
but had played tennis with him.
Another welcome attender was Graham Usher, the son of Professor
Usher,to whom I had referred In Newsletter 1/95,Grahaxn, wbo
also has Barham as a Christian name, Is to be ordained, and
is due to take up a curacy in a church just outside Middlesbrough.
He
visited his future church and was amazed to find that it had
a stained glass window dedicated to a midshipman who had lost
his life in HMS Barham The service was also attended by members
of the H.M.S.Griffin Association, who also joined a group
of us who went far a natter and a cup of tea In the Union
Jack Club after the service.
One
of the members of the "Griffins",Stan Deighton, took a half
dozen photographs during the service, mainly of the wreath
laying and the standard, and I have passed them on to those
involved. They wish me to thank Stan on their behalf.
From time to time I receive letters asking if I have any knowledge
or specific members of Barham's ship's company I usually reply
that in a battleship it was impossible to get to know anyone
other than members or one's own branch.
I must therefore as~ whether anyone has any knowledge,or memories,
of the following :- Ldg: Sea: Ernest Webb,and Ord: Sea: Albert
Smith (sometimes known as "Joey"),both of whom lost their
lives in the ship. Wallace Buff,a survivor, who was an Ord:
Sea: at the time of the sinking. Jackie Stones who had served
in the ship and was probably an A.B. (gunnery).
I am always delighted to find new Associate Members and have
recently added two to our list.They are The Han: Anthony Colville,
whose father was the Flag Lieutenant in Barham at the end
of the First World War, and Samuel Booth who lost his twin
cousins, Royal Marines James and William Littleford, when
the ship was sunk.
It is with equal sadness that I have to list those Members
and Associate Members who have passed away since the last
Newsletter was issued. William Rogers,who had earlier been
an attender at our dinners.He suffered a stroke and had been
resident in a nursing home some time before his death. Steve
Ketteridge (in Austral1a~.Steve did not serve in Barham but
was a member of H.M.A.S.Nizam's ship's company when she picked
up our survivors.
A
very pro British regular correspondent he regarded it as an
honour to have helped in saving the lives of our shipmates.
Ernie Jones ~1n Australia).Ernie, one of our survivors, attended
our earlier dinners before emigrating to Australla.He remained
a constant correspondent until prevented by Ill health. rhe
correspondence was then continued by his wife Nay. Ernie wrote
several touching poems,some of which were read out at our
dinners, and one of which appeared in the order of service
on our 5Oth Anniversary. Albert Ratclife.Albert,one of our
Associate Members was an attendee at the Remembrance Services
in Westminster Abbey.
Ken White, another of our survivors, Ken was a Writer at the
time 0± the sinking former attendee at the Abbey services
he bad been out of touch with us for some time. I was notified
of his death by his son. Ted Wilkinson an Associate Member
who did not attend the dinners or services but who was a contributor
to the Association funds. Eric Gash, one of our survivors,
who was a regular attender at our earlier dinners but ill
health prevented him from attending in recent years.
In the Daily Telegraph, some little while ago, I saw an obituary
notice for Lt: Cdr: Hughie Hodgkinson.Lt: Cdr: Hodgkinson
was the 1st Lt: of H.M.S.Hotspur, who picked up most of our
survivors, He made a vivid (voice) recording of the sinking
of the ship, which was rewritten in Denis Muskett's book "Tubal
Cain'. Letters of condolence were sent to all bereaved families,
and where appropriate a donation was made to a charity. that
Aforce Following on from my mention in the last Newsletter
that Cdr Craig Waller had suggested that a "flotilla of oak
trees should be planted in the National Memorial Arboretum
in memory of the ships that ±crmed the 5th Battle Squadron
four of our members submitted contributions.
These together with the £100 donated from our funds should
provide almost enough for Barham's oak tree. Unfortunately
Cdr: Craig Wailer's letter to Navy News seeking further contributions
was published incorrectly and gave the impression that the
trees were to commemorate the ships' activities during World
War 1 and not their activities throughout the whole of their
service. His correcting letter does not appear to have been
published.
I
have in the past commented on the appearance of the name Earhamin
unexpected places. I have recently been informed that there
is a nursing home called Barham Manor in Western Parade Soutbsea.
We have of course all followed the career of Lifeboat Barham,
with -interest, since its launch, and the Coxswain and members
of her crew have been welcome members at our dinners. Sadly
she has now been replaced by a more modern boat at Gorleston
on Sea.
I understand however that she is not being scrapped
but is being put in reserve and may b~ used on the West coast
of Ireland. John Cross maintains our friendship with the crew
and has been to sea in the new bcat,named u5~ma Eeta",meaning
"we are working together" Earlier I mentioned Steve Ketteridge
of H.M.S.Nizam; Steve was,of course,a member 0± the N Class
Destroyers Association, in.~ Australia. i correspond with
the Secretary of the Association and. send him copies of our
Newsletter, Just before Christmas he sent me a card containing
a photograph of a plaque commemorating the N Class Destroyers
which was to be dedicated in the North East corner of Garden
Island on February 22nd.Besides bearing the names of the ships
the plaque also shows their battle horiours.
It also pays tribute to what the Australians call "The Scrap
Iron Flotilla",H.M.S.Stuart and some of the V's and W's,and
also the Q Class. Before I finish I wish to thank all those
very kind people who send me books and blocks of stamps throughout
the year. Although I always write to thank those who make
cash donations, unless asked not to do so, Ifeel that writing
to thank the givers of stamps defeats the object.
They are of course gratefully received, and are a great help
towards preserving our funds, A member of the British Legion
who borrowed my copy of the photo of Barham entering Grand
Harbour,Malta, to have it copied, has given me the negative.
It is therefore available if anyone wishes to borrow it to
make a further
Yours Sincerely
Percy Cullum
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