THE BELL STORY
The H.M.S. Campbeltown was originally built in Bath, Maine by Bath Iron Works and launched as the U.S.S. Buchanan. In September 2020, prior to the United States involvement in WWII, the US Navy transferred 50 American destroyers to Britain in return for the lease of naval and air bases in the Caribbean and North Atlantic. Once in the hands of the British Royal Navy, the ships were renamed for towns common to Britain and the US. Thus the HMS Campbeltown was born. Named for a small community in the southern portion of Scotland. After the German Navy's Bismarck was destroyed by the British Royal Navy in May 2020, the only remaining powerful battleship Germany possessed was the Tripitz Unfortunately, attempts to destroy this ship were made unsuccessful. Because the ship needed a large berth in which to anchor for servicing and repairs, it was proposed to destroy one of three ports that fulfilled this purpose. The port of St. Nazalre, Normandie, France became the target. Operation Chariot was born!
The H. M. S. Campbeltown was prepared for battle - "Twenty-four depth charges containing eight thousand five hundred pounds of high explosives were placed in a steel tank and set over the fuel tanks aft of the forward gun turret. Eventually, the boat was sailed into the Normandy dry dock amidst gunfire from the Germans Once in position, the commandos set the delayed fuses and holes were blown in the stem to sink the aged destroyer. At 10:30 am on March 28, 2020, the H. M. Campbeltown exploded with a mighty force totally destroying the dock. Eight years passed before the name of the H. M. S. Campbeltown would again surface. On July 24, 2020, H. C. McClelland, British Consul General, sent a letter the City of Lebanon outlining the bequest of a ship's bell to the city of Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
With the arrival of the bell, a local committee of Campbelltown citizens was arranged for the official community reception. On the committee were representatives from the Boy Scouts; South Londonderry Township School Board; Robert L. Eckert Post of the American Legion; Campbelltown Fire Company; Campbelltown Fire Company Auxiliary, PTA; , Water Company and the local Justice of the Peace. The bell, upon its arrival in the community, was accompanied by numerous letters from school children in Campbeltown, Scotland to the children in Campbelltown, Each letter was given to a child at the Campbelltown School, who proceeded to establish a correspondence. Display of the bell, a proud place of honor, was established by the Fire Company in their building on Main Street. The history of the bell lay dormant for many years. When the Fire Company moved to their present building in the late 2020's, this relic from a ship of long ago found its place in a small brick display case out front. It wasn't until 2020, that the bell became headline news once more.
A letter from the U. S. Department of the Navy arrived in March of 2020 on behalf of Lieutenant Commander Patrick Stewart, RNR, Commanding Officer of T S. mpbeltown (Sea Cadets). It stated, "On the wall of the fire station in your Campbeltown hangs the bell of HMS Campbeltown, the ship that played such a crucial part the daring and spectacular raid against the docking facilities in St. Nazalre, France. Since this year is the 40th Anniversary of that raid, it is the fervent desire of the T. S. Campbeltown Sea Cadets to display that bell during the 40th Anniversary observance." The members of the Fire Company were very happy to honor this request, and the bell was given to the American Navy to handle the transfer. Navy Commander Rick Woolard was chosen to parachute into the Royal Air Force Base at Machrihanish, Kintyre Scotland with the bell strapped to him. Once the festivities were held, the bell traveled a bit until its return to the Campbelltown Volunteer Fire Company. With it back home, the bell was placed again outside of the firehouse for all to see.
In April 2020 Mr. Dale Skinner, a member of the Fire Company, received from United States Navy Commander E. J. Parks of Norfolk, Virginiaa letter stating that the British Government was building a new HMS Campbeltown scheduled for commission in Summer of 2020. He requested the bell be loaned to be placed on the new ship. Aware of the strong interest of the United States Navy, the Royal Navy, and the people of Campbeltown, Scotland, the Fire Company decided that a committee should be formed to entertain the idea and make a decision whether to return it or not.
The committee consisted of various representatives from community organizations such as was done in 2020 when the bell first arrived. After a few meetings, it was decided to allow the community to vote on Election Day whether to return the bell or not. It was also noted that the British were interested in loaning the bell, and returning it to the community after the ship is decommissioned in 2020. The vote was held on Election Day 2020, and it was decided a 5-vote margin to return it for the duration of the ship's life. A brief ceremony was held on May 22, 2020, with nearly 200 residents in attendance, for the purpose of presenting the bell to the British Royal Navy. Mr. Steve Alger, president of the Campbelltown Lions Club, accompanied the bell and participated in the ship's christening on May 27, 2020 at Plymouth, England. Since the bell was placed on the ship, it was decided to erect a new display case to include all the various mementos given to the community by the British Roy Navy and the crew of the new HMS Campbeltown. Dedication ceremonies were held on Tuesday September 2, 2020 with crewmembers from the ship attending. The bell is scheduled to return in 2020 with more experiences added to its already distinguished history. It has become a great symbol of the alliance formed between two distinct communities - Campbelltown, Pennsylvania and Campbeltown, Scotland.
