Motor Torpedo Boats

THAME GAZETTE – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD, 1943

“EXCHANGE OF COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES

A most interesting ceremony took place on Saturday evening in the Town Hall, it being

the occasion of the Exchange of Plaques in connection with the Thame and District

Warship Week, which was held in January of last year. A fairly representative number

of townspeople were present for the ceremony which was presided over by Lieut Gen

Sir Hew D Fanshawe who was supported by Admiral L A R Donaldson, C B, C M G,

Councillors C Simmons, A Finch, C Blood and T J Phillips, Sir Chas Peers, Mrs

Burbridge and Miss J Fanshawe.

In opening the proceedings Sir Hew Fanshawe said he had a pleasant duty in

welcoming Admiral Donaldson, who as one of our British admirals had come to take

part in the exchange of plaques in commemoration of Thame’s Warship Week.

Personally, as an old soldier, he had great admiration for the senior service to which

Admiral Donaldson was connected.

They would not stress too much of what the Royal Navy had been doing for the

country and he felt sure all Thame people must be proud to be connected with one of

H.M boats. They were winning the war not only by the Royal Navy, but by the

combined support of the three Services given to each other. That combination would

bring them through to final victory.

Further, Sir Hew said it was up to all of us to do what they could in lending money to

the Government. Thame had done well in its two weeks on behalf of War Weapons

and Warship Weeks, and in their next – Wings for Victory Week – he hoped all would

give all they could.

Admiral Donaldson then delivered a very breezy and inspiring address in which he

expressed at the outset the great pleasure it gave him to be present with a Thame

audience. Coming, as he did, from Portsmouth, the Admiral commented on the bad

time that the town had had through the blitzes but they were to show the Hun what

they could do despite blitzes. He thought the spirit of the whole country was fine in

Speaking of the pleasure it gave him to be with the chairman ( Sir Hew Fanshawe )

Admiral Donaldson referred to the unique record of the Fanshawe family, in which

father and son were Admirals of the Fleet at the same time. Never had such a

distinction been achieved by any other father and son.

In regard to Savings Weeks they must have them to help the fighting forces. Was

Thame fully covered by Savings Groups? It was a big job; ten per cent of the

population were unable to save, such as old age pensioners and small wage earners.

War Savings, he declared, was one of the most valuable institutions, and surely we

could give 5s as a regular contribution.

Whilst having our breakfast, did we ever think how we came by it. In our grace we

thank God, yet we should also thank the Merchant Navy. When the war was over we

should all be proud of being an Englishman, and don’t forget the enemy is a Hun and a

devil, as had been proved by his many actions.

In subscribing £76,000 in Warship Week, Admiral Donaldson continued, Thame had

provided a boat which was one of the finest things that could be done, and the town

could well be proud of itself.

In the forthcoming Wings for Victory Week he hoped the town would make an even

greater effort. We only ask for self-denial, the same as our brothers are giving in the

Forces. Make it a great success for the town. Think twice before you smoke; think

twice before you buy that hat. When you think of that Savings Stamp, don’t think at all,

In conclusion, Admiral Donaldson said it was his pleasure to hand over to Councillor

Simmons the plaque from the Admiralty with the hope that it would be a link between

the town of Thame and the Navy, adding that the Navy appreciated the town’s effort

and hoped the plaque would be placed in the Town Hall in memory of the occasion.

Councillor Simmons, on rising to accept the plaque, said it gave him great pleasure to

do so on behalf of the town. It was a unique occasion in the history of Thame, thanks

to Sir C Peers, the design or crest on the plaque (which will probably be adopted by

the town ) is of very antique and historic interest, such crest forming part of a ring

found by Mr Willcocks Mackenzie, a Thame man, on the left bank of the River Thame

(near Jemmott’s Hole ) as recently as April 21st, 1940. He, being an honest man,

reported his find to the local police, who in turn reported it to the Coroner for this part of

the County, an inquest being held on this and other rings and coins included in the

discovery, which valuables were declared to be treasure-trove and duly surrendered to

the Crown. On representations being made to the Government, and in view of the

local interest in the hoard, these interesting and valuable rings and coins were

acquired by the Ashmolean Museum. Experts have decided the ring referred to must

probably have belonged to Robert King, who was elected Abbot of Thame in the year

1529. Robert King was a friend of Wolsey and, it is suggested that his appointment

was in a sense a diplomatic move to make the surrender of the abbey to the king

(Henry VIII) easier than it might otherwise have been. The surrender was made in

1539. Whether the treasure referred to was buried or lost in flight is a matter of

Mr Simmons then went on to refer to the purpose of the gathering that evening. The

sum of £76,000 or £6,000 in excess of the target was raised and in the name of the

town he must express thanks to Councillor C Blood (the Chairman) and his committee.

As he thought most of Thame people knew, the Admiralty has permitted us to adopt H

M M Tor Boat No 219, and Admiral Donaldson of H M Navy, had come there that

evening to present the Admiralty plaque and receive at his hands (as Chairman of

Thame U D C.) in the name of the town and district a plaque to be affixed to some

portion of our ship In taking part in this most pleasing ceremony. It only remained for

him, in the name of the subscribers, to express the sincere hope that our ship will

survive this war and that we shall, one day, be enabled to make personal contact with

her officers and crew and be permitted to add our tribute to the untiring and devoted

service of H M Navy “our sure shield” and salvation in these troubled times.

Councillor Simmons then handed the town’s plaque to Admiral Donaldson, who in his

turn said he accepted it with great pleasure.

Councillor Blood, as chairman of the local committee, said he had a specially pleasing

duty to perform, and that was to thank publicly Sir Charles Peers for the great

assistance he gave him in respect of the plaque; also Mr Glynne Hastings and to Mr R

G Holland in a similar capacity, whilst he also expressed his thanks to Mr Hamecher

and the committee who worked so hard to make the Warship Week a success. Most

special thanks were due to Admiral Donaldson for coming to Thame and they

appreciated all he had said.

The Admiral suitably responded and ended with an amusing story relating to the last

war, which caused much laughter.