News From Yesteryear

Left to Right: Theresa, Auntie Mary, Me, My Dad, Uncle Stanley, My mumI was recently at a family event and came across this news clipping from an Australian Newspaper with a report that included an item about me and one of my aunties. I don't remember this interview but thought I would share it as it made me smile when I learnt that I had to do a "special exam" to become a Petty Officer because of my young age, which was news to me...Cheers then tearsFrom John Hamiltonat SouthamptonThey were cheering when the ship came home, but the cheering soon faded to tears.The QE2 sailed into Southampton with little boats fussing around her and tugs hooting and a fireboat spraying a salute in her wake. On the dockside the families had gathered from all over Britain.There were girlfriends and wives; mothers and grandfathers, fathers and brothers, blinking back the tears.The 700 survivors of the Coventry, Ardent and Antelope sunk in the battle for the Falklands were coming home.At first there was almost a carnival atmosphere on the dockside. Everybody was happy. They waved their hundreds of Union Jacks and unfurled their home-made banners."Ay-up Jeff—welcome home lads" read the calico sign made by Mr and Mrs Tames Warren from Birmingham. They were there with their two daughters and a sister-in-law and Carol, who is Jeff's fiancee. And up there, somewhere. on the deck of the huge liner was Leading Seaman Jeffrey Warren of HMS Antelope, aged 24. "It was four days before we knew he was safe," said Mrs Warren. "I don't blame the navy, mind, hut it must have been like looking for a needle in a haystack."But the waiting…oh God, it was awful...The tugs pulled the QE2 level with the dock and the almost silent rows of men aboard stared down and across at the people on the wharf. There was very little cheering from those aboard the QE2. Mostly they just stared, and the crowd on the wharf- side began to sense that something was wrong.A Royal Marine band began to oom-pah and counter march up and down the dock, but somehow "Hearts of Oak Are Our Ships," began to sound hollow. Triumphant tunes are out of place when exhausted men are Coming home after their ships have been sunk under them.Up at the front of the crowd stood Mr and Mrs Tice from Bournemouth. They were holding a little sign which read: "Richard Gough— welcome.""Our Richard's off the Ardent," explained Mrs Tice, who is the aunt of Petty Officer Richard Gough (22)."Richard's been in the navy since he was 16," she explained, "and he had to pass a special exam to make him a petty officer because he is so young."Slowly, the tugs turned the QE2 around, and the pride of the Cunard fleet,now rust-streaked, and battered looking, berthed at Southampton. The initial reunions took place inside a huge cargo shed on the dockside and the first very private moments were hidden from the television cameras and the Press.Then the survivors began to come out of the shed and the cheering died right away, and there was just gruff cries of "well done lads" and "Welcome home" and polite clapping.Petty Officer Richard Gough just answered my questions politely. "It was a very long hard day," said Richard Gough, "it was a day I will never forget. "It was a proud day and a sad day," Richard Gough turned to go home, his family holding him.The QE2 began sound- ing long blasts, mournful blasts, on her fog horn, and around the harbour other ships took up the chorus.The boys were home.