大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Jenny Christian of the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library in conjunction with 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk on behalf of Pamela Parker and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

Petty Officer Ronald Parker (deceased) made 8 LTC crossings on D-Day.
In 1943 he sent this letter that is now reproduced with the kind permission of his Wife, Pamela Parker, home to his parents in England

Bizerte.
23rd May 1943.

Dearest Mum and Dad,

Of all the places to be writing a letter, but just at the moment I have got the urge to express my feelings fully, first how I have felt at times in the U.S.A. and since being in North Africa.

First of all America, and what a grand country, of course I had the time of my life seeing all the wonderful things and getting around in general.

Boston I think was the nicest place of them all, the people there were much more hospitable towards us British fellows, I think the reason for that was the majority of the people were originally British or Scottish themselves, and then again I was lucky enough to meet some very grand people who looked after me well.

The next place was Newport in Rhode Island, several of us went there for a gunnery course, the object of which is not necessary for me to explain. Newport itself was a medium sized town, not really much to go crazy about. The people I am sorry to say did not make us the least little bit welcome, the majority of them it appeared were either Italian or Spanish, very few were actually true American. 'The first night ashore we happened to drop into a place where the Mothers of sons who were in the services were giving a supper and a party for the sons of other people's Mothers who were away from home. This particular night was the only pleasant memory of Rhode Island.

From Rhode Island back to Boston for a few more happy days. From Boston to New York. When we arrived it was raining slightly, buses were waiting at the station (Grand Central) and we were taken to H.M.S. Saker 11 in Brooklyn. On our way to Brooklyn we had our eyes glued to the window looking for streets and buildings we had heard of back in England. As it happened we did pass down Park Avenue, which had I have known it at the time I was going to see much more of later.

One thing that stands out in my mind was, when we arrived at H.M.S. Saker 11, a Chief Petty Officer asked if anyone would like to go ashore, of course a crowd collected very quickly, of which I was one, the crowd having completed itself, the chief said "right you crowd unload the kit from the lorries". From what I remember I did unload about six kit bags and then conveniently lost myself.

The time we spent with H.M.S. Saker 11. was boring, nothing to do during the day except sleep, this of course afforded many opportunities to get one's kit up to scratch which I did. The evenings were mostly spent visiting some place of interest, the Empire State Building was my first target, and this I actually visited twice but saw a dozen times. The U.S.O. were doing good work for service men and women. All we had to do was go along there and get a free ticket for any cinema, theatre or dance that we wished, this was all very simple. After the Show it was the Stage Door canteen for supper and entertainment. It was here that I was fortunate to see the well known actresses Rita Hayworth and Ann Rutherford besides several other well known personalities. One could manage a good evening in New York for twenty cents (1 schilling) which was the return fare from Brooklyn. But with all this freeness my money went, where I do not know, for it was not the amount of goods I bought. Now I am repenting, thinking of my dear Mum and Dad at home.

After about six weeks in America's famous city we were drafted to the ship which I am now present on H.M. L.C.I. (L) 182, which we commissioned in Newark, New Jersey, (this town is only across the Hudson River from New York). The first day aboard was pretty grim, as outside it was very cold, freezing if I remember rightly. However we soon settled down and made the best of things. The same day we moved ship, for stores etc., and then back to Newark.

Newark itself was rather a nice town, some of my friends also on L.C.I's were also there, and one fellow from my ship, were mostly out together in the evenings, I can safely say I quite enjoyed myself in Newark.

From Newark we went to Norfolk, Virginia, with one stop in between which was Cape May, (nothing of interest here).

Norfolk at first sight looked good, but full of black people, from what we had previously heard we were in for a bad time, which as it happened, turned out to be more or less right. The greater majority of the people here were much against the Britisher's (Limeys) as were called. One outstanding thing on my mind was to do with tramcars. Owing to the large percentage of coloured people, the trams were more or less split, the white people sat in the front portion and the colours in the rear, this struck me as being rather strange.

The next incident I am going to write about is by no means pleasant. It proves to me just how much we British fellows were disliked in Norfolk. As usual quite a crowd were waiting for a tram, of which some were English and some coloured, I do not know but I imagine an argument arose between the two, and the result was it appears, the blacks pushed some of our lads in front of an oncoming tram car, and four of them were unfortunately killed. From then on we were wary and went about in a careful manner, as I say we were more or less despised and I haven't any really pleasant memories.

