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I must point out that out in this theatre of war there were no Army or Air Force personnel, only Navy men. Also at this time the Chinese Nationalists, under Chiang Ki Shek were being pushed back from the North by the Communists. We were not to get involved in this local crisis.

I was at Shanghai with H.M.S. Belfast for about six months. We made one or two trips to Hong Kong where other British Ships were based (I did not care much for Hong Kong).

Whilst in Shanghai we played quite a bit of football on the Shanghai Racecourse (the ships football records showed the team to be very successful as they had been when we were undergoing a refit in South Shields after the invasion of France and I was recorded as scoring 21 goals in 19 matches - not bad eh!)

All the time in Shanghai I was hoping for news of my demobilisation as it was getting near twelve months since the European war had finished. We did have a break from Shanghai. The ship was sent back to Sydney, Australia to give leave to the crew. We had a very enjoyable time there.

During my service with the Royal Navy I, like everyone else, was afraid and yet not afraid. It is hard to describe ones feelings. I think with the approach of an action one is afraid but when it starts it is not so bad. Everyone always believes it will not happen to him. There is anger too, I felt that several times and all you think about is destroying the enemy. One thing I was always in deadly fear of was being thrown overboard and I was, and still am, frightened to death of the creatures that live in the sea, especially the sharks.

During our passages to and fro in the Pacific, China Sea, Red Sea and other seas in those hot climates, I saw plenty of sharks and was amazed at the size of them - terribly frightening. I remember on one occasion when it was very hot, the sea very calm, I watched the Royal Marine Captain (a very nice man) throwing pieces of meat into the sea and as these huge sharks came up to snatch the meat he shot at them with his revolver. I reckon he hated them too.

Back in Shanghai and one day the signal arrived for me to return to the U.K. to be demobilised. On receipt of the signal I was sent for and had to see the Captain - Royer Dick and his Flag Lt. When they complimented me on the service I had given and asked me if I would care to make the Royal Navy my career, promising rapid promotion to a commission - but I had had enough, I wanted to get home to Nancy and pick up my career with the Cheshire Constabulary.

And so the day came for me to leave H.M.S. Belfast. We had sailed back to Sydney and as I came onto the upper deck with my baggage I was surprised to see most of the Ships Company there. I was presented with a Ships Crest - a very heavy metal piece with the Ships Crest - a sea horse - on it (I still have it mounted on a piece of oak and am very proud of it). I always got on very well with the Ships Company, both Officers and Lower Deck Ratings, but did not think I was a popular as that.

Little did I realise as I left the Belfast that my association with her was not to end there. Many years later I was to board her again.

H.M.S. Belfast was a beautiful, happy ship with a very proud record and I did feel pangs of sorrow to leave her. She had been my home for three solid years.

I returned to the U.K. on a troopship, S.S. Orion which was overcrowded with service personnel from all ranks and from all three services, including females. It was a long journey home, stopping at Bombay, Port Said, Malta and Gibraltar, but one morning I woke up in my cabin and looking through the port hole I saw New Brighton and we berthed at Liverpool and the happiest sight I saw was Nancy and her sister Lil amongst the huge crowd of people come to welcome us all home.

As the senior non-commissioned officer on board I had, with the senior R.N. Officer, to see to the disembarkation of all other ranks, but I was allowed a little time to go ashore and see Nancy and to tell her I would be home soon. At last my time came and I was allowed three days to go home to Runcorn and Nancy before reporting to Portsmouth for demobalisation. The three days went speedily having also gone to Wrexham to see my Mother and family.

On arriving at Portsmouth I was astounded at the quietness of the barracks after what I had experienced on previous occasions during the War. I was treated well but felt that everyone had gone home and we few, arriving twelve months after the War had ended were a forgotten ‘Army’.

I went through the demob. routine, medicals, kitting out in a demob. suit, etc., and given my own clothes back that I had handed in four years earlier when I walked into the training camp, H.M.S. Collingwood - everything was there.

I was given something like two months leave, plus back pay, and I was determined to take all the leave before returning to my duties as a Police Officer.

I was also given my campaign medal ribbons, ten in all, which I had to wear on my Police uniform. I was later to receive one more medal and two honours, which I will write about later.

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