HMS BERMUDA was at Palmers Hebburn Yard on Tyneside nearing the end of a refit when I was drafted to her in September 1957. Though I lived for a while in 'Digs' in nearby Cleadon it wasn't long before a full ship's company of 611 - in pre-refit service it had been 700-800 men - were mustered in the ship to recommission her at 1100 on Saturday 26 October 1957.  

In command was Captain Richard R S Pennefather, RN. He had previously been Chief of Staff (Acting Commodore) to CinC Portsmouth (Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Creasy) since May 1955 and his earlier service included HMS AJAX (12/1938 Lt.) and HMS UNICORN which he subsequently commanded from May 1952. 

Another important member of our Ship's Company throughout this commission was Sick Berth Attendant James (Peter) Gray. His was a small Branch - Surg. Lt Cdr T G Barras, MB ChB with Surg. Lt (Dentist) H C Tagg BDS plus three or four SBA's - that had the big task of caring for us when we were ill or injured and/or preventing us from becoming so. I never saw or heard of him again after we left the ship until I received an email from his daughter Jane Richards in 2004.

In that email Jane told me that Peter had, after leaving the navy, been murdered. Peter was a Chief Medical Assistant when he left the navy in 1970. He then trained as a social worker specialising in working with the deaf until he was killed by a client in 1979. Having spent his lifetime caring for others to be deprived of life in such a terrible way is a tragedy that will certainly sadden anyone who served with him during his 22 years service.

Peter's ships/establishments included: Royal Arthur, RNH Haslar, Victory, Pheonix, Pheonecia, Camarata, Chevron, Daedalus, St Vincent, President and Bulwark. If you served with Peter an email would be welcomed and passed on to Jane. 
 
Jane has kindly sent me a number of Peter's photographs - captioned in purple - and notes that he was a keen photograper who took/developed films onboard for others.

I have not been able to locate any post-refit records for the remainder of 1957 but from memory we spent the couple of months 'shaking-down' & 'working-up'. We tested propulsion and other machinery off the Tyne before making our way up to the Moray Firth and then to Rosyth testing and training as we went. The task of making a ship effective is a huge one even when there are people remaining from a previous commission to lead and guide you through the ship's idiosyncrasies but fresh from a civil dockyard refit without any long-term incumbents it becomes monumentous. It takes concentration, application and determination to get everyone and everything together. We did it of course, we always did, but on this occasion there was a trip to Bermuda and the West Indies to give us added incentive!

Stability testing in November 1957 also shows-off the new enclosed bridge structure. 

Towards the end of November we went down to PortIand for a brief work-up and sailed from there on 9 December to enter Devonport Dockyard the next day where we stayed through Christmas 1957. 

The 1st of January 1958, a Wednesday, was not too bad in Devonport with a SW Force 4 wind, small patches of blue sky, the barometer at 1003mbs and 54 degrees on the thermometer at midday. For those left onboard Tobacco Coupons were issued during the forenoon. What better than a few fags and a tot to get the system back into good order after the New Year's Eve skinful that had been topped off with a pigs trotter from the trailer outside the St Levan's pub and Dockyard Gate?

By Friday there was an altogether more industrious look about everyone when the ship docked-down in No.5 Dock for some work on the steering gear/propellors. It also allowed the anti-submarine specialists and engineers to do some maintenance whilst windy-hammers created a din inside and outside the ship. Painters followed wielding long-toms to flick and scrub paint onto the ship's bottom. The water was let back in on the 7th and BERMUDA left to go alongside HMS GIRDLE NESS. Being outboard made storing a more difficult task at times but made no difference at all to those driving a paintbrush, as many were, to complete the paint-ship.

Because a number of the ship's company had 'stood-by' the ship at Palmers Yard a few changes took place in the first fortnight of the year. Among those that joined the ship were Lt Cdr J Grindle, Lt G T Baynes, Lt N P Baillie, S/Lt  P Hitchens, Atg S/Lt A Nesbitt, & D J Hadley and also the new Chief M E whose name I am sorry to say I don't know - do you? Everyone was back from Christmas Leave by Tuesday the 14th when the ship proceeded to sea to spend the day on the deguassing range and carrying out radio trials before returning to the Sound just after 2100. Moving up harbour to A3 Buoy a 13 gun salute to Flag Officer Flotillas (Home), R Adm J D Luce CB DSO OBE, was fired from the ship in the late afternoon of the 15th.

Whilst BERMUDA was busy on Thursday taking on oil and water in Devonport other ships and submarines were making their way to the Western Approaches from Portsmouth, Chatham, Rosyth, the Clyde and elsewhere but why? Not more exercises! Well yes, but with a bit of a bonus. The Home Fleet was off on its Spring Cruise. OK some had done it all before but for me, whose previous and only ship was the Chatham canteen boat and GANGES sea training destroyer OBDURATE, you can be sure that venturing down the Atlantic was a very new and exciting event.

We fell-in for leaving harbour at 0740 next morning, Friday 16th, and followed CEYLON, DAINTY, DELIGHT & DARING out to join BULWARK, CHAPLET, CAMPERDOWN & CONTEST and soon got into screening and station keeping exercises that were to continue day and night  The ships rounded Ushant in the afternoon to cross the Bay of Biscay and it wasn't long before the galleys had to cope with sliding trays etc as zig-zagging in Casex and other exercises began. The sea was seen bubbling at 1130 on the 21st as the ships passed Fayal Island in the Azores and a signal to CinC Home Fleet Sir William Davis CB KCB GCB ^ put this Submarine Volcanic Disturbance on the record. MAIDSTONE and TIDEREACH lead the Fleet south as BERMUDA passed provisions to a couple of destroyers during the afternoon and BULWARK provided 'enemy-aircraft' to keep air-defence crews on their toes. (^ also CinC NATO Eastern Atlantic).

Unseen the submarines were not only watching the Fleet but also doing their best to score a 'hit' or two but it was about to become more difficult not only for them but for all the ships and downright miserable in the smaller ones - here's why:- 

Day/Date    Time    Wind             Wave (Feet)    Bar. Pressure    Temp  
(January)                (Dirn/Kts)      (Period/Hgt)    (M'bars)              (F)

Fri 24         2359    235/22           6/6                   992                     66
Sat 25        0400    270/30-47       4/10                  988                    62
                 1200    330/36-50      9/20                  995                    66
                 2359     335/20           8/10                 1007                   67

Conditions improved and on Monday all that new paint so recently applied in Devonport Dockyard but now salt encrusted had to be washed. At least it was better use of soft-soap than making me drink it as they did at GANGES (Annex) after I was heard to utter an expletive. It was a good effort but the weather was not finished yet. At 1800 the ship was forced to reduce speed to 10 knots as wave height increased through 20ft in WSW F8-9 winds. That continued through Tuesday the 28th and I can still see BULWARK, not too far off on our starboard bow disappearing from view as she dug into the mountainous seas. Soon after we left the other ships to go on their way to spread themselves around the ports and harbours of the West Indies. We were taking HMS BERMUDA on her first ever visit to the Colony of Bermuda.

