大象传媒

This story is about my uncle John Southwell who was serving in the royal Navy in WW2 and was out in the Pacific on one of our pride of fleet battle ships, The name I cannot recall. ( Well, I am 82 )
He was a Petty officer, and in charge of the ships food supply. The ship had called at Singapore, I think, and then left for a brief period of several days

But while out at sea she was sunk with all hands. As many other women must have done, my aunt Leana, nearly passed out when she saw the Telegram boy opening the gate to her front door, and there was lots of tears when she read the awful news from the authorities that her husband was dead.

It was 24 hrs later the Telegram boy was again at her front door, with a telegram from her husband telling her he was fine, if she heard anything different, ignore it. He was alive and
kicking.
She had hardly recovered from reading this when the parson called, he also had been informed
about his death and had called to offer his condolences.

As you know there was not a lot you could say. Phones were out, Letters took forever. and even telegrams were censored. She did get conformation that he really was alive and well.

But she did not get the full Why or How until he got home on leave, and it appears that some essential Supplies were missing and the Captain left him ashore to gather them in before they got back. That is why he was still listed on board, and as the ship was sank with all hands, he was dead.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.