- Contributed by听
- Stuart McLoughlin
- People in story:听
- Commander Frank Johnston
- Location of story:听
- North Atlantic
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A2326466
- Contributed on:听
- 21 February 2004
This is the story of my Grandfather, Commander Frank Johnston DSM RN. During the height of the battle of the Atlantic my grand father was the Captain of a destroyer called HMS Tarter. His first officer or "exec" was none other than writer and broadcaster Ludwig Kennedy. When Churchill gave his famous order to "sink the Bismark" my grandfathers destroyer was part of the task force that was sent to sink this might battleship. The actual film of Bismark being hit was taken from the bridge of my Grandfathers destroyer. For many years after this event I was told by my grandfather that this image had haunted him throughout his life. He could only think of the absolute and utter hell that the sailors aboard the Bismark must have endured during her final hours.
My grandfather was a wonderful man whose whose early life was dedicated to the Royal Navy and to the freedom that we all now take so much for granted. I know that he played only a small part in the overall picture of things but I am so proud that he was MY grandfather and I miss him very much. My Grandfather, Frank, died in 1982, however there is not a day goes by when I dont think about him and his friends that never made it to see the end of WW 2.
Stuart McLoughlin
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Story with photo