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Relics and Artifacts
We welcome suggestions, submissions and links to relevant information, please contact us with details.
Altar
The Mother's Union Chapel of Penmon Priory
The ship's altar used to stand on the Main Deck and after an ignominious period stored in a garage was presented by the Conway Club to the Mother's Union Chapel of Penmon Priory. It was originally carved and presented to the Conway by Mr Percy Cox , the father of Cadet V S Cox (05-09). It was donated to the Chapel at the suggestion of Capt Eric Hewitt in 1989.
Anchor
Outside the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool, UK. This was recovered in 1968 by Brookie and many cadets. It was lifted by first removing the encasing concrete base, beaching cutters either side of it at low water, lashing it to the cutters by cross beams and letting the tide lift it out. Sounds simple but it was a close run thing. The anchors weighed 4-5 tons and were transported from Bangor, through the Swellies in the same way with only a few inches freeboard! . Interestingly it was Brookie who arranged that transfer and positioning many years before. Subsequently hauled from the Dock up to the Parade Ground where it remained for some years. Eventually transferred to the Museum. We are informed it is a favourite spot for tourist photos.
Anchor
Installed 1988 outside the Maritime Museum, Caernarfon, Wales, UK. It was recovered between 8th and 10th September 1987 by members of the Seiontt Trust (a leading member was an OC). A series of photos of the recovery are at:
http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=10358&t=10
They restored the anchor and mounted it along with an explanatory plaque outside the museum.
Anchors
There are two smaller anchors still embedded in the Menai Strait where they were positioned to anchor the ship. They are very old anchors, but not original Conway anchors. They were brought to Port Penhryn in 1948 to complete the Plas Newydd moorings. Some say they came from Plymouth but The Cadet magazine of the time says they were two of the anchors used on the Rock Ferry mooring. The upper flukes have been removed. They were always overgrown and probably are now very difficult to spot. Perhaps some enterprising diver could tell us if the mooring rings and swivel are still there, should be easy to find, just follow the anchor cables.
Army Museum, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
They have a photo and plaque commemorating Lt Col Bent VC DSO.
Band Instruments
Transferred to Indefatigable. Current whereabouts not known. Indefatigable had a big sale when the school closed so they could have gone anywhere... unless you know otherwise.
Bangor Pier Head, Bangor
Several benches donated by Conways line the pier. There used to be a small Conway museum at the entrance to the pier. Does anyone know what happened to the displays?
Barnes Cup
The old inter-watch gig racing was presented to the St Helena Shipping Company by the Conway Club. It is on permanent display in the passenger area of one of their mail ships which also carries cadets in two cabins named Conway and Worcester (see Summer 1991 Newsletter). The cup is awarded annually to the cadet who produces the best kept log or project through their training period aboard one of their mail ships.
Bell
This is in a special display in the RN Museum, Portsmouth with the ship's wheel and the large model that used to stand on the quarterdeck of the 'Stone Frigate'.
Binnacle
This is in a special display in the RN Museum, Portsmouth with the ship's wheel, bell and the large model that used to stand on the quarterdeck of the 'Stone Frigate'.
Binnacle (from Pinnace)
This is on display in the Priory Museum.
Birkenhead Priory and Conway Chapel, Birkenhead, Wirral, UK
http://www.vwlowen.demon.co.uk/wirral/priory.htm
The ruins of Birkenhead Priory may be accessed at any time. However the Conway Chapel, which is one of the two chapels at the Priory, may only be accessed when the Warden is on site or by prior arrangement. The Warden is there every day except Monday from 12 noon to 5 p.m.in summer and 1p.m.to 4 p.m in winter. To be absolutely certain of access, visitors should telephone John Southwood (0151 342 5978) or Derek Parfect (0151 653 5665) who will be happy to show visitors the Chapel which contains many items of Conway memorabilia including the honours boards from the original Conway Chapel at Plas Newyyd. There are also three magnificent stained glass windows in the Chapel commemorating "Conway" and two recently deceased Old Conways. For further details see the Friends of the Conway section.
Carnarfon Harbour Board Papers
Theses are stored in the Gwynedd Archives. They include all the papers relating to the ship and her disposal from the date of the wreck onwards. (They were the Authority left with the liability for the wreck's removal.)
