Comments on: HMS Leopard 2nd Commission

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:30:13 +0000

I am researching Ancestry Tree and looking for a Peter Scott born Dorset 1944 and may have served on Leopard ship in the 1960′s.
Any info or pics welcome.

By: William Hudson

William Hudson — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 09:18:13 +0000

Hi Rob
I wasn’t doubting the fact that you are a real live person, but my message had the desired effect. I have emailed you a couple of times before and never received a peep from you.
I can not recall the name of the “Jimmy” at Fraser when I was there but he left about the time I did when I left to join the Euryalus.
Now that you have detailed the dates you have clarified the situation as I was there before you. And yes I spent many a happy hour in the NAAFI/Snooker room.
I didn’t have any doings with the gardener as he looked after the top end of the camp by the QMs shack and never came anywhere near the bottom end.
I must say it was a most happy time of service as the Postie got all sorts of perks.
Very nice to hear from you.
Bill

By: Robby G

Robby G — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:58:25 +0000

Hi Bill,

In reply to your message , I can assure you I was at Fraser Gunnery Range when stated. 16-Sep-64 to 18-Dec-65.
I have a photo of a couple of the lads who were at the “range” at that time, they attended my wedding on Whale Island the Church of St Barbara (March 1965). Believe it or not one of them was I believe the “postie” at the time, and came from Croydon! Another was a young lad who shortly after was killed on his motor bike. Sadly I do not recall their names.
I do recall the First Lieutenants name, Lt Flint, I recall him because we had just served together for 18 month on the Hartland Point in “Singers” 27-Feb-63 to 08-Aug-64 ,and he was a Gunnery Officer at St Vincent when I joined up there in 1957, a real nice fella.

Not only did I assist the gardener but I was “snooker room” cleaner. The snooker room was attached to the NAAFI, run by a nice middle-aged girl/woman.
Also when I was duty, at night, I had to go around Fraser to the various stoke houses and stoke up, top up the coal/coke burning furnaces…..does this ring a bell?

Besides helping the gardener, I also, with him, done the daily lunch time trip to the Bookies to place bets for various people, dropping in at “Charlie Hurdles” (The Cumberland Arms) for a pint!

As for not recalling me from the “Leopard”, perhaps it was because I was on the 1st Commission, paying her off in December 1960 and you was on the Second!
When you joined she was “secondhand” but brand new when I joined her.

If we were at Fraser at the same time we must have known each other.
If I recall correctly my billet was in the first Nissen hut on the left in East Camp, the NAAFI was just about opposite

I look forward to your comments.

Robby G

By: William Hudson

William Hudson — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:24:44 +0000

I was on Robert Killick’s commission in the same “Jungle” mess deck. I was the STAAG Aimer and remember the commission with a mixture of affection and and great camaraderie.
I believe Rob (Nobby) G was also at Fraser Gunnery Range when I was the Postie after the Leopard. I have written to him before but I do not remember him from either the Leopard or the gun range and I never received a reply from him either. I do not believe he exists or ever did. He says he used to maintain the grass at Fraser, well I used to maintain the lawn mower as well as being the Postie and don’ t recollect him at all,

By: Dave Chaston (RO3 at the time)

Dave Chaston (RO3 at the time) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:58:03 +0000

Joined Leopard direct from training as JRO (very green and raw) eventually rising to RO3. Remember the ships dances in Simon’s Town where I met the lady who was to become my wife (7 years later) and am now happily retired from RN and 30 years in SAN and living just outside Simon’s Town.