2291 entries.
Dear webmaster,
I was one of the divers, Leading Diver Ray Suckling ( changed name to Sinclair) on Operation Blackleg.
Dive 003 second dive, first dive recorded as a camera survey of D118.
I now hold a Bachelor of Journalism and feel it incumbent of me to get facts recorded correctly.
PO Micheal ( Harry ) Harrison was awarded the QGM. Harrison was in my team , which included Leading Diver Graham (Tug ) Wilson later Lt Cdr.
Harrison was diver (1) myself diver (2) Harrison was making his way back from the Operations room with crypto tapes, his arms were full, I was in the lobby of the wreck tending his umbilical as is the job of diver(2).
Dive control via comms informed me Harrison was trapped and I needed to go to him and free him. I got to Harrison he was struggling to free himself and was entangled with electrical wiring and wedged between a locker and the ships bulkhead. I informed dive control to tell Harrison to remain still. I removed the cables and grabbed him by his bailout bottle and harness and pulled him free. Harrison had his arms full of NATO sensitive tapes. I led the way back to the lobby took the tapes from Harrison and he went back to the Opps room as he was diver(1) on another occasion when Wilson was diver (2) Harrison got stuck again but managed to free himself. Later awarded the QGM.
The diver who was cutting into the wreck and had a blow back ( explosion) and his diving helmet face plate cracking was Leading Diver Steve Clegg. In a seperate incident Leading Diver Chris (Ginge) David suffered a blowback and ruptured both eardrums forcing him to decompress and return to UK for treatment.
The “ Cross of Nails “ was recovered by Canadian Lt Charles ( Chuck) Edwards and Leading Diver Kevan ( Dickie) Daber.
The SeaDart missile had a 4lb plastic explosive charge strapped to the war head by Leading Diver Ray Suckling and detonated from topside.
The Captain’s safe was cut into by Leading Diver Ray Suckling retrieving NATO Top Secret war orders and the Captian’s silver heirlooms.
Note: no petty cash was in the safe. Your text to link...
Any further clarification or information please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Best regards
Ray Sinclair( Bachelor of Journalism (BJourn)
Hi Ginge Daniels, blast from the past, I remember you were the youngest member of the ships company at the Commissioning so had the honour of helping cut the cake. Hope you're keeping well. Moffs
Hi Guys
Does anyone know who sorted out the Cov 118 t shirts with Snoopy on?
My cousin wants one,he sent a snoopy to me down south and was on watch in the ops room,he too was 😞
My two S & S heroes. Steve Dawson inspired me to change branches from Steward to Caterer. He was the last messmate I spoke to before the third and final action stations. Ian Turnbull could lift the fullest biggest Hobart mixing bowl by himself. A giant in strength & personality. He joined us from Ascension but made the biggest of impressions than any other young matelot. God bless you both
Forty years on and not a day goes by without remembering.
Thinking of Stephen Dawson, our dearly loved son and brother, and all with him still on patrol.
Our hearts go out to all our shippers still on patrol. Sorry for the great losses you took that day. We are Coventry strong.
RIP the hero’s that never returned to their loved ones 40 years ago today, and thinking of the rest of the crew of 82. The Cov was my first ship as a baby stoker and is often in my thoughts. I was on Yarmouth in 82, I shall have a tot tonight in remembrance.
Hi All,
I know that its fast approaching the 40th anniversary of the loss of HMS Coventry.
I remember some of those who were lost but I was just a child. It was my stepdad Mark (Billy) Graham WEM(R) who served on board from 1981 until her final day.
He never speaks of it but I can remember coming onboard for the last families day out and falling in love with the Navy life. I joined the WRNS in 1987.
I am just asking if anyone remembers my stepdad.
As the saying goes
" to all those on eternal patrol" rest in peace lads.
As the anniversary of the loss of HMS Coventry approaches we will be remembering those who lost their lives on May 25th 1982 including Petty Officer (Sonar) Michael Fowler. We knew him as Mick "Foxy" Fowler and he was my Patrol Leader in the 1st South West Herts Sea Scout Group in Watford. He is remembered by those of us who still meet up annually as a friendly and happy leader who inspired us younger Scouts. Attached picture show him being presented with a model lifeboat at a RNLI fundraising event where we helped run sideshows in 1957.
Dear shipmates, following on from the very sad announcment made last Friday 6 May, Jackie Wood has asked me to announce, on her behalf, the details of our dear shipmate Dave's funeral arrangements.
The funeral will take place at Porchester Crematorium at 1115 on Monday 6 June 2022. Strictly family flowers only but donations can be made to the British Heart Foundation and/or Falkland Veterans; details for both will also be provided at the service.
Afterwards at the Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club, all welcome.
