HMS GANGES
ASSOCIATION
Notice Board

January 2007

West London Division Presents
our own

A one night premier performance at the Uxbridge RNA Club
Good Friday the 6th April 2007
Limited tickets available price £5
full details from
Slinger Wood <kevin.wood@blueyonder.co.uk>
or phone the club on 01895 230071.

40, 50 and 60 Year Certificates.

40 Year Certificate

Lee Fleming <lflg05695@blueyonder.co.uk>
Certificates Secretary

L/Sea Magennis Plaque Unveiling Ceremony

Please find enclosed a number of photographs from the unveiling of a memorial plaque to commemorate Second World War submariner James Magennis VC installed on the outer wall of the Royal Naval Association building Great Victoria Street Belfast 17 January 2007.

The blue circle plaque was both sponsored and organised by the Belfast City Council and the Ulster History Circle. The unveiling was carried out by Councillor Diane Dodds MLA

President of the RNA number 12 area Commander Campbell MVO RN, members from the Royal Naval Association (Belfast Branch), Chairman John Erskine plus members from the Submariners Association (Northern Ireland Branch) and members of HMS Ganges Association attended the unveiling ceromony.

Short Biography of James Magennis VC's life

James J. Magennis VC was born in Belfast on 27 October 1919. His story is one of poverty, adventure, bravery tinged with sadness and a suspicion of political and religious intrigue. James joined the Royal Navy in 1935 during the Great Depression. He started his career at the famous training establishment for boys entering the Royal Navy, HMS Ganges at Shotley, Suffolk. Later he served aboard a post World War I battleship and two cruisers.

The first two years of the World War II saw him serving aboard HMS Kandahar, one of the destroyers in the flotilla known as the Fighting Fifth under the command of Lord Louis Mountbatten, commanding the legendary HMS Kelly. Early in 1940, Kelly was damaged, narrowly avoiding being sunk, during an attack by a German E boat. Kandahar towed her sister ship to safety. At the Battle of Crete, HMS Kelly was not so lucky and was sunk together with many other ships with great loss of life. On 19 December 1941 HMS Kandahar struck a mine and sank off Tripoli. Sixty-seven officers and men lost their lives.

Magennis survived and shortly after being drafted to the submarine service where he later volunteered for the special service X-craft midget submarines. He was one of a successful team of officers and men involved in Operation Source which disabled the German battleship Tirpitz, sister ship to the Bismarck. Two Victoria Crosses were won that day amongst a number of other awards. Magennis was mentioned in dispatches.

At the end of the European war, Magennis was to become involved in another covert mission directed against the Japanese in the continuing Pacific theatre of war under the command of Admiral Fife, United States Navy. Operation Struggle was another hazardous X-craft mission. XE3 attacked the 10,000 ton heavy Japanese cruiser Takao in Singapore harbour on 30th July 1945. Decorations awarded for this attack included the VC for both the commanding officer Lt. Fraser and the diver, Leading Seaman Magennis, the DSO for Lt. Smith and the CGM for ERA Reed. No fewer than nine Victoria Crosses were awarded to submarine officers and ratings in World War II. Magennis worked with three of them.

On his return to Belfast in December 1945 Magennis was treated as a hero. The people of Northern Ireland collected £3,066 as a gift. After leaving the navy in 1949 his return to Belfast was not so joyful. He became a little guy caught in a strange religious and political mind-trap. His son, David, was killed in a road accident in 1952 and shortly afterwards he sold his precious award for just £75 to a local Belfast dealer. The press that some seven years previously had applauded him, now disparaged him. He left Northern Ireland in 1955 to live in a little mining village in Yorkshire called Rossington, where he found employment as an electrician down the local coal mine. Later he moved to Bradford where he lived the rest of his life. He died in Halifax Infirmary on 12 February 1986 aged sixty-six.

Shortly after James Magennis died, Bradford City Council and the West Yorkshire Branch of the Submarine Old Comrades Association, erected a memorial plaque inside Bradford Cathedral, to the memory of the last Irishman to win the Victoria Cross.

In 1998 Castlereagh Borough Council erected a memorial plaque on the wall of James Magennis's former home 32 Carncaver Road Castlereagh

On 8th October 1999 the Belfast City Council erected a bronze and portland Stone memorial to James Magennis VC which now stands in the grounds of Belfast City Hall beside the statue of Queen Victoria.

