My Dads Photos 1942-1946 - incl BPF World Naval Ships Forums Archive

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My Dads Photos 1942-1946 - incl BPF World Naval Ships Forums Archive

My Dads Photos 1942-1946 - incl BPF

Posts 1 to 34

All of these photos are taken on HMS Formidable.
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Hello everyone, Another set of WWII pics. My Dad, Peter Gamblin, joined HMS Collingwood in August 1942. Just as he was finishing his basic training the news of the loss of his brother on HMS Somali came through. In October he joined the carrier HMS Formidable and that was his home for the next two & a half years. By sheer fluke he was picked to become valet for V.Adm Vian and became part of his staff. When the war ended he went boat hopping with Vian and saw life on other carriers. Also included was a trip to New Zealand. Homecoming for Dad was an anticlimax, the 'Forgotten fleet'. "This was true" he says, "nobody wanted to know you when we came home".:mad: There are many photos and I have tried to put them into a basic chronological order. They are in 7 sections. Hope you enjoy them.:) Regards Alan
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Part 3 - heading out to the Far East to join the BPF.
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Pt 4 more BPF; attack on Japanese positions and then post-war.
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pt5 Last days on Formidable, joins HMS Indefatigable in Sydney
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pt6. Trip to New Zealand
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The last part - Goodness me I'm shattered.
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I have placed all of Alan's great pictures in one thread to make sure that they stay together Dave

Alan i am very interested in these set of photographs , as my Dad was on HMS Whirlwind when she escorted Formidable to Sydney after she was hit , and he had a number of similar pictures, crossing the line and visiting New Zealand Nigel

A great set of photographs Alan. Thanks for taking the time to scan them all and for sharing them with us. Jim

Hi Alan.A fantastic set of photos of great historic interest to you,and I'm sure many of our members. Thanks for taking the time to scan them and share them with us. Regards Steve.

Great photos Alan, thanks for the time and effort to upload them, well worth looking through. Regards

Fantastic photo's Alan, thank you for posting them, regards, Bob

Alan, a truly fantastic set of photographs, thank you ever so much for posting them onto the forum. A great pictorial insight into life at the time. Just as pleasing for me is the time members have also taken to thank you personally for posting them I'm sure their comments are much appreciated. Regards Alan

Hello Nigel , KC and to all WNSF members who read this: Regarding the PM I sent to you (Nigel) a while back about the following sentence: "Homecoming for Dad was an anticlimax, the 'Forgotten fleet'. "This was true" he says, "nobody wanted to know you when we came home". I have read several such statements by sons and daughters of the "forgotten fleet". There must be something that we can do to somehow (or go some way toward) rectifying this situation of not showing appreciation for the bravery of soldiers and sailors who gaves their best years to help win our freedom from domination of another culture. No doubt we all appreciate this. Yet it is a travesty of justice that it is not conveyed to those who deserve it. It is never too late. Can any one suggest a way? What about KC on behalf of WNSF approaching MoD to get some sort of written 'certificate or document' which WNSF and MoD or WNSF on behalf of MoD present to the "Forgotten Fleet" and record their personal story in a book? Or has this been done? Seagull KC I would be very pleased to hear your views

PS Sorry Alan, I called you Nigel!

[QUOTE=Seagull;116656]PS Sorry Alan, I called you Nigel![/QUOTE] that would be why i cant find a PM from you Nigel

[QUOTE=Seagull;116655]Hello Nigel , KC and to all WNSF members who read this: Regarding the PM I sent to you (Nigel) a while back about the following sentence: "Homecoming for Dad was an anticlimax, the 'Forgotten fleet'. "This was true" he says, "nobody wanted to know you when we came home". I have read several such statements by sons and daughters of the "forgotten fleet". There must be something that we can do to somehow (or go some way toward) rectifying this situation of not showing appreciation for the bravery of soldiers and sailors who gaves their best years to help win our freedom from domination of another culture. No doubt we all appreciate this. Yet it is a travesty of justice that it is not conveyed to those who deserve it. It is never too late. Can any one suggest a way? What about KC on behalf of WNSF approaching MoD to get some sort of written 'certificate or document' which WNSF and MoD or WNSF on behalf of MoD present to the "Forgotten Fleet" and record their personal story in a book? Or has this been done? Seagull KC I would be very pleased to hear your views[/QUOTE] Any one out there care to comment??

