I believe that we were not ready for War but the emergence of Germany under Hitler was causing us much anxiety. He had an agreement or treaty with Poland to come to her aid if attacked and our Forces had been to see Hitler and came back in 1938.

The Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain had been to see Hitler and came back with a piece of paper which said meant “peace in our time”. He was wrong and in August / September 1939, Hitler attacked Poland. He was warned by Mr Chamberlain that if he did not cease the attack we would be obliged to declare War on Germany and accordingly on 3^rd September, 1939 War was declared effectively from 11am on that day. The Prime Minister gave notice of this to Parliament and also broadcast to the Nation.

I can remember that I had been on holiday in Ireland at the end of August and the beginning of September where I had stayed with my Brother Jim in Belfast.  My school friend Leslie Carr, had been with me and together we were returning on the night ferry from Belfast and landed at Morecombe and  Heysham Ferry Port on the morning of September 3^rd. We had not heard the Prime Minister announcement and there fore were surprised to see when we arrived in London numbers of what appeared to be small Airships in the sky. (In fact they were Barrage Balloons tethered at varying heights and designed to protect against low flying aircraft). Soon after I arrived home a loud warbling noise began. This was the first Air Raid Warning in London. Fortunately it was a false alarm and very soon the All Clear a continuous blast of the Siren, was sounded.  (Sirens had been erected on all public Buildings in the Country to give warning of possible Air attack and made a most awesome noise). The Armed Service, Regular and Territorial, had been mobilised and now was the turn of the Civilian Population. All males below retiring age had to register in groups and in turn report for Medical Examination Deferment, were granted in same cases depending on one’s Civilian Occupation etc.

In due course the same applied to females. Men were detailed for one of the armed Services, or if they were conscientious objectors they were detailed for the Mines or other non- combatant jobs. Females went into factories, or onto the land (Women’s Land Army) if they were not willing to go into one of the Armed Services. Older men and women who were not otherwise engaged in jobs of National Importance were enrolled as Air Raid Wardens or in the Observer Corps etc. or as Auxiliary Firemen or Police. All public Buildings were protected by Sandbag barricades, parks and Gardens were dug up so that the Underground Air Raid Shelters could be built. In some places special Air Raid Shelters were built. Some of the London Underground Stations were used as Air Raid Shelters and people slept in them overnight. People were encouraged to make a safe place in their homes and later a form of Shelter was issued.  To people to erect inside their homes and later still the Anderson Shelter was issued. This was corrugated iron kind of hut which had to be partially buried in the garden and covered with earth.  All windows of homes and offices had to be ba=lacked out after dark so that no lights were showing, Street lighting was restricted and headlight of vehicles were masked so that only a glimmer of light was shown. Iron railings ect, Were removed to be melted down for armaments, metal utensils etc. were collected for the same purpose. Everyone was urged to be careful and not to talk about their jobs or where they were working. Secrecy was the order of the day and posters appeared all over the country to reinforce this idea. (Be like Dad, Keep Mum Walls have Ears) there was a great variety of these posters, many being illustrated by Cartoonists like Fougasse.

In due course I received by orders to report for a Medical Examination. At that time I wore spectacles but decided to remove them for my examination.

That did not fool the doctor. He told me to put my Glasses on, gave me a perfunctory examination and passes me A1. I then went to the Recruiting Officer who asked me which Service I preferred. I had give this some thought beforehand and felt that the Navy might be the safest and that some kind of clerical job might be suitable (I had no special aptitude for anything else) and so the Navy it was. In fact, because most of the males in the firm for which I worked had been called up already into the Territorial Army, I applied for and was given six months deferment of service.  During that time I carried on with my job. On the Home Front life gradually became more difficult although it was an exciting time. Food Rationing was introduced but I did not know much about that as I was living at home and my mother dealt with that problem. Travelling became more difficult and dangerous.  There were bombing raids which from time to time put the Trains out of action and I can remember arriving at my office in High Holborn on morning to find the whole road blocked by a huge heap of bricks and rubble.

