2badge_mango
War Hero
I have checked this with the household authorities and Mrs Mango can remember me telling her the tale when I returned home - not immediately you'll understand - there were other priorities after ten months absence, but it does confirm that it's not my imagination.
Returning from the FES in early 1972 we made our customary call into Gib in company with upwards of a dozen other ships, mainly frigates, but I think possibly a couple of GMDs as well, and some bright spark (rumour had it that it was our Jimmy) dreamed up the idea of a Guinness Book of Records type, inter ship, tug-o-war. Memories of the ground rules are hazy, but suffice to say that a sizeable length of man made cordage was laid out on one of the long jetties, ships' PTIs suddenly became very active, and a series of pull offs commenced.
Again, details have faded with time, but the idea was to use a large part of each ship's company, so I guess there was upwards of 60 on each side. Whether it was the first and only pull I'm not sure, but someone who should have known better failed to allow for the elasticity of the rope, and whilst the losing team were still laying back on the rope after being pulled over the line, the winners, or most of them, threw up their hands in a gesture of triumph, leaving the stretched cordage to return to it's original length in double quick time. This would have been fine if everyone had let go of the rope at the same time, but a couple of lads at the end, still attached, were propelled violently along the jetty, at least one of them into a stray bollard. One, a steward from one of the frigates, was so badly injured that the pusser flew his parents out to sit by his bed in RNH.
Things went very quiet all of a sudden. The Guinness Book of Records was never mentioned again. I believe that there was an inquiry, but have never heard the outcome. The incident was not, to my knowledge, reported in the Plymouth press, nor the Navy News, and I have never, so far, met anyone who was there or who remembers the occasion, but, I am sure, there will be someone on Rum Ration who can enlighten me.
Standing by to be enlightened.
2BM
Returning from the FES in early 1972 we made our customary call into Gib in company with upwards of a dozen other ships, mainly frigates, but I think possibly a couple of GMDs as well, and some bright spark (rumour had it that it was our Jimmy) dreamed up the idea of a Guinness Book of Records type, inter ship, tug-o-war. Memories of the ground rules are hazy, but suffice to say that a sizeable length of man made cordage was laid out on one of the long jetties, ships' PTIs suddenly became very active, and a series of pull offs commenced.
Again, details have faded with time, but the idea was to use a large part of each ship's company, so I guess there was upwards of 60 on each side. Whether it was the first and only pull I'm not sure, but someone who should have known better failed to allow for the elasticity of the rope, and whilst the losing team were still laying back on the rope after being pulled over the line, the winners, or most of them, threw up their hands in a gesture of triumph, leaving the stretched cordage to return to it's original length in double quick time. This would have been fine if everyone had let go of the rope at the same time, but a couple of lads at the end, still attached, were propelled violently along the jetty, at least one of them into a stray bollard. One, a steward from one of the frigates, was so badly injured that the pusser flew his parents out to sit by his bed in RNH.
Things went very quiet all of a sudden. The Guinness Book of Records was never mentioned again. I believe that there was an inquiry, but have never heard the outcome. The incident was not, to my knowledge, reported in the Plymouth press, nor the Navy News, and I have never, so far, met anyone who was there or who remembers the occasion, but, I am sure, there will be someone on Rum Ration who can enlighten me.
Standing by to be enlightened.
2BM
