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HERTS BRANCH

ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION
1938- 2001

The Herts Branch of the RNA celebrates 63 years in this Millennium year as an
association for serving and ex-service members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines,
Queen Alexandra's Royal Navy Nursing Service, Women's Royal Naval Service,
Reserves and includes all ranks and ratings, all branches and Specialisation' s

It was a chance meeting of four local Naval Reservists that took place on the platform
of Ware railway station in 1938 on being mobilised.

In the course of their conversation it was mentioned there were a number of ex-Royal Naval personnel in
the area and it was decided to attempt the formation of a local branch of the Royal
Naval Old Comrades association. Following an advertisement in the local press and
also the contacting of several known ex-Naval types a meeting at the Bell Inn, St.
Andrew Street, Hertford on the 8th November 1938, was attended by seventeen
persons.

It was decided to go head with the formation of the Branch. The Commissioning
Ceremony took place t the Bell Inn on the 21st November 1938. A Commissioning
Certificate was presented to the Branch showing it was the 80th Branch to be formed
in the Country and the first to be formed in the County of Hertfordshire.

"Hertford Branch-Royal Naval Old Comrades Association".

One of the objects of the Association is to help Shipmates in distress. The Branch was
to raise money for the dependants of the Shipmates who lost their lives when H.M
Submarine THETIS sunk in Liverpool Bay in June 1939. The Branch Vice-President,
Vice-Admiral F.G.G. Chilton, CB presented a cheque for the sum of £56.17s.10d to
the Mayor of Hertford This was no mean feat, when the average weekly wage in
those days was in the region of £2. 10s.0d. (This would relate to a weekly wage of
£2.50p in decimalization).

The first meeting after the declaration of war on the 3rd of September 1939 was poorly
attended as many of the members had been called to active service. As an increasing
number of men were calIed for service, so the membership of the Branch increased. In
July 1943 membership reached 100, with 76 of these serving in Naval Forces.
Shipmates came not only from Hertford, but also the surrounding towns and villages.
Because of this, in September 1944 application was made to Headquarters to change
the name from Hertford-Branch, to Herts Branch. This request was granted and we
have been known as Herts-Branch ever since.

Letters from serving members were read out at every branch meeting and were
greatly enjoyed by those left at home. In typical matelot fashion one such letter was
received in which the writer complained that the cost of a pint of beer in Gibraltar had been increased to two shillings and six pence, (if obtainable).

A fund was started to enable the Branch to purchase its first Standard. The dedication
of the Standard took place on Whit Sunday, 20th May 1945 at All Saints Church
Hertford.

The war finally came to an end. With peace returning to the country, it was reported at
the first meeting held after VJ Day that 103 members were on Active Service, 6 had
been killed in action and 3 were prisoners of war. The Branch was instrumental in
obtaining information on the location of a grave of a Shipmate who had been killed in
action whilst serving on H.M.S. INTREPID.

Many ex-service organisations were being formed throughout the country following
demobilisation, and the Admiralty finally suggested, that one National Association for
all ex-Naval men be formed. This took place in 1950 when the Association was re-
designated The Royal Naval Association, with H.M King George Vl as Patron.

Over the years the Branch activities have been many. As the Association is a
Registered Charity most of the fund raising has enabled the Branch to donate to many
worthwhile causes, both local and national. In 1950 donations were made to the
dependants of Shipmates lost when H.M Submarine TRUCULENT was lost in a
collision in the Medway estuary , also in the following year to dependants when H.M
Submarine AFFRAY ailed to surface after a dive off the Isle of Wight.

In 1951 the Festival of Britain was celebrated throughout the country. A parade
through the town and Drumhead Service on Hartham Common was organised, with
the Band of H.M.S. PEMBROKE in attendance; this was the first Naval Parade in
Hertford and the first visit of a Naval Band to the town.

In the 1970's six orthopaedic beds were given to Hertford Hospital in memory of
Shipmates that had Crossed-the-Bar. Regular donations have been made to such
charities as the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust, King George Fund for Sailors,
Missions to Seaman, he Star & Garter Home Richmond, Hertford & Ware Sea
Cadets Unit.

Throughout our year e hold many social events for our Shipmates, their Ladies and
their Guests. These include Messdeck Suppers, Guest Speakers, Ladies Night Dinner,
Trafalgar Dinner, and annual dinner when the highlight of the evening is the
announcement of our hip mate of the Year Award.

Our Golden Jubilee year, on Sunday 26^th June 1988 was celebrated with a parade
through the Town and a Drumhead Service in the Castle Grounds Hertford, with the
Band of the Royal Marines C-IN-C Fleet in attendance. Other RNA Branches and
their Standards were supporting this. The sounding of "Sunset" by the Royal Marines
brought to an end a very moving and memorable day.

"UNITY LOYALTY, PATRIOTISM, COMRADESHIP"

Come along to our Branch Meetings that are held on the 1st Wednesday of each month
at 20:00 in the TA He quarters in St Andrew's Street, Hertford. We welcome
members from other RNA Branches to spend an evening with us.

It is the comradeship and loyalty, which was born in the Service, a comradeship
which in the Navy is second to none.

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