I myself had been up since 0330 as I had the morning watch in the Bridge Wireless
Office. Quite lucky really as the rest of the ships company were called at 0400
to clean ship. It was a typical November day, "Richt dreicht" as Jock Meldrum
our Chief Radio Supervisor would say, cold and damp not the best of weather
to make the brass work shine.
As with most other ships company my parents,my fiancee,my brother and his wife.
were coming to the ceremony. a long journey in those days to Plymouth from Newcastle.
My brother and his wife were coming by car which brokedown,and did not arrive
until after the ceremony. I had saved him my tot too!.
British Railways as usual were late and my Mum Dad and Fiancee arrived and boarded
Bulwark on the adjacent gangway to the Admiral as he was being piped on board,
The Officer of the Watch was having kittens my Mum thought the saluting was
for her.My girl thought the whistles were for her,and Dad an ex matelot was
just mortified.
The commisioning went off as planed and a good meal was served to all our guests
in the dining room.
Back up to the mess for some drinks, Which is when my Brother arrived?
Then later in the evening it was the big run ashore down Plymouth Hoe
The following is the Full commissioning ceremony,Order of Service
The Captain will read the Commissioning Warrant
The Ensign will be hoisted and the Masthead Pendant broken
THE ACT OF DEDICATION
The Captain shall address the Ship's Company in these words:
Seeing that in the course of our duty we are set in the midst of many and
great dangers
and that we cannot be faithful to the high trust placed in us without the
help of Almighty
God, let us unite our prayers in seeking his blessing upon this ship and all
who serve in her.
The Captain shall call on the Ship's Company to ask for God's Blessing
on the ship, using this ancient call:
From the Gaelic Blessing, 1589
The Captain: I call upon you to pray for God's blessing on this ship.
May God the Father bless her.
Ship's Company: Bless our ship.
The Captain: May Jesus Christ bless her.
Ship's Company: Bless our ship
The Captain: May the Holy Spirit bless her.
Ship's Company: Bless our ship
Hymn to be sung: He who would valiant be:
He who would valiant be 'Gainst all disaster
Let him in constancy Follow the Master
There's no discouragement Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent To be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might Though he with giants fight:
He will make good his right To be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord thou dost defend Us with thy spirit
We know we at the end Shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away! I'll fear not what men say.
I'll labour night and day To be a pilgrim.
THE READING OF THE GOSPEL
The Gospel and the prayer following shall be read by the Roman Catholic
Chaplain:
St Mark, Chapter 4 Verses 36-41
And, sending away the multitude, they take him even as he was in the ship;
and there were
other ships with him. And there arose a great storm of wind; and the waves
beat into the
ship, so that the ship was filled. And he was in the hinder part of the ship,
sleeping upon a
pillow. And they awake him and say to him: Master, doth it not concern thee
that we
perish? And rising up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea: Peace. Be
still. And the wind
ceased; and there was made a great calm. And he said to them: Why are you
fearful? Have
you not faith yet? And they feared exceedingly. And they said one to another:
Who is this
(thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him?
Let us pray:
Teach us good Lord to serve thee as thou deservest, to give and not to count
the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for
rest, to labour and to ask for no reward, save that of knowing that we do
thy will; throught Jesus Christ our Lord Amen
THE PRAYERS
To be said by the Chaplain, Church of Scotland and Free Churches
Let us give thanks to God for all who have inspired us by their example.
Almighty and everlasting God, the creator and upholder of men, who hast
in every age
inspired thy servants with courage and skill, we give thee thanks for the
example of those
who have gone before us; for the seamen of our nation; for all who in great
or small ships
have braved the perils of the deep; for all who have given their lives for
their county; through
thy mercies in Jesus Christ our Lord Amen
Let us pray that we may uphold the best traditions of the Royal Navy
For ourselves, grant, O Lord, that we may ever be conscious of thy ruling
hand. May we
be found watchful at our posts. Make us ever mindful of the needs of others,
sharing our
joys and bearing their burdens in the work which thou hast given us to do;
and keep us always
in thy love and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Let us pray for our homes.
O God who sent thy Son, Jesus Christ, to live in an earthly home for our
sakes, we pray
thee to bless our homes, and all who are in them; grant that we may always
remain faithful
to them, and they to us, and help us to remember that though time and distance
part us, we
are all one in thee for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Let us pray for perseverance.
O Lord God, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavour any great matter,
grant us
also to know that it is not the beginning but the continuing of the same until
it be thoroughly
finished which yieldeth the true glory; through him, who for the finishing
of thy work, laid
down his life; our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
Hymn
to be sung Eternal Father Strong to Save (only ships with aircraft sing
verse two)
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea
O ruler of the earth and sky
Be with our airmen when they fly:
And keep them in thy loving care
From all the perils of the air
O let our cry come up to thee
For those who fly o'er land and sea
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them whereso'er they go:
And ever let there rise to thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea
THE BLESSING OF THE SHIP
The Chaplain: Our help is in the name of the Lord
The Ship's Company:Who hath made heaven and earth
The Chaplain: The lord be with you.
The Ship's Company: And with thy spirit,
All shall say together the Lord's Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy
will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive
us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us
from evil.For thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory For ever and ever.
Amen
The Chaplain may speak to the Ship's Company; and afterwards pronounce
this blessing on the ship:
O Lord God Almighty, let thy blessing be upon this ship, and upon all those
who serve
and sail in her: May good success and thy protection and the guardianship
of the Holy
Angels be with them always. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Led by the Chaplain, the prayer following shall be said by the whole
Ship's Company
THE NAVAL PRAYER
O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging
of the sea;
who hast compassed the waters with bounds until day and night come to an end;
be pleased
to receive into thy Almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us
thy servants,
and the fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea,
and from the violence
of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign
Lady, Queen
ELIZABETH and her Dominions; and a security for such as pass on the seas upon
their
lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Island may in peace and quietness
serve thee
our God: and that we may return in saftey to enjoy the blessings of the land,
with the fruits
of our labours, and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and
glorify thy
Holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen
Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which
is good; render
no man evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help
the afflicted; honour
all men; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship
of the Holy
Spirit, be with you all evermore. Amen
