New Years Day 1955 was a day of mixed fortunes. The duty watch took onboard a hundredweight of beetroot and some NAAFI stores and Ordinary Telegraphist Beddell fell down a ladder and had to be transferred to RN Hospital at Stonehouse. I guess the remainder had a quiet day and/or a run ashore! Runs ashore were available henceforth until Daily Orders on Sunday the 16th of January bore the familiar remark 'Ship under sailing orders'. 
       
By 1100 next morning tugs were dragging the ship into the fairway to point her towards Drake's Island and the Sound. Firing a 17 gun salute to Commander in Chief, Plymouth they went off to anchor in Cawsand Bay just before1400. Soon after a RAF Sunderland Flying Boat landed astern of the ship. The aircraft was airborne again at 1425 and BERMUDA got underway at 1615 to get in a bit of seatime and evolutionary training. On Tuesday morning an aircraft appeared allowing the ship to carry-out AA close-range firings before spending the afternoon in manoevres with the aid of a dan-buoy before coming to anchor in Weymouth Bay. Wednesday was a day of Action Stations, closing-up and standing-down, Gun Direction exercises and then torpedo firing before taking up the buoys of  Portland Harbour's A2 berth late in the afternoon. There, through a foggy Friday, Departmental exercises continued in HMS BERMUDA whilst others around including DELIGHT, SCORPION, TYRIAN, FLEETWOOD, REWARD, HEDINGHAM CASTLE, TINTAGEL CASTLE, MAGPIE, BROCKLESBY, BATTLEAXE, TYNE, OCEAN, THESEUS, OCEAN, ABERFORD and the submarines SPRINGER AND UPSTART went about their business..

HMS BROCKLESBY 1941-1964

A week of harbour training came to end just before 0800 on Saturday the 29th when over the Tannoy the call "Special Piping Party & Buglers to the Bridge" was made. Clear of the harbour and ceremony it was not long before the ship was countering an aircraft attack. Then there were Damage Control exercises whilst chasing/avoiding submarine and aircraft attacks that took the darkened ship on to 1910. Now on passage and entering the deep water of the Bay of Biscay on a south-westerly heading Sunday's Noon Fix was 47º 26.6'N 07º 02'W.
 
In this first month of the year the ship had logged 379 nm's

On Wednesday the turrets were manned for a crockery rattling 6" shoot as the ship continued southwards towards a 1045 arrival on 48 Berth at Gibraltar's South Mole on Thursday the 3rd of February. Much warmer and more pleasant than the cold English Channel in January and the Bay had been quite kind on their way down! BERMUDA went off day-running a week later to allow those in her to brush up their skills in using large and small guns as well as torpedoes and depth charges before returning alongside around midday on Friday.
 
The weekend soon passed and by 0820 on Monday the 14th BERMUDA was leaving harbour to spend another couple of days of anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, sleeve firings and refuelling exercises. Tuesday afternoon while running at 25 knots the Engine Room crews were put through their paces before returning to harbour and 48 Berth mid-afternoon. After a week of harbour training most on board were pleased to get back to sea on Wednesday the 23rd and it wasn't long before 6" then close-range shoots heightened the tension. High speed manoeuvres concentrated minds further as night fell before Saturday morning and the prospects of a run ashore again came into view this time in the shape of Marseilles.
 
Miles in February totalled a 1278.

The visit included a customary and well received 'Beating the Retreat' on Sunday as well as the normal civic and military courtesies, children's parties and open ship periods through to Wednesday. Sailing on Thursday morning for Menton and a repeat performance. The overnight passage with TYNE and the destroyers was not wasted as the ships went into convoy screening exercises once more.  
 
The French Riviera dropped astern in the evening of Thursday the 10th of March as the ships formed themselves into a convoy again and began another series of exercises that this time included an 'Atomic Bomb' drop near to HMS DIANA in the middle of Sunday afternoon and more of the same through Monday so there was lots of shutting down and pre-wetting going on as the weaved their way across the Mediterranean Sea. Amongst this the ships had to defend themselves against air attacks from Mustang's and Wyvern's. The lines were passed to the Depot Ship RANPURA, secured in Lazzaretto Creek in Malta, soon after 0900 on Tuesday. HMS BERMUDA rested here for a week giving those aboard plenty of time to discover or revisit the likes of Ben Marl's and Egyptian Queen or even Manoel Island.
 
