HMS Howe 1940-1958

[mick1944]

My father served on hms howe, does anyone know where I can geta cap tell from. Please e-mail me on the address below if you have any information.

debra1969@btinternet.com

Thanks

Mick

[iainrob]

Hello all,

My father David Robertson (a good piper in his day) worked in Fairfield in the 40's and was present when HMS Howe was launched. He recalls that he piped the Howe down the slipway. I am attempting to find any information or photos relating to this, if there is any! or if anyone else recollects the launch.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Iain Robertson

[John Brown]

This site may be of interest:http://www.navybluememorabilia.co.uk/products.asp?id=46

Good luck..

[B.G. Pearce]

Trace: GEORGE WATSON
George Watson was a crew member of the HMS Howe when it sailed into Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town, South Africa in 1945. I think he was a stoker.

Should anybody read this, put me into contact with him ( should be 90 years old if alive) or his immediate family.

Please assist to provide me with a 1945 crewlist of the HMS Howe.
Contact address: pearcebg@hotmail.com

Thanking you

Beresford Pearce (South Africa)

[Grumpylegs]

Bill Valentine was on the Howe during the war. Does anyone remember him. He was Fleet Boxing Champion at one time and I have a picture of him boxing with Randolph Turpin on the deck of a ship - not sure which one. He was on the guns - unfortunately dead now - lovely man - but I'm trying to help his daughter Rachel find out as much about him as we can.

[John Brown]

Grumpy

Welcome to the Forum. I hope you find the info you are seeking. In the meantime, would you permit us to see the photo of Bill fighting the great Randolph Turpin?


Regards...John

[herakles]

Welcome to the Forum Grumpy. You a friend of Cinderella?

I too would like to see that photo. Hope you get the information you are looking for.

[astraltrader]

Welcome to the forum Grumpy.
In the meantime here are a couple of pictures of the Howe for you to show Rachel.

[Grumpylegs]

Thanks for all the replies - I've tried to attach my photos from adobe to this site but no luck - can anyone give me some help - in plain language please as I'm a rookie!!

[fathers daughter]

Hi grumpylegs or should I say cousin.
Thanks for introducing me to this site, I will have a good look around and see if I can find any old comrades of dad xx

[BCRenown]

Hi Terry, not meaning to quibble but your second photo is of HMS King George V. Note the rounded Mark IV HACS (High Angle Control Stations) above the bridge. Howe had the flat-faced Mark V version as in your first photo.

Regards,
Monty

[Melv.]

Welcome to the Forum Grumpy. You a friend of Cinderella?

I too would like to see that photo. Hope you get the information you are looking for.


I guess you really meant Snow White herackles but whose being that picky eh! :D

[Batstiger]

See my PM grumpylegs.

[Grumpylegs]

Thanks Bob - after a lot of cussing think I've managed the Randolph Turpin picture - Bill Valentine is the one on the right in the white shorts. Regards GL

[Grumpylegs]

Hi grumpylegs or should I say cousin.
Thanks for introducing me to this site, I will have a good look around and see if I can find any old comrades of dad xx
Hi Rachel. Managed to get a photo on to the site - God it took me 2 or 3 hours. Hope we get some more replies - any objections to me putting some of the others on?

[astraltrader]

Please put as many on as you like - they will be appreciated.
Sorry I missed your cry for help with uploading pictures to the site - but fortunately Bob saw it and sorted it.

[Batstiger]

Congratulations on your achievment Grumpylegs, after doing the first one the rest come easy!
Great boxer Randolph Turpin I hope Bill gave him a good fight.

Bob.

[John Brown]

Many thanks for posting the picture Grumps.

Yes please, lets see some more.


Regards...John

[cirstyrob]

hi
i was wondering if anyone has any info on a norman henry case who served on the h.m.s. howe between 1941-1943 when he sadley died just aged 18.

i am researching my family tree, this man was my great uncle.
my nan has sadley passed away and know one knows where any of her photos are or if she even had any photo's of her brother.
if someone out there has a photo of the crew or even my great uncle could they let me know.

cheers
kind regards
cirsty

[jbryce1437]

Best of luck with your research Cirsty, hope someone can help you. There are a number of photos of crewmen taken during a visit of the King to the ship, some of which I attach, together with a view of the ship in 1942 and 1943.

