- Contributed by
- CSV Action Desk/BBC Radio Lincolnshire
- People in story:
- June Portus (nee South), Seaman Gunner South
- Location of story:
- Alexandra Dock, Grimsby
- Background to story:
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:
- A5482541
- Contributed on:
- 01 September 2005
This is the vellum mentioned in the story and presented at the christening
This story was submitted to the People’s War website by a volunteer from Lincoln CSV Action Desk on behalf of June Portus and has been added to the site with her permission. Mrs Portus fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.
I remember my dad telling me that HMS Proctor, Proof and Prowess as well as the Probe had to wash their flags. The ships had to be clean because of my christening. One of the crew painted my vellum and the ship’s cook made my cake.
When I was about 12 years old my dad tried to find out where the Probe ended up as he was going to try and get me the ship’s bell which I would have loved but he had no luck in finding anything.
This is a transcript from the local paper at the time
On board HMS Probe in Alexandra Dock (Grimsby), the ship in which her father served, the baby daughter of Seaman Gunner John South and Mrs South of Cleethorpes, was christened at noon yesterday.
In the presence of the commanding officer and the ship’s company and also of the commanding officers and companies of HMS Proctor, Proof and Prowess, the child received the name of June.
The Rev JHC Laughton, chaplain, RNVR, officiated and the ship’s bell was used as the christening bowl…………….
……… On behalf of the ship’s company, the commanding officer of HMS Probe, Lieut. C. Bellman, RNVR, presented the mother with an illuminated vellum for the child to commemorate the occasion.
In doing so, he quoted the inscription on the vellum; “May you always said through untroubled waters, and may the sunshine of happiness be ever with you” ………
© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo 