Royal Navy Memories - http://www.royalnavymemories.com
Re-commissioning Ceremony 1975
http://www.royalnavymemories.com/articles/16/1/Re-commissioning-Ceremony-1975/Page1.html
Robby G

 
By Robby G
Published on 05/11/2008
 
Informality was the keynote for the fourth Royal visitor to the city in a month. Princess Alexandra, at Portsmouth for the rededication of H.M.S Devonshire, conducted a “walk-about" in which she was for minutes on end hidden from the view of security men and obviously worried Service Chiefs.

The News (Portsmouth) Friday May 30th 1975

Informality was the keynote for the fourth Royal visitor to the city in a month. Princess Alexandra, at Portsmouth for the rededication of H.M.S Devonshire, conducted a “walk-about in which she was for minutes on end hidden from the view of security men and obviously worried Service Chiefs.
Unflurried throughout her three hour official engagement, the princess mixed freely and at times chatted animatedly with service personnel, their families and friends after the official ceremony at the newly completed North Wharf.

In bright sunshine, Princess Alexandra, in a green check outfit and matching hat, toured the Guided Missile Destroyer which she had launched in 1960: cut the official rededication cake and finally met the ships company and their families who had turned out in force to watch the ceremony.


It was during her talks with the ships company and their families on the jetty that the Princess was besieged by youngsters which at times took her out of sight of her escorts.

Aboard Devonshire she took a keen interest in all that she was shown, from the armaments on the upper deck to the crew quarters.

Among those proudest to meet the Royal visitor was two year old Joanne Aggar, who was christened aboard in December 1973.

Joanne’s name is one of several that is inscribed on the underslip of the ships bell used in the christening ceremony. With her to meet the Princess was her proud parents Leading Seaman Arthur Aggar, of Eastney, and his wife Ann.

Said Leading Seaman Aggar, who has served aboard Devonshire for the past 18 months, “the Princess showed a great interest in the family. She asked how long I had served with the ship, which of the two children had been christened onboard, where we lived now and the childrens ages”.


Earlier the Princess, while inspecting the guard of honour, had chatted to the ships Gunnery Officer, Lt Ian Gulliver, on a two year attachment from the Royal Australian Navy, and is living at Hambledon, who was selected as the Royal Guard Commander.

She had a special word too for six year old Tracy Burgess, only daughter of RPO Douglas Burgess, who presented the Princess with a bouquet.

The present Devonshire is the eighth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name and was Britains first operational Guided Missile Destroyer.

Launched by Princess Alexandra in June 1960, she has, in previous commissions, visited the West Indies and the Far East. She is due to sail East of Suez next year, after extensive trials following the refit.

The Commissioning Ceremony
ORDER OF CEREMONY
1100 Ships Company fall in.

1115 Visitors seated.

1120 VIP’s arrive.

1130 HRH Princess Alexandra arrives with Flag Officer Portsmouth, Rear Admiral
S. L. McArdle, MVO, GM.

1135 Inspection of Guard and Band
Review of Divisions
Rededication Ceremony
Captains address to Ships Company and families.

1205 HRH to Admirals cabin to meet VIP’s.

1220 Tour of the Upper Deck.

1235 NRH cuts the cake and meets Ship’s Company and families on the jetty.

1305 HRH has Lunch onboard with Captain Stuart.

1415 (approx) HRH departs.

The Service will be conducted by
The Reverend J. A. Davies. BA, RN (Church of England).
The Reverend P. Brown, RN (Church of Scotland).
The Reverend Father T. K. Hudson, RN (Roman Catholic Church).

There being no Commisioning Warrant to be read the Service begins at the Act of
Dedication.

Order of Service
The Captain will read the Commissioning Warrant
The Ensign will be hoisted and the Masthead Pendant broken

THE ACT OF DEDICATION

The Captain shall address the Ship’s Company in these words:

Seeing that in the course of our duty we are set in the midst of many and great dangers and that we cannot be faithful to the high trust placed in us without the help of Almighty God, let us unite our prayers in seeking his blessing upon this ship and all who serve in her.
The Captain shall call on the Ship’s Company to ask for God’s Blessing on the ship, using this ancient call:

FROM THE GAELIC BLESSING, 1589

The Captain: I call upon you to pray for God’s blessing on this ship. May God the Father bless her.

Ship’s Company: Bless our ship.

The Captain: May Jesus Christ bless her.

Ship’s Company: Bless our ship.

The Captain: May the Holy Spirit bless her.

Ship’s Company: Bless our ship.

