大象传媒

ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 1939 I WAS EVACUATED TO CHIPPING SODBURY GLOS WITH SPARKHILL COMMERCIAL SCHOOL, BIRMINGHAM.AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHED AND THERE WERE NO AIR RAIDS HAPPENING MANY CHILDREN INCLUDING MYSELF RETURNED TO BIRMINGHAM FOR THE HOLIDAY AND REMAINED IN BIRMINGHAM. DURING JUNE 1940 AFTER DUNKIRK THE AIR RAIDS BEGAN AND WE USED TO TAKE REFUGE IN THE ANDERSON SHELTER IN THE GARDEN.ON ONE OCCASION A BOMB EXPLODED IN HARBURY ROAD JUST AT THE REAR OF OUR HOUSE WHICH WAS DAMAGED AND SEVERLEY SHOOK THE SHELTER IN WHICH WE WERE ENSCONCED.
MANY PARTS OF BIRMINGHAM WERE BADLY DAMAGED AND I PARTICULARLY REMEMBER THE NIGHT WHEN THE BOMBERS PASSED OVERHEAD ON THE WAY TO THE DEVESTATING RAID ON COVENTRY.
IN 1944 I JOINED THE ROYAL NAVY AT H.M.S. ROYAL ARTHUR FORMERLY A BUTLINS HOLIDAY CAMP,WHICH WAS AN INDUCTION CENTRE WERE I WAS EXAMINED KITTED OUT AND THEN SENT TO H.MS. GLENDOWER, PHWELLI, NORTH WALES FOR ELEMENTARY SEAMANSHIP TRAINING AND SOME GUNNERY INSTRUCTION.AFTER A WEEKS LEAVE I WAS THEN SENT TO DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN TO. THE RADAR SCHOOL,AND THEN TO FAREHAM IN HAMPSHIRE TO COMPLETE MY TRAINING.
MAY 8TH V.E. DAY I WAS STILL AWAITING MY FIRST SHIP TO WHICH I WAS DRAFTED ABOUT A WEEK LATER, H.M.S.TETCOTT A DESTROYER ENROUTE FOR JAPAN, BUT FIRST WE HAD TO UNDERGO A TROPICAL REFIT AT GIBRALTER.
WHILE THE REFIT WAS TAKING PLACE THE WAR WITH JAPAN ENDED AND WHEN IT WAS FINISHED THE SHIP RETURNED TO UK, AND THAT WAS MY WAR SERVICE !! HOWEVER I CONTINUED TO SERVE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND SPENT ABOUT TWO YEARS
ON A DANLAYING TRAWLER H.M.S.SHILLAY HELPING TO CLEAR THE MINEFIELDS WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT OVER FROM THE WAR.

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