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EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA SPECIAL ISSUE DECEMBER 2007
Well that is what was said when newsworthy announcements were made. So what has made me pick up the pen and write to you all? We have lost out Newsletter Editor to that curse of the drinking classes ………. Work. Iain has had his workload and his travelling extended and has had to give up the newsletter. Thank you Iain for putting your mark on the Association and something no one can beat is the fact that YOU were the FIRST newsletter Editor for the R.N.E.B.A. A place in history though I doubt if it will get into the Guinness Book of records.
Mini Reunion As many of you are aware, there is the facility of having a Mini Reunion at Mill Rythe Holiday Village in February. This is open to all ex Royal Navy people and will incorporate a list of everybody there and their favourite ships so that you can track down your old shipmates. All members have had a Booking Form and Daily Orders but if your oppo has nicked yours, give me a call and I will pop another in the post or download one to you by email.
AGM and Main Reunion. This will be in Llandudno in October and many of you have told me you are coming. A question I am sometimes asked by those new to the Association or have never been to a reunion before. “Are wives allowed to come?” Wives and Partners are more than welcome to come and join in the fun and camaraderie which takes place.
Finances. Thought I would mention that at the moment we are keeping our heads well above water thanks to your donations, Slop purchase and with you all renewing your subscriptions. Thank you.
“Swinging the Lamp in your area” Not an idea from me, but from another very successful Association. They have got together with others in their area and have monthly or so ‘meets’. Lunchtime in a pub. Weekends where the members and their wives go to somewhere of interest. One group has even applied for a grant and had weekends away. If you would like to do something on this theme, let me know and I will set the ball rolling in your area. BUT, it must be run and organized from within your area. Let me know the Post Codes you wish to cover and I can send you a set of address labels for your local newspapers. You can then send a ‘Letter to the Editor’ and off you go!!
Newsletters. Well we are of course looking for a new Newsletter Editor, but in the meanwhile I will do my best to get something out to you all and keep you informed. Your contributions are the key though. Without your input all you will get is me rattling on about the things which interest me, so to shut me up, let me have your contributions. If they are photos, please let me have the originals as they scan in better. If you wish to send them recorded delivery and you want me to return them the same way that is fine by me.
Enough Waffle. Something interesting.
Why “Greenie” This is taken from the coloured strips between the Electrical Officer’s Gold Braid. Other Officers had different colours, such as Red for the Medical Branch etc.
Formation of the Electrical Branch. Quite a few of the members were there right at the beginning. No not at the start of Electricity, the start of the Branch in 1946. Prior to the formation of the Electrical Branch in 1946, responsibility for all aspects of availability of electrical equipment fitted in warships was divided between several departments despite the recommendations of the Field-Waistell Committee in 1920 that a single department should be formed for this purpose.
Provision of main ship's DC power supply and the maintenance of all electrical equipment fitted in Engine and Boiler Rooms was the responsibility of the Engineer Officer, whilst distribution of all remaining electrical supplies and maintenance of domestic electrical equipment outside those compartments was dealt with by the Torpedo Officer. All other equipment was maintained by the User Department, such as W/T, A/S and Gunnery items. As a result there was no overall responsibility for the availability of electrical services in ships.
This weakness had long been recognised before 1939 but the comparatively simple nature of the systems and equipment, coupled with excellent training of personnel and good will by all concerned, satisfied the needs of a peacetime Navy.
The onset of war conditions soon revealed the true depth of the situation. Even before the introduction of far more sophisticated equipment such as radar and power controlled gun-mounting, it became evident from reports relating to damage control and losses of ships, that the way in which electrical maintenance and repair was organized needed drastic review.
In addition to the problems being presented onboard ships, this fragmentation of responsibility affected the organisation of Admiralty Departments whose structures were arranged to suit the way in which reports from ships, or directives to ships, were handled. This whole situation was also made more complex by the huge increase in numbers of personnel needed to man and support the Fleet consisting largely of officers and men who were only going to be available for the duration of hostilities.
