Hands to Action Stations - Memoirs of a very young Naval Officer (1939 - 1945)

Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Hands to Action Stations by Peter Poland. October after 11 terms at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and one month in the battleship 'Nelson". Except for 3 months technical courses in the Summer of and the occasional and very short leave he remained at sea until the end of the war.

He did not return to the U. The memoirs include the following: August to December Commando training at Inverary. January to July A Lightening Class destroyer. Russian Convoys in early ands winter Pursuit and sinking of the battle cruiser "Scharnhorst. Escorting and covering convoys in Channel and North Sea.

Hands to Action Stations

Engagements with "E" boats off east coast. I was able to read the eyesight charts well enough not to raise questions and of course I removed my glasses before any parades. When I eventually took up my first long-term ship assignment HMS Narbrough no one questioned my use of glasses.

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At Liverpool University half the time was spent on naval training, where my OTC parade ground experience proved useful, and half on academic studies which we were told would be accepted as the first year of a degree course if we chose to return to academic life after the war, though the UND course was to last only six months and we had to pass exams at the end of it. I managed to pass the course and became an Ordinary Seaman in the Royal Navy in July , earmarked as a commission candidate.

There, as well as parades and more naval lectures, we had to pass a number of physical tests such as running a mile in, I think, six minutes and completing a cross country course in a specified time. The test I remember best was climbing a very high mast — terrifying for someone like me with no head for heights. There were safety nets supported by a number of thick concrete posts but if any unfortunate faller happened to land on a post he would not be in good shape!

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I felt — and still feel - that this test was more suitable for the navy in Napoleonic times. During this course, and indeed all the courses we had to pass before gaining a commission, several candidates failed and had to return to sea duties, retaining the rank of Ordinary Seaman. Some of the failures were chaps we expected to pass easily. I was given various tasks such as helping to supply huge shells to one of the big inch guns when it was being fired during exercises at sea.

I also had a turn at steering the ship, altering course and keeping a steady course under the direction of the officer of the watch. This was the time when I learnt it was quite unpleasant sleeping in a hammock amongst many other tightly packed sailors. Another incentive to do well! I was sent to Londonderry to join a newly commissioned frigate, HMS Narbrough of some tons, which had been loaned to us by the USA for the duration of the war.

Unlike the elderly destroyers which had been loaned earlier in the war, Narbrough was brand new and quite well equipped, so that I had a cabin to myself and a bunk instead of a hammock. She had three 3- inch guns, a number of oerlikon machine guns, depth charges and a weapon called a hedgehog which fired a number of explosive projectiles from the bows to a point about fifty yards ahead when a possible U-boat had been detected by our asdic.

Asdic is broadly similar to radar but with a shorter range and operates under water to detect objects such as submarines. The crew consisted of about ratings and 8 officers. It was quite a relief when I found I had no money missing or left over! My second major duty was to take charge of the forecastle division of seamen, a third of the non-specialist ratings on the ship. I had to deal with any problems they put to me and to pass on to the captain, via the first lieutenant, any requests such as for compassionate leave due to domestic problems, promotion when due, etc.

When coming into port my division was responsible for handling the mooring lines from the bows or for dropping the anchor if that was called for. At sea I was one of the watch-keeping officers, on duty for four hour stretches on the bridge, seeing that the ship went where she was meant to go and calling the captain to the bridge in the event of an emergency such as detecting a possible U boat.

When we accompanied a convoy I had to alter course at the correct time to a new leg of the zig zag, as a means of foiling any U boat which might have been about to attack. Our action was mainly with depth charges and the hedgehog. In heavy seas — quite common in the Atlantic - the ship rolled a lot, up to perhaps 40 or 50 degrees either side.

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I quickly learned that I was prone to seasickness a misfortune shared by Lord Nelson and a distressing problem if you are left in charge of a ship when on watch or if you have to prepare some official papers before entering harbour. Our ship formed part of the Fifteenth Escort Group along with five sister ships and our main duties were meeting incoming Atlantic convoys to take over protection duties against U boats or aircraft or operating as an independent group searching for U boats.

We then became one of the escorts for a convoy taking American troops to invade Normandy. The Commodore in charge of the convoy was on the leading troopship, the USS Susan B Anthony, carrying a large number of troops perhaps ? We were stationed some yards on her starboard beam and travelling along what was supposed to be a mine-free channel. Then began the tricky task of taking off the troops as quickly as possible.

We managed to take off several hundred soldiers safely and two other frigates then took off the remainder. I never heard whether there had been casualties when the mine exploded but it would be almost miraculous if there had been none. Our ship was of course absolutely packed and we were glad to unload the troops on to landing barges when we reached Normandy. Help us improve our Author Pages by updating your bibliography and submitting a new or current image and biography. Learn more at Author Central. All Formats Kindle Edition Sort by: Popularity Popularity Featured Price: Low to High Price: High to Low Avg.

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