大象传媒

My father, Clarence Vivien Salter, died on 26th April 1995 just six days before his 81st birthday. That year, on 8th May, were to be the 50th anniversary celebrations for VE day. My father sent an account into our local newspaper as they were collecting stories for a special VE commemoration edition. His story appeared in the newspaper but he died four days before it was published so he never saw it. Here it is.

Ship hit mine and then it sank in just 11 minutes

(My father's words follow)

In June 1940 I joined the HMS Amethyst, which escorted convoys through the Straits of Dover.

Late in November that year the Amethyst struck an acoustic mine, and sank in just 11 minutes.

We took to the lifeboats and were picked up later that night by another sweeper which brought us to land at Southend.

In February 1941 I was sent to join the HMS Sindonis at Alexandria, in Egypt, which served during the German siege of Tobruk.

On May 29 we were bombed near Tobruk, the Sindonis sank and we were rescued by Australians.

I next joined the HMS Kai, which patrolled the sea during Montgomery's advance from El-Alemain. During a very bad storm two cargo ships sheltering at Derna broke anchor and buffeted the Kai, causing it serious damage. We sent out an SOS, but the reply was: 'We cannot help you. Rommel still in Derna.' I believe the ship was eventually towed back to Alexandria.

In September 1943 I left Alexandria for home, and served from January 1944 until the end of the war on HMS Pollux, a French mine-layer, around the British coast. I well remember putting in to Portsmouth on VE Day, and the skipper opening the rum locker!

Newspaper's note:

Sadly, Mr Salter died, aged 80, shortly after this interview took place.

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