Latest news with #HMSWellington
Telegraph
22-02-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Princess Royal's naval charity begins campaign for lost Battle of the Atlantic heroes
Robin Boodle was just a boy sailor when he took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, a contest Winston Churchill named himself in 1941 to emphasise just how important the war at sea was becoming. The battle began on Sept 3 1939, when the first Atlantic convoy sailed, comprising Royal Navy escorts and Merchant Navy vessels taking with them vital supplies to the UK and allies from the North Atlantic and elsewhere in the British Empire. However, the seas were treacherous as all ships were at risk of being torpedoed by German U-boats as they made their perilous crossings. For Robin, 100, who served onboard HMS Suffolk from 1940 to 1945, which formed part of three Battle of Atlantic convoys, two of which were Arctic, it is the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941 which remains the most vivid memory. Despite being only 16, he remembers rescuing German sailors, who kept saying 'thank you' to the British. 'Some of the Germans we saw were in the water and we went to pick them up,' said Robin, who served in the Royal Navy for more than 26 years, from his care home in Portsmouth. 'With people in the water, if you are in control, you help, no matter who they are or their attitude.' He told The Telegraph: 'They weren't upset. They were grateful. We took about 40. Some were injured. There was a lot to cope with. We took them down below and the Captain instructed me to look after the men. I then had to control some small groups of five or so. 'There were two I had a bit of trouble with, but most told me in English they would be good, and they were. I don't know why but I always got the biggest guys. One of them, an officer, was quite august. He did change though, and by the time they were all transferred, he called me Robin.' It is stories like Robin's which the Wellington Trust charity is pledging to keep alive to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8 2025, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe in 1945, and the end of the Battle of the Atlantic.. The trust is dedicated to preserving HMS Wellington, the sole surviving dedicated Battle of Atlantic convoy escort in Europe. The campaign is named after Robin as he was onboard HMS Suffolk as part of a convoy with HMS Wellington going from the Clyde to Freetown, Sierra Leone in Sept 1941. It will be the first time work has been done to trace the last remaining Battle of the Atlantic (BoA) veterans. The charity, of which the Princess Royal is patron, is now appealing for BoA veterans from the Royal and Merchant navies to get in touch with the Wellington Trust. All veterans found will be commemorated onboard with a roll of honour and photos where available, including visits if their health allows. Admiral Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, told The Telegraph: 'The 5,000 Merchant and Royal Navy ships and 70,000 men and women lost winning the Battle of the Atlantic are too often forgotten, despite it being the most important and longest battle of the war. 'It is crucial that we recognise the very few survivors and their bravery and resilience.' Dominic Tweddle, chairman of the trust, added: 'It was remarkable that we learnt of Robin and his decorated Second World War service, and even more remarkable that he was on one convoy with Wellington when he served onboard HMS Suffolk. To have this living connection to the ship is special. 'We appreciate there cannot be many surviving BoA veterans, yet we are keen to find them and document anything they may remember, as well as learn of their individual service histories. 'We not only want to commemorate their contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic, but ensure visitors to the ship can learn of their contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic as part of the Wellington Story.'
BBC News
08-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
National Lottery Heritage grant secures future for HMS Wellington
The future of HMS Wellington, a historic World War Two warship, has been secured with a £225,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Somerset town of Wellington adopted the ship during WW2, and since April 2023 the Wellington Trust has been leading a revitalisation plans to spend the money on essential maintenance, expanding access and developing onboard trust's chairman Dominic Tweddle said this would help it "become financially self-sustaining, ensuring the ship's preservation for future generations". HMS Wellington, currently moored at Temple Stairs in Victoria Embankment, London, was purchased by the Honourable Company of Master Mariners in 1947. Wellington town councillor Keith Wheatley highlighted the ship's significance, noting its role in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940."While smaller boats rescued soldiers from the beaches, HMS Wellington was anchored offshore, using her guns for defence and ferrying troops across the Channel to safety," he said. During the Battle of the Atlantic, HMS Wellington escorted convoys, protecting merchant ships and saving countless lives. "She completed 103 convoys—more than any other ship. An extraordinary achievement," added Mr 1948, HMS Wellington was converted into Headquarters Ship [HQS] Wellington, serving as the floating livery hall for the Honourable Company of Master Mariners. Its connection to Wellington, Somerset, dates back to WW2, when the town adopted the vessel as part of a national fundraising campaign, raising £120,000 [in 1942 prices] to support the warship during the course of the conflict."She is the only ship still afloat that took part in the Battle of the Atlantic," Mr Wheatley emphasised. The trust hopes to fully reopen the ship to the public later this year.