Caernarfon Maritime Museum, Caernarfon, UK
This has a small but very interesting display as well as an anchor. It also has a panel from the last ship, possibly the section that allowed a light to shine through into the Magazine. There is supposed to be a visitors book for Conways but no one seemed to know about it when I visited in 1998. Opening hours and email address at:
http://www.cus.cam.ac.uk/~mhe1000/marmus.htm
Click images to enlarge
Captain's Cabin Doors
Thurnham Hall, Near Lancaster
The doors to the Captains Cabin are in this timeshare hotel. Research indicates they were probably bought by the Hall's then owners from the contractor who was dismantling the ship. They are a 'novelty' in the hotel because of their height and shape - the bottom is obviously slightly shaped to allow for the curve of the ship's deck. They are used as a feature by sales staff to describe the resort's attractions! They are very attractive with a lot of intricate carving, are well looked after and in excellent condition. Our thanks to their resident architect who contacted us with the information. He has also obtained photos of the ship and these are on display near the doors. The original locks and plates, donated by Captain Hewitt's family are in Birkenhead Town Hall Museum. The lock to the Captain's Veranda Door is held by John Southwood - a gift from Captain Hewitt.
http://www.thurnhamhall.co.uk/
Click image to enlarge
Cigarette Card
'HMS Conway RUFC' was recorded on Ardath Tobacco Company's card no 73 1936.
Click image to enlarge
Communion Silver
Reportedly passed to the Missions To Seamen but from 2003 actually on display in the RN Museum in Plymouth.
Click image to enlarge
Conway Chapel
The chapel built by the Conway Club alongside the New Block still stands but it is no longer used as a chapel.
"I was in there about 10 years ago (1980ish) and found the place in a terrible mess. The plaques (memorail boards) were still on the walls, but the place was being used as a kindergarten and play area. I was appalled. Remember that it had been de-consecrated. I found the communion silver in a cupboard next to "net balls". I nicked it all and took it back to Canada. I contacted the club with the story and that started the move to have the plaques re-located and I sent the silver to the Vancouver club. Not sure what happened to it from there." (Ed see under Communion Silver and memorial Boards)
There is now a Conway Chapel in Birkenhead Priory containing many of the items from the old chapel. Please see the Friends of the Conway section for more information.
Conway House, Kelly School
They hold a number of artifacts including a Conway sword and the brass ship's nameplate.
Conway Song
Sheet music is still available from the publisher (well he is an Old Conway) by whose kind permission we reproduce the music. Notes words are by Cecil Roberts, not John Masefield. An Audio Tape of the Conway Song played by the Band of H.M.Royal Marines and sung by the Liverpool Welsh Male Voice Choir is available from 'Friends of HMS Conway' Price GBP5 + GBP1 P&P UK GBP2 Overseas. Orders to: jrs@riverdee.freeserve.co.uk
A tape of original Bugle Calls will be available shortly.
There were various unoffical Conway songs. One, current around 1947-49 went as follows (this version has been 'cleaned up" somewhat!
The Conway's the pride of the Blue Funnel Fleet,
There's plenty to do and there's not much to eat,
So roll on the Nelson, the Rodney, the Hood,
This three master frigate is no blinking good.
We rise at six-thirty and work on till nine,
They work us quite hard and they feed us like swine,
So chum join the Worcester or run to Pangbourne,
On the Conway you'll wish that you'd never been born.
Oh Digger's a blighter and Spooky as well,
Crockett's as balmy, as balmy as hell,
Flanagan's ignorant, never been taught,
His mental capacity adds up to nought.
Oh I've sung you my song and it's been full of woe,
Most of its true as all Conways will know,
But despite of all that I'll remember that boat,
For the happiest days I've yet spent whilst afloat
Cutters
Now that was real rowing... Unfortunately these splendid torture machines were broken up. They were pretty good fun to sail too. Gone for good. They were 10 oared and made specially for the ship. They were made from the same mould and so were perfectly matched for rowing races. They were 27 feet long and weighed fifteen hundredweight.
Click image to enlarge
Decking
Wood from the deck was made into a Lecturn that was donated by the National Maritime Board of Great Britain to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Long Island, New York. It is kept in their House of Worship: the Mariners Chapel to the right of the altar.
http://www.usmma.edu/chapel/history.htm
Ensigns
An ensign hangs in Liverpool Cathedral.
An ensign used to hang in St Andrews Cathedral Sydney but it is now held by the Conway and Worcester Club in Sydney.
The ensign flown by Ship in 1941 during the move from the Mersey to the Menai Straits is now on display in the Conway Chapel at Birkenhead Priory suitably inscribed.
A new Conway Standard has been donated by an OC and is on display in the Conway Chapel and is paraded at official functions, carried by an OC volunteer.
Field Gun
A 2 pounder wheeled
field gun, minus breech used to stand outside the gun room in the
ship - whether
to protect the inhabitants or keep them in order I know not.
When the ship was lost the gun was salvaged and transferred to the
entrance of the Nelson Block. It's antecedents are not clear but I
understand it was donated to the ship by a cadet. One rumour is that
is was captured during the Boxer Rebellion, another that it was captured
by the crew of ones of the three Conways during their various engagements
in China. An engarengraved plaque describing it's capture has been
polished to illegibility by generations of cadets so we may never
know the correct story. When the ship paid off in 1974 the gun was
transferred to the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich but is not
on display.
