Between October 1941 and the end of
March 1942, Warships Weeks were organised in cities, towns and villages
throughout Great Britain. The intention was to raise a sum by
investment or deposit in all types of war savings representing the cost
of building one of His Majesty’s ships ranging from the smallest to the
largest vessels. Once the target had been raised the community adopted
the vessel along with its crew and the bond was strengthened by
presentations in recognition of the money raised. Adoption plaques were
presented by the Admiralty to the community and a plaque presented by
the community to the adopted vessel. Links were maintained by the
writing of letters and the provision of comforts and whenever possible
visits were arranged to the adopting area.
The Royal Borough of Windsor had to raise
£300,000 to adopt HMS Windsor in March 1942 as reported below. Most of the V&W Class
destroyers in commission with the Royal Navy were adopted during the
Warship Week scheme and in a number of cases local sea cadet units
later took the name of the ship. To
find more about Warship Weeks see Peter Schofield’s article on‘National Savings and Warship Weeks’.
Warship Week will begin on March 7, and the target figure will be
£300,000, the cost of the destroyer HMS Windsor. This ship was
adopted by the town at the beginning of the war. The slogan for
the week is SOS - Save or Sink.
Northern Whig, Monday, 9 March 1942
The King and Queen yesterday visited Windsor to witness an all
Services’ parade in connexion with the Royal borough's Warship Week.
The King took the salute as over 3,000 marched past, including
detachments of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines. Household Cavalry,
Brigade of Guards, R.A.F., W.R.N.S., A.T.S., W.A.A.F.S., and all the
Civil Defence services. The procession took more than half hour pass
the King and Queen. Heading it was model destroyer. H.M.S. Windsor,
the ship the town is endeavouring to purchase at a cost of £300,000.
The model was made by members of a bomb disposal unit from wreckage
salvaged from bombed sites. After the parade the King and Queen talked
to number of Belgian airmen.
If
you want to find out more about the wartime service of a member of your
family who served on HMS Windsor
you should first obtain a copy of their service record To
find out how follow this link:
http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/servicerecords.html
If
you have stories or photographs of HMS Windsor you would like to
contribute to the web site please contact Frank Donald
Return
to the Home Page for HMS Windsor Return
to the Home
Page of the V & W Destroyer Association Return to the Index Page for the 69 V
& W Class Destroyers
