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It all started with a simple request:
Dave Toms
The Shovel
Mon Dec 4 16:14:29 2000
Does anybody have any information on the (in)famous shovel, which used to hang in
Dolphin SR Mess, when it wasn't hanging in another S/M Mess around the globe? I am
particularly keen to discover about its trips to Australia, since they are not very
well documented. Have you been one of the teams that actually stole the shovel? The
tale is to be told in a future edition of the review of Naval Engineering, in time
for the 100th birthday celebrations.
A quick response followed:
Barry Jenkins
Shovel
Mon Dec 4 20:57:11 2000
I was involved with numerous others in getting it off HMCS Athabascan ( I think )
in Guzz dockyard when OPOSSUM was doing her refit sometime between '86 and '88. Then
involved when we went out to Canada. When I was on ODIN in '80 Dickie Deacon also
hatched a plan to get it which didn't go to plan but was successful although I can't
remember how in the end we did get it.
And this was soon followed by:
Buster
Home where it belongs-for now
Mon Dec 4 21:01:52 2000
Gents,
The shovel was returned to Halifax S/M1 S.R.'s Mess in 1996 from the S.R.'s Mess
in Dolphin. Done so because of the inevitable closure of Blockhouse and the shift
of SMI's pennant. Further fears existed among the mess committee at the time is that
the shovel might get lost at sea in some submarine, somewhere, in some ocean and
that the opportunities of ever pinchin' it again would be therefore minimized. Today,
the shovel in all of its' tallied glory and tales is temporarily laid to rest in
the Naval museum in Halifax. The next move is anticipation of a new mess being built
in Halifax and if so, the re-appropriated garden tool shall be re-commissioned and
used to turn the first sod.
What goes round, comes round. I HAVE THE DITs...
Grab the Gator!
The mystery soon deepened:
PRIGGY
Shovel or spade
Thu Dec 7 08:04:34 2000
The Shovel not spade, was on the wall in the wet canteen in HMAS PENGUIN in 1964,
It was taken to HMNZS PHILOMEL on a T boat of the 4th S/M in 65, from there its a mystery,
hope this fills in a gap or two, Happy Christmas to all from AUS.
And Derek seen red:
Derek Lilliman
The Shovel
Thu Dec 7 10:36:39 2000
When I first the message on the Forum about the 'shovel' I thought to myself 'keep
out of this Derek, you'll only stir up a can of worms' However after reading some
of the replies I would like to poke my oar in. I was an Instructor in the SETT when
it disappeared and when I went into the mess and saw it Ripped off the wall, I thought
, Sheer Vandalism, nothing else, and when I found out it was the Canadians, I thought
what else could you expect from the Colonials! When later I found out it was
purloined
by the Australians I though 'good, serves them right, although it appears to be back
in Canada. As regards its final resting place, it should be in THE Submarine Museum
in
Gosport. With apologies from the RCN and RAN that they had recruited such individuals
who would carry out such acts of vandalism!!
This comment put me in my "kindergarden mode" and
with tongue in cheek I responded accordingly:
Norm Williams
"Borrowed" Items
Sun Dec 10 13:27:36 2000
Derek, Colonials indeed...
We may have lost the shovel, or should we call a spade a spade, but at least FOSMs
Dolphins are still with the RAN. The site shall remain our little secret.
Buster returned:
Buster
Good Vice-Pres.
Sun Dec 10 13:19:08 2000
Barry,
Got yer off-line message regarding great initiative. Have trust that the gardening
tool is safeguarded for the time being in the deepest sanctums of pusser's cobwebbed
museum in Slackers'. It will re-emerge one day soon...for all the sods re-appropriate
if they dare!!
Mind yer bubble,
Buster
And again:
Buster
Don't wake the sleeping bear!!
Sun Dec 10 15:57:06 2000
Bungy me ole' frush. Be nice now. You need to know that the home of the shovel dates
back to 21 September, 1961...the tool used for sod-turning for the then new chuffs
n' puffs mess. It was thrust into Canadian soil by the Commodore RCN Barracks (M.A.Medland),
HMCS Stadacona and the first theft came by COX'N Sandy MacLean and his minions from
Alderney...right out of the trophy cabinet the morning Alderney sailed back to Pompey
from SM6. Left in its' place was a box of dhobey dust and a pair of crabby nicks.
Buster
And then one of the culprits owned up:
George Sullivan
Digging Device
Mon Dec 11 06:11:33 2000
Derek,
I can't agree with you more WRT causing damage when "acquiring" the shovel.
If it can't be done with a little ingenuity, class and finesse it shouldn't be done
at all. I "repatriated" the shovel twice from "Dolphin" on my
own and partook on a least two other occasions and it was never done by causing any
damage. The shovel moved about for over 30 years and the incident you speak of only
occurred once that I know of. I also "borrowed" it from the Sub Squadron
in Halifax and took it to Ottawa to get the Prime Minister's endorsement that it
had in fact been in the Nation's Capitol!! Unfortunately I didn't quite succeed in
that endeavour but did get a letter from his staff confirming the shovel had been
in Ottawa.