Figurehead
HMS Nelson, Portsmouth
In 1937 it was decided that the ship should have a new figurehead and the figure of Lord Horatio Nelson was chosen. The design and construction were undertaken by Mr. Carter Pearson. He took great pains to ensure authenticity, studying Nelson's actual uniform to match colours, and various portraits, including Nelson's death mask, to obtain a true likeness. The figurehead was made from teak as this was considered a more long lasting wood than the yellow pine normally used for ships' figureheads. It was not possible to obtain a single block of wood large enough so 3 inch planks were used. It is now mounted inside HMS Nelson in Portsmouth but can be seen from the road.
Fifes
Remember the two Fifes that graced the Straits in front of Plas Newydd during summertime?
Click image to enlarge
I'm pleased to report that Fife No. 5, aka Thelma, is alive and well, having been lovingly restored by Bill Thompson (58/61). She is now owned by she has been acquired by another Old Conway - T A Kershaw ('Tak') who lives in Beaumaris. .
Anyone know what happened to the other one Flying Cloud?
Figurehead Masting 1938 - Film Clip
British Pathe News have a film clip of John Masefield unveiling the figurehead http://www.britishpathe.com. search for HMS Conway
Gigs
Many of us will remember many hours spent rowing these six oared gigs and competing for the Barnes Trophy (as stroke of the Fo'c's'le gig in the mid 60s I seem to remember it was virtually our trophy). They were commissioned by the Conway Club in 1928 for the renewed Conway - Worcester boat race. The traditional annual Conway - Worcester boat race has been resurrected andis now held periodically in Australia.They were built by Messrs Winram of Liverpool.
What happened to the gigs is a long story with a sad ending. In 1974 when the ship paid off the gigs, with other things, were given to the Indefatigable. In 1995 Indefatigable also paid off and all her property was set to be auctioned. Haydn Lockwood (46/47) who lived locally decided to see if the gigs could be reclaimed and used in some way, even though they were in a pretty poor state. A surveyor thought one might be restorable but that the other was beyond economic repair. Haydn went to see the receiver, told a good tale and was given 24 hours to remove them. “From memory our Gigs were 32’ loa and just under 5` beam so we had problems finding a suitable wagon so we used a static caravan transporter instead”. He recruited friends, OCs and a probation officer with a gang of lusty lads and packed them of to safe keeping in Birkenhead. Haydn started to raise money for their restoration, including seeking government initiative funding, although eventually a private donor said he’d fund the work. Haydn had to go abroad for 6 months and although the gigs were in a secure site when he got back they had disappeared. “I made some discreet enquires and decided that nothing would resurrect them and too much enquiry could muddy the water for other worthwhile projects. A sad ending although what we could have actually done with them is debatable” as they were in such poor condition.
Goulding Cup
This is now presented annually by the Navy League of Canada Sea Cadets to the Corps demonstrating the highest degree of proficiency in small boat handling during their Spring Regatta. As many as 300 cadets are involved in the competition
Gwynedd Archives Service, Victoria Dock, Caernarfon, UK. (+44 (0) 1286) 679095
They hold many photographs, records and artifacts. Well worth a visit. Rather than wading through the normal index cards ask to see the special booklet that lists all their Conway items. Most of the material housed there is part of the Seiont Maritime Trust collection. The Trust also runs the Caernavon Maritime Museum
Haig Trophy
Presented by the parents of J E Haig (41-43), this trophy was presented to the best mountain expedition of the year in a competition between each Division. Returned to the family in 1974.
Halifax Museum, Nova Scotia
Negative 14902 is a photo of HMS Nile in Halifax Harbour 1862.
http://www.ednet.ns.ca/educ/museum/mma/index.html
Harley Memorial Shield
Held by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich but is not on display.
Honour Boards
Birkenhead Priory Museum, Birkenhead, Wirral, UK.
Housed in the Conway Chapel in Birkenhead Priory.
Imperial War Museum, London
Display of George Cross, medals and other items belonging to Cdr Francis Brooke-Smith GC, RD RNR (34-36). Awarded for dealing with an unexploded bomb on the Manchester Ship Canal. Citation in London Gazette 27 June 1941.
