Introduction

My Naval career began in March 1939 when I joined the Tyne Division RNVR (HMS Calliope) at the tender age of seventeen, intending to transfer into the regular RN when I was old enough to sign for myself and make this my career. I had wanted to join the regular Royal Navy but my father, an ex World War 1 matelot himself, refused to let me join up as he believed that the life would be too hard for me. This was a happy time and I thoroughly enjoyed the boat work and 'learning the ropes'. I can still manage a back splice!

Here is the old girl, as I remember her:

Just before war was declared I was called up and drafted with many of my mates from Calliope to the Royal Naval Depot HMS Pembroke at Chatham in Kent. Within days I received a draft chit to join an Armed Merchant Cruiser - HMS Cathay, that was being converted from a P&O luxury liner at Bombay.

And so I served my Naval 'apprenticeship' patrolling the Indian Ocean in a painfully slow fifteen thousand ton converted cruise ship searching for German raiders such as the Graf Spee. We (luckily) never saw action, as I probably would not be around today if we had. This easy going life lasted until September 1940 when Cathay returned to the UK for a refit and this time as an AB, I joined a gunnery LR3 course at Chatham.

Having completed the course I awaited my draft, and it soon came - a brand new fleet destroyer HMS Lightning being commissioned at Hebburn just across the river Tyne from my home town of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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