Rear Admiral Peter Dingemans CB DSO

[Simon]

I had the privilege of serving with him 73-75, the BEST Skipper I had in the mob, especially when he was a witness for me when I was up in front of the Jimmy for being adrift with a couple of OPPO'S after a weekend at home in Shoreham, he had to catch the same train as he was a Townie., so he was adrift as well. Also when we were in Lowestoft, I had to go on the Bridge with a message and he asked if I wanted to fly off in the Budgie, when we sailing up channel to the western approaches for exercise, he'd arranged to pick up the mail from Shoreham Airport, so we flew off from Brighton over my house then onto the Airport to pick up the mail, then off over Steyning where he lived RIP Sir, fair winds and calm seas

Great story Dave! I should have told him where I lived and maybe he would have let me ride along as well!! Maybe not.
In his book it sounds like he might have been a bit of a lad back in the day!

There is a road called Dingemans Close at Steyning. I was told that it was named after his Dad who was a local doctor for many years there but for me it will always be named after him.

[tonyb]

A well written obituary to the skipper in today's Daily Telegraph

[Simon]

A well written obituary to the skipper in today's Daily Telegraph

Thanks for sharing that Tony.
It is a good tribute to him.

[Ianmac]

Obituary from the Daily Telegraph

Rear-Admiral Peter Dingemans


Rear-Admiral Peter Dingemans, who has died aged 80, commanded the landing ship Intrepid during the 1982 Falklands conflict.

Dingemans had commanded Intrepid in 1980 and 1981 when he left her in dry dock for disposal under the “Nott” Defence review. After the Argentines invaded the Falklands in early 1982, a British task force sailed from Britain on April 5 and on the same day Dingemans was about to start a new shore job, when he was summoned to resume his command.

Intrepid had fallen into a poor state, slated for breaking-up or even – it was rumoured – for sale to Argentina. “A ship in dockyard hands,” wrote Dingemans, “resembles a filleted fish. You’re left with the bare bones and a dismembered body.”

Ten days later, thanks to the extraordinary effort of Dingemans and his second-in-command, Bryan Telfer, every one of the original crew of 550, bar two officers and 20 men, had been recalled from Britain and abroad, and Intrepid sailed – stored, armed and fuelled for war. This was only possible because of the team spirit which Dingemans had forged in his previous two years in command. For his people, returning to their ship was like a homecoming, seeing familiar, trusted faces with whom they had lived and trained together.

Morale of the highest level was recreated at once, based on mutual trust between colleagues, and, Dingemans wrote, “a cause which we believed in, namely the freedom of the individual, and most importantly knowing that our country was behind us”.

With Royal Marines embarked, Intrepid sailed on April 26, escorting the North Sea ferry Norland with men of 2 Para Bn on board. For the next nine days the ships practised, by day and by night, action stations, defence stations, damage-control drills and abandon-ship drills. On May 8 Intrepid caught up the other amphibious ships and merchant shipping at Ascension Island and sailed south towards the Falkland Islands, carrying some 600 people more than her approved wartime load.
HMS Intrepid at sea Photo: PA Archive/PA Images
Before first light on May 21 Dingemans’s Intrepid followed her sister ship Fearless into San Carlos Water, where ships of the amphibious task group, under the command of the Commodore, Amphibious Warfare, Commodore Michael Clapp, landed some 4,000 men, their vehicles and equipment. By the next day the British had established a secure beachhead from which to recapture the Falklands. San Carlos was rechristened “bomb ally” as the Argentines subjected it to repeated air attack. Over the next several weeks Intrepid took part successfully in most of the amphibious aspects of the war, and, as one of the last ships to join, stayed on as floating hotel, hospital and supply base and helped to deal with the remaining Argentine forces after victory on June 14.
The citation for Dingemans’s DSO highlighted the fact that he had taken the closest personal charge of his ship’s company and handled his ship magnificently, as well as providing every possible assistance to frigates, aircraft and landing ships: “His example, energy and leadership were of the highest order.”
Peter George Valentin Dingemans was born at Steyning, West Sussex, where his father was a GP, and was educated at Brighton College. His love of the sea started in the Sea Scouts. He entered Dartmouth in 1953, within a few weeks finding himself in a street-lining party for the Coronation.
At Dartmouth he did well, but it was his younger brother, Norman, who later won the Queen’s Sword. Peter’s training included a circumnavigation of South America in the cruiser Superb and a visit to the Falkland Islands, which he would see again 28 years later. Peter Dingemans specialised in torpedo anti-submarine warfare while Norman became a submariner.
Peter’s career followed a conventional path through the 1960s and 1970s, alternating command of the minesweeper Maxton in 1967, the frigates Berwick and Lowestoft (1973–74), and the Fishery Protection Squadron (1977–78), with staff courses and appointments in the MoD.
In early 1982 he had been appointed to a job in PR, but the Falklands conflict changed his career. Instead, with his recent experience, he became Commodore, Amphibious Warfare (1983–85), and on promotion to admiral he was Flag Officer Gibraltar (1985–87) and then chief of staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet (1987–90), at which point he was made CB.
On leaving the Navy, Dingemans found ready employment in the City with Argosy Asset Management and then Ivory and Sime, before becoming head of remuneration at Slaughter and May. He also took on a number of charity positions, and, in 1984, became a liveryman of the Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers.
Dingemans was noted for his calmness in a crisis. He wrote an autobiography, My Incredible Journey (2013), and was motivated by his strong Christian conviction, which he described as the handrail of his life.
He married Faith Bristow in 1961, who survives him with their three sons, one of whom is the Hon Mr Justice Dingemans.
Rear-Admiral Peter Dingemans, born July 31 1935, died December 6 2015

[loftysmudge]

Quite a man and one I would have loved to serve with.

[Geordie]

My first skipper when I joined the Berwick, and then the Lowestoft. A real Gentleman.

A vivid memory I have as a young OS, was one of my first jobs on the Berwick as forecastle part of ship, was painting out the cable locker. (I'm sure Bonzo gave me the paint). Cmd Dingemans came down the ladder into the cable locker to see how work was progressing. He had a look around, told me to keep up the good work and carry on.

I just remember immaculate white overalls, and highly polished shoes disappearing back up the ladder!!

Yes, a nice bloke.

[bonzo]

Nice to hear from you George. Yes I did give you the paint but I cant remember if you paid for it or not, might still owe me a quid, with interest £30 these days lol. You are in one of the mess cartoons I did wearing a Toon hat and scarf of course with the punch line. 'We cannay lose' which became your tag as 'We cannay lose Thompson'. Good days mate. Sad to hear of the Captain leaving us, quite a man and well thought of by all of us.