- Contributed by听
- meiwyn(robbie)roberts
- People in story:听
- Meiwyn (Robbie) Roberts Crew of Rescue Ship "Fastnet"
- Location of story:听
- North Atlantric
- Background to story:听
- Civilian Force
- Article ID:听
- A4037465
- Contributed on:听
- 09 May 2005
I joined my first ship in May 1940 and sailed on a Whaling Factory ship a cargo ship, and two Anglo Saxon Tankers.In late 1942 I was sent "on loan" to the Admiralty, and trained on H/F D/F for three weeks or so, and then went to sea as H/F D/f Officer on a cargo ship, followed by three Convoy Rescue ships.
Having spent some 3 years listening to, and taking bearings on, U-boats, I had a real surprise when returning from Halifax N.S. to the U.K. to hear a U-boat transmitting in plain language (English) and giving his exact position - Lat. and Long.saying he was surrendering. Normally I would have telephoned the bridge, but I dashed up there and,trying not to show too much exitment, gave the signal to the Captain.,
He answered to the effect that he didn't trust it, and if we sighted any U-boats he waould give hem a wide berth. Following this we picked up a string of similar signals frm a number of U-boats,and really believed the war was over.
I cannot rember the exact date this happened or the U-boat numbers, and I would dearly like to hear from any surviving H/F D/F operators who may rember hearing about VE day in this way.
Robbie Roberts
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