- Contributed by听
- 大象传媒 Cumbria Volunteer Story Gatherers
- People in story:听
- Alan Dougherty, George Acton, William Acton 鈥楤illy鈥, William Scott Truett (known as 鈥楤illy鈥 or 鈥楤iff鈥).
- Location of story:听
- Whitehaven (Cumbria)
- Background to story:听
- Civilian Force
- Article ID:听
- A7004837
- Contributed on:听
- 15 November 2005
Sunday 13.11.2005: Former Merchant Seaman Alan Dougherty from Whitehaven. On this day Alan took part in the services for Remembrance Sunday at Whitehaven Cenotaph and Civic Hall. [Photograph by Joseph Ritson].
Introduction
This article was submitted to the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥 website by Joseph Ritson, a volunteer story-gatherer for the 大象传媒 Radio Cumbria CSV Action Desk group of volunteers. The author has read and understood the terms of the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥 website.
It is submitted on behalf of Alan Dougherty from Whitehaven, Cumbria who served in the Merchant Navy, which included the war years of World War Two. Alan鈥檚 story was obtained on Remembrance Sunday, 13 November 2005.
Alan鈥檚 story
In World War Two, Alan was in The Merchant Navy. During the war years, Alan served in a number of different vessels and was on several different supply routes. In particular, Alan worked on the important Mediterranean supply route.
Alan had many good friends who were in the Merchant Navy. He especially remembers three good friends from Whitehaven who lost their lives when their ship was sunk in the North Atlantic: brothers George and Billy Acton and Billy Truett.
On Friday 11 November Alan marked the anniversary of Armistice Day by attending a Memorial Service at St Nicholas鈥檚 Church Gardens, Lowther Street, Whitehaven. Two days later, Alan took part in the Remembrance Sunday commemorations in his hometown, attending the wreath laying by the Mayor at the Cenotaph, an inter-denominational service at the Civic Hall, and another short service in the town later in the afternoon.
Conclusion
Alan told me his story following the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Civic Hall. The Civic Hall was kindly made available by Copeland Borough Council.
It was interesting to hear that Alan had known George and Billy Acton and Billy Truett, whose ship was torpedoed on 2 November 1942. Billy Truett鈥檚 full name was William Scott Truett and he was also known as 鈥楤iff鈥 by many of his friends. Billy Acton had only been married about a week before going to sea on what turned out to be his final journey. I have previously written about these three other Merchant Seamen for the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥 project.
Thank you very much for sharing some of your memories, Alan.
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