North Camp in 1958

Message from Alan Clifford recieved at our Web site

Have just logged on searching for old oppos when I noticed a photograph at the top of the photos page showing a class of gollies outside North Camp in 1958. In front of them is the 'W' Branch honours board which used to be placed above the admin hut in North Camp. I have that honours board hanging in my house in Wellington NZ!!! My father, CPO(TEL)(S) EH Clifford got the BEM for his services to the branch when it first formed all those years ago and is mentioned on the board. I too spent 10 years in the RN and came out as LRO(T) A Clifford in 1980. When North Camp was disbanded the family requested to have the honours board and it was kept in Dads adopted home in Nottingham until he passed away in 1994 and I then emigrated to NZ. When I saw the photo the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I thought I was going to see my dad again in a photograph!!!if anyone has any photos of CPO(TEL)(S) Eric Clifford (Cliff to all his oppos) then I would appreciate any links you may have.

Cheers

'Cliffy'
Alan Clifford
Wellington
New Zealand

Ex CPO EW Leroy Osbourne survives HMS Collingwood's Obstacle course

Leroy does his bit for Help For Heroes

WO1 O'Shaughnessy's retirement from the service after 27 years

Rear Admiral Peter Hudson, COMUKMARFOR presents WO1 O'Shaughnessy with his mounted medals and valedictory certificate at a lunch at Endeavour house to mark his retirement from the service after 27 years

Squeaky is fit, honest

CPO Squeaky Stocker orienteering in QECP
He did have a dog but he got home first!

The usual suspects

The usual suspects or EW Warrants before the reunion 2009


Back (L-R) Clem & Sam
Front (L-R) Andy, Chris & Rick

EW Reunion 2009

Many Thanks to Tab Hunter for organising this years event

Good food, good company and a few beers a perfect reunion

Duncan, Jules & Mary

Jim sleepwalking! Where did those moths go?

Thanks for the beer Keith, wish you where Here, & Bill .

Sorry John you're in with the big boys again!

Many Thanks to both Martin 'Bill' Tidy (the winner of the furthest travelled to be here) and Keith Wallace (purhaps you'll take Bill's title next year), who couldn't be here, for the beer tokens

Bernie & George

Message:From: Mick Turley

I'm not telling you my age but left Pusser in 1972 as CRS(W) - started life as (S) rating - Russian linguist but fell foul of the Mercury Mafia and remained a Golly - and proud of it !Various ships - Diana, Victorious, Barrosa, FEWU in Kranji which I closed down.
Two years on FOST staff as sea rider before stagnating in Mercury before I retired from RN.

Seen several names I recognise - Tony Colboure, Trevor Toy.

It seems the branch really expanded technically after I Left - not before time.

Anyone old enough to remember me - put a dit on the blog spot.

RegardsMick Turley

EW Branch reunion Friday 16 October 2009 attendees

The following are the confirmed attendees:

Clem Cleminson, Andy Wellen, Rik Kirshaw, Chris Vellacot, Sam Samuals, Tab Hunter (organiser) Squeaky Stocker, Jim Smith, Dave Kippax, Tamar Bridges, Si Geen, Martin Wills, Gary Upton, Paul Jones, Nile Blanchard, Mal Travers, Reggie Slaughter, Hogie Hodgetts, Shep Shepherd, Moffs Moffitt, Julie kavanagh, Mac Macynitre, Maggie Macynitre, Nick Price, George Bladen, Whiskey Walker, Dean Ledger, Kev Freestone, George Malcomson, Berni Rose, John Huxtable, Ian Stevens, John Plummer, Alec Paddy, Nick Cheshire, Bob Mills, Michael Williams, Gilly Gilchrist, Neil Palmer, Peter brown, Chris Whitwam, Duncan McKellar, Doc Finley, Kev Fear, George Laybourne, George Bellas, Jayne Cocks, Bomber Mills, Dave Morgan, Del Austin, Barra Houldershaw, Peter Godwin, Rob Ahier & Partner, Martin Tidy, Andy Patton, Ian Nurding, David Mills

See you all there - all accomdation has been booked, any late attendees please contact Tab Hunter asap (see below for details) no accomadation available for late bookers.

