����ý

In mid February 1945 I was on watch behind “B” Gun on HM destroyer “Zealous” as it escorted a convey bound for Murmansk, North Russia. Suddenly the bells rang out for “action stations” as a squadron of German torpedo bombers appeared thorough the leaden skies and came diving down to attack, with machine guns blazing. The ship immediately increased speed as all its guns opened fire at their elusive targets.

Before the call to action stations, the SRE (Sound Reproduction Equipment) had been churning out recorded music during the few hours of Artic daylight, and the delectable Deanna Durbin was putting her heart into “There’s No Place Like Home”! As the guns opened up, loud bangs, orders and imprecations could be heard as the guns’ crews struggled to remain upright on the icy decks — and meantime Deanna was still pressing on with her song. The irony of it! I could not help seeing the funny side of the situation, when at any moment we could be blown to atoms!

Suddenly, from I know not where, a voice rang out

“Switch that bastard off.”

(Whether he meant the SRE or Deanna we shall never know) — and that lovely voice was stilled, never to be heard in that ship again.

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