Saturday, 22 February 2014

A life gone by... images from the experience of one man prior to World War Two

Never seen by anyone outside of a family circle, these incredible pictures mostly taken from HMS Gipsy, reveal an insight into the life and times of those who served at sea.


There are rather a lot of images here and I’m not going to spend too much time putting them into some form of order. Some do not have descriptions (which were written onto the back of the photos before being sent to the UK)


I feel it necesary to share these photos with everyone, not just for the sake of the family involved but because of their historic value and interest. Certain photos reveal a part of our history that we would not normally get to see and may also possibly help others reconnect to a time gone by. There may be people you know or recognize in these photos.


These photos have all come from this man, Mr. Taylor. He is either in the photos or has been somehow involved with the taking of them. Some may be general stock photos that were shared out to the crew by the ships photographer.


HMS Gipsy was Sunk on 21st November 1939.


HMS Gipsy Malta 17 april 1938 Mr. Taylor HMS Gipsy, Malta, 17 april 1938


fore bridge of gipsy june 1936 fore bridge of gipsy june 1936 (Mr. Taylor is in the centre)


french cruiser, palma, 1936 french cruiser, palma, 1936


Gipsy clearing off out of danger of exploding bombs 1936 Gipsy clearing off out of danger of exploding bombs 1936


hospital on fire after bombing, malaga 1936 hospital on fire after bombing, malaga 1936


refugees from gib to malaga Dec 1936 refugees from gib to malaga Dec 1936


refugees Gib to Malaga Dec 1936 refugees Gib to Malaga Dec 1936


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Valencia HMS Garland 1936 Valencia HMS Garland 1936


 


Tommy Newton (Neuton) Tommy Newton (Neuton)


 


Torpedo firing from Gipsy Torpedo firing from Gipsy


 


arthur spence on left and george bradley arthur spence on left and george bradley


 


gipsy 3-5-36 starboard looking aft - Grenade astern gipsy 3-5-36 starboard looking aft – Grenade astern


gipsy at lazaretto creek, malta, dec 1936 griffin other side gipsy at lazaretto creek, malta, dec 1936 griffin other side


 


gib march 1938 gib march 1938


gipsy at palma 1937 march gipsy at palma 1937 march


gipsy firing torpedo off mudros nov 1937 gipsy firing torpedo off mudros nov 1937


grafton and gipsy malta may 1936 grafton and gipsy malta may 1936


grafton garland gallant gipsy exercises off mudros nov 1937 grafton garland gallant gipsy exercises off mudros nov 1937


havock emroute to malta 1937 havock emroute to malta 1937


HMS Resolution 1932 HMS Resolution 1932


HMS Verbena HMS Verbena


la linea spain march 1938 la linea spain march 1938


part of 1st D F lazaretta creek feb 1937 part of 1st D F lazaretta creek feb 1937


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ships butcher and cat HMS gipsy 1937 ships butcher and cat HMS gipsy 1937


taken from gipsy bombing of malaga 1936 taken from gipsy bombing of malaga 1936


two more fires after bombing of malaga two more fires after bombing of malaga


two italian boats alongside gipsy tangiers april 1937 two italian boats alongside gipsy tangiers april 1937


 


entrance to valetta harbour malta 1937 entrance to valetta harbour malta 1937


gipsy - bomber returning from patrol 1937 gipsy – bomber returning from patrol 1937


Gipsy at skyros port trebuki jan 15th - 19th 1938 Gipsy at skyros port trebuki jan 15th – 19th 1938


 


Gipsy full power trial enroute from Oran to Malta 1937 Gipsy full power trial enroute from Oran to Malta 1937


HMS Gipsy june 1936 B gun deck HMS Gipsy june 1936 B gun deck


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skyros - gipsy - dec 1937 salvage party and approx entire inhabitants of skyros skyros – gipsy – dec 1937 salvage party and approx entire inhabitants of skyros


skyros - gipsy- dec 1937 whaler safely in tow but leaking badly, bailing with bucket skyros – gipsy- dec 1937 whaler safely in tow but leaking badly, bailing with bucket


taken from gipsy - spring cruise combined exercises march 1937 HMS queen elizabeth HMS grenade - destroyer flotilla taken from gipsy – spring cruise combined exercises march 1937 HMS queen elizabeth HMS grenade – destroyer flotilla


taken from gipsy at tangiers - french cruiser jeanne de luz - april 1937 taken from gipsy at tangiers – french cruiser jeanne de luz – april 1937


dockyard creek - french cruiser - malta 1937 dockyard creek – french cruiser – malta 1937


Gipsy patrolling off Baleric isles. Water spout in background 1937 Gipsy patrolling off Baleric isles. Water spout in background 1937


March 1937 full power trial on way to Gibraltar from Alicante HMS Gipsy March 1937 full power trial on way to Gibraltar from Alicante HMS Gipsy


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sjts leut. with german pow valet egypt 1945-46 sjts leut. with german pow valet egypt 1945-46


sjts mess egypt 1945-46 sjts mess egypt 1945-46


Skyros - Gipsy - dec 1937 launching whaler into boisterous sea Skyros – Gipsy – dec 1937 launching whaler into boisterous sea


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HMS Verbena HMS Verbena


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grave of late lieut commander P C Ransome late captain of HMS Gipsy Gibraltar cemetery 1937 died 12-6-37 grave of late lieut commander P C Ransome late captain of HMS Gipsy Gibraltar cemetery 1937 died 12-6-37


gipsy port trebuki captain and 2nd half jan 1938 umpire - bandit warfare gipsy port trebuki captain and 2nd half jan 1938 umpire – bandit warfare


from gipsy at alicante hospital ship Maine from gipsy at alicante hospital ship Maine


grand harbour, malta, HMS Warspite march 1938 grand harbour, malta, HMS Warspite march 1938


gipsy port trebuki 16th jan 1938 'yours truly standing in bows of whaler' gipsy port trebuki 16th jan 1938 ‘yours truly standing in bows of whaler’


HMS Hostile - combined exercises 2nd destroyer flotilla march 1937 HMS Hostile – combined exercises 2nd destroyer flotilla march 1937


Malta HMS Nelson feb - march 1938 Malta HMS Nelson feb – march 1938


M Douglas the lodge Tynemouth M Douglas the lodge Tynemouth


R Childs HMS Revenge R Childs HMS Revenge


Torpedo firing from Gipsy Torpedo firing from Gipsy


How this photo came to be in with all of the others I have no idea. I think it may have been taken at the time that Gipsy and leipzig passed by one another…but I have nothing definite for that. Perhaps someone knows


German leipzig 1937 German leipzig 1937


And finally.. .after it all.. home at last..


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A life gone by... images from the experience of one man prior to World War Two

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