The Library I have already described the way we lived in general, with me doing most of the catering for our mess and the E Boat problems and how we were provided with German speakers whose sole purpose was to listen through the hours of darkness for the officers on the ‘E’ Boats communicating in… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, The Library and PT.
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, The Boredom of the watch Aboard
The watch aboard on our destroyer consisted of those men who would normally be on watch at sea. In harbour the rigorous discipline was relaxed and there were hours when one could go ashore; the rest being on leave. Most of the time life was very routine and monotonous. In the first week or so… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, The Boredom of the watch Aboard
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, The big bang and a view of Edunburgh
The Big Bang I relate this because afterwards I found the incident in a way, rather funny, and contrary to all I had been led to believe about the imperturbability of the Navy in a crisis. We were sitting at lunch in the Chiefs’ and POs’ Mess. The table ran fore and aft of the… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, The big bang and a view of Edunburgh
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, The Charade of Defaulters
I believe that the Service was suspended in the aspic of time, almost ever since the days of Nelson – until the war, with the sudden alterations in thought and deed which that emergency and the introduction of civilians forced upon it. In turn the Nelson syndrome was thrust upon us at every opportunity by… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, The Charade of Defaulters
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, Fishcake McKay
In the sailor’s induction course we were taught to handle a whaler, a thirty-foot, double-ended, clinker-built life-boat,. We rowed in unison with cries like ‘Give way together’. Our instructions were laced with colourful language by, the Coxswain, or ‘Chief’, and there was swearing in the body of the boat as the blisters began to build.… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, Fishcake McKay
Random Thoughts 17, Judcial Correction Urgently Needed
With people in such dire straits, up and down the country, with their houses and their lives in disarray as a result of the flooding, it seems ludicrous to write what I propose, but it is nonetheless, in my view fairly important. During this past week there was a programme on television which I did… Continue reading Random Thoughts 17, Judcial Correction Urgently Needed
Targets, the labour Spur to a better Britain
The introduction of targets by Tony Blair was, I believe an insult to the intelligence of the nation. We all have targets, some are very simple like mowing the lawn, which we allow ourselves to put off if we have a good enough excuse. In business, five-year rolling plans and some other targets have been… Continue reading Targets, the labour Spur to a better Britain
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order,It Had To Rear Its Head Sometime
If you have led a sheltered life, in a house full of women, the services will soon change all that. You soon become aware of life as it is lived. My first brush was when we had come in from convoy and repairs had to be carried out to the relief of us all –… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order,It Had To Rear Its Head Sometime
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order,The First Boiler Clean and Kissing
At intervals the Hunt destroyer had to go into dock to have the boiler tubes cleaned as they became choked with salts from the water used to make steam. Part of the crew not on watch was allowed on leave for the four days it took. I decided to go London to see my Mother… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order,The First Boiler Clean and Kissing
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, In Praise of a lost Art
The making of a ‘Prick’ of tobacco. The ration was supplied in leaf form, as the name implied, with stalks and all, and I intended to turn this mass of dried cabbage into a plug of tobacco, which could challenge any in a tobacconists shop. Just writing that has made me realise there are few… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, In Praise of a lost Art