Then this hymn may be sung:

He who would valiant be
‘Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound—
His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
Though he with giants fight:
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, thou dost defend
Us with thy sprit
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away!
I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.

THE READING OF THE GOSPEL

The Gospel and the prayer following shall be read by the Roman Catholic Chaplain:

The Pharisees sent their disciples to Jesus, together with the Herodians, to say, ‘Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in an honest way, and that you are not afraid of anyone; tell us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, ‘You hypocrites! Why do you set this trap for me? Let me see the money you pay the tax with.’ They handed him a denarius, and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’‘Caesar’s’ they replied. He then said to them, ‘Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar—and to God what belongs to God’.

Let us pray:

Lord, make us instruments of thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

THE PRAYERS

to be said by the Chaplain, Church of Scotland and free Churches:

Let us give thanks to God for all who have inspired us by their example and pray that we may uphold the best traditions of the Royal Navy.
Almighty and everlasting God, the creator and upholder of men, who hast in every age inspired thy servants with courage and skill, we give thee thanks for the example of those who have gone before us; for the seamen of our nation; for all who in great or small ships have braved the perils of the deep; for all who have given their lives for their country. For ourselves, grant, 0 Lord, that we may ever be conscious of thy ruling hand. May we be found watchful at our posts. Make us ever mindful of the needs of others, sharing our joys and bearing their burdens in the work which thou hast given us to do; and keep us always in thy love and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen,

Let us pray for our homes

O God, who sent thy Son, Jesus Christ, to live in an earthly home for our sakes, we pray thee to bless our homes, and all who are in them; grant that we may always remain faithful to them, and they to us, and help us to remember that though time and distance part us, we are all one in thee for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us pray for perseverance.

O Lord God, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavour any great matter, grant us also to know that is not the beginning but the continuing of the same until it be thoroughly finished which yieldeth the true glory; through him, who for the finishing of thy work, laid down his life: our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.


This hymn or some part of it may be sung:

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.


O ruler of the earth and sky
Be with our airmen when they fly:
And keep them in thy loving care
From all the perils of the air.
O let our cry come up to thee
For those who fly o’er land and sea.


O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso’er they go:
And ever let there rise to thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.


THE BLESSING OF THE SHIP

The Chaplain: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
The Ship’s Company: Who hath made heaven and earth.
The Chaplain: Let us pray.
O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, LET THY BLESSING BE UPON THIS SHIP,
MAY GOOD SUCCESS AND THY PROTECTION AND THE GUARDIANSHIP
OF THE HOLY ANGELS ALWAYS BE WITH THEM, IN THE NAME OF THE
FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

UPON ALL THOSE WHO SERVE AND SAIL IN HER:
THY PROTECTION AND THE GUARDIANSHIP
ALWAYS BE WITH THEM, IN THE NAME OF THE
GHOST. AMEN.

All shall say together the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Led by the Chaplain, the following prayer shall be said by the whole Ship’s Company:

THE NAVAL PRAYER

O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with bounds until day and night come to an end; be pleased to receive into thy Almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us thy servants, and the fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea and of the air, and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen ELIZABETH and her Dominions; and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Jsland and Commonwealth may in peace and quietness serve thee our God: and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land, with the fruits of our labours, and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and glorify thy Holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render
no man evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all men; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit, be with you all evermore. Amen.

The Officers
Captain S. A. Stuart

Commander R. Kirkby
Commander N. E. Warnecke
Commander J. J. R. Tod
Commander J.D Peakall
Lt. Cdr. G.R Spooner
Lt Cdr. F. Parkinson
Lt Cdr. D.J Alexander
Lt Cdr B. Rayner
Lt Cdr. A. A. Teape
Surg.Lt. A. A. P. Edwards
Lt. I..R. Gulliver
Surg.Lt. W. M. Luke
Lt. A.Munns
Lt. D.E. Thomas
Lt. P.W. Winsdley
Lt. C. J. Collins
Lt D.. A. K. Freeman
Lt H.. M. Howe
Lt. K. Miller
Lt R. H. C. Renton
Lt N. T. Usher
Lt. G. W. Burns
Lt. G. M. Fairhurst
Lt. N. H. Hayes
Lt. S. J. McL.ellen
Lt. R. W. H. Payne
Inst. Lt. D. W. B. Thomas
S/Lt J. C. Caldwell
S/ Lt. I. S. Jackson
S/Lt. D. Kerr
S/Lt B. G. Chaplin
S/Lt. M. A. Purvis
S/Lt B. A. Thomson
S/Lt M. Howard
S/Lt B. C. Samuel
S/Lt.W. D. Wellstead
Mid. P. A. Barton
Mid. K. C. Bayly-Jones
Mid. R. Callum
Mid. P. W. Nixon
Mid. J. C. Wheeler



