Many people in Natland will have heard June’s story and will know something of her recollections of her engagement and marriage to Naval Officer John Treleaven. After only a year of marriage John was lost when the submarine HMS Affray sank in a training exercise, in 1951. She put the experience behind her as best she could. She subsequently married Julian Tower, had four children and eventually moved to Natland. However the memory of that earlier experience stayed with her.She writes: About eight years ago I was told the new Australian director (Kevin Fewster)of the National Maritime Museum was going to change the ethos of the Archive Department slightly. He observed that the witness through letters of womenfolk and children had not been thought important, but their concerns are now considered in the 21st.century. That was the spur for me to write ‘Maritime Mail’, published 2009.
Now the story is part of an exhibition in the Voyager Gallery, Sammy Ofer Wing, http://collections.nmm.ac.uk/ in the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
The party to celebrate the opening of the new Sammy Ofer Wing of the National Maritime Museum on July 12th. was a bit of a mad crush for me, as I sat in a wheelchair. Speeches were made and the champagne flowed. Lord Sterling, the Chairman of the N.M.M. said that ‘Only that very day the Queen had announced that Greenwich was to be made a Royal borough.’
Then we whizzed up to the 4th.floor to see the Voyagers Gallery. This is where they have a “Word Wall” 30 metres long, with six themes. The National Maritime Museum had written to me in 2010 to say that my letters in the Archive came under love and devotion and would I mind if they used them in their display. ‘Delighted’, I had replied. My book was written to give the 75 men who died in the submarine Affray their recognition. So we walked along the wall until we came to the photos of June and John Treleaven, and Allan Tunningley’s article from the Westmorland Gazette: “Teenage bride’s book tells of love lost at sea.”
Also there was a letter from HMS Vanguard, written by John, and then we saw that they were placed next to the letters that Nelson had written to Lady Hamilton. My bottom lip wobbled a bit and Emma hugged me and said ‘I am so proud of you, Granny’. A small crowd gathered around us and I told them the story of HMS Affray.
It has been the perfect day, and 'my tragic love story' is now a piece of history.
June Tower © 27:07:11
‘Maritime Mail’, the anthology of letters written between June and John Treleaven, is available from the back of the church and from Natland Post Office for £10. It is a fascinating read and also a useful primary source of social history.