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- Devonshire's Last Commission 1976 - 78
Devonshire's Last Commission 1976 - 78
- By Robby G
- Published 05/18/2008
- HMS Devonshire
-
Rating:
THE SUPPLY DEPARTMENT
'Chips is off. The machines broken. 'Chips is off. The fryer's broken. 'No omelettes - no eggs: sorry'. 'Then make the omelettes out of something else'. 'Want some more?' proffers the CPOCK. 'Ditch your own gash!' says another satisfied customer.
All were said at one time or another, but only once, because the galley went from strength to strength over the past two years under the eye of 'Robbie' and his merry bunch of chefs, who worked hard to achieve their well-deserved 'Good' Inspection assessments. All the entertainers appeared at one time or another - 'Jock' Keenan on his drums, Dave West with his boxing, 'Barney the Large' tag wrestling with 'M and the indefatigable 'Conny' who caused much mirth for a considerable period.
Not to be outdone the Stores Department produced a round of applause by sending off urgent demands for provision chain lifts only to discover one week later that they held 26 on board! Within a few weeks of this their Lordships in their wisdom announced that not only had Local Acting CPOSA Bradley been selected for CPOSA - having served on board since October 1974 something had to happen - but that they also considered POSA Thompson suitable along with POSA Chapman - a veritable gaggle of Chiefs! CPO Bradley also has the honour of being the longest serving member of the present ship's company.
The Caterers, nobly led by CPOSA Allgood and followed by CPOSA Cattermole, maintained a low profile and managed with the able assistance of Taff Lewis to fight off the persistent attacks of the shipwrights, whose main aim appeared to be to flood the Provision Rooms with Dieso, using the rather unpleasant tactic of leaving tomato sauce on the sides of the lift shaft and topping up the well with onions until everybody, but everybody, was driven back by the smell! Of course, sensible people, they regularly cleaned out the lift well and emptied the water in the bilges; but which Tanky ever remembered to switch on eductors? - Case, maybe, Bethell, no, Clare, never!
An attempt was made over the past year and a half to bludgeon the Ship's Office into submission by visiting it at the rate of one outside Inspection Team every one and a half months. However, they stood
their ground! Hugh Wolfensohn continued to play his fiddle, lrzndolin, stand on the Flight Deck or whatever whilst the office burned, and CPO Ricketts followed nobly in the footsteps of Commander (S) by blowing his cornet (not ice cream!) in the Band and occasionally pushing his in-tray on to that poor over-burdened staff of L~ Alexander, a leading stamp collector and the ship's Librarian, L~ Knowles, who never gave up trying, WTR Mulkerrin who hopes to join the Social Services on his leaving the Navy soon and WTR Barclay, Herbert Lott winner extraordinaire for services rendered and an able stamp collector.
The Wardroom staff appeared to exist to cause officers the minimum amount of convenience for the maximum amount of time - who else but STD Derwin would close the heads during stand-easy, polish cabin flat decks in the middle of working hours (STD Smith) or fill the senior officers' bath with ice two hours before a Mess Dinner (STD Couch)? However, without their assistance life for the officers would have been miserable - who would prepare the 4,000 small eats required at a Cocktail Party, the roast suckling pig for an informal party and the Chief Steward's mandatory morning cup of coffee?
That then has been the tail of the Supply Department. But what of the head? What indeed, you may say! Paul 'the fuzz' Barton has remained single-minded (there is no truth in the rumour) in his efforts and has been a sort of 'Farther' figure to us all, and Commander John Lane KCMG (Kindly Call Me God) has skipped a lot before finally becoming the Senior Officer Disposal, SOD, and stopping the slide – of his trombone of course!
The Department has always aimed to please: in providing the service they have for the ship they have done us all proud.
CHINA TOWN
The 'Shao Brothers' unofficial Chinese contractors have provided a first class, efficient tailoring and laundry service in HMS Devonshire since commissioning. Despite occasional electrical and mechanical defects which have caused not only the main washing machine to be out of action for several periods but also severe water rationing, the Laundry crew have maintained a good service throughout by their hard work.
The present 'firm' on board is Mr Shao Chin Ming, the Contractor and Tailor, Mr Poon Sai Leng, Tailor, Mr Shao Wai Kwong, the No 1 Laundryman, Mr Wong Ho, Mr Hui Lin and Mr Cheng Shing Kan, the laundrymen.
'Chips is off. The machines broken. 'Chips is off. The fryer's broken. 'No omelettes - no eggs: sorry'. 'Then make the omelettes out of something else'. 'Want some more?' proffers the CPOCK. 'Ditch your own gash!' says another satisfied customer.
