大象传媒

I was working on a farm in Cambridge when I was called up. I wanted to join the army, and duly had my medical. Some two or three months later I got a letter asking me to choose between working in the mines, the navy, or the marines. I opted for the navy. As I had had some experience with a shovel, from clearing ditches, I got a job as a stoker.

I went for training in Wales, near Pwllheli. I enjoyed it so much I wouldn鈥檛 pass my first test! They made me pass the second time and sent me to Chatham for a Gunnery Course on the south coast.

Soon after I volunteered for something and found myself on a train journey to Scotland. Here we joined a boat at night and sailed round Spain for Gibraltar.

I was part of the convoy that took part in the landings in the South of France. I remember one night I came up to take over on watch. The routine was that the sailor leaving watch would tell you what was going on. You then had to do a check before handover was complete. The check consisted of three sweeps through the binoculars at different heights. As I scanned towards the back of the ship, my mates were busy pushing a mine away. The officer shouted something to the effect of 鈥淲ho is on watch down there?鈥� Luckily I was able to reply 鈥淪orry Sir, I haven鈥檛 even reported in yet鈥�.

I remember one occasion when I was Bosuns Mate. I had to pipe the orders and everything. We had been minesweeping, and one had blown up. We had to make our way back to Southampton to repair the propeller shaft. There was a gale blowing and we were on one engine. I had to go down to take the sea temperature. One the way back, the ship rolled. I held onto the guide rope, and was left hanging there with my feet dangling over the side.

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