2297 entries.
Dear Mr Tomlinson,
Paul,I'm deeply touched by your generous reply to my comments here.
I feel inadequate to the task of an appropriate reply, but I thank you for your words and confirm my thoughts on the efforts of HMS Coventry and the British efforts in 1982.
Your professionalism and
humanity teach us all lessons of standing
up to aggressors, standing up for the weak,never leaving your mates behind and principles like free speech. I respect your efforts in a hostile environment, your shipmates and colleagues in the British effort.
It serves as a reminder to us in the public and in other nations, of what is important and the costs of defending that.
You work and those of your lost shipmates won't be forgotten. I'll continue to drop by the HMS Coventry site as well.
Finally,last year a popular Australian navy magazine had a 25 year retrospective on the Falklands.
Much of interest to the layman, with lessons learn't and revelations. Thank-you.
My mates call me Phil
Phillip in Australia, Thankyou for your heart warming comments. It is always good to hear from people like you who appreciate what we endured. Especially in this world where today many people take for granted the liberty and freedom of speech they now enjoy. Freedom that so many have fought and suffered to achieve. Best wishes to you in Aus
Thank you for this site on HMS Coventry.
During the Falklands War, I was a student and supported then, as now the effort to recover the islands and eject the invaders.
Over the years I've read in my spare time details of the Falklands and HMS Coventry and her crew are held in esteem.
Recently I had the good fortune to read Captain Hart Dyke's book, which I enjoyed and learnt much from including the reminder of loss.
I was moved by this book as well as HMS Coventry's exploits.
My view of the ship, her crew and the whole British effort in 1982 has increased as a result.
Thank you for your efforts then as well as today and know that you have friends and wellwishers here in Australia
Hello
While working at Cammell Lairds in the 70's a number of the ships crew where attached to the ship.I became friendly with a crew member who was from Liverpool who was able to provide me with the ships crest for a modest price.I gave the crest to my mother who had it hanging up in the hall,sadly my mother passed away recently,so i was wondering if i can find it ,would it be of use to anyone.
Kind Regards
Steve
Dear friends.
Regarding the proposed HMS Coventry association. I have been reading the dits on this site and also phoning many people as it seems to be generating some really strong views. Hopefully the next few entries will clear the air a bit.
Middle Dit
An association can mean many different things to many different people, and can take many forms. They can very strict and formal with chairmen, constitutions, tiepins ladies night and news letters. On the other hand they can be a loose collection of old shipmates who meet up once a year to renew their friendships over bevies and banter and to remember their comrades still on patrol.
In an informal and relaxed way, what we have already is one form of association: we have a fund that has been in a bank account and we have a web site, we can agree to meet once a year at a designated spot and we agree to have a non denominational service at the FI War Memorial. This loose informal way of meeting up seems to suit most of us I would say, and it seems to have served us well for our needs.
Dit 2
Nothing is set in stone. We can have whatever we want – we can go the whole hog and set up a formal organisation, or we can decide on something looser and less formal or we can decide to keep things just as they are – and of course all points in between.
We are going to have a meeting in the home club at 6 PM to discuss this point. I will be there, and I really hope that as many as possible will join me. A decision can then be made on what we are going to do. So, if you want to change what we have – or if you want to leave it the same, come along and say so. I would urge you to come and have your say whatever your point of view might be. Also I would like to say that whatever we have at the moment it is everyone who has served on our ship, from taking it from build to it’s loss. All are part of the ships company.
I hope this is acceptable to all, and I very much look forward to seeing you in May.
Rocky.
has anyone tried offering the model to the new maritime museum in liverpool, if you want will enquire, barny campbell
(3) T o you Chris I can see where yyour misunderstanding and the comments about another RNA came from, so thats something to change if the vote is Yes. Hope to see you all over the weekend of the 23/25 May.
Clam seas and happiness.
Doc Savage.
Ditto 2 There is it would appear some missing understanding about the constitution it is draft only and can be changed by a vote. But the most important thing is that the Meeting on the 24th must decide if you want an association, even if you dont please come along and vote so we can settle this one way or the other and stop all the cheap unsigned comments that are appearing on here.
Good morning shippers, Im writting this some what didmayed but the negative notes Ive seen on here of late. The association was born to keep the ships company together and as a means of staying in touch.
the previous posts by chris howe have left me with a question.
is there a wider belief that reunions are for the falklands guys only?
i was onboard 80 to early 82. i didn't go to reunions because of the above. however i was convinced to go last year by someone saying that reunions were for all the cov 'family' and our wider collective memories.
i am now not so sure.
I see the Pompey spirit is alive and well, message received and understood guys, I've called off the dockyard.
Well done Jack the world does'nt revolve around Portsmouth but our ship does, good home for it, i think you will have plenty of help on hand,well done Damien good catch.
Simon
Brilliant Damien, a great result.
Thanks for all that you do, from all of us I'm sure.
Take care,
Sam
Jack,
Nice to see something positive, Portsmouth would be the way forward from where I sit. Nice effort mate. With your experience I am sure some of us will be on hand to help - even if it is just to put the kettle on!
OK guys - Kettering Sea Cadets are kindly giving us a bit more time so the model does not have to be moved this weekend. Have asked a local TA unit if they can assist with moving it - the guy I spoke to is going to get back to me shortly so fingers crossed. I think Jack's plan for restoration and display in Pompey is perfect.
Jack, I have no problem, the request was for help and it was offered, (the world doesn't revolve around Portsmouth), we Chatham guys even managed to raise the money to buy and save the Cavalier from the scrapyard when nobody else was interested.
Life's too short, smile.
Sam
Damien and Guys, As you are aware I have built quite a few models of Grey Messengers of Death, and would like you to consider this proposal; I will conduct the restoration project in Portsmouth, I can use the Portsmouth Dockyard Heritage Workshops for that part of the task and when completed it could actually go on show in Boathouse No 7 in the Heritage part of the Dockyard where all the civies go to visit for tea and sticky buns, and in very large numbers, where we could possibly make a centre stage and have the model as a single point of interest from ourselves. Over to you about this suggestion. As we were Pompey based I think it proper to consider this rather than going up to Chacon City(Chatham).
Admin Reply:
Sounds like a plan to me - you have email... Damien
1. Damien, requested help from the Chatham Historic Dockyard for the model, will let you know how it goes.
2. Guys, stop the discontent and acrimony, I for one would hate to see our particular band of brothers going separate ways for no reason. If it ain't broke don't let's try to fix it.
Sam