The Portsmouth News website contains this article, the Royal Navy website this article and the All At Sea website this article reporting the success of the long-delayed dedication of the Vernon Mine Warfare & Diving Monument at Gunwharf Quays (formerly HMS VERNON) in Portsmouth on Friday 15 July. Over 800 official guests and many more fellow travellers enjoyed free food and drink.
Photo by LPhot Rory Arnold
The keynote address was given by Rear Admiral Paddy McAlpine CBE, the Royal Navy’s most senior ever Minewarfare & Clearance Diving officer, and we were graced with the presence of Jan Harvey and Sam Cook, respectively the national standard bearers of the Mine Warfare Association and the Ton Class Association.
The Rev Ralph Barber, fittingly a former mine warfare rating, performed the dedication.
Among the Guests of Honour were Andrew Bailey (left) visiting from Portugal and David Ouvry (right) flanking MCDOA member Allan Rankin visiting from Australia. Andrew's father was Lt William 'Bill' Bailey CBE GM DSC* RNVR who ran the Underwater Working Party at Gibraltar during the attacks on shipping by human torpedo divers of the Italian Decima MAS during the Second World War. David's father was Cdr John Ouvry DSO RN, the first to render safe a German magnetic mine on the mudflats at Shoeburyness in November 1939, alowing the boffins at HMS VERNON to develop effective ship self-protective measures and magnetic minesweeping equipment.
It was a grand day, particularly for reunions old and new.
The August issue of Navy News contained a fabulous full page article, including the stunning photo above, on page 19.
Limited edition prints of Shed Marsden’s painting commemorating the dedication of the Vernon Mine Warfare & Diving Monument are available via Divers Gifts and Collectables, as are many other items of merchandise including a fine pewter statuette of the monument, faithful in every detail. A substantial contribution is made to Project Vernon for the upkeep of the Vernon Monument for all items purchased.
