HMS Albion R-07
Message Board
Messages 1 to 24


24.
Apr. 27, 2018

My grandfather served on the 'HMS Albion' and 'HMS Eagle'. Late 1940s-1950s. His name is Frederick George Wright. He was a helicopter engineer (don't know the official title of rank  sorry). He has reached his 90th year and I'm trying to find his ship mates or even some photos of the crew with my grandad in them as I know he has fond memories of his time serving on these ships he went all over the world with Albion and it's crew. Forgot to mention he was a boxer for the navy and won the golden gloves title. Any help would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Melony Morgans


23.
Dec. 29, 2017

I'm wondering if anyone has any information or records of Allan "Wilbur" Wright, a pilot who died off the Albion on Tuesday 23 November 1954. He was my maternal grandfather. 

Regards,
Billie O'Toole


22.
Nov. 23, 2017

In my quest to find photographs from my Dad's (Archie McKay) time on HMS Albion I have found the below photographs. Most of them are on shore in 1969 or thereabouts. In Singapore, where my parents got married.  With the exception of the first one which will have been just after my Dad joined up in 1964.

Best Regards,
Rona McKay


21.
Oct. 31, 2017

My Dad, Archie McKay, served on the HMS Albion from the mid 1960's to 1971. Does anyone have any photo's, etc they could share from around this time? He's currently quite ill and it would be nice to share some nostalgic moments with him.

Best Regards,
Rona McKay


20.
Nov. 3, 2017

It is my Father's 70th tomorrow, Norman 'Bomber' Brown, I believe that he served as a radio operator on HMS Albion around the late 60's. It would be lovely to share a happy birthday with him from his old crew. Probably left this a bit late as I just stumbled across your site.

Kind regards,
Gary Brown


19.
June 20, 2017

I am trying to trace anyone who may have known Royal Marine, John Rhodes, who may have been on the Albion in the 1960's, I think he spent time in Borneo.

Thanks,
Lynne Cummins


18.
Feb. 16, 2017

My brother, Colin , served on HMS Albion in the early sixties on tours to the far east and Mombassa. Unfortunately he passed away on 4th of February after a short illness. I remember him coming home on leave and on many occasions other members of the crew would come to stay. I remember one particular friend known as Dixie (possibly Richard) Dean. His funeral is on the 28th of February in Mansfield should any old crew mates wish to attend. I know he would be delighted if If contact with Dixie could be made.

Thank you,
Alan Singlehurst


17.
Aug. 5, 2016

I joined HMS Albion as a JME in Malta at the end of 1970. I disembarked in 1972 just prior to her final voyage to Canada. I would be interested to know if there any members of the ships company who are still around who might remember me and who might wish to reminisce. I re-visited Singapore this year and recall many happy times in Sembawang. I left the ship as MEM1. I was then posted to HMS Drake and then to HMS Dryad.

Gratefully yours,
Graham Tuckley

Reply 1
Jan. 7, 2019

With respect to the above message from Graham Tuckley, I was one of his great friends on Albion, we went through Ganges together. I wonder if you could be so kind as to connect us, it would warm the heart of a couple of weary matelos. I'm sure Graham would be delighted to know I'm also in contact with John Allum who he will know well.

Kind regards,
Tim Whitehouse


16.
Sept. 16, 2015

I was recently browsing the web looking for pictures of the ship that my father served on in 1960, HMS Albion, when I came across your site. I was quite surprised to read some of the letters on the site, especially when I read one from Anne Barrett, who was looking to get in touch with Smudge Smith, who served in 1960. I do not know Smudge personally, but evidently he was my father best friend when they both served together. My father's name was Charles Keith Watkins, and he was a leading writer to Captain John Adams, of whom I have a few pictures.

Now according to my mother, Smudge used to come to dinner quite often, when they were stationed in Malta and was often called upon to baby-sit my sister and myself. I believe that I was christened on board HMS Albion, and to celebrate I was given a silver tankard, which was engraved, "To Courtney, All the best. Smudge."

I still have the tankard today, although it is a little worse for wear, but it is something that my mother always treasured from her Navy days with my father. My father passed away in 1992, but I still have a few of his photos from when he was on board ship. Thank you for your wonderful website. I do have a few vague memories of going to a Christmas party on HMS Albion when she was in dock at Portsmouth. And I believe we were present at the commissioning ceremony before she left for Malta.

