Crest of the V&W Destroyer AssociationCrest of the V&W Destroyer AssociationHMS VIMIERA




Regattas and cruises in the Mediterranean

The Royal Navy's main role in the Mediterranean was to 'fly the flag' on Spring, Summer and Autumn cruses and maintain operational readiness by frequent exercises, maneuvers and inspections and morale and fitness by competing at flotilla and fleet regattas. They were on hand should trouble break out in the volatile area off the Turkish coast where the Greco-Turkish war had just ended, to keep the peace when violence broke out between Arabs and Jewish settlers in Palestine and in attempts to stem the profitable slave trade in the Red Sea.

This seasonal routine is best illustrated by a photograph of HMS Vimiera, sent to me by Margaret East the grand daughter of Petty Officer Arthur Ruthven Atkinson  J. 22037 (1896 - 1941) who served on HMS Vimiera as a torpedoman from 24 May 1924 to 27 January 1927. CPO Arthur Atkinson joined the Navy as a boy sailor in 1913 and served on the battleships HMS Indomitable and HMS Barham and on three V & W Class destrroyers, HMS Violent, Verulam and Vimiera. He was killed when the Ocean Boarding Vessel, HMS Registan, was bombed off Falmouth on the 27 May 1941.


HMS Vimiera and HMS Caradoc, Venice
The winning pulling team (1)The winning pulling team (2)
HMS Vimiera and the light cruiser HMS Caradoc photographed from the air in this familiar view of Venice
The winning teams in a pulling competition between the ships whalers with Arthur Atkinson second from right standing (left) and in the middle at the back (right)

Courtesy of Margaret East



If you want to find out more about the wartime service of a member of your family who served on HMS Vimiera you should first obtain a copy of their service record
To find out how follow this link: http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/servicerecords.html


If you have stories or photographs of HMS Vimiera you would like to contribute to the web site please contact Frank Donald



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