No 'Phoney War' for the Royal Navy

[Passed-over_Loggie]

These Naval events have probably already been labelled as side-shows by Generals Guthrie and Dannatt. No doubt, totally irrelevant to the Anzio and Normandy landings.

 

[Naval_Gazer]

This morning, a memorial service was held in Kirkwall's St Magnus Cathedral to mark the torpedoing of the battleship HMS Royal Oak by U-47 at Scapa Flow on Saturday 14 October 1939 with the loss of 833 lives. On Wednesday, the 70th anniversary of her sinking, HRH The Princess Royal is expected to lay a wreath on the water where the Royal Oak sank below the waves. The Sandown Class minehunter HMS Penzance will sail to the site of the wreck for the ceremony: BBC News: A dark chapter of war remembered.

In June this year, professional underwater photographer Simon Brown was invited by the Royal Navy to photograph and document HMS Royal Oak. Simon has donated the use of this image to the Royal Oak Survivors Association and a limited number of prints will be signed by some of the remaining survivors. All proceeds of the sale will be used by the Royal Oak Survivors Association to help fund the building of a permanent memorial to their comrades in Scapa Bay. Only 10 signed prints, each A1 in size and printed on archival paper, will be offered to the general public and available from 14 October timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the sinking. See www.simonbrownimages.com/html/hmsroyaloak.html for more details.

 

[Naval_Gazer]

Last night's STV documentary, containing survivors' accounts, archive film and a CGI reconstruction of the torpedoing of the battleship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow 70 years ago today, may be watched again via this link: The Sinking of the Royal Oak

 

[dododoris]

To all those who attended the 70th anniversary of the defusing of Hitlers Secret Weapon, and indeed honouring my grandfather, Cdr John Ouvry - Thankyou!!!
Special thanks to Noel Cashford,Rob Hoole, Brad King, John Harrison, and the countless others who helped make this such a special memorial by attending, not just for my dear grandfather but for the history of the clearance divers past and present.
It was any incredibly humbling, emotional, educational and 'proud' event!!
On behalf of the Ouvry dependants - thankyou for continuing his legacy!

 

[Naval_Gazer]

To all those who attended the 70th anniversary of the defusing of Hitlers Secret Weapon, and indeed honouring my grandfather, Cdr John Ouvry - Thankyou!!!
Special thanks to Noel Cashford,Rob Hoole, Brad King, John Harrison, and the countless others who helped make this such a special memorial by attending, not just for my dear grandfather but for the history of the clearance divers past and present.
It was any incredibly humbling, emotional, educational and 'proud' event!!
On behalf of the Ouvry dependants - thankyou for continuing his legacy!

An illustrated account of this cracking event is available in the entry for 27 Nov 09 on the 'Latest News' page of the Minewarfare & Clearance Diving Officers' Association (MCDOA) website.

 

[Naval_Gazer]

I'm resurrecting this thread because tomorrow marks the 80th anniversary of Britain declaring war on Germany at the start of the Second World War. Despite what may be said in the media during the months leading up to the anniversaries of the start of the Battle of France in May 1940, Dunkirk in Jun 1940 and the Battle of Britain in Sep 1940, there was no 'Phoney War' for the Royal Navy; it was all too real.

List of Royal Navy losses in World War II​

 

[Naval_Gazer]

P.S. I include the brave sailors of the Merchant Navy in this tribute. They suffered terrible losses and when all’s said and done, their efforts to keep Britain fed, fuelled, armed and equipped were what it was all about.

 

[WreckerL]

P.S. I include the brave sailors of the Merchant Navy in this tribute. They suffered terrible losses and when all’s said and done, their efforts to keep Britain fed, fuelled, armed and equipped were what it was all about.

My paternal Grandad was MN in WW2, he served on tankers and had two ships blown out of the water by u-boats, he obviously survived both times.

 

[janner]

My paternal Grandad was MN in WW2, he served on tankers and had two ships blown out of the water by u-boats, he obviously survived both times.

Was his name Albert?

 

[WreckerL]

Was his name Albert?

Corky, he floated, although he did spend 10 days in an open boat before being rescued after the second sinking.

 

[Naval_Gazer]

My paternal Grandad was MN in WW2, he served on tankers and had two ships blown out of the water by u-boats, he obviously survived both times.

A Merchant Navy Day Service is being held at Dover Town Hall on Tuesday 3 September from 10.30am, followed by a wreath laying ceremony on Dover Seafront at 12 noon.

Merchant Navy Day In Dover 2019

www.dover.gov.uk

 

[huwshpis]

I shall be at the service at the MN memorial on Tower Hill on Sunday 8 September. One fireman from one of my father’s ships is commemorated there.