My Dad (J.A.C. 'Tony" Shaw) was the Chaplain in HMS Dido from 1941 to 1943, and served through all that time in the Med, the evacuation of Crete when B turret took a direct hit, then round Africa to New York and Brooklyn Navy Yard where extensive repairs were undertaken. A lot of the photos show A B and C turrets all with 5.25 inch guns. But actually there was a shortage of these turrets when the ship was commissioned, so the location of C turret was equipped only with a single 25 pounder. This was how she was through all that period of 1941. It was only with the repairs and re-fit in Brooklyn in late 1941 that the proper twin 5.25 inch guns to C turret were fitted. While my Dad was in the Dido he made an incredible precision model of the ship ( he was good friends with the Chief engineer and had access to the blueprints). He eventually passed the model on to me and I treasured it for many years. My own son served for a number of years as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy, and recently I passed the model on to him where it is now proudly on display in his house in Adelaide. The model shows the ship with the small 25 pounder at C turret. Very, very moving and heartwarming video. Thank you.
My father joined HMS Dido in 1940 as a boy aged 16 and served on her until 1944. This video has given me the first real insight into what my father experienced during the war. Thank you for posting.
Great to see. My dad, AS Eric Williams a gunner, joined the Dido in Brooklyn. He died before I was born, I have a single photograph of him. It was nice to see the old photos and listen to the men he served with.
My dad got the invite but couldn`t make it from australia , moved here in 1966 . Peter William Raggett - Stoker (dec- 1999) God bless , Gentlemen & thank you for your service
My Brother in Law was on Dido is only Ship all the war time Thomas Schofield he died 1998 he was in the turret that got hit from there they went to New York for refit
My grandfather, Alexander John Noble, served as Chief Petty Officer on the Dido during the second world war. Unfortunately I can't remember him speaking about his time in the navy very much, in terms of details, but I remember it meant a lot to him. Sadly he died about 40 years ago. My mother has told me the Dido protected the Atlantic Convoys bringing goods to Britain and evacuating children to Canada, but I didn't know anything beyond that, so it has been very interesting to fill in the gaps. I wish I had seen this earlier. As a young girl in East London my mother had the chance to go to Canada (where she had relatives) but my grandfather thought the voyage would be too dangerous as so many ships were being torpedoed in the Atlantic. Thank you for posting this footage, it is fascinating to see Dido, and my grandfather's crewmates, his "family at sea" and to hear about everything they went through together.
So sad. My dad was the chaplain in Dido at that time, and so most likely conducted your grandfather's burial at sea. See my comments in the thread above.
Thanks so much for sharing Lads, I know it was War, and I know you went through hell every now and again, but by God, I swear I'm jealous I wasn't there serving with you, as I grown up, I've always loved the Sea and the Andrew, the only problem is though, the Andrew wouldn't take me, I'm colour blind
Amazing to find this as I'm always searching 'Dido,' piecing together my Grandfather William Henry Thomas' war service. He was on Dido from September 1940 to March 1942 and died in 1945. Met many of these brilliant men including Jack Skinner at the reunion in 2003.
My husband's dad served on the Dido, Andrew Bridges from Duntocher, Clydebank. He survived and then was killed in an accident in 1955. Does anyone remember him?
My dad was a Chief petty officer on the DIDO from 1943 till the end of the war......I was named after him, I was born in 1940...as a young lad I did get taken on board the DIDO, but this must have been well after the end of the ww2. His most re-told story was about the surrender of the KMS Prinz Eugen and KMS Nurnberg at Copenhagen He also was on board HMS Keith when she was ssunk at DUNKIRK..he was one lucky survivor from that ship.
