When HMS Camperdown 'Battle Class Destroyer' arrived home in 1961 to pay off.It marked the retirement of AB George Parker aged 60.AB Parker joined the 'Andrew' in 1918 and was the only man still serving and wearing First World War medal ribbons.Apart from a three-month gunnery course in 1920,he had spent all his forty-two years in sea going ships.I guess you could say that he was never a 'barrack stanchion'.George Parker was the only man in the Royal navy allowed to carry a distinguishing mark on any ship he served on and on the orders of Lord Mountbatten a copper ball was to be secured to the main mast of any ship in which AB Parker served.
I can remember him when serving in the Med fleet middle fifties and quite a character when ashore down the 'Gut' I say one thing I dont think the Man paid for his booze with all his time in he could tell many a dit.
I think the nearest long service Royal would have to be the 35 year men of which I knew a couple A bar to the L.S.G.C.M would have to put them in the 30 year bracket.
Smokey Fagg,Danny Mudge and a few others spring to mind.Aye JR
Forty-two years man and boy!
Dangling from the yard arm?now thats worth an high-jacked thread.