Seagull I'm not sure if anything can be done in the way that you suggest , i would think that there would be many such groups of men and women who could receive individual recognition as apposed to the general recognition that they receive on remembrance day ect , it is of course at these times that we can remember them personally and tell others about them , i would think that this is as much as we can hope for Nigel

Hi Alan, I have just finished perusing this thread and what a lot of memories must have been conjured up from that magnificent set of photographs. I had an Uncle who fought through Burma and he used to say that everyone remembered the 8th Army [Desert Rats] but noone remembered the 1st Army and when they came back people just didn't want to know that there had been a war in the Pacific. They were known as the "Forgotten Army". I guess after five years of war people were just glad it was all over - even though in reality the war in the Far East went on and on with Malaya, Indonesia and then Korea. Personally I probably know more about the war in the Far East than Europe but that is only because I lost my father as a FEPOW - so it really comes down to - the war, it's location, it's actions and the end result is remembered in the context of the relationships to the guys and girls involved in the various theatres. No pieces of paper will ever bring them back, or tell their stories - but they remain etched in our history and our hearts forever. I have told my boys the parts their grandparents and great grandparents played in the wars and hope they pass it on to their children in years to come. You have your Dad's photos and what great stories they depict for your future generations. Thank you for posting them and regards. Dave H

[QUOTE=alan.gamblin;113514]The last part - Goodness me I'm shattered.[/QUOTE] Proud to have Peter as my neighbour. He's my Buddy! Iris x

As an addition to my previous summary of Dads wartime exploits I mentioned his time as valet to Phillip Vian; Dad believes his name was chosen because Vian recognised his surname and address. Both he and Vian lived in the small market town of Bishops Waltham in Hampshire. Gamblin is a popular name in that area. He also mentions that a number of senior naval officers lived around the district at the time of WWII; these are the ones that he remembers: - Admiral Cunningham (ABC) @ Palace House, B.W. (he was known for walking around the palace ruins with his rifle and taking potshots at the seagulls). - Admiral Vian @ Vernon Hill House, B.W. later moved to Ladybrook House @ Liphook. - Admiral Somerville @ Curdridge (2 mls south of B.W.). His granddaughter - Julia Somerville - used to open the annual village fetes. She was well known for being an ITN newsreader. - Admiral Phillimore @ Shedfield (3 mls s.e. of B.W.). A veteran from WWI. (He got my grandfather drunk on plum wine :)). - Capt Warburton-Lee @ Soberton, Droxford (4 mls east). Killed in action in 1940 (1st battle of Narvik, Norway). Dad also mentions the name of Halifax @ Shedfield, but thus far I have found nothing on this one.

Just re-looked through these photo's one more time and just wanted to say how much I enjoyed seeing them again. Thanks once more Alan! ;)

Much appreciated post of the these photos, Alan, thanks. The views of the attacks on Japanese territory were very interesting, along with the ships and crews.

Alan, Great set of photo's! Very nice indeed! Thank You for sharing those photo's. Regards Charles

My first visit to this thread Alan - I must add my thanks to those expressed above for a wonderful set of photos of this often neglected theatre of operations.

Peter John Gamblin passed away on Sunday 27th April 2014 at Winchester hospital. He was 90 years of age. RIP Dad. :(

Alan, Sincere condolences at the sad loss of your Dad. Little h

Alan , Our condolences on the sad loss of your Dad , may he find a Safe Harbour in Calm Seas. Dave H

Alan, I too wish to add my condolences on the passing of your father. His photographs, and those of your two uncles also, regarding the period 1938-45 are significant contributions to the quality of this Forum and, reading the feedback you received in those threads, is real testament to the appreciation of Forum members. Of course, much thanks to yourself for the time and effort taken to load them - it can be a daunting experience. David

Alan all I can do is to repeat the sentiments posted above. Sincere condolences at the sad loss of your Dad, I know he will be greatly missed.

Very sad news Alan, sorry to learn of his passing. My condolences to you and your family. His photos will be a continuing reminder of him here. Jim

Alan: My most sincere condolences on the loss of your father - as has been said above, his photos, which you have so kindly shared with us, will be a lasting legacy.

Thank you to everyone for your condolences, it is much appreciated. I have remembered that I took a photo of Dad in June 2013 upon his receiving his Arctic Star medal. It is probably one of the last pictures taken of him; it wasn't long after this that his health started to deteriorate. Incidentally this week, 3 days after his passing a second Arctic medal arrived in the post for his brother who was lost on HMS Somali in 1942. It is a shame Dad didn't see it. :(
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