H M S HERMES
Welcome to the first edition of the
HMS HERMES 9 & 10
Association Newsletter.
Issue No.1
THE COMMITTEE
President
Vice President
Chairman
Secretary/Treasurer
Minutes Secretary
S/M Rex Morgan MBE
S/M Ted Girtchen
S/M Richard Tipping
Mrs Jan Williams
Welcome to the first edition of HMS HERMES newsletter, our aim is to bring
together past present and future members of the Association.
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So how did the Association start?
Ann Girtchen wife of our Vice President Ted Girtchen tells us the story.
Imagine me Ann, in my thirties a naval wife, one daughter and a dog, one cold
summer Sunday afternoon in 1987. My mother and father-in-law (our founder
the late Ted Girtchen) were visiting us and as it was not the kind of weather
for lazing in the garden so we were lounging about in the sunroom. Mum and
hubby (also Ted) were washing up and I was looking at the papers, Dad was
reading the Navy News. He was looking at the old shipmates section and
remarked, “I wonder if any of my old shipmates are still alive” I asked what
ship he was thinking about, it could have been a few you see. “It was the
Hermes; I was sunk in her in 1942 by the Japanese” he replied. I mentioned
he could write to the paper to see if any shipmates could contact him. Then
he proceeded to tell me all about the sinking, how he survived, was rescued
by a hospital ship and taken to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and recovered on a tea
plantation. From the kitchen Mum was listening intently as she had never
heard him talk about this dramatic event before. After he had told a brief
description of the day‟s events we all decided to see if a small reunion was
possible.
Well, the first reunion was over 30 survivors and this was a happy and sad
event but so worthwhile.
Because look what we have NOW!
PAST MEETINGS
The Association meets Annually in April, generally the closest weekend to the
Anniversary of the sinking of Hermes 9 off Trincomalee on 9th April 1942.
We have had 22 very memorable reunions, mostly at the Royal Fleet Club
Plymouth and occasionally to other venues. We have travelled widely to some
very interesting places mostly throughout the south of England but also to
Liverpool twice, London and Blackpool once.
Our AGM is an active meeting but always done in good cheer, this years
meeting was fruitful, and it was decided to branch off into an unknown
direction – The Internet! - This will be a very steep learning curve for us
oldies! But by golly we will give it a chance, so bear with us on this one, we
can only get better! (we hope)
Once the necessities are over then the fun begins,
The big event of our annual meeting is the Mess Dinner. We can let our hair
down, have a dance (with the Ladies trying to avoiding Alex and his quick
step) and catch up with old friends. The Ladies will be busy selling tickets for
the grand raffle, and arranging all the prizes for the lucky winners.
For the few stragglers left on the Sunday night, we always have a very
interesting quiz night to really get the grey matter moving. The next morning
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is a sad one as we all depart to different direction of Great Britain – until we
meet again.
On our coach trips we have had many trips around the dockyard and had
invitations onto ships within the dockyard, we have been given the freedom of
city of Tiverton, We had a beautiful Chalice dedicated in St. Nicolas Church
Drake Barracks, also the planting of Hermes oak tree in Plymouth Central
Park, and untold numbers of wonderful trips to other memorable places.
Above all else our „sea time‟ is surely the highlight. The services of
Remembrance and our laying of the wreath are deeply moving events. We
have even been filmed for the Discovery Channel, which then lead to what
was the most moving event of all.
Stan Curtis, Alex Rusk and two survivors from the Vampire took the very
emotional trip to Sri Lanka and went out to lay a wreath over the wreck of
Hermes 9.
The subsequent film by Prospero, for the Discovery Channel, was a most
moving film.
The Hermes was also on the UK History TV Channel, which located the exact
spot where the wreck of Hermes 9 lay.
One thing is for sure, there is never a dull moment with HMS Hermes.
IMPORTANT DATES
Hermes 9
Laid down
Launched
15.01.18
11.19.19
Commissioned
Trincomalee
July 1923
09.04.42
Hermes 10
Laid down
Launched
Commissioned
Sold to Indian Navy
21.06.44
16.02.53
25.11.59
1986
at Elswick
by Mrs Cooper,Daughter of 1st Lord
Of the Admiralty, Mr Walter Lang
Attacked and sunk by enemy aircraft
Barrow in Furness
Renamed INS Viraat
HERMES PUBLICATIONS
Happy in my Hammock
And
A Journey of Remembrance
Stanlely B. Curtis Survivor Hermes 9 has published these 2 wonderful books.
The Hermes Adventure by Rex Morgan President of the Hermes
Association.
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This is the story of how Rex Morgan and family found the wreck of Hermes 9
and dived on her placing a wreath and plaque. Also the time leading up to the
sinking with graphic accounts of the sinking and rescue.
We have 9 copies of the Hermes Adventure for sale at £25 plus £6.50
postage in a box.
