The Sinking of HMS Hood

In early 1941 I was evacuated, along with my sister, to Abertillary South Wales. We had the good fortune to be billeted with a really lovely couple Mr and Mrs Farr.

Next door to the house we lived in was a young Welsh lad who took me under his wing. I was only 9 years old at that time, separated from my family in East London. I was very lonely and upset and Melvyn would take me out with him whenever he could, we would go to the pictures or swimming and rugby training.

A short time after, he was called up for service in the Royal Navy, as he left home we all waved our goodbyes to him as he strolled down Tillary Street and out of sight. We received a few letters from him giving progress reports as far as was possible in those days of secrets.

One day I was standing outside the local Post Office in Abertillary and saw the headlines on a newspaper stand that the Hood had been sunk, with the loss of almost all hands. My best pal had been drowned and I was devastated.

The years passed and we returned to our London home, I was unable to recall the name of Melvyn Davies and I put the memory of him out of my mind, locked away with any other sad thoughts I might have had.

In 2002 for some reason I had the overwhelming urge to revive the memories, I contacted a gentleman in South Wales who very kindly set about the task of finding my long dead friend's name and he managed to do so on the war memorial in South Wales, Melvyn Davies. God rest your soul Melvyn, thank you for defending our country, I will not forget your name again and will pass the story on to my grandchildren.

GEORGE HAYES

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