大象传媒

The North Atlantic: North Sea

In April 1943 I was drafted to a brand new anti submarine trawler called HMT Herring. Our maiden voyage was to take a convoy to Methilin Scotland.

At 1.30 am after only 18 hours steaming we were rammed and cut in two by a French merchant ship called the Cossard (there were no lights on ships in wartime!)I was off watch at the time, all I heard was the shout "Abandon ship", which I did wearing only my vest and trousers and carrying my pay book (which I still have, although it became rather oily in the evacuation)I jumped in the lifeboat with another seaman who was carring his small weekend attche case. The coxwain saw him and shouted "Where the bloody hell do you think you're going on leave?" Not funny at the time, only on later reflection.

The Lifeboat and ship sank and eight of us spent the night on a Caley Float until rescued and sent to Blythe in Northumbria.

The South Atlantic

Serving in the Southern Pride, based at Freetown West Africa escorting ships to ports Lagos, Takoradi etc, Christmas 1943. A large ship was torpedoed. We hunted all night to no avail. At daybreak we were sent to pick up survivors. The first man we saved was floating stark naked on a wooden ladder; as we pulled him on board he said some words I will never forget:" Merry Christmas lads, anyone got a fag?"

Postscript
As we the Royal Naval Patrol was not mentioned in the 大象传媒 series 'The Battle of the Atlantic' I would like to be put it on record that there were 66000 men in this service. 14000 died and 2385 are remembered at the monument in Lowestoft who have no graves but the sea.

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