Malta Reunion 2016 - see page for pictures and text. Veterans visit to St Martin's College |
News
HMS URGE: REMEMBRANCE ON APRIL 27th ANNIVERSARY
Here is an update on the HMS Urge commemorations from Francis Dickinson of the HMS Urge Family Group Dear HMS Urge family members and friends, This is a short update ahead of tomorrow's anniversary of HMS Urge's last sailing from Malta in 1942, particularly for those who do not have access to the HMS Urge Facebook Page. Following postponement of the Malta commemorations due to Coronavirus, people have nevertheless wanted to mark the anniversary, as follows: 1. Those who wish to will hold a 2 minute silence on April 27th at 11am, this will of course be on a remote basis given Coronavirus restrictions 2. The Mayor of the town of Bridgend in Wales which adopted Urge in 1941, Cllr.Alan Wathan, is playing a leading role in the 2 minute silence, and he and his team have done great work in highlighting the anniversary within the town. Bridgend Town Council have a page on HMS Urge as follows: http://www.bridgendtowncouncil.gov.uk/hms-urge.aspx The Town Council have issued a press release about the anniversary: http://www.bridgendtowncouncil.gov.uk/media/8357/BTC-Press-Release-HMS-Urge-44-Heroes-Remembered.pdf Working with the Town Council, the Reverend Rachel Wheeler of Bridgend has recorded an excellent tribute to Urge released yesterday on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0aABWMxKCw 3. The Friends of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum have also kindly wished to mark the anniversary - there is an article on Urge and ship's company as follows: https://www.rnsubmusfriends.org.uk/remembering-hms-urge-on-27th-april/ 4. HMS Urge is being remembered in Malta also. St.Paul's Pro-Cathedral in Valletta is remembering Urge today and many others lead by the University of Malta and Heritage Malta will be tomorrow. Whilst it is sad that we are not in Malta for the Commemoration, many people across the world will still be remembering HMS Urge today and tomorrow pending the rearrangement of the Commemoration. Best wishes for everyone's health meanwhile. Yours, Francis |
G . C . Medal Anniversary 1943 - 2020
  commemorative service of the award of the George Cross to the brave people of Malta. This service has been observed since the inauguration of the Siege Bell in 1992.Despite not being able to travel to Malta, members did not forget the significance of this day and sent emails and photos of how they each marked it - including flying the Malta flag from their home. Also I include a photo of one the oldest UK Pedestal Veterans, Victor Coombes (RN). Vic got himself up anddressed into his regalia so that he could mark the occasion in a fitting and appropriate manner. At 99years of age, this was no mean feat - particularly the tying of his Association tie with fingers that don't work quite so well as they used to. Well done, Vic and thank you from us all. I shall be including more photos from members in our next Association newsletter. |
Malta Reunion 2020 - Cancelled
It is with great regret that I have to advise that the George Cross Island reunion in Malta for 2020 is cancelled. This step has been taken based on the Government of Malta imposing a 14 day quarantine for ALL arrivals from ALL countries. But as well as this quarantine period making it impossible for us to go ahead, we should be thinking of our health and that of our loved ones. By staying well, we can hopefully enjoy a reunion in our beloved Malta in 2021. All branch meetings are also cancelled and further events will be postponed until Covid 19 has been controlled. |
Malta 2020 Reunion update - HMS Urge
In addition to our programme announced this week, we have been in communication with Francis Dickinson, the grandson of HMS Urge's captain Lieutenant-Commander E.P. Tomkinson, regarding a possible memorial ceremony to commemorate HMS Urge as an official war grave, which will hopefully take place towards the end of our reunion visit this year. One of the aims of the George Cross Island Association is "To honour the People of Malta, and those who fought on their behalf", another is "To facilitate the exchange of memories" and of course we encourage and promote the upholding of Maltese history, particularly from a military perspective during WWII. So with this in mind, I think we would all find the plight of HMS Urge of great interest and also wish to pay our respects to the families of her at this very poignant time. On the 27th April 1942 HMS Urge, a U-class submarine, left Malta for Alexandria with 32 crew, 11 other naval personnel and a British war reporter aboard. She was declared missing after failing to reach her destination 10 days later. It was not known what had happened to HMS Urge until a discovery was made in the summer of 2019 The Ministry of Defence said it recognised the wreck site "as the last resting place of HMS Urge and those who lost their lives in service of their country" and is declared as an official war grave. A ceremony is expected to be held in April, to commemorate HMS Urge and her crew. An interesting fact is that In 1941 there was a national "warship week" which raised money to meet the costs of providing military machinery and vehicles for the war. Bridgend contributed about £300,000 to the fund and the town adopted the submarine HMS Urge along with two other warships. Any members of the George Cross Island Association who would like to be kept informed about the ceremony, please do contact me at info@georgecrossisland.org.uk and I will also keep the web site updated with any information I receive regarding this. You can also find a wealth of information about HMS Urge and the discovery off Malta on the internet using any search engine. |
