Dad's Navy Days

HMS Cook

HMS Cook was a Bay-class frigate of the British Royal Navy, named for the explorer James Cook, which served as a survey ship, mostly in the Pacific Ocean from 1950 until 1964.

HMS Cook in April 1951

HMS Cook in April 1951. Photo: Imperial War Museums FL8464

Denys Powell served on HMS Gambia from 1949 to 1952 as a Stoker Mechanic. From HMS Gambia he then served on HMS Cook from 1953 to 1956. In December 2002, his daughter, Anita Neads, very kindly sent these photos to me.

Denys Powell on June 26, 1949. Photo kindly submitted by Anita Neads. Denys Powell. Photo kindly submitted by Anita Neads. Three of Denys Powell's friends on HMS Gambia one Christmas. Unfortunately I do not know their names or the year. Photo kindly submitted by Anita Neads. Vice Admiral Lord Mountbatten's Inspection, HMS Gambia, 1950. Denys Powell is 4th from right. Photo kindly submitted by Anita Neads. Relaxing on the deck of HMS Cook. Photo kindly submitted by Anita Neads. Denys Powell is second from the left, the three men marked by X's are also from HMS Cook. Photo kindly submitted by Anita Neads. Denys Powell is on the right of this photograph which may have been taken on HMS Gambia but more probably, HMS Cook. Photo kindly submitted by Anita Neads.

The following photo was among those sent to me by Anita Neads in December 2002. Amazingly in July 2021, Rebecca messaged me saying that she thinks the middle man kneeling in the photo is her father Ronald "Taffy" Phillips!

A crew group from HMS Cook

George Burkett, Denys' mate is the man in the centre of this group from HMS Cook
with possibly Ronald "Taffy" Phillips in the center.
Photo kindly submitted by Denys Powell's daughter, Anita Neads.

This page created December 19, 2002; last modified July 17, 2021