Another Uncle's Photos 1938-50(s) World Naval Ships Forums Archive

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Another Uncle's Photos 1938-50(s) World Naval Ships Forums Archive

Another Uncle's Photos 1938-50(s)

Posts 1 to 37

Hello everyone, Thought I would start another thread. This time my uncle was Eric Stock who did 22 years, starting off as an Ord Seaman and came out as a PO Writer in 1959. He passed away 2 years ago aged 88. He and my father originally met up as chums on HMS Formidable in '42 and he eventually married Dads sister in 1960; no kids, so as nearest nok I got his photo albums & war medals. As before I shall upload the photos in sections (successfully I hope). So here is the first installment featuring HMS Ilex in the Med from 1938 onwards: in one picture is(I think) a German liner in Valetta, another shows what looks like a J-class yacht??. I particularly like the one of the mess Xmas party. Enjoy. Alan
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Here we go ready for the second installment including some enemy action with an Italian warship. Also included are other RN ships that uncle Eric served on although I don't think he was HMAS Sydney or HMS Malaya. Alan
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Third installment of uncle Eric's photos, mostly post WWII and on light carriers HMS Theseus & Vengeance. Included is an unknown battleship - any ideas please ? Regards Alan
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Last installment of uncle Erics photos. These include one of a jet plane landing on the deck of HMS Vengeance; his written notes state that this is the first time a jet landed on a carrier at sea. Also included are some shots of a Fleet Review but I know nothing about it at all, any feedback on these would be appreciated thank you. Regards Alan
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Brilliant photo's you have there,thank you for posting them. Peter.

A wonderful collection. Thanks for sharing.

Alan, what a wonderful set of photo's and thank you for sharing them with us, I particularly like the one of Cleopatra firing at the aircraft, you don't see many photo's like that one, absolutely great. Regards Alan (the other one)

I have some questions about the cruiser and the aircraft 1) What is the aircraft 2) Is this for real?, photo shoot or just a plain exercise. 3) The forward guns and the one's between the funnel did not seem to be interested in the aircraft. 4) During a battle, would every gun have their own sector and keep to it irrespective of what was happening around them? Dave

Super pix Alan, thanks for sharing them with us. The jet landing on in post #4, pic #3 is a Seahawk. One of the very few aircraft which landed nearly parallel - ie horizontal - with the deck. Every other aircraft was nose-up on landing - but I stand, or rather sit, to be corrected, as I probably will be!!! Anyway it was a lovely little aircraft!! Mik

A treasure trove of photos, brilliant!!! Jack

Enjoyed the photos, thank you very much. Just a couple of observations, the first jet aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier was certainly a Sea Vampire but the carrier involved was HMS OCEAN. This famous event occurred on 3 December 1945 and the aircraft was flown by one of aviation's most respected individuals, Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown. Capt Brown is also well known for many other outstanding aviation achievements and he held the record for flying the greatest number of different aircraft types, no less than 487! The aircraft in picture 3 by the way is not a Sea Hawk as suggested above, the right fuselage boom clearly identifies it as a Sea Vampire as originally stated. Thanks again for the photos.

Superb collection of photos Alan, and greatly appreciated from across the oceans here. I have seen some of those photos, or similar ones, such as the burning Italian cruiser, but many I believe have not been seen. Did your uncle take some of these photos, or did he just collect them up over time? In any case, quite the set and well worthy of posting. Thanks, Regards,

[QUOTE=alan.gamblin;103699] Included is an unknown battleship - any ideas please ? Alan[/QUOTE] That would be HMS [I]Malaya[/I]. Wonderful photos, thank you for posting! I especially enjoy the ones of [I]Ilex, Liverpool[/I], and [I]Sydney[/I]. Regards, Dan

Hi All.I think the Aircraft in pic #4 is a Sea Fury. Pic #2 is definitely a Fulmar....Regards Steve