In the first few months of the war not much seemed to be happening on land. We had sent a large Army onto the Continent but the French had built the Maginot Line  across  northern France a line of concrete defence ports, partly below ground and connected by a series of tunnels ect.This was expected to be impregnable and it’s existence give the Allies the time to build up their arms ect. It was thought that the Germany Army could be held at bay, but how wrong we were. The Germans simply came round the end of the line and invaded Belgium and Holland. Eventually the Low Countries gave in and Britain was left to hold the line. It could not be done and we had to evacuate the Continent in June 1940.

Boats of every shape and size were mobilised and, crewed mainly by civilians both your and old, crossed to France and evacuated some 300,000 troops through Dunkirk. 

The troops could bring only what they could carry and vast stores of all kinds were left behind but it was a miracle that so many were able to be saved. Until this time there had been very little activity other then constant Air Raids plus Naval engagements. (Naval losses were quite high).

I can remember sitting in an Air Raid shelter at nights, night after night, listening to the whistle of the falling bombs and the crunch of explosions and the sound of falling buildings. By day I saw aircraft circling overhead in “dog fights”.

I can remember being in the small Garden of the house were we lived whilst a raid was in progress when suddenly incendiary bombs were falling all around us. There was a dash to smother them and in the excitement I cut my hand, my one and only War Wound, and I went to the local First Aid Post to have an anti – tetanus injection.

Life carried on. People spoke to each other who never done so before. People co-operated and there was an air of determination that the unmentionable Germans would not beat us. It was an exciting time, I arrived at my Office one morning to find that the building had been too close to an exploding bomb and had sustained damage. We carried on as long as we could but soon realised that we would have to move. The office staff had been very much depleted and it was therefore decided to evacuate the business to my boss’s house in Hatch End, and I went to live there. My Parents would not move of their own volition and I therefore arranged for them to go to Belfast, where my brother lived. Thus I did not have to worry about their safety. I lived and worked long hours at the house in Hatch End because by now there were only four members of staff left, including my boss and his wife. After our evening meal we would sometimes go for a walk for exercise and I can remember standing on a high place at night and seeing the fires of the buringing building in London following the air raids.

One cloudless night the Moor was full and I can remember seeing an airplane which appeared to be flying across the moon.  A Bombers moon in truth. conditions were becoming more difficult for the Civilian  population. So many things were in short supply or unobtainable and there was no good news coming from the War Front.

Eventually I received my Call up papers together with a travel warrant Valid from Liverpool street station in London and in October 1940 I reported there. I had no idea where I was going but I was directed to a train which carried me to Skegness on the East Coast.  There was transport awaiting me and my fellow “recruits “and we duly arrived at Butlin’s Holiday Camp on the beach at Skegness. There on the 23^rd October 1940 I was enrolled as probationer Writer in the Royal Navy and I learned that the Holiday Camp was now called H. M. S.  Royal Arthur. I was kitted up with Uniform, boots ECT. And allocated with one other man, to one of the chalets on the beach. Now followed six not very comfortable weeks of so called training which consisted largely of squad drill and chores.

The winter of 1940 was exceptionally cold.  There was no heat in our chalet and in the night our breath condensed on the walls and froze. There were Air Raid Shelters on the beach, these consisted of open ended Nissen Huts with blast walls at each end and the cold winds from the sea whistled through them.  During the air raids at night we had to muster in one of these Shelters and stay there freezing until the all clear sounded.  We all had to undergo a course of injections, which induced high temperatures as a result of which I ignored night Air Raid warnings and hid under my blanket. Apart from squad drill there was no formal training for the job I was going to do. I had never worn boots before and as a result I was soon hobbling about but sore heels were no excuse and I had to parade with the rest. The only job that provided any relief was the Cook House detail. This was a job in the warm washing up dishes. And we earned us extra helping of Navy Plum Dough. This job was sought after especially because we had to parade before each meal otherwise by the time we got into the Mass Hall the food was cold. This period lasted for six weeks during which time I was not allowed     ashore. My group were all probationer Writers but there were other ratings doing their initial training. For instance Signallers who spent all day marching about waving flags.

