大象传媒

Ernest joined the Royal Marines in 1938, going to Deal, Kent barracks.
By 1939, prior to the outbreak of WW2, he was on the HMS Southampton bound for the Americas with the King and Queen on their tour of Canada and the US.
After the start of the war, the Southampton was involved in action in the North Atlantic, on the look out for German shipping. Then, as psrt of thr first convoys: Nortn Western Expeditionary Force, off Norway, later evacuating forces from Tromso, by early 1940.
Later that year, the Southampton covered North Sea waters on convoy duties, from Medway to Immingham.
Later the Southampton was part of transportation of RAF to the Med. On route the ship was involved in the battle of Spartivento, and then went on to Alexandria. From there to Mombasa for a lesser matter of shipping the Governor to Aden. Tragedy followed, as when on the 'H'Force run, the Southampton was hit in the Pantellera Straits, a great fire ensued, with no pumps and no other assistance, the crew were picked up and taken to safety in Alex.
Eventually Ernest took up duties on HMS Warspite and was bound for further duties in the Med when she was damaged by a mine in the iddle of patrol duties.
So bad was the damage that the ship had to go to Puget Sound Naval Yard,Seattle, USA to get repairs. This kept Ernest and his comrades Stateside for some 5 months, where the hospitality of the Yanks was overwhelming, especially as they weren't in the war as yet; but the 'special relationship' meant that America knew just how bad we were having it by this time in 1941. Ernest enjoyed the States and found out distant relatives on his Mother's side in a Great Uncle who had gone over there in the Pioneer days.

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