HMS BERMUDA 1950 - 1951
At the start of 1950 HMS BERMUDA was in active reserve at Devonport, by the end of that year she had moved half way round the world once more on a commission that took her through to 1953. Brian Taylor, a stoker new to the navy and the ship adds his memories of the period in words and pictures.
At the start of 1950 HMS BERMUDA was in active reserve at Devonport, by the end of that year she had moved half way round the world once more on a commission that took her through to 1953. Brian Taylor, a stoker new to the navy and the ship adds his memories of the period in words and pictures.
Silver gifts from the people of Bermuda now in safe keeping at BERMUDA Maritime Museum in the Old Dockyard
The ship was lying between buoys on Gravesend Trot at Devonport with LEANDER on one side and LCT 3033 on the other as 1950 dawned. She was to remain there in active Care & Maintenance Reserve for the winter months watching the comings and goings of ships such as ILLUSTRIOUS and BLEASDALE not to mention the almost daily calling of the NAAFI canteen boat to keep the maintenance crew in nutty and fags. Senior Officer Reserve Fleet seemed to call about once a month and the Submarine XH8 passed the ship several times each week. In this state the ship was commanded by Commander D H T L Jenkins with Lieutenant F G Ware having a quiet time as the Navigating Officer.In mid March Warrant No. 15 was read and BERMUDA's sister ship GAMBIA was seen moving about Devonport and Plymouth Sound. Towards the middle of April the number of new faces in the ship was clearly increasing and included Lt Cdr (E) Bishop then on Tuesday the 25th the ship was singled up and slip wires were rigged. The next morning, with the aid of a mooring vessel and tugs, BERMUDA was extricated from the trot and taken into No. 5 Basin to berth alongside NEWCASTLE on East Wall.
May saw NEWCASTLE moved and TYNE put in her place as more and more men arrived in the ship amongst them was Lieutenant Commander Lee-Dillon, Senior Commissioned Gunner Palmer and Comm'd Gunner McDonagh. Events in the month included a small fire in the After ER and the fire main burst in the After Cabin Flat, the latter at 0515 one morning, which had the Duty Hands and Stokers not to mention some officers, out early. On the 24th the ship dressed overall to celebrate Empire Day. By the time the next one came around the ship would be many miles from Devonport.
On the 8th of June the ship again dressed overall on the King's Birthday. The ship's company was now undergoing Atomic, Biological and Chemical Defence (ABCD) training courses and looking anxiously at the new Master-At-Arms who had just been drafted in. Otherwise there was a lot of chipping and scraping of paint going on primarily on the ship's sides. Lt (S) Johnson and Instructor Lt Merritt joined the Wardroom Mess.
Tuesday the 4th of July, American Independence Day, warranted dressing overall once more as the chipping and scrapping, stripping and refitting, cleaning and replacing continued in all departments. The next day the ship took her blocks in No. 8 Dock soon after 1000. 'Both watches employed scraping ship's bottom'. Next the ships bridge superstructure was chipped and painted while inside kit lockers were moved as messdecks and flats were painted. Surgeon Lt Bartholomew joined and lower deck was cleared for 'Captain's Address' but I don't think there was a direct link between the two! It was more likely to have been to brief the ship's company on the Korean situation the North having invaded South Korea on the 28th of June. It lead to Royal Navy ships involvement in a United Nations led war
in which British warships amongst other nation's took part. The conflict continued for exactly three years but 'disagreements' between N & S have erupted from time to time into the 21st century.
During the Dog Watches of the 2nd of August Commander A G R White DSC arrived on board. The next morning he and Cdr Jenkins called upon the Chief of Staff before Cdr Jenkins left the ship thus another transition was made. The Queen's Birthday came and went on the 4th then on the 9th the ship was floated out. In between the two the new CO, Cdr White called on Commodore RNB and the Admiral Superintendent. On the 15th masthead ensigns were hoisted at 1400 to celebrate the Royal birth (Princess Anne). The next day HM The King ordered 'Splice the Mainbrace' to celebrate.
The month finished with the hard work continuing towards making the ship ready for sea service as another 28 ratings joined from RNB (DRAKE).
September saw the end of Summer Leave periods, 8 boys join the ship from GANGES plus 5 Midshipmen from BRNC, Warrants No's 24 & 25 read and the arrival of a number of officers whose names might jog a memory or two. They were Surg Cdr Burgess, Lt Cdr Howe, S/Lt Ryland and Lt Seed RM. They all arrived in time to see the ship undergo Basin Trials on the 29th.
Things got immediately and decidedly more intense and serious as October opened. On Monday the 2nd Captain H G Scott DSC RN was piped aboard as the new Commanding Officer whilst all around him shells and bullets in various sizes were being lifted inboard from Lighters alongside. The next day the ship was put out to No. 9 Buoy where ammunitioning continued from 0945 to 1855. Wednesday was a day of stowing, securing, checking & rechecking everything ready for Thursday. I presume the transition to a 'new commission' occurred about now but there is no reference to a ceremony. The only clue is a restart of Warrant Numbers.
What was special about Thursday? The pipe 'Special Sea Dutymen close up' was! By 1145 HMS BERMUDA had Drake's Island to starboard as she headed to sea to check machinery and communications. All went well apart from having to return temporarily to the Sound at 1515 to transfer an injured rating to an MFV and hospital. The night was spent at 'F' buoy before returning to the Dockyard and Tilt testing on Saturday. Tuesday and Wednesday of the next week were spent at sea before entering No. 4 Basin on Thursday to continue storing and training. On the following Thursday, the 19th of October the full ship's company put on No. 1's for Commander-in-Chief's Divisions. On Sunday the Mayor and Councillors of West Bromwich (now, in 2002, part of the much larger Sandwell Metropolitan Borough) were entertained on board and watched the salutes as the destroyer HMS CONTEST passed outwards. On the same day 63 ratings joined the ship for passage.
