12th December 2006

Further to my earlier information.

I was called up for National Service on 20th February 1956. Having been mad keen on the RN (Anchor faced) I had been a sea scout, and sea cadet. In 1953 I visited HMS Theseus for the Coronation Fleet Review. Knowing that I would be liable for N/S I joined the London Division RNVR as a junior stoker.  (No L/D 11147)?  

 

My first sea training was to Holland and France aboard the Ton Class HMS Thames. (I was paid more by the RN than I was as a junior draughtsman at a Plastics factory in North London). On my return I sat the exam for stoker 1st class, to be told that I hadn't a clue, and I hadn't even been on a steam powered ship.  I was then given another 14 days sea training.  A week at MTRE school at the classrooms in Pompey and a week aboard HMS Flint Castle at Portland.  All this was in 1955.  

 

I was called up on 20/02/1956 (P/K 960990) at HMS Raleigh. Made class leader of our intake and then selected for SSM(E).  (Superheated stoker).  Next more training aboard the Battle Class, HMS Sluys at Guzz, then a draft to HMS Theseus, to Portland, where she was then part of the training squadron.  Still under training we did the Suez Landings in November, along with our sister HMS Ocean, then she went back to Malta to refuel.  I picked up a crash draft to the operational carrier  HMS Albion and spent a further three months in the Med.  On the way home I received a "dear John" and signed on for Nine.  (Like you do)!  I stayed aboard Albion for the next commission, taking her out to the Far East and the round the world trip. (Fresh water tanky with Bungy Williams, 24 about). 

 

On our return I did the killicks course at HMS Sultan, sat my Fleet Board for Stoker PO, (and passed first time), and got married.  I was drafted to HMS Scott. A ship that no one had heard of.  I joined her at Chatham. The Cox'n wasn't too impressed and said I was adrift.  I pointed out that I had used the last of my money on a "fast black" from the station, and that I had come down from London by train. He then pointed out that as I had passed for P.O. I was senior killick and thus killick of the stokers mess. In at the deep end!  New ship, white with a buff funnel, no guns, and a new messdeck of 24 blokes that I didn't know.

 

HMS Scott had a busy war, and an even busier peace.  Survey duties. Short of stoker PO's, I was doing watches down "A" boiler room. But great fun and what a way to learn. Nothing much worked, no robo-feed regulator, you adjusted the water level by the speed of the recip pump. The boilers were de-rated, three sprayers, and 250 psi. Just you and a stoker on watch.  A great bunch of blokes too. Len Neal, and Ray Glynn were two of the other killicks as I recall. The skipper was Lt Cdr Scott,  and he wanted his extra half ring. Sea Time -  If it was light we were at sea, sweeping for wrecks, anchoring overnight and off again at first light. We operated from Dover and blacked out the harbour flashing up on a Monday mornings  One N/S stoker was a member of the Sainsbury family, he flashed up on his own as the mail train was late. I spent a very happy year aboard her before I picked up my A/POM(E) rate. It was like being made Lord Mayor.  

 

Then a draft to fly out to Singapore to recommission HMS Bulwark.  (The Rusty "B") . Have you got your Boiler Ticket ?, said the Chief Stoker.  "Yes Chief". Good, then you've got the afternoon watch, 78,000 shp at your fingertips.  But you only think of the good times!

 

On Scott we spent three days on the Dogger Bank with an anchor down  and steaming ahead, keeping our nose into the weather.  One of the officers had hurt his back in a fall due to the weather. On another occasion it was foggy in the Channel when the Russian submarines cam through. We could hear their diesels long before we could see them. Everyone with a camera had their film developed for them. We even had a Russian speaking crew member monitoring the radio. But we were fitted with all the latest survey radar. Weekends were usually from 2pm on Saturday afternoon. We used to put our weekend revs on.  Fill up the boiler water level. Stop the feed pump and put the LP exhaust on the LP turbine for that extra burst. The 1st Lt used to watch the vibrating funnel spitting out soot and sparks and say "I  see the Engine Room have their weekend revs on again". When new she would do 17 knots, I think we managed 14 or so.

 

We used to pass paperbacks to trawlers in exchange for fresh fish too. Canteen messing. Yes, very happy days!
 

    Yours "Aye" John Lambert.