HMS Chequers

[tim lewin]

For those interested in Cees here is a picture of Chequers leaving Grand Harbour in 1950-51, my late father is on the bridge as Flotilla Gunnery Officer and her First. Lt. is HRH Prince Philip. Chequers later went with the rest of the Flotilla to the Persian Gulf to wave a stick at the Iranians who were in the throes of nationalising the oil company, they were not impressed and did it anyway!

[tim lewin]

Immediately post war my father completed his senior gunner courses and waas posted to HMS Chequers as Flotilla Gunnery Officer. Chequers was based at Malta then so we all moved out as children, sailing if i remember correctly with my mother, me aged 3 and my sister as a baby in arms, in a trooper en route to Korea, certainly the far east. Chequers first Lt. was then HRH who had served with my father in Valliant in 1940, they had managed to keep contact by meeting from time to time when Ashanti and Wallace (HRH) were berthed in the same east coast (Humberside) port. These are my only two pictures of that era and I would be very pleased if anyone who has some from that commission, 1949-50 could copy them to me. We lived on Sliema Creek for a while until i managed to contract polio in 1951 eventually being flown back in a York air ambulance full of Korean war-wounded. Funny how as we all get older it becomes necessary to fill in the gaps in our memories, a sort of emotional drawing of the wagons into a tighter circle against potential threats.

[rumrat]

Tim,
Here's a few pictures of CHEQUERS and other C Class of the med squadron.
Regards
Dave

[tim lewin]

thanks Dave, much appreciated; this commission is well documented by Richard Hill in his book "Lewin of Greenwich" as indeed are all of the commissions of my father. Its getting difficult ot buy now except second hand but I think most of the regular contributors to this forum would really enjoy it as it represents a complete insight to the RN from 1939 to 1982, from every aspect.
I forgot to say that the stern looking chap behind the Queen is him!

[raw4]

hi my name is ryan winstanley my dad served on chequers in 1952 he was p.o.m.e Arthur Winstanley also ships diver. is there any chance of getting a copy of the ships crew names? or could you put me on to someone who could help me ? kind regards ryan.

[raw4]

hi my name is ryan winstanley my father served on chequers in 1952 he's name was arthur winstanley p.o.m.e. also ships diver is there anybody out there who could help me get some info on the ship, crew etc. many thanks

[Batstiger]

Hi there Ryan, whilst you are awaiting some info on the Chequers here are a couple of pictures of her.
The first four were taken 1945/6 and the fifth in the late fifties.

Bob.

[raw4]

thanks for that bob. got another photo for you of chequers leaving grand harbour spot the difference this one was taken in 1952. thank for replying regards ryan.

[Patwalker37srpen]

I remember doing some of my seamanship training on her whilst in the Marines and she was tied up at Portsmouth awaiting eventual scrapping. She was still afloat in 1962 Christmas but really in mothballs.

[Stan.J]

Tim, I was on the "Wildgoose" at the time of the Iranian nationalisation of the Oil...We had been in the Gulf as one of the three ships based at Bahrain.The others were the The "Flamingo" and "Wren" I had gone out there as a member of the steaming crew on H.M.S.DerbyHaven which we handed over to the Iranians in 49.It was renamed the Lion. Mossedeq was the man who was in charge then of the Iranians.(Not sure how to spell his name) We were just ignored.I think that the day of gunboat diplomacy started to wane from then on.

[The Sailor]

Welcome to the five star posting group Tim.
Your personal experience is sobering for us all. So is the quiet way in which you wrote it.
Sailor.

[Peter Cain]

I knew Commander Lewin when he served as COMMANDER of the Royal Yacht Britannia. I had the good fortune to be his Coxswain and as such met with him frequently.
The entire crew appreciated the interest he took in their well being and during the time I served as Coxswin I never heard a bad word spoken against him. (Not normal for the Commander of a ship!!!)