By 0930 the next day,23rd of October, the ship was on the move out of the Basin and preparing to fire a 17 gun salute to the C in C prior to leaving harbour. As Plymouth Breakwater was cleared the ship went to action stations as the ship's company began the process of welding themselves into a team. By 1700 they were in Weymouth Bay and during the evening embarked 230 bags of mail. Tuesday morning saw an early arrival on the Deguassing Range and then a SW'ly heading set as into sight came SCORPION and ZODIAC plus the Castle Class corvettes LEEDS, FLINT and HEDINGHAM CASTLE.
Wednesday started with 0900 Divisions and prayers before continuing with calibrations and drills one after another that also took care of Thursday. In the middle of the Afternoon watch on Friday the ship secured alongside Gibraltar's Main Wharf where 16 bags of mail were landed and fuel was taken on. There was no time for anything else as lines were let go again as the Last Dog Watch began. BERMUDA was soon clear and heading East through the Mediterranean passing the destroyer CHEQUERS in the dark at 2110. Thoughts through the weekend continued to be focussed on 'shaking-down'.
A sight that was new to some and more than familiar to others appeared on Monday afternoon and soon bugles were sounding as the ship passed HMS St Angelo as she edged towards No 5 buoy. Next morning two were landed to detention in Corrodino just as OWEN left harbour. Later in the day EURYALUS and CHEVIOT came in from sea to add a few more to the numbers in Corrodino canteen and the establishments down The Gut
May saw NEWCASTLE moved and TYNE put in her place as more and more men arrived in the ship amongst them was Lieutenant Commander Lee-Dillon, Senior Commissioned Gunner Palmer and Comm'd Gunner McDonagh. Events in the month included a small fire in the After ER and the fire main burst in the After Cabin Flat, the latter at 0515 one morning, which had the Duty Hands and Stokers not to mention some officers, out early. On the 24th the ship dressed overall to celebrate Empire Day. By the time the next one came around the ship would be many miles from Devonport.
On the 8th of June the ship again dressed overall on the King's Birthday. The ship's company was now undergoing Atomic, Biological and Chemical Defence (ABCD) training courses and looking anxiously at the new Master-At-Arms who had just been drafted in. Otherwise there was a lot of chipping and scraping of paint going on primarily on the ship's sides. Lt (S) Johnson and Instructor Lt Merritt joined the Wardroom Mess.
Tuesday the 4th of July, American Independence Day, warranted dressing overall once more as the chipping and scrapping, stripping and refitting, cleaning and replacing continued in all departments. The next day the ship took her blocks in No. 8 Dock soon after 1000. 'Both watches employed scraping ship's bottom'. Next the ships bridge superstructure was chipped and painted while inside kit lockers were moved as messdecks and flats were painted. Surgeon Lt Bartholomew joined and lower deck was cleared for 'Captain's Address' but I don't think there was a direct link between the two! It was more likely to have been to brief the ship's company on the Korean situation the North having invaded South Korea on the 28th of June. It lead to Royal Navy ships involvement in a United Nations led war
in which British warships amongst other nation's took part. The conflict continued for exactly three years but 'disagreements' between N & S have erupted from time to time into the 21st century.
During the Dog Watches of the 2nd of August Commander A G R White DSC arrived on board. The next morning he and Cdr Jenkins called upon the Chief of Staff before Cdr Jenkins left the ship thus another transition was made. The Queen's Birthday came and went on the 4th then on the 9th the ship was floated out. In between the two the new CO, Cdr White called on Commodore RNB and the Admiral Superintendent. On the 15th masthead ensigns were hoisted at 1400 to celebrate the Royal birth (Princess Anne). The next day HM The King ordered 'Splice the Mainbrace' to celebrate.
The month finished with the hard work continuing towards making the ship ready for sea service as another 28 ratings joined from RNB (DRAKE).
September saw the end of Summer Leave periods, 8 boys join the ship from GANGES plus 5 Midshipmen from BRNC, Warrants No's 24 & 25 read and the arrival of a number of officers whose names might jog a memory or two. They were Surg Cdr Burgess, Lt Cdr Howe, S/Lt Ryland and Lt Seed RM. They all arrived in time to see the ship undergo Basin Trials on the 29th.
Things got immediately and decidedly more intense and serious as October opened. On Monday the 2nd Captain H G Scott DSC RN was piped aboard as the new Commanding Officer whilst all around him shells and bullets in various sizes were being lifted inboard from Lighters alongside. The next day the ship was put out to No. 9 Buoy where ammunitioning continued from 0945 to 1855. Wednesday was a day of stowing, securing, checking & rechecking everything ready for Thursday. I presume the transition to a 'new commission' occurred about now but there is no reference to a ceremony. The only clue is a restart of Warrant Numbers.
What was special about Thursday? The pipe 'Special Sea Dutymen close up' was! By 1145 HMS BERMUDA had Drake's Island to starboard as she headed to sea to check machinery and communications. All went well apart from having to return temporarily to the Sound at 1515 to transfer an injured rating to an MFV and hospital. The night was spent at 'F' buoy before returning to the Dockyard and Tilt testing on Saturday. Tuesday and Wednesday of the next week were spent at sea before entering No. 4 Basin on Thursday to continue storing and training. On the following Thursday, the 19th of October the full ship's company put on No. 1's for Commander-in-Chief's Divisions. On Sunday the Mayor and Councillors of West Bromwich (now, in 2002, part of the much larger Sandwell Metropolitan Borough) were entertained on board and watched the salutes as the destroyer HMS CONTEST passed outwards. On the same day 63 ratings joined the ship for passage.
By 0930 the next day,23rd of October, the ship was on the move out of the Basin and preparing to fire a 17 gun salute to the C in C prior to leaving harbour. As Plymouth Breakwater was cleared the ship went to action stations as the ship's company began the process of welding themselves into a team. By 1700 they were in Weymouth Bay and during the evening embarked 230 bags of mail. Tuesday morning saw an early arrival on the Deguassing Range and then a SW'ly heading set as into sight came SCORPION and ZODIAC plus the Castle Class corvettes LEEDS, FLINT and HEDINGHAM CASTLE.