At the end of the six weeks my squad was mustered, bussed into Skegness and put aboard a train, we had no idea where we were going but we travelled through the night (most troops movements seemed to take place at night). I suppose this was in order to maintain secrecy and to avoid disturbing the civilian population. We crossed London via the old underground tunnels in Farrington and in due course arrived in the dark at our destination which turned out to be the Naval Depot at Chatham.  It was cold and wet and we had been travelling all night. We had been told that we would get a hot meal on arrival at our destination but all that I can remember of that meal was a plate of mushy peas, a revolting mess. Our living quarters was a block in Nelson Barracks, a building which had been built for Nelson’s sailors.  As with our previous accommodation it was cold and un-inviting.  Because of the air raids (Chatham was a target town) extensive air raid shelters had been built partly underground and we slept in them. We had to sling our hammocks where ever we could find space. There were a number of offices in these shelters and the trick was to get access to one of these so that we could have more or less permanent position to sling. This I did, we were roused every morning at 6am when the duty officer came round shouting “Rise and Shine” or “Wakey Wakey”. 

Toilet facilities were a trifle crude, washing places were long lines of cold water taps. I was assigned to the Ship’s Office where together with a number of new entries I had to deal with the records of Ratings and their service.  There was no formal instruction it was a case of “learn as you go “we had a break in the day at 11am for “Up spirits” when Ratings over 21 who were entitled drew their Rum ration.  I did not but received 3d (old money) per day in Lieu.

I cannot remember much about meals but normally at mid-day “Stand Easy” was piped when we went for our meal or to the N.A.A.F.I.  Which was on the far side of the huge parade ground. There we could get tea or buns ECT.  All Ratings below the rank of Petty Officer had to run , not walk across the parade ground or be put  “ on a charge “ . At sunset or 4pm Colours was sounded. Everyone then had to stand to attention while the Ensign was lowered. After that unless we had been detailed for duty, we were free to enjoy other activities, Games physical training etc. I was detailed to go to the firing range on one occasion, I was given my rounds to fire but could not hit the target, and I did not go again. The office in which I worked was in the charge of a Chief Petty Officer Writer named Kinneare. I think he was only there to maintain order because he taught me nothing but I do remember that when I was on night duty he would send one of us to the cook House to get hot Teddy Oggies (Cornish Pasties).  They were good, we were allowed ashore I. e. we could go out of Barracks, about once a week. Then the thing to do was to go into Chatham to Aggie Westons, where we could get a bed for the night in separate cubicle and with clean sheets. This luxury cost us 1/- (5p) per night and we could also get breakfast for a modest charge. The barracks was styled H. M. S.  Pembroke and I was now a Chatham rating No MX 72558.  As from 30^th November 1940. Hence forth all my moves would be from and to Pembroke (Chatham). After some weeks of this dull existence I felt that it was time I took a more active interest in the War.  Therefore I went to see a Petty Officer I knew in the Drafting Office. The Drafting Office was where the manning of the ships was arranged, where the crews were selected ECT. Or where individual ratings were selected for posting. I was told that at that time men were being sent either to the Mediterranean or to the Far East.  Where did I want to go?  I thought that the Med might be healthier and said so.   Some days later I was “piped “to report to the Drafting Office where I was presented with a travel warrant and told to fall in on the parade Ground at 1600 hrs.  Together with many others I set off   and some time the next day found me in a strange place which someone who had been there before said was Glasgow.  It was all a bit hazy but eventually I found myself on a large boat moored to a buoy in the River Clyde.

The boat was one of the Union Castle luxury liners which, in peace time plied between England and South Africa. A25000 ton vessel and very fast It turned out that all on board were Naval personnel, we were allocated cabins and it was all very exciting , we  were moored in the river for some days waiting for a Convoy to assemble,  we set sail  but did not know our final destination although I believed it would be the Med.

At this time the Atlantic was quite dangerous because of the presence of the German Wolf packs (U Boats). In addition it was winter time and the North Atlantic in winter can be very rough.

