Pictorial History ofRN Career of Ronald Edward Kelbrick BEM born 30.12 1927
Prologue
As a 15 year old Sea Cadet, in July 1943 he went to sea from
Birkenhead in HMS Motor Minesweeper 296 under the command of
Lieutenant Winston Asmus Noakes RNVR. The two weeks he spent on
board, was spent 'sweeping' the seaways around the Isle of Man and
mainland using an Acoustic hammer and conventional minesweeping
equipment.
Service in the Royal Navy
Ron Kelbrick joined HMS St George on the Isle of Man as a Boy Seaman 2ndClass
on 26 April 1944. In December 1944 Ron's efficiency was assessed as Superior, he
was rated Boy 1st Class, and was presented with the Seamanship and School prizes
by Captain Bell, who had commanded HMS Exeter at the Battle of the River Plate.
On 17ib July 1945, he left
,
HMS St George recommended for Six
'
months advancement to Ordinary Seaman
and joined the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk
which. after VE day, was deployed to the
East Indies as flagship. As Messenger for
Captain J.G.Loveland, young Ron saw
active service in the former Dutch East Indies after the Japanese surrender. Soon after, he showed
interest and aptitude with electrics, andjoined the torpedo sub-branch (then responsible for ships'
electrics). On 30.12.1945 he was rated Able Seaman (ST) and six months later Acting Leading
Seaman (ST). In 1946 be chose to transfer to the newly formed Electrical branch and was made an
Acting LEM(ST) and kept this rate until he left his first ship, on its return. to the UK in June 1941.
Ron then underwent the LEM's Qualifying course in HMS Defiance, a collection of
ancient hulks moored at Wilcove in Plymouth harbour. In March 1948, at the end of the
course, he was drafted to HlvfS Hanland Point based in
the Mull of Galloway but only remained in this depot
ship for 4 months (until able to exchange drafts with a chum in
HMS Unicorn, flagship of the Reserve Fleet at Plymouth).
.
LFM. HM5
Hartland Point
/..EM, HMS Unicorn
LEM, Crew of HMS Avon Vale when
towed to Liverpool for 4 months
refit Jan to May 1949 then back to
Plymouth and worked on her until
Sept. 1949.
LEM. worked on HMS UndaunsedJun to Sept 1949 in reserve at
Plymouth
LEM,HMS Vanguard, 24.9.49 to 11.750
Great Britain 's last Battleship
Ship serving in Mediterranean
Maintenance of Boats & Batteries and
later electrics oj X 011dY J 5 inch turrets
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Pictorial History ofRN Career of Ronald Edward Kelbrick BEM, born 30.12.1927
Fittingly, and undoubtedly on the recommendation of a former commanding Officer of
this renowned Petty Officer's School (Captain W.O. O'Brien DSC RN), Ron's next job
was as an Instructor on the staff ofHMS Royal Arthur. During his year ashore here he
was able to instil in the students the qualities of enthusiasm and leadership possessed by
a Superior Chief Electrician. .
Ron joined the new and flrst Guided Missile Destroyer,
HMS Devonshire at Devenport in March 1961 as her 1st
Chief Electrician and his efficiency was continuously
assessed as Superior throughout the 31 months that he
served in this 'state of the art' ship. After trials and workup, she served in the Mediterranean and visited the USA,
Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Persian Gulf. When Ron left-the ship in Sept 1964 he immediately
joined the new purpose-built Assault ship HMS Fearless, based at Portsmouth.
In addition to his regulating duties as the ship's Chief Electrician, Ron was made responsible for
Ballast Control etectrics. After trials in the channel and
work-up at Portland the ship was deployed to the Red
Sea as Counter Terrorism HQ ship during the lead-up to
and withdrawl of British Forces nom Aden. During his
last 2 years in a demanding post at sea (1966 and 67),
his efficiency was assessed as Exceptional, (the new
highest assessment for outstanding efficiency only
introduced in 1966).In the same year's Queen's Birthday
Honours List, Ron was awarded the BEM which was
presented to him in Aden by the Flag Officer Middle
East He left the ship on its return to the UK and on
.uec:emll)er 1967. after 23 'll years service as 'man and boy', he transferred to the RN Career Service.