Wednesday started with 0900 Divisions and prayers before continuing with calibrations and drills one after another that also took care of Thursday. In the middle of the Afternoon watch on Friday the ship secured alongside Gibraltar's Main Wharf where 16 bags of mail were landed and fuel was taken on. There was no time for anything else as lines were let go again as the Last Dog Watch began. BERMUDA was soon clear and heading East through the Mediterranean passing the destroyer CHEQUERS in the dark at 2110. Thoughts through the weekend continued to be focussed on 'shaking-down'.
A sight that was new to some and more than familiar to others appeared on Monday afternoon and soon bugles were sounding as the ship passed HMS St Angelo as she edged towards No 5 buoy. Next morning two were landed to detention in Corrodino just as OWEN left harbour. Later in the day EURYALUS and CHEVIOT came in from sea to add a few more to the numbers in Corrodino canteen and the establishments down The Gut
(LtoR) ILLUSTRIOUS 1940-56, CHEQUERS 1944-66, BERMUDA at Malta November 1950 - Pic. thanks to Brian Taylor whose story is below)
On the 2nd of November Stoker C Davidson was the subject of Warrant No. 7 when he was awarded a suspended sentence. He was clearly more fortunate then the two, Cdr A Joplin and Lt V H Cordwell, for whom ensigns were flown at half mast between 0945 & 1045 on the same day. Were they lost in an air accident? During the week HMS TRIUMPH and HMS BELFAST were seen as the ship remained secured but the following week it was off to sea and more exercises and drills before returning for a couple of days of sports and recreation. The 20th to 24th was again spent at sea followed by a weekend in when the fleet dressed overall and a 21 gun salute was fired on Saturday for Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh. Sunday saw Divisions and Captain's address. November ended with BERMUDA sailing at 1500 on the 30th to pass SURPRISE, fire a 21 gun salute and receive a wave from the Princess Elizabeth.
One week and one day later at 0730 the ship entered Freetown for fuel and at 1516 sailed again. 3,236.2 nautical miles later after stopping just once to take aboard the Court of King Neptune on the 11th the ship arrived in Simonstown. The arrival was not done quietly either as the ship carried out a full-calibre 6" shoot just before firing a 17 gun salute to Vice Admiral Packer. By 1515 on Monday the 18th of December the ship was secured on West Wall. The passage from Malta had taken exactly 18 days during which the ship had logged 6211.2 miles giving an average speed of around 14.5 kts.
One week and one day later at 0730 the ship entered Freetown for fuel and at 1516 sailed again. 3,236.2 nautical miles later after stopping just once to take aboard the Court of King Neptune on the 11th the ship arrived in Simonstown. The arrival was not done quietly either as the ship carried out a full-calibre 6" shoot just before firing a 17 gun salute to Vice Admiral Packer. By 1515 on Monday the 18th of December the ship was secured on West Wall. The passage from Malta had taken exactly 18 days during which the ship had logged 6211.2 miles giving an average speed of around 14.5 kts.
King Neptune's Court assembled in BERMUDA 11 Dec 1950 (Pic. Brian Taylor)
C in C came aboard the next morning to address the ship's company and welcome the ship to the South Atlantic Station. After that everyone could get on to the delights of the Cape and prepare for a warm Christmas. The duty part of the watch scrubbed decks at 0650 and C in C attended Divine Service onboard at 1015 on Christmas morning, then, after the customary serving of dinner by the officers soon after 1200 everyone relaxed for the rest of the day. As you might expect ships routines have to be maintained so 'Call the Hands' was at 0630 on Boxing Day and the next day it was Divisions at 1100 followed by a Make & Mend. The rest of the week passed quietly on board, give or take a raid on or by other ship's, while the bars and clubs of Simonstown and Capetown were investigated by all but the OOD & Duty Watch.
In just over two months BERMUDA had travelled from Devonport to the Cape of Good Hope via Portland, Gibraltar, Malta and Freetown and in so doing had logged some 9,000 nautical miles (16,668 km).
Carol Taylor-Cockayne showed her father, Brian Taylor, my BERMUDA pages in June 2002 and that, thankfully, resulted in Brian rummaging around in both his memory and photo albums to send me this. Carol describes it best in saying 'Here is part of my Dad's story:
In just over two months BERMUDA had travelled from Devonport to the Cape of Good Hope via Portland, Gibraltar, Malta and Freetown and in so doing had logged some 9,000 nautical miles (16,668 km).
Carol Taylor-Cockayne showed her father, Brian Taylor, my BERMUDA pages in June 2002 and that, thankfully, resulted in Brian rummaging around in both his memory and photo albums to send me this. Carol describes it best in saying 'Here is part of my Dad's story:
"National Service became compulsory just after the war, so it was only a matter of time before I would be 'invited' to join the Armed Forces. In January 1950 at the tender age of 17years and 6 months, I joined the Navy and was to embark upon a most remarkable voyage of discovery, visiting some of the most exotic countries on earth. Training commenced at the Stokers Training Centre (Anson Pic above), H.M.S Raleigh, Torpoint, Plymouth, Devon and lasted for six months. Our P.O.S.M was named Hackwell and had served, at one time on the ill-fated HMS Hood. We gained our sea legs on board HMS Newfoundland, a training ship, harboured in Plymouth Sound. We were not allowed home during that time, instead having to wait until we had passed out of training. Once qualified, we were sent home for one month's leave and then it was back to base to report for duty. My first commission was in South Africa and lasted for two and a half years. I would be a young man of nearly twenty one before I saw the town of Macclesfield, or my family again. Despite being far away, I sent 7/6- home to my mother every week of my service career which helped to feed and clothe the younger children of the family. My mother thanked me all her life for being a good son to them."
"We sailed to South Africa on HMS Bermuda, a colony class cruiser, same in design as the Newfoundland. It had four boiler rooms, four engine rooms, four gear rooms and four propellers. The engine rooms, where I worked, were reached via a steel hatchway. The hatch door was made of steel that was one foot thick. In wartime situations (as I was later to discover during the Suez Crisis) the hatch was closed and sealed. The hatch was then guarded to ensure that the men stayed down, even if the ship had been hit and the bulkhead was filling with water. This hopefully prevented the rest of the ship from flooding but the men in the flooded area, at worst, would be left to drown for the sake of the ship and the rest of the crew.
