The Second HMS Manchester Association

Dear Ian/Steve

I am an ex Chief Yeoman RN, and have lived in Perth, Western Australia for 40 years. I have just discovered your excellent website, congratulations, it really is first class, but to business....

On reading Navy News for July 07 page 14 regarding HMS Manchester, I was deeply concerned to read that the Captain (Harold DREW DSC, RN) was court-martialled and dismissed the service for "prematurely scuttling his ship", which (it is believed) saved three quarters of his ships company. To be dismissed one's ship is an awful penalty, but to be dismissed the service in time of war, when Captains of his experience were vital, seemed to be an outrageous verdict of a court-martial held in camera. Do you know if he was 'dismissed the service', or, as your website states 'ever given another command at sea.' I tried the Royal Naval Museum to see if they ahead any access to Court Martial transcripts, and they referred me to the National Archivers at Kew. This was 'too hard basket' for me at this distance, but I'm fairly sure that if access was possible to the C.M. records you would have obtained them.

All best wishes

Yours aye

Ken READ (ex Sig Boy - CCY 1944 - 1980

Our reply to Ken....

Dear Ken

Very many thanks your kind words regarding our website. It is comments such as yours that make all the effort involved very worthwhile. With regard to Captain Harold Drew, we have spoken to Maurice Broad, the secretary of the cruiser boys association, and he has given me the following information:-

Captain Drew was interned by the Vichy French Authorities, along with a large proportion of the ships company. Following the success of Operation "Torch" they were released and returned to the UK early in 1943. Captain Drew was subsequently appointed as Captain in charge of Maintenance at Scapa Flow. Following the Board of Enquiry / Court Martial, as a result of the loss of HMS Manchester, he was given a staff appointment in Bombay working with the Indian Navy (late 1943 - 1945).

He was subsequently appointed Director of Recruiting 1946-47 - he was Chairman of the Victory Celebration Committee, for which he was awarded the CBE. Harold Drew won the DSC aged 21 in 1917, he was a gunnery specialist and he became ADC to King George VI in 1948. He then became Deputy CinC of the Indian Navy in the acting rank of Commodore (48-51) and was involved i the re-structuring of the Indian Navy. He retired in 1952 and died in 1987 in his 92nd year.

We have also learned that there is to be another dive on the wreck of Manchester later this year and permission has been given to enter the wreck - it is a war grave - and we understand experts will then try to establish if the ship could have been saved.

We hope this information is of use to you, and pleasing - and a relief - for us that the information on our website appears to be more accurate than that featured in the Dockyard Dandy.

Sincere Best Wishes

Ian & Steve

Global 86 Film Crew -

Dear All,

A few details on the Global film crew for Tony Shingler.

There were 3 lots of 'Phots' dumped on the Manchester for the Global trip due to the Illustrious (of current TV fame) having a major fire in one of its main gearboxes and being delayed on deployment for about 4-5 months. I came into contact with them more than most because as the RN members had an aircraft on their badge, it was deemed that they were to be part of the Ships Flight for divisional purposes. Largest Lynx flight in history, but useful when the hanger needed bollocking out for rounds.

There was a CPO Phot Les Warr (last rumoured to be scenes of crime phot for Somerset and Avon Constabulary) plus a Killick Phot for stills. They stayed with the Manchester for the whole deployment.

A slack handful of other RN phots who were a movie team, departed after the Hong Kong visit.

The civvie team, led by John Tippy (producer) who had 1 cameraman (had filmed a team of 'yoofs' quad biking across the Sahara), an assistant cameraman, and a sound man. They stayed on for the full trip. I seem to remember that there was a competition to name the film with the winning entry being 'Sailor Blue'. Whether or not this was taken up, I don't know. Rumour also said that it was only ever shown by Anglia TV.

There was also someone I can't remember who 'cause it was last year some time, who had been on the Illustrious and was asking similar questions on the Navy News web site. Maybe worth a few questions in that area.

Hope this helps in the search.

Yours Aye

Alan McKendrick

Welcome Home to the Manchester -

Welcome home to the Manchester. Just like to wish the crew of the Manchester a warm welcome home from deployment. Hopefully you will post up some comments and pictures of the trip in due course. Welcome home and have a good leave.

Chris Way

Ex Manchester

Ed - It was interesting to note that when Illustrious returned from a four month jolly in the same week that Manchester returned after a seven month deployment that Illustrious made it onto the front page of the Daily Telegraph whilst D95 didn't make it to the front page of the Pompey Evening News!!

Evidently size does matter!!

Re-union Seven feedback.....

Thank you for a really good bash nice to see some old faces & swap a few dits. Well done to you & Stevie - speak to you soon. Brian Logan

Great re-union, great time and got a ships visit - what a bonus! Cheers and thanks for making it happen - Daz Major

Many thanks for the re-union, it was so good to catch up with people I hadn't seen for a good few years - Ian Kiff

It was a great night thank you - Dave Cozens

A great night with many new faces - can't wait for next years - Mark "Bungy" Williams

I enjoyed it very much - Al Denham

The organisation of the re-union was first class and I would like to thank you, Stevie, and the rest of your team for all their hard work ensuring that we all had such a great time - Archie Dickie (no crimes solved!)

Once again an excellent re-union - Pete Burnett

Another first class re-union - Connie Francis

Many thanks yet again for a great evening - Red & Alison Snape

Thanks for a great weekend and to those current Manchester ratings for their hospitality and for taking us onboard the Mighty Manch, my kidneys are now booked in for 2 weeks at the Betty Ford clinic along with my liver in preparation for next year. It was great to see so many familiar faces again, especially the Global 86 Vets -Tony "Tanky" Shingler RN Retired VD Scar & Bar, BSA & Sidecar

Another good one!! - Mike Smith

Just wanted to say THANKS for a great night - being my (and Bullys) first re-union, we weren't sure what to expect, but had a fantastic evening, it felt like we'ed never left the mob! It's amazing how little people have changed in 17 years - can't wait for the next one! - Andy (Hazel) Hazeldon

Thanks very much for your hospitality the other night. We all had a great night! - Cuz Cullen - HMS Manchester

Just a quick note to thank you for the time and effort that you so obviously put into organising the re-union evening - another storming success, a great evening and a thoroughly enjoyable trot back down memory lane (which seems to be getting much longer and less clear!) - Paul Tomlinson

Hi, Ian & Stevie, just a quick note to say thanks for all your efforts in making sure the re-union was another success, had another great night, it can only go from strength to strength - well done - Ken Hinchliffe

Could you please pass on my thanks to the team for a very enjoyable evening - at last an advantage for knowing Ian Poulter! - Martin Bruce

I would just like to say thanks for organising another great re-union, probably our biggest yet, which meant I could not get around to talk to everyone, never mind, the beer and company were good and there will always be another year to try, I guess!! - Peter "Knocker" White

Another fantastic evening - Mick D'Arcy