[Batstiger]

Great pictures Jim especially the first four.

Cheers, Bob.

[historydavid]

cirsty, welcome aboard.

If you check your topic on the other forum you will see I have posted more up to date information on your GU.

[cirstyrob]

cirsty, welcome aboard.

If you check your topic on the other forum you will see I have posted more up to date information on your GU.

hi
thankyou for replying but seams i have lost my way i can't remember which forum????

thanks
cirsty

[historydavid]

Congratulations cirsty, I see you found your way there.

[rfarmery]

Hello

I am very shortly going to begin construction of a 6 foot long HMS HOWE model and am looking for a little help, i would like to make the representation as close to original as possible and for that reason i have already sent off to the martime museum for a copy of the original plans for when the ship was laid down.

I have been able to find a few pictures of the ship but not many and this is the reason for posting here today, would anyone have any pictures of HMS Howe that they could upload, i am looking for close-ups if possible to get the details correct.

i would be very appreciative of any help you could provide.......

many thanks

[astraltrader]

Hi it is very hard to ascertain the best pictures to show you but here are a selection that might prove to be of interest.

[jbryce1437]

A couple of close ups showing the guns

[tupac]

Thanks for the look on the pics. What a stunning ship.

[rfarmery]

Many thanks for these pics.


Tupac

She certainly is an amazing looking ship and i cannot wait to get the model underway, at 6 foot long it's going to be fantastic.

[Irene]

Hi, my name is Irene and I am posting this as I am looking for information. My Dad, Ernest Jones from Belfast, served on HMS Howe. I am not sure when he joined the ship but it would probably have been some time in the late 40s. I was born in September 1950 and was christened on board HMS Howe. I was born in Rothsay Isle of Bute, but not sure where it was sailing from or too.On my birth cerificate it states that he was a steward on board the ship.He had a nickname Mick, probably because he was Irish, but he was also known as Ted. Would be good to hear from any one who might have known him or the ship, as I am having a terrible job trying to find out anything about it. I know that the ships bell is in the cathedral in Edinburgh as I have seen it.

[John Brown]

Hi Irene

Welcome to the forum.

A good place to start would be the HMS Howe Association.

I'm not sure how up to date they are but here are the contact details...

HMS Howe Association

Contact: Reg Goldsmith, 28 Hamtun Crescent, Totton, Southampton, Hants. SO4 3PA.

I found this passage on naval-history.net which could be relevant to the period around your birth/christening....

HMS HOWE visited Cape Town after completion of refit and returned to UK. She remained in commission in 1946 and became Flagship of the Training Squadron at Portland for the next 4 years. The ship reduced to Reserve status in 1950 and became headquarters of the Devonport Division, Reserve Fleet. During 1957 this major warship was placed on the Disposal List with the other three ships of the KING GEORGE V Class battleships. Sold to BISCO for demolition she arrived in tow at Inverkeithing on 2nd June 1958 for breaking-up by TW Ward.

Good luck with your research.



Regards....John

[Irene]

Dear John,
Thank you for the address, I will write and see what I can find out.I now remember that about the time she was being broken up, my poor dad was very upset and nothing I could say to him for a few weeks seemed to help. Now I know why, bless him.
Once again thank you
Irene

[apricot]

Hi, I found this newspaper clipping with my Grandfathers photos etc. the date on the newspaper is 1943. Hope it is of some interest to people.
I am not sure if my Grandfather served On HMS howe but I know he served on HMS Ark Royal and was onboard when she sank in 1941, taken his beloved banjo with it.
thank you

[apricot]

I hope this image is uploaded now on this reply thanks

[qprdave]

Thanks Apricot. A great piece

[Francis Stanley]

I don't thiink a catapult would shoot down 1 aircraft let alone 4! :)
Sorry, just made me smile to see that label.

