HMS Chieftain

[Ernest H]

Hi, I am a new member to the forum, and see there a few posts with ref; to H.M.S Cheques and Chevron. I served on H.M.S Cheiftain from Sept 1950 - Jan 1952. Cheiftain was part of the same flotilla squadron based in Malta at this time. I joined her as a boy seaman 1st class then ord/seaman (it was lovely to get that 1st tot of rum ) before leaving for the UK to train for the Medical branch, eventually leaving the Service in 1960 as a SBPO. I was wondering whether there are any past oppo's who might like to leave a post. The skipper at the time was a Cdr Morgan Giles, and the jimmy was Lt/Cdr Cartwright. Cheers.

[tim lewin]

I was there as a four year old, my father wasa the flotilla gunnery officer aboard Chequers, do you have any photos of your time there? Cdr. Morgan Giles went on to become Admiral and was one of those instrumental in rescuing HMS Belfast for the Imperial War Museum.
All best
tim

[Batstiger]

Hi Ernest, welcome to the forum.
It's the first time I have seen the tot mentioned on this forum and as you say it was well worth the wait to draw it. I joined as a Boy seaman aged fifteen and a half and had to wait four and a half years before the great day !
Just the one picture of the Chieftain ( eye before eee ) and a picture of tot time on the Tiger 1960, that's me the Bosun !

[jbryce1437]

I bet you used to use that locker door as a mirror?? :D

[Ernest H]

Hi Bastiger, Thanks for the photo's, that's a good one of Chieftain, ( forgot to check spelling consider myself told off. Lol

[Ernest H]

Hi Tim, Sorry no photo's, lost alot of my best Navy day ones during a flood, yes I do know Cdr Morgan Giles went on to become a Rear Admiral, he was Rear Admiral Sir Morgan Giles and became Conservative M.P for Winchester, however did not know about H.M.S Belfast, so thanks for that. Your father must have been a fellow officer of the Duke, Prince Phillip, who came on board the Chieftain quite often as he was friends with our First Lieutenant. Cheers.

[tim lewin]

they had been friends since their time together in Valliant in 1940 and later when HRH was in Wallace they met up ocaisionally when Ashanti put into East Coast ports where Wallace was based. Dad was Flotilla gunnery officer when HRH was No. one of Chequers. They remained friends to the end, when he died in Jan 1999 HRH wrote an obit for him in the Times. Try to find "Lewin of GreenwichW by Richard Hill to readt the story of life in Chequers at that time, and the rest!
Sorry about the pictures but at least throygh this forum you will find other to fill the gap!
All best
tim

[raw4]

hi tim my name is ryan winstanley. you seem to know what there is to know about the 1950's navy what do you know about HMS CHEQUERS? besides his hrh serving on the ship in 52 my dad was on board at the same time but it seems nobody knows anything. i have put other posts out but have'nt got a decent answer from anyone. where can i get a crews list from? on chequers in 52 i do have some photos. im not. sure if they are all chequers.thanks ryan

[tim lewin]

Dear Ryan, I will copy the chapter of Richard's book for you and mail it if you email me privately your address, bein only 4 my real memories are very small but i do have some inherited ones!

[dayerb]

Crowded Seamans messdeck Chieftain 1955 even more crowded when Hammocks were slung? not a place for the shy,

[Rorqual]

Looks a bit untidy ---- the loose gear on the bunks looks like they are all about to either go on leave or just joined.

When was the pic' taken -----the layout is similar to the Darings mess stbd
side fwd aft of A turret gunbay .


Fred

[dayerb]

Hi Fred,
yes it was untidy, very limited space? the only storage lockers were what you used for seating, which meant of course if they were used for stowing every item, no one got to sit down for more than about 10 minutes?
the mess was as you say forward starboard forcastle from memory I would think the photo was from 1955 in the Med. possibly on a Sunday after divisions as no one is wearing no.8`s not been on this forum long but as I dig through my limited no. of photos (very expensive back then on seamans pay) the memories are returning??

