HMS Ramillies

[paul white]

My father George White, an RM, was on HMS RAMILLIES, and saw action during WWII and the D DAY landings. I would like to hear from, or see any photos from anybody recalling my Dad.

[melland]

hello i'm shirley sie. i'm trying to find any information about the stokers that served on the H.M.S Ramillies in 1942. As my father was a stoker " william edward melland". sadly my father died in 1982 and only told us so much, and i'd love to find out more.Awaiting any information mrs shirley sie Nee Melland.

[janer6156]

My grandfather William Foad (Known as Bill) aslo served on HMS Ramillies during the second world war. he was a career sailor having joined at the end of WW1. I am just starting to unravel his naval career, thanks to an autograph book he wrote his ships in and some family photos I am wading my way through. I just need to get some dates sorted so I can see if he served at the same time on this ship. I'm also not sure of his rank at the time - I know he ended as a Master-at-Arms but that may have been post war. If I come across any photos (I have only found some submarine ones from 1932 at the moment) I will happily share them.

[Barribee]

Hello all, I am an Electrician and have just been working in an old mans Flat, He is 87 years pld and was on Ramillies for two and a half years in the Mediteranean, He was involved in many of the bombardments that she was involved in and has a photograph he took of the main guns going into action.
His name is Alex Duncan. he is a live and well in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Regards barribee.

[GROVEMAN]

You should put him in touch with the HMS RAMILLIES ASSOCIATION which is run by Mick French and is currently in contact with several other crew members. He can be reached on www.hmsramillies.co.uk. I am sure he would be pleased to hear from him.

[GROVEMAN]

I suggest you contact the HMS RAMILLIES ASSOCIATION run by mick french the contact is www.hmsramillies.co.uk

[Youngjoe]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the chance to find out more history, on a true Royal Navy legend, that is H.M.S. Ramillies.
She may have been old and slow, but she did a great job during WW2.
My interest in her lies in the fact that my father George Cosstick Stoker 1st. Class was on board her for most of this war.
He had two very special mate's names being, Bert Shepard and Sid Horner.
The latter lived in the Brighton area of Sussex I think.
Should by any chance anyone know of these two I would be most gratfull for any news, of relations. They themselves like Father I expect are no longer with us, but my interest remains as strong as ever.
My other question is regarding the German prisoner's that were on board, see pictures around of these. Does anyone know from where they came and from what ship. My guess is a Submarine/U Boat but I may be wrong.
Look forward to any help, thanks.

[Batstiger]

Welcome to the forum Youngjoe.
I can't help you on this one but I am sure one of our knowledgable friends will be able to chip in with some sort of explanation.
My usual question to a new member is:- Have you any photographs that you would like to share with us?

Regards, Bob.

[astraltrader]

It is probably me missing the obvious but why is this thread called Richard??:confused:

[Youngjoe]

German prisoners were taken on board Ramillies, during World War 2
Does anyone know the name of the ship from which they were taken and what year it would have been?

[Youngjoe]

57000

57004

A few picture's as requested, that may be of interest, recognize anyone in the group?
Any info on these chaps would be great!

[jbryce1437]

Welcome to the Forum Youngjoe and thank you for posting the photos. I have merged your posts on the same subject into one.
It seems you are starting a new thread for each post.
Jim

[E.R.Tiffy]

Hello Youngjoe and others interested in your query about the prisoners in the photo. After Normandy we went to support the landings at Toulon in the South of France.Our first 15" salvos were to knock out the shore batteries. We had'nt fired many when the gun crews came out in boats and surrended. They were not German but a mixture of Poles and Czechs who had been drafted in,no doubt the reason for the quick surrender before they had even fired a shot.It also allowed us to withdraw and enjoy afew days loafing on a beach at Proprians in Corsica.We shared the beach with Dido and the USS.Nevada. Good luck.

[Youngjoe]

Hello E.R. Tiffy,

Thanks for your reply, re those prisoners on Ramillies.
The reason I have trisd to find out for so long about them is, that among Fathers items he came back with after the war are a few German Submarine uniform buttons. How he got them I was never told, or when or where.
Knowing him and the way he was, I can only assume he cut them from a uniform from someone, dead or alive! it would have made no difference.
Great to have found someone who was on this great ship, Father was on it all the war.
Ramillies may have been old and out of date, but at least she made it through, thank goodness.

[E.R.Tiffy]

Hello Youngjoe, thanks for getting back to me.Its a nice feeling that my memories are appreciated even from 65 years ago. On the way to Normandy on D Day.we heard that we and Warspite being old and dispensible,were to go in close to shore and if damaged could sit on the bottom and continue bombarding.Could be true! We fired over 1000 rounds of 15" in the first few days burning out the gun bores rifling.We returned to Portsmouth,changed the barrels reloaded and went back to Sword beach firing almost as many rounds again. Good luck and if I can help with any info you know where Iam.

[Bee]

Hello Tiffy,

Re your comment..."Its a nice feeling that my memories are appreciated even from 65 years ago."
You and your kind need be in no doubt as to your memories being appreciated, especially here on this forum. Your lot are (and always were) greatly admired. Just wish there were more of you still with us.

We're all looking forward to hearing more of your stories and seeing some of your pictures. Thankyou for joining the forum to share your experiences.

