Aged 17 I was Fusesetter & Communication Number on R1 4.7 Inch Anti Aircraft Gun in the triple 16 Inch Gun Battleship HMS RODNEY having joined the Ship at Scapa Flow at the end of September 1939 .We camouflaged the Ship with brown and green paint and painted the wooden decks with creosote so Aircraft would find it difficult to see at night.
Then we spent several weeks at sea patroling the seas off Greenland to prevent the German Pocket Battleships getting in to the North Atlantic to attack the Convoys .We encountered hurricane force winds very rough seas and snowstorms .Some of the guardrail stanchions were bent and wash deck lockers etc swept away The decks became white again
Once, we sighted The Deutchland and went to Battle Stations ,hoisted the Battle Ensign and catapaulted off the Walrus Flying Boat to Spot the Deutchland.The adrenalin began to flow
Rodney proceeded at full speed ahead to get in range but the weather deteriorated and the Deutchland escaped in a blizzard .THe Walrus had to land in Greenland
On the way back to Scapa Flow we heard that "Winston" was back as First Lord of The Admiralty And that the Battleship Royal Oak had been sunk in the Flow .On arrival at Scapa Flow we learnt that HMS Nelson the Flagship had been mined off Loch Ewe (a Fleet Anchorage).So Rodney became the Flagship .There was no air defence at Scapa at that time so the AA Guns had to remain closed up and the guns crews continued to live rough round the guns 24 hr's a day .
On account of the sinking of the Royal Oak Winston came to Scapa Flow to inspect the defences .Whilst there he visited Rodney and the Admiral and did a tour of inspection round the ship
As he stepped out of the screen door of the bridge superstructure on to the Gun deck he noticed my youth and asked The Commander why I was there The Commander said that the ship was under complement and that the hostilities only ratings were not fully trained but the Boys were and they could not run the ships without them
When Winston questioned me I said that we had not been issued with warm clothing and that I had passed for AB and was doing an AB'S Job but was not getting an AB'S pay
In 1940 Rodney took part in the First and Second Battles of Narvik during the Norwegion Campaign .During the 1st there was no air cover Rodney received a direct hit from a Stuka Dive Bomber .
I saw the bomb leave the Aircraft and enter the Gun Deck between R1 AND R2 AA Guns .It went through several decks and hit the armoured deck
Rodney landed a detachment of her Royal Marines They wore kaki ,full field equipment,and had Lee Enfield rifles ond long bayonets .I think some of them had Bren guns
During the 2nd battle there was some air cover Rodney recieved several near misses one of which damaged the rudder
This time Rodney brought back some of the soldiers I remember The Green Howards because unlke the rest of the soldiers they brought back their equipment and their Officers drilled them on the upper deck
FOOTNOTES
Early in 1940 an Admiralty Fleet Order stipulated that all boys were to be advanced to Ordinary Seaman and that all sea time was to count for promotion and it was to be made retrospective.
As I was an advanced class Boy I was advanced to AB
It was said that public oppinion did not like seeing Boys mentioned in the casualty lists.Many Boys lost their lives when the Royal Oak was sunk
A notation on my Service Certificte records that I was issued with warm clothing (Duffel Coat etc )on 8th March 1940 hitherto I used my overcoat with my oilskin on top and "comforts " sent by tne WVS and others .Comforts were woolen scarves ,balaclavas,and gloves etc knitted from reclaimed wool as part of the war effort (old pullovers were unravelled to provide the wool.
In those days we had to buy our uniform and were paid 3 D (old pence upkeep allowance per day
The Deutchland was later renamed Lutzow on Hitlers instructions and was badly damaged off Norway .
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