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Life in the Royal Navy

My Grandfather and Father both served in the Royal Navy - in fact I was named Edgar after HMS Edgar the...

MUSINGS OF A SAILOR

Len has recorded in fascinating detail the trials and tribulations of his early training at HMS Arthur, HMS...

IVORS WAR

ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 1939 I WAS EVACUATED TO CHIPPING SODBURY GLOS WITH SPARKHILL COMMERCIAL SCHOOL,...

Mine Sweeping 1941- 42 HMS Bude

Four months later, in October 1941, I was drafted to a Bangor Class mine-sweeper, HMS Bude, 9th...

Charlie's Demise

My late father in law Bill Wood was aboard the destroyer HMS Bleasdale which had many various roles during...

War In The Royal Navy

I went back to base then on to HMS Nestor doing convoy work in the Atlantic and the Med... From there I...

America and HMS Pylades

After various experiences in the Royal Navy minesweeping I was sent to Liverpool to board the Mauretania...

Last Voyage of HMS Charybdis

I lived in my parents’ house near St Judes Church in Plymouth and have many memories of the war...

Wartime Bravery Casts a Shadow Over Later Life

Archie was transferred to another minesweeper, The Hambleton... The Hambleton was damaged by a torpedo and...

A Christmas Memory

He recalled : A fine clear sunrise on Christmas eve over a calm Atlantic ocean was a cheering sight after...

Coded Kisses

My father John Hepworth of Thornbury, Bradford, served in the Royal Navy during World War 2. The landlady...

The story of a Cockleshell Hero’s raid — Marine Richard Ruff

Taking part in a Special Boat Section operation was Sergeant King and Marine R.N. Ruff who was an uncle to...

Arthur Davidson

My Grandfather, my fathers father, was born at Dudley Hill, Bradford, Yorkshire on 17th March, 1924... My...

Malta December1941

I had just arrived from Gilbralter on board HMS Dido a cruiser, i was to join Hms Aurora light cruiser...

Mediterranean sinking

Whilst on duty in the Mediterranean the ship was torpedoed by a German U boat... The order to abandon ship...

Eye Witness on Firedrake

This book was dedicated “ To the Officers and Men of H.M.S. FIREDRAKE and The Eighth Flotilla. For...

Ouistreham

It was during his short time ashore as he was securing a property near the beach when he came across the...

Liverpool 1940: Onboard HMS Wellesley

His experience in Liverpool in 1940 is written as an introduction to his two other stories, 'Russian...

Finding My Father at Sixty Five

While researching my family tree this year I discovered that my father's name is carved on a plaque on...

My Memories

My first taste of action was landing on Pantelleria June 11th everything seemed very quite at first,...

HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ 1945

Having joined HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ at the end of February 1945 as a Midshipman, there was much...

Albert Malin’s Story

Sept 3rd 1939, Albert's 13 birthday and he hoped at his very young age that the war would continue so...

Enlisting by Leslie J. Sprigg ex: Leading Telegraphist.

With my two closest friends already in the forces: Bill Cumming a sergeant pilot in the RAF and George...

Geoffrey Bulless-Normandy beaches

On the beach, I think the Royal Engineers came along with a big metal plate and they welded it on and off...

Dakar West Africa. The Free French Landing at Vichy, French Occupied Dakar -an Invasion by the Free French with British Support

The Free French Landing at Vichy, French Occupied Dakar -an Invasion by the Free French with British...

Silent Service - Minesweepers

As every wartime schoolboy knew, some of the minesweepers were purpose built and many were converted...