大象传媒

After training as an R/O at the LTTC,Earls Court London, I joined the MN in 1943, after gunnery training at Shoeburyness and V.S at RN Signals School East India Dock Road. I then served in two cargo ships and three free Norwegian tankers during the war, being torpedoed by U302 KL Herbert Sickel at 0230 6th April 1944 mid atlantic, resulting in the loss of MT South America. At this point we were rescued by rescue ship Goodwin together with the previously rescued crews of Norwegian freighter Ruth 1 and American cargo ship Oldham (see Robbie Roberts story A4037465 " How I found out about VE day" and Captain Bill Hartley's story no A4048490 "The Rescue Ships")we were all landed in Gourock on the 13th April 1944. The sequel to my story is that I met up with Robbie Roberts at the Maritime Museum Liverpool almost 50 years after the above event in April 1994 because of yet another remarkable coincidence and we have kept in touch ever since.
A few weeks ago we also made contact with the daughter of Captain Hartley who was Captain of the rescue ship Goodwin.
An addition to my story is that in 1995 I was lucky enough to be invited back to Oslo as one of the British WW2 veterans to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the liberation of Norway on the 7th May 1945. This was a most enjoyable five day event when I met up with wartime colleagues.
It was my further good fortune to be in New York for VE Day and Oslo for VJ Day.
I would like to pass on my good wishes to any of my shipmates from my MN service days 1943/1952 serving in B.T.C and Shell tankers after the war, finally coming ashore in 1952.

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