As far as the remainder of your dit....gimme a break mate!
The shovel came from Canada in the first place; it was used for the sod turning ceremony
when the (then) new C&PO's mess was built. So having been retired, Canada is
the right place for it to be. In addition to this if you tally up the time it has
spent in various locations around the world Canada comes out on top by far (purely
due to the stealth, ingenuity and daring of us "Colonials".)
Speaking of "Colonials" once a year we have a holiday called "Thanksgiving"
which most EX colonial rulers think has something to do with the colonists giving
thanks for the bounty of the land in providing them with sustenance, shelter, clothing
and so on to see them through a harsh winter season which is was to follow.........in
actual fact, they were really giving thanks they didn't miss the boat..........
By the way, it was ripped off the wall, what is a wall in a naval establishment?
Surely you mean bulkhead??, it was PURLOINED by the Aussies and DISAPPEARED for a
while.
Not bad for a colonial...... eh wot??
Ta!
Dave Bryant recalled:
Dave Bryant
18 January 2001
The last time I saw "The Shovel" it was hanging in the SS Mess in HMAS
PLATYPUS (1st AUSSUBRON) when OTWAY arrived back from the UK in 1968. It had been
forwarded on from HMCNS OJIBWA from their base in Halifax having been stolen from
HMS DOLPHIN (1st SMSQDN) by a Kanuck enroute to his homeland when they stopped at
BLOCKHOUSE for some R & R and to load weapons in 1966.
It was stolen from Halifax SS Mess by an Aussie submariner who was in an RN submarine
(I think HMS ARTFUL) when the base was still designated 7th SMSQDN pending the arrival
of Canadian OBoats (much like 4th SM SQDN at HMAS PENGUIN awaiting the arrival of
the first of the Oxley Class OBoats). I believe that "The Shovel" went
back to Blighty onboard HMS ODIN when she was detached to AUSSUBRON in the early
70's as an adjunct to the ANZUK Force based in Singapore. I think that it went to
'Guz, because that's where ODIN came from (her refit
base).
That's the best I can do.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Dave Bryant
And today I received this response from Dave (who started the
discussion) from Gosport. Thanks Dave:
Dave Toms
18 January 2001
Hi all,
We have a lot of Canadian submariners around just now, training up for the ex-Upholders.
I accosted one in Gosport the other day and he did some rooting around, since he
thought the shovel was is Canada.
The dit:
There are TWO shovels, the real one used for the planting and the ceremonial one
that used to get acquired by submariners. Both are presently in the Canadian sub
museum, which is not on the web as yet. I would still like to expand on the thumb
nail sketches on the tallies, so any tales from Australia or indeed anywhere else
with first hand knowledge of the shovel would be appreciated. I can provide some
Canadian e-mail addresses if you wish.
So come on you lot, own up and let us all in on the secret.
Give Dave (and me) the dirt on Australian involvement with the dastardly deed.
Norm
I don't care who stole the bloody thing, can I have it back!
10 March 2001
I received the following email and link to a photo or two from a Canadian (he nicked
it on three different occasions. and is the one on the right in the photies). George
lives in Ottawa, the nations capitol (commonly known as "Fat City" or "Fort
Fumble" says George) and he 29 years in the mob, sonar type, 2 1/2 on a frigate,
5 on a DDH, 14 in boats. Went to boats as a killick, left as a CPO1 (Fleet Chief
equiv). He was Cox'n on Ojibwa 1 year, Okanagan 2 Years, Squadron Cox'n 1 year,
then
NDHQ as a Career manager (drafty type) 4 years, Submarine Acquisition Program until
the focus shifted to Nuc boats and the program collapsed shortly thereafter and
he got out not too long after that.
While he was Cox'n on Okangan and Squadron Cox'n Kim Pitt was there as Squad Ops
O, and a whole gaggle of Aussie electricians over doing their initial sub course
and qual program at that time.) George was also kind enough to let me use the gif
above of the periscope. Thanks George.
George Sullivan
Please make it clear I AM NOT in possession of the shovel, don't want people thinking
it started going into private residences!
The shovel is now in the Maritime Command Museum in Halifax. There was a lot of concern
it would disappear into somebody's "rec room" I think a new one is in the
mill.
The photos
were taken when I nicked it from Sub Squad C&PO's Mess in Halifax (mid 80's)to
bring it to Ottawa for the Prime Minister's "signature of authenticity"
that it had been in the "nations" capitol.
Didn't even have to nick it really! After a few "tots" convinced the mess
pres it was a good idea and conned him into giving it to me. (a
CERA of course) Now that I had it had to follow through on my "promise"
Never did get his signature but did get a letter from the Prime
Minister's Office (PMO) verifying it had been in Ottawa!
Of course the mess pres started to get worried about it and was phoning me once or
twice a month. "Wondering how things were going with the shovel" The pictures
where taken at a summer BBQ one day to show "that it was in good hands"
After a suitably long delay I sent it back.........it was a hoot!
Cheers,
George
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