Eric Conway joined the Royal Navy at the young age of 16, starting his service on the very day World War II broke out. He served as a Leading Telegraphist, specialising in communications and coding. Eric's submarine experience was primarily on U-class submarines, known for their small size and challenging conditions. He was involved in several significant events during the war, including the tragic PQ17 convoy, where his submarine was part of a screen protecting merchant ships from German U-boats. Eric witnessed the devastating aftermath of the convoy's scattering, resulting in the loss of numerous ships. He also had close encounters with German U-boats, including one instance where his submarine fired a torpedo and engaged in a gun battle with a U-boat. Eric's wartime experiences took a toll on his mental health, leading to a period of hospitalisation and a change in his service category. Despite the hardships he faced, he completed his service and carried the memories and impact of the war with him throughout his life.

At 18, Ron volunteered for the navy and joined the 16^th destroyer flotilla on HMS Southdown, a hunt class destroyer L25. Ron began as an ordinary seaman on general duties such as swabbing down the deck, maintaining the weapons, splicing ropes. He recounts a terrifying torpedo attack in the middle of the night which actually turned out to be friendly fire when a British patrol mistook Ron’s ship for a German R-boat laying mines. The Southdown was repaired in time for D-Day where it was their responsibility to lay down a smokescreen. Ron recalls night watches and having to be ready for action in case German aircraft were spotted dropping floating mines. Ron was then involved in blockades at Calais and Ostend preventing German supplies from getting through. Ron reflects that he had a lucky war, he enjoyed the camaraderie with the men and was never really in the thick of serious action.