大象传媒

My dad was on mine sweeping duties stationed at what is now Sea Eagle. The base in Derry was called HMS Ferret. In 1943 there were 20,000 American sailors ao board 149 vessels. They were very popular as they gave us candy and gave the ladies nylons. I had a job, they would go into a pub and I would watch their bicycles for 6d - they were very appreciative and that got me to the pictures on a Saturday morning. Roy Rogers was a particular favourite (and Trigger).
When the U-Boat officers surrendered in 1945 I was at what was Rossdowney school. The school is still there, part of a liqueur factory. We were taken on an educational visit to the submarines where we sampled life as a German sailor. They ate black bread which was new to us! We were told about gyroscopes but we couldn't really take it all in. The navy took the submarines for target practice but we were only on board when it was in dock.
I remember a girl at school called Helen McCandless. I got in bother for passing her a love letter! I don't think it even got her length before the teacher got it!
When the war ended we had a bonfire at the end of the street, Bentley Street which is now Rossdowney park. There were allotments behind a fence at the end of the street, we used to climb over. The houses were all occupied by servicemen's families along with some local people. I remember fish and chips from a shop where Dungiven Road split into two.
My father fought through 2 World Wars on active service with the Royal Navy on ships such as the Warspite, Charabydis, HMS Stormcloud. He was on mine demolition when he was here in the Foyle Estuary, dropping depth charges. He bought me new boots but I took them off when I was with the other kids. He caught me and wasn't too pleased! We used to tie the boots round our necks going over the Craigavon bridge. Some of the children didn't have boots so we all joined the club. I wore the boots to play football though and this was against orders for they got grass in the welts. My dad was a cobbler on board ship, every sailor had a money-making hobby this was his. Some of them were barbers, even tapestry I remember a cushion cover being made by a naval patient in hospital in Derry. My dad was in the Waterside hospital for an operation. It was just down the road and we used to visit him.
We were in Derry for 3 years and am now back for my first visit since then. I am impressed by the friendlieness of the people, I am staying at Sunbeam House in Bishop Street and the landlord even lent me his golf clubs.

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