Stonecutters Island Forum

RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Gordon on January 22, 2010, 23:01:24

Hi all. I lived on Stonecutters island from 1952-1966. My father(Henry Dempster)was with the RNDP(HMS Tamar)& later ADP police on the island. He was the last white officer(Inspector)to be in charge of the ADP police Indian Sikh's there on Stonecutters. He died 1966, and we emigrated to Australia shortly after. Does anybody remember him or me? Cheers. Gordon.

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Keith Locke on February 20, 2010, 13:35:33, in reply to "RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Dear Gordon
I don't know if you remember me I served on Stonecutters Island (Navy Transmitting station) from December 1964 until June 1966. I certainly remember your family, your sister Liz and your father although we knew him as Harry. It was very sad when he died as he was liked by everyone who met him. I cannot remember your mothers name but I believe she was a teacher. Did you have a brother? I can't remember. I do remember swimming with you and Liz at the pool on the Army side of the Island. I also remember John and Jacqui Butler.
For me it was the happiest time of my life.

Yours Sincerely

Keith Locke

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by gordon D. on February 21, 2010, 22:26:49, in reply to "Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Hello Keith. Your name rings a bell! Were you that naval 'sparkie' that liked my sister? Did you sun-bake at one time at the end of east pier, and used olive oil as a sun lotion? I remember speaking to you about what sun lotion you were using. Yes, my brothers name is Colin, and my mother was a part-time teacher who taught english. Alice was her name. Nice to meet you again, Keith! Stonecutters & HK had the happiest childhood and early teenage memories for me, and also the saddest(Dad's death). My second happiest memories were when I went to the UK to live and work, 1973-1982. Mum lived to see grandchildren, the eldest at 31, from my sister Liz, and one great-grandchild before she died in 1998. She was in the same hospital where dad died(Bowen Rd. Military Hospital)before being transferred to Mt. Kellett Military Hospital for her operation. She had cancer of the womb. After the operation(1966), the army doctors told her she had only 2 years maximum to live, and to go on a world cruise!!!...After we emigrated to Sydney, Australia in 1966 from Stonecutters-HK, just a few months after Dads death and Mums operation, she went to work for the Repatriation Department later called the Department of Veteran Affairs in Sydney, Aust.. She retired at 65, and died at 77. So much for the Army Doctors!!!????? Cheers. Gordon

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Keith Locke on February 28, 2010, 11:51:07, in reply to "Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Hello Gordon. Yes I was that Naval sparkie that liked (fancied) Liz and I do remember soaking up the rays covered in olive oil to get a tan.

I have a couple of photographs that were taken somewhere in Kowloon not long after I arrived on Stonecutters so it would be early 65, in the photos are Liz, myself, John Butler, Terry and Jennie Evans and I think his name was Doug but I cannot remember his surname although I think his mother was German and his father was an Army Sergeant.

Just before I was discharged from the Navy (May 1971)I met Jennie Evans and her father in Portsmouth he was no longer in the Army and worked for the Post Office. Terry had joined the Army so I didn’t get to meet him.

If you go to the Picture Library for Stonecutters on Flickr which you have to access with Yahoo I have uploaded a picture of me relaxing down by the pool (Keith at the pool 65-66) so you will know exactly who I am.

Where are you all living these days? If you mention my name to Liz I am sure she will remember me (I hope she does) so please give her my sincere regards and I hope she is well.

I don’t know if Colin would remember me.
Cheers Keith.

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Mike McNamara on February 28, 2010, 12:58:27, in reply to "Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Hi Keith,

Just checked and could not see your photo in the stream then sent you another invite and up it popped!!! So Gordon should be able to see it now.

Regards

Mike

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by gordon on March 1, 2010, 23:48:10, in reply to "RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Yes Keith, I remember what you looked like all those years ago. Slim, young, and tanned! Pity we can't keep our looks into retirement age!? I'm 58 and semi-retired, Colin is 60, Liz is 62. Colin works for the Australian Post Office, Liz works in the banking industry. Liz is married to an ex-warrant officer from the Australian army(retired)as he had a long career in the army beginning with the war in Vietnam. About 60 thousand combined Australian armed forces personnel served in the Vietnam war between 1965-1973, when the aussies finally pulled out due to public opinion and a change of government. Liz had two kids from her first two relationships. She is in her third at the moment. Tragically her son died at 31 years of age. Her daughter is in her mid thirties now. She is also a grandmother. Great to hear from you again.Cheers. Gordon

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by gordon D. on March 3, 2010, 15:48:23, in reply to "Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Sorry Mike, could not find Keith's photo on Flickr. If you find it, let me know where it is. Thanks. Gordon

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Mike McNamara on March 3, 2010, 17:58:30, in reply to "Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Hi Gordon,

I have sent you an email off line.

Regards

Mike

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Gordon D. on March 5, 2010, 23:33:43, in reply to "Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Hello Keith. Finally saw your photo of yourself taken at the Lido-South Shore on Flickr. That's exactly how I first met you. You were at the end of east pier(where you get on the boats)sun tanning yourself. I think you were sitting on a chair or old deck chair. There may or may not have been any other naval 'sparkies' with you. I walked up to you and asked you what sun tan lotion you were using. You had a small glass bottle with an amber liquid in it. You replied "olive oil". In those days 'Coppertone' was the trendiest and only lotion to use! You were the most friendly of all the naval single ratings. The naval officers(sorry)ignored us kids, and their kids also kept to themselves. The PO's and below kids were OK. The army kids were also friendly as were the police kids like myself. But that was short lived as the 'higher ups' retrenched all the european police officers, leaving only my family and the Elliotts, then finally my family only on Stonecutters! I don't know how many Commodores lived on Stonecutters in all the first 14 years of my life there, but there was one who always approached and said a few kind words to me when I saw and saluted him police/army style at attention. He even showed me how to salute navy style. I was 10+ then. Cheers. Gordon.

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Ellen Kelleher Stettler on October 24, 2012, 10:36:09, in reply to "RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Hi Gordon, of course I remember you. How are you. If you get this, drop me an email. Ellen

Re: RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)

Posted by Gary Chan Kwok Hung on July 25, 2015, 23:10:13, in reply to "RNDP(Royal Naval Dockyard Police)& ADP(Ammo Depot Police)"

Hi Gordon,I had lived on the island from 1946-1968.I remember Mr. and Mrs. Dempster and their daughters. Mr Dempster always went fishing with Mr.Luk (the tailor).Mrs.Dempster always came down to my house to chat with my mother.We were one of the two Chinese families lived on the island .Do you remember ? Good day , Gary.

« Back to index

1956

[ Stonecutters Island Forum ]