Royal Navy Research Archive

Gordon Elliott

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 16:16:41 +0000

I joined RN just after Roger Taylor June/July 1972. We were both drafted to HMS Daedalus after Raleigh. Then to Portland Dorset on Wasp helicopters. Next was Yeovilton on Wessex 5 ready for HMS Bulwark (the old one) in 1975. Then left to join the Hovercraft Unit at Daedalus in 1976. While Roger was en route to HK by sea I was on leading hands course at Daedalus returning to the Hovercraft Unit upon completion. Along with Graham Hughes (Spike) who had passed his radio leading hands course at same time I had completed my electrical course. We were then granted supervisory privileges for each others trade by FONAC due to there being a shortage of experienced senior rates. This was a very rare occurrence. Upon rejoining the Hovercraft Unit I was asked to create 2 complete sets of searchlight and blue police light with all wiring etc. these were constructed on the remaining hovercraft XV616 at Daedalus then packaged with instructions etc and sent to HK

Paul Hodgson

Sat, 21 May 2022 17:53:46 +0100

I am trying to find out the button design used for the Flag Officer's uniform on the HMS Tamar (1863). I have been told that certain buttons were specially made for specific NAVY vessels, like the special Flag Officer buttons on the HMS Victory. Anyone have any ideas?

Stanley

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 06:23:35 +0000

this Tamar shield has slightly different from formal Tamar logo. brought it many years ago in Tring auction. made of hard wood and heavy metal. more information about it please advise me.

Cathy

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:36:20 +0100

I am.trying to trace what happened to the HMS Tamar ship's bell that was used around 1957 to Christen children on the Naval Base. I believe the names of those Christened with it were engraved on the bell. I have been trying to trace the bell for a while. Nothing yet.

paul lumb

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 09:59:14 +0000

My father Stanley Lumb served in Hong Kong around 1934-1936, where can I track down more info please?

Matthew Grisman

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:40:44 +0100

My late grandfather was stationed at Tamar c.1958, CPO Gerald Grisman. I came across some excellent photographs of his time there recently. I welcome any correspondance with those interested

David Moore

Sun, 26 Mar 2017 10:40:52 +0100

In the article on NP1009, it states the SRN6's were transferred from Singapore. They were in fact dismantled at Lee on Solent and shipped to Hong Kong on a RFA.

Christine Bryant

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 12:01:58 +0000

My father, W.T Edwards, was 2nd in command at the dockyard from July 1953 - August 1956. He replaced the commander of the dockyard (Mr.Tucker) until the end of September 1956,when his own term of service in Hong Kong ended. During these years we lived on the island of Stonecutters.

Stephen Davies

Fri, 20 May 2016 11:22:39 +0100

I am writing a history of the Tamar (the ship) She passed through HK seventeen times between 1863 (her launch) and 1895 and the beginning of conversion to the base depot ship. The first arrival was on 28th May 1865. She subsequently called in 1868 (x 2), 1871 (x2), 1877 (x2), 1878, 1886, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 and 1895 (x2). She carried over 80 different regiments (some several times) to an enormous number of destinations all over the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and NW Pacific areas and must have steamed over 500,000 miles. I identified her last remains (a 40m long part of the aft end of the hull about 2m deep) in March 2015, but the HK government does not want colonial period 'antiquities'. Ah well.

Gordon Hughes

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 00:04:16 +0100

I was member of Naval Party2501,helped in take over HMS Tamar Signal Station under Commander Courage, put in charge of transport, many Japanese prisoners working on damaged roads.

Roger Taylor

Sat, 18 Apr 2015 13:19:55 +0100

Unfortunately the chapter on the Hovercraft unit has some mistakes, I actually was part of the 3 man team that took the first 2 hovercraft from Lee-on-Solent to Hong Kong... We painted & modified them during the trip which took 6 weeks..The Hovercraft were from the Hovercraft trails unit at HMS Daedalus, not transferred from Singapore..

Keith Clark

Sat, 26 Jul 2014 07:01:39 +0100

A very good precis of Hong Kong and the part HMS Tamar played in its development.
I served in Tamar 1956-59 as SBPO and still have many fond memories of the time spent there.
I would be happy to correspond with anyone from those times.