Contact: Jim McFaul, 92 Armorial Road, Styvechall, Coventry CV3 6GJ. Tel: 024 7641 5574.
jim@mcfaulcov.freeserve.co.uk [11.2015]
Notice about the status of the Branch
Following a sharp fall in attendance at our monthly meetings it was decided at our branch AGM on the 9th April 2016 that unless someone stepped forward before September to take on various tasks, the branch, after over sixty years, will be formally closed and no more meetings held. Unfortunately no-one has volunteered and furthermore in the last few months we have also lost several long serving key members so the branch is now closed. Our thanks to the many members who have supported us over the years, many unfortunately no longer with us, and to all those speakers who presented so many interesting talks.
Some past Meeting Highlights
Meeting Notes: In November 2007, the branch was proud and honoured to welcome four verterans who were involved with Operation Pedestal, the crucial Malta convoy of August 1942. Les Dalton, our speaker, served on HMS EAGLE, Les Rae on HMS CAIRO, John Berrill on HMS INTREPID and Harold Highfield had served on Holt’s DEUCALION. For the first part of his illustrated talk Les reviewed the warships that participated and took us through the action from the Glasgow and Liverpool departures, across the Bay of Biscay, passing Gibraltar to face continuous attacks by aircraft, surface vessels and submarines in the Mediterranean which included the loss of his own ship. Of the fourteen merchant ships only five including the tanker OHIO reached Malta. All were damaged but helped in the island’s survival. In the second part, Les covered the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Pedestal convoy sponsored by the Maltese Government. This was a meeting that the members of the branch will not forget.