Yours respectfully,
Courtney R. Watkins


15.
July 21, 2015

I'm hoping to find Smudge Smith, a Stoker on HMS Albion in September 1960. I have a photograph of him in Hong Kong with my father and would very much like to contact him.

Thank you,
Anne Barrett


14.
June 22, 2015

My Grandad, who sadly passed away in 2003, was in the navy and he served on both the HMS Ark Royal and the HMS Albion. I know the Captain was Colin Madden and he served from 1953 to 1964. My Grandad's name was Patrick (Albert Charles) Byrne and he was a gunnery officer. He was 15 when he joined. I wondered if there was anyone who maybe served alongside him that has any stories/memories of him, or anybody who can tell me what he would have done during his time serving and what it would have been like. Thank you in advance for any information or stories.

Caragh Matthews


13.
Jan. 6, 2015

I am trying to find some of my dads shipmates from HMS Duchess, HMS Dainty and HMS Albion. He served on HMS Dainty 64-66 then HMS Albion about 1971. His name was Dan Scannell and on Albion he was a POMEM / Chief Petty Officer. He passed away New Years Day very suddenly. Hope anyone can help, I live in the Portsmouth area.

Many thanks,
Crawford Scannell


12.
Nov. 8, 2014

My brother served in Royal Navy in HMS Albion 1968 to 1971. Name Frederick Marshall (stoker men1) looking to get in touch with Anyone who knows him. Pics also would be good. Hope to hear from someone.

Thanks,
Vicky Cunelly


11.
June 27, 2014

I was a JOEM on the Albion between 1968 and 1970 until she returned to Pompey from the far east. It was a very happy time and I remember the runs ashore in Singapore and Hong Kong with great mirth. I wonder if anyone out there remembers, it would be great to get in contact with anybody who was in 5F27 mess deck between those dates.

Tim Auton

Reply 1
Dec. 26, 2014

I was an OEM2 between 68 & 71. Memory is not as good as it used to be, but mess 5F is thought to be right. Leaving Singapore, then Freemantle, followed by the ship ramming the jetty in Mauritius, before travelling to Durban, then home, is remembered. We arrived in Portsmouth in July 1969.

Gillian Drake


10.
Sept. 16, 2013

I'm carrying out some research into the Bristol Belvedere HC1 helicopter. Although it only served in the RAF there were a few occasions when it was transferred to various locations as deck cargo onboard aircraft carriers. I have the following dates; December 1963, Belvedere XG474 returned from Borneo to Singapore on board HMS Albion. 14th May 1964, XG474 flown on board HMS Centaur for shipment to Aden to join 26 Sqn. 22nd May 1964, XG474 flown off HMS Centaur on arrival at Aden. There may have been two Belvederes on board. 23 November 1965, 4 Belvederes from 26 Sqn embarked on HMS Albion in Aden for return journey to Singapore. Would anyone have any further details of these operations? I know there are a couple of photos showing 2 Belvederes on the rear deck of HMS Albion. Any help would be appreciated.

Alex Crawford


9.
Aug. 23, 2013

I have a friend who was christened on HMS Albion and subsequently had his name engraved on the ships bell. There are many theories to what happens to a ships bell after the ship has been de-commissioned and I was curious if anyone knew the whereabouts of HMS Albion's bell

Many Thanks
Phillip Howard


8.
June 30, 2013

My father served on board HMS Albion. I have just seen a post about an Aden Medal I believe my father was aboard for the Aden conflict but didn't receive a medal for it. Would like to know how to check.

William Conisbee

Reply 1
July 4, 2013

Start with this link.
www.veterans-uk.info

Michael W. Pocock
Webmaster


7.
Mar. 26, 2013

I served on HMS Albion during the Aden campaign. I believe a medal was awarded to everyone on board, I did not obtain one. Does anyone know where I could apply for the medal now?

