大象传媒

I joined the RAF in 1941 and trained as a wireless operator. My first posting was to RAF Woodvale in Southport, Lancashire.
I hoped to become part of an aircrew but failed a crucial colour test and was posted instead to serve aboard HMS Bulolo, a combined operations HQ ship (formerly an armed merchant cruiser). The ship's crew were drawn from all three services and there was no distinction between us. We all took part in the old navy traditions, including morning divisions, evening quarters, daily rum issue, sleeping in hammocks and guard duties.
The ship carried staff that were responsible for directing landings on enemy territory, and amongst them was Winston Churchill's son, Randolph.
Our first mission (which we nearly didn't make, having to avoid u-boats on the way) was the invasion of North Africa, codenamed Operation Torch.
Having survived the u-boat threat, we arrived at Algiers, only to be bombed by the Luftwaffe, causing us to plough into the concrete wharf! It took four days to drag the ship out and we returned to Britain for repairs. Not a good start!
Our next operation was the invasion of Sicily, at which we arrived safely. General Montgomery came aboard before the invasion to boost morale, just missing the friendly fire incidents in which we shot down a number of our own planes, but not before they had set several of our ships ablaze! Luckily, we escaped damage on this occasion.
Our luck held out again in January 1944, when the ship directed landings at Anzio on the Italian mainland. The Luftwaffe repeatedly attacked our forces in the harbour and we spent most of the time envoloped in a smoke screen laid down by our own destroyers. Several of our ships, including a hospital ship, were sunk but we escaped unscathed.
HMS Bulolo later returned to the UK in preparation for D-Day, where she directed operations on Sword beach.
However, by then I had left the ship to join a mobile signals unit in India, moving on to Malaya in time for the Japanese surrender.
After spending some time in Kuala Lumpar and Penang, I was eventually demobilised in 1946.

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