Another point of interest. I served aboard HMS CHIEFTAIN between 1948 and 1950 during which time the ship underwent a refit in the Dockyard in Malta. On one occasion we spent time in Dry Dock alongside HMS CHEQUERS where we often saw Prince Phillip as First Lt. taking BOTH WATCHES each morning.

Happy memories.

Peter Cain (petermcain@yahoo.co.uk)

[ivorthediver]

Hi Tim You are lucky to have had a dad like that , and have every reason to be proud of him

It must also be very gratifying to read posts about him by those who served under him...and respected the man and his position in life...hard to live up to know doubt .

I had forgotten to come back to you regarding the book you asked my opinion on " The Man Around the Engine " by Vice Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailly.
Wonderful book which was as you said sometimes tinged with a dash of irreverence but so readable and informative of navy life.

Might lend it to qprdave to educate him on the fact that a Stoker can reach elevated heights in the navy. :rolleyes:

Many Thanks and Kind Regards Ivor

[qprdave]

"Might lend it to qprdave to educate him on the fact that a Stoker can reach elevated heights in the navy"

The is no doubt that there have been fine men who, Joined the wrong branch of the Navy and reached the high ranks.

We of the Executive Branch cannot hog all the good positions in the Royal Navy and have to give some positions to other branches.

Besides we don't want an engineering mutiny do we. As you have said, previously you take the Seaman branch to wherever they want to go around the world.

Now we wouldn't want to be stuck in Plymouth or Portsmouth when we could be gallivanting around the world, enjoying ourselves.

Small sacrifice to make, I think

[ivorthediver]

"Might lend it to qprdave to educate him on the fact that a Stoker can reach elevated heights in the navy"

The is no doubt that there have been fine men who, Joined the wrong branch of the Navy and reached the high ranks.

We of the Executive Branch cannot hog all the good positions in the Royal Navy and have to give some positions to other branches.

Besides we don't want an engineering mutiny do we. As you have said, previously you take the Seaman branch to wherever they want to go around the world.

Now we wouldn't want to be stuck in Plymouth or Portsmouth when we could be gallivanting around the world, enjoying ourselves.

Small sacrifice to make, I think

You are a cheeky sod, but never fail to make me laugh

Did you get your No1's dry cleaned after that nasty little gull deposited some rejected food down your jacket whilst perched on your shoulder
:rolleyes:

[ivorthediver]

Congratulations on the promotion Dave, I won't bother to invite you to the Mess as you never turn up anyway....but I will toast your good health none the less.

[qprdave]

Congratulations on the promotion Dave, I won't bother to invite you to the Mess as you never turn up anyway....but I will toast your good health none the less.
Perhaps if I had a job like Member of Parliament, I could get the flight money from the taxpayers. I might even be able to charge them for a crate of Woods Rum

Thanks for the congratulations

[ivorthediver]

Perhaps if I had a job like Member of Parliament, I could get the flight money from the taxpayers. I might even be able to charge them for a crate of Woods Rum

Thanks for the congratulations


"Many a true word spoken in jest"....hope there are none reading this... they cost enough already ....I'm fed up with this variable overhead we taxpayers are subsidizing .

[tim lewin]

Just found these three plates of the ships company at Malta with a special visitor, I guess the Captain is Mike Townsend. I have scanned them at 600 so will post in three hits, can you spot yourself?
tim

[tim lewin]

The others wouldn't load at 600 so i rescanned then at 300 so I hope they are clear enough to see faces, maybe someone with photoshop can smarten them up a bit more.
The other 2 pics show HRH Princess Elizabeth, then visiting Malta with Prince Philip who was Jimmy of Chequers, presenting new colours for the Med Fleet. The Admiral is Sir John Edlesten, the other chap is the Governor and the colour officer is Lt-Cdr Lewin! I was 3 at this time and somewhere well out of sight. The place is the Floriana Parade Ground. (Does it still exist?)