大象传媒

I joined the merchant Navy in 1941. I was too young to join the Royal Navy as I was only 16 and straight from school. We had to go to Gravesend Sea School which was transferred to Sharpness in Gloucestershire. It was called the T.S.Vindicatricks. From there my first ship was called the S.S.Mataroa where I served as a deck boy. We took troops to south Africa, took copper ore to Buenos Aires. We picked up meat there and brought it home. I did two trips and signed off and joined the R.M.M.V. Winchester Castle as a deck boy. She was a L.S.I.(landing ship infantry). We did the major assaults in the mediterranean area. This was the only Merchant ship with battle honours and that was for the landings at Madagasca.

Next I was an Ordinary Seaman on the R.M.M.V.Winchester Castle. We trained commandos at Lock Fine. We took these troops to the assault on Algeares. We then returned home. We took troops out to South Africa and made our way up the Mediterranean through the Sewers Canal and we picked up 50 div of the 8th army (Durham Light Infantry). We took them to the landings at Sicily. We were then trooping (carrying troops) in the Mediterranean area calling at Malta, Port Said. We took the Americans to Salerno and then again at Anseo Beach Landings. Again more trooping and the last operation was Free French at the South of France (Carne). Then we came home.

I went on leave for three weeks (cut short from four weeks) and joined the S.S.Samselbu ( An American Liberty boat)) as an effective deck hand (EDH). We were taking supplies to the army in France. This was during the Battle of the Bulge. We did three trips and on the third trip we were torpedoed on March 19th 1945. I ended up in the water, covered in oil, and was picked up by one of the ship's life boats. We were rescued by a L>CT (tank landing craft). While we were on the LCT that evening 4 ships were sunk through enemy action. We were brought back to Southend.

My next ship was the LB.Sampford where I served as a AB(Able bodied Seaman). We were in the last convoy to America. We picked up army supplies and took them out to Ceylon. We went to Burma, Port Swepnam and Port Dixon. We then came home.

I then joined the MV.Empire Halberd - a leave ship going from Crookharbon to Hull.

My last ship was the SS.Ocean Courier. We went out to the Far East taking supplies. I then signed off on 21st April 1947.

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Natasha Mead from Oakfield Junior School and has been added to the website on behalf of Dickie Valentine with his permission and he fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

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