大象传媒

When I was a young man of approximately 19 years of age, Hitler decided to set the world on fire (1939) and I wanted to help put it out. I joined the A.F.S. (Auxiliary Fire Service); I started as a despatch rider, then became junior fireman. I attended fires at Newgate Street, near St. Paul's (London), and the Royal Surrey and Commercial docks. Many firemen were killed by bombs, etc. I then decided to volunteer for the Royal Navy. I was sent to North Wales for training. Some of us were selected to be trained as crew for D.E.M.S. (Defence of Equipped Merchant Ships). There were many merchant ships at that time which were being sunk by submarines and enemy aircraft. Many lives were lost, including merchant seamen. We were bringing food, ammunition and oil to England and Russia. Our job was to train the merchant seamen on the guns which were placed on the ships. These ranged from 12 pounds upwards. I was on the North Atlantic convoys and we were supported by the Canadian Navy. When eventually we got the better of the enemy, I decided to try a different branch of the Royal Navy and I was sent to Aberdeen in Scotland and was put on a minesweeper. We were involved in the Normandy landings and helped to support the landing craft on the beaches. If I could put what I saw with my eyes during the war into the eyes of the young people of this country, there would never be any more war in their time. I have received many medals for my work during the war. There is one I feel very proud of; it is the one given to me by the Russian Embassy for my help to them during the war. I wear it with pride, along with my other medals.

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