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(Kite has her own chapter)

By Mike Kemble (c) From information provided by Ray Holden, Clem Bray, Christine Chaplin, Lionel Irish, Mary Davies, Paul Masterson & Others

Created: 22 August 2004. Updated 9 June 05

Braintree Memorial - 21 Aug 2004

60th Anniversary Sinking of HMS Kite

I was unable to attend this event due to work commitments, but Steve Webb very kindly has provided me with a narrative of the event, as well as some photos. Ray Holden has also sent some of these images. My thanks - MK

Here are some of the photos taken at today's unveiling of the HMS Kite memorial stone at Braintree & Bocking public gardens. An excellent turnout was achieved with approximately 80 people from all over the UK including visitors from Canada and Australia who made the special trip. Following the unveiling by Lionel Irish all guests then gathered at Braintree Council House for lunch, opportunity to view the small exhibition and to exchange/listen to the fascinating stories that many of the guests had to tell. (Especially Lionel!!! - mk)

Following lunch an opportunity to either participate in a guided tour of Braintree to learn about its history, buildings and rather unusually, its high number of Pubs (51 at its highest point) or alternatively a tour of the Braintree Museum and viewing of their D-Day landings exhibition. Finally everyone met back at the Museum for tea/coffee and to bid farewell to friends new and old. Although a day for remembrance; the day was happy, well organised, informative and above all very very
enjoyable. Steve Webb.

This is Steve Webb, son of Frank Webb, HMS Kite survivor. Steve and I have met at a couple of functions. His brother Rob, resides in Canada.

There now follows some newspaper images kindly sent to me by Andrew Gladwell, the Collections Officer of Braintree District Council. They are, by necessity, large files that may take some time to fully open up.

There are some discrepancies in the newspaper version of events but of such small detail it does not spoil the overall story. There were 14 rescued, not 16, as stated for one. Ray Holden is not a Kite survivor but the brother of Tom, who died on board Keppel after being rescued.

The people of Braintree, not as large a town as it is now, raised £150,000 to purchase a warship. That warship was HMS Kite.
The amount was a princely sum in those days, especially for such a "small town".

 
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