Bought this medallion today and would just like to share, anyone any idea why Home Fleet ?? ![]()
Some interesting script , the old paperwork is interesting. Thank you Bart ![]()
The term “Home Fleet” refers to a major fleet of the Royal Navy that operated in British territorial waters from 1902 until it was dissolved in 1967. It was the primary British naval force in home waters during [World War II.
For some strange reason they put my grandfather, in charge of harbour defences for it. He was so completely convinced that the Germans would arrive he sent all his male children to Canada. His female children, my aunts he employed tying tin foil to balloons and launching them (the balloons not the aunts) from Norfolk to short circuit the electrical wires in occupied Europe. I am not sure it did much to slow things down but it did take their mind of their dead husbands who had all been killed aboard various ships during the hostilities.
Here’s a more recent iteration of the interservices cricket events being commemorated
The Navy cricket skills depended vey much on who they could recruit from where. Those who had been stationed in India or Pakistan were particularly sought after upon their. joining the home fleet pending retirement. Those with Australian experience were especially prized.
I am not suggesting the home fleet stacked its teams in the 1960’s just that there were a lot of naval types around the home base as the empire contracted.
I play for the army one year and we were better at bowling than batting for some reason.
CRWW
I googled Fleet and found it’s a town in Hampshire, but Home Fleet had me puzzled
. Thank you for your explanation, it adds the historical value to the medallion which is very interesting ![]()
Much of the home fleet was stationed at Scarpa Flow a huge natural harbour at the northern most point of Scotland. The Battle of Jutland, probably the last full fleet naval engagement ever was supplied with ships and men from this safe haven. It was also the last engagement to have a future king as part of the service. Prince Albert who became George VI was a serving midshipman aboard HMS Collingwood.
His grandson Andrew also served during a war but his chances of becoming King seem to have suffered an Ep(stein)ic setback.
Well fairly safe. October 14, 1939 the Royal Oak was sunk by a German U boat attack. Today if you go up there you can still see the wrecks sunk to prevent a repeat and of course the Royal Oak Museum.
Records for the Club and also the Navy will provide you with chapter and verse for the 1965 win if you or your customer wants further and better.
CRWW
I have very little faith in google’s Boolean search capabilities. Incidentally they stole the word from cricket. A googly is a deceptive delivery in cricket bowled by a leg-spin bowler that spins in the opposite direction of a normal leg-break By holding the ball with a leg-spin grip but twisting the hand at the release point, the bowler can make the ball go straight instead of turning away from a right-handed batsman, causing confusion. As a left handed bowler I mastered the technique and earned my crust on to teams which thought little of my wicket defence skills.
“The Fleet” should show up as London’s second largest river now almost completely destroyed.
CRW

