Sea Cadet Memories

Sea Cadet Memories

of

Michael Lynch

(Me in 1957)

Born 21st August 1943

of

25, Barnard Crescent, Hebburn

(My home at the time I was a Sea Cadet)

I joined the cadets in September 1954 at the age of eleven. The actual joining age was 12 years, but together with several friends we told a “fib” to get in as we were all keen to join. Fortunately, no one asked for actual proof of our age.

One of my older brothers had also been a sea cadet some years before, but by the time I joined he was in the Merchant navy.

My Mam allowed me to join the cadets on the strict understanding that I looked after my uniform myself, once she had shown me how to wash my vest and collar, so that the colours did not run and, also, how to iron my trousers with the 7 creases in the “bell bottoms ”and the 3 creases in the collar? I like to think that thereafter I was always smartly turned out, as I took a pride in looking after my uniform as I think did all my cadet friends. One of the tips I got from my Mam was to put my “folded bell bottom trousers” under my mattress when I was not using them, as this would keep the creases in the trousers and I would not have to iron them so often. A great tip!

Our first formal outing as new sea cadets was the Queen (& Duke of Edinburgh’s) post Coronation visit to Hebburn on 29th October 1954. We Sea Cadets were lined-up on Victoria Road, outside where the current fire station is located, facing where the Technical College used to be, but at that time the college had not been built.

My first formal marching parade was Remembrance Sunday in November 1954, marching thro’ the town to the service at the Cenotaph and then at the HMS Kelly Grave in the cemetery.

The following year 1955 and again in 1956 saw me and other cadets going off to camp (unaccompanied) to HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station, Lossiemouth in Aberdeenshire. Frankie Bone, Eddie Kelly, Terence McCallum, Danny Roberts, Peter McNamara, Alex Livingstone – there were others who’s names escape me, I apologise to them for not remembering all there names. Also, some cadets who went in 1955 did not go in 1956. Each camp lasted a week and it cost us a total of 8 shillings each! Our parents accompanied us to Hebburn station to catch the train to Newcastle, and then we were on our own, catching the overnight train to Aberdeen. From Aberdeen we then took a train to Elgin where we were met and taken to HMS Fulmar, at Lossiemouth on a bus. The whole journey from Hebburn to Lossiemouth was about 12 hours in those days.

I have only three recollections of Lossiemouth:-

- The lovely sandy beach, but the sea was even colder than at SouthShields so we

did not swim in it.

- We made good friends with the sea cadets from Dundee.

- During our second visit in August 1956, during the week 100’s of the sailors

were moved overnight (with little or no advance warning and in secrecy – as we

never heard them decamp and their barracks were all around us) to the aircraft

carriers HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion, or so we were told.The following day

we got the job of helping clear out all of the clothes and bits and pieces of old

uniforms which the sailors had left behind. For our efforts, we were allowed to

keep quite a few HMS Cap bands from other ships which the sailors had left

behind.Some time later (November) when we were back home we learned that

both HMS Bulwark and Albion were involved in the Invasion of the Suez

Canal.

HMS Fulmar - Lossiemouth – August 1955

Back Row - Left to Right – 3 DundeeSea Cadets & Terry McCallum

Front Row – Michael Lynch, Alex Livingstone, Dundee Cadet & Eddie Kelly.

The barracks in the background of the photo were our home for the week. At meal times we shared the same huge dining room used by the sailors on the base.

HMS Llandaff – 30th November 1955 – Launched at Hawthorne Leslies

We T.S.KellySea Cadets were present at the launch of this Cathedral Class F61 Frigate at Hawthorne Leslies by Lady Mountbatten.

What I cannot recollect is whether the launch took place before or after the visit to T. S Kelly by Lord Mountbatten.

Lord Mountbatten Visit –30th November 1955

The highlight of 1955 was in November, when Lord Louis Mountbatten, who had captained HMS Kelly in WW11,, returned to Hebburn for the first time since the war. He visited and inspected us Sea Cadets at TS Kelly. He had recently (in 1954) become the FirstSea Lord and had also been the last Viceroy of India and the first Governor General of India. All of this we had been made aware of as part of our briefing before the big day.

Photo 1: - Lord Mountbatten Visit

Cadet on his own at the rear: Derek Horton a Jarrow lad originally from Enfield in Middlesex.

Back Row:

Left to Right: - Leslie Bamborough, Alfie Parkinson, Paul Robertson,

Frankie Bone PeterMcNamara, Michael Lynch. Lord Mountbatten, Lt; Craven Lt: Commander Seymour.

Front Row:

Left to Right: John Houston, Alex Livingston and Harry Green 3rd from end and last cadet believed to be Keith Harrison.

The ship Vola is in the background moored at Hawthorne Leslies.

Photo 2: - Lord Mountbatten Visit

Back Row:

Left to Right: -

Geordie (?) Geordie Dudgeon, Derek Watson, and on the extreme right Johnny Jones.