The Home fleet ships with some of the Mediterranean Fleet went back to sea again on Tuesday the 22nd to exercise their way in convoy back to Gibraltar to secure on 46 Berth on the South Mole in the middle of Saturday morning for a short weekend. By 0515 on Monday morning BERMUDA was on her way to sea with Dutch ships including the aircraft carrier KAREL DOORMAN and our own HMY BRITANNIA. There were not too many exercises/evolutions excluded as the fleets - darkened by night - moved up through the Bay towards Plymouth Sound. She anchored there a few minutes into All Fools day 1955 before moving up onto No 1 Jetty, S Yard early in the forenoon
 
The ship had run 4117 in the month of March.

Dutch KAREL DOORMAN 1948-1968 (HMS VENERABLE 1945-48 & Argentine VIENTECINCO DE MAYO 1968-86)

As Easter Leave began five boy seaman fresh from GANGES joined the ship just in time to witness their first ammunitioning and provisioning. The ship moved into No4 Basin in the middle of the week. Through the remainder of the month Warrant No 76 & 77 was read; Combined Cadet Forces came aboard for two weeks training and 35 boys from Nottingham Junior Boys School visited the ship on Tuesday the 19th of April. Sadly on the last day of the month flags were half-masted upon the death of SCO(S) Rowell.
 
No miles this month save for the run up harbour.

As hands were employed painting the forward funnel amongst other things a couple of new faces joined the ship one was Mr D J Donavan CCO, RN and the other was Lt Cdr Bartlett RNVR. The week continued busily with ammunitioning and provisioning etc and on Friday everyone mustered on the quarterdeck for to be addressed by the Captain. They were all there again on Sunday for Church Service and Divisions at 0900. As EAGLE, headed and tailed by tugs, moved seaward on Monday the 9th of May a large number of BERMUDA's seamen were over the side of the ship - on scaffold planks supported by a bit of rope at each end - washing the ship's side. On Tuesday the Captain, HMS ARK ROYAL came to call on Flag Officer Flotillas, Home, as the ship finished off the post leave tidy-up.

The pipe 'Fall in for leaving harbour' rang through the ship soon after 0800 next morning and it was not long before the ship was at sea and rendezvousing with RFA RETAINER to take on more ammunition and exercise rough weather approaches. This done a buoy was picked up in Portland at 2000. BERMUDA remained on the buoys on harbour training for the next eight days whilst others were coming and going at all times of the day and night. They included the Dutch cruiser DE RUYTER and attendant destroyers. A look round on Friday the 13th saw the following ships:
Submarines - SPRINGER, SOLENT, SUBTLE, SIDON, UPSTART & UNTIRING   
Dest/Frigates - OBDURATE (with me in her - fresh out of GANGES less than a month ago - a Boy-Seaman wide-eyed at the sight of all these magnificent warships), DELIGHT, CHAPLET, HMAS QUEENBOROUGH, VIRAGO, UNDINE, GRENVILLE, BROCKLESBY plus HEDINGHAM, LAUNCESTON, PORTCHESTER & LEEDS CASTLE. Also there was MAIDSTONE, MMS 1817 and SHALFORD amongst a good many others.

HMS LEEDS CASTLE 1944-1958

On Friday the 20th BERMUDA slipped and went into battle and general drills as she zig-zagged her way up the Channel ending an AA exercise on rounding Dungeness at 2132 on the quarter of TYNE and abreast GLASGOW. An 'appendix' case was transferred out of the ship to TYNE by Light Jackstay during Saturday and on Sunday C in C Home Fleet and Air Officer Commanding, Fighter Command were transferred to GLASGOW by the same method. Soon after that was completed the 'Convoy' was attacked from the air for an extended period that tested the skills of both seaman and airmen. The whole of BERMUDA's Monday forenoon and half the afternoon was taken up in command trials with RETAINER including a helicopter landing on the quarterdeck rather than on top of the 6" turret as had been the case during the Cephalonia Earthquake Relief last year. At 1425 RETAINER was finally cast off and one and a half hours later BERMUDA was alongside in Invergordon.