The sea was rough near Gibraltar and I had been as sick as a dog in the Bay of Biscay. We sailed from Gibraltar to Malta and then on to Freetown in West Africa. They called Freetown 'The White man's grave' as it is situated on the equator. The ship was like a hot tin box in hot weather. There was a crude form of air conditioning run by refrigeration but they never bothered to use it as it was too expensive to run. From Freetown we went down to the Cape."
"In 1951, as part of The South Atlantic Squadron we went on the 'East Coast Cruise'. Our Commander in Chief was Vice Admiral Sir Herbert Packer C.B.E. HMS Bermuda was flagship under the command of Captain H.G.Scott, and we were escorted by the Sloops HMS Nereide , HMS Actaeon and HM Submarine Sturdy. The cruise lasted for two months, departing from Simonstown on 19th June 1951, past the Cape of Good Hope to Durban. We docked at Durban on 22nd June, heading out into the Mozambique Channel for Diego Suarez, on the island of Madagascar, on the 16th July 1951, two days after my nineteenth birthday. We stayed for just a few days at most ports en route and by 1st August we were back on the mainland coast, at Lourenco Marques and then back to Simonstown by the 16th August 1951."
"We sailed to South Africa on HMS Bermuda, a colony class cruiser, same in design as the Newfoundland. It had four boiler rooms, four engine rooms, four gear rooms and four propellers. The engine rooms, where I worked, were reached via a steel hatchway. The hatch door was made of steel that was one foot thick. In wartime situations (as I was later to discover during the Suez Crisis) the hatch was closed and sealed. The hatch was then guarded to ensure that the men stayed down, even if the ship had been hit and the bulkhead was filling with water. This hopefully prevented the rest of the ship from flooding but the men in the flooded area, at worst, would be left to drown for the sake of the ship and the rest of the crew.
The sea was rough near Gibraltar and I had been as sick as a dog in the Bay of Biscay. We sailed from Gibraltar to Malta and then on to Freetown in West Africa. They called Freetown 'The White man's grave' as it is situated on the equator. The ship was like a hot tin box in hot weather. There was a crude form of air conditioning run by refrigeration but they never bothered to use it as it was too expensive to run. From Freetown we went down to the Cape."
"In 1951, as part of The South Atlantic Squadron we went on the 'East Coast Cruise'. Our Commander in Chief was Vice Admiral Sir Herbert Packer C.B.E. HMS Bermuda was flagship under the command of Captain H.G.Scott, and we were escorted by the Sloops HMS Nereide , HMS Actaeon and HM Submarine Sturdy. The cruise lasted for two months, departing from Simonstown on 19th June 1951, past the Cape of Good Hope to Durban. We docked at Durban on 22nd June, heading out into the Mozambique Channel for Diego Suarez, on the island of Madagascar, on the 16th July 1951, two days after my nineteenth birthday. We stayed for just a few days at most ports en route and by 1st August we were back on the mainland coast, at Lourenco Marques and then back to Simonstown by the 16th August 1951."
Entering Durban June 1951 and 'Tucked-up' in Simonstown a couple of weeks earlier (Pics. Brian Taylor)
"Later in the same year, we embarked upon a West Coast Cruise. From our naval base at Simonstown, we sailed for Luanda on the West Coast, and then on up to Lagos, Takoradi, Dakar, before cutting back to Freetown. From Freetown we sailed out into the Atlantic, crossing the Equator on route for the remote and tiny Ascension Islands. Matelots fondly refer to the Equator as the "Line for the Ceremonial Crossing of !", and there was much celebration as we crossed old Neptune's Line. The men would dress up in Fancy Dress, grass skirts or anything they had. It was all good for morale. From the Ascensions, after drinking the Island's entire year's supply of beer in just one week (something to do with the intense heat, I think), we sailed on to St Helena, Napoleon's island of exile and final resting place."
"During my time in Africa, I witnessed apartheid in action, which was unpleasant to see and the feeling of indignation has stayed with me all my life. On trains, some railway carriages had padded upholstered seats for the whites, but the black people had to use the carriages with wooden benches. Europeans used the front bar in a pub, entering the building via the front door. The coloureds had to use the back bar and enter via the back door. The South Africans even classed Asian people as 'black' but the Asians didn't agree. Whilst back at the naval base in Simonstown, HMS Bermuda was invited to give a public demonstration of its firing power. An old cargo boat was towed out to sea and we were asked to blow it up. The demonstration wasn't entirely successful as the 'old tug' wasn't going down that easily and despite many rounds of fire it still hadn't sunk. Eventually we managed to send it to the bottom of the briny."
"At Durban Beach the Bermuda was hit by a twenty foot high tidal wave. We had just reached Durban and were mustered on deck, in best dress and standing to attention, as we entered port, when a yell went up and someone shouted, "Grab something quick !" We turned seaward to see the huge tidal wave heading straight for us. Luckily we had all anchored ourselves to something by the time the wave hit so nobody was injured and no damage was done to the ship. It was just one wave probably caused by an earthquake at sea."
"During my time in South Africa, I was responsible for the Rear Admirals, Commander in Chief's barge. It was my job to take the C in C to his many public events, or to transport visiting dignitaries on and off ship. It was a fine vessel, a fifty foot long motor barge, decorated in blue and gold with ornamental ropes around the gunnels. I had been through a special selection process, to get the position, the suitable applicant had to be smart and reliable and have a superior service record. After my commission on the Bermuda, I was posted to HMS Drake at Devonport, Plymouth for two months. At that time, Plymouth was looking worse for wear, it had been heavily bombed during the war and the city was full of bomb cleared sites. I took leave for most of that time until I was allotted to another ship, which was the HMS Warrior".
