HMS Calypso 1917 - 1940 World Naval Ships Forums Archive

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HMS Calypso 1917 - 1940 World Naval Ships Forums Archive

HMS Calypso 1917 - 1940

Posts 1 to 27

Hi All This is my first . My wifes Grandfather served on H M S Calypso. He was also the Football teams goalkeeper. I have a photo of the team.I have William Lewis Stoker 1st class his certificate of sevice. What I would like to find what took place in Malta. as in an old photo album I found Photos and a tribute to his dead shipmates. it has a photo of the malta grave yard where they were laid to rest. The 1st says In rememberance of our shipmate Stoker F Utting who died 4th febraury 1921 at Malta H M S Calypso The other one says In loving memory of our dear shipmate A B . Harry Crew died 15th March 1921 H M S Calypso. I will with the help of my daughter post photos of all the material I have. When Grandad left the Navy he became a merchant seaman I have his log book showing all the ships he was on and where he went. The only time Grandad spoke of his service years was when he told stories of the good times . His favorite was when I was in the Navy they had wooden ships and iron men. I dont think he would mind me sharing this with you.

Kingann Welcome to the forum. We would be very pleased to see any photos etc that you may be willing to share with us. As for your questions regarding the two crew members that died, all I can offer at the moment is this.... CREW - J74774 AB Albert H. - HMS Calypso. Drowned . Died 15th March 1921, aged 21 years. Buried at Kalkara Naval Cemetery. UTTING - SS124832 Stoker 1st Class Frederick J. - HMS Calypso. Illness. Died 4th February 1921. Buried in Kalkara Naval Cemetery. Sounds like one death by natural causes and the other by a tragic accident. Hope this helps. Good luck with your quest! Regards...John

Welcome to the forum Kingann, we look forward to seeing your photographs. Bob.

Hi All, Firstly thaks to Rear-Admiral John Brown and Batstiger for your kind welcome. As promised, my daughter has worked out for me how to attach the photographs. First is S.T.O.S Footbal Team H.M.S Calypso 1921-22. The goalkeeper is william Lewis - Stoker. Second is of the 2 lads who died in Malta. Third is Certificate of Service - William Lewis Fourth is His Ships Record Fifth is his Merchant Seamans Record of Service - William Lewis If I can add anything or answer any questions, please feel free to contact me. Best regards Kingsley Laidlaw (kingann34@blueyonder.co.uk)
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Kingsley Excellent ! Many thanks for letting us see those documents. Regards...John

Whilst looking for something quite different relevant to Malta, I was directed to a website which has details of those interred in the Kalkara Naval Cemetery, some of whom were re-interred having been exhumed from other cemeteries on the Island in 1967 - 1969 for example. The list of names is in alphabetical order and includes family members as well as serving members. It is also not exclusive to the world wars, but includes names of those interred since that time. The two names from the Calypso are also included and I have extracted them as follows:- Albert H. CREW, AB, J/74774, HMS Calypso, aged 21 years, the son of Mr and Mrs W.J. Crew, of 12 Chelmsford Terrace, Chelmsford Road, Southgate, London. Died 15th March 1921 Frederick J. UTTING, Stoker 1st Class, SS/124832, HMS Calypso. Died 4th February 1921 Here is the link, the parent site is the Malta Family History which includes many sections from a central index:- [url]http://website.lineone.net/~stephaniebidmead/kalkara.htm[/url] Little h

Can anybody confirm that the Pendant Number of HMS CALYPSO in 1924 was H10? Bill Forster

HMS Calypso was a cruiser and did not wear the pennant number H10. The story in the link refers to survivors being picked up by a destroyer wearing the pennant H10, which may have been the R class destroyer HMS Umpire? Jim

Calypso dressed for an occasion!
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You may be right, Jim, but what makes you think HMS UMPIRE had H10 as its pennant? Bill [QUOTE=jbryce1437;133447]HMS Calypso was a cruiser and did not wear the pennnant number H10. The story in the link refers to survivors being picked up by a destroyer wearing the pennant H10, which may have been the R class destroyer HMS Umpire? Jim[/QUOTE]

[quote] You may be right, Jim, but what makes you think HMS UMPIRE had H10 as its pennant? Bill [/quote] Bill, only 2 ships have ever been allocated the pennant number H10, they were Hms Umpire and Hms Encounter. Hms Encounter was launched in 1934, after the incident you refer to, therefore your reference to destroyer H10 has to be Hms Umpire. Regards Alan

[quote=Bill Forster;133505]You may be right, Jim, but what makes you think HMS UMPIRE had H10 as its pennant? Bill[/quote] Bill, If you have a look at the attachment on the first post on this thread, you will find a searchable Pennant Number list [URL]http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6029[/URL] Jim

Thanks, Jim. That's a great list. And does seem to confirm your identification of the destroyer with pennant number H10 which saved the founders of the H10 veterans charity, now renamed Veterans Aid, as HMS UMPIRE. If anybody plans to visit the National Archives at Kew in the next week or two it would be great of they could spare the time to check the logbook of HMS UMPIRE on the 2 November 1924 for details of the rescue. SEE: [url]http://www.veterans-aid.net/history.html[/url] Bill

Tomorrow is the 86th anniversary of the event which led to the founding of Veterans Aid. And I thought I ought to mark the occasion by "publishing" an illustrated version Courtesy of Terry Dickens - [astraltrader]. [URL]http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/mal.html[/URL] Bill Forster.

