YOUR ‘USEFUL LINKS’ PAGE ON RNZNCA WEBSITE

Godfrey DYKES	09:28 (1 hour ago)
to frank@randsclan.com

Good morning Sir from a UK currently under a dull sky cloud, but also, if not a paradox, simultaneously under glorious sunshine as we honour the Queen of the Commonwealth, with the many navies integral to this world wide proud organisation representing approximately one-third of mother earth so we are told.  To my mind and understanding Queen Elizabeth the Second warrants the accolade of being the most well-known Commander-in-Chief and pro active leader, who never changes and always with a wise head on broad shoulders is an asset without parallel.

I introduce myself further down the page but suffice to say at this stage, that your ‘USEFUL LINKS’ page spells out in a relatively few words which when deciphered,  reveals a vast phalanx of like-minded people with one aim of keeping world peace, honouring ourselves as a fraternal group, and at the same time acknowledging the existence of others encouraging peace and tranquillity.  As far as I am concerned, the action of the leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un, in sending our Queen a congratulatory communication on her 70th year as our C-in-C,  speaks volumes about the love and respect the world at large has for Her Majesty which is one of the high points of this Jubilee and is touching, to say the least.

As I read down the list of the links, I am strengthened in the opinion that notwithstanding the inputs from the RNZN as intended, inadequate at this period, as admitted by you yourself as “ nothing much happening at the moment” is not necessarily indicative that inputs of the future will forever be on the wane, far from it, and it affords you as the Editor of the site, to cherry-pick other interesting and relevant newsworthy stories from your very own list of available stories. Here, I can speak with some authority as the publisher of a monthly newsletter called the ‘Derbyshire Submariners Page’  derbyshire_submariners_page (godfreydykes.info) . The letter compiler searches the internet and other sources for stories big and small, friendly or hostile [even contrite nations operating submarines and/or with a vested interest in anti-submarine warfare per se], and I publish that compilation to the world.   There is a healthy mix of fun, jokes, gaffes, facts and figures relating to naval data and it is worldwide popular and a well-received online feature.  Why the Derbyshire Submariners?  That’s plain and simple, because Derby is the home of Rolls Royce submarine engineering with associated defence companies like BABCOCK  for example, and as such plays host [often internationally] at their premises for and on behalf of the men and women who served in UK submarines in their time in the Royal Navy and now live in the environ of the City.

Here, please let me explain that as much as  I write websites about the R.N., I consider myself as much a Commonwealth naval veteran as I do an ex RN’er.  To that end,  I have done several things which really amount to paying more than lip service to naval matters and one example of this is that I wrote a lengthy page on RN Radio Communications Equipment  [RCE] throughout all ages starting from the latter part of the 19th century.  We equipped several Royal Navies [Royal Pakistan – Royal Indian – Royal South African – Royal East African which changed to Royal Rhodesian – RNZN and RAN collectively Royal Oceania – Royal Canadian and the Irish Navy which before the 1920s was an integral part of the RN Navies, but changed to the Irish Free State Navy keeping its former equipment. As a result of this page, various old-timers in the Indian and other Navies for example had a nostalgic trip reliving the ‘comms fit they had in their WW2 ships loaned from the R.N. mainly to fight the Japanese in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. What memories those old times had?

With my several drafts, I served in Australia in the 4th Flotilla based on Garden Island Sydney NSW and had two years in Canada based on Halifax Nova Scotia attached to HMS Ambrose in the 6th Flotilla whilst serving in HM S/M Auriga followed by two further years in the 7th flotilla based on Singapore in the period 1965 to 1968.  Whilst KRANJI in Singapore was our so-called communication base with our mother and Depot Ship HMS Forth berthed mid-stream in the Straits off HMS Terror, we communicated with NZ more often than not and considered them to be our friends although we never ever stepped foot on North Island and particularly Devonport and that was a green rub as far as we were concerned.  All to do with nuclear propulsion and weapons, and why we asked, was an old WW2 ‘A-Class diesel boat carrying bog-standard torpedoes part of the disallowed list? I loved the callsign Irrangi ZLO3 on 6 MHz and sometimes ZLO6 on 17 MHz.  We also worked on Awarua ZLB4 and 5 8and 12 MHz respectively. Our callsign was GGWM.

