大象传媒

My father Leading Seaman Walker was serving
on H.M.S.Atherstone, a small coastal destroyer, as an asdic operator in June 1940.While on patrol in a restricted channel
cleared of mines the ship was attacked by
enemy bombers and was hit by two bombs.The
bombs stuck on either side of the flag deck
and penetrated down into the engine room where they exploded with loss of life and
injuries.An upper deck stoker,a Scot from
Glasgow,was a close mate, and on a number of
occasions had said to my dad-'if there is any action the safest place to be is on deck
so that you can see what is happening.'
From the asdic cabin dad saw his friend rush
on to the top deck arriving there just as
the bombs exploded.The stoker was killed
instantly from the concussion of the explosions.Dad is now 86 but he still recalls that the gold chain around his friend's neck had been snapped neatly in
two places but otherwise remained undisturbed.As a result of the attack the
ship was disabled and had to be towed into
Chatham.While on leave there he called into
'The Sailor's Rest Cafe' on the High St.
Chatham.There he met a 16 year old waitress
Vera Heard whom he married in June 1942 at
St.Mark's Church of England in Gillingham,Kent.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.