大象传媒

This account of William Stone鈥檚 life concentrates on his service during World War 2. A fuller account which includes details of his early life in South Devon, joining the Royal Navy in World War 1 and the inter war years can be found on the H.M.S. Hood Association web site at www.hmshood.com

Part 2: H.M.S. Newfoundland: Operation 'Husky' and to Boston for repairs

In December 1941 I arrived at Wallsend, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as part of the advance party on a new ship, the cruiser H.M.S. Newfoundland which was still under construction. As I was to be here for some time, I was able to rent a house so that Lily and Anne could join me.

At first I was a bit concerned about "Newfoundland" as, being a new ship, she would be fitted out with a lot of modern electrical equipment whereas I was used to older ships with reciprocating equipment. But the ship gradually grew up around me so that, by the time she commissioned at the end of 1942, I knew every inch of her. I used to spend some of my spare time copying plans of the ship and have drawn her from stem to stern.

In early 1943 we did working up exercises at Scapa Flow, before sailing to Devonport. I was horrified to see the utter devastation of Plymouth as a result of the German bombing. Whilst based there we were on Atlantic convoy duty, but by the Spring we were in the Mediterranean, getting ready to support the invasion of Sicily.

I remember that we went to Bone in North Africa to oil. Much of that area had been destroyed by the Germans as they evacuated. One night whilst we were there "Newfoundland" was under attack from enemy aircraft and the Chief Engine Room Artificer "Geordie" Pearson, and I were at our Action Stations. He was extremely jittery, and not surprisingly, since he had been in H.M.S. "Edinburgh" when she had been sunk. He was picked up by a Russian destroyer and that was sunk too!

Before the main invasion of Sicily there were a few small Islands that we had to capture. One of these was Lampedusa. "Newfoundland," together with several other cruisers and destroyers, carried out a heavy bombardment of the island on 8th June, 1943 as an overture to the landings. One thing in particular stands out in my mind from that operation. Following the bombardment we trained our binoculars on the coast and could see on the beach one of the local women standing and waving a white flag. The Yanks named her "Lampedusa Flossy".

When the time came for the main invasion of Sicily, Operation "Husky", "Newfoundland" was again sent to provide shore bombardment in support of the landings. Usually, we spent 3 days off the coast of Sicily and then went back to Malta to refuel and provision the ship.

Later on we had a Regatta at Malta and I was on the crew of a whaler. Our boat鈥檚 crew was all Chief Petty Officers - the oldest men in the ship - so we didn't expect to win much but, to our surprise, we won four out of the five races. Afterwards General Montgomery, who happened to be in Malta at the time, came aboard the ship and said to us, "You men are fighting fit. The oldest men in the ship and you win four races out of five!"

My job at the time was "D.B. Chief". That put me in charge of the ship's "double bottom" where the oil fuel was stored. I had to monitor the rate that the fuel was being used at and ensure that is was drawn evenly from the many fuel tanks.

"Newfoundland" was part of the 15th Cruiser Squadron, which itself was part of "Force K" under the Command of Rear Admiral Harcourt, who flew his flag from the "Newfoundland."

On 9th July we sailed from Malta and rendezvoused with some of the landing craft. During Operation "Husky" D-Day, 10th July, 1943, "Newfoundland," together with "Orion," "Mauritius," and "Uganda" the three other Cruisers in the 15th Squadron, provided support to the advancing troops by keeping up a shore bombardment. "Newfoundland" is recorded as having provided bombardment support on four separate occasions during that day.

During the next couple of weeks this support of the landings continued. Then, just after mid-day on 23rd July, "Newfoundland" sailed from Augusta heading for Malta. The ship had got up to a speed of 25 knots when, at 13:38 she was hit on the port side by a torpedo. I remember that there was quite a bit of damage to the ship - the rudders were blown off together with 6 bulkheads at the stern. Sadly, one man working on the quarterdeck was killed.

As "Newfoundland" limped towards Malta, a search for the submarine was immediately started by H.M.S Laforey and the other ships of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. This chase was soon to prove successful. At 15:41 "Laforey" was herself subjected to a torpedo attack but the tables were soon turned. "Laforey" and "Eclipse" managed to force the Italian submarine, "Ascianghi," to the surface where she was sunk by gunfire at 16:23.

When we arrived at Malta "Newfoundland" was patched up. We were told more permanent repairs would be done elsewhere, which we all thought meant back in England. However, as we left the Mediterranean, we were told that we were on our way to Boston in the United States!

A while after this came the news that I had been recommended for a Mention in Dispatches for my work in "Newfoundland" during the "Husky" Operations. My award was eventually gazetted in the London Gazette on 30th December, 1943 and I received a bronze oakleaf emblem to pin to the ribbon of my Campaign medal.

I shall never forget the journey across the Atlantic to Boston. The "Newfoundland" was still without rudders and we had to steer her by means of adjusting the speed to the port and starboard screws which made life in the Engine Room hectic. Bear in mind too that we still had to zig-zag the ship in order to avoid interception by submarines. At one stage some of the seamen rigged up a "sail" on the fo'c'sle out of the quarterdeck awnings to assist our steerage.