(There is no need to confirm attendance)
Thank you - Chairman
Shipmates, families and friends of HMS Coventry D118, I am very sorry, and deeply saddened, to inform you that our dear shipmate Dave Wood 'crossed the bar' at 1130 this morning, Friday 6 May 2022. I know you will all join me in passing on our sincerest condolences and thoughts to Jackie and family at this very sad time.
God bless you Dave, your watch is over shipmate. You will be sadly missed and will always be remembered. Calm seas.
Steve (Hale) Re the VHS cassettes. Thanks for your kind offer, I don't have your contact details. Are you the Steve H I knew from Sea Cadets???
“Do ya hear there.” Can anyone support this who lives up in west Yorkshire?
Mirfield Falklands 40 Memorial Service
Good Evening,
My name is Sean Guy. I am chairman of Mirfield Royal British Legion and a Mirfield Town Councillor in West Yorkshire.
I am contacting you to let you know that we are holding a memorial service for the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War on Wednesday 25th May at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Mirfield. This date has been chosen as Mirfield man Lt Cdr Glen Robinson-Moltke lost his life on HMS Coventry so we felt that it would be the most appropriate date for our community to remember his and everyone’s sacrifice.
I don’t know whether you have any HMS Coventry Association members in West Yorkshire or wish to send a message to be included in the service. I am happy for you to publicise it on your website and pass my email address to anyone interested in attending.
Regards
Sean Guy
Remembering Stephen Dawson. He was a friend of my late husband Robert Crawford who was a Leading Caterer on his Petty Officer course during the Falklands. Stephen attended our wedding in 1979. Although Bob sadly passed away in 2018 I will continue in his behalf to remember Stephen. RIP
Remembering Former Pupil - Adrian Sunderland
Are there close friend of Adrian Sunderland who can help me with this request please:
Good morning,
I’ve got your details off the the D-118 Association pages
As well as being the IT Manager with 35 years service in Regulars and as an cadet instructor I am also the unofficial school military historian, and ensure we remember all 120 of our former pupils who have died in service of their country each year.
We will be remembering our former pupil Adrian Sunderland on 25th May with a whole school service in front of our school roll of honour.
I wondered if anyone from the association may be able to send me a message that we can include in the service please? Maybe you have a member who was a close friend of Adrian’s?
With many thanks
Dave
Mr D Hill
IT Systems Manager
Spoke with lovely lady on tube train after Army and Navy’s Rugby match. Turns out that she’s Mick Delucia’s daughter. Tears and memories ensued. Small world Mick. She’s a credit to you. Take care everyone.
Craig if you want to get in touch i can do the vhs tape transfer for you.
All the best steve
Painting for Reunion Auction: Artist Angie Cheal, based at HMS Drake, runs an art therapy group supporting our WIS (wounded, injured and sick) Sailors and Marines. In my time on the Naval Base Chaplaincy Team I witnessed the very positive affect art therapy had, particularly with service personnel struggling PTSD or other mental health issues.
During lockdown Angie herself painted an acrylics on canvass, 90cm x 60cm, a pastoral scene of a coastal field of wild flowers looking out on to a seascape. When she offered it for sale, the proceeds to provide ongoing materials and equipment for the therapy group, I bought it. Telling Angie I intended it as a donation for auction at this year’s D118 Reunion she then added in a small silhouette of HMS Coventry on the horizon.
So, if you would like an original piece of artwork, that includes a very beautiful and peaceful reminder of D118, bring plenty of ackers for the auction.
Photo of painting on HMS Coventry Facebook
Hiya Shipmates.
Does anyone have access tools that can transfer VHS tape to digital format. Peter Ridler sadly crossed the bar in 2018 and his wife Margret has passed the Association 3 off video of historic HMS Coventry footage. I have a old player that I have tried without success. If I take them to a local company it is £25 per tape. If I can get them on digital format we can host them here on our site if that's what we want. let me know if you can help. R Craig MemSec
This note is also on both D118 FB pages:
Shipmates, families, and friends of D118:
More information for this year’s gathering for our annual service of remembrance and reunion. Many will already be aware the agenda has been up on the D118 website since last August but just in case you were not aware of it here is the link: https://www.hmscoventry.co.uk/d118/reunion/
Please look and update yourself on proceedings for 2022. Additionally, I am acutely aware of much higher intentions to turn out this year, obviously mainly since it’s the 40th anniversary. As we will be holding the reunion part over at the GIs Association again, I will need a list of names of all attendees. To that end, in slow time can you email me your intention to attend plus all names of persons in your group. Also, as we have the FVF Gosport parade on the following day, can you also let me know if you will be marching with the D118 platoon on the Sunday morning. Of course, any close family members are also welcome at the Saturday gathering, as many of you have already asked. My email address is: cahowe500@gmail.com
Don’t forget any small raffle prize is appreciated, but not essential, we can then raise funds and negate the need to make any charges for the reunion. See you all at the Still and West muster – your round!
Yours aye – Chris H - Chairman