大象传媒

I was very proud of my father and at the age of 75 years I still have that feeling of pride.
He spent about 26 years in the Royal Navy- going all through the first World War. Then he was called up before World War II was declared and was on Altantic convoys across Nova Scotia. One of his medals is the Atlantic Star. The ship he was on was torpedoed in the North Atlantic - he lost everything. He had gifts for all of us and I know he had a wrist watch for me. He also lost his gold braided dress uniform- he never did buy another one. The crew were picked up after 3 days and taken to Iceland.
My father was of the 'old school' and I remember him saying how he appreciated the fact that the captain of the German U-boat surfaced and checked that all the survivors were safely aboard the life-boats- he could have machine gunned the lot of us but they dived and off they went. He actually returned to the ship before she sank to get a supply of cigarettes!
I remember one Sunday morning (when my father was on leave) a man and his son called. I was only a school girl but I remember it vividly. The visitor said "I just had to come and say thank you and shake your hand because if it wasn't for men like you looking out for the younger men......"
I accompanied my father on several occasions when he attended the Naval Reunion in London- watched them all march proudly down Whitehall to the Cenotaph for a Service of Remembrance. Earl Mountbatten stopped on two occasions to have a word with him.
I don't think he was at the D-Day landings, but his medals included the Africa Star and the Italy Star (two other landings!)
My father died in 1976 at the age of 80 years and I am pleased to be able to to record some part of his life of service.

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