大象传媒

We had to hurry back from Guernsey because of the threat of war. The people returning to the mainland occupied every conceivable space on the cross-channel steamer; even the lifeboats. On 3 Sept of that year Britain declared war on Nazi Germany. Subsequently the Channel Islands were Occupied by German troops.

On 25 May 1940 Joan and I became engaged. After a party, at Clubland to celebrate our engagement, my 21st and my departure, I entered the Royal Navy on 4 June 1940. After six weeks training to be a sailor at HMS Ganges at Harwich, including climbing the wellknown 140ft mast, I was sent for RADAR training with the RAF at Rosehearty in Aberdeenshire. Then I was assigned to a Naval RADAR station at Dunnet Head in the North of Scotland, for the protection of the fleet at Scapa Flow. I was to stay there for two and a half years. It was during this time; on Christmas leave, on 27 December 1941 that Joan and I were married, by the Rev. Gordon Davies.
Our marriage took place at Clubland; in the lounge, not in the beautiful church. This had been destroyed by the Luftwaffe during the air raids that devastated much of London including Joan鈥檚 home, just across the road. These were frequent and of long duration, yet on the occasions when I was home on leave, sometimes for two weeks there was never a raid. We spent our one week honeymoon in the heart of rural Kent; at a farmhouse called, 鈥淩oselands鈥�, so named because in summer much of the house and smallholding was encircled by pink rambling roses in full bloom. Each morning we had to hand pump water to the tank that would supply the day鈥檚 needs, and collect eggs from the many chicken-coops for breakfast. We enjoyed walking the country lanes; there was little else to do, neither did we want it; we had each other. We reminisced over a previous visit to this place in May when the woods adorned with bluebells showed that Spring was giving way to Summer; but now it was Winter with its own particular delights. In the evenings we sat around the kitchen range eating boiled chestnuts by the light of the oil-lamp chatting with the old farmer and his wife. The world and the war were a million miles away.

Following the marriage service, Joan and I partook of Holy Communion, conducted by the minister for just the two of us, My silent prayer then was, 鈥淟ord, I will build our house upon a Rock鈥�. It was a commitment that I now realize could not be maintained without God鈥檚 constant help. Nearly sixty years later I can affirm that God has been faithful through all the changing scenes of life.

Back to Scotland and Naval routine and within a year I was on draft, to Birkenhead, where the aircraft carrier, HMS Indomitable lay in dry dock, having completed a refit after sustaining severe damage whilst on convoy duty. The 鈥淚ndom鈥� left Liverpool for the Mediterranean Sea with me as Leading Seaman of a RADAR watch. En route we were joined by the ship鈥檚 complement of Seafires, (the Naval version of the Spitfire). Many crashed on landing so we arrived at Gibraltar with a flight deck littered with damaged aircraft. (Presumably this was due to the inexperience of the newly trained pilots.) Our mission was that we, in company with other ships, would cover the Allied landings on the Isle of Sicily. How much of that mission was accomplished I do not know, because it was necessary for us to withdraw from the scene of operations. On a beautifully calm, moonlit night the fleet must have presented a perfect target to an enemy aircraft. An Italian flying low to avoid detection by RADAR, capitalized on the situation and dropped an aerial torpedo on the prime vessel in the fleet; the 鈥淚ndom鈥�. It was a strike below the belt, the 2inch thick armour plate, that was supposed to offer protection against such attacks. A massive hole in the ship鈥檚 side and the inrush of seawater, sent the ship reeling and listing to port. Damage control drill went into operation. Watertight doors were closed to contain the flow. A similar volume of water was allowed in on the starboard side to right the ship and in that condition she limped to Malta for a temporary repair before making for America for a complete refit. Seven stokers working below were killed.

We spent six months in Virginia, USA, visiting Washington D.C. and New York and enjoying the hospitality of the American people.

From America, back across the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal and into the Indian Ocean we prepared for operations against the Japanese in Burma. We spent some time in the Indian Ocean, enabling us to visit Bombay and other ports in Ceylon (Shri-Lanka). It was at this time that I was encouraged to join the Christian Fellowship that met in the Ship鈥檚 chapel. The meetings were live and vibrant as we studied God鈥檚 Word together. Petty Officer Ken Balsam, son of a Baptist Minister, led me into making a deeper commitment of faith. I recall doing so as we knelt together on the open deck. I felt I needed to do something practical to give expression to my inner conviction. One evening when everyone, but me, in my particular mess was on shore leave, (I being on duty), I slung everyone鈥檚 hammock for them on the bars provided and prepared them for their night鈥檚 rest on return; about twenty in all. I think they were either dumbfounded or drunk but there was little comment that I, the Leading Seaman of the mess, should humble myself so.

I wrote home to Joan telling her of my experience. To my joy, her reply was that she too felt drawn closer to God through her experiences during the terrifying air raids.

About this time I was beginning to think of our future. What would life be like after the war? What would I do for a job? Before the war I was a clerk; for most of the time a wages-clerk for the Gaumont British Film Corporation, checking the wage returns of cinemas throughout the UK. A weekly pass to any one of their cinemas was a useful perk when you are courting. Those days were past. Anyway I never did like clerical work.
The war, the Navy, RADAR led my desires in a different direction -- engineering. Yes! Electrical engineering.

