Mediterranean and European waters

Dad's Diary -Part 1 of 2

Eventually however Glasgow was reached, across to Central Station and down via Caledonian to East Kilbride....

His Majesties Motor Gun Boat No. 21 Part 2

There was a small cable running from the back of the wireless set, not mentioned by POTS so by tracing the...

X-Craft Diver 1943 - Part 3

The operation for which the X-craft were being prepared was now deemed of such urgency that Alecto was to...

X-Craft Diver 1943 - Part 4

The operation for which the X-craft were being prepared was now deemed of such urgency that Alecto was to...

The Whirligig of Time

I have seen a Rear-Admiral leave a tank landing craft via a ladder, from her fo'c'sle to the beach,...

War Diary of John Dolphin JUNE 1942 - SEPT 1943 on HMS QUEENBOROUGH

In ” John Brown's Docks after 4 days on Depot Ship “CARRICK”. I was drafted on board...

X-Craft Diver 1943 - Part 7

Geordie Nelson, X5's diver, then came to talk with, me. At once I imagined the diver there in the half...

War Year Memoirs -Part 2

The Germans had their bombers based in Tunis and the Italians on Sicily and in Southern Italy so it was on...

X-Craft Diver 1943 - Part 12

I think Jack muttered 'Christ!' under his breath and turned away. We were welcomed inboard by Jack...

64th (7th London) Field Regiment Royal Artillery 21

At some time during the day I heard the King's speech about the second front, but much more exciting to...

64th (7th London) Field Regiment Royal Artillery 4

The following day, a Sunday we all took part in “Boat Stations” drill at 0900 hours as usual...

EYE WITNESS ON FIREDRAKE, GIBRALTAR BASED

The Force H consisted of the Renown, a battle cruiser, and the Ark Royal, aircraft carrier, together with...

D-Day on the minesweeper HMS Chamois

The following account of D-Day was written by my father Leslie Hasker, who served as a sub-lieutenant on...

Malta Convoy - Chapter 3

Toop was there, giving the final items of the Captain's orders to the turret hoist crew. So in order to...

HMS King George V - My Experiences

I was born in Worcester, the second child, but eldest son of James Hancox and Ada Florence Hancox. I was...

Fred Cole Part 3: Training, Wedding, 57 Squadron

When the RAF flying training was completed at Upper Heyford we were transferred to a heavy bomber...

Memories of D Day

It is hard to describe the bombardment from battleships, cruisers, destroyers, aircraft, the smoke screens...

X-Craft Diver 1943 - Part 11

Jack Smart had complained about the porpoising, now we knew, with a vengeance, what he meant, for we were...

Ben Waters: Six years in the RNVR.

Ben, as a Flotilla Officer, travelled on board the ‘A'6, which was captained by Lieutenant John...

One of the Misfortunes of War.

When we had left the Mulberry Harbour the weather had been reasonable at force 3-4 but by this time it had...

Malta Convoy - Chapter 2

Action stations sounded at that moment, and we rushed for the turret door, unsure whether in the next...

His Majesties Motor Gun Boat No. 21 Part 3

Normally our commonwealth captain would be briefed by a Royal Navy Commander at the naval headquarters...

Family Pilgrimage to HMS Barham War Grave

James, Robert, Alexander and David joined me after a while and we spent an hour or so in the Chania...

X-Craft Diver 1943 - Part 10

Heading them was the skipper, Jack Oakley, all of twenty-eight years old, and balding, seeming more or less...

Corvette commander on North Atlantic anti submarine duty - part 4

"Whilst in command of HMS Kenilworth Castle the ship was attached to a group commanded by Commander D....

Tom's Story - Part 4

We sailed again, this time to join up with the American 7th Cruiser Squadron, but we never did get into...