Merchant Navy Radio Officers

John "Jack" EDWARDS, Radio Officer, 1943-51

 Jack had always wanted to go to sea and was an avid listener of Shipmates Ashore, a wartime Merchant Navy program hosted  by Doris Hare every Saturday teatime.  In 1943, he attended Colwyn Bay Wireless College. After getting his 'special ticket' he joined Marconi.

     His first ship was the Empire Rosalind (see crew list), which he joined in South Liverpool Docks. They sailed for Gareloch on the Clyde to load war supplies for Italy, and Jack was introduced to the 12 midnight to 4 am graveyard watch and seasickness! The ship spent all 1944 in the Mediterranean tramping between ports in Israel, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Naples, and Taranto. They took part in the invasion of Southern France. When they were anchored off the beaches, they were hit by an American Liberty ship whose steering had jammed.

     After the ship returned to the UK, Jack joined the Fort Henly. This ship was loaded with bombs for Bombay. There was a slight panic in Bombay when their bunkers caught fire! His later ships were the Ocean Pride, Ensis, Gardenia, and the Durham Trader. He then served on the Lamport and Holt ships Delius, Debrett, Lassell, and the Byron on the B.A. and Brazil run to the UK.

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     In 1951, Jack 'swallowed the anchor' and now lives on the Wirral.  He is a keen member of the Colwyn Bay Wireless College 'Old Boys' Club'  who hold yearly reunions.

E-mail Jack Edwards to contact him

See Empire Rosalind

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