Jump to content

Navy narrow boats film.


Ray T

Featured Posts

  • 2 years later...
1 hour ago, Nigel x said:

Hi All,

I have just joined Canal world.

Initially I was looking for information regarding the 4 Royal Navy narrow boats that were on the canals during 1973/74 as I was one of the lucky crew that served on them. The boats were commissioned as a publicity recruitment stunt for the Royal Navy, one was a Polaris submarine (Renown) there were 2 destroyers and a frigate. We set out from Little Venice, although we were originally based at Uxbridge. We spent nearly 11 months touring the canals and rivers of England, 2 boats went up one side of the country and 2 up the other. We went up as far as Manchester and Burnley stopping at different places during our voyage.  I was assigned to the submarine. It was a very memorable part of my time in the Navy and we were very lucky to have such a cushy drafting. We were paid our wages plus living expenses but spent most of our time living on board the vessels, our sole duty was to show off the R.N.

If any of you would like more info I will be happy to oblige, if I can answer your questions. Or if you were one of the crew please contact me. (nickname then Harby)

Regards.

I think that the submarine ended up at Steadfast Sea Cadets in Kingston on Thames and they were converting it back to a normal narrowboat. You may confirm 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I helped decommission the boats at Uxbridge after the campaign was over. we stripped out some of the equipment including a periscope from a wartime mini submarine!! I wonder what happened to that? If the boat did go to the sea cadets, that is good. They were 62ft narrow boats.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks koukouvagia for your tip, I have changed it.

 

Hi nightwatch, I served from 1969 until 1977 as a stoker. Mainly greyships (Ulster, Blake, Ark Royal) but did the stint on the canals as a much deserved shore based posting. Then went to HMS Warrior as "Top Party" before joining HMS Leopard as a final draft.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4 July in 1975   Atherstone locks.  Winding  a paddle for a submarine. As You Do.

 

LA-128s.jpg

 

Worth the space on the bookshelf:

 

spacer.png

 

BRITANNIA Rules The Cut here.  Has accounts from a number of the crew.

 

Amazon is out-of-stock, it says

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 minutes ago, Nigel x said:

the first picture was a staged photo, can you recognise the actor in the rowing boat? In the second photo it is me standing at the stern. Was that in Islington, it looks very much like where we were moored there?

 

"Left hand down a bit."

 

 

Edited by Ray T
Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, Nigel x said:

the first picture was a staged photo, can you recognise the actor in the rowing boat? In the second photo it is me standing at the stern. Was that in Islington, it looks very much like where we were moored there?

As Ray suggests, I think the first is with the actors from The Navy Lark, and I think the second is, as you suggest, Little Venice inLondon prior to starting your trip.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.