WW II ~ Various Remembrances

[Pelican]

‘Johnny’ Johnson, 1921-2022

RIP Jonny. May heaven reward you for your service in the RAF in terrible times Sir.
Also please read this blog on Jonny. One of the added items on the blog was an entry by Josh, who I brought 1 of 100 Centenary signed Patches from. He was doing it for charity and for Jonny reaching 100yrs old, working with him on the project. The blog has been updated with Jonnys passing on 7/12/22. Its a great blog on Jonny. I shall value the item I gained even more so now on this sad time of rememberance."

See - https://dambustersblog.com/category/geo ... DRA-0o5vqc

[Pelican]

Call to attend Artic Convoy and D-Day Veteran’s memorial service

The Royal Naval Association is calling on members of the local community to attend Royal Naval WW2 Veteran, Bill Silvester’s memorial service taking place on 3 June 2023 at 1100 at Lumps Fort (Southsea Model Village)

Bill, who died earlier this year, joined up at the age of 15 and served in HMS Berwick on the Arctic Convoys during WW2 and was also involved in the D Day Landings for which he received the Legion D’ Honour.

The Chaplain of Portsmouth Naval Base, The Rev Ralph Barber will be officiating the small service and the Royal Marine Band Portsmouth is providing a Royal Marine Bugler.

Richie Farman, a member of Portsea & Portsmouth’s RNA branch and friend of Bill’s said:

“I am hoping to give my good friend Bill a proper and fitting send off and if you are free, I would be honoured if you could attend.”

Bill lived at Admiral Jellicoe House, run by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and was also supported by a number of charities working closely together, including: Royal Naval Association and SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity which bought Bill back from France during the pandemic.

More information about Bill’s incredible life is here: https://www.forces.net/news/i-couldnt-s ... d-marriage.

If you have any questions about the event please email comms@royalnavalassoc.com

[Pelican]

BILL SILVESTER'S STORY CONTINUED - A longish read.

Blog from Bill Silvester, a 96-year-old second world war veteran

https://www.cobseo.org.uk/blog-from-bil ... r-veteran/

[Pelican]

H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse ~ War Graves

On 21 May 2023. Royal Malaysian Police raided the scrapyard site where the remains of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were illegally salvaged at Kota Tinggi, Johor (See Video). Parts of ship anchor, cannon barrel (113mm Mk. 1 AA Gun) and UXO were found at the site.

See 4 photos at - https://twitter.com/EVostox/status/1660314733642391552
See short video and 3 photos at - https://twitter.com/EVostox/status/1659236011023519745

[Pelican]

H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S. Repulse ~ War Graves

On 21 May 2023. Royal Malaysian Police raided the scrapyard site where the remains of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were illegally salvaged at Kota Tinggi, Johor (See Video). Parts of ship anchor, cannon barrel (113mm Mk. 1 AA Gun) and UXO were found at the site.

See 4 photos at - https://twitter.com/EVostox/status/1660314733642391552
See short video and 3 photos at - https://twitter.com/EVostox/status/1659236011023519745

Also - https://news.usni.org/2023/05/25/u-k-ro ... wii-wrecks - LFT

[Pelican]

HRH The Princess Royal today unveiled a new memorial in Liverpool Parish to the 70,000 souls who lost their lives keeping our sea lanes open during the Battle of the Atlantic.

It's the curtain-raiser to a weekend of 80th anniversary events. B o A 80
See - https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/16 ... 3889346560
And - https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/16 ... 6169139202
Also - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... ents-begin

[Pelican]

HRH The Princess Royal today unveiled a new memorial in Liverpool Parish to the 70,000 souls who lost their lives keeping our sea lanes open during the Battle of the Atlantic.

It's the curtain-raiser to a weekend of 80th anniversary events. B o A 80
See - https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/16 ... 3889346560
And - https://twitter.com/RoyalNavy/status/16 ... 6169139202
Also - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... ents-begin

Huge military ships arrive in Liverpool for Battle of the Atlantic commemorations
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... l-26996885 - LFT

[Pelican]

It's been another fabulous day on the Mersey with big crowds turning out for Battle of the Atlantic commemorations.
There's been a constant flow of visitors to HMS Defender and her 'jetty mate' FS Bretagne, folk learning about the role of the Coastal Forces Squadron courtesy of HMS Biter in Albert Deck, long queues to see a vintage Junglie Sea King at the 'military village' in front of the iconic Liver Building, walkabouts from the First and Second Sea Lords to thank personnel for their efforts, music, flypasts from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the wonderful Swordfish, veteran of the Atlantic campaign.

18 Photos at - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=65 ... 4776624930

[Pelican]

Malaysia detains Chinese ship suspected of looting British WW2 wrecks

See - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65750908 - LFT

[Pelican]

Malaysia's maritime agency said Tuesday a Chinese barge likely plundered two World War II British shipwrecks in the South China Sea after discovering 100 more old artillery shells on the detained vessel.

Malaysian media reported that illegal salvage operators are believed to have targeted the HMS Repulse and the HMS Prince of Wales, which were sunk in 1941 by Japanese torpedoes days after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

A total of 842 sailors perished, and the shipwrecks off the coast of Malaysia's central Pahang state are designated war graves. Fishermen and divers alerted authorities after spotting a foreign vessel near the area last month.

Continues at - https://abcnews.go.com/International/wi ... d-99694073 - LFT