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Letters
Jack 'Johnno' Johnson aboard Ladybird Gentlemen, I came across your website and http://www.HMSFalcon.com site while idly searching for info abt HMS Ladybird. I have some news for you which may be of interest and may turn out to be useful. I have a friend in Fremantle,WA whose dad, I'm almost 100% certain, was in the Ladybird when it was attacked. I know this because on my 1995 trip to Oz, the father Lt.Cmdr. RN (retd) Jack 'Johnno' Johnson MBE (?) had recently passed away, and his son Tim was showing me his dad's papers and effects, or those that he had access too. Alas various disagreements followed the old salt's passing and I'm not sure how much of Johnno's stuff Tim had. However, I'm pretty sure Johnno was on the Ladybird. I remember postcards sent to Tim's mum in Pompey or Isle of Wight about the attack and also that as Johnno had spent time being trained as a draftsman, he had produced plan drawings of the Ladybird detailing the damage she's taken. These postcards also included visits to Chinese beauty spots and possibly one of Johnno and his RN mates somewhere along the Yangtze? I think Tim had his dad's original drawings made at the time on the spot perhaps. You will excuse my vagueness, but it was 12 long years ago I pored over this stuff. I was rivetted by this stuff, these priceless personal effects of a man I met in 1985 on my first trip to Oz and grew to like and admire intensely. I have emailed Tim in Bicton WA with a view to him scanning anything he has in his possession and forwarding it. I can't promise anything but I have set the wheels in motion. I'm not sure how computer literate he is either - I get one email a year written by his missus! Best regards,
Thanks for that, we look forward to the next instalment, and would love any plans of the Ladybird. they were grest little gunboats with a powerful punch. All the best for 2008. Mackenzie Gregory. |
