大象传媒

Dad, before the war was an Engineer that repaired 'ships afloat' in Scotland. He then joined the Royal Navy - early 1940's - as an Engineering Officer. He volunteered, when volunteers were requested, to join Oil Tanker crews. As they were going to get 'Danger Money'he thought this was great. (This money was supposed to be paid as a Bonus after the war, but he never got it)

His first trip was to collect oil from Galveston, USA. The ship was brand new,so new in fact it was not completed properly. On the way home,in heavy seas and fully loaded with oil, and after completing his duty he returned to his cabin and found it full of water. He also took with him his mug of hot chocolate but with all the tossing about and hanging onto the rails to get back to his cabin, his mug was empty when he arrived there.

After crossing the Atlantic. it was rumoured they would be going to the Tropics, so after leave he arrived back on ship with only tropical kit. They ended up in Murmansk, Russia. Needless to say he got into trouble and had to borrow cold weather uniform. On the way back they called into Norway. Sailing along ffiords to re-stock for food, he noticed a tarpaulin on the seashore, but when he looked through his binoculars he discovered it was a bear drinking water.

He did however go to the Tropics - East Africa. He was not very fond of it as he developed sunstroke and became very ill. They were subjected to very very large spiders that frightened everyone, and cockroaches that were crawling in the food. After this episode and later in life, he did develop Skin Cancer (Malignant Melanoma)

This story was submitted by Ian McGowan

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