Regards,
Bee (daughter of a late WWII Veteran)

[Youngjoe]

Hello Tiffy,

I very much agree with Bee, you chaps did a great job for us all, in those dark days, had you not made it, life for us now would be very different, if luckly enough to even be alive.
Your point about Ramillies being sunk and sitting on the bottom, brings back something that Father said.
This was that if this happened, they were if possible to get ashore and join the chaps fighting inland. I think that he may have had some basic training/skills to aid with this if it did happen.
Thank goodness none of you had to go through that hell.
Yours, Youngjoe.

[ramillies]

57000

57004

A few picture's as requested, that may be of interest, recognize anyone in the group?
Any info on these chaps would be great!

Hi, I run the HMS Ramillies Website, and would like to get copies of the bottom two of the three photos please to use online? Also any names to go with them would be great ! Thanks, Mick

[ramillies]

Hi, I am Mick of the Ramillies Association. It is such a shame that we do not get to know of some ex crew. We are still holding our reunions, and this year 2010 we will be celebrating our 20th Reunion, at Blackpool. Cheers, Mick

[Youngjoe]

Hello Shirley Sie,

You are looking for anyone with a father who was a Stoker on HMS Ramillies during the War.
My father George Cosstick was a Stoker for all of the War on Ramillies, along with Sid Horner and Bert Sheppard who were his mates.
If you look up on my site I have put up some pictures which may be of interest.
Do you have any info or pictures?

Richard.

[Youngjoe]

Following the operation Ironclad and the damage caused to HMS. Ramillies she was patched up in Durban and then returned to Devenport on 8th. Sept 1942 for full repairs. These took until June 1943 to complete.
Does anyone know what the crew did while the repairs were being done?
As far as I can trace they were not put onto other ships, or given long leave.

[astraltrader]

Young Joe if you could remember to put any new posts about Ramillies in the existing thread rather than start a new one it would be greatly appreciated.

[Youngjoe]

Thanks Terry, I will do my best to follow the system.
Your kind guidance is much appreciated by us ordinary Seaman.
Am in the process of looking for more photos for the Forum which I think may be of interest to you all, so I will conform then.

[astraltrader]

Much appreciated!

I look forward to seeing your pictures.

[Powers]

Re: Youngjoe's post 21.

This photo of RAMILLIES was taken in Plymouth Sound on 3rd June 1943immediately after the refit you referred to.

Regards....Paul

[Youngjoe]

Thanks for that picture Paul, had not seen that one before.
She looks good, ready for what was to be a very hard 18 months of war duty, for her and the crew.
What a great shame that none of these fine ships were kept for us to understand their size, power and in my eyes beauty.
Guess she would have been a bit to big to sit in the Thames as the Belfast does now!

[MelQuick]

Paul

Thanks for sharing the picture - OK if I download it?

Mel

[Powers]

Mel, yes, of course you can. Best wishes....Paul

[Youngjoe]

Thought these are a little unusual, notice to my father on board HMS Ramillies that I had arrived at last,(this took 4 days for it to arrive) also a request ticket for him to have special leave.
Who was Stoker Kirby?
This I guess will never be known! also a picture of my father which I think was his Entrance/ID. picture for the Navy.
Anyone remember him?

[jbryce1437]

Stoker Kirby was the rating who stood in for your father while he went ashore for "Turn of leave out of watch with sub(stitute)" with Kirby being the substitute to do his duties.

Jim
Thought these are a little unusual, notice to my father on board HMS Ramillies that I had arrived at last,(this took 4 days for it to arrive) also a request ticket for him to have special leave.
Who was Stoker Kirby?
This I guess will never be known! also a picture of my father which I think was his Entrance/ID. picture for the Navy.
Anyone remember him?

[Youngjoe]

Thanks for that Jim, I now understand, how this worked.
I wonder what he wanted this leave so much for, could have been to get home if Ramillies was in Pompey as they used to change with another who was not local so local chaps could get off.
Thanks again.

[bigmal]

Hi everyone, ihave joined this forum to try to find out as much as i can about my uncle Bill who served on the Ramillies early in the war before joining the Dulverton.His full name is John William Issac Shaw and he was a Stoker 1st class if any one knows any thing at all i would be very happy to hear from you. Many thanks in advance. Kind regards Malcolm.

[emason]

An interesting, but poor quality, photo of the Ramillies in rough weather.

94788

[GaryH]

Cheers emason.

I dont think I've seen that picture of the Ram before

[ian.lankey@sky.com]

Hi All,
I am currently researching my late Fathers (who I never ever saw) naval career His name was Albert Norman Lankey and served on HMS Ramillies. I fully understand this maybe a long shot but does anybody out there remember him.

Best Regards to one and all
Ian_L

[ted short]

An interesting, but poor quality, photo of the Ramillies in rough weather.

94788

Hi Bill thanks for the picture of Ramillies in rough weather its a very good one never seen that one to date Thanks again
Ted

[Youngjoe]

Great picture of HMS Ramillies in bad weather. Something of interest here.
Was the double drum like objects on the stern end mast of the ship to do with her Radar, as these objects seem often to have been removed.
An old picture official war time picture I have of her shows nothing, as if removed for security.
Any ideas on this please?

[c221267]

My Grandfarther Arthur Hampson served as a stoker I have some info but limited also . We may be able to pool our info

[c221267]

Was George from the Sheffield area? If he was he knew my grandfarther Arthur Hampson also a fellow stoker . I met George several times as a small child if it is him
I think his wife was called Ethel

[Youngjoe]

Regret George was not from your part of the UK. He was living in Sussex near Lewes at the time.
Thank you for trying to help.