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Master and Commander Posts: 1012 Location: NE Florida | Subject: Tuesday Obits (RN & USN) HICKIE (RN) .. .. Michael Hickie was one of the last surviving submarine commanders who served in World War II. The Narrabeen resident has dived under ice floes at the North Pole, torpedoed and sunk German ships and survived a collision with an Italian vessel. At the age of 99, the retired lieutenant commander, who was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, was able to read without glasses a letter of congratulations from then Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mike Noonan. “You made your extensive operational experience in Royal Navy submarines available to our Navy in 1969 when you joined our newly re-established Submarine Service. You have made a remarkable contribution to our Navy and I thank you for it,” the letter said. Michael Timothy Hickie was born on October 17, 1922 in Mussooire, 290 km north of the Indian capital of New Delhi while his father was serving as a lieutenant-colonel in the country’s army. He came back to England and was was educated at the Oratory Preparatory School before joining Dartmouth, aged 13, in 1936, and as a midshipman was under training in the battlecruiser Repulse. In December 1942 Hickie was serving as navigating officer on HM Submarine Ursula on patrol against German and Italian shipping between Naples and North Africa to stop reinforcements to Rommel’s Afrika Korps. They fired three torpedoes on a moonlight night at the German troopship Odysseus, which was being escorted by two destroyers. The submarine dived to 90 feet (27 metres) and maintained “silent routine” before resurfacing to periscope depth to observe its target sinking and the escort destroyers picking up survivors. Two days later Ursula was rammed by an Italian ship as it prepared for another torpedo attack. Lt Commander Hickie wrote in his memoirs: “We had been rammed but the enemy did not realise it. “As the sound of the convoy faded to the south-west, Ursula surfaced, although neither periscope could be either used or moved up or down. The captain then found that the conning tower hatch could not be opened more than an inch or two.” The vessel returned to base at Algiers for repair. The submariner was on HMS Taciturn off the coast of Malaya in June 1944 on the bridge at 4am when he saw the bubbles of an approaching Japanese torpedo. He altered course hard to starboard then dived to a safe depth. That action contributed to Lt Commander Hickie receiving the Distinguished Service Cross. Post-war he was in command of HMS Amphion when it was ordered to sail to the Arctic to trial operating under the ice and finding gaps to surface. “Some of the crew were fearful the sub would capsize with the weight of ice on the rigging and so we had the crew with hammers begin chipping it away,” he wrote. “We dived below the permanent ice that spread across the North Pole.” His daughter, Tessa Newton, said that submarines had also featured in the life of her mother, Pat, who was English but was raised in Argentina. She met Hickie when she was serving in the Women’s Royal Naval Service, known as the Wrens. Aged 19, Pat Traunter was on a passage to England in 1942 to join up when her ship, SS Avila Star, was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat. She was one of 31 people who survived in a lifeboat for 21 days and every day that passed she made a notch in the bangle on her wrist. The survivors were eventually rescued by a Portuguese destroyer. Newton, wearing her late mother’s bangle, said: “When [Hickie] returned from the Royal Navy he was offered a job here looking after the O-class submarines, Oberon, Onslow, overseeing instruction. For a while he was a visiting ships liaison officer which was great for me – we got a lot of cocktail parties on a lot of different ships.” At the age of 90, Hickie became friends with Joan Wilson, who had been married to a submariner. They toured Europe and attended the 2013 International Submariners Association, where he represented Australia. Mrs Wilson said: “There’s a camaraderie amongst submariners and I think it is partly because they have to get on.” KINGERY .. .. Thomas Eddie Kingery, 84, passed away on October 22, 2023, peacefully in his home. Born in Pulaski to Lola Irene Bagby and Thomas Eddie Kingery, Sr. on March 17, 1939, and graduated from Metter High School in 1957. Tom attended the University of Georgia before entering the U.S Navy where he served in the submarine service on the USS Bashaw. He was a member of First Baptist Church for more than 50 years and was in the Open-Door Sunday School Class. Tom worked as a Cost Accountant with IGA, Business Manager with Franklin Chevrolet, and Account Executive with Universal Underwriters Insurance Company. He was a member of the Jaycees, the Downtown Optimist Club where he served as president in 2001. Tom was also a member of the Downtown Rotary Club where he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow. He worked as a poll worker for several years, was a member of the Board of Equalization for 5 years and