'Roughers' which stove-in our whaler on the way south.                  Tucked up in Hamilton. 

It was something of a relief to sight Bermuda's St David's Lighthouse 22mls on our starboard bow soon after 1400 on Wednesday 29 January and even more so to anchor in Grassy Bay at 1630. At the change of the Dog Watches the watch on deck was employed rigging paint stages and unlashing paint cats ready for the big clean up that continued through Thursday and Friday alongside Ireland Island. Early callers included RNO Bermuda followed by His Excellency The Governor, Lieutenant General Sir John Woodall, who was given his entitlement of a 17g salute.

The eventful and tumultuous passage down the North Atlantic in January resulted in HMS BERMUDA being underway for 319.4 hours during which she logged 3941 nautical miles.   

The shelter of Ireland Island from the WNW wind is limited but Sunday's 40 to 50 knots of wind did not deter some 450 visitors from boarding the ship during our 2-hour 'Open to visitors' in the afternoon. The truth is they liked us and were always pleased to see the Royal Navy and this time it was 'their ship'. They wanted to walk its decks and be a part of the ship that they had been so closely associated with and kind to when she came to life on Clydeside to go to sea and war some 15 years ago.

Some of the ship's company had to remain onboard on Monday evening but the majority cleaned into No 1's to go supping and dancing for tonight we were the honoured guests of the Bermudians, albeit in an hastily changed venue. Though the evening was a great success I have painful recall here of being 'helped' down the wooden exit steps of No. 1 Shed, Hamilton, by acouple of shipmates each clutching one of my ankles leaving my head to bounce like a ball down each step. At the time I didn't feel a thing! They and I were up to the gunwhales with rum and coke and to this day - my tot excepted - rum has been at the bottom of my drinks list. I also remember, with fondness, being regally entertained by the owners of the Faraway Cottage Colony on South Dunscombe Road, Warwick. Alas, in 2005 it is no longer! I wonder what became of their daughter, Diana? 
 
The clean-up and wound licking had restored the ship - not to mention the dancers - to pristine condition by Thursday morning when, in moderate weather with some blue sky, Captain Pennefather proudly took the ship through the islands to take pride of place alongside in the capital, Hamilton. In so doing he had fulfilled a long held ambition and promise he had made during an earlier appointment in the colony. 

Ready for visitors alongside in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Hardly had we secured when at 1130 Countess Mountbatten was piped aboard as civil, military and diplomatic courtesies got into their stride. Our officers did likewise on Friday evening when the Quarterdeck became a dance floor amongst other things! Saturday saw a constant stream of Bermudians looking, asking and listening to answers to their many questions about the ship, the people in her, the , the RN and the UK as well as asking  'Are you enjoying your visit?'. Were we enjoying our visit? With their welcome and hospitality we were having and continued to have a fantastic time until we had to depart on Sunday the 9th.

More sea time now but much more comfortable than the last passage and much warmer as we headed into the Caribbean Sea to find an anchorage 1100 miles later in Carlisle Bay, Barbados on Wednesday the 12th. Losing no time the ship opened to visitors in the afternoon and it seemed half of Barbados had come out to see us - another fantastic welcome in a much different place. We lazed on fine sandy beaches in which we buried our beer to keep it cool; visited Barbados Fire Station and then went to the Dixie Bar next door impervious to the fact that the fireman had a bird's eye view of the 'entertainment'. Come to think of it Queen Victoria stood not too far away and must have seen a thing or two from her plinth!!! Dusty streets, Dusky people and more smiles per square yard than you could ever count. Priceless and absolutely unforgettable

RFA TIDEREACH fuelling MAIDSTONE & BERMUDA in the West Indies

Underway on Saturday morning we fuelled from RFA OLNA then transferred stores from MAIDSTONE before dropping the hook in the Fleet Anchorage in Bequia Bay where Lt Cdr Oldroyd RNR joined just in time to watch the Fleet  Regatta. After a short stay at this small island that included a Captain's Address - had we not met expectations I wonder  - we were underway again at 0900 on Wednesday the19th and found some sea room to 'blow soot', exercise 6" Gun Control Parties and some Asdic sweeps on our way to the next stop.

We came to anchor off the picturesque St George's, Grenada just after 2100. Here the Governor of the Windward Islands (Sir Colville Deverell, OBE, CVO, KCMG) and the Administrator of Grenada were called upon and entertained onboard in the first days of the visit with appropriate ceremonial. No less important or enjoyable was the visit of youngsters from Presentation College and St Louis School on Monday after the public had looked round over the weekend. Special Sea Dutymen were at their stations when the Governor re-embarked just before our 2200 sailing on Monday 24th.

Next morning, the 25th of February, we had Port Cannes, St Lucia less than a mile distant when we anchored at 0940 and soon after the Governor landed to be followed by half of the ship's company. Leave was short though as, with the Governor and (I think all) libertymen re-embarked, we sailed at 2245 leaving HMS CEYLON (FOF(H)) at anchor there.

We returned the Governor to Grenada on Wednesday morning with due ceremony before Leave was granted and we swarmed ashore for a few more 'rum and cokes'. We again enjoyed ourselves and the Grenadians enjoyed us being there for another couple of days that allowed our Royal Marine Guard and Band to display their supreme skills to another appreciative audience. 

Our moves from Bermuda down to and in the Caribbean used 140.25 hours and 2031.7 nautical miles steaming during February.

By the start of the First Watch on Thursday we were at sea once more heading north to anchor the following afternoon in Roseau, Dominica to repeat the delights of the West Indies 1950's style. On the more sober side Warrants were now stacking up as No's 7, 8 and 9 were read so not everyone had a run ashore here! Divine Service took place onboard on Sunday morning with the British Ambassador and 30 plus local people present before that unity between ship and Islanders was continued ashore.

Sadly the Dominica visit was our last West Indies call and we sailed with mixed feelings just before midnight on Sunday March 2nd to weave our way out of the Caribbean Sea back into the Atlantic to meet other ships of the Fleet and head home. One we didn't meet was HM Submarine TURPIN (Lt Cdr A D Roake). Problems with her engine frames had meant she was unable to return to UK with us and instead had to await the arrival of a tug from UK. She was towed home from Kingston, Jamaica to Devonport by HM Tug SAMSONIA (Lt Cdr E W Newton) arriving on 9 April 1958 after a record tow of some 5123 miles during which the tug reportedly rolled in excess of 35 degrees so the 24-man skeleton crew in the submarine must have had an exciting ride! 

