Terry Craig

Terry Craig was an Electrical Mechanic on HMS Gambia's 1957/58 commission. In July 2017, Terry sent the following newspaper cuttings and photos:

HMS Gambia's joining pamphlet, 1957. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. The electrical mess. The back row includes Allen Todd, Jock Patterson, and Strumps Hendry. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. The electrical branch, 1957 - 1958. EM Brassington, LREM McArthy, ?, ?, REM Tony Sladin, ? Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Terry Craig and his first fish. HMS Gambia, 1957. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. JEM Stenner, Ted Sayers, Terry Craig, Taffy Pritchard, and Bill ? Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. EM Taffy Hayman (standing), EM Duncan Graham (obscured), and EM Lintern. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Taffy Pritchard, Terry Craig, Jan Moran. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Electrical Mechanics Terry Craig and Ted Sayers; 5E2 Mess. July 1957. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. EM Terry Craig, LEM Buffy, EM Steel, EM Lintern. 5E2 Mess, December 27 1957. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. HMS Gambia, Christmas 1957. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Swimming gala at RAF Khormaksar,Aden on January 5, 1958. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Taffy Hayman, Allan 'Geordie' Todd, and Terry Craig. All were Electrical Mechanics on HMS Gambia's 1957/58 commission. Photo taken at the swimming gala at RAF Khormaksar, Aden on January 5, 1958. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. HMS Gambia's Paying Off Pennant, Grand Harbour, Malta, 1958. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig.

In 2004, Allen 'Geordie' Todd visited Terry Craig in Perth, Australia. They hadn't seen each other in 46 years...

Allen 'Geordie' Todd and Terry Craig at Perth War Memorial, 2004. Both were Electrical Mechanics on the 1957/58 commission and hadn't seen each other for 46 years. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Allen 'Geordie' and Joyce Todd on the left with Terry and Pat Craig. Both men were Electrical Mechanics on the 1957/58 commission and hadn't seen each other for 46 years. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Allen 'Geordie' Todd (standing) with Terry Craig. Both men were Electrical Mechanics on the 1957/58 commission and hadn't seen each other for 46 years. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig. Allen 'Geordie' Todd and Terry Craig leaving Perth in 2004. Both were Electrical Mechanics on the 1957/58 commission and hadn't seen each other for 46 years. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Craig.

The Commissioning Ceremony at Rosyth in 1957

Rosyth Ceremony

History was made at Rosyth Dockyard yesterday when the 8,000-ton cruiser HMS Gambia was recommissioned after a 12-month refit. She is the first major war vessel to be commissioned at Rosyth. Built at Wallsend, the cruiser was lent to the New Zealand Navy between 1953 and 1945 and saw action with the United States Third Fleet against the Japanese home islands. At the end of 1945 the Gambia was anchored in Tokio Bay and was present during the signing of the Japanese surrender.

The Navy Accepts £1,500,00 Refit

The cruiser Gambia (8,000 tons) was recommissioned at Rosyth dockyard yesterday after the first Scots naval dockyard refit since Rosyth opened in 1911.

The refit cost more than £1,500,00 and the Admiralty officially praised the Rosyth Doockyard men's job.

Image caption: Royal Marines drawn up on the deck ... ship's company on the quay - the cruiser Gambia is recommissioned after a Rosyth refit.

Inset: Vice-Admiral Pelly, admiral superindentent of Rosyth Dockyard.

Terry Craig is the sailor circled in ink at the center of the picture.

Terry also very kindly sent these photos of Christmas cards sent from a Bert on HMNZS Gambia to a Mrs Hopkins in Victoria Park, Western Australia in 1943 and 1944:

1943 Christmas card sent to Mrs Hopkins in Western Australia. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Criag. The cover of the 1944 Christmas card sent to Mrs Hopkins in Western Australia. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Criag. The inside of the 1944 Christmas card sent to Mrs Hopkins in Western Australia. Photo kindly supplied by Terry Criag.

Terry explained how he managed to photograph these cards "My wife did some work for Mrs Hopkins here in Perth and they became good friends. She gave us a number of these cards. I have sent most of them to the Maritime museum in New Zealand."

Terry also remembers a little bit of trivia, "When we were stocking up with beer for our commission to the East Indies Station in 1957, a lot of it was stowed in between the bulkheads down below some storerooms. Inside the bulkhead was a painted flag of New Zealand. Must have been done when they stocked up with beer?"