All were said at one time or another, but only once, because the galley went from strength to strength over the past two years under the eye of 'Robbie' and his merry bunch of chefs, who worked hard to achieve their well-deserved 'Good' Inspection assessments. All the entertainers appeared at one time or another - 'Jock' Keenan on his drums, Dave West with his boxing, 'Barney the Large' tag wrestling with 'M and the indefatigable 'Conny' who caused much mirth for a considerable period.
Not to be outdone the Stores Department produced a round of applause by sending off urgent demands for provision chain lifts only to discover one week later that they held 26 on board! Within a few weeks of this their Lordships in their wisdom announced that not only had Local Acting CPOSA Bradley been selected for CPOSA - having served on board since October 1974 something had to happen - but that they also considered POSA Thompson suitable along with POSA Chapman - a veritable gaggle of Chiefs! CPO Bradley also has the honour of being the longest serving member of the present ship's company.
The Caterers, nobly led by CPOSA Allgood and followed by CPOSA Cattermole, maintained a low profile and managed with the able assistance of Taff Lewis to fight off the persistent attacks of the shipwrights, whose main aim appeared to be to flood the Provision Rooms with Dieso, using the rather unpleasant tactic of leaving tomato sauce on the sides of the lift shaft and topping up the well with onions until everybody, but everybody, was driven back by the smell! Of course, sensible people, they regularly cleaned out the lift well and emptied the water in the bilges; but which Tanky ever remembered to switch on eductors? - Case, maybe, Bethell, no, Clare, never!
An attempt was made over the past year and a half to bludgeon the Ship's Office into submission by visiting it at the rate of one outside Inspection Team every one and a half months. However, they stood
The Wardroom staff appeared to exist to cause officers the minimum amount of convenience for the maximum amount of time - who else but STD Derwin would close the heads during stand-easy, polish cabin flat decks in the middle of working hours (STD Smith) or fill the senior officers' bath with ice two hours before a Mess Dinner (STD Couch)? However, without their assistance life for the officers would have been miserable - who would prepare the 4,000 small eats required at a Cocktail Party, the roast suckling pig for an informal party and the Chief Steward's mandatory morning cup of coffee?
That then has been the tail of the Supply Department. But what of the head? What indeed, you may say! Paul 'the fuzz' Barton has remained single-minded (there is no truth in the rumour) in his efforts and has been a sort of 'Farther' figure to us all, and Commander John Lane KCMG (Kindly Call Me God) has skipped a lot before finally becoming the Senior Officer Disposal, SOD, and stopping the slide – of his trombone of course!
The Department has always aimed to please: in providing the service they have for the ship they have done us all proud.
CHINA TOWN
The 'Shao Brothers' unofficial Chinese contractors have provided a first class, efficient tailoring and laundry service in HMS Devonshire since commissioning. Despite occasional electrical and mechanical defects which have caused not only the main washing machine to be out of action for several periods but also severe water rationing, the Laundry crew have maintained a good service throughout by their hard work.
The present 'firm' on board is Mr Shao Chin Ming, the Contractor and Tailor, Mr Poon Sai Leng, Tailor, Mr Shao Wai Kwong, the No 1 Laundryman, Mr Wong Ho, Mr Hui Lin and Mr Cheng Shing Kan, the laundrymen.
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2 Responses to "Devonshire's Last Commission 1976 - 78" 
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said this on 25 May 2008 6:30:37 PM UTC
Serving as a cook and Leading cook on the Dev`s 3 galleys from 1973 to October 1976 Iwould point out that the gallies the chefs and the service was second to none. This high standard was achieved not only post `76 but prior to that date also. The names mentioned in the above pen picture are only representitive of the post 1976 crew, and although Dave West and Conny may well have stood out as characters on tha particular commission, there were so many colorful characters, in the neglected 1973-76 period of the Dev`s history it would take me a dog watch or two to describe them. Please remember the Dev did have a history between the aforementioned dates, and the crew of that time were as good if not better than any other.
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Author/Admin)|
said this on 13 Sep 2008 10:47:12 PM UTC
George, you 'ol fart. Yes I agree with you entirely , there were many others who deserve a mention. That is what this site is all about, to get a few memories/dits from ex Dev's.
The 1976-78 spill was taken from the end of commission book, and it was not I who chose to select those mentioned. You say that it would take you a dog watch to mention the others, well put pen to paper and I will publish. I note that you chose a Dog Watch to descibe your memories. Is that it? I would have thought at least a couple of the longer watches, maybe a forenoon & afternoon watch. I won't mention a middle watch as that wasn't in the Chefs Handbook! So come on George, put your pen where yer mouth is!!!! Maybe whilst your supping a few pints in the "Middlecroft"! |