Captain Walker's Old Boys Association held a Memorial Service this month (May 2003) in Bootle. It was attended by Captain Pat Walker, his grandson. This occasion, however, was slightly different, as the Service and wreath laying was also to pay particular homage to the lads who died aboard HMS Kite. Kite had never really been officially included, as far as I am aware, in previous CWOBA Services partly due to the fact that Kite was sunk when on a separate mission to 2nd Escort Group, on Russian convoy escort in August 1944. However, she was and always will be, one of Walkers ships, and he commanded her on at least one occasion during his mission to seek and destroy the U Boat menace during the Battle of the Atlantic. It is only right and proper that HMS Kite be remembered in this way - as one of "Walkers' Own". I hope to be visiting Merseyside in the near future and will take some images of my own of various places, including Bootle.

An Email from Ray Holden on the events described and illustrated here. The CWOBA service is held every year at Kings Gardens, Bootle, at the War Memorial there. Last year I had the pleasure of attending with Lionel Irish, I couldn't help but feel that there was something missing, HMS Kite and those 217 lost men. Wreaths were laid every year for That very remarkable man, Captain Johnnie Walker, and rightly so. But those men of Kite were the only men lost in combat from the 2nd Escort Group, Johnnie Walker lost not one single man in combat. I made up my mind then that she would be recognised.
Prior to this years service I contacted Pat Marsh Secretary to CWOBA and made my suggestion of a wreath and she acknowledge what a wonderful idea it was. Pat made the arrangements for the wreath to be made and for its provision at Kings Gardens with an escort to carry it to Lionel. I would like to say that put to the vote of CWOBA committee it was overwhelmingly accepted. Although several high ranking officers were available to lay the wreath I chose Lionel, he had experienced the trauma of that fateful day, they were all his shipmates. I felt proud of my achievements but in my heart I felt that there was someone there even prouder than me. This is the man who prays for his shipmates every single day. In a way this was a reconciliation Kite was back were she belonged, with her 2nd Support Group. For the first time in over 58 years Kite had been honoured. The Admiral Flag Officer shows great interest in Kite and so does Captain Patrick Walker and all other officers and members of the public who received a leaflet from me. I feel that lots more people will be coming in, perhaps an Admiral on the Guest Book. Over 3000 people attended and many officers from the Russian ship anchored in the Mersey were there, so was a Russian TV crew who soon sorted Lionel out for an interview. The Commanding Officer of HMS Invincible was there and some of the crew. Alan McMillan made a last minute dash from Ireland via Holyhead to meet up with us. A coffee morning followed in Bootle Town hall were we had a chance to meet more friends. I also had a discussion with the Mayor about a future Kite event and he gave me some contact numbers, this event will be a visual memorial to those men of Kite in the safe keeping of the people of Bootle.
The CWOBA will be voting soon for a wreath to be provided to HMS Kite every year. I am very proud of my achievements regarding the ship and her crew, 58 years ago I was a broken hearted schoolboy, on Saturday I was a proud Royal Navy veteran honouring the men of HMS Kite. The memorial pages on the website are truly very remarkable, in as much that they contain so much information, no other site exists to even match it, I gave Mike Kemble history and he turned it into news and he thoroughly deserves what he now has, the finest Royal Navy website on the internet. Thank you Mike for all that you have done to bring Kite and her lost crew back from the dustbin of history.

The wreaths:HMS Invincible; CWOBA;People of Bootle for Capt Walker; RNA;
HMS Kite (Ray Holden & Lionel Irish) 

Lionel Irish lays the Wreath to commemorate his shipmates

HMS Kite
 

Flag Officer Liverpool

Flag Officer Liverpool Lays Wreath

Lionel pays his respects to his lost shipmates

Conducting the Service

Service Scenes

Service Scenes

VIPs to the right, incl Russian Officers

Commanding Officer HMS Invincible

A good shot of the VIPs

Memorial

CWOBA Veterans

Wreaths on order L to R: HMS Invincible; CWOBA;People of Bootle for Capt Walker; RNA;
HMS Kite (Ray Holden & Lionel Irish) 

Friend of Lionel, Lionel & Ray

Lionel & Ray talk to The Admiral Flag Officer

Ray Holden talks to the Mayor, Captain Patrick Walker to the rear, talks to Lionel Irish, survivor HMS Kite