Comments on: HMS Belfast http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm All things military history! Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:09:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: David Jones http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm/comment-page-1#comment-24584 David Jones Sun, 24 Jul 2011 08:53:47 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?page=1&p=2567#comment-24584 My uncle, Leslie Richard Winkett (also known as Les Wynne) recentl passed away. I am the proud recipient of his green beret and campaign medals for Korea, the Canal Zone and Malaya. I would be most grateful to receive memories and photos from these times. My uncle, Leslie Richard Winkett (also known as Les Wynne) recentl passed away. I am the proud recipient of his green beret and campaign medals for Korea, the Canal Zone and Malaya. I would be most grateful to receive memories and photos from these times.

]]> By: Tony Gatton http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm/comment-page-1#comment-16046 Tony Gatton Sat, 18 Dec 2010 16:56:40 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?page=1&p=2567#comment-16046 Hi Vic, me again, Le Mesurier was Captain of Belfast when I joined her, and he did the first stint in Korea, and left the ship when she returned to Singapore for re-fit. I am fairly sure that he was replaced by Sir Aubrey St Clair Ford, known affectionately as 'Strawberry' (now deceased). During the 2nd World War, he was the skipper of the Kimberley, who picked up the survivors of the Kelly (Mountbatten's famous ship). The one person killed on the Belfast you mention, was a Chinese Messman or Laundryman who was killed when an 80mm shell came through the ships starboard side into the Chinese Mess. We were going through between an island and the mainland at the time, and 'Strawberry' just turned the ship round and came back through again, giving the cliff face broadsides as we traversed. That night and next day, Kenya and an American rocket ship pounded that cliff face. They never got that gun, he was on railway lines we were told afterwards, and they just used to pop out from this cave, have a go at somebody, and pull back out of sight. Regards, Tony. Hi Vic, me again,
Le Mesurier was Captain of Belfast when I joined her, and he did the first stint in Korea, and left the ship when she returned to Singapore for re-fit. I am fairly sure that he was replaced by Sir Aubrey St Clair Ford, known affectionately as ‘Strawberry’ (now deceased). During the 2nd World War, he was the skipper of the Kimberley, who picked up the survivors of the Kelly (Mountbatten’s famous ship).
The one person killed on the Belfast you mention, was a Chinese Messman or Laundryman who was killed when an 80mm shell came through the ships starboard side into the Chinese Mess. We were going through between an island and the mainland at the time, and ‘Strawberry’ just turned the ship round and came back through again, giving the cliff face broadsides as we traversed. That night and next day, Kenya and an American rocket ship pounded that cliff face. They never got that gun, he was on railway lines we were told afterwards, and they just used to pop out from this cave, have a go at somebody, and pull back out of sight.
Regards,
Tony.

]]> By: Tony Gatton http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm/comment-page-1#comment-16045 Tony Gatton Sat, 18 Dec 2010 16:40:38 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?page=1&p=2567#comment-16045 Hi Vic, I served on HMS Belfast also, from January 1950, all through the Korean war until she was delivered to Devonport for the alterations you mention (some 3yrs & 3months) I do not remember you, but you may remember me because I used to run the Cinema. I am sorry to have to tell you, that whoever told you she only had nine 6" guns and that one turret was a dummy, has given you false information. I have photographs that will disprove that theory. Best Regards, Tony Gatton. ex LEM. Hi Vic,
I served on HMS Belfast also, from January 1950, all through the Korean war until she was delivered to Devonport for the alterations you mention (some 3yrs & 3months) I do not remember you, but you may remember me because I used to run the Cinema.
I am sorry to have to tell you, that whoever told you she only had nine 6″ guns and that one turret was a dummy, has given you false information. I have photographs that will disprove that theory.
Best Regards,
Tony Gatton.
ex LEM.

]]> By: Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm/comment-page-1#comment-9134 Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:38:01 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?page=1&p=2567#comment-9134 Are you SURE that one person was killed on board Belfast during the Korean campaign? I don't remember that but certainly HMS Jamaica had one person killed. Are you SURE that one person was killed on board Belfast during the Korean campaign? I don’t remember that but certainly HMS Jamaica had one person killed.

]]> By: Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm/comment-page-1#comment-9133 Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:30:37 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?page=1&p=2567#comment-9133 My 'oppo' on boardwas "Paddy Eagleson" - Robert Stewart Eagleson - also a RM signals operator. The captain during the Korean campaign was Le Messurier. My ‘oppo’ on boardwas “Paddy Eagleson” – Robert Stewart Eagleson – also a RM signals operator.

The captain during the Korean campaign was Le Messurier.

]]> By: Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm/comment-page-1#comment-9132 Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:23:39 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?page=1&p=2567#comment-9132 I could be wrong on this but I understood that one of the for'ard gun turrets was a 'dummy' so Belfast had only nine 6" guns and not twelve. I could be wrong on this but I understood that one of the for’ard gun turrets was a ‘dummy’ so Belfast had only nine 6″ guns and not twelve.

]]> By: Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) http://www.armchairgeneral.com/hms-belfast.htm/comment-page-1#comment-9130 Vic Paffet ex Royal Marines (signals) Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:19:41 +0000 http://www.armchairgeneral.com/articles.php?page=1&p=2567#comment-9130 Belfast has been altered a heckuva lot since I was on it. The superstructure has been changed but I can't find a good photo of the side view to see exactly what has been altered. I was a RM telegraphist - using morse code in those days - and my usual post was the "Bridge Wireless Office" just aft of the bridge. My "out of watch" post was the Upper Transmitting Room. Belfast has been altered a heckuva lot since I was on it. The superstructure has been changed but I can’t find a good photo of the side view to see exactly what has been altered.
I was a RM telegraphist – using morse code in those days – and my usual post was the “Bridge Wireless Office” just aft of the bridge. My “out of watch” post was the Upper Transmitting Room.

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