Once the need for re-organisation was accepted by the Board of Admiralty, a Committee {PHILLIPS} was set up to consider the implications of the use of increasing more complex equipment. It had to take into account the large number of personnel required to provide the high standard of support at sea and ashore needed so as to ensure high availability of ships for war. The conclusions of this Committee convinced the Board that an Electrical Branch had to be instituted and a Steering Committee {MIDDLETON} was then set up to make specific recommendations relating to the responsibilities, personnel structure and training for the new Branch. (Taken from the internet)
The Branch has of course since then seen many changes, but the above story outlines the need for an Electrical Department and of course the rest is history.
Perhaps one of the members who came into the Royal Navy and trained in the Torpedo Branch and subsequently became Wiremen would like to give a first hand report for us young Sprogs who came in after all the dust had settled!!
One thing which has surprised me is that many of you did not go to H.M.S.Collingwood. I took it for granted that once January 1st 1947 came and H.M.S.Collingwood became the Royal Navy’s Electrical, Radio and Radar School, everybody who had any form of training passed through the portals. Wrong! Training was carried out in Chatham and Devonport. We have a member who came out of the Navy in 1960 as a Chief Elect and NEVER went to H.M.S.Collingwood.
And so, on to the future of the Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association. We are here, we are established, and we have a crew. Shiner Wright doing a magnificent job of the website www.rneba.org.uk, Brian Joy keeping us all up to date with the membership lists, Robin Allum selling slops like there is no tomorrow, Dennis Coombes digging in the Archives and of course you the members.
Slops All you members out there bursting with ideas, I need you! Think what you would like to see available in the slops chest and please let me now and I'll find out if it is a viable proposition, we don't want things that you need to buy several hundred when we know we'll only flog six. Later on when we are a HUUUUGE association hen we can do these things but till that day I have to be practical (for the first time in my life!). I promise that I will listen or take note of any suggestions (now then behave!) and try to get a good deal then I'll unzip your wallets and relieve you of every penny I can. Der Slopsmeister has shpoken und you vill obey! The longer I do this job the more I get to act like Peter Sellars in that "Apocolypse" film even to ze tvitch in ze right arm, mind you it might be seeking a tot or a pint or a bottle of wine whichever is a freebie. I will be at Mill Rythe with Mike Crowe and the gang, wearing two hats (RNEBA & Algerines) and I will have slops with me trying very hard to part people from their cash by fair means or foul. See you there or wherever. Rt Hon Robin B'Stard. Otherwise known as Robin Allum Slops Manager
Web Site www.rneba.org.uk is getting a lot of hits on the ‘Find your Oppo’ section. Now if you have not put your favourite ship and your Official Number in, then your entry is going to be a bit sparse. Shiner would really like to help you and to help you, you need to help him. For those not on computer and don’t know what the devil I am talking about, the web site is a wealth of information and just like television it can be entertaining, but unlike television, you will not wish to switch it off because of rubbish on there!! Find a computer, either from a friend or your local library and go and have a look.
Due to popularity we exceeded our allocated bandwidth limit with our old [free] web host in Sept, [due to large number viewing the IGM pictures] so we transferred to a pay one based in US [cost is $12 per year] and were back on line by 22 Sept Since then our viewing figures have steadily increased, the last week in Sept saw 165 visitors, mainly for IGM pictures & minutes, Oct we had 291 visits and Nov was 304. Apart from UK & US, we have viewers from [in no particular order] Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Pakistan, France, Japan & Brazil. Not sure what some may have made of us, but "every little helps" as Mr T tells us. The most popular pages have proved to be the picture galleries, showing the
IGM & re-union photos, and the "Find my Oppo" section, which can be searched for ship or official number.
The success of the Oppo section highlights how providing your Best draft & official Number can help your old shipmates find you, if you have not supplied these details to the membership secretary perhaps you should reconsider, it is the Associations policy not to disclose your personal details, apart from name, Best draft & official number on the internet, so no need to worry about odd phone calls, spam or junk mail Our slopmeister Robin is planning to join the computer community very soon,
when that occurs it is intended to add an on line catalogue of RNEBA items to tempt you to send all your money to Robin.
Regards Mike Wright Webmaster.
Only one thing now remains, and that is to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Mike Crowe
STOP PRESS STOP PRESS STOP PRESS
‘As we go to press with this newsletter, we have breaking news that the editorship problem may be resolved. Further statements and press announcements will be made from this office as we receive them’
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