Back in HMS MERCURY our prestigious Signal School I became the Chief Instructor in the RCE division teaching as a WO1, senior high-level courses, like officers for example including the Prince of Wales and the high in demand RCI’s annual course [Radio Communications Instructor] and one year one of my students was Neal Catley who passed the long and very demanding course with flying colours.  

From all these assets bestowed upon me, I became an ardent devotee of the Commonwealth System.

I very often browse your website and the video start to it is second to none and envious. It is often said that the RNZN is a small navy which punches above its weight and skills.  I endorse that to the full.  I’ll never forget the RNZN’s kindness in loaning the RN a frigate for the Gulf duties as we became more and more put under pressure building for the Falklands War which we have just finished celebrating its 40th anniversary. How time flies.

Later on, towards the end of my naval career of 31 years, I was assigned to Royal Duties mainly tutoring Prince Charles ready for sea duty as the SCO for the Leander Class frigate HMS JUPITER which did a fabulous tour of Oceania and the Pacific region ending up States Sides in San Diego and other west coast naval bases. I was then chosen to represent the whole of the RN being put in charge of the coffin bearers at the murdered Lord Louis State Ceremonial funeral, an extremely high honour which fortunately for me both my dear parents were still alive to witness. We have always been a Royalist family but this honour has never, even to this day, now 43 long years on, been lived down and you can guarantee that over each and every year the story will be retold two or three times on TV, and the ‘phone will ring to tell me it’s on or forewarn me that its coming and about to start. 

I forgot to mention that at the bottom of the USEFUL LINKS page is a  well deserved special mention of NEAL CATLEY by Patrick DWEN written in August 2021  thanking NEAL  for all his good works and endeavours done to date and asking him to continue with them. I am delighted to see that his support for you Sir has not dwindled and that you both remain dedicated.  That is why I add my special request that you withdraw your threatening to leave the post of webmaster now held for over 14 years, just because people of a marked lesser ability than yours, proven year in and out, can’t see the wood for the trees [again, the long and detailed list of USEFUL LINKS that you have audaciously dared to consider using, indeed have used, when RNZN ‘Comms stories are thin on the ground.   May I beg of you to continue your superlative stewardship at the helm of a very professional Website, and ignore the expressed disillusioned ‘also rans’ quite openly and for their own selfish reasons offer defeatist alternatives when clearly none are needed.

I know the sheer hard work which goes into preparing and formatting new editions, often requiring the burning of the proverbial midnight oil,  and how easy it would be if one were harangued constantly, and as I said, for selfish reasons and nine times out of ten if challenged to do better, would fall ignominiously at the first fence.  Be off with these know all’s I say, and let’s start hearing some meritorious BZ’s instead.  No sincere person could or would doubt your worthiness in that regard.

I joined the navy in the same year as the Coronation in 1953 as a 15-year-old boy and have roughed it with the best. I  attained far more as a successful London businessman for a second career of a couple of months beyond a score of years during which I studied for a Diploma  [HND].

I am now what one might call ‘getting on in age’ and at 84 having just celebrated our Diamond Jubilee I do admit to getting rather tired before my gin and tonic followed by a medium-sized pre and post-dinner glass of Merlot. Life treats me well [within reason anyway] and I have prostate cancer and skin cancer both well in control by my able oncologists.  I am also blessed for I have a lovely wife, largely of good health save for ageing aches and pains, and a delightful family who treat us like Gods; well, disciples at least!

Good luck in all you do Sir, and above all else, please consider my sincere request to you. Get rid of or ignore the run of the mill ne’re do wells!

Yours aye

Godfrey Dykes
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
UK.