"During my time in Africa, I witnessed apartheid in action, which was unpleasant to see and the feeling of indignation has stayed with me all my life. On trains, some railway carriages had padded upholstered seats for the whites, but the black people had to use the carriages with wooden benches. Europeans used the front bar in a pub, entering the building via the front door. The coloureds had to use the back bar and enter via the back door. The South Africans even classed Asian people as 'black' but the Asians didn't agree. Whilst back at the naval base in Simonstown, HMS Bermuda was invited to give a public demonstration of its firing power. An old cargo boat was towed out to sea and we were asked to blow it up. The demonstration wasn't entirely successful as the 'old tug' wasn't going down that easily and despite many rounds of fire it still hadn't sunk. Eventually we managed to send it to the bottom of the briny."
"At Durban Beach the Bermuda was hit by a twenty foot high tidal wave. We had just reached Durban and were mustered on deck, in best dress and standing to attention, as we entered port, when a yell went up and someone shouted, "Grab something quick !" We turned seaward to see the huge tidal wave heading straight for us. Luckily we had all anchored ourselves to something by the time the wave hit so nobody was injured and no damage was done to the ship. It was just one wave probably caused by an earthquake at sea."
"During my time in South Africa, I was responsible for the Rear Admirals, Commander in Chief's barge. It was my job to take the C in C to his many public events, or to transport visiting dignitaries on and off ship. It was a fine vessel, a fifty foot long motor barge, decorated in blue and gold with ornamental ropes around the gunnels. I had been through a special selection process, to get the position, the suitable applicant had to be smart and reliable and have a superior service record. After my commission on the Bermuda, I was posted to HMS Drake at Devonport, Plymouth for two months. At that time, Plymouth was looking worse for wear, it had been heavily bombed during the war and the city was full of bomb cleared sites. I took leave for most of that time until I was allotted to another ship, which was the HMS Warrior".
With Brian's story told let's return now to January 1951 and continue on through the commission.
There was an early but brief run to sea on the 4th of January 1951. Leaving Simonstown at 0830 the ship carried out a series of drills and equipment checks and returned just before midnight to anchor off before returning alongside next morning. There she remained until docking down on the 24th. During the month Warrants 18-22 were read, bush fire parties were trained and routinely the Boy Seamen scrubbed the quarterdeck at 0600 each morning. Floating out came on the 13th of February as a start was made on training a Royal Guard. Warrant 28 came towards the end of the month and the ship went to sea once more on post docking exercises and passage on Tuesday the 27th.
March the 1st saw arrival at East London and three days later came the pipe 'Clear Lower Deck for CID Indentification Parade'. Clearly someone had not been content with just a good run ashore! A 0730 sailing on Monday the 5th started the passage to Port Elizabeth and No 3 Berth that was reached by 1540. All the usual courtesies were fulfilled before leaving at 0600 on Friday. to go on to Durban and the sung welcome from Pearla Gibson, the White Lady, just before Noon on Saturday.
The next week was filled with sports, parties, visitors (3509 came on Sunday afternoon alone), exchanges and liaisons both official and personal! Departure from Durban was made on Monday the 19th and with shoots on the way down the ship arrived back in Simonstown on Wednesday afternoon. The round passage had been 2,018 nm's.
The remainder of the month was taken up with care & maintenance interspersed by sports and concerts, divisions and make & mends, church on board and worship at the bars and clubs of the Cape.
On Sunday the 1st of April at 0930 Boy's were landed for Church and returned onboard at 1115 after which they were granted leave to 2100. From time to time ammunition was taken on and so was rum to keep the Spirit Room topped-up to meet 'Up-spirits' each day for some 700 men.
Sea routine returned on the 10th when the ship moved to anchor in the Bay prior to taking a battle practice target in tow at 0500 the next morning for aircraft attacks. Later, via Jackstay, Midshipman Ruffell was transferred to NEREIDE before both ships returned to harbour.
On the 12th the funeral of Ordinary Signalman Williams took place with appropriate ceremony and half-masting of colours.
During the month Brazilian and Egyptian diplomats were entertained onboard and the ship's Bisley Rifle Team returned after some success at Bloemfontein. On the 27th the ship's company went to 'No2's with medals' Divisions at 1030 ready for the arrival of and inspection by the Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice at 1100. Ah, that's what the Royal Guard was training for!
The month of May saw the NEREIDE and ACTAEON at sea intermittently with, at times, C in C embarked while BERMUDA remained alongside and contented herself with dressing overall on no less than four occasions. They were 12th - Coronation Day; 24th - Empire Day; 26th - Queen Mary's Birthday (21g salute at Noon) and 31st - Union Day. So you are up to date Warrant No. 43 was read on the 31st as well.
There was an early but brief run to sea on the 4th of January 1951. Leaving Simonstown at 0830 the ship carried out a series of drills and equipment checks and returned just before midnight to anchor off before returning alongside next morning. There she remained until docking down on the 24th. During the month Warrants 18-22 were read, bush fire parties were trained and routinely the Boy Seamen scrubbed the quarterdeck at 0600 each morning. Floating out came on the 13th of February as a start was made on training a Royal Guard. Warrant 28 came towards the end of the month and the ship went to sea once more on post docking exercises and passage on Tuesday the 27th.
March the 1st saw arrival at East London and three days later came the pipe 'Clear Lower Deck for CID Indentification Parade'. Clearly someone had not been content with just a good run ashore! A 0730 sailing on Monday the 5th started the passage to Port Elizabeth and No 3 Berth that was reached by 1540. All the usual courtesies were fulfilled before leaving at 0600 on Friday. to go on to Durban and the sung welcome from Pearla Gibson, the White Lady, just before Noon on Saturday.
The next week was filled with sports, parties, visitors (3509 came on Sunday afternoon alone), exchanges and liaisons both official and personal! Departure from Durban was made on Monday the 19th and with shoots on the way down the ship arrived back in Simonstown on Wednesday afternoon. The round passage had been 2,018 nm's.
The remainder of the month was taken up with care & maintenance interspersed by sports and concerts, divisions and make & mends, church on board and worship at the bars and clubs of the Cape.
On Sunday the 1st of April at 0930 Boy's were landed for Church and returned onboard at 1115 after which they were granted leave to 2100. From time to time ammunition was taken on and so was rum to keep the Spirit Room topped-up to meet 'Up-spirits' each day for some 700 men.