In much kinder weather than we had experienced on the way down we listened to the Captain's Address on Wednesday - he must have told us of his pride in our behaviour dont you think!. On Sunday we made a forenoon stop at Ponta Delgado to welcome onboard  Islanders for Divisions and Church on the Quarterdeck before continuing our passage. Despite a bit of fog we made Spithead anchorage just after 0700 on Friday the14th of March and then, with lower deck cleared and band playing, entered Portsmouth to aim our heaving lines at the brown overalls on Pitch House Jetty at 1330. It marked the end of a fantastic adventure for most onboard and me, a 19 yo lad, in particular. Now, of course, trips to the West Indies and the rest of the world are commonplace but in 1958 a holiday in Devon would have measured the same on the 'excitement meter'  

The rest of March was taken up with maintaining, storing and Leave. Around us the battleship VANGUARD moved from South Railway Jetty to buoys, the survey ship DALRYMPLE,  midget submarine SPARTAN and Seaward Defence Boat TILFORD, amongst others, drew our attention and the ship dressed overall in celebration of Pakistan Day on the 23rd. 30 boys from Ryde School visited the ship on the 30th and on the last day of the month, as FOF(H) flagship CEYLON entered harbour, we were ammunitioning and storing ship again.

Our journeying from the West Indies in March logged 3686.5 nautical miles (Statute 4243 mls or 6827km) in 262.25 hours

The tugs SWARTHY and FORCEFUL moved us 80' on the 1st of April (honestly) to make room for more and more ships in the already crowded dockyard as we made HMS BERMUDA look her best for the coming weekend's Easter Navy Days. In fair weather with temperatures around 43F we welcomed onboard a total of 14,691 visitors - 432 on Saturday, 7542 on Sunday and 6717 on Monday the 7th.

As the last of the visitors left the pace in BERMUDA quickened and emotions intensified as our 2nd Leave Party returned. For the next two days you couldn't see the Jetty for lorries and equipment as Stores, ammunition, spare parts and passengers were taken inboard over and around those who were applying paint around the ship.

All this activity was necessary to meet the call  "Special Sea Dutymen Close-up" on Thursday the 10th. We were going to sea again but this time, as the ship slid through the harbour entrance exchanging salutes with HMS DOLPHIN, it was the last time we would do so for at least a year. We were on our way to the Mediterranean to fulfil the next part of our Home-Mediterranean-Home commission.

We anchored at Gibraltar for just on two hours on Sunday to land Commander (E) Boddy and two others before resuming our passage towards a rendezvous with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker TIDERACE at 0820 on Wednesday. Taking oil from her we continued on a heading of 300 degrees at 9 knots until disconnecting at 1017. After that we went to knock some lumps off the island of Filfla* with our 6" guns in the early part of the afternoon. That done we tidied ourselves and ship to make our entrance - majestic and exciting for the first-timers, routine for the others - into Valletta's magnificent Grand Harbour letting C in C know by our 17g salute before taking up No 6/6A buoys at 1657 on Wednesday 16 April 1958. (*Filfla is a small uninhabited flat-topped island that rises some 200ft above the sea 3 miles S of Malta's Blue Grotto).

By Sunday we were witnessing a Warrant (No.17) reading and the departure of one of our number to Ricasoli Cells for 7 days. We also embarked Cdr Sir David Archdale. Bart. and Cdr Hamer both of whom were engaged in the use and proofing of a Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA). Another guest was Father Howard who I suspect came for the experience rather than to bless the PTA trials. At 0150 on Monday morning four duty hands (Fisting Party) were sent to Gozo Steps and returned to the ship - and open arrest - two ratings. Hopefully they were feeling less aggressive as daylight came.

We slipped the buoys at 0919 on Monday 21st to take station astern of SHEFFIELD and go first into a 6" shoot at a sled target before switching to our 4" guns and the PTA. After dark we chased around whilst tracking SHEFFIELD and CORUNNA firing starshells to illuminate them when the time was right. Tuesday was spent in Helicopter and aircraft exercises before using the night to practice convoy protection and station keeping. Wednesday saw us with SCARBOROUGH attacking the PTA again as it hurtled round the sky on and off through the day. The night was spent in formation as we headed up to Sardinia and Aranchi Bay. Here on Thursday we bombarded Cape Teulada with 6" shells in the forenoon before going to anchor in Porto Pine Bay at 1245. Underway again at 1845 we returned to Cape Teulada to see if our bombardment skills were as accurate in the dark. Of course they were! At 2200 we dropped anchor in the same hole and turned-in. After firing a few more shells on Friday we took oil from RFA TIDERACE then, with four Daring  Class destroyers and other Fleet ships, spent the night chasing and avoiding each other with great success.

Anchoring back in Aranchi Bay at 0800 on Saturday 26th we were in our No. 1's and fell-in for FO 2's Divisions at 1000 before being rewarded with a Make and Mend. Fleet sailing races after Church on Sunday gave us an excuse to shout a bit but our chuck-up failed to help our whaler Crew - they tried too hard and capsized. Presumably wanting to get away from boats and back to flying ARK ROYAL went to sea at 1800. We, with some others, stayed at anchor but Monday was anything but quiet with anchor watch set in winds up to 40 knots. Tuesday was better before we left at 2100 to return to the shelter of Grand Harbour mid-afternoon on Wednesday 30th.

Our excursions in April 1958 totalled 4098 nm's during 270.5 hours of sea-time.

The Malta Labour Party led Government had decided the way forward for Malta was to remain part of the UK but a referendum early in 1958 showed the country was split on the subject. When it was also announced that there would be cuts in the Dockyard workforce Prime Minister Dom Mintoff resigned and called for protests against the cuts. In response the UK Government moved quickly declaring a State of Emergency which resulted in Malta being governed from the UK until 1962 when self-government was restored.

As a result of the State of Emergency some escaped our normal harbour routine on Thursday the 1st of May. A Royal Marine Detachment together with a Platoon of seaman were in boats ready to land by 0710. The rest of us got on with painting, polishing, scrubbing & cleaning in our respective Departments. We remained in harbour doing much the same for the next ten days as the Maltese people settled into life under direct UK control. They did so with minimal unrest and rioting and the large number of resident British service families found, in the main, their Maltese neighbours were helpful to and protective of them.  