Malta Reunion 2020
We are aware that once again we are going to clash with Easter, so we are trying to organise the programme to avoid members having unnecessary expense. Provisionally, we are proposing that the Welcome Meeting will take place late afternoon/early evening on Tuesday 14th April (day after Easter Monday). This will hopefully give people flexibility to get the best price possible for flights at that time. We are expecting that the Siege Bell Ceremony will take place on the 15th although that is always subject to change depending on the circumstances, Malta branch will keep us appraised. We will be working towards fitting the programme of ceremonies and events from the 16th and concluding with Anzac Day on the 25th as usual. If you are interested in coming to the Malta reunion and would like confirmation, please contact me by email on pat.scott@georgecrossisland.org.uk or by post via the National Chairman: Ray Wrigglesworth 16, Bloxworth Road, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4BW. Tel:01202 779321. A draft programme will be issued in the December members newsletter and will also be published here on the web site. |
National AGM
Please be advised that if you have any Agenda items for the National AGM taking place at 10:30 on the 5th October at the Royal Maritime Club Hotel in Portsmouth, you will need to get them to me at least 3 weeks ahead of this date. You can send them to me via email on pat.scott@georgecrossisland.org.uk or by post via the National Chairman: Ray Wrigglesworth 16, Bloxworth Road, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4BW. Tel:01202 779321. Please include your name and membership number as the proposer, along with the name and membership number of your seconder. |
MALTA REUNION 2019
The Malta reunion 2019 will take place from the 12th to the 26th April and our base will be the Preluna hotel, Sliema. It does coincide with Easter ( second weekend). See the Events page for more details. |
2018 National AGM Report
The National Annual General Meeting took place on 20th October 2018 at the Union Jack Club. Meeting opened at 11:00 with Prayers, Exhortation and Silent Tribute. The Chairman then welcomed those attending. The Minutes of the 2017 AGM were accepted as a true record by those present and attended on 7th October 2017. Proposed Pat Scott; Seconded Alex Saint. Agreed unanimously. Reports from the National Chair and Hon Secretary were read out including a message from our Patron, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The National Treasurer announced that the TSB UK Account balance to carry forward is £7,702.81. The Malta HSBC Reunion account balance to carry forward of 467.25. The accounts had examined and agreed by Examiners Julia Gaw and Alex Saint. The National Secretary read out the names of those willing to stand for election and the following were elected: National Chairman: Ray Wrigglesworth; Hon Secretary: Pat Scott. Hon Treasurer: Alex Saint. These were all agreed unanimously. Auditors elected were Julia Gaw; Pat Scott and agreed unanimously. It was agreed that as the National Accounts are in a healthy state there would be no increase in the branch levy. The Appointment of Annual Malta Reunion Organisers were: Organiser: Pat Scott; Assistant Organisers: Alex Saint, Barry Wenman and were agreed unanimously. The Malta Reunion will take place on the 12th to 26th April.There was discussion on the disappointment several members had with the Preluna this year, and Pat will investigate alternatives. However, the costs of other comparable hotels is considerably higher. The costs will be published on this web site shortly. National AGM 2019 will be hosted by West Branch; West Branch Secretary reported it will be held again at the Royal Maritime Club, Portsmouth. The date to be finalised but likely to be early October 2019. West branch proposed there should be an introduction of postal/proxy voting for National AGMs. This is due to the advancing age of some members and the difficulty and cost associated with travel, it was put forward that voting should also be allowed via email and was agreed unanimously. This will require an amendment to the constitution. West Branch proposed the ex officio office National President for Mrs Julia Gaw, if she is no longer standing as Association Chairman, this position should be awarded to her in recognition of her years of service and hard work. Agreed unanimously. This will require an amendment to the constitution. West Branch also proposed that if Mr Michael Gaw is no longer standing as Hon Secretary, he should be awarded Honorary membership in recognition of his years of service and hard work, this was agreed unanimously. Under Any Other Business Sue Hudson mentioned that she would like to have permission to add updates to the Facebook page that come from the web site that she manages on the Malta War Diary. Is was agreed that this was perfectly acceptable. The Chairman closed the Meeting at 12:15 at which point Mr Michael Gaw congratulated the appointments of the Principle Officers and wished them success in their new appointments. The Chairman thanked those present, and for their input on all the agenda items and for their continued support of the George Cross Island Association. |
Message from the Association President
Click the Association President tab of this site to read the latest message from Judge Joseph Galea Debono, the George Cross Island Association President: |
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