We sailed on and on constantly changing course. First west, then north, then south ect.   This voyage lasted for some weeks during which we had no duties and spent our time exercising to keep fit or in attending lectures   ect.  Given   by one of our   Officers.  Our first port of call was Freetown in Siera Leone. This was the West Coast of Africa, at that time over 50 years ago still a very unhealthy part of the World. Because of that we were not allowed ashore but in any case we had arrived during the rainy season and the rains were so heavy that vision was very much impaired. We were however able to distinguish the Battle Ship, H. M. S. “Renown”. Which unknown to me had been our escort, and was moored close by, we also saw a number of huge Flying Boats moored in the harbour. These were known as the Freetown Bombers, used on Atlantic patrols against the U. Boats.  After several days we set sail again and soon crossed the Equator.  This crossing was attended by the usual “Crossing Line” ceremony when Farther Neptune came aboard and initiated a junior member of the company by ritually shaving him and ducking him. Life was still quite uneventful but the weather was getting warmer and we kept on steadily south. Our next port of call was Durban, right round the south of Africa and into the Indian Ocean.  Here we were allowed ashore and spent a week or so enjoying the hospitality of the South African people  in this case mainly English because Durban is the principal town in that part of Natal which is largely  a British enclave , or was at that time.  I can remember that my first impression of Durban was at night when from the ship we could look across the city which was lit up like a fairy land. Remember that in England everything was blacked out and gloomy.   One of the first things we wanted to do was to go for a swim.  The beach was wide and sandy and the water looked very inviting, until we saw some men pull in a very large fish which turned out to be a hammer head shark. Hence no swim. We were entertained by various members of the civilian population and were given free runoff the Victoria Club where we were able to get good meals and plenty of South African fruit. Which was quite a luxury then. This could not last and after a week or so we were ordered to muster for our onward journey. Unfortunately unknown to us there had been an incident on our journey from England as a result of which our ship had sustained some damage and we had to tranship into another vessel. This proved to be smaller and much less comfortable. It was in fact a relic of the First World War and had originally belonged to the German Kaiser and had been taken by us as Reparations of War.

I can remember turning on the water in my cabin for the first time and out came the cockroaches from the tap.  We now had to get back to Naval Routine and I was detailed for duty in the ships office.  This was not very onerous but I had to report each day. We were now sailing in the Indian Ocean, up the East Coast of Africa, and it was getting hotter and hotter. It was fascinating to see flying fish which on being chased by larger fish took to the air and flew for quite long distances before   dropping into the sea again. It was about this time that H.M.S. “Glasgow” a heavy Cruiser was sunk in the Indian Ocean. We had no way of knowing exactly where we were but we were going north, and eventually we realised that we were in the Red Sea where it was getting even hotter. We were allowed to wear shorts only but were warned against sun stroke (to get burned was a punishable offence) and on duty, in addition to shorts I had blotting paper on my arms to prevent getting stuck to the papers I was working on.  Our final port of call was Port Tewfik at the southern end of the Suez Canal. The ship could not tie up at the quayside and we were put ashore in X Lighters, large iron barges with very little freeboard so that when standing up our eyes were almost at water level.

One of the Queens was moored in the harbour and we taken right under the stern. It was inspiring. The deck of this great vessel was some 60 feet above us, as we crossed the harbour a Battleship came down the canal with the Royal Marine Band playing “Lilly Bolero” Again it was inspiring. ( I am not sure but I think it was H.M.S. Prince of Wales which was later sunk by the Japanese and this was  the ship  to which I would have been sent had I elected to go to the Far East ) . From Tewfik we were taken by land to Egypt, to a naval camp in the desert outside of Alexandria. This was at Sidi Bishr and we spent some time there in sandy discomfort until a decision had been made as to our disposal. On the 18^th March 1941, I was moved to Alexandria where I became part of the crew of H.M.S. Nile. I was accommodated in the Atlantic Hotel, a second class hotel taken over from the Egyptians. I shared a flat with 5 other men.  It was reasonably comfortable and we had our own bathroom which was an asset. My workplace was in another suburb of Alexandria at Ras EI Tin. My first job was to keep a ledger with the accounts of the ratings of a number of Destroyers. (Again there was no formal instruction, it was a case of “learn as you go “ ). The ledgers were kept in duplicate so that there were to Western Desert which began on the outskirts of Alexandria. Our troops were moving back and forth along the coast to Tobruk and Benghazi and the Navy was escorting their supply ships etc, and in the process were losing many ships. It was depressing to have to mark the accounts of so many men D/D, discharged dead.