Brian
slightly tidier messdeck in Phoencia

[dayerb]

Hi Fred,
yes it was untidy, very limited space? the only storage lockers were what you used for seating, which meant of course if they were used for stowing every item, no one got to sit down for more than about 10 minutes?
the mess was as you say forward starboard forcastle from memory I would think the photo was from 1955 in the Med. possibly on a Sunday after divisions as no one is wearing no.8`s not been on this forum long but as I dig through my limited no. of photos (very expensive back then on seamans pay) the memories are returning??

Brian
slightly tidier messdeck in Phoencia
sorry think it was St Angelo?

[oldsalt]

Crowded Seamans messdeck Chieftain 1955 even more crowded when Hammocks were slung? not a place for the shy,
Good God, what a mess, I served in Wrangler, Sluys, Troubridge & Vigilant, all with the usual messdeck, but I have to say we were certainly NOT allowed to let the messdeck look like your photo. From the point of view of safety, a messdeck so cluttered would be lethal in a fire or flood. What did you do on Saturday morning Captains rounds?

[Pelican]

Good God, what a mess, I served in Wrangler, Sluys, Troubridge & Vigilant, all with the usual messdeck, but I have to say we were certainly NOT allowed to let the messdeck look like your photo. From the point of view of safety, a messdeck so cluttered would be lethal in a fire or flood. What did you do on Saturday morning Captains rounds?Agree with Dayerb. Did'nt they have a netting? Hope they were lashed up properly - nice and tight in case needed for damage control! Mousey.

[Pelican]

Crowded Seamans messdeck Chieftain 1955 even more crowded when Hammocks were slung? not a place for the shy,Trying to set a better example. HMS CHEQUERS, 1950 era, No.1 Mess, Comms. Note neatley lashed hammocks in their netting!!! (Its my first attempt at an attachment so make allowances). The prints are so small - was it 127 film we poor so and so's used in those days?

[dayerb]

Good God, what a mess, I served in Wrangler, Sluys, Troubridge & Vigilant, all with the usual messdeck, but I have to say we were certainly NOT allowed to let the messdeck look like your photo. From the point of view of safety, a messdeck so cluttered would be lethal in a fire or flood. What did you do on Saturday morning Captains rounds?

The photo was taken under the bulkhead storage wrack which was the only place for suitcases holdalls ect. and possibly looks more untidy I suspect with the tunic tops and caps, having just been taken off and placed there? as I remember Captains rounds were never a problem and our crew were equal to any other crew in the squadron, also gangways were always kept clear and clean, with regards to flood we collided with a tanker near Cyprus leaving us with gaping hole in our bow which was shored up by damage control before we sailed back to Malta and Dry Dock for repair see photo, the red lead is all
my own work??
Brian.

[Batstiger]

Mousey you have certainly taught me something! I have never seen Hammocks stowed in the netting horizontally before! We always stowed ours vertically, mind you, we were seamen!

Regards, Bob.

[dayerb]

Mousey you have certainly taught me something! I have never seen Hammocks stowed in the netting horizontally before! We always stowed ours vertically, mind you, we were seamen!

Regards, Bob.

our Hammocks were always stowed vertically as well! the first ones in were always the hardest to get out! and would have been even harder to get out if they had been stowed horizontally
Brian.

[Pelican]

our Hammocks were always stowed vertically as well! the first ones in were always the hardest to get out! and would have been even harder to get out if they had been stowed horizontally
Brian.Never to old to learn eh? But come to think of it you are quite right. They were certainly vertical on Pelican, Obediant and Loch Alvie, although on the latter we mostly used campbeds up the gulf and indian ocean etc. Remember trying to get the legs in? On MTB's we had very good quality dunlopillo type 6' long cushions on top of the lockers which doubled up as bunks. Micks were the best until it came to scrubbing 'em.

[Peter Cain]

Hello Tim

I knew your father when as Commander of the Royal Yacht we worked together for two years, I as his Coxswain.We met every morning to discuss the day's requirements and I have to say he was a joy to work with.