Lectern
Click image to enlarge
Log Book
HMS Nile„s log book for the years 1860 to 1864 is held by the National Archives of Canada, Reference : MG24, F49
http://www.archives.ca/
http://www2.hmc.gov.uk/NRA/searches/SIdocs.asp?SIR=63869
Log Book (kept by Cadet David Norris)
This cadet kept a log book for the years 1891-93. It is held by the Royal Naval Museum Reference : 1984/294(1)
http://www2.hmc.gov.uk/NRA/searches/SIdocs.asp?SIR=79019
Magazine Panel
A decorated panel, possibly the section that allowed a light to shine through into the Magazine, is in Caernarfon Maritime Museum, Caernarfon, UK. Opening hours and email address at:
http://www.cus.cam.ac.uk/~mhe1000/marmus.htm
Click image to enlarge
Medal Board
Click image to enlarge
Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock, Liverpool, UK
One of the Ship's anchors stands outside the entrance. The museum holds the Moody Cup as part of their Titanic exhibition, and they have a display cabinet dedicated to the Conway. They also hold a significant part of the Conway archive material, including all the original hand written records of every cadet, listed by cadet number, with details of school reports, executive reports etc. A useful source of information for anyone wishing to organise a reunion of their term or research a Cadet. The archive material includes Annual Reports 1859-1894; Monthly Reports 1881-1908; album of miscellaneous printed papers re: fund raising, fitting out of cadets 1858-1883; Muster Rolls 1875-1959; Wages books 1882-1960; Visitor books 1934-1975; Captain Superintendent's standing orders 1949-1964; Indexes to registers of cadets 1859-1972; registers of Cadets 1859-1971; Insurance stamp record books 1953-1968; bound and loose volumes of the Cadet Magazine 1889-1974 (1889-1966 are also on microfilm) photographs of cadets, sporting events etc. 1891-1968; miscellaneous pamphlets and papers 1897-1984.
The museum has been awarded a Heritage Lottery fund grant of £28,600 which together with contributions from the Conway Club, and the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, will be used for a project to conserve and repair the Conway archive which is now held by the museum. This will take place over the next 2 years in a phased programme which will mean that some records will be unavailable at certain times. In order to preserve the most important records from handling, and to ensure that the information they contain will still be available whilst they are being repaired, they have been microfilmed and are available in the museum's search room. These are the Annual Reports, the indexes to the Cadet Registers, and the Cadet Registers. Although not essential the museum recommends that visitors ring to book a microfilm reader in advance of their visit as they can all be in use at busy periods.
Under the Data Protection Act (1998) protective measures have been introduced to restrict access to potentially sensitive information about living individuals. The Cadet Registers after 1898 are subject to these measures, and can only be accessed by anyone after completion of a Restricted Access Application form. This applies to cadets themselves, their relatives or researchers working on their behalf. Before access is granted the museum may ask for proof of identity from former cadets, or in the case of researchers evidence of prior permission from the cadets themselves. Copies of the microfilm entry can be printed off for a small charge. Alternatively for people who are unable to visit the Maritime Archives and Library the museum offer a free research service. As they deal with a large number of enquiries it may take up to 6 weeks for them to answer an enquiry. You can write or email the museum with your name and years at the Conway. Alternatively, John Southwood, who lives locally and is a Trustee of the Friends of HMS Conway, will carry out the research on behalf of "Conways" and their relatives subject to the same Data Protection principles as are described above. He produces the cadet's record in a presentation binder which makes an attractive gift or memento. There is no charge for John's service but donations to Friends of Conway are always appreciated to help cover the costs of copying and postage as well as going towards the upkeep of the Conway Chapel at Birkenhead Priory.
- Maritime Archive and Library
Merseyside Maritime Museum
Albert Dock
Liverpool L3 4AQ
England
- Phone inside UK :- 0151 207 0001 (central switchboard)
- Phone inside UK 0151 478 4424 (Archives Section) May be an answering machine. The archive is open 10.30 to 16.30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thusdays
- Fax inside UK 0151 478 4590
- Phone from outside UK +44 151 207 0001 (central switchboard)
- Phone from outside UK +44 151 478 4424 (Archives Section) May be an answering machine. The archive is open 10.30 to 16.30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thusdays
- Fax from outside UK +44 151 478 4590
- Email :- maritime.archives@nmgm.org
- Website :- www.nmgm.org.uk
John
Southwood, Esq
4, Hillside Road
Heswall,
Wirral, Cheshire
CH60 0BH
United Kingdom
Tel:
44 (0)151 342 5978
e-mail: jrs@riverdee.freeserve.co.uk
Mizzen Mast
Twelve Quays, Egerton Dock, Birkenhead, Liverpool, UK.
The mast was re-erected on 25 September 1993 in memory of the 11,000 cadets who passed through the Conway and those who lost their lives at sea. Although called the mizzen mast details gleamed from The Cadet magazine indicate that it was actually the original Main Topmast.
TS Conway sea cadets provided a guard of honour at the unveiling ceremony. Members of the Vancouver Conway Club organised replacement spars and new wood for blending into sound sections of the original.
