Famous SD Officers

[pompeyexpat]

So my google powers have failed and I'm drawing a blank in an attempt to find a name. I wonder if anyone on here can give me the name of an SD Officer of the past that's noteworthy for some reason - risen to high rank and/or Command maybe, or was awarded a VC or some such other achievement.

 

[WreckerL]

Have you tried here?

Royal Navy, SD Commanders

 

[pompeyexpat]

I did. All I could find was a list of names of members of the SD Commanders association. All done well, but none noteworthy enough for what I'm looking for. I looked to contact the chairman and ask, but nothing's been updated on the page for about 3 years and the 'contact' link doesn't work.

Cheers though.

 

[SARKING]

A fairly famous SD Officer, and all round nasty piece of work to boot...

 

[Alfacharlie]

Just wanted to ‘big it up’ to my mother in law!!
This is her 31st birthday.
Enjoy

 

[Waspie]

Message sent!

 

[Union Jack]

So my google powers have failed and I'm drawing a blank in an attempt to find a name. I wonder if anyone on here can give me the name of an SD Officer of the past that's noteworthy for some reason - risen to high rank and/or Command maybe, or was awarded a VC or some such other achievement.

Commander Frank Trickey springs fairly easily to mind, vide https://www.navy-net.co.uk/community/search/171267/?q=frank+trickey&o=relevance

Jack

 

[BreathingOutOnTheWayUp]

@pompeyexpat

As @Union Jack quite rightly suggested whilst I was prepping mine ---->

Try 'Commander Frank Trickey RN'
A one-time legendry figure, especially renowned within gunnery circles/Parade Drill (especially at his Dartmouth stint)/ ceremonial funerals etc.

Phot from where Navy News reported his retirement after 50 years service: https://issuu.com/navynews/docs/199101/11

......But Google failed to throw up an Obituary, I guess there's got to be one or two out there.

@Naval_Gazer might be able to help with a snippet or two?

Former GANGES Boy & later SD L/C Bill Norton's reminiscences painted his 'run ins' with FT in an interesting reminiscence here: http://www.godfreydykes.info/H.M.S._ GANGES_WINTER_2016_GAZETTE.htm


Some FT stories even featured at RR a while back at https://www.navy-net.co.uk/community/threads/famous-naval-charactors-from-the-recent-era.36271/


No claim to fame but confess that I met FT only briefly a couple of times at Faslane towards the end of his career when he was appointed to his only command - HMS WAKEFUL A 236 [not her predecessor the Type 15 Frigate] a former ocean going tug refitted to operate as the Faslane S/M Support Ship.

HMS Wakeful - Submarine Support Vessel

An impressive & busy role and I expect he made an excellent fist of it.

At NEPTUNE's W/R back bar some of his former victims/detractors considered this weaponless Aux vessel appointment a big come down for a master gunner and some saw it merely as consolation prize drive on a SLJ harbour tender. (Well out of his earshot of course - brave lot those thrusting young S/M GLs when tanked up with a skinful of scottish malt whine !)

A few edits as its late, errors are creeping in and ZZZs long overdue.

 

[SARKING]

View attachment 55835
Just wanted to ‘big it up’ to my mother in law!!
This is her 31st birthday.
Enjoy

She's a 'handsome' looking woman....

 

[Perry]

She's a 'handsome' looking woman....

Scared me, hope the missus don't take after her mother

 

[Alfacharlie]

Scared me, hope the missus don't take after her mother

Me too!

 

[Chris P]

View attachment 55835
Just wanted to ‘big it up’ to my mother in law!!
This is her 31st birthday.
Enjoy

And only 31 too..

 

[Alfacharlie]

And only 31 too..

Yeah. Looks younger, eh?

 

[Naval_Gazer]

Apart from Frank Trickey, the list is endless, populated by such characters as his fellow gunners Brian Witts and the Mullen brothers plus CDOs such as Arthur Checksfield, Robbie Robinson MBE, Brian Dutton DSO, QGM, etc. Here are some examples:

Cdr Philip Arthur Balink-White MBE RN

Lt Cdr Peter Cobby BEM RN

Lt Cdr Brian Dutton DSO QGM RN

Lt Cdr 'Uncle Bill' Filer GM MBE RN

Cdr Peter Messervy GM MBE RN

Lt Cdr 'Robbie' Robinson MBE RN

Lt George Wookey MBE RN

 

[pompeyexpat]

Ta. Just gotta google them now 'cause I refuse to pay for the telegraph.
(I know it's a free trial, but I'll forget to cancel it).

 

[BreathingOutOnTheWayUp]

Ta. Just gotta google them now 'cause I refuse to pay for the telegraph.
(I know it's a free trial, but I'll forget to cancel it).

Tip - Cancel the SUN, the MAIL, DANDY, BEANO etc etc & just do it !

Deep down, You know it makes sense, even if the GLs might think you are getting above your 'umble station...

Meanwhile your one & only FREEBIE from me as your Starter for Ten:

Lieutenant Commander Brian Dutton, mine clearance expert – His DT obituary awaits you here at #291

https://www.navy-net.co.uk/community/threads/naval-related-obituaries.30067/page-15

 

[Naval_Gazer]

One I missed earlier:

Lt Cdr Ken Kempsell GM RN

 

[pompeyexpat]

Tip - Cancel the SUN, the MAIL, DANDY, BEANO etc etc & just do it !

Deep down, You know it makes sense, even if the GLs might think you are getting above your 'umble station...

Meanwhile your one & only FREEBIE from me as your Starter for Ten:

Lieutenant Commander Brian Dutton, mine clearance expert – His DT obituary awaits you here at #291

https://www.navy-net.co.uk/community/threads/naval-related-obituaries.30067/page-15

Cheers for the advice, but it’s a case of my disliking the telegraph rather than because I read less cerebral rags or because I’m worried about what others might think. I also dislike reading newspapers online, so even if I was a telegraph reader it would be wasted money.

Thank you for the Dutton link, though my google research after NGs post had already brought that up. At the moment Lt Cdr Dutton is my choice to suit the reason for asking. Now I need to find a way of contacting his family (I have messaged his son who posted on that thread, but don’t hold out a great deal of hope on a reply).

 

[BreathingOutOnTheWayUp]

Cheers for the advice, but it’s a case of my disliking the telegraph rather than because I read less cerebral rags or because I’m worried about what others might think. I also dislike reading newspapers online, so even if I was a telegraph reader it would be wasted money.

Thank you for the Dutton link, though my google research after NGs post had already brought that up. At the moment Lt Cdr Dutton is my choice to suit the reason for asking. Now I need to find a way of contacting his family (I have messaged his son who posted on that thread, but don’t hold out a great deal of hope on a reply).

Calliing @Naval_Gazer who might have family details, close-knit group those who preferred to go a'diving in rubberised suits rather than us in our nasty black tubes....

 

[Naval_Gazer]

...Thank you for the Dutton link, though my google research after NGs post had already brought that up. At the moment Lt Cdr Dutton is my choice to suit the reason for asking. Now I need to find a way of contacting his family (I have messaged his son who posted on that thread, but don’t hold out a great deal of hope on a reply).

Calliing @Naval_Gazer who might have family details, close-knit group those who preferred to go a'diving in rubberised suits rather than us in our nasty black tubes....

The late Brian Dutton's sons are members of the Project Vernon Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/vernonmonument. I suggest putting out a call there or messaging them individually.