大象传媒

Mr Engel spoke to me at a Victory tea dance in Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, where I was story gathering for 大象传媒 Essex. He has had a very varied life, spending over 20 years in Malaysia, and later serving as a councillor and Mayor of Bishops Stortford. He served on the SS Tongariro, SS Kent and SS Cornwall, and told me that "War makes you accept your life, I do what I'm told, thats why I was a good husband...."

I was 15 when I went to sea, serving the New Zealand federal Steam navigation company, a subsidary of P and O. Meat and ammunitions.
I was an apprentice and deck officer, an uncertified 4th mate. My highest rank was 3rd officer.
I was on the North Atlantic convoys, we were all concerned about U-Boats but were also worried about the US Liberty ships. These were almost pre-fabricated vessels, built in 3 weeks and meant to last for just one or two voyages. You see when we were in convoy we travelled about 2 cable lengths (approximately 100 yards) apart. There were about 80 ships for protection and every now and then ones engine would die, this ship would then drop back and be the 'tail-end Charlie' we couldn't stop or go back to offer help, we had to keep moving forward. The Liberty ships helped to win the war for us, they kept the Atlantic seas open.

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