The H. M. S. Campbeltown was prepared for battle - "Twenty-four depth charges containing eight thousand five hundred pounds of high explosives were placed in a steel tank and set over the fuel tanks aft of the forward gun turret. Eventually, the boat was sailed into the Normandy dry dock amidst gunfire from the Germans Once in position, the commandos set the delayed fuses and holes were blown in the stem to sink the aged destroyer. At 10:30 am on March 28, 2020, the H. M. Campbeltown exploded with a mighty force totally destroying the dock. Eight years passed before the name of the H. M. S. Campbeltown would again surface. On July 24, 2020, H. C. McClelland, British Consul General, sent a letter the City of Lebanon outlining the bequest of a ship's bell to the city of Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
With the arrival of the bell, a local committee of Campbelltown citizens was arranged for the official community reception. On the committee were representatives from the Boy Scouts; South Londonderry Township School Board; Robert L. Eckert Post of the American Legion; Campbelltown Fire Company; Campbelltown Fire Company Auxiliary, PTA; , Water Company and the local Justice of the Peace. The bell, upon its arrival in the community, was accompanied by numerous letters from school children in Campbeltown, Scotland to the children in Campbelltown, Each letter was given to a child at the Campbelltown School, who proceeded to establish a correspondence. Display of the bell, a proud place of honor, was established by the Fire Company in their building on Main Street. The history of the bell lay dormant for many years. When the Fire Company moved to their present building in the late 2020's, this relic from a ship of long ago found its place in a small brick display case out front. It wasn't until 2020, that the bell became headline news once more.
A letter from the U. S. Department of the Navy arrived in March of 2020 on behalf of Lieutenant Commander Patrick Stewart, RNR, Commanding Officer of T S. mpbeltown (Sea Cadets). It stated, "On the wall of the fire station in your Campbeltown hangs the bell of HMS Campbeltown, the ship that played such a crucial part the daring and spectacular raid against the docking facilities in St. Nazalre, France. Since this year is the 40th Anniversary of that raid, it is the fervent desire of the T. S. Campbeltown Sea Cadets to display that bell during the 40th Anniversary observance." The members of the Fire Company were very happy to honor this request, and the bell was given to the American Navy to handle the transfer. Navy Commander Rick Woolard was chosen to parachute into the Royal Air Force Base at Machrihanish, Kintyre Scotland with the bell strapped to him. Once the festivities were held, the bell traveled a bit until its return to the Campbelltown Volunteer Fire Company. With it back home, the bell was placed again outside of the firehouse for all to see.
In April 2020 Mr. Dale Skinner, a member of the Fire Company, received from United States Navy Commander E. J. Parks of Norfolk, Virginiaa letter stating that the British Government was building a new HMS Campbeltown scheduled for commission in Summer of 2020. He requested the bell be loaned to be placed on the new ship. Aware of the strong interest of the United States Navy, the Royal Navy, and the people of Campbeltown, Scotland, the Fire Company decided that a committee should be formed to entertain the idea and make a decision whether to return it or not.
The committee consisted of various representatives from community organizations such as was done in 2020 when the bell first arrived. After a few meetings, it was decided to allow the community to vote on Election Day whether to return the bell or not. It was also noted that the British were interested in loaning the bell, and returning it to the community after the ship is decommissioned in 2020. The vote was held on Election Day 2020, and it was decided a 5-vote margin to return it for the duration of the ship's life. A brief ceremony was held on May 22, 2020, with nearly 200 residents in attendance, for the purpose of presenting the bell to the British Royal Navy. Mr. Steve Alger, president of the Campbelltown Lions Club, accompanied the bell and participated in the ship's christening on May 27, 2020 at Plymouth, England. Since the bell was placed on the ship, it was decided to erect a new display case to include all the various mementos given to the community by the British Roy Navy and the crew of the new HMS Campbeltown. Dedication ceremonies were held on Tuesday September 2, 2020 with crewmembers from the ship attending. The bell is scheduled to return in 2020 with more experiences added to its already distinguished history. It has become a great symbol of the alliance formed between two distinct communities - Campbelltown, Pennsylvania and Campbeltown, Scotland.