HMS Mercury 'T' Section 1971

Written by Godfrey Dykes

© RN Communications Branch Museum/Library

This was HMS Mercury's 'T' Section in 1971 ('T' meaning Technical and not Tactical. In earlier times the Buntings Boss was called T1 but was changed to F1, corresponding with Fleetwork).

T1 was Lt Cdr Nick Hill-Norton who later acquired the rank of Vice Admiral. His father, Admiral of the Fleet Lord Hill-Norton, had, just like Mountbatten, his own TV show extolling the virtues of naval big gun theory and practice. He was often shown in his bath tub!

T2 Lieut Briggs
T3 Sub-Lieut James - (Who leaves for the advanced course in June).
T4 CRS RCI G. Laws BEM - (Who has now PCTD every ICS ship at least once, some twice and some thrice, his efforts were rewarded by BEM
in June 1970)
T5 CRS RCI Arbuckle - (Who goes to HMS Norfolk in July after nearly 4 years in the section).
T6 CRS RCI Caless - (Who is being relieved by CRS Oxborough. Leaves in June for Tamar after nearly 4 years in the section.
T7 CRS RCI Lomas, Chief Instructor - (Is just about to start instructing his second RCI course).
T8 RS Moir
T9 CRS Grass - (Who goes to Naples in July).
T10 RS Driscoll
T11 CRS RCI Dykes
T12 RS RCI Pearce
T13 RS Alner
Regulating Instructor
RS Sterne
LRO Duane

It is sad to reflect on those who have crossed the bar, some of them many years ago. Gordon Laws - Jock Arbuckle - David Caless - Bob Lomas, all outstanding experts in their profession. Bob of course was an RCI and not an RIC, and Mick Oxborough was also an RCI, a title we all held with great pride.

I had just joined from sea (from HMS Rothesay) and became the Chief Instructor also taking through two RCI 'Q' courses. After 3½ years in the Section, I went to Portland, to FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training) as a Sea Rider. Promoted to FCRS in September 1975, I rejoined the Signal School as K6, a New Entry Divisional Officer with my names sake Lt Cdr John Ewart Dykes as K1 - John ended his career as a Captain RN. From there I went back to sea, this time as a Sea Rider on the Staff of FOF2.

Looking back, a very hectic part of my career having spent many years at sea in operational and running submarines in various squadrons around the world, then to general service as a New Entry Instructor, an RCI 'Q' Course (1969), HMS Rothesay Far East and Mediterranean, thence as above, all-in-all, with my face tight up to the "coal face" totalling non stop, approximately 18 years, which came to an end when I went back to the Signal School as the Standing OOW, a potentially stressful job in itself. However, apart from Lord Mountbatten's Royal Funeral and having the privilege of working with the very first WRNS Officer appointed as the First Lieutenant of a major Fleet Establishment (dear Rosie Ball) it wasn't at all stressful and I was much relaxed but not "switched off" to professional matters (not my style!) but enjoying my 'executive job'. Things were to change though, and the Training Commander (TC) often referred to as 'Top Cat', in league with the SIO - Senior Instructor Officer - (a Commander Schoolie) argued with The Commander of the Establishment, that I should be back doing Branch duties and not Establishment duties. TC and SIO won the day, and my last three years were as the TAO (Training Assessment Officer) before leaving to pension on the 27th June 1983.