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Discovery of the wreck of HMS EXETER/ENCOUNTER

The MOD have been informed that a group of recreational divers have reported finding the wreck of HMS EXETER in Indonesian territorial waters in the Java Sea. The location of one of her destroyer escorts, HMS ENCOUNTER, has also been discovered.  The expedition appears to have initially discovered the wreck in Feb 07 but was only recently able to confirm its identity after revisiting the site and obtaining high definition images.

The cruiser HMS EXETER, part of a squadron of American, British, Dutch and Australian warships was sunk on 1st March 1942 following an encounter with a numerically superior Japanese fleet in the Java Sea. 54 officers and men perished in the sinking; some 650 officers and men were made prisoners of war by the Japanese. Of these, 152 subsequently died in captivity.

The destroyer HMS ENCOUNTER, together with the USS POPE, did their best to protect EXETER in the one-sided battle against the Japanese force. Eventually the stricken ENCOUNTER, stopped and with 3 out of 4 guns inoperable, was ordered to be scuttled by her captain. 8 of her crew perished in the action and 149 were made prisoner; of these, 38 were to die as POWs. (The USS POPE, having survived the sinking of the British ships and fought gallantly, expending all of her torpedoes and much of her ammunition, was subsequently attacked and sunk by Japanese dive bombers.  We understand that the wreck of the POPE has not yet been found.

The dive group have issued a press release in Australia regarding the discovery and the story may appear in the regional/national media this weekend (3-4 May) in the UK.    The MOD were keen to ensure that the RNA and veterans association were aware of this discovery at the earliest opportunity.  Noting that the war graves lie within Indonesian Territorial waters, the MOD is working with the Indonesian authorities regarding protection of the sites and to allow an opportunity for an appropriate commemoration service in due course.

The contact details of the civilian dive team is : altdive@ozemail.co.uk.

Of note, during one of the dives , an ensign from the current HMS EXETER was temporarily flown on the war grave of the previous EXETER.

Quote from Cdr Paul Brown, Commanding Officer of the present-day HMS EXETER, said:

"This is very much a reminder of the sacrifices made by our
predecessors in these gallant ships. And although this battle took
place 68 years ago, we should also remember that this news will undoubtedly have an effect on survivors and the families of the ships' companies involved."  

 Paul Porter

P Porter
Cdr RN
DNEWS NAVY SO1
9621 83258
Mobile: 07876130945
paul.porter489@mod.uk

Amended Arrangments for the Royal Naval Association
National Standard Bearers Competition 2008

Due to circumstances outside our control arrangements for The National Standard Bearers Competition for 2008 have had to be changed.  The competition will now take place on Saturday 7th June 2008 in The Royal Engineers Gymnasium, Chatham commencing at 1000. More...

The Carrier Debate – An input from the Royal Naval Association National President

An Open Letter to Simon Jenkins putting the record straight on Carriers
Dear Mr Jenkins,
In the Sunday Times of 24 February you made some surprising and inaccurate assertions. Firstly that in 1997 Labour inherited from the Tories projects for new aircraft carriers, their frigate escorts and a replacement for Trident and made them sacred cows in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review....More.......

DON’T MISS OUT ON GOVERNMENT CASH
ADVICE FROM THE NATIONAL WELFARE ADVISER – S/M RITA LOCK

Too many pensioners are missing out on money which is rightfully theirs so we urge all  members or their family members who may be over 60 to check their entitlements.....More.....

Deputy General Secretary – The Royal Naval Association

The Royal Naval Association (a long established Membership Association founded by Royal Charter and with Registered Charity Status) is looking for a Deputy to its General Secretary (Chief Executive) to start by early summer 2008 and both to set up a new Headquarters...More....

Battle of the Atlantic Weekend 2008- Londonderry

The Londonderry Branch of The Royal Naval Association is hosting A Battle of the Atlantic Weekend in Londonderry on 3rd and 4th May 2008 and would welcome participation by other RNA Branches.  The planned programme is:

SATURDAY 3rd MAY

1300 Depart Queens Quay in Toucan One for Wreath Casting Ceremony on Lough Foyle.
1700 (approx) Return to Queens Quay.
1930 Assemble at White Horse Hotel, Campsie.
Battle of the Atlantic Dinner at 2000.

SUNDAY 4th MAY

1030    Parade musters The Services Club, Spencer Road, Londonderry
1045    Parade marches off.
1100    Parade arrives All Saints’ Church, Clooney (All to be seated by 1115).
1230    March off to Services Club, Salute will be taken en route.
1315    (Approx) Light refreshments will be served.