I just watched this video after watching a documentary about crete evacuation, my father served on the dido his name was James Winter, does anybody remember him
thank you ....my nannys brother died in b turret John Johnson was his name 18 years old..... a young lad broke down under fire and John volantered to take his place and died....lad on leave admitted what happened to johns family and was forgiven straight away. by the way until going to America there was no c turret becouse she was rushed into battle. thanks ps last person to see John allive was my grandad in Malta just before the evacuaction of Create...Erney Honden ...HMS SIKH psps sorry about the spelling...Damo
In New Zealand crew conditions are inclined to be seen as everything and therefore seeing the merits and near greatness of this class for the RNZN is a very difficult thing. Few things incense me more than the failure of the NZ Foreign service really a small office fo very left narrow trade and local oriented officials to see HMNZS Royalist or HMS Royalist as an immense honour and contriubtion to the security of the West and the fighting forces of Australia and Britain. because it is not really a NZ cruiser it is a dual UK/nZ cruiser which means its always is usable and not usable and as Eric Grove stated the Dido class cruisers were the only post war cruisers fully modernised for hot war the other cruisers are only modernised for colonial patrol and presence. The Tigers never really are, being completed too late, Lion too worn from 8 years in reserve in a Scottish Loch, Blake almost immediately laid up for conversion as a helicopter carrying oddity in the 1970s and Tiger in a 8 year career as gun cruiser largerly ceremonial in home and med waters Royalist and Diadem were really too good to die inthe mid 1950s and just had to be kept going under other flags. Ceylon had to be sold off 3 years after its reconstruction to Fury of Admiral Twiss and the United States and Swiftsure was laid up having being reconstructed as Tiger without armament refitted. Only the Royalist and Diadem were really available for reconstruction. Euralyus was fully used up after ten continuous service after the war the last two in the South Atlantic. The Cleopatra was partly updated as much as Diadem but could not be maintained because the half manned reserve Cleopatra and Dido had to moved out of the Plymouth HQ reserve berths for HMS Vanguard in 1956. In the 1956 to 1963 period HMS Royalist is one of the few AA ships effective against multiple targets 5/6 (10KM) miles out - as the County GMD SEaslug and Seacat ships missile were probably ineffective against even 525 mile per hour targets. The US Terrier and Tartar missiles while more promising still didnt work in this period. The US and RAN Charles F Admas two channel 5/54 turrrets are two channels of 27rpm with 70lb shells while with the Royalist you have two channels with 4 guns each 4 x 7.5rpm, so two channels with 30rpm of 82lb shells which is marginally better. In New Zealand they will not even regonize the expected last run of the RN real last gun cruiser from Singapore to Auckland as Operational Service , thru the three critical straights on 14-17 July 1964 at a time of an escalating confrontation when Thornycroft, Mountbatten are already calling for the RN to operate with maximum provocation, on scarcely notified routine tracks . On 14 July Royalist takes on 580 tons of fuels and 8.15 to 11.15 it loads ammunition for three hours at condition two days. On the 15 July its goes thru the straights close to Djkarata and the major Indonesian bases condition 2 X Ray and then thru the night it will be running 19.2 knots a long the coast of Java probably blacked out with three target indicator surface scanners 974, 277 Mod and 293 searching for any likely collisioon then at 6.00 an its go come round back past Balli and thur lombok straights - the run thru the night at probably 135 degrees farinheit with mindblowing hard discipline being ruthless and to many of crew horrifcially reinforced to bring the RN greatest gun cruiser thru being enforced by the RN officers, there will be court martials, men chained to the wall- but on the record they have taken it thru without failure or incident . It is about the level of the uSN running its SSN thru the Sea of Okhstock in 1983 if there not rammed, torpedoed or nuked its routine and no incident. Surtout Loyal
Thank you so much for posting. That is my grandfather, Jack Skinner, at 0:40 - 0:42.
My Dad (J.A.C. 'Tony" Shaw) was the Chaplain in HMS Dido from 1941 to 1943, and served through all that time in the Med, the evacuation of Crete when B turret took a direct hit, then round Africa to New York and Brooklyn Navy Yard where extensive repairs were undertaken.
A lot of the photos show A B and C turrets all with 5.25 inch guns. But actually there was a shortage of these turrets when the ship was commissioned, so the location of C turret was equipped only with a single 25 pounder. This was how she was through all that period of 1941. It was only with the repairs and re-fit in Brooklyn in late 1941 that the proper twin 5.25 inch guns to C turret were fitted.