Front Row:-

Eddie Kelly (with bugle) Dave Quensell and Peter Emmersson.

Note:-1Both of these photos are taken from (Page 185) of the book

“Mountbattenthe Men of the Kelly ” by William Pattinson, publishedby PatrickStephens Ltd; part of the Thorsons Publishing Group – 1986.

I came across this book when I worked in London for British Gas in the 1980’s. I was based in an office just above Chancery Lane Tube Station. Once or twice a week at lunchtime I used to walk down toward the City just to stretch my legs and get some exercise, which always took me past W. H. Smith’s bookshop at High Holborn.

It was in October 1986 when I saw this book being promoted as the book of the month in the W. H. Smith’s window, so obviously because of my T. S. Kelly and Hebburn roots I went into the shop to have a look. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw these photos on page 185. I bought the book there and then and took it home to show my family and friends.

Photo 3: - Lord Mountbatten Visit

Maurice Crew one of the Senior Cadets “Manning the Flagpole & Bell”.

Note:-2This photo is with the courtesy of the late Maurice Crew and NormanDunn’s website ()

Note:-3Maurice Crew died in Australia in 2009, where he had lived for

many years. His wife Jennifer brought his “ashes” back to

Hebburn in May/June 2009 as Maurice had requested that they be

brought home to his beloved Hebburn and placed in the Tyne.

HMS Adamant 1957

In early August, I went with Billie White (only 2 of us) who was about 2 years older than me for a week on HMS Adamant a Submarine Depot Ship anchored in RothesayBay at the entrance to the River Clyde. HMS Adamant was the depot ship for the 3rd Submarine Squadron. Like our camp at Lossiemouth Billy and I traveled unaccompanied and were met by my eldest brother inGlasgowwho was atGlasgowUniversity at the time.

I only have 4 recollections of that particular week.

1)

Having “Afternoon Tea” in a posh restaurant which my brother treated us to in Glasgow. This was the first time I had ever been in a “posh restaurant”.After our tea treat my brother put us on the train for Gourock, from where Billie and I caught the ferry to Rothesay where we were met by a Chief Petty Officer who then took us and other cadets out to the ship in the bay on a motor boat.

We arrived on board at about 6pm. There were only about 12 sea cadetsin total on the ship for the week the other 10 being Scottish cadets.

HMS Adamant 1957 (continued)

2)

During our first night on Board, we spent our time familiarising ourselves with the ships layout so we could easily find our own way from our “hammock quarters” to the main deck. Part of our evening was also spent in the ships radio room where we were allowed to sit and watch a radio operator entertaining the ships crew by playing records, many of which had been requested by the crew themselves. The radio operator also told jokes and was drinking beer while he played the music, then at about 9.30pm he announced that he was going to play “Johnny Ray” singing in the “Pee’’’’’’’ Rain”. About 3 minutes later the “Ships Duty Officer” arrived with two seamen and removed the radio operator from the radio room!

3)

One day during the week we sea cadets were taken by motor launch up the Eastern Kyle’s of Bute toa ferry landing in or near to near to the town/village of Algatraig on the opposite side of the Kyle’s of Bute. Our challenge was to walk/climb and find our own way over the lower slopes of Beinn Bhreac to a jetty at Loch Striven where we would be picked-up and taken back to the ship. Although it was nice sunny day when we set-off, as we climbed/walked over the hill it got colder as most of us just had on shorts and vests and plimsolls. I was glad when we began the descent on the other side as we got warm again. All in all it took about 3 hours to get over the hill and down the other side which was very tiring and we were not supplied with any snacks or drinks to take with us. Everyone made it to the Loch Striven jetty without mishap and we all returned to ship safely for hot showers and drinks before our evening meal.

4)

HMS Explorer tied-up alongside HMS Adamant during the week, we were told that it was probably the fastest submarine in the world at that time. We were not given the opportunity to have a look inside the submarine as it was considered to be “top secret”.

1957 – Regatta Successes

We won our Zone and North-East Regatta Boat Handling and Racing competitions for both Juniors and Seniors on the Tyne in August at Newburn and in September at HMS Calliope which was moored, near what is now the ScotswoodBridge.

Peter Emmerson tells me that the Seniors won their regatta race by a record margin of 38 lengths! Peter recalls that Lt. Irwin’s (who was nicknamed “Betsy” by many cadets because of his “false leg”) wife gave birth to a baby boy after four daughters, so he was chuffed to bits with our successes that day.

I then went with other TS Kelly cadets to a Regional Regatta at Lincoln, where the senior crew wasalso competing in both the boat handling and the rowing.

We juniors lost both of our events.

1957 – Regatta Successes (continued)

The Senior crew comprised Peter Emmerson, Stroke, Dave Quensell 2nd, Derek Watson Midships, Ken Barker 2nd Bow and Maurice Crew (RIP Died 2009) Bow.

