Page 26 - CAMPAIGN Summer 2021

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CAMPAIGN Summer 2021
Reader’s Story by Andi Jones, Montebello Rep.
The Story of Simba
on board the HMS Diana
Since 1956, many of my dad’s friends, and even Dad himself never knew the story of the little canine that suddenly appeared on the deck of HMS Diana, being walked by Captain John Gower around the ship’s deck, a few times a day.
Where did he come from? Who brought him on board? Where did he sleep? Even to this day, some of the crew that are left still don't know.
Gentlemen of the crew of HMS Diana D126, Commission 3, 1956
to 1957, the Crew, after a chance email arrived on my laptop, in my little garden office, and me dancing with glee, {not a pretty sight, and making a cappuccino to celebrate},
I can now tell you the story, of how, who, what and where, {well we think we know the where!!}.
A young lady, called Pauline Bennett, wrote to me and told me the story of her Grandad, William Baird Bennett. After a night out with
a mate in Singapore, William was walking back to the ship. As they strolled back {and I'm not saying slightly worse for wear, as we have no definite information on this, although we know what the Navy are like!}, he heard a weak squeaky bark from under a bush. Leaning down, he saw a little shaggy pup,
cowering under the said bush.
So, in Pauline’s words, he decided to take him, save or "pinch" him, picked him up and took him back to Diana.
Sadly, Pauline’s Grandad died in March 2021. I wish I could have spoken to him, but the rest of the story is Pauline’s, from many text messages and messenger chats, Simba was named Simba after a dog that Bill’s girlfriend {who became Granny Bennett some years later} her dog was known as Prince Simba. Bill loved dogs and had left his own dog, Bob, behind at home in Dundee. Bob loved ice cream.
Bill was Captain Gower’s Steward, hence why Captain Gower allowed Simba to stay on Board. He was adopted as the HMS Diana mascot.
As I said before, the Skipper used to take him for walks around Diana’s deck a few times a day. Bill joined up at 17 in Dundee, when his mother was visiting family in Canada, and
he lied about having family permission. He trained on HMS Victorious, and he often spoke about Diana, Christmas Islands, Montebello and Singapore.
A funny story Bill liked to tell was about his mate Alex Murray onboard Diana. Apparently, Simba used to growl at Alex but sit at Bill’s feet.
Pauline would love any more info about her Grandad, and of Simba,
as would I for the Diana Archives
I'm trying to build up. Any help is gratefully received. So, there you are, it was the Stokers, although they got blamed for everything I'm told. It wasn’t the gunners, but the Captain’s Steward who took Simba onboard. They couldn't take him home to the UK, so he was adopted by the British embassy in Djibouti we believe.
ny more info on that gratefully received too and of any other Diana crew we have not yet found. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of history, have fun, keep your feet dry and listen for squeaks under bushes!!!!