Dunservin
GCM

Vernon Monument 'Falklands 35' Charity Dinner on 19 July will remember the 'Forgotten Few' of the Falklands
A Vernon Monument 'Falklands 35' Charity Dinner at Trinity House on 19 July will commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Falklands War. It will also raise funds towards the monument planned at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth to celebrate the minewarfare & diving heritage of HMS VERNON which previously occupied the site. It will be attended by a VVIP (identity to be announced in a separate press release) as well as former Royal Marine, TV broadcaster, writer, biologist and inspirational speaker Monty Halls. Popular naval entertainer Shep Woolley will deliver an after-dinner speech.
The Falklands War wasn't over for the Royal Navy minesweepers, minehunters and diving teams when the Argentinians surrendered
The Falklands War did not end for the Royal Navy's minesweepers, minehunters and clearance diving teams when the Argentinean commander surrendered on 14 June 1982. Between 23 June and 4 July the five Hull trawlers of the 11th Mine Countermeasures Squadron, hastily-converted for minesweeping, swept 10 of the 21 deadly moored mines laid by the Argentinians in the approaches to Port Stanley.
In early July 1982, the Hunt Class minehunters HMS BRECON and HMS LEDBURY arrived in theatre and confirmed by sonar that all poised mines had been cleared. Utilising their remote operated vehicles and and divers, they then located and disposed of the remaining married mine failures and mine sinkers.
Between 13 October 1982 and 2 January 1983, a Royal Navy deep diving team (Naval Party 2002) embarked in MV STENA SEASPREAD recovered sensitive items from the wreck of the Type 42 destroyer HMS COVENTRY, sunk by Argentinean bombs 10 miles north of Pebble Island. At the request of COVENTRY’s Commanding Officer, Captain David HART DYKE LVO RN (father of Miranda Hart), the divers also recovered his ceremonial sword and telescope, now on display in the RN Museum in Portsmouth, and the cross of nails from Coventry Cathedral presented to the ship in 1978 when she was commissioned.
The Project Vernon Trustees are extremely grateful to Honorary Vice Admiral Sir Donald Gosling KCVO, who has donated £30,000 towards the cost of this event, and to Trinity House which has provided the venue and donated £500.
The dinner will be attended by several Falklands veterans including:
Lt Cdr Brian DUTTON DSO QGM RN (OIC of Fleet Clearance Diving Team One (FCDT 1)) who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his team's successful removal of an unexploded bomb from HMS ARGONAUT on 28 May 1982.
Lt Cdr 'Bernie' BRUEN MBE DSC RN (OIC of Fleet Clearance Diving Team Three (FCDT 3)) who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his team's successful removal of an unexploded bomb from RFA SIR GALAHAD on 26 May 1982.
Lt Cdr Martyn HOLLOWAY RN (CO HMS CORDELLA and Senior Officer of the hastily-formed 11th Mine Countermeasures Squadron (11th MCMS)) who led his force of five converted minesweeping trawlers 8,000 miles south, supervised its hazardous operations including the landing and recovery of Special Forces raiding parties and clearance of mines off Port Stanley, before bringing it home without sustaining a single casualty.
Lt Cdr 'Bernie' BRUEN MBE DSC RN (OIC of Fleet Clearance Diving Team Three (FCDT 3)) who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his team's successful removal of an unexploded bomb from RFA SIR GALAHAD on 26 May 1982.
Lt Cdr Martyn HOLLOWAY RN (CO HMS CORDELLA and Senior Officer of the hastily-formed 11th Mine Countermeasures Squadron (11th MCMS)) who led his force of five converted minesweeping trawlers 8,000 miles south, supervised its hazardous operations including the landing and recovery of Special Forces raiding parties and clearance of mines off Port Stanley, before bringing it home without sustaining a single casualty.
Other attendees will include:
Warrant Officer (Diver) Terry SETTLE MBE QGM BEM who was decorated for the recovery of a Soviet ground mine laid by Gaddafi in the Gulf of Suez in 1984.
Warrant Officer (Diver) Colin KIDMAN QGM who was decorated for the removal and disposal of a complete outfit of damaged Seadart missiles from the magazine of HMS SOUTHAMPTON after she suffered a major collision in the Middle East in 1988.
Mr David OUVRY, son of Cdr John OUVRY DSO RN who was the first to render safe a deadly German magnetic mine in November 1939 so that the boffins at HMS VERNON could develop countermeasures and self-protective measures.
Mr Andrew Bailey, son of Lt 'Bill' BAILEY CBE DSC GM* RN who undertook many of the tasks in Gibraltar during the Second World War for which Cdr Lionel 'Buster' CRABB OBE GM RNVR was later credited.
Warrant Officer (Diver) Colin KIDMAN QGM who was decorated for the removal and disposal of a complete outfit of damaged Seadart missiles from the magazine of HMS SOUTHAMPTON after she suffered a major collision in the Middle East in 1988.
Mr David OUVRY, son of Cdr John OUVRY DSO RN who was the first to render safe a deadly German magnetic mine in November 1939 so that the boffins at HMS VERNON could develop countermeasures and self-protective measures.
Mr Andrew Bailey, son of Lt 'Bill' BAILEY CBE DSC GM* RN who undertook many of the tasks in Gibraltar during the Second World War for which Cdr Lionel 'Buster' CRABB OBE GM RNVR was later credited.
A "Silent Auction", launched prior to the event, will comprise a wide variety of exciting lots including diving memorabilia and Project prints. There will also be a main auction of some very special lots including:
A day at sea on board a major Royal Navy warship, to be named nearer the date, as the guest of the Captain - date to be agreed.
A day hosted by a Royal Navy Area Diving & Bomb Disposal Unit - date to be agreed.
A day hosted by a Royal Navy Fleet Clearance Diving Unit – date to be agreed
A day's shooting for nine guns on Saturday 4th November 2017 at the Leydene Shoot in Hampshire.
A unique silver-plated 280mm high bronze statuette of the planned monument, specially made for this event by the renowned sculptor, Les Johnson FRBS.
A unique 400mm high bronze statuette of the planned monument, also specially made for this event by the sculptor, Les Johnson FRBS.
The planned start time is 1800 with carriages at 2300. The dress code is Black Tie with miniatures or equivalent Service uniform.
Tickets for the dinner may be purchased via the Eventbrite website at:
Last edited: