大象传媒

A SEA SHANTY OF WWII

Introduction to the memoirs of Lofty John Mills ex AB, who served in the Royal Navy for 3 years and a few months, July 1943 to October 1946. Just a weekend for time serving mariners, who served 21 years, though I maintain still it was a rough weekend.

I write these memoirs not for those that served in the Royal Navy during WWII. (Though they may find items that bring back memories for them). Also don鈥檛 try to record specific dates or evolutions during WWII, as we were not supposed to keep a diary or to have a camera on board. I found reading many other books on Royal Navy activities during WWII have many irregularities, one placed HMS Volage in two different places at the same time.

For the lay person that may find these writings interesting, as to the lives of many below decks, through myself and other ships company of HMS Volage, a destroyer. Many fellow members of the Royal Navy endured greater deeds than us.

So I leave it to readers of these writings and hope some aspects of war at sea is conveyed to them, and that we were not HERO鈥橲 but hope that we executed our duty plus endurance.

Ex AB Lofty John Mills
September 2005

LIST OF CONTENTS

1. Such heady days for a 15 year old lad.
2. Revelation.
3. Ordinary Seaman Mills 鈥淒omestic鈥�
4. Gunnery drill
5. Commissioning a new ship
6. A tragic incident
7. Duty and endurance (part 1)
8. Fog at sea
9. Duty and endurance (part 2)
10. Sunderland Flying Boat down
11. Emergency turn
12. 鈥淲e鈥檙e taking a ship convoy to Murmansk鈥�
13. Journey to Trinco
14. British Destroyer V HMS Glasgow Heavy Cruiser
15. Indian Ocean escapades
16. The Stewart Sound incident
17. The reluctant survivors
18. Durban bound
19. Happy days in Sud Afrika
20. Bonus happy times Durban
21. The climax to war in the Indian Ocean
22. Memories of Fleet Review
23. Volage in Penang
24. HMS Volage at sea: Stewart Sound, Trincombalee, Calcutta
25. Homeward Bound, somewhen?
26. A family story of life or death in Hitler鈥檚 Germany

To start reading this story go to: A8890950

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