Sailing on Monday 12th at 1100 we had a day of various evolutions then anchored at Marsaxlokk where, at 2200 the ship was darkened and divers mustered in Exercise Awkward. An early start next morning for a drogue shoot was followed by starshells and an anchorage overnight in St Pauls Bay. Wednesday saw us at sea by 0715 doing radar calibrations and then we pushed up the speed to do some Measured Mile transits before entering Grand Harbour at 1500 to see the  week out. A lot of us set about assessing the beer quality of the 'Egyptian Queen' as well as the culinary skills at 'Ben Marl's' the former being a desirable if not essential prerequisite for the latter. Oh yes! A game or two of Tombola was also had together with the odd egg banjo at Custom House Steps. So for us Malta was the same as it had always been!

Monday the 19th started with an 0730 boat trip to Corrodino for one individual, not the Canteen this time but the RN Detention Quarters. The rest of us found ourselves at sea again soon after 1000 to head round to pick up Outer No. 1 Buoy at Marsaxlokk. By 0815 on Tuesday we had been at sea on an AA Tracking exercise for an hour and shortly after carried out a Helicopter transfer. The rest of the forenoon was fully untilised with 4" and Close-Range shoots but they were only a pre-cursor for the big guns after dinner. With our 6" calibration shoot completed we went back round to Valletta to embark some Royal Artillery Amphibious Observation Battery officers. There was some serious work ahead! 

Heading north in convoy through the night we anchored at Port Augusta, Sicily at 0355 Wednesday morning at the start of NATO's 'Medflex Fort' exercise. We weighed at 1220 and went into convoy, zig-zagging and action stations that, with variations on surface, underwater, air defence modes, would keep HMS BERMUDA and the more than forty other warships at 'war' for the next four days. The concentration and effort in each ship meant that we all came out safely, though in the darkness at 12 knots, we had to make an emergency turn to starboard on Thursday to avoid an 'enemy' submarine. In real war we'd have upped revolutions and gone for it! On Saturday, weary and ready to catch up on sleep, we took up No 7 Buoys in Grand Harbour once more.

We now had two days to wash off all the salt spray and make the ship immaculate - our CO, and I suspect most of us, would accept nothing less - before leaving harbour again amongst many other ships at 0720 on Tuesday. At 1000 we all put on our 'best suits' and at 1035 'Clear Lower Deck' was piped as we took our place in the line of ships to pass down the side of HMS SURPRISE in which a number of Senior NATO Officers had gathered to represent their commands and countries as General Lauris Norstad USAF, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (1956-1963) reviewed the NATO navies ships. It's 'Jack's' prerogative to drip (moan) in the build-up to such events but there are very few who do not take great pride in taking part. We were back on the buoys by 1430 where we stayed for the last four days of the month.

We had weaved our way through 1903.6 miles in May taking 137 hours doing so.

A 21 gun salute on Tuesday marked the anniversary of the Queen's Coronation on 2 June. Apart from that the week was passed in care, maintenance and recreation with Warrant No. 25 being attributed to one miscreant on Saturday. Going to sea on Monday morning we spent the day reacting to supposed steering failure, fire, electrical breakdown and later the wishes of the Officer of the Day at anchor in Marsaxlokk. Tuesday was spent firing 4" shells at a towed target then knocking some more lumps off the Island of Filfla with our 6" guns. Those 9 gun broadsides were always spectacular! Next day we shut hatches and vents then sprayed water everywhere during ABCD (Atomic, Biological & Chemical Defence) exercises. On Thursday we were up and out by 0630 to go into AA tracking followed by 4" and Bofors firing. Our Executive Officer, Cdr  Howard, was given the ship for a couple of hours in the afternoon to hone and demonstrate his conning skills as we headed back to Marsaxlokk. An 0730 departure on Friday the 13th got us back into Valletta and No.7 at 0900.

As well as the State of Emergency in Malta the situation in Cyprus caused the Commander in Chief, Mediterranean Fleet, (Admiral Sir Charles Lambe KCB, GCB, CB, CVO) to visit the ship early in the day on Monday 16th. Following a bomb explosion near the Turkish Press Office in Nicosia on June 7th reprisals against Greek Cypriots had intensified to the extent that some, in mixed communities, were being driven from their homes. A group of Greeks just released from arrest by the British were murdered at Geunyeli and General Grivas, in his continuing quest to remove the British and make the Island a Greek satellite, was also reportedly known to be organising Greek attacks on Turkish Cypriots. Soon after the CinC left the ship we were embarking Units of 45 Commando, Royal Marines. By the time we slipped at 1900 we had embarked 10 Officers and 157 Marines and their equipment that had to be stepped over or around as we headed eastwards at 22kts.

At the end of the 1st Dog Watch on Wednesday 18th we secured on RFA RETAINER in Akrotiri Bay where a Z Lighter (Z11) came alongside to land the Marine's stores. That was completed by 2200 and we went off to anchor for the night. The Marines themselves landed during the forenoon on Thursday to provide valuable additional security in a volatile Cyprus.  

We sailed at 0900 on Friday to make a more leisurely passage back to Malta stopping for 'Hands to bathe' on the way. At 2315 on Sunday we run for half an hour on emergency steering and were up early on Monday to commence an 'A' & 'B' turret bombardment of Filfla followed by Defence Stations before another swim stop. By 1520 were we tucked up on No. 7 Buoys in Valletta once more where we stayed to the month's end.

June's figures were 155.2 hours at sea covering 2450.7 nautical miles.

At 0900 on a sunny Tuesday 1 July 1958 HMS BERMUDA left her buoys in Grand Harbour followed by HMS CUMBERLAND a day of trials and testing including 4" gun proof firings before entering Marsaxlokk for the night just before midnight. All guns were firing after an early departure next morning. First the 4" and Close range guns fired at an aircraft towed drogue afterwhich our 6" guns were turned onto a Battle Practice Target (BPT) astern of the Tug SEA GIANT with good results - the tug and target were left unscathed! The ship stopped for 20 minutes swimming then, as soon as the water was cleared, went to Defence Stations before the BPT was attacked again by 4 & 6" guns again. We rounded the day off blowing soot on the way back to a 1700 arrival in GH. Thursday forenoon saw the arrival of stores and paint-cats which signalled the spreading around of ships side grey paint and a bit of boot-topping all of which continued until late on Friday.

All this tiddlying-up was explained to the Fleet when we hoisted the flag of CinC Mediterranean Fleet at 0730 on Saturday. Forty minutes later a squadron of Italian warships entered harbour and at 0900 Admiral Lambe embarked ready to meet and greet the Italian CinC Vice Admiral Rossi and his Senior Officers. The CinC's flag was struck at 1130 after our Chief of Defence Staff (Marshall of the RAF Sir William Dickson, GCB, KBE,DSO, AFC), Admiral Superintendent  Malta, Chief of Staff Mediterranean Fleet, Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers and Commandant General Royal Marines followed the CinC ashore.

