A FEW PHOTOGRAPHS AND BITS AND PIECES

	The Aden withdrawal. Carriers Albion and Eagle with Fearless, the Flagship and submarine Auriga. I served in Auriga for 5 Years and 7 months - March 1962-October 1964 Canadian commission and August 1965 to April 1968 Singapore commission.		Onboard Tyne Christmas Day 1956. I am the second left foreground with the big grin. Malta was a welcome break - mind you - I have always liked Malta.
	Auriga gets everywhere! Here she is in the Artic Circle having smashed her way to the surface through a polynya. We were a regular visitor 'up north' when based [for 2 years] on Halifax N.S. Canada.		HMS Tyne entering Grand Harbour Malta Boxing Day 1956 on her way home to the UK. She was the Flagship during the Suez War and was actually berthed mid-stream in the canal entrance.
	One of several trips to Brooklyn navy yard. Here Auriga is passing downtown Manhattan.		Self explanatory. Working for Rosie was a very pleasant experience.
	Auriga in the Far East		This was my last pay sheet in the navy. The daily rate had increased dramatically although by our salary construction today, the daily rate of £30.85 is now the hourly rate.
	The Honour Boards in HMS Mercury. Note my name in 1969!		This was my very first computerised pay sheet, now a monthly event from date shown. Note the switch to decimalisation from the previous LSD/£-s-d {LSD meaning 'Librae Solidi Denarii'} system of pounds shillings and pence. See below for government warning!.
	Me being transferred from Tiger to Cleopatra in the South China Sea whilst serving on FOF2 Staff as the FCRS.		My wages in 1970 as a CPO were 112 shillings per day {£5-12-00}[£5.60] ,and since we were paid for 24 hours per day, my ANNUAL salary was £2044 - can you believe that? We were paid for a 24 hour day [because we could be called to duty at any time] so my HOURLY rate was 23.33p and ALL of that BEFORE taxation! TOP PART
	As the standing officer of the watch at HMS Mercury in 1979.		The pictures to the right and above {top & bottom} are of the non- computerised pay sheet we received until March 1971. It covered a four month period, measured 17¼ inches by 13¼ inches and was printed on buff coloured paper. In the left hand margin it ran an advertisement to encourage ratings to buy National Savings products whilst along the bottom it warned the scribes that the form had to be completed with "a ball point pen charged with reproduction ink".			BOTTOM PART
	Aged 17 in 1955.		Each and every service man and woman Served their country to avoid a third world war. Collectively, we achieved that and we wish the same success to the men and women of today's Armed Services.
Crossing the line certificates are ten a penny, but certificates like these are few and far between!			A whole TEN pounds. My! they were generous in those days.
Infamously known as the DUNKER at HMS Vernon, where Gun Wharf Quay is now situated. I was on the same course as HRH the POW.			The silly things we keep! On the Rothesay, as well as being the RS and then the CRS of the ship I was also the SRE [Sound Reproduction Equipment] Manager responsible for putting 'radio entertainment' over the ships SRE tannoy system, and therefore I needed a radio times.
	HMS Ganges Christmas cards 1953 and 1954		This picture shows a typical 'dressing-up' practiced by many Ganges boy's whilst on leave. In this picture, taken with my 9 year old sister Brenda in Morecambe in 1954 when I was 16, I am wearing a PO Boy's badge as though it were a GCB [good conduct badge awarded when aged 22 to sailors in the fleet]. On my right arm, I have placed my AC boy's star above my branch badge [a sparker] to make it look like I was a telegraphist [an able rate] and my Ganges cap tally has been replaced by HMS MULL OF GALLOWAY. This ship was a destroyer depot ship anchored off Harwich not far from Ganges pier. I [we] must have looked right wallies! Nevertheless, it was a common practice. I apologise for the poor quality of the picture.
Various cash awards for Inventions	Last DUTY in Navy	Results of MOD Computer course	Oh to be a submariner in 2003. Talk about "poorly paid footballers of the 1960's" - what about us?		A medical hick-up!!		How the USN treats its top Senior Rates. We should have had such a system way back in 1972. [See also The story of the RN Warrant Officer]
		Well, I thought it was a good idea!
My final few minutes in the Royal Navy after a 30 year career. Altogether now.......aaaarh!!				Receiving my 50 year Ganges certificate from Captain Dunlop R.N. Rtd at the Ganges Association Reunion 2004 at Pakefield.
GOVERNMENT WARNING!!. This sheet of information was issued by the government to help everybody understand decimalisation. The change over date from LSD was the 15th February 1971.
My last station card as a junior rate in November 1961. Rated Petty Officer in May 1962				My U.S.N. Victualling card when I was stationed in Norfolk Virginia at the joint ASW training academy. A FCPO [RN warrant officer] = a Master CPO, a MCPO. A warrant officer in the USN is a commissioned rank.
When stationed in Canada 63-65 we were allowed NATO duty free booze, There were strict rules in force as the back of my card shows. The front says HMS AURIGA HFX [Halifax].				These are just some of my RAF Flights to various parts of the world to join ships or submarines or to return home to the UK.
One of my favourite possessions. It gave me carte blanche to carry anything really and of course anybody stopping me wasn't allowed to open any SECRET book or package.				This was the last Christmas Card issued by HMS Mercury in 1992.
HMS Mercury closed down on the last day of August 1993. The envelope shown is signed as described.