大象传媒

John Robert Knighton - now aged 90 鈥� born 21.8.1913

1929 鈥� Appointed Boy Clerk with Hackney Borough Council, later appointed Rates Clerk. Married Ethel in 1937 鈥� first child born July, 1939.

On the outbreak of war, commenced duties as operator in ARP Control Room in Hackney.

Registered for call-up, which was delayed because I asked to join the Navy.

8.1.41 drafted to HMS Collingwood for training as a Signalman.

Drafted to HMT Tumby (ex fishing trawler employed as 鈥渆xpendable鈥�). Crew of about 20 , most ratings were professional fishermen. The ship was employed on anti-invasion patrol and the routine was 4 days at sea, followed by 4 in dock.. Saw much havoc on outward patrols as the result of German mines in the River Humber.

After some months on HMT Tumby, drafted to Wooden Motor Minesweeper MM6 and engaged in minesweeping in the English Channel out of Portsmouth. Wife and young child obtained temporary accommodation in Stubbington, just outside Portsmouth.

On18.6.42, due to a sweeping error in the flotilla, we hit a mine while sweeping off Nab Tower, Portsmouth.. There were two fatalities among the engine room personnel. The ship was towed in sinking condition back to Portsmouth Harbour. 14 days survivors leave.

Some months later, drafted to new MMS 66 and continued sweeping Channel. Noted for possible promotion to officer rank.

30.7.43 promoted Acting Sub Lieutenant RNVR after successfully completing course at HMS King Alfred (confirmed by naval pay book - still in my possession, although very battered).

After various courses, drafted to HMS Asbury, a Royal Naval shore establishment in New York. Travelled from Liverpool on the HMS Cape Town. A fellow passenger was Sub Lieutenant Fred Marley RNVR, who was to become a friend and colleague on my next ship.

In New York, I was billeted at the Barbizon Hotel, Central Park, New York, and during my stay in the city experienced a higher standard of living than I could have imagined. Spent a short period of high living and shopping at Maceys for the family at home (chocolate for the children 鈥� 2 by then 鈥� and clothes or materials for my wife Ethel.

After a brief stay in New York, I was detailed to travel to Seattle and this involved a wonderful trans-Canada journey from Montreal by Royal Canadian Pacific Rail, stopping for one night at Banff, then proceeding to Vancouver and thence to Seattle.

In Seattle, re-united with Fred Marley and we learned that we were to stand by during the construction of, and eventually join and work up, one of a flotilla of BAMS (British American Minesweepers), all under construction in Seattle dockyard. Finally learned that Fred was to be Navigator and I was to be Signals and Gunnery Officer (I鈥檇 had a week鈥檚 course at Whale Island on Gunnery but never expected that to have any consequences).

The construction of our ship HMS Cynthia took several months but as Fred and I had only served on small ships with complements of around 20 and Cynthia was to have a complement of 120 plus, we had plenty to do getting to know everything possible about our new ship. Actually, we were in Seattle dockyard for some considerable time as the eventual crew joined bit by bit. This included our C.O. Cdr Ashton RN, a wonderful young chap who thrilled us all with his stories. I think he was married to the London film actress Rene Asherson.. After we had had time for most of us to get to know our ship, we began sea trials in the nearby Puget Sound..

On one occasion, by a navigational error, we found ourselves much too near the coast, in water too shallow for us. We were saved by the duty radar watch 鈥� radar being a gadget quite new to us 鈥� who gave an urgent warning to the bridge. It was typical of our Captain that he didn鈥檛 tear the Navigator to strips but instead tried to help him for future work.

The ship was finally passed out as 鈥渜ualified鈥� ( I can鈥檛 remember the naval term) and left Seattle, making for San Diego as our first stop. We were there for some days taking on more stores and gadgets. While there, Fred Marley and I visited Hollywood during a short leave. We received a terrific welcome at the studios and had a meal with Merle Oberon and Cedric Hardwicke when the discussion was mainly about cricket.

From San Diego, without our Captain, who had been taken ill, Cynthia proceeded under the temporary command of the 1st Lieutenant, via the Panama Canal to Bermuda where we did some anti-submarine exercises, which included 24 hours at sea aboard a submarine learning what it is like to be pinged by Asdic, the anti-submarine equipment now fitted on Cynthia.

After a few days in Bermuda, we set off for home. On the way, we made temporary anchor just off a small Caribbean island and a party of 8 of us were allowed ashore. We found the island inhabited by a population of just 2 whose basic diet seemed to consist of wild pig and coconuts. This pair were very happy to supply us with coconuts in exchange for cigarettes.

There was no convoy during the journey home; we were alone all the way across the Atlantic. The Asdic Officer reported what he was sure was a U-Boat echo and we spent some time on the book attack procedure without result before the Captain finally decided there was no submarine. However, we had a good supply of fresh fish as a result of our depth charge attack.

We arrived at Granton, Edinburgh and, knowing that there would be leave for some the next day, we invited dockyard customs staff on board for drinks. This was designed, successfully as it happened, to avoid close examination of the 鈥渄uty frees鈥� of the leave party.

We did a bit more Channel sweeping after that, before spending what seemed like months at anchor in the Solent awaiting D-Day. When that day came, we, like all sweepers, were so proud that partly due to our efforts none of the mighty battleships or cruisers were damaged by mines.

We continued to sweep off the French coast because of the considerable traffic from home to the artificial harbour of Arromanches.

Our final and most thrilling job of all, was to sweep ahead of a force of cruisers, including HMS Devonshire sent to deal with two German ships Nurnberg and Leipzig, who were getting stroppy in Norway. We swept the cruisers through, reputedly, the most heavily mined waters in the world (The Kaggerak 鈥� more often then called 鈥渢he German Ocean鈥�) to the north of Norway and then down Oslo Fiord to Oslo to land Crown Prince Olaf. All the way down the fiord, we were greeted by small craft of all kinds, filled with greenery of all sorts, waving Norwegian flags and getting as close to us as possible to shout greetings. This tumultuous welcome the big ships were unable to share as the water was too shallow for them.. We were in dock in Oslo for two days. The end of our task was marked by most appreciative signals of which I have copies but which the web page will not accept for some reason:-

That鈥檚 about it. We had another spell of channel sweeping then I was drafted to Weymouth, Dorset for discharge, upon which. I received what seemed a fairly good civilian suit.

Both Fred and I resumed study for and then passed the final examinations of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries 鈥� both having passed the Intermediate exams before the war. Fred became Secretary of a large department store in the north and I became Finance Officer of the Essex NHS Executive Council (managing GP, dentist, pharmacist and optician services). Later, I was chief officer (Clerk) of the West Sussex Executive Council.

Ethel and I were blessed with two sons and a daughter, all of whom did well in their chosen careers. We now have eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, all of whom come to visit us from time to time.

I find it interesting that my eldest grandson is now Intensive Care Consultant at Portsmouth Hospitals, lives at Stubbington, just down the road from HMS Collingwood and provides service also at the Haslar Naval Hospital.

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