Mizzen Mast
Pwhelli Sailing, North Wales
This club has a portion of the original mizzen mast. OC's and Old Worcester members of this club made a substantial donation towards the restoration of the Mizzen Mast, in return the Mast Committee donated part of the original mast to them. It has been erected within the Bar area flying a small Conway ensign.
Models Of The Ship
There are five known models of HMS Nile in her guise as HMS Conway:
1. The Gee Model
This large and fine model was made and presented to the ship by Mr J Gee in 1956. It is actually a bit of a historical hotch-potch; it shows the ship in her Nile days as a pure sailing ship – note no funnel! Nile was only commissioned after she was converted to steam. It also shows the post-1938 figurehead – Nile's original figurehead was only a bust of Nelson with far less body. It is now part of a Conway display in the RN Museum, Portsmouth. It previously stood on the quarterdeck of the New Block as shown below. I believe Mr Gee is the other gentleman in the second photo!
Click image to enlarge
This is the only model with one side exposed so that you can see inside.
2. The Williams Model or The King's Model
On July 22 1932 HM the King was presented with a model of the Conway made onboard by the carpenter Mr John Bullis Williams assisted by cadets. It was paid for by the Conway Club. The hull was cut from the African Oak of a starboard side lower deck fairlead. It was to a scale of one-eight of an inch to the foot. It took two years to complete. It has 156 dead eyes and 91 blocks made from old school rulers. The metal is silver plated ship's copper. There are 120 yards of rigging (wire and silk trout line), 622 bolts (domestic pins), 6 feet nine inches of chain on boat davits, 1798 clove hitches in the rigging. There are 16 coats of paint and enamel. The model is now in the Science Museum, London but not on display.
Two photos of this model are below. One was published in The Cadet in 1933. You will see this model is very different to the Gee Model, In particular it is fully planked and does not have an open side. It shows the ship in her converted state as Conway in 1931-3 – witness the various additions on deck, especially the foc's'le, and the powerboats, cutter and gigs on the davits. Note also there is no figurehead as the original was lost in 1918 and not replaced until 1938. In the second photo the model has been removed from its stand, the ensign removed and some adjustments mde to the masts
Click image to enlarge
3. The Powers Model
In October 1933 many cadets exhibited models at the Ship Model exhibition in the Bluecoats School, Liverpool. Instructor Powers had made a very fine model of the ship, "...a very beautiful representation...". Now I wonder where that is now?
4. The Baden Powell Model
Warrington Baden Powel made a half scale model of the ship. It is held by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich but is not on display.
5. The Friends Model
This small model – approximately 18inches in length is held by the Friends Of The Conway and is on display in the Conway Chapel at Birkenhead.
Moody Cup
Donated by Moody's family in memory of James Paul Moody (1904-06), 6th Officer on the Titanic. Competed for at Conway as an open sailing competition in MSOD's by Cadets choosing their own crew. After the closure of Conway the Moody Cup was presented by the Governors to the Conway Club Cruising Association for the best Annual Cruising Log submitted by an Old Conway. The Cup was on loan to the Merseyside Maritime Museum but is now on display in the Conway Chapel.
Please also see the Notable Conways section and the Friends of the Conway section for more information.
Nameplate
Kelly School
The 'HMS Conway' brass nameplate from the starboard gangway is now in the main entrance of Conway House, Kelly School, Tavistock, Devon, UK. The school holds many other items of Conway memorabilia including a sword.
Nestor Bell
Originally stood outside the part of Plas Newydd - the Nelson Block used as dormitories. It is now on display in the Priory Museum.
No1 Motor Boat
No. 1 had tiller steering. Thought to have been transferred to Indefatigable. Current whereabouts not known. Anyone know what happened to No 1?
No 2 Motor Boat
She was steered with a proper wheel, whereas No. 1 had tiller steering and a petrol engine. No.2 was also a lot smaller
No.2 had a close coupled forward / reverse gearbox with direct drive. I'm not sure of the starting but I presume that it was a crank handle.
I was one of No.2 Boat’s engineers and she ran on TVO (Tractor Vapourising Oil). No. 2 started on petrol and after the engine warmed up you had to switch over to TVO. The petrol was in red jerry cans and the TVO in green. The two fuel tanks were placed on each side of the hatch to the cabin in the focsle. The TVO pump stood on the dock near the lifeboat. (which was launched every now and promptly sunk to the gunwales). I used to keep a log of fuel usage and I recall there was a bit of a competition between the various engineers as to the least petrol used. This sometimes meant turning over to TVO too early and the engine stalling much to the chagrin of the cox especially if coming out into a strong tide.
In 1971, a Conway cadet whilst an engineer cadet at Birkenhead Technical College spotted the engine from No 2 motor boat in the college workshops. The crack in the entablature was instantly recognizable.