A great contemporary newspaper article, thanks for posting it

[harry.gibbon]

I don't thiink a catapult would shoot down 1 aircraft let alone 4!
Sorry, just made me smile to see that label.

to be included in next defense review update... new A/A weapon fit for Darings ... a catapult!!!

Little h

[carclo]

Hi, my name is Irene and I am posting this as I am looking for information. My Dad, Ernest Jones from Belfast, served on HMS Howe. I am not sure when he joined the ship but it would probably have been some time in the late 40s. I was born in September 1950 and was christened on board HMS Howe. I was born in Rothsay Isle of Bute, but not sure where it was sailing from or too.On my birth cerificate it states that he was a steward on board the ship.He had a nickname Mick, probably because he was Irish, but he was also known as Ted. Would be good to hear from any one who might have known him or the ship, as I am having a terrible job trying to find out anything about it. I know that the ships bell is in the cathedral in Edinburgh as I have seen it.

H M S Howe was a 42000 ton Battleship I served on her for two years from 1945 as an OFFS/Steward under Capt. Ellis The ship was part of the Home Fleet
Any good?
signed carclo

[David Verghese]

Hi Apricot,
Thank you so much for posting this newspaper clipping of HMS Howe. Could you kindly reply with the exact date of the newspaper in 1943. I am currently researching the history of an Engine Room Artificer who served on her from her commisioning in June 1942 until she was taken into HM Dockyard Devonport for refit and recommisioning in November 1943. There are some excellent pictures of HMS Howe posted, by the excellent stalwarts who make this site so worthwhile, within various sections - just access via the search facility.

David

[David Verghese]

Hello Irene,

Just a few days ago I was in the library of the Royal Naval Museum Portsmouth plowing through the movement log of HMS Howe for 1942-3. If/when I next visit (I live 70 odd miles away) I will check the ship's movement around your birthdate for details of from/to and let you know. I actually have a picture of the bell in situ on the Howe with the ship's mascot (a bulldog) sitting in front of it. I assume that the bell is in Edinburgh cathedral because this city adopted the ship in 1942.

David

[oldsalt]

Hi, my name is Irene and I am posting this as I am looking for information. My Dad, Ernest Jones from Belfast, served on HMS Howe. I am not sure when he joined the ship but it would probably have been some time in the late 40s. I was born in September 1950 and was christened on board HMS Howe. I was born in Rothsay Isle of Bute, but not sure where it was sailing from or too.On my birth cerificate it states that he was a steward on board the ship.He had a nickname Mick, probably because he was Irish, but he was also known as Ted. Would be good to hear from any one who might have known him or the ship, as I am having a terrible job trying to find out anything about it. I know that the ships bell is in the cathedral in Edinburgh as I have seen it.

Irene, if possible take a closer look at Howe's bell. If you were christened aboard Howe your name should be engraved on the bell.

[Irene]

Irene, if possible take a closer look at Howe's bell. If you were christened aboard Howe your name should be engraved on the bell.

Thank you John I will do, and sorry to have taken so long in replying to you, we are in the middle of moving so everything is up in the air. I will have a good look next time we go to my aunt's.

[Irene]

Hello Irene,

Just a few days ago I was in the library of the Royal Naval Museum Portsmouth plowing through the movement log of HMS Howe for 1942-3. If/when I next visit (I live 70 odd miles away) I will check the ship's movement around your birthdate for details of from/to and let you know. I actually have a picture of the bell in situ on the Howe with the ship's mascot (a bulldog) sitting in front of it. I assume that the bell is in Edinburgh cathedral because this city adopted the ship in 1942.

DavidThank you David,I am finding out so much about this ship, I always thought she was a little ship, to find out she was a huge great battleship has been a shock, albeit a good one.Sorry to have taken so long in answering but we are in the middle of moving.

[Irene]

H M S Howe was a 42000 ton Battleship I served on her for two years from 1945 as an OFFS/Steward under Capt. Ellis The ship was part of the Home Fleet
Any good?
signed carclo

Thank you carclo, I am not sure when my dad joined the ship, only that he was there when I was born and for a while after.,My mum and dad married in December 1949, but I have no idea how long they had known each other before then. As you can see I was a honeymoon baby, something of which I am as proud of as being christened on board Howe.

