大象传媒

This story has been written onto the 大象传媒 People鈥檚 War site by CSV Story gatherer Jessica on behalf of John Hone. They fully understand the terms and conditions of the site.

In the mid-Atlantic when were en route for Trinidad for Fleet Air Arm Observer Training - on board HMS Rodney - news came of the sinking of the Navy鈥檚 pride, HMS Hood, by the German Battle cruiser Bismark and the words,

鈥淲e are altering course to intercept,鈥�

fell on our innocent ears, but the chatter among the Veteran ship company was full of trepidation and anxiety. When Bismark came into view on the morning of 27th May 1941, 19 year old John raced to his gun turret beneath a hatch in the 16 inch armoured deck - so heavy that it took several minutes to open - knowing that if sunk (like the Hood) we would never get out. From then on it was all Go, furious handling of the huge cordite charqes from the magazine - shattering roars as the broadsides fired - with the lights flickering and the dust flying (or were we being hit by the Bismark?) with no time to think of the awful prospect of a repetition of the fate of the Hood. Eventually the mayhem died down as the 16 inch guns ceased firing, and the 6 inch guns took over and we gradually realised that the battle was won and we were still alive! On return to Greenock - guess what - a weekend鈥檚 leave was granted to the ship鈥檚 company, but the 45th Observers Course had to remain on board to re-ammunition and store ship! The crossing to Trinidad was safely completed - we were heroes, we were alive (remembering over 1000 each German and British sailors had perished), we were in a land of plenty with no bombing or blackout - who were we to care - we had successfully come through our Baptism by Fire.

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