Guest Book

Ray and Ken - there is no record of anyone called Cutting in the Navy List in that era.
Like most i'm sure, I was shocked to read of MAC's death some years back - so young, as was Roger Edwards. I think he served with me at AFS 1964 (Roger did) or was it WFWC Northwood in '68 when I came off Protector and before I had my last job at NAS Portland. I see he was on Charlies course - maybe he will have a few memories of MAC.

I'm a bit confused _ was this the Mike Cutting who joined up in 1963 - see Departed Shipmates. I was on HMS Hermes with him in the late Sixties, and we were both P,O, Instructors at Culdrose Met school after that, I left the Navy in 1974 and lost touch, but he left in 1985, presumably having done gis 22 tears. This drosn't point to him being an Officer, as surely he would have stayed in
londer, I know he married a Met Wren called Rose, but her Surname escapes me. They had twin girls, and he died of a heart attack in 1995 at a very young age, Be glad to know if anybody can shed a bit more light on him, in or out of the Navy, as we were good mates.

Hi Ray and Ken,
Now I have just turned 80 trying to remember past events is becoming more difficult, come to think trying to remember current events aint good,
Whilst on board HMS Lion my baby was young Cutting and just before we were setting off for a Exercise in the North Sea, He had his 20th Birthday and I, being a Father Waffs took him ashore in Portsmouth and introduced him to Rum he seemed to of had a great time, got him back safely ready for the sailing the next day. The next day I was in the office no cutting he was sick bay, off to Hospital so I was the sole person in the Office apart from the Forecaster who couldn't give a
Sh-one-T, I was on my tod catching a few minutes when I could but carried on till I was well and truly peed off, so went to the Bridge and in front of the Captain and other senior Officers, I shouted to my Forecaster that I was knackered and after 72 hours without sleep or proper meals, I was off to Breakfast and my bunk.
Never heard anything that day or after, though wasn't on the good books of the forecaster, forgot his name. Met Cutting now a Officer on the best Met reunion on the Victory, apparently he as allergic to Rum.

I've had that happen to me many times Ken, mainly by Navy Regulators who have never had to do a full night on duty. One R.P.O. that I had an encounter with said 'In this man's Navy, nobody was told to do Middle AND Morning watch' ie, Midnight until 0800. This was answered by me saying 'Is that right? I had better stop then. Will you have a word with my boss, the Met Officer?'
One at an Air Station told me that he had seen more waves on his tot than I had at sea......b----y Airy Fairies.

Thanks for the explanation Ray and whilst I never had the pleasure or otherwise of appearing at the Captain's table I have experienced the irritation of true sailors with those of the Naval Airman Met persuasion.
When on the Victorious and obviously requiring to sleep during the forenoon after an all night Met office watch, I was rudely awakened by the messdecks Chief who screamed in my face "what are you then lad" to which I replied " I am Met chief".
Not knowing what employment this alien being had, he turned away in disgust with the parting words as follows: "WHAT IS THIS MAN'S NAVY COMING TO, SLEEPING IN THE FORENOON, RIDICULOUS"

Ken - the Master at Atms, also known as the Jossman (joss is the Mandarin word for luck) was responsible, amongst other things for issuing draft chits when you left your ship - wpuld it be good or bad luck? Hence the old matrlot song I wonder yes I wonder, if the josssman made a blunder, when he made this draft chit out for me. I think he was a CPO, but very much in charge of the Reg Office, He marched you in to face the Captain, and read out specifically what you weree charged with. Mine at Terror was direct dis-obedience of orders - I was very lucky at the time, as my Divisional Officer (Met Officer) had explained extenuating circumstances beforehand. The Jossman was furious and told me useless airy fairies s ould never be counted as proper sailors.

WHAT IS A MASTER AT ARMS, sorry boys i only spent 6 months at sea when i was a very young newly qualified Met 1. on the Eagle and eighteen months on the Vic.
the rest of my time I spent mostly in civvies, having 2 postings at AFS and one other at Hal Far as part of HAFMED, so strictly speaking can't really call myself a sea going MET Rating.
However, there were some compensations, the West End for one and every other day off at Golden Bay, no sunshades but lots of Basal Cell Carcinomas all over my face in later years, requiring many operations by talented surgeons to ensure that I maintained my classic good looks with just the odd scar to give that dashing, dangerous appearance.
Love to hear from you sea going folks though!

Anyone else had run-ins with the Reg. staff? Or beem punished for petty o ffenses? Let's hear your story......

I remember the Master at Arms very well and also Tim - both of whom I had run-ins with, I was on HMS Tyne for a short while in 1961 and Tim ran me in for not stowing my hammock away by 0700. Seven days stoppage of leave - station card taken from me. Massive co-incidence, as he was also on HMS Hermes with me as well as HMS Terror.
While I was being kept in cells at Terror, information was eventually brought to the Reg Office attention of our watchkeeping pattern, and how many hours we were putting in between us. Eventually I was put before the Captain, who had obvviously beem imformed of this, and I got seven days stoppage of pay and leave. I had to report to the Reg Office three times a day and had to be woken so as not to miss any! I remember crawling out of my pit at 1200 after a night on watch and just making it in tine - the Jossman told me I was just a useless Airy Fairy and not a proper sailor like him, Got away with answering in my best Chinese accent 'Yes Master'
The PO who got me into this mess was told not to disturb the watchkeeoers mess ever again.

.... just remembered the name of the joss - COBBLEDICK ! - went well with crusher Timothy Valentine O'Donovan !!