1928 H.M. S/M L3 - Winners of Submarine Cup (China) | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

1928 H.M. S/M L3 - Winners of Submarine Cup (China)

1928 H.M. S/M L3 - Winners of Submarine Cup (China)
Submitted by moddsey
Authors: 
Moddsey
Tags: 
HMS L3

Seated left to right: Gordon Duff, Fell, Cdr. Edwards and Lonsdale. Standing - Engr. Waterson. Perhaps on board Titania.

Date picture taken (may be approximate): 
Sunday, January 1, 1928
Gallery: 
1920s Hong Kong
  • Log in or register to post comments

Comments

Submitted by jill on Mon, 2019-10-07 22:23.

Nice to have some names of the L3 crew. We might be able to match them up with faces in other photos. Thanks for finding this identifying document, moddsey. 

Submitted by jill on Tue, 2019-10-22 03:26.

This photo is also in the personal album of my husband's grandfather, William Richmond Fell. He is correctly identified in this photograph, but Gordon Duff, who appears in several other photos, is definitely the man in the jersey standing second to right. This photo is dated 1929 by WRF.

 

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2019-10-22 06:17.

Perhaps related to the 1928/29 sporting calendar. Unrelated though, WRF is mentioned here participating in rowing.

As indicated here, Titania and subs were to leave for Home.

Submitted by jill on Tue, 2019-10-22 06:51.

Thanks moddsey. At the moment I'm personally unable to view the newspaper images, but I hope that this issue can be resolved by Apple in due course.

Submitted by moddsey on Tue, 2019-10-22 09:21.

Another identification of the same photo here with slight variation. 1928 is indicated.

Submitted by jill on Tue, 2019-10-22 23:23.

1928/29 sporting calendar would explain WRF's memory that the photo was taken in 1929. Also, as Gordon Duff was an officer it doesn't make sense that he wouldn't have been in uniform for a formal photo like this. I withdraw my previous identification. 

As to WRF's rowing prowess, the Fell children spent their childhood rowing and sailing in the treacherous currents and winds around Wellington and the bays.

Submitted by jill on Wed, 2019-10-23 23:41.

Oh joy - I have finally managed to access these pages with Firefox! The WRF album has photos of the 4th submarine flotilla rowing four in action and of the crew. WRF, whose nickname was "Tiny" Fell was actually the cox, so his rowing prowess wasn't needed. The album also has a photo titled "Big children's party Titania 1929 Xmas." As everyone is in fancy dress, I wonder if this is the "Titania Farewell Dance" referred to on the same page 24 of the HK Telegraph 2-11-1929 as the short article reporting that the submarines are going home, to which moddsey directs us above.

Submitted by jill on Sun, 2019-12-01 02:09.

I came across this memorial in Patricia Lim's data base of the Protestant Cemetery.

"In loving memory / Hugh Littleton / paymaster commander Royal Navy / HMS Titania and IVth S/M Flotilla / accidently drowned / September 27th 1929 / aged 39 years"

It is particularly sad that this officer lost his life with only a month to go before sailing home. There may be a mention in the newspapers that I haven't found.

 

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2019-12-01 04:29.

Came across the article whilst searching for Titania and L3. Mention is made here

Submitted by jill on Sun, 2019-12-01 07:52.

Thank you for finding this. I looked in the papers just after Littleton's death, but not on the day itself. It seems to have been a case of not being steady on his feet after partying with his friends ashore. Shame there was nobody to stop him falling into the water.

Submitted by moddsey on Sun, 2019-12-01 09:20.

Glad to help. You will also note the Warren advert on the same page.

Submitted by jill on Sun, 2019-12-01 18:49.

I missed the ad! I'll add it to the collection. It seems that Section 21A of the Colonial Cemetery is particularly devoted to the Royal Navy. I notice that there are several HMS Titania crew members commemorated here in the 1920s. I also notice that more than one of the gravestones in this section (but not Littleton's) bears the mark of my family's company, CE Warren & Co. It had only just occurred to me that my young uncle, Leslie Warren, born 1900 and my husband's grandfather, WR Fell, born 1897, were in Hong Kong at the same time.