In 2005 a wall mural of James Magennis was unveiled in Tullycarnet Estate East Belfast to commemorate the 60 anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

George Fleming. <george9.fleming@ntlworld.com>
Author 'Magennis VC'
Submariners Association
HMS Ganges Association

40, 50 & 60th Certificates

You may now be aware that I have been revamping the 50th & 60th Certificates.
On the 50th I have changed the fonts and logo, on the 60th I have reduced the size from A4 to A5 the same size as the 50th with a new picture, and again the fonts have changed along with the logo.
Following the committee decision to reinstate the 40th certificate at its meeting on 14th January and agreeing to the new format of all the certificates I am now in a position to start to roll these out.
To qualify
Certificates can be claimed at any time during and after the qualifying year, provided that you have five years unbroken paid up membership. You may, if you so wish, buy-up broken years, up to and including the qualifying year, at £5 per year. HO's upon reaching their 75th birthday qualify for Life Membership Certificate. All other personnel must have reached the 60th anniversary year of joining HMS Ganges (St George or Bruce) to qualify for a Life Membership Certificate.
First issue 50 & 60th certificates are free. Any re-issue of certificates will be charged at £5 each. As decided at AGM 2004 40th certificates are charged at £10.00 each.
To apply
All requests for certificates are to be made in writing to Lee Fleming, 35 St Mary's Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 2JP. Email lflg05695@blueyonder.co.uk Telephone:- 02085 899662
Please include the Year first borne on the Ships Book of HMS Ganges (St George or Bruce), your Membership Number and Address (including postcode) to which the certificate is to be sent. Please state how you would like your name to appear on the certificate, (e.g F.E. Bloggs, Fred E. Bloggs, Frederick E. Bloggs). Also include your email address or telephone number.
If you wish to make a donation to help allay the costs please make cheques payable to: HMS Ganges Association.
I must apologise to all the members who have applied for their certificates and have had to wait until the new format had been approved by the Committee.

Lee

Crossed The Bar

Ronald Cox of Mid Herts Division
07/01/1947 - C/JX819619 - 225 WT Class - 33 Mess - Benbow - Bishop's Stortford, Herts, England.
HMS Diadem, HMS Broadsword, HMS Hornbill, HMS Pluto, HMS Chequers, HM LCT 4040, HMS Leeds Castle.
Passed away on 6th January 2007
Funeral service at 2.15 on Thursday 11th January at St Andrews Church, Much Hadham, nr Bishops Stortford

Crossed The Bar

Tony Grimmer (Lofty) C/K961943 22 Mess Anson 05/06/1956
Old Ships: HMS Hound 1957 - 58, HMS Gambia 1958 - 61, HM Yacht Britannia 1961 - 68.
After a long illness crossed the bar 6th January 2007.
Stalwart of Solent Division and historian of HMS Ganges the shore establishment.
He will be sorely missed by his many old shipmates and association colleagues.
Big Tony's Funeral will be 1230 at Porchester Crematorium on Thursday 18/01/07.
Afterwards at The Ship Inn, Langstone.
Family Flowers only - no wreaths - but donations if desired can be made to The Rocky Appeal, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.
My Big Mate Veteran of many OD runs ashore. Will be sorely missed by all that knew him and especially Solent Division in particular.
May he find safe anchorage.
Regards Aye
Jon Windust (Solent Div. Chairman) <jonathan.windust@ntlworld.com>
John Stockham <johnstockham@btinternet.com>

Gentlemen,

Following received from Rob Hoole

Most of you will have seen the news about Government threats to reduce the number of operational units in the surface fleet to 22 out of 44. If not, see this link to the Daily Telegraph website < http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/01/05/navy05.xml >
An online petition <http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/savethenavy/> to stop the destruction of the Royal Navy has been started on the No.10 website. While I have no illusions about the effectiveness of such gestures, I've signed it because it would be a shame if the number of signatures gives an impression of general apathy.
A far more effective action is to write to your MP, but do sign the petition too.
I would be grateful if you would pass this on to your membership by any means available to you.
Rob Hoole
Vice Chairman & Webmaster
Minewarfare & Clearance Diving Officers' Association
< http://www.mcdoa.org.uk >

2007 Oz Reunion

Happy New Year everyone! We hope that this year (including the Reunion) will be an exciting one, with good health thrown in for you all.
As we launch into the New Year we are hoping that everyone who has not registered realises that it is time to at least forward an expression of interest for planning purposes, this is the time when we have to make reservations and put a few deposits down. to reserve our 'spots'. We have to say that to date numbers are disappointing but this will inevitably be because a decision has yet to be made by many. Apart from Victoria, only 30 have made a commitment and it would be appreciated if you will give your shipmates a nudge. Thankyou in anticipation.
It was our intention to mail a programme to everyone who has yet to register, but the cost could not be justified hence we are relying on the word of mouth.
We will keep you posted from time to time about our progress, please don't hesitate to communicate with us if needs be.
David <daverees@satlink.com.au>

Reunion Programme details and registration form can be found on the Reunion page 'Please click here'

Don't Pay for Discounts

The MoD have launched a new discount website for all the Defence Community including Veterans and Cadets, that is completely free to join.
There are over 400 benefits on line at the moment with many more to follow. You can also obtain a discount directory from the MoD (information on line)
If you have been tempted to buy a discount card or to enter a paid for discount scheme it would be well worth looking on the MoD site first, which is absolutely free. Not only that but the discounts are exclusive for the Defence Community.
Discounts and benefits are added weekly.
<www.forcesdiscounts-mod.co.uk>

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HMS GANGESASSOCIATIONNotice Board

40, 50 & 60th Certificates

Crossed The Bar

Crossed The Bar

2007 Oz Reunion

Don't Pay for Discounts

HMS GANGES
ASSOCIATION
Notice Board