Sunday was peaceful with Church then some exchange visits between BERMUDA and the Italian SAN GIORGIO. A Ceremonial Guard was landed at 0830 on Monday as exchanges continued ashore and afloat through to Tuesday evening. The Italian Navy's visit to Malta ended with their 0100 sailing on Wednesday 9 July.

Thursday and Friday were used to clean-ship and embark ammunition followed by a quiet 'run-ashore' weekend that ended at 0700 on Monday the 14th with a heightened sense of urgency in the ship. Just after 0900 we got underway to go round the Valletta headland to secure on Pieta Creek's No's 2 & 2A buoys in Pieta Creek. Cruisers didn't normally 'do' Pieta. Soon we had all manner of craft securing alongside including a crane-barge.  'Clear Lower Deck' for Captain's Address, the second; important for the rest of us was to unload the 'Beer' Lighter that came alongside afterwards. Amongst those events we watched the submarines ANCHORITE and SEA DEVIL go to sea.

The evolution of the Middle-East has always been complicated and bloody and so it was in now in 1958. First Egypt and Syria united to form the United Arab Federation and then, on February 14th, the Kingdoms of Iraq, led by King Faisal II and Jordan, led by his cousin King Hussein, joined together in a Federation. Just five months later, on the 4th of July King Faisal with members of his family and the Prime Minister were killed in a military coup in Baghdad. The British Government responded immediately to Jordan's request for help with troop air-lifts from both Cyprus and UK and in Malta we and the rest of the fleet started loading men and equipment for the same purposes.

At 1700 on Tuesday the 15th of July  the buoys were slipped and we headed to sea once more. This time it was different as every inch of upperdeck as well as between decks heaved with either Royal Marines or their equipment that ranged from personal kit to lorries and helicopters that had all been taken in during the last 24 hours. We also knew why so much beer had been taken aboard! Altering course outside the entrance to 090° we ramped up our speed to 24 knots heading for, well, the 'Eastern Mediterranean'. Other ships had embarked the Headquarters Unit of No3 Royal Marine Commando Brigade as well as additional equipments.. 

The Marines busied themselves during Wednesday morning firing small arms over the stern, wiping vehicle engine dipsticks and checking tyre pressures etc. before turning themselves to 'Preparations for landing' in the afternoon. At 1500 we came down to 12 knots to make a Jackstay transfer of 5 officers/nco's and 14 other ranks of 45 Commando plus their baggage followed by 25 bags of Mail to the frigate HMS TENBY. 'White watch to Defence Stations' was piped at 1720 and at 1820 we anchored in 7 fathoms at Tobruk.

We were aware that uncertainty existed as to when and perhaps less so, where, we would end up so it came as no surprise that we went to sea again at 2315 not realising that we would be back in Tobruk before 0815 the next day where HMS SALISBURY came alongside to transfer more Marines to us. She was back at sea soon after 0900 then HMS SURPRISE came in at 1140 and RFA RETAINER at 1620. We'd had an interesting day that was finished off with a swim just before sunset. What next? Well, by 0700 on Friday HMS TORQUAY was secured on our port side sending more of 45 Cdo over to us before she slipped back out to sea less than two hours later allowing us to get Z Lighters alongside to take some patrol vehicles and equipment from us prior to HMS STRIKER arriving at 2115.

Saturday daylight was put to good recreational use with swimming, water polo and sailing before the night got busy. Z10 first arrived alongside at 1910 to start transferring Commando vehicles out and continued to do so through to 0500 on Sunday. After a break the next task was to transfer kit and equipment and when that completed 'Hands to Bathe' saw us jumping over the side for half an hours swim.

HMS BERMUDA moved to Tobruk's fuelling buoys at 0700 Monday where we stayed until 1600. From there we went to sea arriving 10 miles off Libya's Ras El Hilal Lighthouse at 2314 on our way back in the direction of Malta to anchor at Benghazi at 0900 Tuesday. HMS BASTION transferred some Royal Marines before their Brigadier Houghton came onboard to address them. We used the opportunity to include the reading of Warrant No. 38. Soon after, SURPRISE returned to sea and we welcomed onboard the British Ambassador to Libya for a short visit. There was plenty of boat activity on Wednesday which was dwarfed by the arrival of HMS CUMBERLAND at midday. Thursday passed with various comings and goings but we stayed put until 2100. Clearing Benghazi we rounded the headland to steer east once more. The politicians had presumably made a decision now and at dawn on Saturday 45 Commando were hard at work preparing to disembark. At 1145 they were 'fell-in' on every bit of available deck as we came to anchor in Akrotiri Bay, Cyprus on Saturday 26 July 1958. The Royal Marines left the ship during the day while we continued to disembark their stores through Sunday and carried out anti-sabotage boat patrols through the nights.

The Troopship DEVONSHIRE came in at 0515 on Monday and the the RFA's RETAINER and FORT DUQUESNE plus the Troopship DUNERA left before we sailed at 1040. We then caught FORT DUQUESNE up to take stores from her before anchoring off Famagusta. Lookouts and ship bottom searches by our divers together with overnight boat patrols became routine in common with all other ships here under the title 'Operation Awkward'. 

Ships around us included the frigates SALISBURY & TENBY, destroyers CAVENDISH & CONTEST and aircraft carrier EAGLE plus the RFA's so security was taken a little more seriously and when a lookout in the 465' tanker RFA WAVE PRINCE reported sighting a swimmer close to the ship at 2220 Op. Awkward State 1 was ordered with ships coming to immediate notice for steam, turning screws and darkening ship. Deterrent scare-charges were dropped over the side before BERMUDA's divers searched the ship's bottom before going on to do the same on RETAINER. Daylight brought a relaxation of 'Awkward' as we prepared for sea.

Underway at 0730 we soon came up on RETAINER to replenish our ammunition before carrying out a light-jackstay transfer with TRAFALGAR. Aircraft from EAGLE, as they continued their air support patrols for the Cyprus-Amman air-routes, allowed us to calibrate radars during the forenoon before getting into a squadron Gunnery & Torpedo Exercise in the Afternoon Watch. At 1840 we streamed a splash target and darkened ship for night exercises with EAGLE and her escorts to end the month of July.

Our perambulations in July took us through 2228.5 nautical miles during 138 hours underway.

Soon after midnight we recovered the splash target before HMS TRAFALGAR slid up our port side to enable us to send over some mail via a heaving line transfer. The rest of the night was spent zig-zagging around SE of Cyprus. When daylight came we concentrated first on 4" and close-range weapons firings, grabbing dinner as and when then closing up for more surface shoots before streaming the splash target for
Continuing gunnery exercises through to midnight. After that we headed back to Akrotiri Bay - passing as we did so a US Navy Carrier Task Force - to anchor at 0608 on Saturday 2 August.
 
