- Home
- HMS Devonshire
- HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
HMS Devonshire 1964- 66 Commission
- By Robby G
- Published 05/6/2008
- HMS Devonshire
- Unrated
The Far East Station
Singapore, August, 1965
Our arrival on the Far East Station coincided with the Declaration of Independence by Singapore—whether the two incidents were related we never really did find out. Anyway, we had been at the Naval Base barely a week before we were on the move again. Exercise Guard Rail in the South China Sea was our first task—and our part in that was so brief that we barely had time to get organised. Hong Kong was our destination
—in order to prepare for the forthcoming visit to Tokyo.
On the way from the exercise areas to Hong Kong the “Devonshire Sporting Cup” competition was held for the first time. This succeeded in bringing all manner of pale-skinned bodies up from the messes down below onto the upper deck and into sunshine. Spread over two days, it provided an enjoyable interlude for both competitors and spectators. The fearful sight of the C.P.O.’s Tug o’ War team demolishing all
opposition will long be remembered, while the W. & R. Department showed clearly why they always hold such a commanding position in the canteen queue by winning the sprint relay.
The evil mind of the P.T.I. was obviously behind the layout of the Obstacle race—a feature of which was “Posty” wielding a hose at the cross passage with fiendish delight. The eventual winners of the trophy, a beautifully designed piece of exquisite workmanship—made out of an ash tray, a Bluebell tin, a coffee tin and sundry pieces of strip metal— were the W. & R. Department.
Hong Kong
During this, our first spell at the Colony, the main occupations were those of reconnaissance—making sure that the China Fleet Club and The Ocean Bar were still there, of acquaintance with the Hong Kong Hilton, and of parade training—the guard and street liners entertained us on the jetty at 0700 every morning.
Our stay there was rudely interrupted by the first of several typhoons which were to affect us during the coming months. We were instructed to leave in view of the threat of Typhoon Rose and spent 24 hours in choppy seas circumnavigating the storm. We departed from Hong Kong, plus a Royal Marine Band and minus 80 pints of blood (or was it neat Tiger?). The Band entertained us daily in the main Dining Hall en route to Tokyo—and many accepted the invitation to conduct the musicians with amusing results. We also learnt from the Band Sergeant, by means of a television interview, the opportunities to be offered by being a door to door brush salesman!
Singapore, August, 1965
Our arrival on the Far East Station coincided with the Declaration of Independence by Singapore—whether the two incidents were related we never really did find out. Anyway, we had been at the Naval Base barely a week before we were on the move again. Exercise Guard Rail in the South China Sea was our first task—and our part in that was so brief that we barely had time to get organised. Hong Kong was our destination
—in order to prepare for the forthcoming visit to Tokyo.
On the way from the exercise areas to Hong Kong the “Devonshire Sporting Cup” competition was held for the first time. This succeeded in bringing all manner of pale-skinned bodies up from the messes down below onto the upper deck and into sunshine. Spread over two days, it provided an enjoyable interlude for both competitors and spectators. The fearful sight of the C.P.O.’s Tug o’ War team demolishing all
opposition will long be remembered, while the W. & R. Department showed clearly why they always hold such a commanding position in the canteen queue by winning the sprint relay.
The evil mind of the P.T.I. was obviously behind the layout of the Obstacle race—a feature of which was “Posty” wielding a hose at the cross passage with fiendish delight. The eventual winners of the trophy, a beautifully designed piece of exquisite workmanship—made out of an ash tray, a Bluebell tin, a coffee tin and sundry pieces of strip metal— were the W. & R. Department.
Hong Kong
During this, our first spell at the Colony, the main occupations were those of reconnaissance—making sure that the China Fleet Club and The Ocean Bar were still there, of acquaintance with the Hong Kong Hilton, and of parade training—the guard and street liners entertained us on the jetty at 0700 every morning.
Our stay there was rudely interrupted by the first of several typhoons which were to affect us during the coming months. We were instructed to leave in view of the threat of Typhoon Rose and spent 24 hours in choppy seas circumnavigating the storm. We departed from Hong Kong, plus a Royal Marine Band and minus 80 pints of blood (or was it neat Tiger?). The Band entertained us daily in the main Dining Hall en route to Tokyo—and many accepted the invitation to conduct the musicians with amusing results. We also learnt from the Band Sergeant, by means of a television interview, the opportunities to be offered by being a door to door brush salesman!