Senior Rates
FCMEA(P) Cocks
FCMEM O'Donnell
CRS(W) Abell
POMEM Alexander
CEA Apps
CPOCK Argyle
MECH1 Arnold
MEAQ1)l Attrill
CP0SA Berrigan
CMEA(P) Blake
CMEA(H) Bottomley
Ci~E Buckles
CP0 Burns
CPO STWD Cassar
CEMNI Clarke
CRS Cockett
CEA1 Coleman
PO Cunningham.
CCEA Downs
POCEL Farley
CPO Geehan
MEA(H) Goldic
MECH1 Grist
REMN1 Harrison
REMN1 Hatrick
OEA1 Hirst
CPOWFR Hookes
MEA(P) Hooper
CMEA(P) Irwin
CCY Jackson
CEMN1 Keay
COEMN Kermard
CEA1 Krumins
CREMN Lawson
MEA(P) Manton
MECH1 Monkman
MECHI Mundell
CMEM Nesbitt
MEA(P) Noble
MEA(P) O'Rourke
MAA Page
CPOCK Redmill
COEA Smith
MEA(P) Smith K. F,
OEMN Spilsbury
CHOEL Stead
OEMN Swatridge
MEA(H) Thomas
CEA Titheridge
CPOSA Treverton
OEMN Twiggs
CMECH Weatherley
MEA(P) Vines
REMN1 Webster



MEA(P)2 Adshead
POCEL Allwood
PO Aloy
POREL Andrew
MEA(P)2 Bamford
POSA Bradley
RPO Burgess
CEMN2 Caddick
RS(W) Cobb
NAAFI Debattista
POMEM Dixon K. E.
POMEM Dixon R. E.
POOEL Dunn
REMN Edbrook
CEA2 Freemantle
POPT1 Gilbert
POMEM Gill
OEA2 Gold
POMEM Golding
PO(R) Green
POREL Grigor
POSA Hammond
POREL Hawkins
MEA2 Heydon
PO(M) Helliwell
PO(S) Hood
PO(R) Jones E. W.
POCK Jones K.
RS Jones L. A.
REA2 Jones M.
POOEL McDowell
POMEM More
REA2 Moxham
MECH2 Nesson
CE.A2 Nuthall
A/PO(R) Obrian
POSA Owens
POGI Parker
POCK Pett
POCEL Pickup
RMECH2 Rees
POOEL Richards
POREt Roebuck
MEA(P)2 Seddon
POREL Simons
POMEM. Simpson
POREM Slight
PO(M) Slatter
POSTD viter
POGI Sugden
POMA Taylor
POSTD Tornlin
PO Vowles
A/POOEL Wiggall
REA2 Williamson
MEA(H) Young
POCK Zammit