Later I was moved to the Cash Office where I had to deal with the accounts from local suppliers of provisions etc. amongst other duties there I worked with Frank Phillips who later became Best man at my wedding. The job was a 24 hour a day one but when we were on night duty we were able to take it in turns to sleep because in fact we were non combatants at the time.  We were of course allowed to use King Farouk’s bathing beach. It was inn fact our exclusive right. We were also allowed to use the Alexandria Sporting Club grounds for Cricket and Football etc.  In addition we had the use of the Alexandria Fleet Club where there were various facilities including an open air Cinema.  In addition there were various eating and drinking place which we could use, my favourite eaterie was “ Smokey Joes “ , a small café owned by a Greek.  He cooked over an open fire and the place was always good, during this time I developed some breathing trouble and was rushed off to the Army Hospital Naval Wing situated in the famous Victoria College in Alex. I also developed Amoebic Dysentery and was in Hospital for some weeks undergoing a very uncomfortable course of injections.  On my release I sent to a Naval Convalescent Home for the two weeks  and whilst there , together with others we  enjoyed  the  hospitality of  various local  families . I visited the Farm of a wealthy Swiss who supplied all the milk for Alex. It was well run and I was impressed to find all the animals had to go through a shower to be well washed before they were milked. I also had the opportunity to visit some excavations. One of our Captains was an archaeologist and was investigating a site which might have been where the Palace of Queen Cleopatra was built.  We   went deep underground   into burial chambers etc. Spooky. During  my  period  in Alex  I had one week – end leave  during  which I went to Cairo .  There I stayed   in a New Zealand Forces Hotel.  I visited the famous Muski the market place the Suleiman Mosque where cannon balls fired by Napoleon’s troops could still be seen lodged in the wall of the Mosque. I also visited the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Cheops at Gezira, and the Step Pyramids at Sokkara. I went inside one of these. I was told that it was the tomb of one of the officials of a pharaoh.  The walls were decorated in bright colours with hieroglyphs telling the story of Ti the official. I spent quite a lot of my free time at Toc H House in Alex. This was run by Howard and Elizabeth Dunnet with whom I became very friendly. On at least one occasion and because I had a full beard I dressed up and played Santa Claus at Christmas.  ( Here  I also met the Brigadier whose name at this moment unfortunately   I cannot  remember but who  was also a guest at my wedding ) .  The Army  was continually  advancing and retreating  in the Western Desert  and the Germans eventually got so  close to Alex that it was decided  that some of the base staff. Including my lot, should move to Suez.  I took passage on H.M.S.  “Abdiel “a fast Mine Layer, and in due course arrived in Suez. The same night the Maidstone a Submarine Depot ship left Alex and was sunk with great loss of life. Including a number of WRNS.  Who were taking passage? In Suez I was billeted in a school and working in an Italian Club.

