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This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Sue Smith on behalf of John Simmonds and has been added to the site with his permission. John fully understands the site’s terms and conditions
I joined the navy when I was 17, training as a telegrapher, and eventually came to serve with the 52nd MTB Flotilla. On VE day we were in Great Yarmouth and as victory had been proclaimed the Admiral ordered that we could go ashore to celebrate. However, before this could happen we were directed to refuel and proceed north to an unknown position, our only compensation being that we could ‘splice the mainbrace’.We were then directed to Lerwick in the Shetland Isles where we joined up with a fleet of camouflaged Norwegian boats. We carried 5,000 gallons of 100-octane fuel and loaded a further 2,000 gallons in cans for the journey. We crossed the North Sea and landed in Molde, a German Torpedo base, After distributing our sweet ration to the local children the crews boarded every German boat sheltering in the Fjiord to prevent them from escaping. Eventually we were relieved by two destroyers carrying commandos and the Germans surrendered to them, so we were able to return to base. The stories I heard of the hardships suffered by the Norwegian people will for ever be in my memory.
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