Thought to have been transferred to Indefatigable. Current whereabouts not known. Anyone know what happened to No 2?
New Block, Plas Neweydd
Cheshire County Council now own the 'new block' built at Plas Newydd. It is called the Conway Centre and used by them as a residential centre for pupils from Cheshire. It is not open to the public but many OCs have visited anyway! Their web site has photos of the Nelson Centre and dock.
http://www.canolfanconway.u-net.com/
Outward Bound Museum, Aberdovey
Some photos of Conway cadets in Aberdovey. (Between 1941 and 1947 Cadets also spent time at OB Aberdovey. Conway cadets attended Class No 1 and later returned to teach). The link perhaps existed because of the involvement of the Holt family in both establishments, as well as Gordonstoune School
Painting Of The Ship Off Rock Ferry
Conway Centre, Plas Newydd, Anglesey, Wales, UK.
Captain Hewitt’s insistence on an office mezzanine floor above the quarterdeck had created a light three story space that is filled by Gordon  Ellis’s magnificent 16 foot by 10 foot painting of the Ship at Rock Ferry. It remains in place to this day and every one of the 15,000 or so
children and staff passing through the Conway Centre each year receives a brief explanation of the painting and Conway in general. National Trust visitors to Plas Newydd cannot visit the painting. The painting was the privately commissioned gift of Mr Leslie Harding (the Vice Charman of the committee and partner in Bibby Brothers & Co) especially for the New Block entrance in 1963. He wanted to ensure that, as first hand memories of the Ship passed away, there would be some tangible reminder of Conway's origins for future cadets. Mr Harding chose the highly appropriate words from the Navigation Act of 1660 that hang with the painting:
“It is upon ships and sailors under the good providence of god that our wealth, safety and strength chiefly depend.”
Pinnace
The original pinnace was an ex RN boat but the 1946
- 1970 pinnace came to Conway by a circuitous route from the German
Kriegsmarine at the end of world war 2, a gift from Alfred Holts. Glen Line was having a ship, the Glengarry, built by Burmeister and Wain of Copenhagen. She was launched in 1939 but never delivered because of the war. When the Germans invaded they commandeered the unfinished vessel, renamed her Meersburg and gave her to the Hamburg-Amerika line where she served first as a U-boat target ship in the Baltic for the 27th Flotilla. Later she was ordered to Rotterdam and then Hamburg to be converted into an Hilfskreuzer or auxiliary cruiser (armed merchant raider). She was to be raider number 5 and named Hansa. Details
of Hansa can be found here:
http://www.geocities.com/pentagon/2833/kriegsmarine/raider/hansa/hansa.html
Although commissioned in 1943 she never sailed. She participated in the final desperate evacuation at Hela until the end of the war, sustaining damage when she hit a mine on May 4 1945 and sank. She was raised later in May 1945 and renamed Empire Humber. Holts, reclaimed her in 1946 through the extraordinary guile, tenacity and sheer insubordination of their chosen representative Captain Frank C Brown. He, thwarting the best efforts of the Royal Navy, which, considering her to be a legitimate prize, "arrested’ the vessel in the name of the Admiralty and ordered her to remain in port. Brown simply upped anchor and stood out to sea. "No shots came across as we passed the Needles. We had no pilot to dispose of - we did not stop. So we came to buoy 10 at Gareloch. From that day to this, I have heard no more of my infringement of maritime law. I assume that my juvenile delinquency was overlooked in the confusion of those days". She traded as Glengarry for the Glen Line for many years before transferring to Ocean in 1970 as Dardanus returning to Glen Line in October 1970 for her final trip to the breakers at Tadaju, Japan in March 1971
The
pinnace was one of standard class of Kriegsmarine small
support boats. Wartime footage of other raiders including the famous/infamous
Atlantis and Pinguin clearly shows sisters to the pinnace being used
to ferry men and materials between vessels at sea. They were also used by the Kreigsmarine as Admiral's and Captain's launches. Many were fitted with a small canopy. Capital ships like Bismarck, Graf Spee, Admiral Scheer and Gneisenau carried two or three, even small vessels like minesweepers might carry one. A selection of photos to be found online and in books is below (left Adniral Scheer, centre Prince Eugen, right Geneisenau).
  
The pinnace was superfluous to Holt’s needs so they donated her to Conway.Sister pinnaces went to the Holyhead and Liverpool Pilots. An OC reports a similar boat operated by the German police out of Cuxhaven. Another OC recalls one in Portsmouth harbour for many years.
"When
the pinnace was delivered to the ship in 46 by sea from Birkenhead
she still had her original engine and transmission. She had I think a Mann diesel
and conventional transmission, the "gear stick " was rather
like and old hand brake lever with a release that locked it in position.
