Dad
had no other photos of my mum, but mum’s family, the Wetherill’s,
have supported me and have supplied many “In Service” photos
recently (2020). Some of which have been sent to the WRNS association.
Though none, as yet, have come to light with mum & dad together.
Typical of Ray, always behind the camera. From my adoption papers and
Lt. Col. Jim Mason’s recollections of the time and now with the
lack of dad’s memory to call on, I can only go on written facts
and sometimes these are incorrect. From my adoption papers that mum
wrote, she was Ray’s steady girlfriend for ~ 7 months, but then,
according to dad, she just “Disappeared” She was actually
posted back to the UK, while he went off on the Glasgow to ports unknown,
but probably Greece (Bay of Athens etc.) was probably one of them.
I will see if I can shed further light on this, but from mum’s
RN service records, she arrived in Malta at HMS Falcon. One ex-RM told
me she was a known by the trade name of a “Jack Dusty” by
the Marines, He was not a bandsman, but spent many years in Malta in
the late 1950’s and 60’s). The WRNS from HMS Falcon were
billeted at Hal-Far October 1951. The RN & RNAS were pretty self-contained
on the air base and further basic data (among several other web sites)
may be located here:
http://www.hms-vengeance.co.uk/falcon.htm
In fact, mum was on Malta before dad, but she did not move to HMS Phoenicia
on Manoel Island until February 1953 and subsequently left for HMS President
(London, 16th September 1953). Approximately7 months in Phoenicia, but
almost 2 years on overseas duty. Apparently, WRNS in those days did
usually 2-year overseas postings and then returned home & immediately
were given 2 weeks leave. I have been informed by other wonderful senior
ex-WRNS that later overseas postings were reduced to 18 months, but
that was after 1954.
Mum’s ‘new’ office at HMS Phoenicia, Base Supply Office
{BSO?} was apparently adjacent to the RM Band office, so mum & dad
must have hit it off from the start. This image may jog some memories.
Mum
is next to the officer leaning on her friend, wonder if the shirt ‘colour’
designates RMB’s vs. RN?
From my adoption papers and Lt. Col. Jim Mason’s recollections
of the time, mum was Ray’s steady girlfriend for ~ 7 months, but
then, according to dad, she just “Vanished.”
Dad said previously she had not been in Malta long, but mum had, except
not at Phoenicia / Manoel Island. So, we will have to get our inspector
Clouseau hat out again.
We are working on the other names, of course any further ex-RMB assistance
is sincerely appreciated.
‘Sweetheart
Photo,’ L to R (as viewed) Mac (Strand Palace Hotel, Palace Square,
Valletta proprietor), unknown, not mum, Ray, possibly Ned Kelly)
Hopefully something will come to light as Ray has departed up to the
big band in the sky.
‘Malta
Bar’ photo L to R as viewed, standing: possibly the Glasgow’s
PE instructor, but name is not known, next maybe Eileen’s husband
to be, flying officer Williams (RAAF De Havilland Vampire pilot) but
it’s a big ‘perhaps’ until I communicate with Eileen,
if she is still around? Next to him is Ned Kelly unfortunately also
gone to join the big sky band.
Again, he is possibly in the “Sweetheart” photo (in civvies),
seated: dad Ray West, not mum, Eileen, next wife of RM Drum Major, will
see if I can confirm her name later and Lt. Col. Jim Mason, again location
unknown. Bar maybe the Strand Palace or the ‘Movement Inn,’
other than that I have no idea.
Dad
was a Cricket Tragic and as Michael Hutton confirms he was also a hockey
fanatic, trips over to France supporting the Corp’s etc.
I
have no idea who any of the players are possibly RM’s and the
goalie has definitely been around for a while! Suspect this was taken
mid to late 1950’s. Dad is back row, second in from far RHS as
viewed
I am indebted to my Gary West (cousin) for sending me some of these
great photos, I was going through & scanning some other amazing
Malta & Med Fleet photos that my Auntie Shirley let me have while
visiting the UK, she is now the last of the four.
See enclose “Champagne Toast,” from Ray’s 24th Birthday,
taken at the Strand Palace Hotel, Valletta. (‘Pop,’ Lt.
Col. Jim, Ray, standing, Isabel, Arch, (Leading seaman and Jim's brother)
& Mac)
Now this photo (there are a couple of photos of this obviously important
celebration, but this is the best with dad in camera, instead of being
behind camera!) has Lt. Col. Jim, Archie, Isabel (Archie's’ wife)
& ‘Mac.’
From Lt. Col. Jim Mason and I quote:
“The photographs of Ray's birthday dinner were taken in the Strand
Palace Hotel (again in Valletta) - the others are; my brother Archie
and his wife Isabel, the old boy with glasses (Pop) was the owner of
the hotel - We were very privileged customers there, because Ray took
all the publicity photographs for the hotel brochure, as well as family
photographs of some of the staff.”
The other -Mac- needs some explanation! He was one of gay couple who
ran bar on Laskaris Wharf on the side of Grand Harbour (They called
the bar "The Movement Inn") apparently a favourite haunt of
bandsmen in those days, because it was just where the liberty boats
docked. There is also a story regarding the wedding too, as Isabel had
no family available on Malta, so Jim was best man and Ray gave Isabel
away. I have photographic evidence of this.
Can you imagine the RN had 8 bands in the Med Fleet in those days, based
in Malta and about 60 bands around the world? Now only 5, and all based
in England. How times change.
One thing I forgot to mention and I need a big slap on the head for
this, not thanking Bob Chumley. He personally welcomed me into the RMB
fold at the 2009 RMB reunion in Adelaide. I was extremely nervous and
not really knowing what to expect, but he firmly shook my hand and said
to me “You may not have had much of a family in the past Steve
but you have one now, you are ex-RMB family.” I wept, and will
never, ever forget that moment.
Bob lived in Tavistock prior to migrating and Michael Hutton was his
band master in Plymouth. I worked in Ernesettle Plymouth for many years
from the early 1970’s and lived in Lydford and later Brentor,
Devon, only a few miles away.
We always had an affinity with Plymouth, Stonehouse, Cornwall Beach
etc. and both Jan (my wife) & I consider the West Country our ‘real’
home. We are now located in Cornwall just over the Devon border.
Best
regards
Steve
Adkins
PL15
9NB
e-mail: adkinssteve@outlook.com
