HMS BERMUDA

HMS BERMUDA

HISTORY OF HMS BERMUDA

HMS Bermuda (Pennant C52, call-sign GCQP) was a Crown Colony Class light cruiser, completed during World War II and served in that conflict.

She was named for the British Territory of Bermuda, and was the eighth vessel of that name.

The ship was built by John Brown & Company of Clydebank and launched on 11 September 1941. In the same year, the lead ship of the class, HMS Fiji, was sunk while participating in the evacuation of Crete. HMS Bermuda served in various zones during the war.

Bermuda remained in the Far East as the flagship of the 5th Cruiser Squadron, until 1947, when she returned to the UK for a refit at Chatham Dockyard. She was then placed in reserve. In 1950 she was restored to active service, and served in the South Atlantic as the flagship of the Commander in Chief South Atlantic Station until 1953. She then served with the Mediterranean Fleet. In 1953, she and her sister HMS Gambia brought aid to the Greek island of Zakynthos (Zante) when it was struck by a severe earthquake. Greek officials would later comment, "we Greeks have a long-standing tradition with the Royal Navy and it lived up to every expectation in its infallible tradition of always being the first to help" In 1956 Bermuda was paid-off and towed up to Palmer's at Hebburn on Tyne to undergo a long refit. She returned to service, and spent the next few years in exercises with other NATO navies, or other Royal Navy units. In April 1958, she left to assist Malta in the reinforcement of Cyprus during a period of civil unrest
Bermuda was decommissioned in 1962, after 21 years in service. She was scrapped by Ward, Briton Ferry, Wales starting on 26 August 1965

Pictures in this group are: Main: at anchor in a whaler off the coast of Lebanon; Top Left: the after 6” gun turret; Bottom Left: escorting the Queen and the Royal Yacht, Britannia, on the Mediterranean phase of Her world tour 1953.

The draft contingent from HMS Ganges arrived at Keyham Station, Devonport, early one evening in early March, cold, tired, bedraggled and hungry! As well as myself it included John Ennis, John Beddell and others whose names escape me at the moment. I remember the great difficulty I had manhandling a full kit bag and a hammock up the gangway and finding my way to the boys’ mess. I cannot now remember what I had to eat, if anything, but do remember being the newcomer on the mess-deck, and having to find a place to sling my hammock in the cramped conditions.

It was one thing I do not recall ever being taught in Ganges: how to actually climb into a hammock, and I remember the first occasion when to my embarrassment and the glee of

From the quayside the ship looked enormous, and in fact it displaced 8500 Tons and carried nine 6” and eight 4” guns, so it was no mean ship. HMS Bermuda (Pennant C52: Call-sign GCQP) commissioned early in 1953 sailing for the Mediterranean in March of that year in the expectation of a two-and-a-half year absence from the UK. During her commission, HMS Bermuda often flew the Flag of the Flag Officer 2nd in Command, Mediterranean Fleet

In the event changes in Admiralty policy resulted in the commission ending after 20 months. After a spell in Malta , one of our first tasks was to relieve HMS Gambia at Port Said where shore leave was restricted due to the unrest, and in the albums you will find a picture of one of the armed guards patrolled the upper deck.

You will also see a picture Lascaris Signal Station from above, which housed the staff of the Commander in Chief and operating under the call sign GYX. Many former sparkers will remember operating on Malta LCW. With its commanding view over Grand Harbour not much escaped the eye either of the C in C, then Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten of Burma, or his staff.

Former shipmates or family members may like to know that a Naval General Service Medal has been awarded to those who served in the Suez Canal zone including those on HMS Bermuda. If you think you, your father or grandfather, are entitled to the medal you should write to The Historical Records Office, Royal Marines, Ministry of Defence, Centurion Building, Grange Road, Gosport, Hants, PO13 9XA. You should include your Service Number, Rank, Full Name, Date of Birth, Dates of Enlistment and Discharge. The medal may be claimed by the individual concerned, or if he/she has died, by the immediate next of kin who will be asked for some proof of identity.

HMS Bermuda: Introduction