Note:- 1

Peter Emmerson has assisted me in compiling this regatta recollection. Peter believes all of this took place in 1956.However, as my Boat Handling and Racing Certificates are dated August 24th 1957 for the Zone 1 Regatta and September 7th1957 for the North East Area Regatta, this evidence suggests that 1957 was the year these events took place.

I believe but am not absolutely sure that the Lincoln Regatta was for all of the North of EnglandSea Cadets. The Seniors lost the boat handling competition. To this day Peter Emmerson who was Cox, blames himself for thisloss. Peter says “I should have jumped-up and got the boat hook to hold the stern in, while one of the judges got in the boat but I didn’t”, apparently a big mistake which Peter says was why they lost? However, the Seniors went on to win the rowing competition. In their exuberance after their win, they threw me into the river fully clothed in my cadet uniform. Maurice Crew (one of the Senior Crew) then asked the question “can he swim”, Peter Emmerson said “Oh Sh’’’’”but before anyone answered I surfaced alongside and was hauled back into the whaler. I then traveled home from Lincolnin an assortment of civilian clothes (all too big for me) belonging to Davy McCormick.

Later in the year (I am not sure of the actual date)on the island in the Thames at Sunbury-on-Thames. I went in supportof the senior crew at the National Regatta, which sadly they did not win. Somehow I knocked my knee while helping to prepare one of the regatta whalers. Anyway after the regatta which was on a Saturday I then traveled on my own from London to Portsmouth where I was to spend a week at HMS Excellent on Whale Island.

Note:- 2

My thanks to Peter Emmerson (who later lived on the Isle of Wight for many years) but is now back living in Jarrow, for his assistance in compiling this Regatta Successes section. Sadly, Peter spilt a “tin of white gloss paint” on his certificates many years ago, so we have had to rely on my certificates for the dates of these events. Sadly, between us we do not have a specific date for the Sunbury-on-Thames National Regatta.

HMS Excellent – Portsmouth

The only recollections I have of this week are:-

• The long walk, with my kitbag down Whale Island Way to HMS Excellent.

• The accommodation was almost identical to that at Lossiemouth, barracks each housing about 24 cadets.

HMS Excellent – Portsmouth(continued)

• On the Sunday morning as a Roman Catholic being taken with other cadets to the Church of St. Peter & Paul in Portsmouth. It was a Catholic Church but was Russian Orthodox, the service was identical, but in those days in the RC Church the mass was said in Latin, it was only as the service commenced and I could not understand the prayers, that those of us who were attending realised something was wrong. We initially thought we were in a Greek Orthodox Church only to find out after the service the language used was Russian.

• The following day (Monday) as we were about to do some rowing in the harbour I drew to the officers attention to my knee which I had knocked at Sunbury-on-Thames, as it had swelled-up and was quite painful. I was then taken to the RoyalNavalHospital Haslar at Gosport, just across the harbour, where I spent the rest of the week, having fluid drained from my knee.

• Each hospital ward comprised about 24 beds and we patients (the rest were all serving sailors) were looked after by the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Staff.My parents (like most Hebburn residents in those days) did not have a telephone so the Day Sister in charge of my ward on the Wednesday, suggested I should send my parents a postcard telling them where I was and that I would be home as planned on the Saturday, which I did and the Sister arranged for it to be posted.

• I was discharged from the hospital on the Saturday, made my own way home via London and got home early on the Saturday evening, only to find that my postcard had not yet arrived? My postcard arrived on the Monday morning when I was back at school.

Visit to a HMS Cruiser – Anchored outside the River Wear – date not known.

I cannot remember the year of this visit.

The cruiser may have been HMS Glasgow, this name seems to stick in my mind, but I am not sure. It was anchored about half a mile outside of the River Wear and we were taken on a naval tender from Sunderland on an evening visit to be given a tour of the ship.

Remembrance Day Parades

I took part in 4 Remembrance Day parades in Hebburn and in 1957 (my last parade) was one of the Guards at the Kelly Grave. I also learned to play the bugle in the sea cadets and mastered Reveille and the Last Post.

Photo:- Remembrance Day Parade – 1955 or 1956

Marching up Ellison Street to St. Cuthberts Church.

Left to Right:-

Davy Quensell, (Cannot remember) Michael Lynch, Frankie Bone, Terry McCallum, William (Billy) McNabola, Colin Walsh (who we think went on to become a Master Mariner)

Right to Left:-

The officer just visible above the head of the 3rd cadet from the right is Lt. (or Lt Commander) Bill Irwin and the cadet fifth from the right is Eddie Kelly. My apologies that I cannot recollect the names of everyone.

I left the cadets either in December 1957 or January 1958, having had many different experiences, made many more friends and taking with me lots of happy memories, which I cherish to this day.

Michael Lynch

28thOctober 2015

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M. Lynch – Sea Cadet Recollections -1954-1958