DELIGHT left for Rotterdam on Wednesday and BERMUDA went to sea on Thursday where the Admiral was picked up by helicopter so these machines were beginning to be liked a little more if not actually sought after. The night was spent off Lossiemouth and after a day of 6" firings and taking fuel from RFA OLNA the ship returned Invergordon to welcome visitors over the weekend and enjoy a 'Ship's Athletics Sports Day' on Monday. The month ended on Tuesday with 'Both Watches' painting decks.
 
1293 nautical miles had been the score in May.

Wednesday the 1st of June saw stages again rigged and painting cats alongside for side painting while on Thursday above the newly painted decks bunting flew on the second anniversary of the Queen's coronation. No. 1's were worn and the Royal Marine Band featured in Divisions and FOFH Inspection on Sunday. At 0245 on Monday morning the 1st and 2nd Motor Boats were called away to go to UNDINE to search for a missing boat. They returned to the ship at 0430.
 
The ship's company were busy early on Wednesday morning squaring-off for the commencement of Flag Officer Flotillas, Home, formal Harbour Inspection that commenced at 0900. During the day Commander J Miles DSC RN joined the ship as the USN destroyer MCGOWAN & carrier HANCOCK were acknowledged entering the yard. Divisions were again fallen in on Thursday ready for a 21 gun salute in celebration of HM The Queen's official birthday and coincidently Commander J J Thornley RN left the ship.

Before 0900 on Friday the ship was on her way to sea for FOFH Sea Inspection that, in a full and busy day, included various Action & Defence Stations. Early on the ship was declared to have suffered 'mine damage and a fire aft' so GLASGOW was soon at the sharp end to take up the tow while VIRAGO was summoned to fight the fire. Inboard, Damage Control and Fire parties went through their drills  and steering by hand was exercised. By 1200 a splash target was being fired upon and Royal Marine Landing Parties were being loaded into boats. The tow was recovered by 1420 just as AA Defence Stations was called. Later the rattle of klaxons and tannoys echoed through the ship after the Asdic operator had reported an echo. The resulting cat and mouse game between ship and submarine continued until away to starboard a submarine surfaced. Boarding Parties were sent to her soon after 2000 and after they returned the ships settled to a quiet night passage. 

Scapa Flow and Fara Island were the surrounding sights as the ship came to anchor on Saturday forenoon. It had been a long time since she and some of those in her were last here in much more miserable and demanding circumstances and didn't the place look empty now! Sunday Divisions were held before Leave was given from 1630 - 2230, C&PO's 2300, Boys 2100. Anchor watch had to be set at 2000 on Tuesday as the Westerly wind rose through 35 to 40 knots and upwards to 45 by midnight. Nobody mentioned summer or the South Coast! Forty minutes later at 0040 a distress call was received from the MOORFIELD. Fifteen minutes later VIRAGO was under way in response and Longhope Lifeboat was launched. All three made safety in the heavy seas with VIRAGO and MOORFIELD finding the shelter of the Flow at 0240.

Just before 0900 Wednesday BERMUDA cleared harbour and on an easterly heading took station ahead of GLASGOW. They changed relative positions from time to time and carried out transfers with RETAINER until GLASGOW parted company just before midnight. More transfers from RETAINER were made on Thursday as courses and speeds to arrive at Brunsbuttel Locks for 0700 next morning were maintained. Transit through the canal brought the ships to anchor at Kiel just before 1600. A weekend entertaining and being entertained by the Burghers and people of Kiel and Schleswig-Holstein included all the normal activities including illuminated and open ship. VENUS came in late on Tuesday and went away again early on Wednesday and later in the day Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador Frederick Hayes Millar called on FOFH for a 'Gin & Dit!' The quarterdeck was back to normal by the time the ship weighed at 1900. The overnight passage was northward into the Kattegat and a berth on Pier 1 in the Danish port of Aarhus. The Danes came in large numbers to visit BERMUDA, TYNE, URCHIN and VOLAGE on open days and schoolchildren enjoyed their parties in the ships all of which were lit up at night. (Did RFA's normally open to visitors? Did RETAINER?). People of Aarhus also turned out to watch or take part in Saturday's Church Parade in which the Royal Marine Band led a total of nine divisions from the four ships to the Cathedral. Leave was granted after Sunday Divisions and a Make & Mend was given on Monday.
 