Sea routine returned on the 10th when the ship moved to anchor in the Bay prior to taking a battle practice target in tow at 0500 the next morning for aircraft attacks. Later, via Jackstay, Midshipman Ruffell was transferred to NEREIDE before both ships returned to harbour.
On the 12th the funeral of Ordinary Signalman Williams took place with appropriate ceremony and half-masting of colours.
During the month Brazilian and Egyptian diplomats were entertained onboard and the ship's Bisley Rifle Team returned after some success at Bloemfontein. On the 27th the ship's company went to 'No2's with medals' Divisions at 1030 ready for the arrival of and inspection by the Earl of Athlone and Princess Alice at 1100. Ah, that's what the Royal Guard was training for!
The month of May saw the NEREIDE and ACTAEON at sea intermittently with, at times, C in C embarked while BERMUDA remained alongside and contented herself with dressing overall on no less than four occasions. They were 12th - Coronation Day; 24th - Empire Day; 26th - Queen Mary's Birthday (21g salute at Noon) and 31st - Union Day. So you are up to date Warrant No. 43 was read on the 31st as well.
HMS NEREIDE fuelling from BERMUDA (Pic. Brian Taylor)
At 0840 on the 1st of June 1951 the ship's company was mustered on the quarterdeck to hear the Captain comment on defaulters before going on to praise and thank everyone for their dedication, skill and pride in BERMUDA.
Tragedy struck on Thursday the 7th when, at 1327, an explosion was heard in the Port Waist. Upon investigation Chief Mechanician Cornelius R Barrett was found dead in the 4" Cooling Space where a condensor had burst.
That event was a rather sad end to Captain Scott's command relinquished the next day upon the arrival of the new CO Captain H P Currey OBE. Before the weekend was out the new CO would have two funerals to attend the first the Chief Mechanician's on Monday, the second Able Seaman McGregor's on Wednesday. He had died in the Military Hospital at Wynberg on Sunday. The two deaths were unrelated as far as I can see. A Board of Enquiry into the explosion was convened on board on the 11th.
Although it was now winter recent events probably made it a good time to get back to sea and that is what they did on Tuesday the 19th. As night fell and 'Darken ship' was ordered BERMUDA was into the Indian Ocean heading for a Friday arrival in Durban. This visit was to be operational as well as social and diplomatic. Exercises involving ACTAEON & NEREIDE as well as the SAS JAN VAN REIBEECK and LA GAZELLE took up a couple of weeks as the months changed.
Departing Durban on Monday the 16th of July the RN ships exercised together during the five day passage to Diego Suarez on the NE tip of Madagascar. This was very much a week of hospitality and diplomacy during which sport played a major part ashore while 50 local headmen visited the ship. The same format was in prospect as the ships left harbour on Saturday the 28th bound for the mainland and Laurenco Marques at the southern end of Mozambique. Here the Chief of Swaziland was amongst the guests onboard and a 21 gun salute drew local attention as the birthday of our Queen Elizabeth was celebrated on the 4th. On Tuesday 7th the CinC disembarked shortly before the ship sailed for Durban.
After refuelling and and embarking the CinC on Wednesday passage was continued to East London arriving the next day for the usual round of activities. The Union Castle Royal Mail Ship WINCHESTER CASTLE came in on time at 0650 on the Monday and sailed again at 1630 - always a sight that heightened thoughts of home and loved ones.
BERMUDA left harbour as the wind freshened on Tuesday afternoon and by midnight was punching into one of the infamous southerly gales as she headed south and west around the Cape on her way back to Simonstown. On the way paravanes were streamed and recovered and a close range shoot on starshells was carried out. She arrived alongside in the Naval Base at 0900 on Thursday.
In the last two weeks of the month of August Warrant No's 60 to 67 were read resulting in three ratings and one Royal Marine taking up residence in Detention Quarters. There was also a Court Martial convened on board. On the plus side a new Navigator, Lt Cdr J D David Moore joined the ship and also settled his wife and three sons into accommodation ashore in Simonstown where they stayed for 18 months recalls Charles Moore. A long-leave party was also disembarked to Klaver Camp leaving those onboard to get the ship into dry-dock on the 30th.
In a much travelled three months the ship had notched up almost 5,500 miles.
Until September the 19th the major activity was bottom scraping and whaler crews in training for the coming regatta. Leave parties changed over as well before the ship was floated out on the 19th and the Captain gave another 'pep-talk'. On Sunday the 23rd John Townley Burgess, the infant son of Surgeon Commander P G Burgess, was baptized onboard - where is he now I wonder?
It was back to sea, with NEREIDE, ACTAEON, JAN VAN RIEBECK, TRANSVAAL & BLOEMFONTEIN, and into action and defence exercises on the 24th. JVR had three goes at taking up station abeam for a Jackstay transfer before the lights went out for a Night Encounter Exercise. Torpedo firings were carried out in daylight next morning before the ships arrived in Suldanha Bay in the afternoon. Wednesday the 26th started with Divisions and Prayers and continued into General Drills with queues forming to get the whaler for training.
It was about this time that the South African Navy carried out its first 'Refuelling at Sea' when the JAN VAN REIBEECK oiled from BERMUDA off the Cape.
Tragedy struck on Thursday the 7th when, at 1327, an explosion was heard in the Port Waist. Upon investigation Chief Mechanician Cornelius R Barrett was found dead in the 4" Cooling Space where a condensor had burst.
That event was a rather sad end to Captain Scott's command relinquished the next day upon the arrival of the new CO Captain H P Currey OBE. Before the weekend was out the new CO would have two funerals to attend the first the Chief Mechanician's on Monday, the second Able Seaman McGregor's on Wednesday. He had died in the Military Hospital at Wynberg on Sunday. The two deaths were unrelated as far as I can see. A Board of Enquiry into the explosion was convened on board on the 11th.
Although it was now winter recent events probably made it a good time to get back to sea and that is what they did on Tuesday the 19th. As night fell and 'Darken ship' was ordered BERMUDA was into the Indian Ocean heading for a Friday arrival in Durban. This visit was to be operational as well as social and diplomatic. Exercises involving ACTAEON & NEREIDE as well as the SAS JAN VAN REIBEECK and LA GAZELLE took up a couple of weeks as the months changed.