In what had been the dressing room of the theatre? My desk was the dressing table complete with mirror and lights ECT. It was not long in Suez because the Germans were getting closer to Alex, and it was expected that we would move elsewhere but one of the things I do remember was the bizarre story told me by one of the men in my billet. He was a three badge stoker (i.e. a long serving rating, a regular Navy man). He was slowly drinking himself into oblivion. His drink was Arack , a deadly local brew, and he was so far gone. At times that he would keep us awake shouting and asking us to get rid of the little Green men at the end of his bunk. In a sober moment he told me how he had been a stoker on board one of our old Turtle back Destroyers in the Channel in the early days of the war. The ship had been sunk by a direct hit. The bomb went down the funnel and exploded and the ship sunk with all the crew. It was believed that there were no survivors and the stoker’s Father received the usual telegraph to say that the man was “Killed in action “.The Father cashed a life policy on the life of the son, and spent the money. However the stoker had been blown up through the engine room escape hatch and survived. He showed me an Admiralty Telegram which he said was proof of his story and said he was drinking to forget the incident. We had little free time in Suez and were warned to be careful when going “ashore “because of plague in the town. We soon had to move on and then went to Tewfik at the southern end of the Suez Canal. There we were billeted in a school, and worked in the same. It was now very hot and we were bothered by mosquitoes, which meant sleeping under mosquito nets. The whole place was most uncomfortable and fortunately the War position was improving and so we went back to Alex. To our old Billet in the Atlantic Hotel and our office at Ras el Tin.  We carried  on much as before . Hot in the summer and Cold in the winter. We longed for rain and get wet. I can remember one night in the Fleet Club when without warning a suffered a tremendous attack of pain in the tummy.  I was in agony and was taken to the Sick Bay in the Club. The sick berth attendant took one look at me and sent for an ambulance. It was a bone shaker and by the time I got to the Naval Hospital in the Dock area of Alex. The Surgeon examined me and I kept in over night and returned to duty the next day, I never knew what the cause of the trouble was. The War position was gradually improving I can remember being ashore in Alex. One night at the end of October 1942 when the battle of EI Alamein began. General Montgomery had assembled his Army at EI Alamein, just outside of Alex. on the coast and the battle began  with a huge barrage of gun fire,  This I heard   The German Army under Rommel now began to retreat the Americans and in North Africa and the German were forced to leave, Life  now became much easier . The union Jack began to appear again in the public places etc, and the pictures of King George VI. Re-appeared. They had all been removed when the local population thought we were losing the war. At the end of 1943 I had at long last completed my tour of Foreign Service and was posted home.  I travelled on a troop Ship, this time through the Mediterranean. The Italians had caved in but there were still German U Boat in the Med.  And therefore our ship was escorted by a Dutch Destroyer as far as Gibraltar.  I can remember being below on the Mess Deck and hearing and feeling the explosion of Depth Charges as the Destroyer raced around us hunting U. Boats. 

I landed at Queen’s Landing Stage in Liverpool at the beginning of January 1944 and after a Customs search etc.  Took train for Chatham (H.M.S. Pembroke). I had had no long leave since being called up in 1940 and hence I was entitled to about six weeks Foreign Service leave. I went to stay with my Boss at Hatch End. In fact by this time he had also been called up and was with the R.A.F.  In India but his wife Kathleen made me very welcome. She was carrying on the business (Insurance Broking) and I was able to give some help.

Whilst in Egypt I had been writing to a girl in England. She was a friend of the wife of my friend frank Phillips and had asked her, Nora, if Frank could find a lonely sailor for her to write to. Thus began a long correspondence with Betty Vowels. In those days all Forces Mail was heavily censored and the use of Air Letter cards or Aerogram was developed. After I had been on leave for some days in 1944 I felt it was time that I arranged to meet Betty who by this time had joined the Navy also as a Wren’s We fixed to meet in Piccadilly Circus, outside Swan and Edgar’s   (a large shop which has now gone). I did not know what she looked like, I had no photo. The first WRNS I approached was not interested but then Betty came and spoke to me. (She had been watching me from the other side of the road).  We went and had a meal at a Lyons Corner House near by and I discovered that she was stationed in Eastcote, very near to where I was staying at the time. I took her back to her Quarters and was able to see her several times the next two week. I can remember being on Estcote Station one night when I heard a strange engine noise and looking up saw a light in the sky moving towards me. This was my first and only sighting of one of the dreaded Buzz Bombs. a pilot less Aircraft carrying a war head, which when the engine stopped dropped where ever it was on houses of factories or hospitals or dangerous  rockets V- 2s  which came later . the civilian population had a much worse time then people like me. I had had a safe war to date.

After two weeks of leave I received orders to return to Chatham. I did not know at the time but in fact we were beginning to prepare for the final push against Germany. The Africa Corps had been driven out of Africa; the Germans were retreating in Italy. The Russians on the Eastern Front were driving them back and there was a growing feeling of optimism. I reported back to Chatham and after some weeks received a posting to H.M.S. “Shrapnel “. I thought “at last I got a sea posting” I could not discover anything about Shrapnel. I had access to the Red List of major warships and the Pink List of minor warships but there was no mention of Shrapnel in either of these. One Petty Officer told me that it was a newly commissioned Cruiser. In March 1944 I was detailed to go to Southampton and found to my surprise that H.M.S.  Shrapnel was in fact the Old Railway Hotel at the Docks Railway Station. There I was quartered for the rest of the war. I was put in charge of the officer’s pay Section and together with the help of Leading WRNS Pilditch kept the ledgers for the officers of various small craft. All leave was now stopped. The dock at Southampton was filling with landing craft of all types.

