HMS Arethusa

[porelhall]

I served on HMS Arethusa (No. 8) as there was previously 7 ships named Arethusa. No. 8 was built at John Samuel Whyte's Yard at Cowes I.O.W. in 1964/65. I wonder if anyone has photos of the older ones. Arethusa was..a Greek Moon Godess who rose from the waters in Greek legend. I know I have went on a bit but it is an interesting story how the name came about and the modern Leander Class ships of the 60's and 70's all, I think, had names from Greek mythology.
Here are photos of No. 8 the "arry" as she was nick named. I hope they don't make you sea-sick LO !!!

[rumrat]

Here's some pix of a few of the earlier ARETHUSA's
No8 Leander Class Built at Cowes 1963
No7 Arethusa Class Light Cruiser Built at Chatham 1937
No6 Arethusa Class Light Cruiser Built at Chatham 1913
No5 Leander Class Protected Cruiser Built at Govan 1882
No4 50 Gun Frigate Built at Pembroke 1849 Latterly became Boys training vessel moored in Medway
No3 ......
No2 No pictures Sorry
No1 ......

Regards
Dave

[porelhall]

Rumrat...
Cheers for those photos they are superb. The one of the No 8 "arry" I may well have been out on the bridge wings as I was Bugler apart from other things. The Skips loved being truly "pusser". I used to get fed up at times sounding "Alert" and "Carry on" while entering harbour, especially Sydney Australia......happy days...I love the pic of the old Sailing ship.....Ta very much. "Come round for 1/2 a tot tomorrow".........

[porelhall]

Seems I got my Arethusa history wrong. The Belle Poule gave Arethusa a broadside etc etc. Anyway you can read it all on this web page.

http://www.henrycort.net/njarethusa.htm

[rumrat]

Youe welcome to the pictures matey, Were you aboard when she had the pop group must have been 1970-71ish far east i think?
Dave

[porelhall]

Used to be in a music group on "Arry" but we were more of a folkie band. I think one of the younger lads started a pop group for a short time while we were on the first commission but that was circa 65-67.

[Batstiger]

A couple more pictures of the last two Arethusa's.

[rumrat]

I joined PHOEBE in drydock at Chatham we had a couple of Ex Arry crew join us one of which was a killick RP i remember him having a LP that they had made, the cover of which showed them sitting astride the 4.5 gun barrels tropical rig can;t say i ever heard the record thro.
Regards
Dave

[porelhall]

A couple more pictures of the last two Arethusa's.

They last one of the thumbnails Batstiger, I think was the Arethusa camouflaged in WW 2. She was one of the Naval escorts going in on Sword Beach on D Day. I think she got a recommend for her gunnery accuracy in taking out German held positions on shore to allow the Army to advance inland.

[jbryce1437]

Was Arethusa No 5 an Amphion (2nd) class masted cruiser?

[astraltrader]

Hi JB - The fifth Arethusa, launched 1882 at Govan, was a Leander-class protected cruiser that was scrapped in 1905.

[BobK]

Here's a story I thought you may find interesting. My late father was a PO on board HMS Arethusa during WWII. He told me that he had a very close friend with whom he served for two years. I think his name was Edwards although I couldn't swear to that.

In 1944(?) the Arethusa put in to Haifa in the Holy land. My father asked his friend if he wanted to go ashore together to see the sights. Edwards said yes, but he had something to do first.

As they were about to go down the gangway to the tender Edwards, much to my father's surprise, stopped and handed a paper to a senior officer who had just come down from the bridge. My father said that he'll never forget the look on the officer's face when he read the paper but the officer just nodded to Edwards and dismissed him.

Dad and Edwards went into town and Edwards told my father not to ask any questions. My father followed Edwards through back streets and side allies.
Every now and then he would stop at a door, knock on it and be given a slip of paper by the occupant. This happened three or four times and then Edwards said "OK John, I'm done, what shall we do now?"

They enjoyed their visit to Haifa and when they returned to the ship Edwards was met by the captain and a fully armed squad of MPs. Edwards gave the slips of paper to the captain who past them on to the officer in charge of the MPs. The squad then boarded the tender and went ashore.

Edwards and my father returned to their quarters where Edwards started packing his kit bag. When my father finally got to ask what the hell was going on, Edwards told him that he was leaving the ship and transferring to another. He had done his job and now that his ‘cover’ was blown, he had to move on. He was a "sleeper". A spy who did a regular job until ordered to do some undercover work.

Apparently he had been liasoning with agents in Haifa to round up a local Nazi spy ring. So my father had unknowingly been involved in a bit of undercover work.

Dad never saw his friend again. just goes to show that you never really know who your friends are :)

BobK

[herakles]

So! He was a spook. Ha. An interesting story. :)

[jainso31]

That is as good a thumbnail sketch of an undercover agent as I have ever read .I bet your father was flabbergasted.- an ordinary matalot just doing his duty; after that experience. It isn't a tall story is it???


jainso31

[ceylon220]

Exciting story Bobk, be great if we could have a follow up to reveal who Edward was during WW2 and what he did after he left the submarine.

[alanbenn]

The original poster Bobk has not visited the forum since the day he posted his story 2 years ago, so I doubt any follow-ups will be forth coming....

Regards
Alan