Steve, to which post are you referring to? Pic1 is a photo of his uncle. Could you please take time to look at what you are typing otherwise mass confusion takes place. Regards Alan

Sorry Alan.I was refering to post #4,I have edited my post.My fault ,sorry again..Regards Steve.:o

Alan, re: post 3 the very last photo of the damaged aircraft being pushed along by the handlers, I have tried to zoom in on the badge depicted on the aircraft, unable to see the numbers clearly, the design however isn't one I can identify from my collection of FAA squadron badges. Does the badge look any clearer on the original? if possible can you see the squadron number of it. Regards Alan

Alan, I think the damaged aircraft is a Mk. IV Fairy Firefly of 814 Squadron, regards, Bob Sorry Alan, meant to say a fantastic collection, thank you for posting, regards, Bob

Thanks Bob, it was the only one that looked similar but I thought the wings looked further apart on the photo, but I think you're right. Regards Alan

Hello everyone, 1. Thank you all for your kind comments, it is certainly wonderful to share these old photos from my late uncles and in such a way that just a few years ago I would never have dreamt was possible!! 2. I have to put my hand up and admit that I am unable to answer any of your questions :o sorry about that. All these photos were scanned in a few months back @ 360 dpi. Subsequently the photo albums are now residing in the RN museum Portsmouth on a permanent loan. 3. I cannot ever recall seeing Eric taking photos and those he took of my aunt were not exactly good!!! If he did take any I would imagine the one inside the mess of Ilex would be a contender. Most of the others are official shots although I do wonder about the 2 pics of Grand Harbour in the 1st post. 4. Hopefully I can get round to scanning Dad's RN photos - if he will let me!! But these things do take time.;) Regards Alan

I have some questions about the cruiser and the aircraft 1) What is the aircraft 2) Is this for real?, photo shoot or just a plain exercise. 3) The forward guns and the one's between the funnel did not seem to be interested in the aircraft. 4) During a battle, would every gun have their own sector and keep to it irrespective of what was happening around them? Dave Hi Dave, The aircraft is a Blackburn Firebrand Mk.4 or 5 of the Fleet Air Arm. This aircraft had a long gestation period. Conceived in 1939, it saw no action in WWII reaching First Line Squadron service as late as 1945. During this time it's role changed from a short-range interceptor to a torpedo-carrying strike fighter. Only 220 were built and they were superseded in 1953 by the Westland Wyvern. They were allocated to No's 813 Squadron (R.N.A.S. Ford, Illustrious, Implacable and Indomitable), 827 Squadron (Eagle, 1952-53) and 708, 738 and 759 Training Squadrons. regards, Bob

Blackburn Fiebrand TF Mk. 4 regards, Bob [ATTACH]72651[/ATTACH]
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Alan - Very many thanks for some of the most interesting photographs to have ever appeared in the forum. Really brilliant my friend. One very important question readily springs to mind.... What is your fathers favourite tipple??? ;)

Thanks Powers for corrrecting me, and I did have my specs on at the time!!! Mik

Thanks for the information, Bob Dave

Alan, brilliant photographs! Thank you for sharing them with us Chris

Hello again everyone, At long last I can identify the medium sized liner in Malta harbour (post#1 pic 3). A very good friend of mine - a liner afficianado - did a fair bit of research through countless books and came up with [I]General von Steuben[/I]. This vessel was originally the [I]Munchen[/I] of 1923. Around 1936 its hull was painted white therefore dating the photo to no later than 1935. Eventually its name was shortened to [I]Steuben[/I]. Unfortunately her end in 1945 is strikingly similiar to that of [I]Wilhelm Gustloff[/I] - she was torpedoed by a Russian sub whilst fleeing from Poland and sank with the loss of nearly 4000 lives ! :eek:(Gulp!!). Regards Alan

HMS Malaya was on the run from Halifax to UK at the beginning of the War and brought some of the US volunteers to join the RN over, there is a excellent description of this transit in Alex Cherry's book "Yankee RN". Alan, i have at last found my copy of "A Tale of Two Tribals" which is the story of The Long Tow by Ashanti of Somali, as soon as i scan it i will post it in the right thread and email to you, sorry its taken so long. tim

