The Association was formed with the object to remember and pay homage to our shipmates killed in action on the HMS Dorsetshire 5th of April, 1942 and to renew friendships that we made as shipmates sometime between the 1st Commission and her demise.

In 1967, I Herbert William Gollop met up with a former survivor Chief Petty Officer Bill Braddon and realised that it was the 25th anniversary of the demise of our ship the HMS Dorsetshire. We decided to contact as many survivors as possible with a view of having a reunion. To our surprise we had response from over 90 survivors and shipmates. We formed a committee with Bill Braddon taking the post of secretary and Bill Cambridge treasurer. Petty Officer Hocking, Bill Kelly and myself Bert Gollop as committee members.

The first reunion was held in the RNA Hall in the Ragland Barracks and proved so successful it was decided to make it an annual event. Reunions have been blessed with dignitaries such as The Lady in White, the late Captain Agar's wife Ena, and many others. Sadly Bill Braddon crossed the bar in 1984. The only survivors of the founder members are Bill Kelly and myself and sooner than let the association collapse, I decided to take over the job as secretary myself and Bill Kelly as my treasurer. We have gone from strength to strength and although many survivors have crossed the bar, we still have 51 known survivors on the books and a few shipmates from previous commissions with an average of 30 mobile survivors and supported by about 70 family members.

Reunions are held every Easter. Good Friday we visit various places of interest, returning in the evening to Royal Fleet Club Devonport for a buffet super and swing the lamp session. Saturday at 1830 we have a gala 4 course dinner and various toasts after Splicing the Mainbrace. Dancing to soft music concludes the evening. Easter Sunday in St.Nicholas Church HMS Drake Naval Base we attend the Easter Sunday Service to Honour our departed shipmates and lay wreathes at the Alter and form up after the service, march to the drill shed and lay another wreath under the inscription HMS Dorsetshire on the board that commemorates all ships sank in the world wars. As far as possible members of the association attend funerals and widows of shipmates are often sent flowers.

If you wish to learn more about the ASSOCIATION or H.M.S. DORSETSHIRE you can e-mail Bert at :- eagle28@sympatico.ca

Gerald Blackburn has since taken over as Secretary. He can be contacted at: gblackburn@mgownersclub.net, by phone on 01543 481593 or by mail at:

The Fairings, School Lane, Hints, Staffordshire B78 3DW