We spent about 8 months in Boston whilst "Newfoundland" was being repaired. When we got there some local families came on board to offer the men accommodation. A Mrs. Pounder, originally from Burnley in Lancashire, came up to me and said "I'll take you Chief". She lived at New Bedford which is about 60 miles from Boston. I went there nearly every week-end during the refit. Though Annie Pounder and her husband, Bill, who was a carpenter by trade, would never take anything for my keep I did manage to get them a few bottles of whisky which they found very acceptable!

I was in Boston for Christmas of 1943. It was so nice to be away from the war for those few months. Bill and Annie used to take me to the local Music Hall at the week-end and I would often end up on the stage dancing away or sometimes singing "All the Nice Girls Love A Sailor."

Once I had a week鈥檚 leave and they took me by car to New York where we visited the Empire State Building and many other places of interest.

Eventually the repairs were completed and time came for us to leave Boston and head back home across the Atlantic. Our journey to England was completely unescorted. First we called in at St. Johns, the capital of Newfoundland to oil. Some of the chaps got a 鈥榬un ashore鈥� but, being responsible for oiling the ship, I missed out on that one. When I went out on deck the dockyard mateys would shout across to me, one said "Take good care of that ship Chief - I paid half a crown towards her!"

However, this was a great occasion for the people of Newfoundland. The ship had been partly financed by them as Newfoundland was one of the colonies of the British Empire. There were great celebrations, civic ceremonies, a march through the city etc., and crowds of locals came to visit the ship. After four days there we finally sailed back home.

Afterwards I heard that we had lost radio contact with the Admiralty during the latter part of the journey and it had been feared that the ship had been lost, but we arrived safely in Greenock, on the River Clyde, although with very little fuel left in our tanks. This was shortly before D-Day, June 1944.

I travelled to Devon for leave by train, taking with me all the presents I had purchased for the family whilst I was in America. On my return to Greenock, Lily and Anne came with me and we rented a flat there for a few months during which time H.M.S. Newfoundland was being refitted. We would regularly see the liners 鈥楺ueen Elizabeth鈥� and 鈥楺ueen Mary鈥� in the Clyde as, during the war, they were used as troop carriers.

In September 1944 I left 鈥淣ewfoundland鈥� and rejoined the barracks at Devonport where I stayed until the end of the war in Europe.

In May 1945, wearing khaki uniform with naval cap, I was drafted to form part of a naval party that would guard the Island of Sylt, off the extreme north-west German coast. Having had little previous experience of firearms, I got a weeks' training with revolvers before I was sent off.

We went across the channel and landed at Ostend. From there we were transported across north Germany in Army trucks. The towns in that area had been completely flattened on both sides by the allied bombing. I remembered some of my runs ashore at Plymouth which had seen similar devastation and was glad to see that it was not only the British cities which had suffered.

When I got to Sylt I found that I was sharing accommodation with a Shipwright Chief Petty Officer. We had a bungalow to ourselves and what a lovely place it was - complete with a garden and swimming pool. Whilst we were there an Officer came around to inspect us and I remember that he said to me, "I bet you didn't have billets like this in Plymouth Chief!" I had to agree that we didn't. On Sylt I was in charge of 12 ratings. Our job was really a precautionary one - just to make sure that nothing happened that might indicate that there were pockets of German resistance. This was not amongst my favourite drafts as I was used to being at sea and did not like the land based guard duties.

After just a few months, I was pleased to be sent home. I was overdue for discharge as I should have left the Navy in 1940, after 22 years' service, but due to the war I had to continue.

On the journey I was in charge of several ratings who were also returning to England. We went by motor boat to Cuxhaven and by train to Ostend and then took passage to London in one of the old light cruisers. Then by train to Plymouth and the Naval Barracks.

At last I was discharged after 27 years! We all received a civilian suit, cap and shoes. Now I would be able to be with my wife and daughter and start a new life ashore.

After leaving the Royal Navy I returned to my South Devon home and set up a business as a barber in Paignton. I had, in fact, been ship鈥檚 barber in my spare time ever since my days in the Hood in the early 1920鈥檚, so it was not a new trade to me.

I retired aged 68 and had 18 years of living in a lovely house in Broadsands with my wife Lily.

In 1986 Lily and I moved to Oxfordshire to be closer to my daughter and son-in-law.

Lily died in 1995. Since then I have continued to live in my own home, supported by my family, friends and neighbours. I have very much enjoyed the many Reunions that I have attended over the years. I am a member of many Associations 鈥� British Legion; World War One Veterans; H.M.S. Hood; H.M.S. Newfoundland; Dunkirk Veterans; Royal Naval; George Cross Island, and Western Front.

In 2005, my 105th year, as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations I was thrilled to be invited by the Navy to the Fleet Review in the Solent, and to participate in the Drumhead Ceremony at Southsea. I was able to meet up with fellow guest, and old friend, Ted Briggs, last of the three survivors of HMS Hood, sunk in May 1941.

I am now one of a very small number of veterans of the Great War. People often ask me to what I attribute my long and healthy life. I tell them I put it down to three things:

Clean living, a contented mind and trust in God. My motto is 鈥淜eep going!鈥�

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