[David Verghese]

Hi Irene,

Nice to hear from you. I am doing a lot of research on HMS Howe at the moment (mainly 1942-3) and I'm having a pint or two tomorrow lunchtime with a 90 year old who served on the Howe in the period 1944-6.I've not met him before

For the moment here is a picture of the Howe's bell now in St. Giles Cathedral.
If you place a mirror under the bell you can make out a name I believe. Perhaps there is an Edinburgh-based member of this forum who, having read this posting, can kindly take a look for you.

Best wishes

David

[Irene]

Hi Irene,

Nice to hear from you. I am doing a lot of research on HMS Howe at the moment (mainly 1942-3) and I'm having a pint or two tomorrow lunchtime with a 90 year old who served on the Howe in the period 1944-6.I've not met him before

For the moment here is a picture of the Howe's bell now in St. Giles Cathedral.
If you place a mirror under the bell you can make out a name I believe. Perhaps there is an Edinburgh-based member of this forum who, having read this posting, can kindly take a look for you.

Best wishes

David
Thank you David, good to see the bell.I have an aunt who lives in Rosyth, just across the Forth, who if I ask her nicely, ( and bribe her :)), would go and have a look for me.I wish I knew exactly when my daddy was aboard the Howe,but, sadly, my mum died in 2001, and my dad has gone too, only my beloved aunt has any memories of them, she was a lot younger than my mum, but all she remembers is that they met in the "Snakepit" the local dance hall in Rosyth, and that he always wore a peaked cap, it was that peaked cap that impressed her. I also remember that, saw him once with a full set and his peaked cap, he was leaving to go back to Howe, and I cried, didn't want him to go.
Enjoy your pint or two and have a good old chat
Irene

[qprdave]

Hi Irene

Have you tried to get your Fathers Service Docs. If you got them, you would know exzctly when your Father was on the Howe and any other ship that he was on.

If you haven't, have a look at the thread to see how to go about it

By the way. We were nearly neighbours. Before I came to Texas I lived in High Wycombe

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3131

[apricot]

Hi , the exact date on the newspaper cutting is April 27th 1943 :)

[David Verghese]

Thanks Apricot for this info, and congrats on being promoted to Able Seaman on this Forum.

Articles like this one would have provided pride and succour for my partner's mother(Mary is now 89 and still takes an interest in matters of WWII naval history) when her husband was away being aboard HMS Howe at this time, shortly after their marriage. Life could be grim on Russian Convoy defence and little was publiscised at the time. In mid March 1943 the Howe had undergone some repair work on the Clyde prior to gathering her clan at Scapa for passage in the NW Approaches. Her log records her at Hval Fjiord on 22 March, an anchorage in Iceland and then convoy protection around Iceland through much of April. By 30 April she had returned to Scapa Flow and was subsequently host to separate personal visits by Mr Churchill and King George. Perhaps copies of the newspaper article were even circulated on board.
HMS Howe then underwent fitting work at Rosyth for two weeks prior to sailing to Gibraltar in late May to join Force H.
At least the weather was warmer in the Med.

Best regards from another Able Seaman.
David

[happyjoy]

I enlisted in the Royal Marines in 1943 at Eastney Barracks with 299 Squad then drafted to HMS HOWE at Plymouth,living on 73 mess.Done trial in Scapa Flow,left Greenock July for Ceylon, Trinkomalee then on OPS.Left Ceylon for Australia December. Joined British Pacific Fleet at Manus with the Yanks 57th Task Force then more OPS.Left Manus June visting Sydney,Durban,Simons,Capetown,Mombassa Srycheles,Colombo,Tringo,Singapore,Johore,Bombay,A den,Suezand then back home for a Pint,:)

Bob Howse PO/X119652 Royal Marines

[David Verghese]

Hi Bob,

Welcome aboard.Please see Lt.Cdr. G.B. Mason service history of HMS Howe at http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-01BB-Howe.htm (just copy and paste this link - if you haven't already visited the site before)for a reminder of this great servant to the nation in WWII. Did you know that the ship was almost called HMS Beatty?

