Samuel Howard "Taff" Mitchell
Royal Navy
from:Pontypridd
My father-in-law, Samuel Howard Mitchell, was learning the Butchery trade in Pontypridd until he decided to volunteer for the Royal Navy during the 2nd WW. The Navy took over the Butlins Holiday Camps during the War and Howard was sent up to Skegness Camp to do his Part 1 Training, this had been named HMS Royal Arthur. From tere he was then sent to another Butlins' Holiday camp at Pwllheli, its Naval name being HMS Glendower. He finished his training there and was then to be sent to HMS Drake, Plymouth. From here he was then posted to Naval Party 7049 or (1749) land based in Germany where he remained until Sept 1946. Leaving Germany he was then posted on HMS Urania until he got demobbed in March 1947 his rank at this time was Acting Leading Steward.
He then rejoined the Royal Navy at HMS Drake in November 1950 doing a months refresher course there to bring himself up to date, then on to Brittania Naval College Dartmouth where in March 1951 he got made Leading Steward and posted to HMS Apollo. After the Apollo he went to the carrier HMS Illustrious (31/1/1953 Leading Steward Royal Navy, DLX 752742, HMS Illustrious) where he was made a Petty Officer and left in March 1953. He was then landbased at HMS Drake and Mt Wise. In February 1955 he was posted to the carrier HMS Eagle until January 1957. On then as Captains Steward landbased at HMS Raleigh, Cornwall. From her on to HMS Blackwood then RNAD Culdrose, then back to sea joining HMS Tiger (early 1960's) in the far East. On leaving the Tiger he went to Commodores Personal Steward at HMS Drake. In 1964 he was again posted to HMS Eagle until Feb 1967 when he then went back for 12 months to Mt Wise, Devonport. A further 12 months was then spent at RNAD Culdrose, Cornwall where he then left the Navy as CPO Steward LX.752742
