Broadsword was my first draft on completing my training at HMS Mercury.  I won the Captains Prize and joined Broadsword in mid-1961.
The captain was Commander Sir Peter Anson, a great skipper who was liked by officers and ratings throughout the ship.
We were assigned to Fishery protection in the Arctic Circle, one of the places I never want to visit again.
The winds never fell below force 5 and mostly gale or storm force, so as a 'new' sailor, I suffered from constant sea-sickness, but loved the Navy and the camaraderie that was prevalent in those days. I will attach a photo I took in 1961 during a storm force 11.  It is taken looking aft from the Port side just forward of the lifeboat.  The deck is covered by a wave, but you can see the ship.
Broadsword was the head of the 7th Destroyer Squadron, with Commander Anson as the chief of the squadron.  He was an absolute gentleman and I had many great conversations with him on the bridge, as I cleaned the Belini Tozi loop aerial every day and had to go up in front of the covered bridge to clean her.
Another Junior Radio Operator on board and someone who did training with me was JRO Jones.  I loaned him my Captains Priz book called 'Make a Signal', but never got it back.  Signed by the Captain of my training ship HMS Mercury, I so wish it had been returned.
I was one of the last ratings to sleep in a hammock.  Our mess was about 28 feet by 10 feet and had 32 ratings living and sleeping there in 3-tier bunks.  We wrote to the National Farmers Union and gave them the measurements and constant temperatures, asking them how many pigs they would keep in the space.  2 was the reply, but 3 if the temperature was raised by another 2 degrees!!! 
Broadsword visited Rekjavick in Iceland, but the locals hated the Brits due to the Cod wars.  I did buy a sheepskin rug, but we decided not to venture ashore again, as it was hostile.
We also called in at Bremerhaven in Germany and Amsterdam, but were mainly on patrol.  I will attach the photo of Broadsword entering Amsterdam harbour in 1961.
I gained massive experience on Broadsword and that carried me forward to my next posting on HMS Anzio, which I joined at Aden to continue patrols in the Persian Gulf for 15 months.  Iran was always a threat in the region and we were at full action stations most of the time.  We had 42 Commando and 7th Armoured Brigade on board, with tanks and other armoured carriers and recovery vehicles.
In my 9 years service, I had 13 postings to ships, mainly in the Far East during the Indonesian Confrontation of Singapore and Malaysia.  I have theGeneral Service medal with  Borneo clasp, Singapore Straights clasp,Malay peninsular clasp and the  Pingat Jassa Medal (Presented by Malaysia to RN servicemen who patrolled the waters around Singapore and Malaysia, Borneo Sarawak and wider). 
My first son was born in Singapore Military Hospital on 20th April 1964 just after I arrived.  I served 3 years there, so with the Persian Gulf and other postings, I did almost all of my 9 years at sea.
As a marksman (sniper) diver, plus being a radio operator, my Fleet Pool draftings meant I was in constant demand on ships going to sea. 
Broadsword will always remain in my memories and her radio callsign was MVCJ.

I hope this is of interest.

Kindest regards

Lee Barton (formerly Birtwistle P057146)

Hello 

  I was wondering if you help me or point me in the right direction,
My Brother, MEM Ware served on HMS Broadsword in 1993 and lost his life in a fire that broke out in July 1993 aged 22, I was very young at the time and didn't realy know my brother,  Ive been trying to find out some more about my brother for my sake and for out mothers. As i'm intrested in learning more about his life as a sailor,  
So I was wondering if it would be posible for you to put something on your website asking if any of his former shipmates could share any experiances or storrys that they shared with him just so we could get a insite into his ofshore life. 

   Thank you in advance for any help.

 Alastair Robins 

To reply to Alastair please contact the webmaster for email or telephone details.

25/05/2011
Scorpion and Broadsword 1961

The two boats came into Gib in 1961 to prepare for a NATO ex. The Royal Engineers had a special relationship with the Navy since the siege of Gibraltar circa 1704. A Lucky 4 or 5 of us sqaddies were invited to spend a day on board during a NATO sub hunting ex in the Med. It turned out for us land lovers to be one of the most memorable days in our whole lives. We were signed on as crew for the day and were treated like royalty, watching every fantastic part of the ships performance ----Refuelling at sea, the engine room, boiler room, Gun drill (a 3.5 inch I believe), the Radar /Asdic control room. And then what I consider a unique experience for soldiers we were allowed by the Quartermaster to steer HM Scorpion for 20 minutes each, taking instructions from the bridge and relaying to the engine room and I can tell you the Nato craft behind us had great difficulty following our erratic course and strange alterations in speed. To anyone who helped us to be pretend sailors for a day my hearty thanks—a highlight of my life.

November 2000
Dear Alan

Thank you for my members card received recently, unfortunately I will not be able to attend the reunion at Chester.
I hope all goes as well as it did two years ago, I do know it is because you and Tansy have kept a steady hand on the tiller that it will be supported this year.
The enclosed photo (original black and white) one of Broadsword entering Venice on Monday 4th July 1960. We had just done a six week patrol around Cyprus so the holiday atmosphere at Venice was much enjoyed by all during our four day stay.
I send my best wishes to all attending and hope I will be able to attend the next reunion, be it at Chester or elsewhere.

Sincere regards

John Gunson EX MECH 1

P.S Sorry I could not frame the photo's      [Johns photo added to the gallery]