As part of marking the 125th Royal Navy Submarine Service two of our VOS members and volunteers, Peter Vallender and Ron Gordon, helped lead an auction of three submarine squadron crests at an evening function held in Gosport.
The crests, produced by the VOS team, represented SM1 Portsmouth, SM2 Plymouth and SM3 Faslane. With the Gosport Submariners Association Chairman, Colin Mould, kindly agreeing to conduct the auction, the proceeds were split equally between Veterans Outreach Support and the Stronger Together Community (Gosport Branch charity), raising an incredible £205 and resulting in a £102.50 donation to VOS.
It’s a wonderful example of the support, generosity and partnership within the submariner community.
To help celebrate and honour the Submariners service, join us at Veterans Outreach Support’s (VOS) next Portsmouth Drop-In Day where you will get the chance to chat to fellow submariner veterans and learn more about this service.
This takes place as follows:
- Portsmouth Drop-In Day (September) – Submariners 125th Anniversary Celebration
- Wednesday 2nd September – 1400 to 1700 (new registrations welcome to arrive from 1330)
- Royal Maritime Hotel, Queen Street, Portsmouth. PO1 3HS
Peter Vallender, VOS member, volunteer and veteran Royal Navy Submariner, said :
Colin Mould, Gosport Submariner Association shares a little about the history of Submariners and their association – he says:
“This year, 2026, marks the 125th anniversary of the Submarine Service. Way back in 1901, at the launch of submarine Holland 1, none could have dreamt of where we would be 125 years on. Holland 1, built in secrecy in the ‘Yacht Shed’ in Barrow, was launched on 2nd October 1901.She was approx. 64ft long, displaced around 100 tons and had a complement of 9.
Fast forward 125 years, to the leviathans of the ocean, and we have HMS Agamemnon, the latest of the new Astute class submarines measuring 318 ft long, displacing 7,400 tons, with a complement of 98. Her technology is said to be more complex than a space shuttle, with up to 149 miles of cabling and pipework.
Obviously, much has happened through the intervening years. Years that have seen troubled times, where two World wars and many other armed conflicts have seen many good men Crossing The Bar.
133 Submarines lost in World Wars I and II, with the accompanying horrific loss of so many lives.
And it is here that we find the constant, the reason why this year is so important for us in the Submariners Association (SA). The men and, of course more recently, women of the Submarine Service. It is our opportunity to pay homage to those who have gone before us, celebrate those in advancing years still with us, and to recognise the Service of those who will steer the Service through the years to come.
The SA is open to all serving submariners, both past and present. But of course, as is the nature of many such associations, the membership predominantly numbers our veterans.And it is here too that modern times find modern initiatives being launched in support of all.
With Veterans Outreach Support (VOS) rapidly approaching it’s own 20th anniversary, we in the Gosport branch of the SA are particularly pleased and indeed honoured to be closely involved in the work of this important asset to the military community and stand ready to support you at every opportunity, as we have our own for the past 125 years.”
Celebrate with us:
Portsmouth Drop In Day 2nd September – join us to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Submariners:
Find out more about our Drop-In Days here
Find out more about the Gosport Submariners Association here
