Naval_Gazer, Bob & List,

N_G: I appreciate the information on the use of searchlights and the explanation of the term 'burning'. It's interesting that the last searchlight unit in the British Army is part of a T.A. unit, the 873rd Movement Light Squadron RE(V). I also note with interest the technique of "Artificial Moonlight" mentioned in the article.

Thanks also for the explanation as to why Denn was carrying the ceremonial sword on Peace Day. I understand the difference between the terms 'Commissioned' and 'Non-Commissioned' as explained in this Wikipedia article, but in Denn's day, what would have been the difference in duties between the rank of Gunner(T) and Commissioned Gunner(T.) - the rank he retired at?

Bob: I have no real objective other than the pure enjoyment of joining up the dots. The moment I saw Denn's Diary I realised it was a document that would lead down many trails, shedding varying amounts of light on the happenings of individual days now long gone - not just in Denn's life but in those people and events he came to be intertwined with.

One of the reasons I keep quoting the day of the week with the extracts is to emphasise that what happened on that day, at that hour, is somehow quantified, locked down in time, if you will.

Does it matter in the great scheme of things who Denn knew off what ship or what ship sailed from Malta on what day? - not a jot! - but, like those films which open with the main character looking back on his youth, the Diary puts this man Thomas Denn in a frame for a few months of his life, together with his world, his time.

As regards to a calligraphic analysis of his writings... well, I feel that unless you live with someone, you never really know them - even then, do you ever really get to know someone's mind? Attempting to make judgements on someone who is long dead seems to me a little pointless. I prefer attempting to view his world through his eyes, leaving his state of mind to himself. I somehow feel that attempting to read the 'man' would be far more of an intrusion that reading his diary.

I don't know if any of this makes sense to you, but I cannot word my motives in this project any other way which makes sense to myself.

I have tried emailing the Imperial and my brother Liam also rang them a few weeks back. I got no response to the email and Liam got the impression that they were not interested in engaging with the search. I suspect it's just a matter of getting to talk to the right person and I have another avenue which is still open. I will also PM 'Flymo' as you suggest - Many thanks for your input on this.

Regards,

Pat
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Web: whitebeamimages.ie
Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

To date, I have enjoyed this fascinating romp through RN life in Malta as seen through Denn's eyes - a sort of human time machine - so soon after the First World War. It was certainly a hotbed of international naval and social activity as well as political intrigue. There is also the focus on technological change. From my own point of view, I have a keen professional interest because, while the guns may have been silenced, there was still the residual mine threat. To quote an old adage, "Mines never surrender!"

Pat - Keep the questions coming. I don't mind the meanderings at all as they have led to some real eye-openers. With regard to your question about the difference in duties between a Gunner (T) and a Commissioned Gunner (T), this may have been a purely hierarchical change with few differences in duties and responsibilities. They still shared the Warrant Officers' mess and Commissioned Warrant Officers didn't enter the Wardroom until 1948 when they were converted to Sub Lieutenants. However, it might have meant that, as a commissioned seaman officer, Denn would have been eligible to exercise military command, i.e. take command and full responsibility for a ship or naval unit. As a Gunner (T), he would have been eligible to take 'charge' but not Command. The difference is subtle but significant and I would need to research the subject further to be sure.
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"The British Army should be a projectile to be fired by the Navy." Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary 1905-1916.

Naval_Gazer and List,

Yes, I agree and while not in the same league as James Bond, the intrigue is still palpable with almost every page!

Thanks once again for the added detail regarding Denn's rank and the difference between Gunner(T.) and Commissioned Gunner(T.)

Today at work, I was given a copy of what appears to be a German forces magazine by one of my colleagues. It is titled "Der Alder" and is dated 22nd July 1941.

While not directly linked to the Diary, I did spot this great German recon image of Alexandria Port - Denn does make reference to ships departing or arriving Malta for and to Alexandria – I thought you guys might be interested:


I have uploaded a recent GE image from roughly the same angle and altitude here:

Does anyone on the list know of any aerial images taken over Malta prior to WWII?

Edited @ 21:54 - I have uploaded a larger 1.69mb version of the top image here which will tolerate more zooming.

Regards,

Pat

Edit inserted @ 15:04, Sunday 01-11-09:

List - sorry the title of the German magazine is "Der Adler" (The Eagle) - I mis-read the gothic font.
_________________
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Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

Last edited by sea_mine on Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

List,

I just found this clip in the British Pathe archive. It shows Valletta Harbour in 1920.

Many of the scenes shown would have been familiar to Denn only months before this footage was shot.

Regards,

Pat
_________________
Web: whitebeamimages.ie
Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

List,

On viewing this still from the above clip, I suspect the structure at top right is the old Barracca Lift, which is referred to on page 3 of this thread by Naval_Gazer with a very good image of the structure. (see here)

This still from the same clip appears to show Barracca Gardens, which as Naval_Gazer states, was the upper destination of the lift.

BTW, has anyone tried to embed video on this forum before? I have tried the following code and none seems to work:




Regards,

Pat
_________________
Web: whitebeamimages.ie
Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

List,

Have been a little remiss of late here as two new items over on the Battlebus forum have needed my attention for the past week or so - for anyone who is interested in the Normandy Invasion, see here (new thread) and here (new info, old thread).

In the entry for Sunday, June 8th 1919, Denn, while in hospital for the second time in the Diary, makes this reference:


This extract is referring to the Sette Giugno, when four Maltese were killed the day before Denn made this entry - Saturday, 7th June 1919.

Does anyone know if the term 'bluejackets' refers to troops, sailors or Royal Marines? I note also Denn refers to the second Lieutenant as the "Loop"; is this term still used in reference to this rank?

