They stayed for 31 years. I saw the biggest snow flakes in my life there as big as half dollars, milk delivered with thick cream on top and the coal delivery guy was 5' at best but carried two giant bags of coal for us to heat with! Also in 1942, a new unit, the Royal Marine Boom Patrol Detachment, sought volunteers for a hazardous mission. She was joined by HMS Alrhada, then by HMS Wolfe, both of which were old passenger ships used to provide additional accommodation. Although there do not appear to be any other instances of Lazaretto being used in the UK, the name can be found on a number of similar locations around the world. I then rented a flat in Glasgow, where I too took the ferry from Gourock to Dunoon and the navy base. All I have to say is what a beautiful place to be stationed and to this day its crazy on how much I still miss it . We've also returned for personal visits in June '72, Dec '92, My friend's flat was next to the news agent and the butcher shop, I recall, but I suppose many things have changed - even there. Subscribe to this Obituary Your Email Address (Required) Tribute Wall I went to the local primary and secondary school with many Americans and I have always felt a connection No matter where you go in the world theres always someone with a Dunoon story or memory. Its uncanny. Thanx for sharing, I was a US kid from 1986-1990 there. The Holy Loch American Veterans Association collected 300 towards the work, which was presented to the Sandbank Community Development Trust, to be used as part-payment of the 500 restoration cost associated with the lamp mounted on the stone pillar west of the main monument. By the standards of Scottish lochs this loch is small.Dimensions are one mile wide and two-three miles long (dependent on tidal conditions). My Father served in the US Navy there , he passed in 65. Holy Family Hall, Rm 205. I had so many friends who were American would love to know where they are now, Lester Reed, Courtnay taylor, Julie Ewbanks, Sharlene Flanders, so many. Box 2865, Ewa Beach, Hawaii 96706 The expansion plans led to the signing this week of a formal agreement which will see the Ministry of Defence, Argyll and Bute Council and other local organisations work together to prepare both navy personnel and the wider community for a major change to life in the area. During the Black Death of the 14th century, Venice established the first formal system of quarantine, requiring ships to lay at anchor for 40 days before landing. Holy Loch, near Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland A Brief History of Site One: In the autumn of 1959 the US Government presented the problem of providing forward servicing facilities for the first SSBN Squadron in the U.K. Studies were made of all the suitable places to base a refit facility and it was decided in July 1960 that Holy Loch should be the site. google_ad_client = 'pub-9912973797081854'; It will begin with check-in and an informal reception on Sunday, September 24 and end with a banquet dinner and business meeting on Wednesday evening, September 28 with hotel check out the following morning. We used the Simon Lake as a tender. Scotland is truly beautiful place and the people are outstanding. In 1992, the USS Simon Lake sailed down and out of the Firth of Clyde - the occupation was over. The USS Proteus arrived in 1961, to howls of protest from the CND movement. Wished I could have stayed much longer. Charles L. Witherow created the group Holy Loch American Veterans Association "HLAVA". The American Legion a U.S. Veterans Association. Did four refits on boats out of Comsubron 14. Over the years, five different submarine tenders and one floating dry dock served in the loch. Mike, Thanks. The Holy Loch (Scottish Gaelic: An Loch Sianta/Seunta) is a sea loch, a part of the Cowal peninsula coast of the Firth of Clyde, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.. In thephoto of Holy Loch above, the floating dry dock is on the right and the submarine tender is on the left.. Below are photos of the base, the tugboat and me: I recently contacted an old shipmate who served with me on the USS. Paul. A letter sent by Sir Michael Cary, a senior civil servant at the MoD, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 31 January 1968 states: A short while ago Maurice Foley, the Navys under secretary of state, accompanied the commander in chief of the US Navy in Europe on a brief visit to Holy Loch and spent a few hours aboard the USS Simon Lake. Always wanted to go back to visit to see who was still living there. Had wonderful shipmates and made lots of civilian friends during my "liberty" timeRaquetball, softball, bowling, hiking, several pub-crawlslife was always interesting:) Thanks for the memories Paul.John WalshHenrico, VA, John,Thanks. It is accepted policy that members of the Royal Family should never be involved in controversial political matters and a visit to the USS Simon Lake would, at best, involve the Queen Mother in public controversy, while, at worst, there might well be embarrassing incidents. I was there from January 1974 to December 1975. Paul, I served there on Hunley from when she first arrived and left her in late 63 for separation. A submarine tender and a drydock with an assorted collection of naval equipment, all located in a Scottish sea loch provided a vital link during the first decades of the US Navy's Polaris fleet operations, allowing quick and easy access to the patrol areas in the seas around the north and north west coast of . The monument has become a focal point for American personnel who served at the US Submarine Base which was located there for 31 years, until 1992. We watched and waved off the very last ship to leave the holy loch for good it was an experience I am just looking to find out the name of the ship docked around that time of 1989 if you know please, hello Paul my name is Steven Hadley and I served on board the Saugus from 1977 to 79 and I loved it I had a great time. -Queen Mother kept from US nuclear base in Scotland - The Scotsman. Great memories! I'd like to take my wife to Scotland and show her all of the places I lived and visited. So many fond memories of the Scottish people, they are amazing. A crew of 500 men from Mobile Construction Battalion 4, the Seabees, spent the next five months to assembling the vessel, which became fully operational in November 1961. Tim,Thanks for writing.Why Sterling? Of all the places we lived, or visited growing up, Dunoon was the best and always say I am going to return. Kilmun Parish Church and. On our way over to the Med we spent a few days in the north sea joining NATO sea exercises.if memory serves it was June of 71. Manage your policy online, file claims for benefits, and access helpful resources. The floating dock could handle up to five submarines, with four being moored alongside while one was raised within the dock itself. to live there and meet so many wonderful people. They were training for Operation Frankton: a World War II British Combined Operations raid on shipping in Bordeaux harbour, France, in December 1942, carried out by twelve men using two-man Cockle MK II canoes. My father, CPO Clay Bailey set up the base services at the old Ardnadam Hotel in Sandbank in '61. Krieger (EN3), Richard,Glad you enjoyed the photos and a bit of memory of the old base.I recall that our tugboat was serviced by the drydock for a quick couple of days between submarines. We arrived in '62 and lived in a lovely house on Cromlech Road called Benthead. I think I have a mental photo of you. He enlisted in the Navy in 1959 and retired in 1985. I served on the drydock (63-66) during which the name was changed from USS-AFDB-7 to USS LOS ALAMOS AFDB-7. - holy loch stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. WHAT A SURPRISE. It seemed at times you could see all four seasons before you walked from one end of the pier to the other. Distance: 3.3 mi. One, as the base was known, was composed of three major commands, plus the Naval [CDATA[ I am trying to get up with any Marines that were attached to the Security Detachment aboard the USS Canopus in Holy Loch from 1973 - 1975. it was all about whipping the new guy into shape.LOL BUT I WOULDENT CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD. Bought woolen gifts for my 2 sisters and mother. I served on board USS HOLLAND AS-32 from 1974 to 1977 I was involved in accident one day Dr. sent me in town for an MRI can anyone one remember the name of base hospital? I did not have any idea that Scotland is so beautiful. Every thing you talked about brought back so many memories about being on the tugs. I beleive he was an E~6 when his 4 yrs were up in 1978. You can go to http://thistlegroup.net/ and perhaps make some contacts there.Thanks for writing.Paul. I arrived on the USS Canopus in 1973 then went to the USS Holland and finally to the USS Hunley from where I retired in 1987. //-->, "Stop Spam Harvesters, Join Project Honey Pot", //,