My name is George Dangerfield, born Lowestoft 1926.
Got fed up with being bombed by the 'Jerries' while working at Richards Shipyard so decided to join Royal Marines in '42. My dad took me to Norwich to join up and was sent back home by the M.O to 'get fattened up by your mum with some Suffolk Puddings'.
Fat enough by early '43 so ended up at the Royal Marine Barracks at Chatham, Kent in November of '43.
More bad luck! Was just getting used to being knocked into shape by the Colour Sergeant when the M.O. decided that because of a 'dropped arch' of my right foot "you will never be able to keep up with forced marching in the Marines son" Talk about being fed up I could have spit farthings.
Any how the kindly M.O. asked me if I wanted to go home and I said no I didn't, so he sujested that I might like to join the Royal Navy instead of waiting for my call-up into the army. Yes please sir, says I, and there I was being escorted by a friendly Marine Corporal to Royal Navy Barracks just down the hill.
Got billeted in Drake House and within two days was having a slight discussion with a naval officer about what I wanted to be in R.N.(Since I was a St.John Ambulance volunteer in 'civvy street' I wanted to become a Sick Berth Attendant). Since I had been emloyed as a stoker at Richards Shipyard at Lowestoft the inteviewing office thought I should become a stoker at the 'Ness' and be billeted with my mum and dad at Lowestoft, but I stuck to my guns and insisted that I wanted to be a S.B.A., I was sent back to Drake House to 'think things over'
My first assignment after 'thinking things over' and having been up to R.N.Hospital Chatham was at the VD clinic in Chatham Barracks. Cor, I saw more sights there in two weeks that would put grown men off their 'grog' for life and me only 17, thats right, 17 years of age. I tell you shipmates it nearly put me off the opposite sex I can tell you.
After finishing my Probationer service I qualified as an S.B.A and duly joined L.S.T 65 with other 'oppos' at the Isle of White in time for a swim in the Solent before taking part of the 3rd Armoured Brigade of Canadians to Juno Beach on 'D-Day', 6th June 1944, Stood on the deck and watched as the poor bs got cut to pieces as they tried to get ashore at Courselles-su-mer.
Came back to blighy and took out some more hardware when 'Jimmy the one' dropped the front hook at the wrong time and took three plates out of the bottom of the L.S.T.. We eventually got back home and spent three weeks in the L.N.E.R docks in London's East End, getting a new bottom.
While we were there was the only time I got hit by the enemy, when a piece of shrapnel hit the heel of one of my shoes and bounced off during an air raid, some of my mates and myself were in Commercial Road, East London trying to get back to our ship.
After our stint we returned to Chatham Barracks to be told "your kit has been disposed of becuase you were not expected back" We had to be re-issued with new kit before we returned to Chatham Hospital.
Got fed up at the hospital, had a row with a Petty Officer and applied for transfer to Russian Convoys. Got sent out to R.N.Hospital 'Golden Hind' Sydney, Austalia. Had a good life there and got seconded to R.N.M.A.E.U. There were only about ten of us plus nusing sisters and officers so very few people knew who we were or what our job was. I think I was the youngest SBA there so few left now I reckon.
We did our flying traing at R.A,A.F Melbourne then flew to Manus in what was then the Philipine Islands. We flew as crew in Dakotas, which could be converted to carry strecher wounded, from Sydney, through Brisbane, Townsville, Darwin and Port Moresby, New Guinnea to Manus and return in the reverse direction.
Came back to U.K. in June '46 and served out 'my time' at a small sick bay in Harwich, Essex, 'HMS Badger'
Got my 'demob' suit at Earls Court if I remember correctly.
Now what is called 'A Siver Surfer'
Contact gajd@fsmail.net
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