Gentlemen Who Lunch

8 Oct 2025 - MCDOA members Stu Harper, Martyn Holloway, Surg Cdre Jim Sykes and Yours Truly (Rob Hoole) were joined by former WO(MW) Lee ‘Barney Two Ts’ Barnett MBE for a delightful al fresco meal yesterday at the Golden Lion in the Hampshire village of Southwick.

The Golden Lion was frequented by Generals Eisenhower and Montgomery in the run-up to D-Day because it was within walking distance of their headquarters in Southwick House, my wardroom mess at the now-decommissioned HMS DRYAD for the last four years of my career in the RN. As Montgomery was teetotal, he stuck to grapefruit juice but Eisenhower supped half pints of bitter.

We discovered a British Mk 17 moored contact mine behind the pub, accompanied by this explanation:

“The nearby Sea Mine (now free of explosives) is typical of one of the 550,000 sea mines used by the Allies as part of Operation Overlord.

It was presented to Southwick by the Royal Navy in 2022."