Attached are a few pictures including a chart of the long voyage that you outline. There are quite a few of your old shipmates from 1943-5 still downing the odd pint. There is also the HMS Howe Association.

Best regards

David

[Powers]

On the off chance, Irene, that you may still look at this thread from time to time (which I have just found) I can advise you that HMS HOWE sailed into Devonport Dockyard, in Plymouth, at 1315 hours on Tuesday 18 May 1948, and stayed there until she left on her final journey to the Scottish scrapyard at Inverkeithing, at 1130 hours on Tuesday 27 May 1958.

During the ten years she spent in Devonport she moved around on at least a half dozen occasions to different wharves, and twice into drydock. Most of the time, however, she was secured to mid-river buoys known as the 'Imperieuse Moorings', or more commonly, amongst dockyard workers, as the Devonport 'Trot', which was the place where ships in 'Reserve' or 'awaiting disposal' were kept. The tugs that took her away on her final journey were named 'Englishman' and 'Welshman'.

HMS HOWE was a magnificent battleship, much admired by the thousands of visitors that would have seen her from pleasure craft operating from Plymouth Hoe. I feel sure that your late Father would have been very proud being part of her crew. Best wishes.....Paul

[Wellbran]

Irene

This video clip is from my own youtube page, it comes from some more footage that i have, it is believed to be HMS Howe's guns BUT as the footage at times is chopped and bits added to it I am not certain, but the rest of the footage IS Howe I can go thru the rest of it for you and get some on youtube, but here is the gun turret ops section there is also a good footage showing stewards working.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsp0Mr5Lcl8

[Dick]

Here's another bit of footage of her to enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDqQsWjk6kY

[David Verghese]

Hi Dick,

The youtube footage you just posted on HMS Howe is absolutely first class. I had not seen this 10-minute film before, only a couple of other short clips. Thank you so much.

Sue's father (Pete Hocking) is somewhere on board (we just watched the 10-minute film twice but could not see him). He joined her on the 1st of June 1942 as part of the manning crew for her ship's trials. He was an E.R.A. 4th Class (rate equivalent to Petty Officer). Two and a half weeks later HMS Howe was commissioned into the Home Fleet so the footage certainly covered his first few weeks aboard. Then, at Rosyth, the Howe had comprehensive radar fitted before further trials at sea in late August.

HMS Howe then spent four months at Scapa Flow ready for potential offensive action in the Atlantic if the need arose.
Her first true mission got underway on the 31st December 1942 where she was on distant protection duties for Arctic Convoy RA51.
Pete was with HMS Howe until November 1943, his subsequent posting being onto HMS Diadem (I posted some pictures of Diadem today on another thread).
Tomorrow I shall show this footage to Pete's wife - she is almost 90 years old and she will be thrilled to see it - even with the awesome power of those 14-inch guns.
Are you still on for the IWM sometime?

Best regards

David

[Dick]

David,

Whoever put those clips on You Tube still only put a proportion of the film up - there is more including many more shots of the crew. You can buy it as part of this DVD.

http://www.navybooks.com/ShowDetails.asp?id=1935

This DVD also contains the clip of PoW arriving at Singapore from which the better known stills are taken.

(Indeed I would recommend getting all the RN WW2 IWM DVDs....!)

Yes to the IWM one of these days!

Best wishes.

[Wellbran]

Yes the clip of mine I linked was part of a lot more footage which I have but have not put it on youtube...I get warey of youtube now as people steal your clips, and even at times repost them as their own. Dick that footage you linked mine has a different commentary on it.

[Irene]

On the off chance, Irene, that you may still look at this thread from time to time (which I have just found) I can advise you that HMS HOWE sailed into Devonport Dockyard, in Plymouth, at 1315 hours on Tuesday 18 May 1948, and stayed there until she left on her final journey to the Scottish scrapyard at Inverkeithing, at 1130 hours on Tuesday 27 May 1958.