Sunday morning we had the usual 'Church' and 'Piped Down' at 1100 as EAGLE, TRAFALGAR, SALISBURY and the minesweeper DUNKERTON  anchored making  the view from Limassol more interesting. They left again around 1900 and we followed them to sea at 0435 Monday to do some gun tracking exercises. We also spent an hour or so pumping out our bilges before taking ourselves well clear of that for a swim before going to anchor off Famagusta.
 
Tuesday the 5th started with washing paintwork aloft before beach parties were landed under guard as was normal for security. Mind you that didn't always work quite as it should! The back of the beach had high wire fencing and ships provided their own guards complete with rifles and ammunition so we felt as secure as we could be. Mind you we didn't worry too much about that anyway - well, not until one particular day when there was the crack of a rifle shot very close-by. Those of us on the beach went to ground like turtles as those in the water looked around for signs of blood and wondered whether to risk sharks or a return to the beach. With the sounds of expletives around us and no further shots we raised our heads to look around and what we found was…………Harold Davies, our three-badged AB guard, displaying signs of surprise and bewilderment that one of his .303 bullets had escaped from his rifle without his knowledge or approval. Herd-like we joined the chorus of abuse being reigned upon him by his fellow guards then carried on as though nothing had happened. Harry tried to do the same but our Regulating Staff, Commander and Captain subsequently prevented that! Sadly I can't recall what his punishment was but 'Excused guard duty' and 'Stoppage of Leave' Harry could have coped with! 
 
The Fleet Clearance Diving Team came to the ship on Wednesday and carried out a full bottom search of the ship before going on to do the same on RFA FORT DUQUESNE. Meanwhile the Ton Class sweepers LULLINGTON, DUFTON and FISKERTON continued their protection patrols around the ships. On Thursday we had to fasten things down as BERMUDA was first healed 14º to Port and then 8º to Starboard to ensure her stability was up to scratch. Later in the day 'Hands to bathe' was piped and in watches most of us took to the water. What else was there to do with thermometer recordings showing the following: 0400 = 80º, 0800 = 83º, Noon = 94º,1600 = 95º, 1800 = 87º, & Midnight = 83º. OK everyone knows that nowadays but back in 1958 Cyprus and tourism weren't joined at the hip.
 
By 0900 next morning we had secured alongside RFA WAVE PRINCE where we stayed until 1130 taking on 580 tons of Furnace Fuel Oil. Wiping up any spillage we then made our way to sea with the prospect of a little excitement come the evening - Leave! We anchored in Larnaca Bay and at 1940 Libertymen were allowed ashore to Dhekelia Army Base. Apart from anything else I remember the cinema having an opening roof and the luxury of being ashore with access to a pint or two. Elsewhere around Cyprus we might only have Recreational Leave for bathing from about 1330 -1800 so a weekend at anchor off Dhekelia was a real treat. For a couple of our ship's company the weekend was notable for other reasons. On Saturday 'Clear Lower Deck of Seamen' was piped for us to witness the rading of Warrant No. 36 and on Sunday 10 August it was the turn of Chiefs & PO's to see an errant Senior Rate punished by Warrant. 

We were at sea again just before 1000 Monday 11 August with a Gannet aircraft running around us to enable our Gunnery Fire Control Teams to sharpen their blind-tracking skills. Elsewhere Both Watches were busy painting the upper works of the ship. Through the First Watch (2000-2359) we stood off EAGLE as her pilots took off and landed in the dark. At 0740 next morning the submarine SANQUINE, a couple of miles to our north dived signalling the start of a 2.5 hour anti-submarine exercise. For the rest of the day painting continued as did our screening of EAGLE. At 1800 we carried out a transfer with her and then we all headed 320° and increased speed to 22kts for another evening of flying. Much the same format saw Wednesday through and Thursday before we fuelled from RFA TIDESURGE PM and went to anchor just after 2200 in Akrotiri Bay.

Though we stayed at anchor for the weekend we were not idle as the tidy up spread to washing and painting the Port side that on a cruiser is no small area! It looked good by the end of Monday but the stores that were brought out to us had to be taken in on the other side and our swim was from there as well as you'd expect. All-night-in was a forlorn hope as Special Sea Dutymen were closed up to get us underway once more soon after 0100. We had to be at the side of EAGLE before 0800 with the destroyers and frigates to look after her as she flew off and recovered her aircraft. We closed her for a Jackstay transfer just before 2000 and afterwards the Group spent the night zig zagging and avoiding each other as well as other shipping.

We detached ourselves from the other ships before daylight on Wednesday for a bit of anxious excitement. Well, anxiety for those below who had to make it happen but exhilarating excitement for the rest of us! At 0715 with all four shafts engaged the Bridge ordered the first increase in revolutions that began our run up to full power by 0857 which was maintained until 1120. An 8,800 Ton Royal Navy cruiser parting the Mediterranean Sea at 30+ knots is impressive to see from within and without and if it can it be done without much delay or spillage to our Tot and Dinner its even more impressive. You might think that's enough for today but not so. We did go to anchor at 1400 and looked longingly at Dhekelia but it was a short stop to land military 'visitors' before returning to sea - the pilots in EAGLE were night-flying again.

Thursday dawned with us hoisting flag R on the starboard yard as, on a westerly heading, we approached RFA TIDESURGE to top up our tanks. We kept the same heading in the afternoon through Anti-Aircraft Action Stations then shut the ship down to ABCD State 1 and Shelter Stations in a 'Gas Cloud'. After that there was nothing for it but to stop for half an hours swimming

In the middle of the Mediterranean - not too many people have the chance to do that do they! We used Friday making westwards and took a transfer of mail from HMS SALISBURY before exchanging ID with HMS ALBION heading east. Saturday and Sunday were quiet days and on Monday we secured at 'home' on Grand Harbour's No's 6 & 6A buoys. We'd been away since 14 July and it was now 25 August - it seemed a long time in which we'd done a lot.

Tuesday saw the Despatch Vessel HMS SURPRISE come in flying the CinC's flag and on Wednesday we watched our sister ship HMS CEYLON and RFA EDDYCLIFF enter. The rest of the week we set about preparing for our month of maintenance. 

August had seen us underway for 282.7 hours covering 3231 miles.

The first day of September saw the CinC in the ship to welcome an Italian Admiral during the forenoon but as soon as he had gone a gash-barge and floating-galley came alongside to allow us to shut down and get our Dockyard-aided month of self-maintenance underway. On the 6th the tugs DILIGENT and DIRECTOR moved us to No 3 Buoys and ten days later we went into Admiralty Floating Dock 35.

