War at Sea - Allied: British and Commonwealth

Royal Navy

Lt Derric A Breen RNVR
Lt Derric A Breen RNVR served as a Telegraphist on HMS Egret during the Battle of the Atlantic, before moving to Coastal Forces in command of HDML 1388. He was then drafted to HMS Pict in Freetown as First Lieutenant.

Telegraphist R. Colin Craston
Colin Craston volunteered for the Royal Navy in 1941. His tape-recording, photographs and original diaries document his service aboard HMS Eclipse on Russian Convoys including the dangers faced from harsh weather conditions as well as enemy attacks.

Tel (S) George Smith.
Having joined the Royal Navy as a Special Telegraphist, George experienced an interesting draft at a shore station in Russia.

Able Seaman W Smith DSM
Able Seaman W Smith DSM served in HMS Magpie in the Battle of the Atlantic, as well as Russian convoy duties. For D Day, Bill and the crew of HMS Magpie patrolled off Gold Beach.

Merchant Navy

Merchant Naval Seaman Christopher Tulitt
Christopher Tulitt served in the Merchant Navy and acquired the nickname 'Jonah' having survived the sinking of three ships while serving as a Cadet.

Merchant Naval Seaman David Wilson
David Wilson's ship, SS Willesden, was captured by the crew of a German commerce raider in 1942. David then spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of the Japanese, at Kawasaki Camp.

Fleet Air Arm

Telegraphist / Air Gunner Derek Foster
Trained as a Telegraphist Air Gunner, Derek Foster's first posting was with 825 Squadron aboard HMS Vindex in the North Atlantic, searching for German submarines. Later, in the Far East, Foster served on HMS Victorious attacking Japanese islands as well as the mainland.

Petty Officer Eric Such
Petty Officer Eric Such joined the Fleet Air Arm as a Telegraphist / Air Gunner and served in the Far East.

Royal Marine

Commander Patrick Dalzel-Job
Commander Patrick Dalzel-Job, Special Service Commando, experienced both the Norwegian and Normandy Campaigns.

Corporal John Best
Corporal John Best was involved in the invasions of Pantelleria and Sicily before his role on 6 June 1944, sinking one of the vessels forming the artificial harbour at Arromanches.

WRNS

3^rd Officer Mary Hall
Mary served as a Wren Plotter at Derby House and was then drafted to Portland after her commission, being appointed Duty Staff Officer during the build-up to D Day.

2^nd Officer Penny Martin
Penny joined the WRNS in 1940 and became Lead/Writer before being drafted overseas in 1942 to Egypt.

Officers' Steward Patricia Potton
Volunteering for the WRNS as soon as she reached the age of 18, Patricia served on H.M.S. Osprey in Dunoon, Scotland. She was an active member of the entertainment committee "The Glenmorag Follies".

Canadian Merchant Navy

Sr R/O Henry Hamor Gardner
Hamor served as a Radio Operator in the Canadian Merchant Navy and recalls two particular sailings to India.