2297 entries.
Part Two
P.S Hi Ginge Applegate - Send regards to Tigs and anyone else - Off-work at the mo - well 11 months with a torn Achilles Tendon so Bristol has been in the back of my mind and am at the top of the hill - for how long God knows - regards to Henry and Steve at FSAG.
Hi One and all, To those who remember me - Long time no see and to the new one's I was the first Junior rating to join at Birkenhead. Things have changed a wee bit - I now am the Combat Systems ILS (Support) Manager and hopefully the lessons that were learned - WILL BE LEARNED - as this new Type 45 will not be a lame duck as per the type 23's with no combat system - wheras our problem is the new PAAMS 4 years late and still counting - but don't tell the MOD as they will deny it - I am going to download all the COV pics that I have, and hope that all enjoy as the COV was at the time the best 42 without a doubt - Sheff may say summit - till the Mighty Manch came along.
Guy's "RESPECT" and Love to you all.
Jack Russell
Ex-AB Gunner. Ex 3Q Mess.
Can anyone provide the lat/long of the position where Coventry and Broadsword were attacked, and where the former now rests, please?
Kind regards - you very good website!
Francis Mackay
great site. nice to see so many fots of old oppos. not exactly skin any more. please e-mail me. especially you yorky burton. have worked with your brother many times
Just caught up with the website after a while. Great to see it thriving and the reunions going well. Will try and make 2006. I remember Billy Barnham....drummer man!!
Also was in touch with Brum Jakes. Taff Bodenham...I still have your kitbag..if you want it back....God bless all shipmates and families. Take care.
Stu
Hello to you all again, I'm sorry I didn't make it to the reunion but I will next year just to put the faces to all those names that give me such fond memories. I bumped into another old Coventry sailor yesterday, Martyn (Tigs) Tigwell, I told him about the site and we had a great chat about old times, we were wondering, whatever happened to Eddie Campbell (of the Casual Onlookers fame), I was hoping Billy Barnham might know. If anyone else knows can you contact me. I have a contact telephone number for 'tigs' if anyone wants to contact him.
My thoughts were with you all on the 25 May as they are every year. She was certainly a wonderful ship and I am proud to have served in her and with most of you.
Yours aye
Bob (Ginge) Applegate
Ex PO Gunner.
As promised, I went to the Memorial on Liberation Day and paid my respects. We had a great vacation in UK, only 2 wet days in 2 weeks (surprisingly) and we've just dodged Hurricane Dennis this weekend.
As for the tri-service event that Rocky mentioned, the Freedom of Gosport is being given to all Falklands veterans on 24 August 2005 at 1100. Email me for more details. I won't be able to be there in person but I'll be there in spirit.
I know it was a long time ago, but I remember my time onboard the USS Claude V. Ricketts DDG5 in '81, and I've still got the ball cap and photo signed by the CO. The only drawback about being onboard was there was no beer!
Yours Aye.
Ginge, It is a shame that that work got in the way mate, but looking forward to seeing next year.
Busta - No change I think mate, eh?
Yorkie, I have managed to track Tony down and spoke to him today, so watch this space as i have brought him up to speed with the web site. As for myself I could not manage this years get together due to work. But I will be there in future as it means alot to me to meet up with the only people i can relate with in respect of our experiences.
Sirs:
I would like to thank the creators of this website for helping me research the various Royal Naval vessels to carry the name Coventry.
The reason for this research might concidered a rather weird one: I needed a name for a 25th century starship that I captain at alt-starfleet.rpg. Yes...a Star Trek role play by e-mail unit. As I got into creating a backstory for this vessel, I decided to research it. My actual search started with the City of Coventry in West Midland and expanded out once I discovered that there have been no fewer than 7 vessels to carry this name. It was through this research that led me to this site for the D118 and later the F98
So...I'm proud to annouce the launching of the USS COVENTRY, a "Coventry"-class destroyer, hull number NCC-81420. Yes...it's in the year 2417, but your proud vessel lives on.
Ed Bell
CO, COVENTRY NCC-81420
Thanks Ginge - what are you up to these days, would have liked to have raised a pint with you at the re-union. Hope you can make it next year. My Dad is recording the TV show where D118 is mentioned. We do not get Falklands war stuff here. Yanks have no idea about anything outside the USA - Heck they won both world wars single handed, the UK was not even involved in those! At least thats what they say!
I have wonderful memories of time with STANAVFORLANT between my ship, the USS CLAUDE V. RICKETTS DDG 5 and the COVENTRY. I still to this day have a Welcome Aboard Pamphlet from 1981.
hi lads just to say thanks for a brilliant weekend back in may so great to see you all sorry i have not been in touch before now as my computer has been very poorly my new email address is billybarnham@btinternet.com will talk to you all soon take care billy (barny)
hi lads, thanks for a fantastic weekend back in may,it was amazing seeing you all,i have not seen anyone for 25 years! Sorry i have not been in touch before now, reason being my computer has been very poorly!! Take care all Billy
Hello everybody,
Rocky,Im for leaving it as it is,you know me, the less formal the better,any more photos?Burtos,we need evidence of that "set"coming off.Boulders"UUUUUUUUs" Topsy Im still looking for the moisturiser you use!!take care you lot stay healthy.
Yorkie the last I heard of Tony Windsor was that he had moved back to Nottingham from South Yorks with his employment. Being in the same line of work I will see if i can contact him and get some details.(unless someone is still intouch)
There is quite a lot planned for 2007. As it is the 25th, there will be an official tri service memorial etc. I understand it will be held ion Gosport, but I am not sure of the exact program or dates. So it might be a few weeks behind or ahead of anything we plan. For more information contact Derek Kimber, who can probably tell you more. If you Email me, I shall pass you his Email address.
As for next year, I am going to place a few adverts in the Pompie Evening News, the Navy News and Coventry's local paper to advertise our meetings. I will also place a few adverts on other "Old comrade" sites.
By the way, is everyone happy with what we do? Anyone want to change or add things for 2006, or keep it the same?
I work for a literary agency in London called Curts Brown and I am trying to track down Captain David Hart-Dyke as we would like to use a picture of Captain Hart-Dyke in a book that David Mitchell is currently writing. If anyone has an email address for him plse could you pass this msg on to him. Many thanks Shaheeda
Temperatures averaging 110 again - so beard went south. Port Watch - where the hell is Tony Windsor? I will drive aroung to GrimeThorpe to track his sorry butt down in late December - next time I'm over, but does anyone know how to get a hold of him, and have him come down for the 2006 reunion. I hope Doughy Douglass visited this month. I will get Jock, Steve, Doug over in 2006 if I can! At least Steve turned up - Thanks, as the only rep of your branch we thank you so very very much... I know it will get crazy in 2007 - 25 years, and Rocky see what you can do with that as far as promoting D118 goes.
Too freeking hot (120 yesterday!) looking forward to moving to Colorado again!
Yorkie.
Hello guy i am writing to guys to see if you remember my father John Hemmings i believe he was a chef of some sort on board the ship when it sunk lucky he survived but as we know many of the people on board didnt my heart goes out to the people who lost loved ones and friend the reason why i write to you is becuase my father died when i was young and first of all i want to know if any of you knew him and aecond of all what was he like i would be glad to here from anyone ps if any of you guys still live in gosport then so do i would love to meet you and chat thank you for your time !