There is an old saying "I would lay down my life for him," Well that is exactly what the majority of the Crew felt fo him.

Peter Cain

[Peter Cain]

How well I remember the overcrowding of Messdecks aboard Chieftain during my time aboard between 1948 and 1950.

I have written an account of my time aboard at that time. Would you be interested?

At the time I served as an Ordinary and later Able Seaman later to become Leading Seaman.

I ended my career in the Navy as the Coxswain of the Royal Yacht Britannia finally retiring in 1969

Would love to hear from you,

Peter Cain (petermcain@yahoo.co.uk

[Batstiger]

We'd love to hear of your account onboard the Chieftain Peter, better still if it was accompanied by some photographs.

[qprdave]

I have read many times about a peacetime complement and a wartime one. Who were these people that was deemed necessary in wartime and not in peacetime?

[oldsalt]

As an ex-destroyer man, would be delighted to read your story peter.

[oldsalt]

I have read many times about a peacetime complement and a wartime one. Who were these people that was deemed necessary in wartime and not in peacetime?
In the big ships, Vanguard, for instance, peace time crew was I think 1200, wartime 1600. I suppose the extra men would be required for manning armaments for long periods.

[qprdave]

Thanks Kieth. I suppose extra medical staff might be drafted on as well!

[oldsalt]

hi tim my name is ryan winstanley. you seem to know what there is to know about the 1950's navy what do you know about HMS CHEQUERS? besides his hrh serving on the ship in 52 my dad was on board at the same time but it seems nobody knows anything. i have put other posts out but have'nt got a decent answer from anyone. where can i get a crews list from? on chequers in 52 i do have some photos. im not. sure if they are all chequers.thanks ryan

look at the Malta, Sliema creek thread, there is a 1952 ships company photo.

[astraltrader]

I have moved the thread "Chieftans crowded mess deck" into "HMS Chieftan".

[Peter Cain]

Where to begin about my life aboard HMS CHIEFTAIN11 So much to say about the experience.
If anyone is interested I could send them a copy of an article I wrote some years ago in which I describe in detail what life was like onboard at the time.

This would mean sending me an address, however I can't think of any other way of sharing my experience.

Peter M Cain (petermcain@yahoo.co.uk

[kc]

If you attach the file here (word / pdf) I can use it as an article in the directory.

It would be available like the one at the bottom of this page (http://www.worldnavalships.com/directory/shipinfo.php?ShipID=294) to anyone who wished to view it. Of course, it would be on the HMS Cheiftain page rather than HMS Bedord.

[Peter Cain]

We'd love to hear of your account onboard the Chieftain Peter, better still if it was accompanied by some photographs.

I have written an accopunt of my two years spent aboard CHIEFTAIN between 1948 and 1950.
If you would like to receive a copy of my memoirs please let me know your address or contact me at Tel No 01603 262071 or 11Withy Way TAVERHAm NORWICH NR86YB.

Love to hear from you

Peter Cain

[qprdave]

Peter

Would it be possible to have your account scanned onto your computer and then put onto this forum

Dave

[Peter Cain]

Hello Dave

Sadly I am new at operating a computer so am unable to put my account about living aboard Chieftain on the internet.
I do however have a two page written account of those times if you would like me to forward by post.

[Dave Hutson]

Hi Mousey,
Your photo of the forard snakepit aroused some memories as did the scranbag on Chieftain. That mess was almost impossible to keep tidy.
Remember the scuttles leaked, every time into someone's locker. Sunday mornings in harbour - Divisions - and the klankies would fuel ship - this meant the tanks were open and invariably just as we were ready to go up top an air bubble would cause an eruption of FFO - we had new 6's issued three times during our Med stay - but it got us off Divisions with our rendering of the Black and White Minstrels. Mind you the black stuff took some cleaning up and we reckoned the klankies had it in for us. Yes, hammocks were stowed upright [This was 56 Chevron]
Aye ...... Dave H