Departing Aarhus at 0830 on Wednesday the 29th it wasn't long before the Guard & Band fell-in and the side was manned for BERMUDA to lead the ships into Halsingborg, Sweden in the early afternoon. RFA OLNA secured alongside later to top up the ship's tanks. The courtesies during this visit included FOFH and the Captain of BERMUDA (and maybe other CO's) being entertained to lunch by King Gustav VI in Sofiero Castle.
 
In 89.5 hours running the ship steamed 1085 nm's during June.
 

The ships sailed in a fresh northerly wind and air temperature of 55º at 1300 on Monday the 4th of July and went almost immediately into convoy and a 40º zig-zag pattern. They spent the next three days in and out of Action Stations, darkened at night and under attack from above and below. The fleet was swollen on Wednesday with the arrival of GLASGOW and her detachment of ships to join in the 'war'. At midday on Thursday BERMUDA & GLASGOW were detached and scuttled up the Forth to berth alongside G Berth in Rosyth in the middle of the afternoon. At 0800 on Saturday the 9th of July 1955 Rear Admiral R Onslow, DSO (3 Bars), RN, Flag Officer Flotillas (Home) transferred his flag from BERMUDA to GLASGOW. It made not an iota of difference to the visitors that poured into the yard and over the ships during this Navy Days weekend but it was quite significant for BERMUDA.

Late on Monday, having travelled north by train, the Deputy Mayor and Councillors of Hove, East Sussex embarked and twenty-five minutes later the ship moved off the jetty to anchor. Tuesday's Colours at 0800 saw an additional piece of bunting hoisted in the form of a paying-off pennant. Those around took a second look at the ship then and later as she sailed under the Forth Bridge at 1117 to carry out manoeuvres and a full power trial on her way south down the North Sea. Further evolutions including those required for Engine Room Charge Examinations were performed on Wednesday before the East Goodwin Lightship was passed at 1833. By 2100 the starboard anchor had been let 3.6 nm's SW of Beachy Head Light.

A 0530 start next morning, Thursday the 14th, finished the journey for the Burghers of Hove and brought the ship to anchor off Brighton's West Pier from where they were landed via an MFV from HMS Sussex RNVR Base. Leave was granted from 1615-0700 (C&PO's 0730) (Men under age 2300) (Boys 2100) as the ship settled down in a period of good weather to prepare for civic receptions, school parties and visitors. On Tuesday afternoon it was a special privilege to welcome on board some blind ex-servicemen from the famous St Dunstans at Rottingdean.

As they boarded the MFV to land at West PIer 'Special Sea Dutymen' were closed-up and at 1800 the ship was underway onto a heading to clear the Isle of Wight on her way westwards. By 2200 the lights of Swanage could be seen to starboard and just before 0700 on Wednesday the 20th of July the ship secured to No 9 Buoy in Plymouth and within the hour there were ammunition barges alongside and de-ammunitioning began. Next morning the ship moved in to No4 Basin and on Friday evening the Wardroom held a Paying-off Dance on the Quartedeck. The remainder of the month was spent in de-storing, cleaning and refitting as the ship's company began to be drafted out following a final Captain's address.
 
The final month of this commission had seen the ship at sea for 127 hours to travel a distance of 1731.7 nm's.

The process of de-storing, protective preservation and de-fuelling went on through August. On Sunday the 21st John Alexander Gretton-Smith was christened in the Chapel and a couple of days later Warrant No 87 was read as the ship continued to wind down towards a long refit. That refit became immediate on the 8th of November 1955 when BERMUDA arrived under tow on the River Tyne to be taken in hand by Vickers Armstrong Shipbuilders at Palmers, Hebburn Works. 

It would be almost two years before she went to sea again and it was as she was being redied for hand-back in September 1957 that I made my first acquaintance with the ship and Tyneside.

Thanks to Norman Dunn for this 1950 picture, one of many Hebburn pictures on his website.