[QUOTE=alan.gamblin;103698]Here we go ready for the second installment including some enemy action with an Italian warship. Also included are other RN ships that uncle Eric served on although I don't think he was HMAS Sydney or HMS Malaya. Alan[/QUOTE] Hi, The Italian cruiser in distress is explained by this: On 17 July the ship sailed from Tripoli, accompanied by Bande Nere and bound for Leros in the Aegean, where British activities in Greek waters were causing concern. In the early hours of 19 July, while off Cape Spada (Crete), the Italian squadron, having been reported by RAF aircraft the previous day, was intercepted by the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney and five destroyers. During the ensuing engagement Colleoni eventually received a shell hit to the engine room from Sydney, which immobilised her and left her an easy target for the destroyers' torpedoes. She sank with the loss of 121 sailors. Origin of info is the inevitable Wiki.....details only! Regards, Hugh PS Is there an uncle's photo club in the offing. I am most impressed with this and thanks very much for the posting!

Hello afficionados everywhere! I am still mystified by the photos of a fleet reviews whereabouts. I have however on another website (Ships Nostalgia) come across a mention of Invergordon 1957. Any suggestions please? :confused: Alan

[QUOTE=alan.gamblin;10136831] ... the photos of a fleet reviews whereabouts ...Any suggestions please? Alan [/QUOTE] I notice that the file sizes of some of the photos are quite small (implying a loss of detail). It's possible that if you re-scan those at 300 dpi or so, & don't compress them so much, some of the experts on the forum may be able to identify individual vessels. If you don't have an image editor that shows file size before saving (such as PhotoShop) use trial & error with the 'quality' option of your photo software, whilst keeping below the 1.91 MByte upper limit. Also use the Black & White setting on your scanner, not colour. Pete

Ok lets try these....
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The three "Fleet Review" photos in post #4 (two enlarged in post #32) show ships of the Western Union fleet in Mounts Bay, prior to Exercise VERITY in 1949 (it wasn't actually a review). Ships visible and identifiable include ANSON, THESEUS (or ARROMANCHES), ARROMANCHES (or THESEUS), VICTORIOUS, IMPLACABLE (carriers from right to left in photo 35), GEORGES LEYGUES, MONTCALM, GLOIRE (these three French cruisers were present, but photo 36 doesn't give any clues as to which is which), DIADEM, LE TRIOMPHANT and BATTLEAXE.

[QUOTE=tjstoneman;10136961]The three "Fleet Review" photos in post #4 (two enlarged in post #32) show ships of the Western Union fleet in Mounts Bay, ..... .[/QUOTE] These may refer in that case. [url]http://www.britishpathe.com/video/navy-joins-western-union-fleet[/url] [url]http://www.britishpathe.com/video/western-fleet-manoeuvres-2[/url] Pete

Hi All For what it's worth. Post 4 pic 7. The group photo on the steps. The WRENS cap tallies bear the name HMS Daedelus. Mitch Hinde

Thank you chaps for your replies - I love this forum!! :) Just to confirm that uncle Eric did serve on Theseus and also at Daedalus. He became a PO Writer after WWll. Alan

[QUOTE=Mitch Hinde;10136982]Hi All For what it's worth. Post 4 pic 7. The group photo on the steps. The WRENS cap tallies bear the name HMS Daedelus. Mitch Hinde[/QUOTE] At one time Daedalus was the home of FONAC (Flag Officer Naval Air Command) and was seperate from the current Daedalus, which was then HMS Ariel. In fact I think it even had its own security arrangements. With all the gold braid in this photo I wonder if that is indeed FONAC, perhaps with FONFT (Flag Officer Naval Flying Training) and others of whom I know not (Little grey cells tiring easily these days :eek: :eek:) Steve

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