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 -1- 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 - 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. -2- 4f
© Copyright 2024