The forest  behind Southampton was  crowded with American Troops , guns and Tanks etc, Pluto the cross channel fuel pipe, was established and the pace of the war was hotting  up  During this time I plucked up the necessary courage  to propose to Betty  and was able  to get time  to go to West  Bromwich to see her parents.  Over the next few months I was able to “sneak “off to see her in West Bromwich. (She was working on Ultra all very secret and because of that had four days off at the end of every watch period to go home for the rest and recovery). A date was fixed for our Wedding and Betty’s Mother, Nana   made all the arrangements. She was able to get the necessary Special Licence for us.  She organised a place for us to stay for our Honeymoon (the Hand Hotel in Llangollen, Wales).  Because of rationing there were many difficulties but somehow she was able to overcome these and the Wedding took place on the 13^th January 1945. At the parish Church in West Bromwich. It snowed on the day but after the Reception we left for the Grand Hotel in Birmingham and then to Llangollen. I had managed to get 3 or 4 days leave for the occasion and then had to return to Southampton. Then on the 6^th June 1944 came D. Day, the landing our British and Colonial and American Troops in France. The push for Germany had begun.  I can remember at this time going aboard German U Boat in Southampton Docks. it had been  captured  earlier on and I can remember  being thankful  that I had not  volunteered earlier , as I had  been tempted , for submarine service .

The U Boat was small one; the quarters were very cramped and smelly. Horrible. I was kept busy but was able to get off from time to time to see my new wife. Usually this meant that she would come down to Southampton and on those occasions we were able to stay at the Dolphin Hotel in Southampton.  I can also remember that the staple meal seemed to be pigeon. (The New Forest was swarming with pigeons and I am sure that many of them ended up on the Dolphin’s table).  I was also able to get a few days leave to take Betty over to Ireland to meet my parents. We crossed from Starrier to Larne, we had, the shortest crossing, but there we still U Boats known to be in the Irish Channel and we had to take zig – zag course.  The Germans were retreating and giving up their captured territories all over Europe.

In May 1945 they finally capitulated and Victory in Europe was announced. On that day in May I was in my cabin in Southampton, right close to the Southampton Dock where the Q.E.2 was moored. As the peace was declared she sounded off with her Ships Siren the noise of which shoot the building. Despite this victory the war in the Far East was still on and the Japanese although they were being beaten were still fighting. We had driven them out of Burma and were gradually pushing them back and freeing prisoners of war from various camps in the Far East.  Many of the naval prisoners were coming back to England through Southampton, and I had a small part in helping to repatriate some of them. It was terrible to see some of these men and the state in which they were.

Senior Naval Officers so cowed that they found it difficult to speak to us. Many of the men were in very poor states of health. They had been starved and ill treated by the Japanese.  After the dropping of the Atomic bombs by the Americans on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. the Japanese finally  surrendered and the war was over. A start could now be made on demobilising all those who had been called up for War Service in the Forces or elsewhere. Betty had been demobilised at the end of the War in Europe because she was a married women. (In fact she was the first Wrens to be released). Demobilasation now proceeded on a monthly basis. In May 1946 I was called into the office of the paymaster Captain in Charge (Captain Good). And told that I was due to be released Class A.  But that since there was going to be a shortage of paymasters would I permit him to put my name forward for a paymaster Commission. I had made a speciality of tax affairs whilst in Shrapnel and had been able to get substantial rebates of tax for a number of officers and because of this he would recommend me. I went to the demobilisation centre in Fareham. Outside of Portsmouth. Was then kitted out with  a  Civilian suit etc. and was demobilised on the 19^th May 1946. I had spent nearly 6 years in the Royal Navy and came through it all with barely a scratch.

What a lucky man I was, in addition I had won a dear wife, who at this time over 50 years later is still by darling.