Michael Thomas


6.
Feb. 12, 2012

I don't suppose that you would have access to any of the HMS Albion's crew lists over the years would you, or possibly a list of the visitors to your site over the years that can be searched for a name out of the past? I met a junior enlisted Royal Sailor that crewed on the Albion at the "Sky Club", enlisted men's club, aboard Cubi Point U. S. Naval Air Station in the Philippines during the summer of 1960. The Sailor's name was Jim Sharp. That is all I have on him.  I realize that the chances of finding him are somewhere between very, very slim - to none at all - but, I thought I would give it a shot. I was a Private First Class in the U. S. Marine Corps at the time serving with the 2nd Battalion of the 5th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, home-based in Okinawa. I was a Browning Automatic Rifleman (BARman). We were laying over in P.I. at the time waiting to see what was going to take place in Indo-China at the time. It would be great to talk to him again on here, if at all possible . . . if he can be found. Thanks for your time.

Semper Fi,
Dutch
U. S. Marines (Ret.)


5.
Sept. 14, 2011

I am looking for information about Steyr-Puch Haflinger vehicles which were used aboard HMS Albion in the late 60s and 70s as tugs for Wessex helicopters. These Haflingers were fitted with a special tow bar with couplings both at the front and the rear. Any stories or pictures would be very welcome. I have also created a page about the Royal Navy Haflinger version at: tdc.haflinger-4wd.com

Thanks and best regards,
Constantin Kiesling


4.
Jan. 12, 201

Reference the two messages from Mr. Neil McCart the actual date that HMS Albion left Mombasa was 10 February 1964 having arrived the day before to take onboard the embarked units from HMS Victorious. This information comes from Mr McCart's books-"HMS Albion The old Grey Ghost" page 85 and "HMS Victorious 1937-1969" page 148. I hope that this will be an end to this matter.

Chris Simon


3.
Dec. 15, 2009

As one who served in HMS Albion between 1962 and 1964, I can state quite definitely that the photograph of Albion at Mombasa was actually taken on 18 March 1964, and we were certainly not relieving Victorious. In fact we were sailing for Aden to deliver the two RAF Belvedere helicopters which can be seen at the after end of the flight deck and, after 18 months away from home, to hand over the duties of Commando Carrier Far East Station to HMS Bulwark. After which we left for Suez and home, arriving alongside South Railway Jetty in Portsmouth on 15 April 1964.

Neil McCart

Dec. 21, 2009

Further to my last comments, having studied the last two photographs of Albion on Page One, I can confirm that both were taken on 18 March 1964. The two Belvederes, together with the other helicopters ranged on deck, confirms this (the only other occasion Albion carried Belvedere helos was in early
1963 when we made a special trip from Singapore to the Libyan coast to embark them - we then made a fast passage to Singapore where they were disembarked). Incidentally, three of the Wessex helicopters ranged on the flight deck, painted dark blue, belonged to Victorious. We had actually left most of our yellow painted Wessex helos of 845 Squadron in Borneo (the Confrontation with Indonesia was in full swing).

Neil McCart


2.
Aug. 17, 2009

The last photograph on page 1 of HMS ALBION with two Belvedere helicopters on the after end is most probably 1964 when she relieved HMS VICTORIOUS in Mombassa Kenya. The background to this was that in early 1964 the 1st battalion the Tanganyika Rifles mutinied so HMS CENTAUR (aircraft carrier) picked up 45 Commando plus a company of 16/5 lancers (Army) and two RAF Belvedere helicopters from Aden. HMS VICTORIOUS took over from HMS CENTAUR at Dar es Salaam and all embarked units were transferred to the VIC. At the end of the deployment HMS VICTORIOUS returned to Mombassa. At Mombassa all embarked units were then transferred to HMS ALBION and taken back to Aden where that photograph was taken seeing that there is a Tribal class frigate and a Daring class destroyer in the background. I hope that this is of use to you.

Christopher Simon


1.
April 17, 2008

My dad was on board HMS ALBION R-07 in the late '50's to 60's he was a nurse on board, his name was Stan Hodson. The family now lives in New Zealand, unfortunately dad passed away in 1987. It has been great browsing through your website and seeing this beautiful ship, thank you.

Lisa Hodson




To post a message click the button below. All messages must be approved by the webmaster. If you are responding to a message please include the message number. If your email client is not set up you can email
your message directly to the webmaster for approval. (michael@maritimequest.com)
 






Page published Jan. 28, 2007