The latter part of my stay in Norfolk was just work and plenty of it getting ready for the sea passage to Bermuda (which we did not know at the time), everybody aboard always had a job but rarely had a smile, there was no time. Eventually we left and proceeded on what I should call a rough passage, or at least for the type of ship on which we were sailing, not many of us crossed that stretch without feeding the fishes. After five days of being continually shaken up, Bermuda was sighted, and we entered harbour the same morning; the water was glorious pale blue, water, such as we dream of or read about in books. (From here I have a separate letter about Bermuda itself).

Bermuda to Gibralter took twelve days, twelve days which I am pleased to say were uneventful as regards enemy action, the weather too was kind to us, and treated us well most of the way. One incident occurred during this stage of the crossing. It happened one afternoon during the testing of the guns. Somehow or other a shell from one of the guns must have exploded quite close, and shrapnel found its mark in two of the crew who were on deck, the Doctor was at once summoned from one of the other ships, and the injury fortunately found to be slight, they were however rested for two or three days.

Gibraltar was eventually reached, and we were soon to learn that from there it was not England as we had expected, but out East where Gen Montgomery's men were engaging Marshal Rommel's panzer divisions. The trip took two days and we docked at Algiers. Algiers had previously been taken by our forces and by this time was bustling with life and activity, it did not seem like War here, much the reverse, although at the back of my mind something was there which I cannot explain. Two or three days at Algiers, which were interesting from a sightseeing point of view, and then we embarked troops, these we took to Bougie a place further East down the North African coast, I often wonder where they went and where they are now, we did hear rumours.

From Bougie to Bone, the actual battle area only a mere twelve hours steaming away, from Bone to Djidjelli, which was to be our base, very few ships were there then, but now I am afraid the story is different.

Early one morning we were aroused from our slumbers by the booming of shore gun batteries, we soon learned that the Hun was about, and I can assure you that we were out of bed in double quick time, the guns were manned (for the first real action) and the crews awaited their opportunities to open up, their time came and with it a message from the plane (or planes) above. Alas a direct hit was scored on one of our small craft, it was lying in the next trot ahead of us, unfortunately about half of the crew of twenty were killed, we did not know this at the time, she was blazing fiercely; our craft and most of the others got out of harbour and dropped anchor in the bay.

During those few moments of hell, I prayed, I nearly cried, I wanted you both dear Mum and Dad, I wanted your protection.

From Djidjelli back to Bone, embarked troops and supplies and learned our next port of call was Bizerte, we did not know whether fighting was still in progress, we really expected anything, only four set out and during the night picked up more ships.

We entered Bizerte together, a heavy atmosphere hung about (as it appeared to me) our troops and Americans were clearing away debris, places were found just as the Germans had left them. It was all very grim. Some of the fellows amused themselves by entering and looking around peoples' houses, which of course had been vacated. This appeared to me to be disastrous, I imagined it all as if ENGLAND as if Kings Lynn were in the same plight, it was all so very terrible (from here you will see Correspondent Rassmussens story who was aboard us at the time).

It was a very happy moment for me when we left Bizerte that same night, we arrived in Bone the following morning, where we stayed for about a week, here again we had some nights of hell, Jerry came over at about nine every night and believe me quite a few guns went into action, we quite often saw the planes in the searchlights and on one occasion saw one come down and explode, it is all so nice looking back, but at the time it was not so rosy.

We left Bone for Djidjelli arriving the next morning, only to learn we were leaving for a destination unknown to us. We stored up and watered and proceeded back to Bone for fuel. From Bone to Bizerte where we arrived this morning and from now on you know as much as I do.

I could imagine lots of things, one of them happens to be invasion, but we shall see.

The whole thing amounts to this I want to get home, I am sick and tired of War, I want to get home where I belong with my people and live happy again.

I love you both more than ever I can write on paper, my one wish is to get there and keep there, but tomorrow we shall be off again and I do not know where we are going, I am trusting in God and praying to him for my safe return to you both.

God bless you and keep you my Mum and Dad, always.
all my sincere love,
your ever loving Son,
Ron.

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