During the ten years she spent in Devonport she moved around on at least a half dozen occasions to different wharves, and twice into drydock. Most of the time, however, she was secured to mid-river buoys known as the 'Imperieuse Moorings', or more commonly, amongst dockyard workers, as the Devonport 'Trot', which was the place where ships in 'Reserve' or 'awaiting disposal' were kept. The tugs that took her away on her final journey were named 'Englishman' and 'Welshman'.

HMS HOWE was a magnificent battleship, much admired by the thousands of visitors that would have seen her from pleasure craft operating from Plymouth Hoe. I feel sure that your late Father would have been very proud being part of her crew. Best wishes.....Paul

Dear Paul,
Thank you for your reply. I must admit I haven't been in the forum for a bit. The date of 1958 ties in with the memory of my dad being so upset when she was scrapped, we lived in Rosyth at the time and Inverkeithing is just down the road. I know he went out that day and came back upset, bless him. Both my parents have told me that I was born in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute, and when I was 6 weeks old they sailed with the ship down to I think it was probably Portsmouth, as I was carried up the gangplank I fell asleep and stayed that way all the way to Portsmouth. Wish I could still sleep like that :)
I would like to ask you if you have or know of any photos of the stern of HMS Howe, my husband, who is an ex Major in the Army, has a big model of a KGV battleship that he wants to build for me, but we know that Howe had a second bridge, the only one in the class that had it, how ever we can find no photos that show this clearly, as my husband is a stickler for detail ( I blame the army :)), he wants to be able to see it.
I must tell you that I was sent a ribbon from with HMS Howe on it, an old friend who was on Ark Royal is going to mount it in a frame for me, it is my most cherished possession and I feel immense pride at having been christened on her.
Thanks once again
Irene

[Wellbran]

No acknowledgement of the other posters...this is a very strange forum, people try to help and no thanks....baffling, its just courtesy.

[David Verghese]

"I would like to ask you if you have or know of any photos of the stern of HMS Howe, my husband, who is an ex Major in the Army, has a big model of a KGV battleship that he wants to build for me, but we know that Howe had a second bridge, the only one in the class that had it, how ever we can find no photos that show this clearly, as my husband is a stickler for detail"

Hello Irene,

Regarding such a specific photograph I think your best bet would be to contact Reg Goldsmith of the HMS Howe Association as per post#2. It is possible that the association have a collection of members past photos. Here is his address again.

HMS Howe Association
Reg Goldsmith, 28 Hamtun Crescent, Totton, Southampton, Hampshire, SO4 3PA.
Did you ever take a look, as per earlier posts, at Howe's ship's bell in St. Giles Cathedral ie the inside surface via a mirror, in case your name was inscribed?

David

[Powers]

Re: Irene's post 19 above.

Irene, I'm sorry I have no knowledge of a 2nd 'rear' bridge on HOWE. I've had a swift glance at a couple of respected publications which give specific details of all modifications to the four ships in the KGV class, but have drawn a blank. If you haven't already done so I would suggest that you have a look at the MARITIME QUEST website which contains several photos of HOWE. In the meantime all I can provide is side profile 'silhouettes' of the four ships, which show little difference between them. Best wishes....Paul

[astraltrader]

There are many photos/pictures of all of the King George Vth class battleships here in the forum.

This one in particular contains many that will show you that none of these ships had a second bridge.

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1775

[Powers]

Terry, thanks for above - I'd completely forgotten to mention the super pictures that we have on this forum. Will remember in future.

Regards....Paul

[astraltrader]

Easily done Paul. The forum has grown so much especially recently that it is very easy to miss things previously posted here. Thats why it is important to use the search facilty here - but even that can involve wading through many pages of threads to find things!!

[Bee]

Hi Wellbran,

Re: post #20
Although, I haven't been following this thread....I'd just like to thank you for putting clips of various footage on youtube. Without the likes of you doing that, just where would the rest of us be...who enjoy both finding and viewing the things that people, like yourself put on there. I'm sure the others here would agree with me....it's just unfortunate that this thanks hasn't found its way into type, yet.

