Merchant Navy Radio Officers

W. Noel BLACKLOCK, Radio Officer, 1940 - 1945

Noel was a Radio Officer with Marconi from April 1940 to 1945 having received his Special Certificate after six months at Holloway Radio College.  He served on the following ships: Siris, Creemuir, Bodnant, Jessie Maersk, Kirkpool, Rudby, Avristan, Empire Cougar, Hopestar, Empire Gold, British Princess, Scorton, Maplewood, King Neptune, and Ocean Glory. These ships were mainly tramps, with a few tankers for good measure, and never more than twelve passengers.

     He had an interesting war, mainly in the Atlantic, was sunk twice, and was very lucky to survive. Only on one occasion did he have to swim.

     Noel has vivid memories of being part of convoy HX143 which was inspected by Sir Winston Churchill from the battleship Prince of Wales in mid-Atlantic in August 1941, a most exciting time. He has researched the event, and now knows all the ships in the convoy. He would love to hear from other who were there.

     He also had some unforgettable times on the Normandy Beaches from D + 3 right through to the following October when the winter gales set in. They lost their third anchor and had to come home!

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     Having left the sea in 1945, Noel spent three years at the British School of Osteopathy training to be an Osteopath, and had his own practice in Bedford, England, until he retired some years ago. Noel does not yet have a web site, but is working on it. E-mail him at nblacklock@ntlworld.com

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