While my Dad was in the Dido he made an incredible precision model of the ship ( he was good friends with the Chief engineer and had access to the blueprints). He eventually passed the model on to me and I treasured it for many years. My own son served for a number of years as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy, and recently I passed the model on to him where it is now proudly on display in his house in Adelaide. The model shows the ship with the small 25 pounder at C turret.
Very, very moving and heartwarming video. Thank you.
i put a post at the top before reading other comments,my nannys brother died in b turret John Johnson, very good video
My father joined HMS Dido in 1940 as a boy aged 16 and served on her until 1944. This video has given me the first real insight into what my father experienced during the war. Thank you for posting.
Great to see. My dad, AS Eric Williams a gunner, joined the Dido in Brooklyn. He died before I was born, I have a single photograph of him. It was nice to see the old photos and listen to the men he served with.
My dad got the invite but couldn`t make it from australia , moved here in 1966 . Peter William Raggett - Stoker (dec- 1999) God bless , Gentlemen & thank you for your service
"God Bless Dido".
+NEVER FORGET! +
My father George mcgibbons was on the dido
My Brother in Law was on Dido is only Ship all the war time Thomas Schofield he died 1998 he was in the turret that got hit from there they went to New York for refit
My grandfather, Alexander John Noble, served as Chief Petty Officer on the Dido during the second world war. Unfortunately I can't remember him speaking about his time in the navy very much, in terms of details, but I remember it meant a lot to him. Sadly he died about 40 years ago. My mother has told me the Dido protected the Atlantic Convoys bringing goods to Britain and evacuating children to Canada, but I didn't know anything beyond that, so it has been very interesting to fill in the gaps. I wish I had seen this earlier. As a young girl in East London my mother had the chance to go to Canada (where she had relatives) but my grandfather thought the voyage would be too dangerous as so many ships were being torpedoed in the Atlantic. Thank you for posting this footage, it is fascinating to see Dido, and my grandfather's crewmates, his "family at sea" and to hear about everything they went through together.
I have just found this video. My father served as a Signalman aboard the Dido throughout the war.
DIDO - Handsome ship...I would have hated to be an aircraft with that AA armament. 5.25" volleying from those turrets.
My father Samuel Whitworth was in WW2 and for a time was on HMS DIDO.
Fascinating, my Grandfather was killed in the bombing attack on the Dido on the 29th May 1941
So sad. My dad was the chaplain in Dido at that time, and so most likely conducted your grandfather's burial at sea. See my comments in the thread above.
My dad was on the Dido his name was Kenneth Stanley Davis.
He was a close range weapons.
He died in 1997 aged 74.
Thanks so much for sharing Lads, I know it was War, and I know you went through hell every now and again, but by God, I swear I'm jealous I wasn't there serving with you, as I grown up, I've always loved the Sea and the Andrew, the only problem is though, the Andrew wouldn't take me, I'm colour blind
Amazing to find this as I'm always searching 'Dido,' piecing together my Grandfather William Henry Thomas' war service. He was on Dido from September 1940 to March 1942 and died in 1945. Met many of these brilliant men including Jack Skinner at the reunion in 2003.
Wow, Just found this video and was so happy to see my Grandad again, he's sadly missed. Arthur Brotchie.
my dad was on the dido he was a radio op
My husband's dad served on the Dido, Andrew Bridges from Duntocher, Clydebank. He survived and then was killed in an accident in 1955. Does anyone remember him?
My dad was a Chief petty officer on the DIDO from 1943 till the end of the war......I was named after him, I was born in 1940...as a young lad I did get taken on board the DIDO, but this must have been well after the end of the ww2. His most re-told story was about the surrender of the KMS Prinz Eugen and KMS Nurnberg at Copenhagen He also was on board HMS Keith when she was ssunk at DUNKIRK..he was one lucky survivor from that ship.
