Letter: HMS Shropshire and Rex the mascot

Author

Letter Writer

Subjects

Letter to the Editor

Tags

HMS Shropshire, mascots

RAN Ships

None noted.

Publication

March 2019 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

The following email was recently received by our Research desk with a photograph of a handsome canine nattily decked out as a Leading Seaman Gunner with two Good Conduct Badges.

Dear Naval Historical Society,

I have recently uncovered a photo amongst others of ‘Rex’ According to the notation on the back he was the ship’s mascot. As my uncle was a Royal Marine gunner serving for a while on the (still) HMS Shropshire I have no doubt this is correct.

I realise that the Shropshire was later given to the Australian Navy so it may not mean much to yourselves. If this is the case would you have any details of any Royal Navy organisation or ex-servicemen of the UK who might be interested. Some of the other photos are of my uncle on board with fellow crewmen and mates. I am attaching a low res version of ‘Rex’.

Thanks

Peter D. Golding

By Editor: HMS Shropshire was first commissioned on 24 September 1929 and following a refit was recommissioned as HMAS Shropshire on 20 April 1943. We should be pleased to hear from any of our members who may know of ‘Rex’.