Regards

Martin 'Ginge' Wills

Motor Sport Industry

From: Ian Stevens:

Ian is keen to contact any ex or serving EW rates that knew him or may be interested in becoming part of the Motor Sport Industry.

Now working at Goodwood Motor Circuit (since 1998) and involved in various aspects of Motor Sport, including the day to day running of track and corporate days, I can offer help of how to get started or involved.

A lot of events would not happen without Marshals and Official Support who often offer ther time FOC, to make it happen. In the past 10 years I have been involved in Race of Champions (Startline Wembley), Tempest Rally Stages (Aldershot), Wugging Stages (Colerne), Sunseeker Rally (Bournemouth). The world of Sprinting a fast speed sport, Bighton Speed Trials (Maderia Drive), Eelmoor (Aldershot), Rushmoor Arena (Aldershot). More recently DTMs (German Touring Cars) Brands Hatch, awesome stuff and a way of relaxing, meeting new friends and opening your horizons.

If you are interested, email the web site and I'll forward your message on

Recognition of Ark Royal EW team members

In Recognising their contribution to the regeneration of Ark Royal following it’s Contractor Support Period

PO EW ‘Tash Liddell pictured above receiving her commendation from 2SL

and

LS (EW) “Fawlty” Towers pictured below receiving his commendation from Ark Royal CO. ”

Talc Pipe

From: Ray MundyE-mail: lremundy@tpg.com.au

Ex Australian ROEW sailor (Gollie) trying to find out some information:

Whilst serving on HMAS Melbourne in the Gulf our CPOs Mess was invited to a Mess function aboard an RN ship (cannot remember name) for a few beers. Anyway as the afternoon progressed a strange looking pipe made of coper appeared on the bar and shore enough one of our Mess Members had to ask what does this do and how does it work.
The Mess President loaded up the pipe with talcum powder and provided a demonstration to us Aussies how to make the little wheel on top spin.
This all seemed simple enough and the first lamb to the slaughter was our buffer, well you know the rest, he ended up with powder all over his face to the delight of the entire Mess.
After watching several of our Chiefs fail it was my turn, not sure how but I figured it out and to everyones amazement I made the little wheel spin without getting covered in powder.
Anyway I'm retired now and have been trying to find a diagram of the device so I can make one, is anyone able to assist?

Regards, Ray Mundy, Ex Warrant Officer EW

Gollies from the past

Hi all was told about the site and had some pics of gollies i served with and thought i would share then wit you all, some you all prob know others maybe not.

From the top clockwise then LS(EW)'s Scouse O'Hara and Doc Cox , S(EW) Terry Spink n Scouse O'Hara , Scouse O'Hara and PO(EW) Dean Ledger, S(EW) 41 Feb 1983 back l-r Terry Spink, Pete Wilcox , Scouse O'Hara , Gary Abraham , front l-r Taff Coombs , A Walster , Tony Colbourne, Barry Jones , Joff Grierson , Sammy Seal , Cumberlanf gollies darn sarff 1991 from l AB(EW) Mick Stacey AB(EW) Jim Smith LS(EW) Scouse O'Hara , dunno , PO(EW) Colin Castle LS(EW) Rob Ahir AB(EW) Kevin Huckfield.

hope you enjoy em

all the best Scouse.

CONGRATULATIONS to Commander David Palmer OBE RN (Retd)