Departing Durban on Monday the 16th of July the RN ships exercised together during the five day passage to Diego Suarez on the NE tip of Madagascar. This was very much a week of hospitality and diplomacy during which sport played a major part ashore while 50 local headmen visited the ship. The same format was in prospect as the ships left harbour on Saturday the 28th bound for the mainland and Laurenco Marques at the southern end of Mozambique. Here the Chief of Swaziland was amongst the guests onboard and a 21 gun salute drew local attention as the birthday of our Queen Elizabeth was celebrated on the 4th. On Tuesday 7th the CinC disembarked shortly before the ship sailed for Durban.
After refuelling and and embarking the CinC on Wednesday passage was continued to East London arriving the next day for the usual round of activities. The Union Castle Royal Mail Ship WINCHESTER CASTLE came in on time at 0650 on the Monday and sailed again at 1630 - always a sight that heightened thoughts of home and loved ones.
BERMUDA left harbour as the wind freshened on Tuesday afternoon and by midnight was punching into one of the infamous southerly gales as she headed south and west around the Cape on her way back to Simonstown. On the way paravanes were streamed and recovered and a close range shoot on starshells was carried out. She arrived alongside in the Naval Base at 0900 on Thursday.
In the last two weeks of the month of August Warrant No's 60 to 67 were read resulting in three ratings and one Royal Marine taking up residence in Detention Quarters. There was also a Court Martial convened on board. On the plus side a new Navigator, Lt Cdr J D David Moore joined the ship and also settled his wife and three sons into accommodation ashore in Simonstown where they stayed for 18 months recalls Charles Moore. A long-leave party was also disembarked to Klaver Camp leaving those onboard to get the ship into dry-dock on the 30th.
In a much travelled three months the ship had notched up almost 5,500 miles.
Until September the 19th the major activity was bottom scraping and whaler crews in training for the coming regatta. Leave parties changed over as well before the ship was floated out on the 19th and the Captain gave another 'pep-talk'. On Sunday the 23rd John Townley Burgess, the infant son of Surgeon Commander P G Burgess, was baptized onboard - where is he now I wonder?
It was back to sea, with NEREIDE, ACTAEON, JAN VAN RIEBECK, TRANSVAAL & BLOEMFONTEIN, and into action and defence exercises on the 24th. JVR had three goes at taking up station abeam for a Jackstay transfer before the lights went out for a Night Encounter Exercise. Torpedo firings were carried out in daylight next morning before the ships arrived in Suldanha Bay in the afternoon. Wednesday the 26th started with Divisions and Prayers and continued into General Drills with queues forming to get the whaler for training.
It was about this time that the South African Navy carried out its first 'Refuelling at Sea' when the JAN VAN REIBEECK oiled from BERMUDA off the Cape.
Into October now and Tuesday the 2nd was 'Sailing and Rowing Regatta Day' with blood, sweat and tears being shed in almost equal measure before prizegiving on the quarterdeck during the First Dog Watch. The next day was given over to rest and recovery but the anchore was 'up & down' by 0525 on Thursday and they were soon carrying out 4" and 6" throw-off shoots using aircraft and JVR as targets. The afternoon was given over entirely to a full-power trial commencing at 1230 on a heading of 167º at 220 Revs giving 26kts it continued as follows, 230-27, 240-28, 250-29, 260-30 and finally at 270 revolutions the ship attained 31 knots which was maintained for two hours. After that the run-down was progressed until 190 Revs was ordered at 1645 - an exciting afternoon was almost complete with nothing more to do than secure alongside the wall in Simonstown again.
Whilst the ship had been docked in September the entire ship's company had been through a chest x-ray and some 30 plus were now called for re-takes before the ship went to sea again on the 23rd of October. With guests embarked there was a throw-off shoot on NEREIDE at 8 miles followed by AA firings with the 4" guns before close-range weapons fired at a drogue. A spectacular day was ended in a spectacular way when NEREIDE fired a pattern of depth charges. No one stopped to pick up fish instead the ships headed in to disembark passengers at 1730.
Whilst the ship had been docked in September the entire ship's company had been through a chest x-ray and some 30 plus were now called for re-takes before the ship went to sea again on the 23rd of October. With guests embarked there was a throw-off shoot on NEREIDE at 8 miles followed by AA firings with the 4" guns before close-range weapons fired at a drogue. A spectacular day was ended in a spectacular way when NEREIDE fired a pattern of depth charges. No one stopped to pick up fish instead the ships headed in to disembark passengers at 1730.
Wednesday to Saturday was passed at Action/Defence/Cruising stations as they headed up the West Coast to arrive and anchor off Luanda just before 2000 on Sunday ready to move alongside the next morning, the 29th. The visit had amongst its merits bathing, hunting, town tour, soccer, parties and visitors - what more could they want?
Lets have a change. Instead of a Warrant lets look at an admonishment entered on the 30th of October 1951 at Luanda, Angola. 'This day I had cause to admonish Surgeon Lieutenant N A Bartholomew, Royal Navy, for returning onboard improperly dressed, namely in Mess Undress, at approximately 0745 - N A Bartholomew Philip Currey, Captain.'
Departing on November the 1st the next country was the Colony of Nigeria in which the first stop was Lagos from the 4th to 12th then Takoradi where the visit ended on the 17th. On Monday the 19th the ship was stopped and the whaler lowered to enable a painting-party to tidy up the ship's side. That ensured she looked her best in the stunning sunrise that greeted her arrival at the Naval Arsenal in Dakar, Senegal on the 21st. As well as visits from high ranking Civil and Military persons the ship's company went to Divisions on the jetty on Sunday morning complete with Royal Marine Band. The visit ended late afternoon on Wednesday the 28th.
In the early hours of Thursday 'Darken ship' was ordered for exercises with French Sunderland aircraft as the ship zig-zagged up towards Freetown. The Governor of Sierra Leone was soon welcomed onboard and returned the courtesy to the Admiral and CO as the round of visits and parties, runs ashore and defaulters proceeded through the five days that ended on Wednesday the 5th of December with an 0830 departure.