While in the Indian Ocean we frequently called in at Trincomalee in Ceylon, a delightful place; warm, bright sunshine, palm trees, crystal clear blue sea with small tropical fish; a swimmers' paradise but not the place you would go on a shopping trip. There were just two or three small stalls that sold trivia and a few books. Browsing around my eyes lit-up. There was the book, Elementary Electrical Engineering, by Prof. Say. I read the synopsis: 鈥溾��.leading to Ordinary National Certificate complete with examination questions鈥�. I bought it and I have it still. God was also at work on my future.
I Worked through the book, from beginning to end, doing all the prescribed exercises, and rereading until I had got the answers right. There were two Able Seamen who already had degrees; one, an engineering degree, the other a law degree. Together they set me an examination based on the syllabus (a mock ONC). They awarded me 78%. Later when I asked for a reference, Lt. Commander Cuff took note of -- 鈥渉is diligent study during adverse conditions in the RN鈥�. This was sufficient for me to get a job in the electrical industry on demobilization and also to college, leading to my becoming a Chartered Engineer, with Membership of the IEE.

But the war was not over yet. The Japanese were still advancing in S.E.Asia. There was one major operation to be accomplished, the battle for the Pacific. The British Pacific Fleet comprising six aircraft carriers all of the same class as the Indomitable and other supporting warships was commanded by Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser. His flag ship was HMS Indomitable. Our objective was to destroy Japanese airfields on the Islands of Ishigaki and Mijaki in the South China Sea. The Yanks had a similar objective against Okinawa to the North. Wave after wave of bombers loaded with 500lb bombs escorted by fighters and reconnaissance aircraft took off from the British carriers to carry out this mission. Most returned, some were damaged, some failed to land properly and were lost overboard. The Fleet was repeatedly attacked by the Kamikazi suicide bombers, but little serious damage was done to the ships, because of the six-inch armour-plated flight decks. HMS Formidable did suffer some damage when a Kamikazi struck the superstructure. The Indom escaped damage when a Kamikaze bounced off the flight deck into the sea. The American carriers had wooden flight decks so when the US carrier, Franklin was hit the bomber went through the deck and exploded in the hangers with the loss of about 1000 men. The Japs also carried out machine-gun attacks from aircraft on to the fleet. I lost a few shipmates that way. This type of action went on for two spells of three months with a fortnight鈥檚 leave in Australia in between. We alternated 48 hr. at action stations and 48 hr. `rest`. In the `rest` period we carried out normal duties plus replenishing spent supplies:- victuals, ammunition and men from supply and hospital ship in the vicinity.
Then to everybody鈥檚 shock and surprised it happened. An atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, and then another on Nagasaki. The war was over!

We sailed into Hong Kong Harbour for the signing of the articles of surrender by Sir Bruce Fraser and the appointed Japanese envoy, which was carried out on the flight deck of the Indomitable and witnessed by the whole ship鈥檚 company. The route home via Sydney, Perth, The Indian Ocean, The Med. and Gibraltar to Portsmouth was full of anticipation with everybody speculating on reunion with loved ones and resettlement prospects. We had been away for over three years.

I was determined now to give-up the habit of smoking. I had tried many times before without success, but now I was determined. For Naval personnel the cost of cigarettes was sixpence for 100; in Civvy Street it was two shillings and four pence for 20. There was also another reason. God was telling me through His Word that the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit and I desired that mine be a worthy dwelling place for Him. So I prayed for His help.

Knowing that we were all homeward bound everyone stocked up with duty free goods with tobacco and cigarettes being high on the list. Mine also. Next leave and I was loaded. Joan had managed to acquire a flat in Valmar Road, Camberwell and with the help of her brother Tom from Canada had made it habitable and welcoming. After our re-union embrace, I placed all the duty-free cigarettes in the buro, vowing never to touch one myself and hoping that Joan would do the same. We had a lovely weekend together and I was due to get the midnight train back from Waterloo, where I arrived to see it just departing. The next train? 2.00AM. A cigarette! Yes, I must have a cigarette. The shops were closed, of course; I tried every slot-machine in Waterloo but they were either empty or out of order. I was gasping for a `gasper`. Eventually I boarded the 2.00AM and immediately fell asleep. When I woke up in Portsmouth all desire for smoking had gone. I have not had a cigarette since.
Our elder daughter Janet Lavinia was born in Kings College Hospital on 11 November 1946; Lavinia, after Mount Lavinia, a pleasant resort in Ceylon where we used to go swimming and surfing when the Ship was in Colombo. Sally Marguerite was born at home on 16 June 1948.
We wanted to join a church. Clubland was not available to us since it was for youth, although as old members we have always kept in touch. We chose to go to Denmark Place Baptist where on 25 November 1951 both Joan and I were Baptized by Rev.E.E.Pesket. Soon afterwards we moved to Stopsley, because I obtained a post as a Control Engineer with English Electric Company at Luton airport. John, our only son was born on Christmas Eve, 1952. For ethical reasons I left that position to work on nuclear power for peaceful purposes at Whetstone, Leicester. Here I initiated the work on the simulation of Nuclear Power station performance that lead to the design of SATURN, the world鈥檚 largest analogue computer. Valuable in its day it succumbed to the advance of digital techniques and eventually given over to the scrap merchants. Another initiation was the establishing of the Whetstone Workers Christian Fellowship which unlike the SATURN computing facility is still alive today.

鈥淪o be it, Lord: Thy throne shall never, like earth鈥檚 proud empires pass away;
Thy kingdom stands and grows forever, till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.鈥�

11 March, 1999

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