| Members Memories |
RAF Mountbatten, in 1979
written by Robbie Cozens
 I first met Skene Hanson on a Pinnace some 5 or 6 thousand miles from the U.K. We
were on the well Known Island of Gan, part the Maldivian Chain of Islands in
the Indian Ocean. This was my first Posting abroad. I’d been met in the early
hours by another Character many of us came to know and Love over the
years, one Ray (Pop) Reynolds, (The sun has got his Hat on was Ray’s song
on Gan).
This M B C of few words and those he spoke were of a quiet Scottish accent I
found hard to understand for almost the first month. This was Skene Hanson,
Senior Deck Hand on board Pinnace 1382.
Once I’d been accepted by Skene and learnt the job of the Pinnace Crew we
got along well, Our Cox’n was Sgt Ted Bedwell who left us to the Job in hand.
A tale, which Skene Hanson was the Instigator!
I well remember a funny incident; Skene was the Instigator when at Mount
Batten. We had been over to the R.N. Fire fighting Damage Control Unit for the
obligatory annual Get hot and mucky putting out fire aboard Ship Demo and
practical exercise in the Big static unit they had. This was all enjoyed but after
this it was lunchtime and the soaking in the then Static Damage Control Unit. We
were given a demo as to how it should be done then we were let loose in it.
Water started coming in so we did the wooden wedges bit the table top in
the big bullet hole in the bulkhead, the leaks in the deckhead stopped water coming
in through the decks and other things using jacks, the water kept coming in till we
were told we’d almost sunk! The tank was about 4 feet deep by then.
Nothing new there, just as well we were on land
( Sea Otter comes to mind)!
We were then given the gen on our efforts! The Chief Petty Officer in charge
pulled holes in everything we’d done, the things we’d hammered in and fixed up
were pulled off and they did their best to make us look useless!
Oh well we were on land!
Following this it was time to get changed, go meet the RSL to take us back to the
relative Sanity of Mount Batten! As we were leaving: the Chief in his Home Uniform
must have made some comment about the Crabfats! Skene gave me a look and so
he myself and a few others turned round took hold of him picked him up and
Deposited him in the tank of cold water among all his props etc then we legged it
with shouts of F*****G / B*****d Crabfats etc coming from the Unit. We had an
Officer with us, one of the Skippers who himself wasn’t to happy with the Chiefs
Comments. Give him his due he left us to it! I believe this was a Flt/Lt
His comment when we caught them up was mainly that he guessed what we going
to do but if he’d remained he’d have had to do his Officer bit and give us a slap on
the wrists but as the Chief had not been very kindly towards us he walked away
leaving us to get even! He saw nothing
You may be interested to know that a few years later I was in the Cheesewring Inn
in Minions on Bodmin Moor with friends a few months after leaving the RAF,
The Guy behind the Bar kept looking at me as if he knew me from some place
asking me if I was ex R.N.! I told him what I had done in the RAF then it dawned on
Him. He was that same C.P.O. who had been our instructor that day. I believe he
repeated the same type of comment being you’re one of those ******* so and so
Crabfats who chucked me in the Tank. I told him Yes and you deserved it!
Skene and I kept in touch over the years, visiting each other from time to time,
more often Skene and his wife also an Ex Mount Batten / Mount Wise Lass came to my home.
Skene was a real friend and he will be missed a great deal.
R.I.P. Skene.
Robbie Cozens |
click here to email Robbie Cozens about this Campaign/Arena
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