Change of e-mail address

My e-mail address is now:  johnvalentine100@gmail.com

Centenary Service for HMS Kent.

I now have details of the centenary service for 8th December 2014.

I am particularly trying to contact John Valentine, Damien Hone, and Keith Van Assen, but have managed to lose their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers.   A disaster for which I apologise.

All are welcome, but those who are related to men who were on the ship that day nearly a century ago are most especially welcome, and a reception will be held afterwards for them in Cathedral House.

It will of course be open to the public and parts of the cathedral will also be open to visitors as usual.

 

We regard those who are related to a member of the crew as guests rather than merely members of a congregation, and they are also invited to a private reception after the service.

As a matter of urgency may I please ask all of you who are descendants to get in touch as soon as possible, giving the number of family members who will be coming.   Could you please contact the Receiver-General, Brigadier John Meardon, at the cathedral.   His contact details are:

Canterbury Cathedral, Cathedral House, 11 The Precincts, Canterbury, CT1 2EH United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1227 762862  (switchboard)

john.meardon@canterbury-cathedral.org

 

The plans for the day are as follows:

·        1100    Guests and others attend the daily Bell Ceremony in the SW Transept of the quire.   This short ceremony starts with the ringing of a ships bell to mark 11am (six bells) and an ex-serviceman turns a page in one of the books containing names of the fallen from all wars and conflicts since 1914.

·        1130    Guests move to the Eastern Crypt for the Service of Commemoration. There will be a service booklet containing readings, a hymn and prayers and we will conclude this part with the National Anthem

·        1200    Move from the Crypt to the North Nave Aisle. Wreath laying at the HMS Kent Memorial, blessing and dismissal.

·        1230    Guests move to the Archives to view the exhibition. This will be open from earlier in the morning until closing time.

·        1300    Or thereabouts, invited guests, ie family members, move to the Chapter Room for refreshments.

·        1400    Secure.

As you can see, the arrangements mean we move around the cathedral, taking in all parts of the building.

Please!   Can families get in touch with the Receiver-General as soon as possible!

With best wishes to all

Adrian

Website for the Centenary Service.

I have set up a website on the Yahoo Groups site for the purpose of helping to locate families related to crew on HMS Kent that day.   It is also hoped to use it to disseminate information about the centenary and allow us at the cathedral to plan for expected numbers.

It is not in competition with John Valentine's remarkable site, indeed without his help, support, and encouragement, we would never have got as far as a centenary service.   The site will only operate for the remainder of 2014.

May I invite all to join it, you will then receive automated e-mails to keep you up to date - and you will be invited to join us in Canterbury in December if you are able to make the journey.

The site can be found at:

https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Battle_of_the_Falkland_Islands_1914/info

Message me with an e-mail address and I'll send you an invite.

Best wishes to all

Adrian

Centenary of the Battle - BREAKING NEWS!

An update for one and all on the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

I can now confirm that there will be a Service of Commemoration to mark the centenary of the battle and the lives lost on HMS Kent, in Canterbury Cathedral, on 8th December 2014.

It is our most sincere wish to trace families who are descendants of the crew, so that they may be invited to attend the service if they are able to travel to Kent.

May I please ask readers of this forum to help if they can by spreading this bit of good news? I would appreciate it if families could be asked to message me with an e-mail address on here and I will contact them with details.

There should be plenty of room for any other serving or ex-RN personnel who would like to attend. Please get in touch with me.

Many thanks!

The Enemy Fought Splendidly

Came across this interesting titled little book, it is a diary account of Surgeon TB Dixon who served on HMS Kent and gives an eye witness account of the Battle of the Falklands and life on board the ship, just got my copy today (via Amazon) also has a few photos of crew life aboard the ship.


Tony