served as the treasurer of the SnookPac. Tom was a Statesboro Sigma Chi Alumni Association Member. He served as Sigma Chi president in 2000. The Statesboro Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter Scholarship was established in 1998 by Thomas E. Kingery. The purpose of the endowment is to provide financial support and recognition to outstanding students attending Georgia Southern University. Tom was one of the original members of the Southern Boosters Inc. now known as Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation, Inc. and was faithful in his continual financial support including a special gift toward construction of the Ted Smith Family Football Center. He was an avid fan and was a season ticket holder until his health prevented his attendance. Tom enjoyed golf outings with his friends, especially the Thursday golfing at Scarboro Bluff with Arthur Howard. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Bobby Gene Kingery; his first wife, Linda Powell Kingery; half-brother, Bernard Troy Kingery; and half-sister, Beryl Kingery Cashore. He is survived by his wife, Diane E. Kingery; son, Bryan Keith Kingery; daughter-in-law, Lisa Hogan; granddaughter, Kristin Kingery Sparks (Joseph); and stepsons, Jeffery D. Garchow and Christopher M. Garchow; nieces, Jackie Dantuano, Debbie Santoro and Lisa Hermann; and nephews, Mike Kingery and Kevin Kingery. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Deal Funeral Directors. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Deal Funeral Directors with Dr. John Waters officiating. Burial will follow in Bulloch Memorial Gardens. HOLTZ .. ... Richard ‘Dick’ C. Holtz, age 79 of Litchfield, MN died on Friday October 20, 2023 at his home in Litchfield, MN. A funeral service will be held at 9:00 AM on Monday, October 30, 2023 at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN. Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 6:00 PM on Sunday, October 29 at Johnson Hagglund Funeral and Cremation Service in Litchfield, MN. Interment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Richard Carlton Holtz was born December 5, 1943 in Richmond, California. The son of Robert and Bernice (Kunze) Holtz. Richard was baptized as an infant and confirmed in his faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN. He graduated from Litchfield high school in 1961, and then enlisted in the United States Navy in June 1961. Richard attended various schools and graduated from submarine school in August 1962. He served abroad USS Balao (SS285), USS Sea Poacher (SS406,) and USS Pickerel (SS524), and he also served in Washington DC for 2 years. Richard traveled entirely around the world, and was a Veteran of the Vietnam war. He was honorably discharged from the US Navy on Dec 10, 1970. Returning home to Litchfield he had various jobs. He was employed by Cargill for 12 years, managed the Darwin elevator for 2 years, and then went to work for Sparboe Farm in 1989, where he worked in the Ag-tech department for 20 years. He retired from Sparboe Farms in May 2009. Richard worked part-time for Runnings starting in May of 2010. He loved this job and looked forward to going to work every day. Richard was a life member of the VFW Post 2818, and a post commander. He was a life member of the USSUI, Holland Club, ISA, USS Sea Poacher, post commander of the USS Meeker County Navy Club, and a member of the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Richard loved politics, the Minnesota Vikings, NASCAR, playing poker and helping older Veterans. He also loved having morning coffee at Swans Cafe with his group of Veterans. He loved telling his “SO THERE I WAS” stories as his friends can attest to. He loved family gatherings, spending time with is daughters and watching his grandchildren grow up. Richard loved music, either dancing with the grandkids or going out to bands with his friend Wanda! He especially loved the annual Holtz reunion picnic every year at Lake Ripley. Richard is survived by his daughters; Jennifer (Craig) Fearing of Monticello, MN, Sadie Rae (Tim) Tyler of Mercer, WI. Son Orrin of Phoenix, AZ. Sisters; Karen (David) Winters of Byron MN, Mardell Starr and special friend Dale Johnston of Milford, IA. Sister-in-Law; Pat Holtz of WA. Grandchildren; Lucy, Lewis, Alex, Lilyan and Brayden. Many nieces and nephews, and his long-time friend Wanda Rath of Hutchinson, MN. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; Robert and Bernice Holtz, sister Diane (Donald) Dougherty; Brother Darrell Holtz, brother-in-law Dick Starr and of course beloved dog, Scooter. | ||
| Gil |
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| Master and Commander Posts: 1607 | Subject: RE: Tuesday Obits (RN & USN) I had a lot of conversations with Dick Holtz on the Pickerel during our 1968 Westpac. Me on the helm and Dick no more than 6 feet from me sitting in front of the radar, and ECM consoles. He always had words of support for this know nothing non-qualed reservist on active duty. Dick was a great shipmate and did a lot to support the veterans when he retired. | ||
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