大象传媒

I was then seconded to the Fleet Air Arm in Ceylon, to 'HMS Hunter'. A Fleet Escort Carrier, quite different for an RAF man, learning about life onboard. We were 807 Squadron, operating Seafires (which were Spitfires converted for carrier use, with an arrester hook on the underside of the fusilage).

We had crashes onbaord flight deck, some planes skidding over the side, but the pilots were rescued. We only had one attack by a Kamikase plane, but he was shot down before he reached us.

As the war ended, we departed for Singapore to take part in the surrender operation, I was one of the many lining the streets and was fortunate to be immediately opposite the Town Hall steps where Lord Mountbatton made his surrender speech. I was also able to be present when the Japanese surrender delegation marched up, led by General Itakaki, as Count Terauchi was ill.

Afterwards, returning to Ceylon and in the Colombo Roads, the duty party were getting the Liberty boat over the side, with one rating in it. One end of the rope snagged and then released, throwing him into the sea. I was on the ponsom side of the ship, and saw him go by. He managed to grab the speed-line let out from the back of the ship, but as it was rotating, he could not hold on, and was lost. I didn't know until later that it takes 5 miles to stop a ship at sea.

Upon leaving the Fleet Air Arm, I was posted back to the RAF in Ireland, aptly named, perhaps, Nutts Corner!

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