I hope that you will persevere as there are many here (throughout the various threads) who do appreciate your contributions.

Regards,

Bee

[Irene]

To everyone who has tried to help and has replied I would like to say thank you so much for all your help. I am sorry to have been so lax in answering, but things have been quite fraught for a while.
Thanks everyone
Irene

[Bee]

Hi Irene,
Welcome to the forum.
They're a pretty good lot here....and will find out as much information as possible for you. I joined WNSF just over a year ago trying to find a bit of info....and am still here!! It's very addictive and it's surprising the amount of bits and pieces that we can find from our own parent's naval involvement that is great to share. (Oh, and - yes- the men did find the info. that I was seeking and that had elluded our family for many, many years, about a Vice Admiral Turner.)

I hope your shift went well and that you can now settle in to doing a bit more research, re: your Dad's naval history.
I was going to send you a p.m. (private message), to say hello.... but you don't seem to have that available. :confused:

Anyway...hope you enjoy the forum as much as the rest of us (esp daughters) that have posted on here, do.

Regards,
Bee :)

[Irene]

Hi Irene,
Welcome to the forum.
They're a pretty good lot here....and will find out as much information as possible for you. I joined WNSF just over a year ago trying to find a bit of info....and am still here!! It's very addictive and it's surprising the amount of bits and pieces that we can find from our own parent's naval involvement that is great to share. (Oh, and - yes- the men did find the info. that I was seeking and that had elluded our family for many, many years, about a Vice Admiral Turner.)

I hope your shift went well and that you can now settle in to doing a bit more research, re: your Dad's naval history.
I was going to send you a p.m. (private message), to say hello.... but you don't seem to have that available. :confused:

Anyway...hope you enjoy the forum as much as the rest of us (esp daughters) that have posted on here, do.

Regards,
Bee :)

Hi Bee,
Thanks for the message.My beloved husband had a breakdown a few months ago and while he is over that, he has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related to his Army service.
I have found out quite a lot about the ship and am immensely proud of the fact that I was christened on board her :). I always thought that she was just a little ship, to find she is a battleship and so huge was a shock.
My email is irene_t_20022002 (at) yahoo.co.uk would love to hear from you
Regards Irene :)

[jbryce1437]

I have changed Irenes email address in the previous post so that spambots cannot read it. It would be better if members contacted each other by Private Message, initially, then exchange email addresses in that manner.

Posting email addresses in a public forum will probably lead to mountains of junk mail.

Jim

[Irene]

I have changed Irenes email address in the previous post so that spambots cannot read it. It would be better if members contacted each other by Private Message, initially, then exchange email addresses in that manner.

Posting email addresses in a public forum will probably lead to mountains of junk mail.

Jim

Thanks Jim, I might be a red head but I do have blonde days:).......I just never gave it a thought. Once again thanks .....Irene

[RNfanDan]

Uhh...Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to point out that there WAS an enclosed (or semi-enclosed), secondary navigation position on HMS Howe, sometimes (if inaccurately) termed a "bridge", on the ship's aft funnel. I believe all KGV's had the funnel platform, but only Howe had the enclosure. This was fitted to aid habitability of the position for obvious reasons.

Now, I have as yet no evidence to support what I am about to postulate, but I believe this feature was a measure inspired by the debacle of HMS Prince of Wales at the Denmark Strait battle, where the bridge was put out of action by a direct hit from Bismarck. It may have been introduced for other reasons though, so please don't quote me on that point.

It was also one of the features which visibly distinguished HMS Howe from her sister-ships, and can be instantly recognized by its windowed, forward enclosure bulkhead. I have attached two photos showing the distinctive structure:

[oldsalt]

Thanks for that, I have always wondered what that strange structure was on the aft funnel, being an ER branch I never thought it was that which you describe.

[Powers]

Re: RNfanDan's post 32.

Dan, thank you for the information on HOWE's 2nd 'bridge'. When checking the manuals for any clues about this for Irene recently, I did notice that one of the ship's modifications was 'additional protective plating on emergency conning position on after funnel', which I now realise referred to this 'other' bridge. It does, of course, confirm what Irene's husband remembered about HOWE's appearance compared to others of the class. Thanks again for the clarification.

