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HMS WILDFIRE from 1983, formerly Collingwood
Block.
The mast formerly stood in HMS PEMBROKE, prior to its closure |
The original idea for this commemorative book grew from a desire
to see a sorry looking green three drawer cabinet stuffed with so
many momentos and old photographs become a more respectable reminder
to us all of the work and effort which has been put into HMS Wildfire
over so many years by so many people. I inherited the cabinet in
1984.
During my time as the Unit Public Relations Officer I decided that
it would be very nice if for our 2lst Anniversary if we could collect
a photograph of all our previous Commanding Officers for display.
Through that exercise I was able to contact and talk to all of them
including Captain RICHARDSON DSC, Royal Navy (Rtd), our first Commanding
Officer, who regrettably died during 1988 and did not see his creation
through to its Jubilee. The sheer enthusiasm of these men resolved
me not to allow the efforts of all ex-WILDFIREs, however humble
to go unrecorded.
In compiling this commemorative book I have attempted to produce,
in a simple form, an account of the history and spirit of HMS Wildfire
as a Royal Naval Reserve Unit. It was never my intention to produce
a definitive chronicle of people and events covering the period.
My aim was simply to sort the mixture of photographs and information
collected and stuffed into that green cabinet, which had been added
to by so many people, into a momento of our service with Wildfire.
I hope this collection of photographs and names recall to you just
what Wildfire is and was about - both in terms of her role in the
defence of our nation, and spirit which we, the members of her ship's
company, have been privileged to have been part of during this time.
May that role and the spirit, long continue until another time when
somebody else has the duty to inherit a green cabinet. Personally
I would like to thank them all for so much fun, so much commitment
and so many friends over so many years. Thank you.
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I am sure that for a variety of reasons many omissions and
inaccuracies must occur in books such as this. There must
be many a picture and many a person who should have been mentioned
and wasn't, and for that I apologise. I must also admit that
as the sources from which much of the material and information
has come are both unrecorded and very often hearsay, I cannot
accept responsibility for the accuracy nor the correct sequence
of events. I have tried honestly to present a picture to which
those who know Wildfire will relate and will be able to elaborate
upon to their friends and family.
To acknowledge individually everybody who has given any help,
advice or suggestions, together with their own private photographs,
would fill the book itself. However, I would like to record
my thanks to all members and ex-members of HMS Wildfire and
the Wildfire Association who submitted photographs, information
and articles for inclusion, they were all interesting and
many most amusing. If they were not used please understand
the limitations of such a book, and accept my thanks. I would
particularly like to thank Mr. Alastair Miller for his help
and Mr. I.F. Ilderton from Grays, Essex for his photographs,
taken during his time with HMS Wildfire at Sheerness circa
1939. The Rochester & Chatham News have also very kindly
allowed us to use photographs, and the Imperial War Museum
have very kindly provided copies of old Wildfires. All previous
Commanding Officers have been most helpful and I thank them
for putting up with my continuous phone calls asking for more
information.
Finally may I thank Commander Andy KIRBY for his personal
contributions and his constant encouragement along the way.
I shall also be forever grateful to that merry band who came
to my home in Folkestone and kindly proof read the whole thing.
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Lieut Cdr Bill Hagger RD RNR
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F.W. HAGGER, RD.,
Lieutenant Commander,
Royal Naval Reserve,
1 June, 1989.
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