Rab Butler served 1964 - 1977
| DATE | UNIT | NOTES |
| 1964 | HMS Raleigh | Joined up. |
| 1964 | HMS Wizard | Sea Training Portland |
| 1965 | HMS Vernon | O/Sea UC(B) PO Roberts TASI |
| 1965 -1969 | HMS Eskimo | Sonar Type 170/177 (O/Sea to L/Sea UC*) CPO TASI Sam McCoombe. Cracking Ships Company spent nearly 4 years going virtually all over the globe. Europe / Med / South Africa / Red Sea / Gulf / India & Pakistan / West Indies / Bermuda / USA ..... Started the Ships Association in 2000 and we meet every year for a reunion in Pompey |
| 1969 | HMS Vernon | UC 2Course PO Roberts TASI (DC5) |
| 1969 | HMS Pembroke | ( Sailing Centre ) Blue Card (Yippee !!!) |
| 1969 -1971 | HMS Grenville | (L/Sea UC2) Type 15 (Sonar Type 128/164/174) Spent most of our time looking for roughers to do RAS Trials also for the boffins from ASWE doing trials on UAA1(EW Kit). Slinging hammocks and lots of brill runs ashore including Newfoundland, USA, Bermuda, |
| 1971 | HMS Vernon | L/Sea UC2) UC1's Course PO Reedy TASI (BC53) |
| 1971-1974 | HMS Juno | (L/Sea UC1) Sonar Type !70 / 177M . Good Craic, back out the West Indies but also spent a long time on the Cod War and up in the Arctic Circle, DAMM COLD |
| 1974 | HMS Vernon | ASWD Course FCPO Roberts again |
| 1974 - 1976 | HMS Sheffield | PO (S) Sonar Type 184M. First of class and a total change from mandraulic to auto. ADAWS 5 and everything that went with it Link X etc. Seemed to spend all our time on trials for new kit and not to many jollies. Great trip up the Thames though, did London big time. Lost a few good oppos when the Argies clobbered her. Shed a tear or two |
| 1977 | Civvy Street | Sometimes wish I'd stayed and done 22 the pension and everything else would have been a real asset. But with a young family and 3 children had to make a decision that ticked their boxes. I did seem to spend an awful long time away from home at sea, and when I look back perhaps is was a bit too much to ask of them. Drafty wasn't very kind to me. |
| Have been a Long-Distance HGV Driver for a number of years and found that being on my own "on the road" suited best. | ||
| The one thing I always wanted to do was a TASI Course as I felt it would give me some shore time and solve a few probs in one stroke, but due to a difference of opinion with one Lt. P. Meakins who mistook enthusiasm for being pushy I lost the opportunity, so outside I went. | ||
| Its nice to see that Paul Hitchcock did so well and many others that stayed achieved recognition for their service. PO now WO Roberts was always somebody who I had a lot of respect for. He was a real decent person both in and out of uniform. John Adams and Peggy Neil also evoke fond memories. Especially Peggy doing our workup critique on the Grenville. "Cut right" "Coloured Bar" "Coloured Stylus" "Wheres the sub gone now SC" | ||
| Happy Days to you all | ||
| Rab |