I just watched this video after watching a documentary about crete evacuation, my father served on the dido his name was James Winter, does anybody remember him
My father Thomas Edward Dewison was a signalman on the Dido for most of the war
my father served on dido his name was John mackenzie.
my dad was his name was Tom Mc Mellon
thank you ....my nannys brother died in b turret John Johnson was his name 18 years old..... a young lad broke down under fire and John volantered to take his place and died....lad on leave admitted what happened to johns family and was forgiven straight away.
by the way until going to America there was no c turret becouse she was rushed into battle.
thanks
ps last person to see John allive was my grandad in Malta just before the evacuaction of Create...Erney Honden ...HMS SIKH
psps sorry about the spelling...Damo
My Father was on the Dido at Crete and in Brooklyn.He was a stoker namers George Binsteed
muriel meadows My great grandfather was the Engineer commander.
a link to a video about a modelof dido: ua-cam.com/video/csYdfuBDkYg/v-deo.htmlsi=4hY26KxWrFdeuyno
Can anyone help? I'm looking for any info on Stoker/deep sea diver Danny Freils who was on Dido for most of the war, anything would be good..
In New Zealand crew conditions are inclined to be seen as everything and therefore seeing the merits and near greatness of this class for the RNZN is a very difficult thing. Few things incense me more than the failure of the NZ Foreign service really a small office fo very left narrow trade and local oriented officials to see HMNZS Royalist or HMS Royalist as an immense honour and contriubtion to the security of the West and the fighting forces of Australia and Britain. because it is not really a NZ cruiser it is a dual UK/nZ cruiser which means its always is usable and not usable and as Eric Grove stated the Dido class cruisers were the only post war cruisers fully modernised for hot war the other cruisers are only modernised for colonial patrol and presence. The Tigers never really are, being completed too late, Lion too worn from 8 years in reserve in a Scottish Loch, Blake almost immediately laid up for conversion as a helicopter carrying oddity in the 1970s and Tiger in a 8 year career as gun cruiser largerly ceremonial in home and med waters Royalist and Diadem were really too good to die inthe mid 1950s and just had to be kept going under other flags. Ceylon had to be sold off 3 years after its reconstruction to Fury of Admiral Twiss and the United States and Swiftsure was laid up having being reconstructed as Tiger without armament refitted.
Only the Royalist and Diadem were really available for reconstruction. Euralyus was fully used up after ten continuous service after the war the last two in the South Atlantic. The Cleopatra was partly updated as much as Diadem but could not be maintained because the half manned reserve Cleopatra and Dido had to moved out of the Plymouth HQ reserve berths for HMS Vanguard in 1956. In the 1956 to 1963 period HMS Royalist is one of the few AA ships effective against multiple targets 5/6 (10KM) miles out - as the County GMD SEaslug and Seacat ships missile were probably ineffective against even 525 mile per hour targets. The US Terrier and Tartar missiles while more promising still didnt work in this period. The US and RAN Charles F Admas two channel 5/54 turrrets are two channels of 27rpm with 70lb shells while with the Royalist you have two channels with 4 guns each 4 x 7.5rpm, so two channels with 30rpm of 82lb shells which is marginally better. In New Zealand they will not even regonize the expected last run of the RN real last gun cruiser from Singapore to Auckland as Operational Service , thru the three critical straights on 14-17 July 1964 at a time of an escalating confrontation when Thornycroft, Mountbatten are already calling for the RN to operate with maximum provocation, on scarcely notified routine tracks . On 14 July Royalist takes on 580 tons of fuels and 8.15 to 11.15 it loads ammunition for three hours at condition two days. On the 15 July its goes thru the straights close to Djkarata and the major Indonesian bases condition 2 X Ray and then thru the night it will be running 19.2 knots a long the coast of Java probably blacked out with three target indicator surface scanners 974, 277 Mod and 293 searching for any likely collisioon then at 6.00 an its go come round back past Balli and thur lombok straights - the run thru the night at probably 135 degrees farinheit with mindblowing hard discipline being ruthless and to many of crew horrifcially reinforced to bring the RN greatest gun cruiser thru being enforced by the RN officers, there will be court martials, men chained to the wall- but on the record they have taken it thru without failure or incident . It is about the level of the uSN running its SSN thru the Sea of Okhstock in 1983 if there not rammed, torpedoed or nuked its routine and no incident. Surtout Loyal