There was a plate on the E/R bulkhead which said in German that it
had a capacity for 85 persons in fresh water. In 1950 as a callow
3rd mate leaving Hamburg in the Dymas we had to radio ahead to Cuxhaven
to request the police to collect some stowaways, the police came out
to meet us in the twin of the pinnace! On the pinnace it was possible
to see where lifting points were fitted so she could be lifted on
davits."
When delivered
to Conway she had a conventional rudder. In 1949 or 50 she was fitted
with Kitchen Gear, more correctly ''Kitchen's
Patent Reversing Rudders'' It was patented in the U.K. and Abroad
under British Patent 3249/1914 ( Which may have been reference to
the year ) by Gordon H.Fraser 747 The Liver Buildings, Liverpool.
The modern steering unit by waterjet is a derivative. This
made her very maneuverable. The following is an extract from "Basic
Naval Architecture" by Barnaby:The
Kitchen rudder consists of two curved blades carried on pivots above
and below the propeller. Normally, the blades lie on either side of
the propeller, but they can be angled to the race to give steering
effect, or they can be closed together behind the propeller to form
a sort of hemispherical cup that enables astern way to be obtained
without the necessity of reversing the propeller. This may sound like
"hoisting yourself up by your shoe- strings", but there
is an actual astern thrust of the order of one third of the normal
amount. This suffices for ordinary maneuvering as the closed blades
provide an efficient brake.” Other settings allowed quick and fancy maneuvers. Cadets who could
master this complicated arrangement (many failed miserably) could
do anything with the pinnace! “I found that especially when
stemming the tide that by using the kitchen gear/rudder the boat would
very near go sideways. Great fun and when executed with some panache,
then very spectacular coming alongside. When driving one of HM Minesweepers
later in my career the previous experience stood me in good stead,
Happy days!!”
“There was a plate on the engine room bulkhead, which said, in German, that it had a capacity for 85 persons in fresh water. It was possible to see where lifting points were fitted so she could be lifted on davits.” Timed in both directions over a measured mile between Gallows Point and near the Gazelle her speed was 11.5 knots. She was to be a very welcome addition to Conway’s trio of motorboats. The two motorboats were the long suffering workhorses, the water boat had her dedicated and vital role, now the pinnace provided a greater carrying capacity and power. She was fitted with a small binnacle and used for navigation lessons. The pinnace, like all Conway boats was to suffer many and varied indignities at the hands of cadets over the next 30 or so years. Each boat had a coxswain in charge (always a cadet captain), and a bowman and sternman to handle lines. A cadet was also assigned as the engineer to nurse the engine; the term engineer being used somewhat advisedly! "The starting routine even more special.
There was a long steel lever that had to be cranked back and forth
to build up pressure in the firing cylinder, which would then be released
by pulling upwards on a short handle at the side of the engine. In
cold weather liberal applications of ether spray were also required."
"The
Pinnace was an unusual boat. She had a diagonally lapped carvel hull
and was copper sheathed on the outer hull. The reason I remember the
hull structure is that the Pinnace leaked quite badly especially at
speed and you could see the water weeping in between the laminations."
She suffered many indignities over the
years including several beachings at PD and one incident in 1959 when
she was holed in the starboard bow (Cadet Schunck denies all knowledge
of that incident). She survived all that cadets could throw at her
and her into. There are various rumours about the final fate of the
pinnace including being scuppered under the tubular bridge (complete
with Brookie in tears), being burnt in an accident and sold. The truth is more prosaic.The
pinnace had been built with iron nails and these were continually
being replaced as they corroded. The decision was taken in the summer
of 1970 to scrap her as she was beyond economical repair. She was
beached in the dock, stripped of fittings and a working party ordered
to set fire to her. "The party consisted Rob Tubb along with
Mike Holyoake, "Oris" Dean, John Hopkins and I think Robin
Povall SCC Mizzen was in charge. I do recall we had great difficulty
setting her alight, mind you we were using TVO!!!" Nick
Goodwin remembers her coming out of the water onto the slip: “I
lost the top of my little finger to the starboard leg we were attaching.
I remember picking it up and putting it back on the end and
going off to see Sister Jones and being taken off to Bangor Hospital.
It knitted back on but never grew to match the rest of the finger.
So I missed the firing of the wooden hulk." "One
summer leave the remains were picked through by one of my term mates.
He collected all the bronze/brass fastenings and maybe the bronze
buckets. Will not name names but recall being shown the nails."