2009 Reunion
The Reunion for 2009 will be Plymouth again, but due to the Royal Fleet
Clubs closure, the details for the new venue are as follows
Hotel Invicta, 11/12 Osborne Place, Plymouth on April 16th to 19th. Rooms are
approx £70 B&B. Tele No. 01752664997. Please ring to reserve your room,
stating you are from the Hermes Asssociation. This is a small hotel with an ex
Hermes owner and the overflow can be accommodated next door at the
Bowling Green Hotel 01752209090. The hotels are adjacent to the Hoe and
very comfortable. Our secretary Richard arranges all the trips and mess
dinner and will need a deposit in advance to cover these costs; this will be
notified to you all in 2009. The hotels may need a deposit from you for the
rooms. There are stairs to the rooms, however help will be given with
baggage if required. If an easy access room is needed we advise the Holiday
Inn a short walk away.01752 639988.
The picture below was taken in 2007 at the British Legion, Crown Hill
Plymouth for our Sunday Lunch.
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As any potential new members can see, our wives, partners, even friends are
very welcome. The more the merrier!
Postage of our newsletter will obviously be costly to the Association, so if
members would be good enough to send a book of stamps to any member of
the committee occasionally, they would be very gratefully received.
Many ships in the Royal Navy have Newsletters, and the „Happy Hermes‟ is
slowly coming up to date with technology and joining in, but to do this we
desperately need all our members to take their part in the process.
We need everyone to send us - either by email or snail mail (Royal Mail) as
much information as you can muster. We need to hear of the funny events,
perhaps when you had had far more than your quota of „sippers‟ on your
Birthday, or events on Captains rounds, funny events on Banyans, unusual
stories of events when overseas, absolutely anything you can recall. We
would like to hear about past, present and future events. We can‟t promise to
publish everything, but please let us know of your thoughts, and memories –
good or bad.
So there it is shipmates, our first newsletter is full of old news, now it‟s up to
you, please keep the new news coming – It‟s now up to you!
A sad note within our first newsletter, to inform you that our dear shipmate,
Taff Swain, Hermes 9 has crossed the bar.
Along with Ann and I, I am sure you would all wish to convey our sincere
condolences to the whole of his family. Another one of our Hermes 9 heroes,
who, along with his dear departed wife Betty, gave so much to the
Association. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
Also the widow of Charles Morgan (Rex‟s Mother) our first President died in
Australia age 95 on September 9, 2008, privately cremated, Isabel Ray
Morgan.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
JACK ASHORE
No more H.M. fighting ships. With taste of salt spray on my lips
No more feeling east winds bite Turning face and knuckles white.
No more one hour wheel-house trick, Nor climbing nimbly up the stick.
No more cleats and carley floats. Hawsers, lines and motorboats
No more orders to „turn to‟. Up Spirits‟ „away boats crew;
No more jaunty, number one. Three badge kilicks have also gone.
No more gulpers, sippers rum. Goffers, tickler ad nauseam.
No more pushers, runs ashore. In fact, I‟m jolly Jack no more.
At least I thought that was the case. But in truth I‟ve found a placeA place where I am once again. In the company of real men
A place where we can swap our stories. Re-living times of former glories.
A friendly place of which we‟re fond. Re-united by a common bond
A bond of love and never hate. Where each to each is still a mate
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We like a song, we like a tale. We like a pot of frothing ale.
Where is this place that makes my day? It is my local R.N.A.
As soon as I am through the door. I am ‘Jack ashore’ once more
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And finally…
Dear Shipmates
This is to inform you all that with regret I have today relinquished Alec from
the office of Chairman of the Hermes Association. This is due to the fact that
the pressures being placed upon him in this role have become very difficult for
him. At the last AGM Alec intimated to me that these pressures were
becoming too great and I feel, as I am sure you would all agree, that we do
not wish him to be under these pressures. I am sure that you would also
agree that Alec has been a true hero for our Association over many years. To
this end I am also today bestowing upon him Honorary Life Membership of the
Hermes Association. I would also like with every ones input, to look at other
ways at honouring his commitment to the Association, for implementation at
the next AGM.
Finally I know you would all agree that we want to see Alec at our next
Reunion, overseeing up spirits, a duty we know he feels no pressure at all
with!
God Bless you Alec, from all your Shipmates
Yours aye
Ted Girchen
Vice President
The Hermes Association.
Please send any news or information to:
Secretary/Treasurer
S/M Richard & Sue Tipping
227 Aston Crescent,
Crownhill
Plymouth
Devon. PL6 5QT
Tele No. 01752 702060
Email:
[email protected]
yonder.co..uk
For Newsletter Publications.
S/M Geoff Miller & Linda Snelson
7 Westfield Mews
Westfield Road
Runcorn
Cheshire WA7 4DD
Tel No. 01928 771123
Email. [email protected]
S/M Jack Coxon & Maureen Coxon
83 The Willows
Frodsham
Cheshire WA6 7QW
Tel No. 01928 735194
Email. [email protected]
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