´óÏó´«Ã½

These poems have been contributed by David Griffiths on behalf of Captain J.S. Earl,(an ex-sailor who was born during 1941) with his full permission, and who understands the website's terms and conditions.

Captain Earl has written a series of poems in remembrance of the war veterans who returned, and of those seafaring men, both in the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, who did not come home.

Ray Pearce, Merchant Navy, 1925 — 2004

On 4th February 2004 we bade a last farewell to our veteran member, Ray. Born in 1925, he ran away to sea at the age of 16. Serving mainly on Norwegian tankers during WW2, Ray was torpedoed in the North Atlantic and was one of 17 survivors. It was only in 2003 when being interviewed by Age Exchange of London that Ray spoke of his ordeal, and it is a measure of this unassuming man that he had waited for over 6o years before feeling able to share his experiences. Ray was a member of the MNA and the North Russia Convoy Club, and made valuable contributions to both. It was a great pleasure and a privilege to know Ray, and to share a few short years with him. He will be sadly missed.

He never mentioned it before, not until this year,
Never wanted to — it disturbed and sprung a tear;
Torpedoed there in one ship — he had not told a soul,
When recalling his old shipmates in a dreadful waiting role.

For he was in a lifeboat with sixteen other men,
A few of them were injured — could do nought for them.
One of them was badly burnt, within his roasted skin,
Memory so traumatic — he’d felt so much for him.

He told a bit to you guys — now the time has gone;
Those men died in agony, departing one by one.
Two days in a lifeboat — death reigned there supreme,
Ray, he was not injured, but a lad of mere sixteen.

There were many unsung heroes in the war at sea,
This is one example — for it seems to me,
They carried out their duties, neither bragged nor spoke,
Seafarers with the Nelson touch — and mighty hearts of oak.

****
D-DAY, June 6th 1944

I went to view the battlefields of Operation Overlord,
Fifty miles of coastline from Utah Beach to Sword;
To gain a hold in Normandy, D-Day was the key,
A step to free all Europe and beat Hitler’s Germany.

We marshalled all our forces after well-honed drills,
Comprising all resources with their special skills.
Twelve thousand allied air planes, three million men and more,
Land and sea and airman determined to endure.

A convoy of six thousand steamed across the sea,
From warships to assault craft, burgees flying free.
While our Paratroopers jumped to hold the flanks,
Heavy Naval gunfire supported all the ranks.

Resistance here was mighty strong through the hostile surf,
They fought and strived side by side to gain the foreign turf.
There are many tales of bravery and yarns of daring do,
Bad luck or just good fortune — plus error factors too.

Steaming through old minefields, making life quite fraught,
Mulberries were towed across to make a discharge port
For berthing of the liberty ships — seven at a time;
While Operation Pluto was the laying of pipeline.

The planning and arranging a monumental slog,
This final push to victory a mortal heavy job;
Supplies proceeding quickly — another fine endeavour,
Though there was a setback, provided by the weather.

This Normandy invasion was the biggest undertaken,
Embarked upon with allies — confidence unshaken.
We paid respect with colleagues at the wonder of the plan,
And the acts of courage displayed by every man.

Paid homage in the graveyards, as I took my tribute strolls,
Faced the plaque at Arromanches for Merchant Navy souls;
We will not forget them — history points the truth,
On the altar of our freedom brave men gave their youth.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.