Thanks,

Pat
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Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

Never heard the term "loop" before but "bluejackets" would have been RN personnel I believe. It's a hangover from Nelsonian days. Shore raiding parties tended to be Marines and Matelots. Marine uniforms were red jackets and matelots blue jackets.
_________________
Sh1t shot, pumping slop.

Pat - I know it looks like 'the "Loop"' in Denn's diary but I think 'the "Loot"' (i.e. the Army 2nd Lt he mentions) is more probable.
_________________
"The British Army should be a projectile to be fired by the Navy." Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary 1905-1916.

WreckerL, Naval_Gazer & List,

Many thanks for the replies. Yes, looking at the word 'loop' again, it could also be 'loot'.

The following day, Monday 9th June 1919, with Denn still in hospital, I note the following extract:


I can only get fleeting glimpses of HMS Heroic and even then I am not sure each Google hit refers to the same ship. Wikipedia has nothing on her but does make reference to her rescuing passengers off HMHS Britannic after the latter struck a mine and began to sink off the Greek island of Kea on 21 November, 1916.

I also think she was involved in the Gallipoli landings - she is listed on this site, but as I say, I am not sure its the same ship.

Yet another reference to a HMS Heroic is here, listing her as an Armed Boarding Steamer.

Can anyone put some light on this ship?

Wikipedia has this on General Plumer, whom it appears was a very well respected commander in WWI. Note, although Denn refers to him as 'General' Plumer, he appears to have been promoted to Field Marshall just prior to his appointment as Governor of Malta in 1919, a position he held until 1924. He then went on to serve as High Commissioner of Palestine from 1925 to 1928. This article on him adds more insight into the type of man he was.

Regards,

Pat
_________________
Web: whitebeamimages.ie
Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

Pat - According to this document in the National Archives, HMS (sic) Heroic appears to have been in use as a Ministry of Transport vessel in 1916. More about her here:


_________________
"The British Army should be a projectile to be fired by the Navy." Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary 1905-1916.

Naval_Gazer & List,

I appreciate the intel on S.S. Heroic - I see she had Irish connections in her long service.

On Tuesday, 10th June 1919, Denn is discharged from hospital but is not allowed to return to his hotel because of the disturbances ashore. After apparently getting the run around, he finally gets accommodated on one of the ships in the harbour:


I found this on HMS Blenheim on Wikipedia - seems she had an unusual job on a number of occasions transporting dead dignitaries - she was even painted black on one of these missions!

Denn was allowed to go back to his hotel on Thursday, 12th June. He was ordered to travel in the company of at least one other officer and was issued with a side arm for protection. He does not appear to have heeded the orders however:


Does anyone know if 'Baviar' is/was a shore station or a vessel?

Thanks,

Pat
_________________
Web: whitebeamimages.ie
Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

List,

While looking at the last two months of July and August 1919, I note Denn preparing for his trip home. A number of interesting references are made during this period.

I note this extract from the entry for Monday, 28th July 1919 as an example:


I came across this article on Wikipedia, which makes reference to the destroyer HMS Valhalla as being one of five 'V' Class leaders. Does anyone have any more on HMS Valhalla (Denn refers to her as Valhalla II, but I assume she is one and the same vessel).

Can anyone explain the function of a 'Warrant Writer' - was he part of a ship's company or was he just onboard Valhalla when Denn called?

On a different tack, this extract from the same day further down the page also caught my eye:


At first I thought 'E.T.C.' might be a naval term until I came across this - she was in fact a cable laying ship of the Eastern Telegraph Company (later Cable & Wireless). The web site makes reference to a WWI diary of the owner's grandfather, one Alfred Lawrence Spalding during his service in the CS Levant during the Gallipoli Campaign. Some fantastic reading in places.

I have emailed the site owner to let him know that our man Denn made reference to his grandfather’s ship.

Regards,

Pat
_________________
Web: whitebeamimages.ie
Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie

Pat - I have no reason to doubt your identification of HMS Valhalla II although the 'II' does mystify me as I can find no other record of it.

The Warrant Writer would have been the member of Valhalla's ship's company dealing with pay and ship's correspondence. He would have been responsible to the ship's Paymaster officer unless he fulfilled the role himself. Writers in the RN have recently been recategorised as 'Personnel Logisticians' but I expect they are still nicknamed 'Scribes' in accordance with tradition, just as the ship's Correspondence Officer (CORRO) is known as 'Scratch'.
_________________
"The British Army should be a projectile to be fired by the Navy." Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary 1905-1916.

Correct NG, always knew the correspondance officer as "CORRO" on boats as the "Scratcher" was i/c of the casing
_________________
Sh1t shot, pumping slop.

Naval_Gazer, WreckerL & List,

Thanks for clarifying the position of Warrant Writer.

Throughout the Diary I have been keen to put some light on Denn's immediate boss, whom he refers to on a daily basis as simply 'B'. However, I suspect Denn, perhaps in exasperation, appears to give his surname in full in this extract from the entry for Friday, 25th July 1919:


Further down the entry for the same day Denn reverts back to 'B' so I am not a hundred percent sure the two are one and the same officer.

Proceeding on the assumption that they are one and the same, I done a search on the National Archives site in the RN Officer's Service Records section and came up with this list. I would be grateful if you guys could have a look at the rank of each officer's record and give me your best estimate as to which of them might have been Denn's immediate boss.

There are two other possible candidates in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve: Records of Service, WW1 here - but these two would only be candidates if Denn's immediate boss was RNVR - could a RN Gunner(T.) have a RNVR boss?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,

Pat
_________________
Web: whitebeamimages.ie
Email: pat @ whitebeamimages.ie