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21 Monks Way President. The Rt Hon. The Earl of Gainsborough AUTUMN NEWSLETTER The Very Reverend John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey, has given permission for us to hold our Remembrance Service at the Abbey on Saturday 22nd November. Survivors, members and guests are requested to enter the Abbey by the west door no later than 1430 and proceed to the seating in the centre of the nave. Prior to Evensong the Abbey staff will direct us to seats in the choir stalls for the service. For people who have never been to this service I find it one of the most moving celebrations at which to be present. On completion of Evensong we retire to the nave seating for our service in memory of all those who died in HMS BARHAM and we also remember all those survivors and Association members who have passed away. The service starts with the parading of our standard by CPO Bob Woodgate and is followed by the laying of the wreath. The wreath is again being made and very kindly donated by Pat and Alan Pickett, thank you. We have received a request from Miss Hannah Bryant (Arthur Bryant’s niece) and Wendy Ward (Arthur’s sister) to lay the wreath. After the service the book of remembrance will be open for inspection. Last year four survivors were among the ninety seven members and their friends who attended the service. This is well up on some previous years and is very pleasing that so many wish to support our service and keep the name of HMS BARHAM and their loved ones in their memories. Several members managed to take photographs of the survivors and relatives after the service and the secretary has been asked if these could be published on the web site or made available for purchase. Some members have planned to meet at the Methodist Central Hall restaurant for a light lunch and get together before the Abbey services. The Union Jack Club has again kindly given permission for members and their friends to use the club’s bar and restaurant after the Remembrance service. The Union Jack Club is in Sandell Street on the east side of Waterloo railway station. Sadly the idea of erecting an HMS BARHAM memorial stone in the National Arboretum near Lichfield has made no progress as we have still been unable to contact Peter Yuile who was organising the arrangements. We still have the list of all those who asked to attend the dedication. However at the arboretum there are already two oak trees and a seat in memory of those lost in HMS BARHAM. One tree is in the Royal Naval Review, the other tree and the seat are near the My Remembrance Day Poppy Garden. With the very impressive new Armed Forces memorial to all those killed since World War Two the arboretum is well worth a visit. Sadly we have been informed of more deaths. Don Bird died on 1 March 2008; he was an Ordinary Seaman on board from November 1940 to October 1941. Jim Samuels died on 2 July 2008; he was a survivor who was an Ordinary Seaman at the time. Commander Geoffrey Wolfe died on 23 August 2007; he was also a survivor who was a Temporary Instructor Lieutenant at the time. Also we have had a letter from Mrs Beryl Neville whose father Reginald Earnest Maxted died in 1974. He was a survivor who was an Able Seaman at the time and had not been in contact with the Association before. Derick Potts has kindly sent us a copy of his local newspaper the Black Country Bugle dated 29 May 2008. In it there is a two page article on a local lad’s recollections of the Battle of Jutland. The lad was Jack Pace a Seaman and he was serving in HMS BARHAM. The article includes photographs of the ship and one of Jack with three other Seaman. There is also a photograph of the memorial stone in Lyness Cemetery with the names of the 23 ratings in the ship that were killed by the battle on the 31 May 1916. It states it was erected by their shipmates. Four officers were killed, one was the ship’s chaplain Henry Dixon-Wright who was also buried at Lyness. Jack mentions that he tried to help him after he had been struck by a splinter in his spine, the chaplain died the next day. Crosby Royal Naval Association has restored the graves of 4 HMS BARHAM Seamen who were killed when a torpedo struck near the ship’s bow on 29th December 1939 and a fifth seaman who died while the ship was repaired. They will be holding a parade and service at the graveside on 1st November at 1100. I would like to thank all those who have been in contact with the Association for their support and gifts. I would also like to thank my committee for all their work to keep the organisation going. Yours sincerely, Michael Stratton-Brown Chairman |
last updated: 13 July 2013 |
andrew gillespie