More training and exercises, including torpedo firings, gun drills and Damage Control were carried out to fill the days between Freetown and Clarence Bay, Ascension Island. Saturday and Sunday there was enjoyed but by 0700 on Monday the island was sinking astern as the ship set off in pursuit of another landfall in the middle of the South Atlantic, St. Helena. That was raised early on Wednesday and the ship anchored in James Bay at 0830.
Friday saw a 21 gun salute fired for King George VI Birthday with local dignitaries onboard. At 2000 on Friday the 14th of December the anchor was weighed once more as BERMUDA set off to continue zig-zagging her way south-east with more general drills and then into three watches again for DC, Bombardment, emergency steering and general messing drills. It was 1155 on Wednesday the 19th December when radar next detected land on a bearing of 120º at 94 miles and 1615 when land was confirmed 25 miles distant by 'Eyeball Mk 1'. The ship arrived to anchor back 'home' in Simons Bay at 2025.
Christmas, though near, was not yet to be indulged! Soon after 0800 on Thursday the 20th Mr Erasmus, South Africa's Minister of Defence was met by the Admiral, Captain and Gangway Staff as he boarded and was followed by SA Naval & Military Staff Officers. By 0900 the ship was again heading to sea with everyone hoping the recent run of exercises and drills would stand them in good stead for the day was the ships 'Efficiency Test'.
What did they do? They streamed and later recovered paravanes, launched depth charges, fired 6" and 4" guns at ships and aircraft AND missed them which was a fairly important part of the test! They succeeded in action messing, general drills, seaboat launch and recovery, steering breakdown, responded to ACTAEON's gun salute and then carried out a transfer at sea with her. As if that wasn't enough a blind pilotage return was made to arrive off the Naval Base at 1540.
Now Christmas 1951 could really start!
On Christmas Day the 1st Part of Starboard Watch scrubbed decks at 0650 in a Variable Force 2 wind, a blue sky with the barometer at 1014mbs and a temperature of 62 rising by noon to 76º. Boxing Day was interrupted by the reading of Warrant No 87 and the year's last one, awarded to a Royal Marine, was No 89 which was read on Friday the 28th.
NB. I am grateful to William (Bill) Silvey for sending me a feast of helpful newpaper cuttings collected by Bernard Barnes (PO (Radar)) during this commission. Sadly the resolution of the copied pictures prevents their re-use here.
Lets have a change. Instead of a Warrant lets look at an admonishment entered on the 30th of October 1951 at Luanda, Angola. 'This day I had cause to admonish Surgeon Lieutenant N A Bartholomew, Royal Navy, for returning onboard improperly dressed, namely in Mess Undress, at approximately 0745 - N A Bartholomew Philip Currey, Captain.'
Departing on November the 1st the next country was the Colony of Nigeria in which the first stop was Lagos from the 4th to 12th then Takoradi where the visit ended on the 17th. On Monday the 19th the ship was stopped and the whaler lowered to enable a painting-party to tidy up the ship's side. That ensured she looked her best in the stunning sunrise that greeted her arrival at the Naval Arsenal in Dakar, Senegal on the 21st. As well as visits from high ranking Civil and Military persons the ship's company went to Divisions on the jetty on Sunday morning complete with Royal Marine Band. The visit ended late afternoon on Wednesday the 28th.
In the early hours of Thursday 'Darken ship' was ordered for exercises with French Sunderland aircraft as the ship zig-zagged up towards Freetown. The Governor of Sierra Leone was soon welcomed onboard and returned the courtesy to the Admiral and CO as the round of visits and parties, runs ashore and defaulters proceeded through the five days that ended on Wednesday the 5th of December with an 0830 departure.
More training and exercises, including torpedo firings, gun drills and Damage Control were carried out to fill the days between Freetown and Clarence Bay, Ascension Island. Saturday and Sunday there was enjoyed but by 0700 on Monday the island was sinking astern as the ship set off in pursuit of another landfall in the middle of the South Atlantic, St. Helena. That was raised early on Wednesday and the ship anchored in James Bay at 0830.
Friday saw a 21 gun salute fired for King George VI Birthday with local dignitaries onboard. At 2000 on Friday the 14th of December the anchor was weighed once more as BERMUDA set off to continue zig-zagging her way south-east with more general drills and then into three watches again for DC, Bombardment, emergency steering and general messing drills. It was 1155 on Wednesday the 19th December when radar next detected land on a bearing of 120º at 94 miles and 1615 when land was confirmed 25 miles distant by 'Eyeball Mk 1'. The ship arrived to anchor back 'home' in Simons Bay at 2025.
Christmas, though near, was not yet to be indulged! Soon after 0800 on Thursday the 20th Mr Erasmus, South Africa's Minister of Defence was met by the Admiral, Captain and Gangway Staff as he boarded and was followed by SA Naval & Military Staff Officers. By 0900 the ship was again heading to sea with everyone hoping the recent run of exercises and drills would stand them in good stead for the day was the ships 'Efficiency Test'.
What did they do? They streamed and later recovered paravanes, launched depth charges, fired 6" and 4" guns at ships and aircraft AND missed them which was a fairly important part of the test! They succeeded in action messing, general drills, seaboat launch and recovery, steering breakdown, responded to ACTAEON's gun salute and then carried out a transfer at sea with her. As if that wasn't enough a blind pilotage return was made to arrive off the Naval Base at 1540.
Now Christmas 1951 could really start!
On Christmas Day the 1st Part of Starboard Watch scrubbed decks at 0650 in a Variable Force 2 wind, a blue sky with the barometer at 1014mbs and a temperature of 62 rising by noon to 76º. Boxing Day was interrupted by the reading of Warrant No 87 and the year's last one, awarded to a Royal Marine, was No 89 which was read on Friday the 28th.
NB. I am grateful to William (Bill) Silvey for sending me a feast of helpful newpaper cuttings collected by Bernard Barnes (PO (Radar)) during this commission. Sadly the resolution of the copied pictures prevents their re-use here.
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This HMS BERMUDA 1950-1951 first published online 2003 and since revised