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Letters
Ships with the name Shropshire (and NAAFI) Hello I am trying to find information about hms shropshire during ww1 and hms shropshire during ww2 I know they arent the same ship I am looking for two names all I really have to go on is an id tag it reads L. POUNTNEY HMS SHROPSHIRE N.A.A.F.I. where can I look for info and what does N.A.A.F.I. stand for .thank you Terry
NAAFI stands for Navy Army Air Force Institutes, formed in 1921 to serve the three services, Here is their websitehttp://www.naafi.co.uk/, I'll answer your questions about HMS Shropshire anon. A bit more about NAAFI History. Regards,
Regarding ships with the name Shropshire, there are three, two were merchant ships, and one was an 8 inch cruiser who served both in the Royal Navy and then in the Royal Australian Navy. Shropshire ( 1 ) was built in 1891 by Harland and Wolff at Belfast, as a 5,721 ton vessel for the Bibby Line. She was 445 1/2 feet long with a 49 foot beam and a speed of 14.5 knots. In 1909, sold to Lim Chin Tsong of Rangoon and renamed Seang Bee. In 1915, chartered for use as a troopship, and saw service between Burma and India and in the Dardenelles area, returned to her owners in 1919, and finally broken up in 1931.
Photo of Shropshire ( 1 ) as a Bibby line ship. The next Shropshire, was built in 1911 as a Federal Steam Navigation Company Limited of London ship. She was of 8,130 tons and was requisitioned as His Majesty's Auxiliary Troopship Shropshire to transport members of the Australian Imperial Force ( AIF ) to Egypt. The ship remained under the control of the Commonwealth of Australia until 1917. In 1922, she was renamed Rotorua ( 2 ) and in 1936, transferred to the New Zealand Shipping Company, to be torpedoed in the North Atlantic in 1940, and 19 lives were lost. HMS Shropshire was one of the London class of 8 inch gunned heavy cruisers. After HMAS Canberra was sunk at the Battle of Savo Island on the 9th. of August 1942, Winston Churchill offered Shropshire as a gift to the Royal Australian Navy to replace her. I served in both Canberra and Shropshire in WW2. I have copied a little of her history here for you, and it includes some photographs of this ship, which had a magnificent record in the Pacific war, and was present at the Japanese surrender. I recall that great day, the 2nd. of September 1945 in Tokyo Bay , at last after being ar sea for the total of WW2, I had survived, and it was all over. I had started the war as a youngster of 17, and now was a man of 23. But I ramble on Trish. I will E-Mail two photos, one of Shropshire 1, the other of Aussie troops on the deck of HMAT Shropshire. I trust these few notes will serve your needs, if not, come back and I will fill them out for you. Was your inquiry sparked from any relationship with the person from HMS Shropshire, or mere interest? Kindest regards, Hello again mr Gregory; I appreciate the info youve sent about the shropshire's and crews. I went to the N.A.A.F.I. site but it didnt give much history or maybe not what im looking for.the name L. Pountney was my father who was born in 1923 or 24 the other name im looking for is Percival Pountney my grandfather born in 1898 my father was supposed to have served in the merchant navy during ww2 but I was of the understanding he was on a supply boat named HMS SHROPSHIRE my grandfather im not sure of. any new info would be a help thanks.
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