Regards.....Paul

[astraltrader]

Uhh...Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to point out that there WAS an enclosed (or semi-enclosed), secondary navigation position on HMS Howe, sometimes (if inaccurately) termed a "bridge", on the ship's aft funnel. I believe all KGV's had the funnel platform, but only Howe had the enclosure. This was fitted to aid habitability of the position for obvious reasons.

Now, I have as yet no evidence to support what I am about to postulate, but I believe this feature was a measure inspired by the debacle of HMS Prince of Wales at the Denmark Strait battle, where the bridge was put out of action by a direct hit from Bismarck. It may have been introduced for other reasons though, so please don't quote me on that point.

It was also one of the features which visibly distinguished HMS Howe from her sister-ships, and can be instantly recognized by its windowed, forward enclosure bulkhead. I have attached two photos showing the distinctive structure:

Thanks for that Dan. Like most of the rest of us here all of that was new to me and most interesting. I would very much like to know anymore that can be found out about why this was done.

[Irene]

Uhh...Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to point out that there WAS an enclosed (or semi-enclosed), secondary navigation position on HMS Howe, sometimes (if inaccurately) termed a "bridge", on the ship's aft funnel. I believe all KGV's had the funnel platform, but only Howe had the enclosure. This was fitted to aid habitability of the position for obvious reasons.

Now, I have as yet no evidence to support what I am about to postulate, but I believe this feature was a measure inspired by the debacle of HMS Prince of Wales at the Denmark Strait battle, where the bridge was put out of action by a direct hit from Bismarck. It may have been introduced for other reasons though, so please don't quote me on that point.

It was also one of the features which visibly distinguished HMS Howe from her sister-ships, and can be instantly recognized by its windowed, forward enclosure bulkhead. I have attached two photos showing the distinctive structure:

Thanks Dan for that, we have been searching for photos of Howe with the aft bridge for ages. My husband was convinced it was where it you pointedout on the photos, but as an Army man he wasn't too sure. Alot of photos of Howe all seem to have been taken from what he calls the "pretty angle"..........in other words from the stern because that's the business end!!!
Thank you once again
Irene

[Irene]

Re: RNfanDan's post 32.

Dan, thank you for the information on HOWE's 2nd 'bridge'. When checking the manuals for any clues about this for Irene recently, I did notice that one of the ship's modifications was 'additional protective plating on emergency conning position on after funnel', which I now realise referred to this 'other' bridge. It does, of course, confirm what Irene's husband remembered about HOWE's appearance compared to others of the class. Thanks again for the clarification.

Regards.....Paul

Thanks Paul for trying to find out info for me. My husband was sure it was where Dan pointed it out, but could never find any clear photos of it,
Thanks
Irene

[RNfanDan]

Paul, Irene, et.al.....

My pleasure to help. I am still pursuing more background on this topic, and will gladly post any further information as I obtain it!

:)

[Trevalgan]

Thats very interesting about the second bridge.Going back through the posts, Terry's post #23, looking at the photos, Duke of York looks to have an open bridge on the aft funnel, but definately different from Howe's enclosed or semi enclosed bridge.

John

[ray vaughan]

hi
i was wondering if anyone has any info on a norman henry case who served on the h.m.s. howe between 1941-1943 when he sadley died just aged 18.

i am researching my family tree, this man was my great uncle.
my nan has sadley passed away and know one knows where any of her photos are or if she even had any photo's of her brother.
if someone out there has a photo of the crew or even my great uncle could they let me know.

cheers
kind regards
cirsty

i have a photo of a football team which includes a norman case and my dad but i have no idea how yo send it to you ray

[ray vaughan]

Best of luck with your research Cirsty, hope someone can help you. There are a number of photos of crewmen taken during a visit of the King to the ship, some of which I attach, together with a view of the ship in 1942 and 1943.

i also have a pic of the kings visit where the king is right close to my dad he labelled it the king and i his name was reg vaughan