Ajax Veterans Street Dedication: Hibbard Drive

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Street Name: Hibbard Drive
Name of Veteran: Edward Clarence Hibbard
Rank: Able Seaman, Leading Seaman, Petty Officer
Ship Served: HMS Ajax
Date of Service on Ship: Jan. 11, 1938 to June 10, 1942
Year of Visit/Dedication:
Veteran or Family Visit:
Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: yes
Died at Battle: No

Edward joined the Royal Navy as a boy in 1933 and trained for fifteen months at HMS Ganges, in Shotley, Suffolk. He was drafted to HMS Renown in 1934 and served in the Mediterranean until early 1936 when he was sent to HMS Revolution and saw service on the Spanish coast during the Spanish civil war. In 1937 he qualified as a seaman gunner in Chatham barracks and early in 1938 was drafted to HMS Ajax for service on the South America and West Indies station. By the time World War Two started Edward had been promoted to Leading Seaman.

After the Battle of the River Plate in December, 1939 the Ajax returned to the United Kingdom for repairs. Edward remained with the ship into 1940 and sailed for the Mediterranean in September. They saw a great deal of action and were finally sent home after the Evacuation of Crete. Edward was then ranked as Petty Officer and was again sent to Chatham barracks where he qualified as a Gunnery Instructor.

In 1943 Edward was drafted to the Anti-aircraft Range where he instructed until August 1944. He joined HMS Stambledon on patrol duties on the East Coast of England and Scotland. By the end of 1944 he was transferred to HMS Farndale, also assigned to patrol the coast, and eventually ending up in Germany.

Edward was promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 1945. He left HMS Farndale two years later and acted as an instructor on HMS Royal and HMS Excellent. He rose to the rank of Commissioned Gunner by October 1950. He later received the highest Gunnery qualification obtainable, that of Dagger Gunner, and was promoted to Lieutenant. In October 1962 Edward was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. Two years later he filled the post of Staff Gunnery Officer to the Flag Officer, Medway which he kept until his retirement in April 1968.

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