大象传媒

From 1940 I was working at Esk Street Fire Station salvaging burnt bolts of cotton damaged during the air raids. From there I joined the Royal Navy February 11th 1941. I joined HMS Raleigh Barracks in Plymouth; the Blitz was very bad. I joined as a cook and knowing how to make bread four of us went on loan to a bakery in Devonport. My next move was to Gibraltar base, where I was sent on loan to HMS Manxman taking stores and troops to Malta. I went back to base then on to HMS Nestor doing convoy work in the Atlantic and the Med.
The Nestor was sent to the Far East until 1942 then back to Alexandria. Doing a convoy from Alexandria in June, the Nestor was sunk by enemy bombing. From there I was sent to Mombassa to join HMS Shapinsay, a minesweeper patrolling the Indian Ocean at Seychelles and Madagascar. In 1943 I came home in November, after leave I was sent to HMS Britannia Royal Naval College. Moved to Chester, I was there until 1945 when I was married. Thanks to the WRENS there who gave my wife their clothing coupons for her wedding dress. First they told her I was insane to marry a WREN, how wrong they were, after 60 years last March 2005 we are still together. I was demobbed in April 1946.

'This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of W.B. North and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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