Plans Of HMS Nile
Available from the Maritime Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Size 4' by 2'
Plans: http://www.nmm.ac.uk/cmr/coll_plans_info.html#vict
Plaque, Mostyn House School, Parkgate, Cheshire, UK
This plaque, mounted on the school wall, records the thanks of Cadets who sheltered in the school for several days during the Liverpool Blitz in 1941. It was this event that prompted the move to the Menai Straits (the bombing that is not staying at the school!).
http://www.liverpool.com/pressto/mostyn-house/info.html
Prie-Dieu
In 1989 Captain Hewitt discovered the Prie-Dieu outside an antique shop in the town of Conway. It had been presented by the cadets in mempry of Captain A T Miller and has a brass plate to that effect. By skilful negotiation an excellent price was agreed, the money being paid by the Conway Club. It is now in the Conway Chapel.
Click image to enlarge
Ship's Timber
I'm sure you are aware that timbers salvaged from the Conway are still in existence. You may not know that some have been sampled (by Dublin and Bangor Universities) and identified as African Oak (which of course is not an oak at all). A wide variety of woods were used in her construction, including English oak from Shropshire for the 1938 refit. African Oak was used only for the lower deck.
Ship's Timber
Western Australia Conway Club
A small piece of ship's timber from the 1938 refit at Cammell Lairds, Liverpool is the base of the Conway Senior Challenge 1938 sports cup originally won by W A Johnstone (37-38) on sports day Easter term. The cup found in an antique shop in Albany Western Australia by local Conways and is now held by the Western Australia Conway Club.
Ship's Timber
Timbers were used to create the various Honour Boards displayed in the Conway Chapel at Birkenhead Priory
Ship's Timber
Timbers and copper still survive and are held by an OC. I believe they spent some time in someone's back garden. He has kindly offered to turn them into items of interest for OCs - tankards, coaster, belaying pins etc. Contact details are on page 5 of the Spring 98 Newsletter, and I'm sure the Hon Sec could also put you in touch.
Ship's Timber
Timbers and copper litter the Menai Straits foreshore.
Ship's Wheel
Click image to enlarge
This is in a special display in the RN Museum, Portsmouth with the ship's bell and binnacle and the ship's model.
Silverware & Trophies
The Conway Club is the custodian of a number of items and they are currently considering their future.
Stamp
Watercraft Philately Volume 29, page 56 refers to stamp of HMS Conway.
http://baegis.ag.uidaho.edu/~myron/shipstamps/WP/Vol_20_29/Vol_29.html
In 1980 St Kitts N.L. issued a 55c multi coloured stamp showing HMS Winchester.
Does anyone have a copy we could use?
Sternpost
Sid Davies (42-43) has a piece of the sternpost - about 12 inches square by about 18 inches long - varnished and with a plate to record what it is. Also a copper nail, suitably mounted and a dowel about 3" diameter with a war department arrow on it.
Taffrail
A section of the Taffrail is mounted above the bar of the MN Officers Memorial Club, Durban South Africa. It was presented by a group of OCs in the 50s
Taffrail
Since 1955 the "Conway Trophy" has been competed for annually by the the Cadets of HMCS Venture, HMC Dockyard, Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada.
http://www.vultech.ns.ca/venture/
http://www.marpac.dnd.ca/Support/Base/index.html
It was originally awarded to the most proficient Division in Seamanship, Signaling, and Boat Work but more recently there has been greater emphasis on sports. Some 300 cadets complete every year. It is a section of Conway's taffrail, heavily varnished and mounted on four pillars. The base has a silver plaque bearing the Conway crest. It was taken to Canada by Capt HV Todd (17-18) and eventually obtained by D MacKay (15/18) who turned it into the "Conway Trophy".
Captain Webb Memorial Shield
Held by the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich but is not on display.
Worcester - Conway Boat Race 1934 - Film Clip
A film clip of the race exists in the British Pathe film archive. Unfortunately they won.
http://www.britishpathe.com Search for HMS Conway
Wreck
http://www.divernet.co.uk/travel/meni1096.htm
"The Menai Strait, which separates the Isle of Anglesey from mainland North Wales, was described by Nelson as: "one of the most treacherous stretches of sea in the world.
Whoever could navigate a ship here, could sail any sea in the world." Few would dispute his pronouncement; it is an area of overfalls, eddies and swirling water. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Swellies, as the Strait is known locally, has a wreck.
HMS Conway was a 96-gun line-of-battle wooden warship much like Nelson's flagship, Victory. Her ill-fated journey from her permanent berth off the stately home of Plas Newydd to Birkenhead for dry-docking and a refit in 1953 ended after only a couple of miles. She hit the Platters rocks, close to the shore just west of the suspension bridge, and a fire devoured what remained above the water. Nowadays she remains largely forgotten.
Oak, though, is solid stuff. Iron-hard baulks of it, along with a few copper rivets, washers and sheathing, is all that remains of the ship. These lie on the seabed, some partially covered, others standing proud, in just a few metres of water. As a wreck dive, the Conway is, perhaps, not up to much." Unlike her Cadets who were always up to a great deal!
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