This section contains old news items, information on forthcoming events, chairman’s statement plus our latest quarterly Newsletter & back copies. 

Previous News Items of 2020

Altmark 80 Parade

A quick update and brief outline reference to the Altmark 80 Parade that took place on Monday 17 Feb’ 2020 at Durrington Cemetery, Worthing to mark the Eightieth anniversary of the Altmark incident – In February 1940, boarding parties from HMS Cossack stormed the German tanker Altmark which was hiding in a Norwegian fjord and released 299 prisoners. The incident – a breach of Norway’s wartime neutrality – prompted widespread celebrations in the British media, while the words used by the boarding teams (“The Navy’s here!”) became a popular rallying cry. The prisoners aboard ‘Hitler’s hell ship’ – as the press dubbed the tanker – had been seized by the raider Graf Spee as it picked off Allied merchant shipping in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. When the pocket battleship was cornered off South America, the Altmark attempted to run the gauntlet of the British blockade to reach Germany – until it was located in Jøssingfjord, near the southwestern tip of Norway and Cossack was sent in to free the captive sailors. Eight Germans were killed in the ensuing action which served as the spark to the Scandinavian powder keg, prompting Hitler to invade Norway two months later.

The Parade consisted of a simple service and wreath laying, with HMS Cossack Association laying a wreath. Followed by drinks at the Rose & Crown Pub, HQ of Worthing Veterans.

The following were in attendance, a Contingent from HMS DAUNTLESS and representative from the HMS COSSACK Association, the Norwegian Embassy, HMS Worthing Veterans Association and Worthing Borough Council.