Mediterranean and European waters

Eight Years in the RAFVR - Part Eight - Corsica

I then learnt that Allied plans called for aircraft-detection and fighter-control radar stations in...

Minesweeping with the Wavy Navy

In Seattle, re-united with Fred Marley and we learned that we were to stand by during the construction of,...

HMS Barham - Scapa Flow: July 31-August 4, 1940

En route to Scapa Flow, Barham had a disastrous collision with HMS Duchess and was later torpedoed off the...

Leonard Ball's story

And the day before we arrived in Cape Town we received a message to say that the other lifeboat had reached...

My Life My War - Chapter 9b

The Searchlights hit them fair and square The guns crews took their time, The crossed wires on their gun...

HMS Barham - Lead up to Matapan

Notable amongst the lucky airmailers are Jasu Pitts, Brian Stringer, Nuts Brodrick and Gerald Ellison(2)....

EYE WITNESS ON FIREDRAKE, MY LAST VOYAGE WITH THE FIREDRAKE—OPERATION SUBSTANCE

I served for a short time on HMS Dartford with Captain Walkers Group, before finishing my service on HMS...

Diary extracts RAPC journey from Greenock to Malta

Diary Extracts — Greenock to Malta Saturday 4 November 1944 Still in harbour, very rough, cold wind,...

WW2 Merchant Navy Service: Onboard SS Essex Trader

Corvette commander on North Atlantic anti submarine duty - part 1

My first appointment was to the Anti submarine training base H.M.S. Nimrod in Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre...

My Life My War - Chapter 6

Going back to gunnery, we, the Marines, manned only one of the four turrets and Seamen manned the other...

His Majesties Motor Gun Boat No. 21 Part 4

However I found the officer, handed him the letter and returned to the boat, and the next day probably as a...

HMS Barham - Scapa Flow: June - July, 1940

En route to Scapa Flow, Barham had a disastrous collision with HMS Duchess and was later torpedoed off the...

HMS Barham — Eastern Mediterranean Fleet, 1940: Part 3

6th November, 1940: On or around this date Barham sailed to Malta along with HMS Berwick, and HMS Glasgow...

Tom Scotland MN (Part 2)

Upon reaching Bristol and visiting the Shipping Office I queried both my wages and leave entitlement, and...

The Skirl o' the Pipes: Onboard HMS Wallace

The result was that on leaving or entering harbour we would get an unofficial greeting from a Piper...

Papa's War Story

The Canadians ran amok with the barrels of wine floating in the harbour and they managed to get one on...

Autobiography of a Leamington Sailor, Bertie Usher

I went to Piwhelli in N. Wales, to a Naval training base, which was Butlins holiday place, and was taken...

The Ship That Never Was

The convoy was attaked throughout days 13 and 14, On the 14th of June the Italian fleet was reported to be...

HMS Sirius and Seven Invasions

The invasion went very well because many of the French in N. Africa were prepared to fight the Germans. The...

Action South of Ploca Point

We endeavoured to intercept and engage the enemy by steering a South South Easterly course between...

The Sinking of HMS Curacao by the Queen Mary

Queen Mary going strong at approx 20 knots “Curacao” I could see no sign, I immediately...

HMS Barham - Period Between Bardia and Matapan

HMS Barham — Period Between Bardia and Matapan, 1941....

HMS Belfast and the Tirpitz

We put to sea at 1110 and with us is the “Duke of York” flying Admiral Fraser's flag,...

HMS St Martin and Mulberry Harbour

As the day for the invasion of Europe loomed St Martin was sent down to Portland to take part in towing the...

Happy Landings- the travels of HMS Largs

This became known as HMS Largs After a very enjoyable period working in the Loch Fyne region- a place now...