- Contributed byÌý
- epsomandewelllhc
- People in story:Ìý
- Jack Davey
- Location of story:Ìý
- Atlantic Ocean, D-day landings
- Background to story:Ìý
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:Ìý
- A4126583
- Contributed on:Ìý
- 28 May 2005
The author of this story has understood the rules and regulations of the site and has agreed that this story can be entered on the People's War web site.
I was on a Corvette in the Royal Navy (No DJX 564407) and on the Atlantic run we were an escort vessel to merchant ships, we went to Newfoundland from Londonderry. Towards the end of the war we used to go to Gibraltar. I bought home one day a big hand of bananas and my mother gave them to all of the children that lived in the road, unfortunately there was not one left for me!! We lived in Stane Way, Ewell Village.
The lads used to go from Plymouth to Paddington and anybody without a ticket would travel in the toilet and his pal would be outside the door, pretending that it was his wife was inside. Thereby one ticket was used for more than one naval personnel.
I asked for leave because my brother was getting married. The Captain said that my brother could get married without me. My application for leave was refused due to D Day landings. All leave was stopped for a week before the landings.
We were about a mile from the French beaches to keep the German torpedo boats out. While we were there I saw about 3 of our bombers and they all crashed. We were not allowed to pick any of the survivors up as special boats were detailed to do that. About a month later the Marines took us to Baueaux (?) where I bought my mother a vase as a souvenier. Baueaux was similar to Guildford in the layout.
While I was on holiday on the Rhine 13 years ago. I had an emission of blood due to cancerous warts of the bladder. I went to an English speaking doctor called Dr Volkmar Lent, I was admitted to hospital and treated by this Doctor. We have been friends with him ever since. His brother was a Captain of a U boat in the same area as I was — he was under the water trying to get rid of our ship and I was above the water using depth charges to get rid of him. Hitler has 900 U boats and during the latter part of the war, there were only 10% left.
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