Royal Navy MemoriesHMS Devonshire and HMS Leopard and HMS Glasgow Portal

William Peter “Pincher” Martin

Born in Bournemouth Dec 11, 1933. Died April 1983

Peter joined the Royal Navy in October 1951 for 12 years continuous service. He started as an assistant steward and worked his way up to Petty Officer Steward.
He served on the HMS Maidstone, HMS Bulwark, HMS Leopard, HMS Adamant and the HMS Forth. His time between ships was spent at HMS Victory, Ceres, Hornet, Osprey, Excellent, Heron, Cambridge and Drake.

Peter was passionate about his navy …

Happy Birthday

14th November.
Happy 70th Birthday
MIKE CHAMBERLAIN. ME1

Served on HMS LEOPARD’s very first commission (1958-60)
Now lives in South Africa.

HMS Leopard 2nd Commission

HMS Leopard’s commission from 1960 to 1962. Includes the evacuation of Tristan da Cunha.

HMS Leopard 1st Commission

The full story of HMS Leopard,s first commission. The lone Guardship for the South Atlantic. Includes the 1000+ mile trip up the River Amazon.

Brian Hanrahan

Brian Hanrahan, who died on December 20 aged 61, was a long-serving and much-respected foreign correspondent for the BBC and became a familiar face to television viewers during the Falklands war in 1982.

My Falklands Diary

Saturday 1st May 1982
Day One.
Time (Zulu). Action
0620. Glasgow first into the Exclusion Zone
0720.Vulcans bomb Falklands air strip. Good morning Dagoe!
1035. Action stations. Two A/C at 100 miles.

Sam Salt HMS Sheffield

Captain of the ill fated HMS Sheffield, Falklands War 1982. James Frederick Thomas George “Sam” Salt, naval commander, born 19 April 1940; died 3 December 2009.

My Falklands War

My time on HMS Glasgow. Includes audio recording on the day we were bombed. Not much praise to Admiral Woodward though!

Final Farewell to HMS Glasgow

A huddle of Falklands veterans told jokes as they stood freezing on Portsmouth’s Round Tower to see off the Type 42 destroyer, toasted as one of the world’s luckiest ships.

Devonshire a brief History

The First “Devonshire
Built by William Wyatt at Burlesdon on Southampton Water.
Launched 6th May 1692.
A Third-rater of 1,220 tons: 80 guns.
Length 127 ft. Breadth 41 ft. : Depth 17 ft.
Complement varied from 410—490 men : and after the 1704 refit was 700.

Cape Barfleur was the scene of the “Devonshire’s” first action. The French had assembled a large army at La Hogue, a small town on the east side of the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, with which they planned to restore ex-King James

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HMS Devonshire’s Captains

All HMS Devonshire Captains from 1692 to 1968

Devonshire’s Notable War Events

HMS Devonshire. A brief history of notable events from 1929 to 1942 including the sinking of the German Raider “Atlantis”.

Norwegian Gold Bullion Snatch

Norwegian Gold Bullion Snatch – April 1940. Was “Devonshire” involved in the transfer of Norway’s assets. Loss of HMS Gloroius at this time.

Press Cuttings

A few snippets from the press, concerning events regarding HMS Devonshire