HMS Blankney

HMS Blankney

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HMS Blankney was brought into service during the second world war, and was named after the Blankney Hunt. She was built by John Brown Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd (Clydebank, Scotland). HMS Blankney was an Escort Destroyer Hunt (Type 11), laid down on 17th May 1940, launched 19th December 1940 and commissioned 11th April 1941. She joined the 12th escort group, based at Londonderry, Northern Ireland in October 1941. The following December she was dispatched from the Fleet at Gibraltar to reinforce Commander Walkers U-boat killer group that was escorting a homeward bound convoy from Gibraltar. On 17th December a Martlet aircraft from HMS Audacity spotted a submarine on the surface, the pilot went in to attack the submarine but unfortunately he was shot down in the attempt. Blankney gave chase and together with her sister destroyers Exmoor and Stanley, the corvette HMS Pentstemon and the sloop HMS Stork, they sank the submarine, a U-131, with gunfire and depth charges. The following day Blankney was again in action, together with Stanley, when a U-434 was spotted six miles away. The submarine dived, but following three rapid attacks from Blankney, it was severely damaged and surfaced to allow her crew to save themselves, minutes later she sank. With her German prisoners on board HMS Blankney returned to Gibraltar for refuelling. Throughout 1942 Blankney participated in the escort of Arctic convoys. In July 1943 she took part in the Allied landings on Sicily. In March 1944, together with three other British destroyers and an American destroyer, they sank a U-450 submarine with depth charges. In May she assisted American and French destroyers chase and sink a U-371 submarine. In June the same year HMS Blankney was a member of the Gunfire Support Bombarding Force K, assigned to 'Gold Beach' during the Normandy landings. In August 1945 HMS Blankney was docked in the Selborne dry dock at Simonstown, South Africa. In March 1959, Blankney was broken up for scrap. Her badge can still be seen painted on Selborne dry dock wall.

Brainteaser

Today's brainteaser is 'Trivia', test your general knowledge by answering the ten questions set out below. Good luck!

01 Which ancient city was engulfed by the lava from the volcano Vesuvius?
02 Which fresh water fish is also called a jack?
03 Who invented the Wellington bomber and the bouncing bomb?
04 What is the common name for sodium chloride?
05 What is Calcutta famous for in British history?
06 What are the sirocco and mistral?
07 In which sport has Sir Donald Bradman become a legend?
08 Which animal is normally measured in 'hands'?
09 Where is the Pentagon?
10 What is a guinea?

Blankney School - Class Of 1930

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The above picture of Blankney schoolchildren was taken in 1930. My uncle, Norman Garlant, is on the back row, fourth from the left.

Ronnie Biggs And The Great Train Robbery

I see that Ronnie Biggs, the most famous of The Great Train robbers, has been taken from Norwich prison to the cities Norwich University Hospital. His son Michael confirmed that his 79 year old father was thought to be suffering from pneumonia. He went on to say "Why is my father still in prison? He's costing the tax payer thousands. He's been in prison for 10 years now and he is no danger to society." Perhaps someone should remind son Michael that his sentence was 30 years, a good deal of which was spent living the high life in Paris, Australia and Brazil. Biggs had served only 15 months of his sentence in Wandsworth prison, before escaping and going on the run for the next 35 years. He has still only served 11 years and 3 months of his sentence.

The Great Train Robbery

On the 8th August 1963 perhaps the most daring and well organized crime ever committed in this country was carried out. The Glasgow to London mail train was intercepted in a quiet area of Buckinghamshire. It was boarded by fifteen men wearing ski masks and helmets who stole 120 bags of money containing £2.6m. In terms of today's values that may not seem a great amount, especially compared to some more modern day hauls, but in 1963 it represented a huge amount of money, equivalent to about £40m today. The scale and size of the robbery captured the imagination of the British people and a massive police operation was launched. The whole operation was masterminded by a known armed burglar by the name of Bruce Reynolds. It was Reynolds who was privy to inside information as to where, when and how the money would be transported. As the train travelled through Buckinghamshire it was halted at Sears Crossing by a red light. Unbeknown, to the driver the gang had concealed the green light with a glove and had used a six-volt battery to temporarily power the red light. The fireman on the locomotive tried to ring the signalman, only to find the wires had been cut. The driver, Jack Mills, was then forced to move the train down the track. The carriage containing the money bags was then uncoupled from the others and driven a further half mile to a spot called Bridego Bridge where the gang's Land Rovers and an army truck were waiting to ferry the haul from the scene. The gang then unloaded the money sacks into the vehicles on the road below the bridge. Jack Mills the driver of the train was coshed over the head with an iron bar, though it was never proved who carried out the attack, he was left traumatised for the rest of his life. The gang holed up at Leatherslade Farm, near Oakley, Buckinghamshire. Acting on an anonymous tip-off police raided the farm five day's later only to find the robbers had fled. Thirteen of the gang members, including Ronnie Biggs, were eventually caught. They were tried and sentenced on16th April 1964. Train driver Jack Mills died from Leukemia in 1964.

Who Am I? - Saturday's Answer

Did you get the answer to Saturdays 'Who Am I'? By examining the ten clues given you should have come up with the following answer:

Answer............Katie Price (Jordan)

Well done to those readers who got the right answer!