HMS BERMUDA, saluting HMS ST ANGELO (CinC Med. Fleet HQ), posing in the dark and showing her bottom in AFD 35.

Within the following three days, whilst in charge of our 32' Motor Cutter, I found myself confidently turning its Kitchener Gear wheel clockwise and anticlockwise in order to go ahead or astern, then, at a crucial moment and without warning, my single brain cell shut down and I turned it the wrong way and instead of the boat stopping it charged into the sharp end of AFD35. The Dock was unmoved while the cutter split its sides (as did the one or two observers in the ship/dock). Our Chippy (Ch Shipwright Robinson - I think) was less amused but did a magnificent job of fitting a new stempost and refixing the sprung planks while I, with others, went off for a weeks rest and recreation at Krendi Rest Camp. Who said anything about life being fair? 

BERMUDA floated out on the 26 and back came the floating-alley and painting-cats to enable us to finish the maintenance. Main engines were turned on Monday 29th - the only engine movement during September and we contiued storing next day.

No seatime during September - Maintenance

From Wednesday October 1st through to the weekend we watched USS TALLAHASEE COUNTY and the minesweepers HMS LULLINGTON and FISKERTON go to sea as we took on ammunition; cleared lower deck (Able Seaman and below of the Focsle Division) for the reading of Warrant No. 46 then saw (again) the superstition of not going to sea on a Friday set aside as the Landing Craft Tank HMS ANZIO entered harbour at 1630 and returned to sea at 1800.

At 0800 Monday October 6th Special Sea Dutymen closed up and we were on our way down the harbour before 0900 to run up and down the Measured Mile which was followed by a radar jamming exercise with two Meteor aircraft. In the afternoon 6" gun Action Crews carried out shoots before switching to 4" guns and Anti-Aircraft Barrage firings. As darkness fell we chased, tracked and deterred the destroyers SAINTES, ARMADA, CAMPERDOWN and TRAFALGAR in a night exercise before they detached at 2318 and we went to anchor in Marsaxlokk. Next morning we were at sea by 0700 and soon firing our 4" guns again before MEDIATOR arrived towing a Battle Practice Target which we fired our 6" guns toward. That done we returned to Grand Harbour at 1800.

By 0900 on Wednesday a sprinkling of females had arrived on board and more followed with a child or two. In addition to them came some Scouts, Guides and Cadets before we slipped to leave harbour on a 'Families Day'. First we watched the submarine SANQUINE dive then pursued/attempted to avoid her 'attacks'. After that out came the big guns - 6" then 4" - again before returning to harbour at the end of an enjoyable day for us and our guests. It has to be said that in 1958 most were officers wives as those on the lower deck could either not afford to bring their wives out or find transport to do so. For those who had they had enjoyed a month when Leave had been granted from 1300 to 0630 each day to other than the Duty Watch. Thursday and Friday were used up ammunition and preparing for the coming week.

We came under closer scrutiny on Monday 13th when Flag Officer Flotillas, Mediterranean Fleet embarked with his staff before we set off to sea at 1500. Tuesday was spent in ABCD and Pre-Wetting exercises, Action Stations and then evolutions all designed to impress the Admiral. At 0800 next morning we drew close to HMS SHEFFIELD before lowering our, now pristine, Motor Cutter via which FOF and Staff were transferred to the 'Shiny Sheff'. Thursday took us further East as we exercised Shelter Stations and refuelled from RFA TIDESURGE before anchoring at 1505 in Famagusta Bay an hour before HMS BULWARK. We were back into 'Operation Awkward' here which meant Upper Deck Sentries/Lookouts, dropping charges over the side to deter divers and bottom searches of ships as the EOKA problems persisted.

I made a visit over the weekend to BULWARK to see a mate from our Southend-on-Sea Sea Cadet days, Ivor Colbourne, and had my only ever 'tin-tray' Cafeteria meal. The tray was one of those machine pressed stainless steel things with various sized indentations that (sometimes) separated soup from main course from sweet but only if the chefs had been careful in their delivery! Who said it was an improvement on Canteen Messing!

Our beach parties ended on Sunday and we sailed Monday morning for more exercises this time screening BULWARK as we zig-zagged at 22 knots. We straightened our course on 225° half a mile astern of her as aircraft left and returned through the afternoon. From 1730 to 2100 we led the ships in zigzagging. Tuesday was used up on Radar Picket exercises followed by 4" gun tracking with the aid of a Skyraider aircraft before anchoring in X Berth at Akrotiri where we remained until Friday. Leaving at 0800 we dropped scare charges and undertook Pistol shooting from the Quarterdeck as we made our way to anchor off Dhekelia at 1030. Here we were allowed Recreational Leave from 1330 to 1700 and Canteen Leave from 1830 to 2230 on both Friday and Saturday. The afternoon arrival onboard of bags of 'Sea Mail' - parcels containing all sorts of goodies from Mums, Wives and Girlfriends - boosted morale and lifted spirits enormously.  
  
On Sunday Leave was given from 1100 to 1700 and in mid afternoon one of EAGLE's helicopters made a transfer on our Focsle as we prepared for sea to spend a couple of nights and days screening EAGLE and fending off strikes from her aircraft. We disengaged on Tuesday afternoon to make our way back to Akrotiri with the Armaments Division witnessing the reading of Warrant No 50 en route. Underway by 0820 Wednesday we were soon connected up to RFA TIDEFLOW heading West at 12 knots to refuel. Continuing on that heading we carried out a Full Power trial on Thursday and made an entrance into Malta's Grand Harbour to secure on No 3 Bouys at 1715 on Friday the 30th. 
  
Logs and clocks said we had moved 3406 nautical miles in 246.4 hours during October.

The weekend gave us just enough time to get the ships side painted and embark FO Flotillas, Staff and Band before we sailed at 1500 on Monday 3 November this time to head north to Italy passing on the way the heavy cruiser USS DES MOINES (Flagship) with fourteen other ships of the US 6th Fleet going in the opposite direction.  
 
By 1000 on Wednesday we were secured on Q4 in Livorno's Inner Basin and cleaning into our No. 1 suits for runs ashore including visits to Pisa and Florence. Apart from that and the normal Civil and Military courtesies we welcomed a total of 2097 visitors onboard during Friday and Saturday. Some dignitaries returned again on Sunday when the Ship's Company mustered for our Remembrance Day Service and two minutes silence at 1000. Our Royal Marine Guard and Band were on the quarterdeck and we lined the ship as we bade Livorno a formal farewell at 1700.

