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This story was submitted to the People’s War website by Marie on behalf of David and has been added to the site with his permission. David fully understand the site’s terms and conditions.

Having joined HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ at the end of February 1945 as a Midshipman, there was much to learn not only about the ship which was a large battleship but about duties and relationships and the practical day-to-day life of a ship at war.

My Action Station was as Spotting Officer in the Control Tower or Spotting Top and over the next month I had to learn many totally new skills. We did night and day exercises and slowly the strange language of gunnery began to make sense. I was also Commander's Doggy which was in effect to be his messenger. Commander Courage was the Executive Officer and second in command. He was a bluff and charming man. The Captain when we joined was called Norman. Another nice man who went on to be an Admiral. He was succeeded not long after we joined by Captain Ellis who did not.

Vice Admiral Sir Harold Walker was our Admiral. ‘Hooky’ Walker was everything a wartime commander should be. He was known as ‘Hooky’ because he had lost an arm in the First World War and had a brass hook to replace the missing limb. The Admiralty had told him that, as he was disabled, he would have to leave the Navy. His response was ‘There is a good precedent for one armed naval officers’ and they allowed him to stay…..

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