I am only sorry that I could not come up with a better picture of Umpire with an H10 pennant. :o

This is the only pic that I have of her with H10 pennant. Just noticed she was built in Sunderland:) Jim
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Hello Recentley I saw anothr death card of ALBERT BANTLETT who died on the 19th October 1919, and who also was stationed on HMS Calypso. He is buried in Malta. Do you happen to have any information on him ? I thank you. Joe [QUOTE=John Brown;24889]Kingann Welcome to the forum. We would be very pleased to see any photos etc that you may be willing to share with us. As for your questions regarding the two crew members that died, all I can offer at the moment is this.... CREW - J74774 AB Albert H. - HMS Calypso. Drowned . Died 15th March 1921, aged 21 years. Buried at Kalkara Naval Cemetery. UTTING - SS124832 Stoker 1st Class Frederick J. - HMS Calypso. Illness. Died 4th February 1921. Buried in Kalkara Naval Cemetery. Sounds like one death by natural causes and the other by a tragic accident. Hope this helps. Good luck with your quest! Regards...John[/QUOTE]

Here is the Death Card of Albert Bantlett :
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I have added quite a lot of detail to the description of the incident in the Grand Harbour at Valetta, Malta, when guests visiting HMS CALYPSO nearly lost their lives on 2 November 1924. And how their narrow escape led to the founding of the charity VETERANS AID. See: [url]http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/malta1924.html[/url] I shall be meeting the daughter of the 11 year old boy who nearly drowned at the AGM of VETERANS AID on Thursday next week. Bill Forster

My grandfather, George Kinchin, served in the Royal Navy from 1906 to 1946 and was posted to the Calypso from the end of August 1922 to the end of January 1925. He was on the ship when they rescued Prince Philip and his family from Greece and also during the nasty incident in Valetta Harbour when a visitors boat was sunk. Recently, I have found a terrific panoramic photograph of the entire crew, seated in front of a building in Rome, during the time of their visit. I would love to hear from anyone else who may have had a relative on the ship at that time. I shall attach just the centre section of the photo, for reasons of space, but if anyone would like me to send the whole thing because they have a personal connection, I would be glad to do so. I would also like, if possible, to have some help in identifying the building they are sitting in front of and some of the dignitaries sitting in the front rows. One of them (not in RN uniform) appears to be wearing a Victoria Cross or similar medal. I know that there is another thread on the Calypso, but I wasn't sure whether to add this to it, or start again, as it is on a slightly different tack.
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It certainly looks like a VC but some others did from a distance. Usually when a man wears a VC he has quite a few campaign medals and other medals for bravery. It's only a thought.

Clearly some Vatican building back-entrance (an 'entrance to the library & museum') - but I don't know the Vatican well enough to say where exactly. However, I'm not seeing anyone wearing a bronze VC medal (perhaps some other naval/military cross?). Michael PS On such official courtesy visits to see the Pope, normally only the Roman Catholic members of the ship's company participated - so there's probably more than just sailors from HMS Calypso pictured in the photo (Would have to check on what ships from the Mediterranean Fleet were visiting Civitavecchia at the time).

Hello Winterbloom and a warm welcome to the Forums. I have merged your post with the existing Calypso thread in an effort to keep all information about her on the one thread. Jim

Chap in the middle is wearing Diplomatic Uniform I think, so the 'gongs' are probably related to a chivalric order (..the Bath ?/ Royal Victorian ? etc etc) and/or 'British Empire' type (CBE/OBE ? etc etc) which were (are?) routinely handed out to high ranking civil servants...

Hello, in this link [url]http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3911-08NOV02.htm[/url] is an event described I never heard before [I]Thursday, 16 November Light cruiser CALYPSO captured a merchant ship (SISALMANN ?) and was en route with her to Loch Ewe. She requested a trawler to meet her in West Ray Firth to take over the escort. Armed boarding vessel KINGSTON JACINTH was delayed by weather, but did so, and both ships arrived at Loch Ewe at 1700/17th.[/I] Can somebody give more details on this event, a merchant ship SISALMANN did not exist. Thanks K.Jong

Hello, has somebody access to the war diary November 1939 of HMS Calypso ? Thanks K.Jong

[quote=Jong;10147289]Hello, has somebody access to the war diary November 1939 of HMS Calypso ? Thanks K.Jong[/quote] Not sure if this will help, but a summary of her war service can be found [URL="http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-06CL-Calypso.htm"]here[/URL]. Jim

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