THE ABOVE PROGRAMME IS SUBJECT TO ALTERATION SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE CHANGE.

Should any Shipmate wish to join us they should contact the Honorary Secretary of the Londonderry Branch:

 S/M F J Brown 4 Myrtlefield Road, Kilfennan, Londonderry BT47 5PG Tel:  02871-291795

The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust – Pembroke House
A High Quality Care and Nursing Home

Pembroke House is a care home situated in Gillingham, Kent and is run by the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (RNBT).  The home caters for residential and nursing care needs of those who have served as ratings in the Royal Navy or as other ranks in the Royal Marines and their spouses...More......

Mast for Sale – Lichfield Branch

Regrettably The Lichfield Branch Club closed at the end of March 2008.  About two
years ago the Club purchased a fibre glass mast 6 metres long with a 1.2 metre yard.
This mast is hinged at the base with the lower section being concreted in and is fully rigged.
The mast originally cost £700-00 however the Club Committee will take any reasonable offer.
Any Branch interested should contact the Honorary Secretary of Lichfield Club, S/M Mike Cockayne at 30 Scotch Orchard, Lichfield WS13 6DE

Portman Building Society – Merger with the Nationwide – Cautionary Tale

The Portman Building Society, which had a number of RNA Branches as customers,   merged with the Nationwide Building Society in 2007 and declared bonus payments to existing customers. ..More..

e-mail addresses

RNA HQ Staff are attempting to build a library of e-mail addresses within the Association.  It would be extremely helpful if those Branch Secretaries able to communicate by e-mail would forward a short e-message to HQ on paddy@royalnavalassoc.com so that registration can begin.

Gift Aid

Following the change from covenanting to Gift Aid, we have somehow lost momentum.more......

A Proposed RNA Trip to New Zealand - February/March 2009

11.       Attached to this Circular at Annex C are details of the proposed RNA tour to New Zealand in March next year.  The minimum group number is 30 and while the current maximum is 45, if there is enough interest shown then it may be possible to organise a second tour.More....

Parcels for the Troops

The Royal Mail funded pre-Christmas free mail service to Operation Telic, Operation Herrick and HM Ships in support, which ran from 3rd Sep 07 to 9th Nov 07 has been authorised to continue from 08th Dec 07 until further notice. See Here

Parcels can be sent FREE through the Post Office as long as the parcel is marked for "Soldier/Royal Marine in Iraq/Afghanistan"

The weight must NOT go over 2 kilos, not even by a smidgen!

As a guidleine an acceptable "maximum" cost of about £10 for the contents of the parcel is the suggested figure.You could fill a shoe box with suitable goodies for less than £10.

Contents as requested by those serving out there are as follows;
Please note do not send anything with chocolate in it.
Cake, long life such as fruit cake, gingerbread or malt loaf. Salsa dips, condensed milk, cream cheese, fish paste, chutneys, chorizo sausage. Dried fruit and nuts, mint imperials, chewing gum, jelly babies, and any kind of sauces in a tube or vacuum pack (to spice up or sweeten their food).
Lip salve unperfumed talc(Johnsons) moisturisers and cotton socks.
Magazines such as Nuts/ FMH/ Zoo and any xword or sudoku books with pencils and erasers so they can pass them on.
Any sachets of powdered/fizzy flavours because they need to drink a lot of water.
Finally it is highly reccomended that they like the pick & mix type of sweets.

No personal names available just address to a Royal Marine or NAS ,HQ Task Force Helmand, Lashkar Gah. BFPO 715.
Other parcels to
A British Soldier c/o JI Branch, HQ MND (SE) Op Telic BFPO641-or A British Soldier at the above Helmund address.

Latest
You might want to use this address to get straight to 40 COMMANDO ROYAL MARINES,

The Rev S Hallam,
40 Cdo RM,
Camp Bastion,
Op HERRICK 7,
Afghanistan,
BFPO 792

Coastal Forces Films

Geoff Marriott the Producer at Zagreus Films informed the RNA that they have completed 3 films about Coastal Forces. These can be view through the following link or look at Lastest
Releases at zagreusfilms.com
http://www.zagreusfilms.com/ZAGREUS_Latest_Releases.htm

HMS Gay Archer can also be seen on:
http://www.zagreusfilms.com/Friends%20of%20HMS%20Archer%20v2.htm