Born October 7th 1924 in Ambleside, Westmorland (Cumbria). Attended the Wireless College Colwyn Bay, 1940/42, where I qualified for City and Guilds Telecommunications and Special PMG.

In August, 1942, I was employed by Marconi, and joined HMT Duchess of Bedford in Liverpool. The ship sailed independently to Boston, and about 400 miles off Boston was attacked by a U-boat, and sent SSSS SSSS signals. The ship fired at the submarine, sinking it by gunfire. This ship took US troops to Iceland, and then UK troops from Iceland to UK. While in Iceland, it was bombed by Fokker Wolfe Condors (no hits).

Also sailed to North Africa, and involved in exercises in Oban (North Africa). In November the ship loaded US troops for invasion of North Africa, taking part in landings at Arzue near Oran, and was bombarded by the French Navy. There were two trips to Algiers with reinforcements. Also sailed for Suez via Cape with British troops, and did exercises in Red Sea for three months preparing for the invasion of Sicily. The ship took part in the invasion of Sicily near Syracuse and Italy Anzio, before returning to UK.

My next ship was the Arawa. We did trooping to New York/Liverpool. In January 1944, I signed T124X articles, then joined the QE in Gourack (as a passenger). Sailed to New York, then took at train (had special coach with compartment) to San Francisco, taking three days across USA, and spent a month in a fancy hotel, then to LA. The keel was laid in San Pedro. The ship - Empire Crossbow (one of 13 ships given to RN by USN in March 1943) sailed independently to Portsmouth via Panama. I spent a month at HMS Mercury on RN communications and naval codes - exercises for Normandy. We did landings at Le Hamel (Gold Beach) H+16 days on beach, then trooping across channel. I signed off T124X in August 1944.

I got a Second Class PMG and then went back to MN as Chief Radio Officer. Some of my ships: Gitano, Clumberhall, Trewellard, British Valour, Fort Thompson. I was married in April 1947, then sent out to Malta join to join the Fort Charlotte, a RFA navy supply ship. Also accompanied RN on Palestine patrol intercepting Jewish ships that were bringing illegal immigrants to Palestine. I returned to UK in September1948, then shipped out of Liverpool on Harrison ships.