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-   -   Mess Silver Store? (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/656177-mess-silver-store.html)

Ninthace 5th Dec 2023 15:43


Originally Posted by langleybaston (Post 11551297)
Would that I knew.

I will now stop posting on PPRUNE, just lurk, as I seem to upset people more than I would wish.

At 86 I don't expect to improve my formatting, or indeed anything else.

Good while it lasted.

In the reply window, there is a button marked Source. Press that and it will show the control codes in your post ( they are inside [. ] and [/. ] ). You can then edit them out.

sharpend 5th Dec 2023 15:54

When I helped reform 151(F) Sqn at Chivenor in the early '80s I asked for the Sqn silver to be returned. I was told it had all been sold. Tragic and those officers, incl COs, who had paid a small fortune to present the Sqn with that silver must be turning in their graves.

MPN11 5th Dec 2023 18:48

At Watton in the early 70s, the PMC and I did a detailed check of the Silver Store, as the insurance was getting prohibitive for a small Mess. Amongst the ‘treasures’ were a couple of 17th c pewter plates! After consultation with Quedgley etc etc we were authorised to hold a Mess auction to dispose of a load of it, and return major items to the Depot. One classic was a silver tankard presented to mark the 100th EA shot down by 100 Gp, engraved with the crew’s details.

The haul also included a collection of 8 or so 1/2 pint silver tankards, presented as sharpend noted above, which we retained for the use of ladies! I wish I could remember the Sqn concerned, but 151 Sqn rings a tragic bell.

ex82watcher 5th Dec 2023 20:38


Originally Posted by MPN11 (Post 11551925)
At Watton in the early 70s, the PMC and I did a detailed check of the Silver Store, as the insurance was getting prohibitive for a small Mess. Amongst the ‘treasures’ were a couple of 17th c pewter plates! After consultation with Quedgley etc etc we were authorised to hold a Mess auction to dispose of a load of it, and return major items to the Depot. One classic was a silver tankard presented to mark the 100th EA shot down by 100 Gp, engraved with the crew’s details.

The haul also included a collection of 8 or so 1/2 pint silver tankards, presented as sharpend noted above, which we retained for the use of ladies! I wish I could remember the Sqn concerned, but 151 Sqn rings a tragic bell.

Shortly after I arrived at Eastern Radar(civil) at RAF watton,in 1982,there was a sale of mess silver.I didn't buy anything,but one of my colleagues bought a silver pint-tankard,which from the inscription,had been presented by the BBC to commemorate a TV programme that had been made there.I also seem to remember a silver model of a Bloodhound missile on its launcher,which used to adorn the table at dining-in nights.Wonder what happened to that ?

MPN11 6th Dec 2023 08:58

I remember the silver Bloodhound ... a very nice piece of work! Left ERD in 79 after my 2nd tour there, so I can't help.

dctyke 6th Dec 2023 14:49

Reading the replies I cannot help think that a very similar ending happened to the works of art that used to adorn mess walls. Heard stories of art simply disappearing off the walls without any meaningful investigation..

Prangster 6th Dec 2023 15:33

Happy Ending to 504's Squadron Silver
Sharp eyed RAF policeman enters our ATC Wing HQ at RAF Newton. 'Excuse me sir', sayeth he to the wing Ad O A DFC beribboned ex Stirling/Lanc pilot of great veneration. 'Do you have a key to the trophy cabinet lurking in the corridor outside your office door?' 'S'not locked never has been', replies the good squadron leader.
Policeman turns pale. 'but its all solid silver, it must be worth a fortune. (it was)
How it came to be in an unlocked cabinet in a wooden hut in full view of every potential burglar on the prowl we never did fathom.
It didn't even belong to the ATC, We later found out it was only part of 504 City of Nottingham Squadron RAFVR's mess silver, some of it presented by the family of Captain Albert Ball VC.
It was rapidly removed to a place of safety.


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