大象传媒

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I was in India with my parents when World War 2 broke out. My father was in the Royal Artillery and my mother became a Corporal in the W A A C (India). I came back to England with them in 1943. Living in the South of England the main experience was seeing V1s and hearing a few V2s. A lot of V2s were shot down by A / A Guns and Typhoon fighters. In 1944 when I was about 15 I cycled towards Southend with a friend. I was turned back as I had no business in the area. Pre invasion, things were becoming 鈥渉ush hush鈥� i.e. construction of Mulberry Harbour.
In 1946 I entered the Merchant Navy. I had to hand in my civilian ID card for a Merchant Navy issue. My salary as an apprentice was fixed at 拢60 a year for 4 years, plus 鈥� War bonus 拢10 a month鈥� or as a cadet 拢5 a month. The main danger I experienced was the still existing mines (for example in the North Sea there were millions, (German and British) and were not totally cleared until 1953 鈥� 54. The route to Hamburg was via Copenhagen and back again.
An interesting point was my issue of clothing coupons was very generous and more than enough. I obtained suits from Hong Kong (overnight) and American clothes were available.
Referring to America - it made Liberty and Victory ships in 4 鈥� 5 days with pre fabricated sections welded together. Some were finished after one voyage. Owing to a design fault some broke up. It was considered that the ship had done its job with 1, 2 or 3 trips. The Victory ships were better made, faster and more sophisticated.
The shipping company I served in was the Blue Funnel Line. It had 88 ships in 1939 and finished the war with 44.
Further to the above in 1943 my father was posted to England and my mother, who was in the W A A C (India), technically had to desert to accompany him. She was very concerned during her first year back in England.

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