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Article 1
Kens story - 20 Feb
2006
Ken has been good enough to send us photo of HMS Newfoundland, Sparrow and Cockade – along with crest of Cockade.
He is located at Titahi Bay, near Wellington, New Zealand.
We asked Ken if he had connections with these ships and this was his response:-
“My connection with these ships is that I served on Newfoundland, joining
at Sydney (1946)and was onboard for about twelve months and then I think
it was in Yokohama that a number of us transferred to Cockade (1946
Late). Newfoundland went up the Yanksee and was temporally aground, the
fun one has at sea!! If I remember correctly Cockade after patrols from
Japan to Korea was sent to join Theseus, carrier as 'chaser' when we
went to Australia, Glory and Contest were there too. We transferred to
Glory (1947) at Brisbane for our time was up and we returned to UK.
Then later in 1952 I joined Sparrow for the full commission in Far East returning
to UK 1955. During this time we were in the Korean war and left as soon
as it finished and went to South Africa for about 12-14 months”. |
Ken has been a member of the Cockade Association for some time and managed to get over
from NZ when a meeting was held at HMS Drake, Guzz in 1994. He also belongs to Returned Services Association in Titahi Bay –equivalent to the British Legion.
He completed his service as a Seaman PO in 1957, served as boy OD aboard on Newfoundland and transferred to Cockade.
While serving on Theseus, the ship was called on to ‘fish’ a pilot out of the drink after he crashed.
(Go to Theseus ).
We are interested in hearing from anyone who also has connections with any of these ships and if more history can be sent. We are particularly interested in any history of HMS Sparrow which seems to have started life as Sloop and then was upgraded to a Black Swan class frigate.
Also, if anyone recognizes themselves (or a relative) in the photo, please contact us immediately.
Again, many thanks to Ken and his wife Doreen.
Ken
and Mates HMS Cockade
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Article 2
Haydns story - 24 Feb
2006
Following on from article 1,
we were recommended by Ken to get in touch with Haydn to see if we could
glean more information. Ken has contributed both a picture and crest of HMS
Cockade and Haydn fills in the details of her story:
Hello,
Thanks for your email. I give below as much as I gleaned of HMS Cockade
during her 2 year, 1st commission in the Far East from 1944 to 1947. I was on her from start to finish. One thing I cannot remember is the name of the makers.
HMS Cockade was built at Glasgow and was commissioned in September 1944. After working up trials around the Isle of Arran, a short stay in Portland and a visit to her adopted town, Brighton, she sailed for the Far East on 27th November 1945. Calls were made at Gibraltar, Malta, Aden,
Trincomalee, Singapore and finally Hong Kong, her base for the remainder of the commission.
Before she returned home, the Cockade visited Japan several times
(Yokahama, Kure, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Sasebo), Subic Bay (Philipines), Australia (Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane) and finally New Zealand.
In August 1964 she was towed into the breaker's yard of John Cashmore on the River Usk at Newport, South Wales. just a few hundred yards from where I worked. A very understanding boss gave me time off to take a last look at her. It was a very heart-wrenching moment indeed when I stood on the jetty looking at this rusting hulk which had once been my home for two years!
Regards,
Haydn Davis
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Extreme thanks for this
Haydn.
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