-yL..o
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rr:
Epilogue The Careers Service
Ron quickly made his mark as an enthusiastic recruiter and during the
next 15 years, frequently visited all of the region's schools to look for
suitable candidates to join the service. But this did not satisfy Ron, so he
he took every opportunity 0 go to sea in search of new recruits. His first
sally was a 3 month tour of the UK in the Minesweeper HMS Upton
which proved to be an all-round success. He later managed to spend
two summer weeks in HMS Charybdis, in the
Guided Missile Destroyer, HMS Fife and
finally in the frigate HMS Aurora. to enjoy
successful
vists to UK ports/resorts.
HMSFije
HMS Charybdis
HMSUptOI1
HMSAuroro
..,
In recognition of his outstanding efficiency as a Recruiter, Ron was assessed throughout his RN
Career service as 'Exceptional' and in 1980 he was awarded the Meritorious Service medal. He
retired on 29th December 1982, the eve of his 55th birthday.
•
~~#"W~o.;~!!1"1
Ron joined HMS Bermuda, Flagship of the Cin C South
Atlantic on 01.08.1950 as an LEM but was rated Acting
PO Electrician four weeks later and became responsible
for the arduous maintenance (in tropical climes). of the
Engine Room Electrics for the whole of the two years
and nine months he served aboard her.
Extraordinarily, for an Acting PO Electrician in such a
demanding arid vital role, his efficiency for 1952
and 1953 was assessed as Superior.
Ron joined HMS Defiance in July 1953 anciunderwent the PO Electrician's
Qualifying Course for which he attained a good pass. He was then drafted to
the RN's biggest ship, the fleet Aircraft Carrier HMS Eagle. joining her on 16 January
1954.
During the year Ron spent aboard
HMS Eagle the ship was fitted with an
angled deck and mirror sight and
operated her aircraft in home waters
and in the Mediterranean. Ron was
responsible for Domestic Electrics.
.
',,", Ron transferred in January 1955 to the 'Castle' Class Frigate HMS
Launceston Castle operating from Londonderry and from Portland
and engaged in Anti-submarine warfare training. As the ship's PO
- - Electrician he was the-senior membef-9t-the ship's electrical
- ..... ~
department and was responsible to the Marine Engineer Officer for
all of the ship's electrical equipment His efficiency was assessed as
Superior. He left the ship in Nov 1955 to join the Type 15 Frigate
HMS Launceston Castle
!
IllvfS Ulysees .
.
I
In HMS Ulysees Ron was responsible for High Power general
electrics. The ship served at Suez and Cyprus and tragically lost
her Cable Party overboard at Malta in a severe storm. Ron \\'35
again assessed as a Superior PO Electrician and, on his 30th
birthday after 18 months in HM:S Ulysees he was Promoted
Chief Electrician.
,
Ron's first ship as a Chief Electrician was HMS Cheviot,
leader of the Stbt>estroyer Squadron in the Far East and
commanded by Captain W.D.O'Brien DSC RN. Ron flew
out to Singapore to join Cheviot on 28 April 1958. It is a
measure of his outstanding benefit to HMS Cheviot's ship's
company that he is the best known and loved member of the
ship's thriving Association and that he counts, and is still
considered by, Admiral Sir William O'Brien, former CinC
Fleet, to be a personal friend as does his divisional officer
Sub Lt Don Murdoch. Ron's huge contribution to the memorable success of that 23 month happy
commission is perhaps best highlighted by the outstanding results achieved with sport and Ron
proved one of its greatest heroes on the rugby pitch, in the water, as boxing coach an ABA Judge
and all round sportsman and by his infectious enthusiasm and outstanding leadership qualities.
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