- Contributed by听
- covwarksactiondesk
- People in story:听
- William Edwards
- Location of story:听
- Coventry / various
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A5107754
- Contributed on:听
- 16 August 2005
This story was submitted to the Peoples War site by Angela Triggs of CSV 大象传媒 Coventry & Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of William Edwards and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully uderstands the site's terms and conditions.
I waS 16 when War broke out (DOB 02.07.1923). I was employed by Rudge Whitworth making push bikes and motorcycles as a frame-builder. This firm moved to Hayes in Middlesex and I could have moved, but as I only earned 拢1.00 a week, I couldn't afford to.
I went to work for Standard Motor Company, and I worjed there for 38 years, including my war service years.
When I was eighteen and a half I left the Standard and they sent me to Malvern to join the Fleet Air Arm. I chose the Navy to join because I was fed up with all the walking that I'd done while I was in the Home Guard. I joined as an Ordinary Seaman in the Controlled Mining Division.
I was transferred to Force Pluto laying pipeline under the oceans. There were only 210 people involved in this division and we got 6/8d 'danger money' per day. I stayed with Pluto for 3 years on HMS Abatos based at Southampton.
I came home for my 21st though I was AWOL - I did get intom trouble, but it was worth it for the celebration !
I got married in 1946 for a Coventry kid I'd met on a blind date. She was in the Land Army. I left Pluto in 1945 and I remember spending VJ day in Preston where we had docked. One poor chap drowned in the Quay - he was drunk but we had to say it was an accident ... we were all drunk.
My wife had two brothers serving on HMS Hood - one perished but the other was saved, but only because he was AWOL when it was bombed.
My parents were from Wales, so my Mum went back to Wales from Coventry for the duration of the war. My dad worked for Matrix (Toolers) making machine / tool parts. He did get called up to work in the Warwickshire mine fields. He reckoned it was a palace compared to the Welsh mines.
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