大象传媒

This account was presented to Denis Price of the 大象传媒 People`s War Team, the 大象传媒 Open Centre, Hull, by Albert Lister.

I was called up for the Royal Navy on the 15th of March 1943. I shall always remember that day. It was a cold morning. I said my farewells to my Dad and off I went to war!
I had to catch the New Holland Ferry and then travel by train to Skegness. We were met by a Chief Petty Officer and taken to HMS Royal Arthur. Before the war it was Butlin`s Holiday Camp.I was there until the 8th April 1943. During this time I had to learn how to use a rifle, do a lot of marching on the parade ground and generally learn how to look smart and do as you were told. I finally had to sit an examination for the Navy to decide what I was going to do. They decided I would be suitable for the Supply Department. It`s like being a Quartermaster. So I left HMS Royal Arthur as a `Supply Assistant` and was sent to London to HMS President.
This wasn`t a ship, it was Highgate School in North London, where I trained for the job I had to do. I lived during this time with a family in Highgate. I passed my examination on June the 14th 1943 and three days later was transferred to HMS Victory in Portsmouth. On the 26th of june 1943 I was posted to my first operational ship up in the Orkney Islands. The Orkney Islands are situated north of Scotland and the ship was named HMS Iron Duke. It was a famous battleship during the First World War.
It was used as a `Tenders Ship,` looking after smaller craft and supplying their needs. You won`t believe this, but it had a cement bottom!
I left HMS Iron Duke on April the 10th 1944 and arrived back in Portsmouth Barracks on the following day. I was there until the middle of May. The Navy decided to put me in Combined Operations and I was posted to Devonport to serve on LST 161 (LST means Landing Ship Tanks). The ship was having a refit at the time, to be ready for the invasion of Europe (of course I didn`t know this at the time). After the refit we were sent to Portsmouth and the ship was fitted out ready for the 6th of June 1944. We loaded with soldiers and equipment (tanks, jeeps, lorries and food of all kinds) ready for the `Big Day`.
On the night of June the 5th 1944 we sailed out of Portsmouth Harbour heading for anywhere!!!
Unfortunately we developed engine trouble and had to return to Portsmouth. When this was rectified we sailed for `anywhere` later that next day. We landed our troops and equipment on the beaches at Arromanche. We went backwards and forwards several times with troops and equipment during the following weeks. On return journeys we were used as a hospital ship bringing the wounded home and we also brought home prisoners of war. Finally we were made into a rolling stock ship ie. railway wagons etc. and taken to Cherbourg. In addition to the above we took troops and equipment to Oslo and Bergen in Norway. We also visited Antwerp in Belgium.
Eventually we completed our service in LST 161 and were given orders to go to Devonport. There, we loaded up with equipment and on the 5th of December 1945 we sailed for the United States of America. We arrived on Christmas Eve, sailing into Brooklyn Naval Dockyard. The crew had a great time in New York (me included). All our entertainment was free and we were given a great welcome. We stayed in New York for two weeks, returning home early January on the troopship `Queen Mary`.
To close, when we arrived home I was drafted to Glasgow to serve on a Corvette. We were being kitted out to go to the Far East (Japan) but fortunately the war ended in the Far East and we never went. Hurray!!
I was sent back to Portsmouth and I left the Navy on the 26th October 1946.
I hope you haven`t been bored reading this, but it was an eventful and tearful small chapter of my life. I must say it was war but it was great during those years, the comradeship I shall never forget.

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