The London Branch of the former C.F.V.A.
This first little step back into the past ends with a few jottings from the Personal Notes column. It would be very interesting if anyone could recognise themselves in any of those jottings after all these years - if so - please contact us.
Wren Gandy and AB Cooper were married on August 21st. Best Wishes Mr and Mrs Cooper and also to AB Charles Kelly and his wife, nee Thomas, both of this Parish.
‘Hornet’s own Church of St. Peter of the Little Ships was the scene of an interesting ceremony when the infant son of AB Burford was christened. This was the first occasion that the Church has been so used.
‘Hornet’s own Church of St. Peter of the Little Ships was the scene of an interesting ceremony when the infant son of AB Burford was christened. This was the first occasion that the Church has been so used.
A much magnified ‘suicide bridge’ Pass - originally printed in 1941 - these were still in use during the mid ‘50‘s.
Below: An un-armed Fairmile “D”, MTB 780 exiting HMS Hornet (1946) - ‘Suicide Bridge’ two persons on foot - without bicycle!
Below: An un-armed Fairmile “D”, MTB 780 exiting HMS Hornet (1946) - ‘Suicide Bridge’ two persons on foot - without bicycle!
Do you remember these?
“Buzz 2”
This next excerpt from the HMS Hornet magazine “Buzz” is taken from the issue dated February 1945. Still priced at 1d, it had become quite a popular read by ‘Hornet’s’ base personnel, but like so many other things around that era – paper was in short supply. This led to very limited ‘runs’ of around 250 copies. This figure can give a brief glimpse of the financial rewards for this effort – 250 x 1d = £1-0-10d, or around £1:04p in today’s UK money – but a pound went quite a long way in those day’s – just as well!
The Editor’s of these interesting relics are given as “Warrant Schoolmaster” R.H.McIntosh B.Sc.. R.N, and Leading Seaman J.L.Cole. This particular issue has an editorial that is intriguing regarding the light-hearted comments on the future of HMS Hornet – Yokohama, the Japanese Naval Base, was being bombed daily by the USAF at this time -‘Charon’ was probably a reference to the ‘Ferryman of the Dead’ on the River Styx, as in Greek mythology, but was the future of HMS Hornet being debated as far back as 1945?
EDITORIAL
Hallo Folks;
We hope you've all made a New Year's Resolution to write an article or a spot of verse for publication in "Buzz". Don't forget- nothing too low, nothing too lofty, and the more contributions we receive the better will be your magazine.
As we go to press, the War news is looking very bright, but unfortunately the paper situation remains quite black. As a result we are able to print only a small number of copies. If you happen to be lucky enough to secure one, will you pass it on to a less fortunate messmate to whose reading matter is restricted to “Ashore and Afloat”.
Rumours have it that HMS Hornet is to be dehydrated and shipped to Yokohama, leased to Our Dumb Friends League as an extension to Battersea Dogs Home, or even handed over to Charon as a Reception Centre on the Styx.
Wherever it goes, we feel confident that many of our readers will go with it and continue to support “Buzz”.
We hope you've all made a New Year's Resolution to write an article or a spot of verse for publication in "Buzz". Don't forget- nothing too low, nothing too lofty, and the more contributions we receive the better will be your magazine.
As we go to press, the War news is looking very bright, but unfortunately the paper situation remains quite black. As a result we are able to print only a small number of copies. If you happen to be lucky enough to secure one, will you pass it on to a less fortunate messmate to whose reading matter is restricted to “Ashore and Afloat”.
Rumours have it that HMS Hornet is to be dehydrated and shipped to Yokohama, leased to Our Dumb Friends League as an extension to Battersea Dogs Home, or even handed over to Charon as a Reception Centre on the Styx.
Wherever it goes, we feel confident that many of our readers will go with it and continue to support “Buzz”.
Yours,
The Editors.
WHATS GOING ON?
The Editors.
WHATS GOING ON?
The Tuesday afternoon Lectures in the Drill Hall have prompted many people to ask why such Lectures are given, and what it is hoped to achieve. The subjects dealt with have been varied and include: Russia, China, Post War Town Planning, Australia, New Zealand, the Appreciation of Music, Jungle Fighting in the Solomons, and the British System of Government.
The prime purpose of these Lectures has not been to entertain, however entertaining they may have been. They are given by men and women particularly qualified in their respective spheres to instruct; to present as objectively possible, certain facts.
Without facts we cannot form opinions – without opinions, we cannot hope to fashion the future. Never before has the need for intelligent thinking been so great as it is now. The future will present troublesome problems to none of which there is an easy answer. There never has been a simple remedy for all the ills that worry us. What will help to solve them is hard mental effort, reasoned thinking by each man and each woman who hopes, at the next General Election, to refine this country’s future.
The prime purpose of these Lectures has not been to entertain, however entertaining they may have been. They are given by men and women particularly qualified in their respective spheres to instruct; to present as objectively possible, certain facts.
Without facts we cannot form opinions – without opinions, we cannot hope to fashion the future. Never before has the need for intelligent thinking been so great as it is now. The future will present troublesome problems to none of which there is an easy answer. There never has been a simple remedy for all the ills that worry us. What will help to solve them is hard mental effort, reasoned thinking by each man and each woman who hopes, at the next General Election, to refine this country’s future.
A rather ‘heavy’ Editorial we feel – February 1945, hindsight will tell us that the war in Europe would end in a little over 3 months – Feb 4th the Yalta talks began between the major Allied leaders. Far East, between Feb 9/11th, the American submarine USS Batfish would sink 3 Japanese submarines - something of a record, but closer to home – 14th Feb was a very black day for Allied Coastal Forces. The terrible Ostend disaster. Boats could be repaired or replaced, but the toll paid with the lives of both men and women - would be very heavy indeed. We end this little peek into the Feb 1945 edition with another glimpse at the ‘Personal Notes’ column.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Wren Stella Wright and Marine Clarke were married on Saturday 13th January. Congratulations Stella and Nobby.
Mrs Joan Kelly (nee Thomas) has given birth to a son. She sends best wishes to colleagues in the Galley
The Engagement has been announced between Leading Wren Costello (C.B.Office) and Sub Lt Shipley.
We are pleased to chronicle the award of the DSM to P.O. O’Hare who is Coxswain of a Coastal Forces craft in the Mediterranean. His wife Kathleen is a Leading Wren in the Drafting Office.
Mrs Joan Kelly (nee Thomas) has given birth to a son. She sends best wishes to colleagues in the Galley
The Engagement has been announced between Leading Wren Costello (C.B.Office) and Sub Lt Shipley.
We are pleased to chronicle the award of the DSM to P.O. O’Hare who is Coxswain of a Coastal Forces craft in the Mediterranean. His wife Kathleen is a Leading Wren in the Drafting Office.
oooOOOooo
We are indeed indebted to Mr John Parfoot for the saving of these relics from HMS Hornet.
If anyone can recognise themselves or relatives in any of the above we would like to hear from you.
Please Contact Us.
This last image of Suicide Bridge and the ‘Trots’ has been recently dated as 1946.
