Joe Rooke
Joe Rooke was born at Mile End in the Forest of Dean on 2nd march, 1920. He had three sisters. At the age of fifteen, Joe joined the Navy as a boy seaman. He did his training in Devonport at HMS Impregnable. On the 10th March 1937, he joined the brand new cruiser HMS Newcastle and he remained on her throughout the war.To this day, he remembers most of it very vividly.
After being away for such a long time, he returned to the Forest area. Joe had a few jobs before he actually settled. First of all he worked as a postman at Coleford, then in a woodworks factory and the Forestry Commission. Then he started work at Ranks in 1958 and he remained there until 1981 when he took early retirement
He married Joan Nightingale from Lea, and it was a running joke that a Nightingale became a Rooke. It gave them a lot of laughs.
They bought their first home in Merrivale and Joe still lives there today. Sadly he lost his beloved Joan in 2007.
Joe has worked tirelessly for the British Legion over the years. In the early 1990s, he received an acknowledgement of his dedication to the Ross Branch. He had been a committee member since 1971 and during that time he was also Vice-Chairman on many occasions.
At that time, the RBL magazine was delivered in bulk to the branches and Joe delivered one to all the members, which at that time numbered 180. He also collected the subscriptions. He spent ten years as branch delegate for the County Committee and conferences in the West Midland area.
He has been selling poppies in the streets of Ross-on-Wye since 1975. See his result for 2012 at the foot of the page just above the heading "Youth Organisations & Schools" in the right column here or here.
To all in the branch who float alongside Joe, he is inspirational and we should all be honoured to know him.
Joe is in the parade here, back row and second man in.
Here is a certificate awarded to Joe for all his efforts:
JOE’S WAR
March, 1937 joined HMS Newcastle - a brand new ship.
Courtesy visits to Denmark & South Africa. When they were there the English people in residence really made them welcome. They then returned to England and whilst in Devonport dockyard having a refit - were told that war had been declared on Germany - it was Sept. 1939
Sept. joined 18th Cruiser Squadron - deployed with Home Fleet, to Scapa Flow keeping out of the way of Subs.
Oct. covered passage of convoy of nineteen oil tankers with
HMS Glasgow. Returned to northern patrol for interception duty. Sighted two German battleships rescuing survivors from HMS Rawalpindi which they had sank. Joe felt very sorry for a young sailor on his ship, because his dad was serving on the Rawalpindi.
Continued to search, but lost sight and returned to Scapa Flow.
Jan. 1940 deployed on interception patrol in the North Atlantic, sank a German wreck in Denmark Strait. Deployed with other ships to search for German ship “Trautenfels” but was not successful
Feb/May ship under repair.
June 1940 rejoined home fleet. Escorted evacuation convoy
from Harstad - Scapa Flow.
July. Plymouth for anti-tank invasion duties, docking at Devonport until 21st.
Aug. deployed SW approaches on anti-invasion patrol.
Sept. returned to Devonport.
Oct. Deployed with HMS battleship “Revenge” and screened by several destroyers for bombardment of Cherbourg. (operation medium).
150 rounds of 15” shells were fired on harbour installations.
HMS Newcastle provided target illuminations screened by
three HMS destroyers and 2 Polish destroyers.
Nov. Transferred to med. fleet based in Alexandria.
took 200 RAF personnel & stores from Plymouth to Malta.
provided cover for military convoy carrying troops to
Alexandria. Arrived in Gibraltar.
27th Nov. during passage in western Mediterranean took part
in brief engagement at long range with Italian surface
force including two battleships and seven cruisers.
enemy force withdrew.
Dec. Transferred to South Atlantic Command - deployed to
look for German ships at Rio de Janeiro and the Plate.
Jan/March 1941 South Atlantic conveys.
Apr. went from Freetown to the Cape of Good Hope and
relieved HMS Nelson as ocean escort. Went to Durban
for refit.
May/June more interception duties in South Atlantic.
July 1941. During patrols looking for blockade runners taking supplies back to Germany, scuttled German Freighter
“Parana” - survivors captured. Three Germans were killed
and Joe remembers a funeral service being held on board
HMS Newcastle and all the Germans giving the Nazi salute
as they were buried at sea.
Aug’Dec Boston for refit.
Jan 25th 1942 transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron, Eastern
Fleet for convoy defence and interception duties.
Feb./Mar.joined convoy from Clyde - Freetown - Cape Town -
Durban - Indian Ocean.
Apr. Indian Ocean deployment continued.
May - arrived in Kilindini. headed for the Med.
June - escorted supplies to Malta - now under attack
day & night. Damaged by torpedo from German E boat. The
explosion blew a hole 30ft diam. in starboard side with
serious damage to structure and machinery. Forward
turret was put out of action - but thankfully there were
no casualties. Temporary repair was made to allow passage
at reduced speed.
July - arrived in Aden for temporary repair. - Further
repairs in Bombay.
Aug. Hole in ship plated over.
Sept. Went to USA via Mauritius, Pernambuco & Bermuda,
Oct. Brooklyn navy yard for repair and refit.
Nov. After trials prepared for Atlantic passage.
Dec. Back to Plymouth, where radar and new guns were
fitted to improve close range defence,
Jan/Feb 1943 After completion of work - sailed for the Eastern front.
Mar/Apr joined Home Fleet.
April. Escorted military convoys from UK to Indian Ocean
and joined Eastern Fleet. Arrived in Freetown.
May deployment resumed in Indian Ocean for defence
escort duties.
June - Nominated to search for the German supply ship
Charlotte Schleemann known to be on passage from Soerabaya to support U Boats operating in the Indian ocean. Search was abandoned after no sighting.
July - resumed Indian ocean trade defence and convoy escort duties.
August refit in Simonstown.
Sept/Dec. Back to interception duties
Jan 1944 continued interception duties. Sailed to Mauritius with HMS Battler to search 900 miles south of the island looking for a u-boat supply ship.
Feb. Resumed squadron deployment in Indian Ocean.
Mar. Sailed from Mauritius with other ships looking for
a u-boat supply tanker which was eventually scuttled.
Apr. 1944. Joe was sent back to home port - he
was then transferred to HMS Raleigh at Tor Point where
he was a seamanship & gunnery instructor. He had a
very bad bout of tonsilitis and was sent to hospital after
which he was given seven day’s leave. After six days
he received a draft notice - and within hours he was on a troop ship to Singapore. By the time they arrived the Japs had already surrendered. Joe joined the Admin staff and was responsible for organizing transportation of troops. He spent 3 years in Singapore.
When he returned to Devonport he then went to HMS Drake
where he was an instructor.
He was demobbed on 28th February, 1950. He remembers the day very clearly. He put his kit on a goods train and then travelled to Brookwood where he was issued with a trilby, jacket & trousers. He then travelled back to Paddington where he had to stay all night until he could get a train to Bristol the next morning. Next day he arrived home for good.
What memories Joe & his fellow sailors must have, the things they witnessed first-hand - and having spoken not only to Joe but others who served during the war - they will never forget and neither should we.
