AUNTIE MAY AND HER NAVY “GODSONS”

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 14, 21 August 1946, Page 7

AUNTIE MAY AND HER NAVY “GODSONS”

KEPT SAILORS SUPPLIED WITH COMFORTS ADOPTED TRIBAL CLASS DESTROYERS A little grey-haired woman, dressed in black, was piped aboard H.M.S. destroyer Tartar at Devonport, while a naval band played on the dockside in her honour. She had travelled all the way from New York to meet for the first time 250 of her 3500 “godsons.” Stepping out of her anonymity for the first time, childless Mrs D. C. Hanrahan, of New York, because she had always loved Britain—particularly the Navy—decided in 1939 that, l’egardless of -what the U.S. was going to do, she would not “remain neutral.” She adopted H.M.S. Somali, one of the Tribal Class destroyers, with the intention of keeping the whole crew supplied with comforts, her only stipulation being that she should remain anonymous. She was christened “Godmother” or “Auntie May.” But that was not enough, and a few months ago she adopted all the destroyers in the Tribal Class—a total of about 3500 men. It was not the usual trickle of

comforts that arrived. Every few months they came in cratefuls, chocolates and sweets by the hundredweight, sweaters, jackets and even personal gifts and pocket money.

She wrote thousands of letters.

In the brilliant sunshine she Went from one man to the other of "the. 250 representing the four remaining destroyers. She met men she had known by name for nearly six years.

She heard about souvenirs that had been sent to her, some of which she had not received.

She laughed and joyed and met

the wives and children she had read about, and finally she was presented with a silver model of a Tribal Class destroyer in appreciation of what she had done.

The presentation was made by Chief Petty Officer George Edward Cross, D.S.M., coxswain of Tartar, who has seen eight actions with her. “I want you boys,” she said in her “Thank you” speech, “whenever you see me, just call out: “Hello, Auntie May” and, believe me, I shall be mighty glad to see you.” “Auntie May” told a reporter

that her husband, Capt. David Hanrahan, had commanded a destroyer in British waters in the last war.

“He wanted to do the same this war, but they told him he was too old, but until he died he helped’ me to pack the parcels.” Mr Hanrahan would not say how much her “comforts” had cost her, but a naval authority named £50,000 as a conservative figure. As she left with her silver destroyer being carried carefully after her down the gangway, she cried: “Don’t you dare drop it. It’s my most precious possession.”