CONGRATULATIONS….. to Commander David Palmer OBE RN (Retd) for being recognised for his 50 years in the EW business. David will be presented with the HQ AOC 'Board of Directors Award' during the forthcoming AOC Convention taking place in Washington DC on 19 October 2009.David joined the Royal Navy in 1959 as a special radio intercept operator and by 1968 was the Chief Instructor at the RN EW School, then at HMS MERCURY. He was commissioned in 1972 and subsequently held a variety of EW staff, trials and training appointments until 1986 when he found himself on the staff of C-in-C Fleet as Fleet EW Officer and the senior officer of the RN professional EW Branch. Thereafter he moved to MOD for the next ten years where his job title - but rarely its EW content - changed several times, including time in the Directorate of Joint Warfare. During this period he was also the UK delegate to the NEWAC, NEDBAG and the NACSI special working group. He was presented with the AOC ‘International Achievement in EW’ Award in 1996.Since his retirement from the Navy in 1997 David has continued to work as a Principal Defence Consultant, lecturer and writer, specialising in EW and associated areas and in Peace Support and Crisis Response Operations (PSO/CRO). He is EW advisor to several nations, both within and outside of NATO, and EW advisor to international organisations including NATO, ESDF and the Partnership for Peace (PfP). He is a Director, writer and lecturer to the NATO Staff Officers’ Joint EW Course (SOJEWC) on behalf of the NEWAC and is a regular presenter on EW and associated subjects.

From: AOC UK Chapter July 2009 Newsletter

Message from Keith Leadbetter

Served from 1971 to 1977, leaving as LS(EW). Served with "Tired" Trevor Toy on HMS Ashanti 1971-1974. Would be good to hear from him or any other former shipmates. Good to see a website just for us much maligned Sandeman types!

Message from Roger Sheehan

Hi there from the South Pacific. I am a Kiwi who did an EW course at HMS Dryad in the early 80's, thoroughly enjoyed my time there and would be keen to catch up with some of my friends from this time. Is it possible to get in contact with Chris Mackitt.

Message From Bill (Taff) Adams ex (CRS(W).

I would so much like to get in touch with my great old pal DAVID (PEDLER) PALMER. A great old pal from training days in 1958, and through all the course of Killick, RS(W)and the trials of working in the Far East. Pedler will recall that I was a linguist, and the last contact that I had with this great pal was when I was RS(W) on the Euryalus at Singapore. Those were the days! I had to get a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate. Subsequently I was CRS(W) to FOAC, and thereafter the first CRS(W) to STANAVFORLANT. In 1969, due to a marriage problem I had to leave an SD course and found myself in the City of London in Inernational Banking. Lo and behold one day I met 'Switch MacNair'. Pedler will remember him well. So many years ago. I often wonder what happened to other old pals such as MAD Muggeridge. We are now going so far back, and we were the old stalwarts of Electronic Warfare. It so happens that today I have come across this web-site. Pedler might have come across my brother-in-law Geoff Pell (CDR) MBE. If this ever gets to Pedler, I would be so delighted to hear of his exploits, as there must be so many for this remarkable man. There would be so many past days to recount. With most kind regards.

Message From Bill McCrathy

Any gollies who served on Diomede, Achillies, Ajax, Ariadne, Amazon FOST, FEWSG with me on this site??

Ex CPO(EW) Paul Blackwell (served from 1983-2006) goes all native

'This photo epitomises the fun I'm having out here and what its like being a true aussie. Taken during the World cup last year (with my mates off HMAS BALLERAT) we thrashed the Kiwis that night but unfortunately they beat us in the final...............oh well twas a good night anyway!

Come all you Gollies thinking of a change, come to Oz the RAN needs you!!!

Yours Aye

Paul Blackwell

Congratulations to HMS Monmouth

Commander Operations (COMOPS), RAdm Mark Anderson BSc RN presented The Intelligence Trophy sponsored Mr Paul Davison (Managing Director Northrop Gruman Information Systems Europe) to HMS MONMOUTH’s ships Maritime Intelligence Team.

EW members of the team included
CPO EW Chris Hacking – ex MONM PO EW, PO EW Toby Hunt & LS EW Kevin Huckfield

Where are you now?

Have just been looking at a copy of the HMS Scarborough commission book 1959-1961.

Apart from myself , the names of these early E W Operators are
Radio Supervisor (S) M E C Parker
Radio Supervisor (S) R C Saunders
Leading Radio Operator Clarke T
Radio Operator (S) Buxton R
Radio Operator (S) Murray J H

A lot can happen in 48 years -- who knows

Peter Studd