大象传媒

I had just arrived from Gilbralter on board HMS Dido a cruiser, i was to join Hms Aurora light cruiser which was unfortunately lying in dry dock No:5 in Malta harbour with damage to her bows. After a few preliminaries i finally went on board Aurora. I soon became part of the crew. Apparently she had run into a mine field after a patrol beyond the Maltese boundaries. HMS Neptune cruiser was sunk, HMS Penelope had been damaged although she managed to make it to the USA for repairs and Destroyer Kandahar was beached. Aurora made it back to Malta but worse was to happen as the enemy were determined to finish her.
The bombing was incessant. Our captain Bill Agneur ordered that all personell not concerned with the defence of the ship to proceed ashore to air raid shelters within the dock yard area. There was heavy destruction around us,we were trapped in the dry dock with only our guns for defense. Other ante aircraft batteries were within the area and gave us good support.
One day during a heavy raid, the dock gate recieved a direct hit and within minutes we were floating as the harbour waters rushed into the dock. Finally the damaged gates were dragged away and we got out into the harbour.
That night under cover of darkness we made a run for Gilbralter and after a few torpedo bomber attacks we finally made it.
After a few hours in Gilbralter we began the long haul back to Britian and home. We arrived at Liverpool a much more peacefull dock!and after a long refit we were ready for action again but that is another story!
W.Andrews

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