Hi - can anyone identify which ship this photo may have been taken on?  Winston Churchill is seated.  One of the navy sailors in the background was born in 1928, so am I correct in assuming that this photo would have been taken post WWII?  He emigrated to NZ in 1952.  Any help would be appreciated as the family would like to know the name of the ship.  I have tried reverse searching the photo but cannot find any answers.  thank you. Karen.

Some information from a ABC news article when Reg was 100 years (Reg is now 103 years old and he resides in Gawler, a town near Adelaide, South Australia).

In his 100th year, Reg Swanborough will take to the streets of Adelaide today for the Anzac Day march.

Mr Swanborough will be walking alone as one of the last remaining World War II veterans and the last member of the Arctic Convoy Veterans Association.

He joined the British Royal Navy on July 26, 1938, alongside 32 others.

"And, to the best of my knowledge, myself and two others came out alive from that lot," he said.

He was just 15 years old when he enlisted at the end of the Great Depression, at a time when there was little work or food.


Reg who is now 103 years of age had a talk to Spence Denny on ABC Adelaide Radio on Monday evening, August 11th, 2025 (Adelaide South Australia time) at around 9.10Pm to 9.30pm. It was about Reg going to a Victory in the Pacific event. But there was also some very interesting talk about WW2 memories, including HMS Manchester, and being attacked by German and Italian aircraft. This episode with Spence Denny can be played back at present but  it may not be on the first page for long. But there is a facility to go back to play old episodes of the show. It is a 2 hour and 45 minute show. But this talk was in about the last 20 or 15 minutes or so of the show. There is a link below. Or Google ABC Adelaid Radio. And then Programs. And then Spence Denny. There is a contact email address on the Website. It may be possible to ask for a transcript of the conversation if it is for Education purposes.

Philip L


https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/adelaide-evenings

Thats great thanks.  We have his record but it only lists rank, dates of service and establishments.

To get records see:

https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/Records_page.htm

Skirmisher was the name of the shore establishment at Milford Haven.

Have you requested his Service Record ? 

Hi, my grandfather was on MTB's I believe during WW2.  He was a Chief Motor Mechanic.  Unfortunately we dont have his naval records apart from his rank, trade and that he served on HMS Skirmisher.  But apart from the WW1 warship I can find no information.  I'm assuming that it was a shore base or something similar for Coastal Command but thats all Ive got.  Any ideas or other information greatly received.  Many thanks.

Hi, my grandfather was on MTB's I believe during WW2.  He was a Chief Motor Mechanic.  Unfortunately we dont have his naval records apart from his rank, trade and that he served on HMS Skirmisher.  But apart from the WW1 warship I can find no information.  I'm assuming that it was a shore base or something similar for Coastal Command but thats all Ive got.  Any ideas or other information greatly received.  Many thanks.

Hi, my grandfather was on MTB's I believe during WW2.  He was a Chief Motor Mechanic.  Unfortunately we dont have his naval records apart from his rank, trade and that he served on HMS Skirmisher.  But apart from the WW1 warship I can find no information.  I'm assuming that it was a shore base or something similar for Coastal Command but thats all Ive got.  Any ideas or other information greatly received.  Many thanks.

Believe you me, using the written info on this old valve tester, ("Valve Analyser M5") (" For further Information see Instruction Book"), I've scrolled as much as possible through the massive online archive the forum site has. Plus the massive military archive held by VMARS(Vintage Military & Amateur Radio Society). Plus a heap of "Googling". Plus a now long-winded Thread Post on the UK-VRR&R (Vintage Radio Repair & Restoration) Forum site. Still - nothing found out. I'm hoping that some "Old Radio/Radar/Telecomms Hand" in the retired RN Fraternity might recognise this old piece of military test equipment?
       Possibly, out there somewhere there is a copy of the "Instruction Book" ?
Me - I'm an old(80 next week) ex RAF Radio guy who served his last 2 year tour of duty('73 to '75) on 8 Sqdn. at Lossiemouth/Fulmar - - a joint RAF/FAA AEW Shackleton Squadron. A half & half RAF/RN unit. My boss was a CPO, & I worked alongside his two PO's.
       Several years before - I serviced & repaired military radio test equipment(including valve testers). Hence now - its been a retirement pastime for the last 18 years.
       Hopefully out there is an equally old ex CPO/PO/LREM/Killick - who might recognise something from the two photos I've posted ?

                                                          Regards,  David

Please, can anyone identify this (Admiralty ?) Valve Analyser M5. Going by the RN ID's & dates on components, this is post WW2 - possibly early 1950's.
     Back then, the standard RN Valve Tester was the AVO Type 1(2 Panel). This is far more advanced & weighs about 17Kg. This valve analyser, I suspect was built "in-house" at a shore based Radio Depot's Workshop, or possibly somewhere like HMS Collingwood. Built by a skilled CPO, a couple of Tiffies, and a REM or two, I reckon. May have originally been a fixed workshop panel item, but the need for a decent portable tester arose due to the limitations of the AVO Two Panel. Eventually, as many Radio Tiffies & Tradesmen will know, the AVO CT160 came into use in the late 1950's/early 60's, so this item would've become obsolete.

                                             Regards,   David