'Cycling Party muster on the Jetty'. They left the ship at Livorno (Leghorn) to cycle some 360 miles along the coast to rejoin BERMUDA in Toulon. Sad to say I don't remember whether or not we sponsored them for a charity.
L-R (Jetty) AB Charlie Spinner, AB Clements, SBA Peter Gray and (I think) an Artificer & Engineer Officer whose names I wish I could recall. Can you?

That departure gave us just enough time to get to Toulon's Sud Grand Bassin on Monday to enable a Royal Marine Detachment to take part in the Armistice Day Parade on Tuesday 11.11.58. We also watched a French Navy Task Force, led by the, long-in-the-making-and-now-two-years-in-service, cruiser DE GRASSE. She was a good looking and well proportioned ship that we would be seeing a lot more of during the next week's exercises.paragraph

Sailing at 0630 on Thursday we went into diamond formation astern of DE GRASSE before both The French and british Fleets, at 14 knots, started AA Sleeve followed by Drone firings. In the Dog Watches we fuelled from TIDEFLOW before coming to anchor at 1948 in Gulfe Juan to the east of Cannes. Ships present included French DE GRASSE, CASSARD, LE BRETTON, LE BASQUE, CHATEAU, RENAULT, MAILLE, BREEZE, HAIDA, BAISE and LE PICKARD; British FORTH, SHEFFIELD, ARMADA, SAINTES, JUTLAND, CARYSFORT, TORQUAY, SALISBURY plus TIDEFLOW; Canadian OTTAWA and ST LAURENT. As the exercise was primarily an anti-submarine one I'm sorry not to be able to recall the names of the submarines involved. 
 

RFA TIDEFLOW fuelling HMS SHEFFIELD to port and us astern. 

DE GRASSE and escorts sailed at 0300 on Friday and we followed on Saturday morning in darkness for convoy screening exercises that continued until we arrived back in Toulon at 0900 on Monday. The post-exercise wash-up's were completed on Tuesday and the British Fleet left harbour soon after 0800 on Wednesday to exercise ABCD defences and station keeping whilst zig-zagging our way back to Malta. Oh yes! We transferred FOF by Jackstay to SHEFFIELD on Thursday and so entered Grand Harbour in her wake to take up No 7 Buoys just before 1000 on Friday 21 November.

Malta's Corrodino Canteen, The Gut and Tombola saw the weekend evaporate rapidly and we were at sea again on Tuesday this time to fire torpedoes then heave shells and bags of cordite into our 6" guns before discharging them at Filfla Island. A liberating experience and we got back into Grand Harbour  to go ashore again that night. The downside was we had to replace our ammunition on Thursday and replenish our food stores. Our Royal Marines were excused on this occasion parading instead for a visit from their Major General R C de Leathes MVO OBE. That was but a short intermission as we went to sea again at 0815 on Friday to zig zag around in an attempt to evade attacks by HM Submarine TABARD submerged and popping up green markers most of the day. That completed we went off to do another 6" shoot and took up No8 Buoys in Grand Harbour at 1030 on Saturday 29th to see out November.
 
November seatime amounted to 203.3 hours covering 3099 miles averaging 15.25 nautical miles per hour!

The Troopship EMPIRE FOWEY arrived at 0715 and sailed again at 1730 and in between HMS BLACKPOOL and SCARBOROUGH came in. The next day, Tuesday 2nd December, HMS MEON left as the submarine TALLY HO came in exchanging the usual courtesies. We stayed put until 0715 Thursday when, in pretty miserable conditions we and SHEFFIELD left to meet destroyers and frigates outside to go east again firing 4" guns as we did so. Overnight in squalls up to 50 knots and a 6 - 10 foot swell from the ESE we carried out interception exercises. Shipping green seas over the starboard bow the forenoon passed with us at Surface Action Stations followed by an ABCD shut down in the afternoon.

A 21 gun salute at 0815 on Saturday 6th drew the attention of the citizens of Izmir in Turkey and an hour later the Captain went ashore to present himself to the Civil and Military great and good. They in turn arrived on board at lunch time and returned again in the evening for a Reception. Leave was granted and we poured ashore to see what the place was like and found it interesting in a number of ways but I will dwell on just one of them. There was, inevitably you might say, an area that was 'Out of Bounds' and that, as is the custom, just had to be looked at! On arrival we found a military guard at the end of a street but an in-the-know local, in return for a few local Lira, was enthusiastic in taking us along a railway line and assisting us up a 8-10' high wall. We then dropped into the guarded street and scuttled across the road, at what we thought was the right moment, to enter a house. Inside we were warmly greeted, given a drink, relieved of a few more Lira and 10 minutes or so later introduced to half a dozen 'nice young ladies'. Thirty seconds (honest) later a couple of Turkish soldiers came through the door waving arms (limbs & guns) and enthusiastically removed us from the premises and the 'Out of Bounds' street. The fifty year old question - Did The Turk who assisted us over the wall then tell the guard? Too expensive to try again we confined ourselves healthily to the beer and thus avoided the possible use of onboard CDA cubicles! We even gave a Childrens Party onboard on Monday so we were not too upset either.

We left the City of Izmir before 0900 on Wednesday 10th and once clear of the Aegean amused ourselves with Evolutions and Shelter Stations. On Friday we trundled along transferring stores from RFA FORT DUSQUESNE for a while then went off to fire first our 4" then our 6" guns towards a Battle Practice Target before entering Grand Harbour to secure on Parlatorio Wharf'

After a quiet weekend the ship reduced to 47 hours notice for steam and we started maintenance, painting and our run-down to Christmas 1958. The Captain did his customary Messdeck Rounds on Christmas morning and we had our Tot, 2 cans of Beer, fed well, yarned, played cards and done not much else.

28 Mess Christmas 1958. Front seated: Harry Davies & Alan Smith; Rear seated: 'Mitch' Mitchell & 'Slinger' Wood; L-R Charlie Spinner, Freddie Fox, George Macklam, 'Jamie' Jamieson, Les Burrill & Peter Elson

On the move on Boxing Day were JUTLAND, URSA and Tug BRIGAND before UNDAUNTED and MEDIATOR came in from sea at 1655. Next day, Saturday, RFA TIDEFLOW went to sea so already Christmas was in the past and business was returning to normal. We had a Carol Service onboard on Sunday, ammunitioned ship from 0800 to 1530 on Monday and continued 'Paintship' on Tuesday aka New Year's Eve.

Our passage to and from Izmir meant we travelled 1459 nm's in 106 hours at sea in the final month of 1958.

What with the ongoing EOKA problems in Cyprus, a State of Emergency in Malta and yet another 're-shaping' in the Middle East, 1958 had been anything but a routine year however we did have some good runs ashore as well!