Junior Rates
JUNIOR RATES
S(R) Acton LS(M) Aggar REM Allatt
LRO(T) Allen SA Allsop AB(S) Andrews
REM1 Anderson MEM Armstrong-Hill REMI Arscott
S(R) Askew S(R) Attwood ROI(G) Bartram
MEM Bell OEM Bennett 1. S. MEMl Bennett N.
GEM1 Birmingham RO 1 (G) Blogg REM Blain
CEMI Bolton D. AB Bolton SA Bowler
STWD Brailsford OS Bridger LMEM Brown A. H.
LS Brown D. T. LS Bruck MEA3 Bryce
AB(M) Burgess JMEM Burns CK Camaler
MEM2 Campbell CEM2 Caplin OEM1 Carling
OEM Carson S(S) Chantler REM Chappell
CK ChishoIm MEMI Church OEMI Clark A. A.
MEMI Cark P. S(R) Clark OEM Clutterbuck
AB(M) Collier R. E. AB(M) Collier L. D. CK Cormashan
R02(G) Cooper OEM Corney S(S) Corrigan
S(R) Cox LSA Cross LMEM Crossley
MEM2 Cumins OEM Cundy LS Curtis
AB(M) Daley S(EW) Davidge REM Dawson
MEMI Day S. MEMI Day T. F. LCEM Down
OEM2 Downing A/LOEM Doyle LRO(G) Drewett
AB Dunsan REMI Eaves OEM Edwards
LMEM Elder CEMI Elderidge CEM2 Ellis E. C.
LSA Ellis N. LSA Fenn STWD Fitzpatrick
ROI(G) Ford AB Forward L / CK Frappell
LS(EW) Frond R02(W) Gallagher LCEM Gardiner
AR Gauntlett AB Geddes REM Gerrard
AB Gibbons CK Gibbons P. L. MEM Gill
LRO(T) Goodbody CK Goodwin STWD Grant
L/ CK Gray R02(G) Gregory AB Griffin
CEMI Griffiths WTR Groves JS Gunning
OEM1 Hardwell LS Hancock LMA Harley
LRO(G) Harries R0l(T) Harrison AP(M) Harrington
LRO(T) Hart REM Hartley 6MA(D) Harley
MEM 1 Hayle A/LREM Haynes AB(M) Hearne
AB Hebdon CK Hemmings S(EW) Holden
REM Hollinshead R02(G) Holmes OEM2 Home
S(R) Hotchkiss MEA3 Hough AB Howell
REMI Hudson G. J. LS Hudson L. MEM Humphrey
MEM Hunt LRO(G) Huntingford LOEM Hunter
LS Hurrell ROI(G) lacovou CEM1 James
AB Jeffery MEM Jeningson STWD Jobson
LS Jones A. R. AB Jones S. C. S(M) Jones T. M.
OEMI Julings AB Kearsey LMEM Kelly
AR Kerridge T.REG Kerr REM1 Kiernan
MEMI Kilbride MEM2 Kinnaird AB Knight
S(M) Knox L CK Ladds LS Lane
OEM Lawrence S(EW) 1 Cesing MEM Lennon
AB Lines AB Liversedge S(M) Lloyd
R02(T) Lodge D. C. AB Lodge V. MEM1 Lomas
R EM 1 Lovell MEA/A Towe S(S) Machin
OEM Machin OEM Mahon T.REM Marsh
AB Marshall AR Mathewman S(S) Mcbride
LMEM McColgan AR McCarthy J. W MEMI McCarthy K. J.
LS McDonald AR MeTvPr S(M) Melean
L/AIR Mee ROI(G) Melows MEM1 Mevyers
REMI Miller AB Mitchell G. F.
ROI(G) Mitchell D. F. OEM Mitchell MEM Ifitchell R. L.
AB Mounser LMEM Moss LMEM Worgan
LREM Mulholland LS Murr S(R) Murray
AS Neeve JS Neal AB New
CEM Newman K. E. LSTWD Newman R. A. STWD Nicolle,
S(EW) Norman MEA3 Norris R02(G) Norton
LS D O'Neill AB Onions LRO(T) Palmer
LS Parfitt MEM Parsons OEM Paton
LCK Payne OEM Petty REM Phillips
A B Phipps S(EW) Pickthome OEM Pilgrim
SWD Pitts LOEM Pollard S(R) Posnett
AB(M) Potter S(R) Povey AB Prickett
JS Prior MEM1 Ranshan REM Reed
AB Reid AB Richards AB(M) Richardson D,
AB Richardson LSTWD Ritson MEM1 Roach
AB Roberts LRO(W) Robinson SA Rogers
REM Rose CEM1 Rowe REM1 Ruddock
S(S) Rushton LOEM Rylands MEM1 Sanders
A/ LSEA Savage JMEM Scotney MEM2 Jepson
AB Shadlock MEM Sharp OS Shaw
CK Skilling AB Snoxell RO1(T) Soper
REM Southern A. E. AB Southern LMEM Spall
OS Sparks LOEM Spence OEM Stanworth
R01(G) Stevenitt AB Stewart OEM1 Stevens
S(S) Stirling OS Stonehouse LMEME Stott
STWD Sturman AB(M) Summers S(S) Sutch
STW1) Tait R02(G) Tatlock OEM Terzza
MEM2 Thomas A /LCK Thompson R02(T) Thompson A. R.
LMA Thomps~on A. J. JMEM Joycey CK Travis
AB Tryner S(EW) Turner C.EM. Twitchin
STWD Tyreman CK Veazey CK Vickers
AB Vincent MEM2 Waites S(M) Wakefield
MEM Wale LSEA Walker REM Wallis
MEM Walters AI/LCEM Ward NAFFI Wareham
STWD Wassall OEM West A. M. CK West
LSEA Watmough MEM1 Watts CEM Wheatley
LOEM Wheeler LRO(G) White B, A. ROI(G) White 0.
OEM Whitehouse AB Wilkes STWD Williams
STWD Williamson MEM Wilkinson S. J. MEM Wilkinson P.
RO1(T) Willis AB Winn REM2 Witty
MEM1 Wood A. J. LREM Wood J. J. S(R) Woodley
LCK Wright R02(G) Yendle