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A veteran interview with

Cyril Blackman

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About Cyril Blackman

Cyril Blackman joined the Royal Marines in May 1949. He undertook his training at Deal and then Bickley before being shipped to Malaya to join the 3rd Commando Brigade. Upon reaching Asia, Cyril volunteered for Lieutenant Colonel Drysdale’s 41 Commandos and commenced training with American Marines at Camp McGill in Japan.

Cyril’s role in Korea was to raid targets along the Korean coastline as part of Charlie troop, he was mostly tasked with defending the perimeter. When the raids became less effective Cyril’s troop was withdrawn and re-deployed to Korea to journey to Chosin reservoir.

Cyril speaks of the bleak conditions on the ground in Korea, and how he was fortunate to be evacuated as a result of contracting pneumonia.

When he recovered Cyril returned to raiding on Yodo island near Wansam harbour. Despite being stationed in North Korean waters Cyril faced little hostility; he believes this was because all enemy resources were focused on the front line.

Cyril’s 12 months in Korea shed light on a war that should never be forgotten or overlooked. He will always hold dear his time in the 41 Commandos for the long lasting friendships he built.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Ed Thorns

Transcripts:
Please note that transcripts and closed captions in the video player are automatically generated by Vimeo.

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Home | Veterans | Cyril Blackman

A veteran interview with

Cyril Blackman

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Blackman, Cyril. A Veteran Interview with Cyril Blackman. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, n.d. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/cyril-blackman/. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
APA Style:
Blackman, C. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Cyril Blackman [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/cyril-blackman/
Chicago Style:
Blackman, Cyril. n.d.. A Veteran Interview with Cyril Blackman. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee. Accessed March 6, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/cyril-blackman/
Harvard Style:
Blackman, C. (n.d.). A Veteran Interview with Cyril Blackman. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/cyril-blackman/ (Accessed: 6 March 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Blackman, C. A Veteran Interview with Cyril Blackman [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; n.d. [cited 2026 Mar 6]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/cyril-blackman/
An interview with

Fanny Hugill

From Dover Castle's Tunnels to the planning of D-Day and the Normandy landings, Fanny Hugill’s WWII Contribution

Fanny Hugill recalls her extraordinary life serving in the Women’s Royal Navy Service (also known as Wrens), reaching the rank of Third Officer and serving during WW2. She decided to join the Wrens after visiting a recruiting officer during her lunch break at work. After joining, she was sent to the Wren headquarters in London to serve as a short-end typist. It was boring work and Fanny tried to transfer out, but she wasn’t allowed. Luckily for Fanny, her father, a war veteran, bumped into Admiral Ramsay, an important military figure during WWI and WWII, on a train, explained the situation and the Admiral said he’d move Fanny over to Dover. Her job there was as a plotter, marking on charts everything that moved in the English channel, from slow moving convoys to minesweeping ships, Fanny remembers it as very complicated work. She was housed in Dover college and she worked in the operations room in the tunnels under Dover castle. She loved her time there and remembers it as some of the happiest months of her life. Dover was a hub of activity and on occasion, very important figures would come and visit the operations room. She remembers Sir Winston Churchill visited several times, and on one occasion remembers seeing him looking over across the sea to France, it is something she never forgot. Eleanor Roosevelt also visited, she was very popular amongst the Wrens. Fanny fondly remembers her time at Dover, but, after 21 months, she was promoted and moved on. She carried out her officer training course at the start of 1944, describing it as three of the hardest weeks in her life. After completing her officer training, she was assigned to be a personal assistant to Admiral Tennent, the renowned "Dunkirk Joe", who played a pivotal role in the evacuation of over 300,000 Allied soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. However, Fanny much preferred working as a watchkeeper, so asked the Admiral to transfer her, which he happily did. Fanny took part in planning D-Day with Admiral Ramsay and his team. Fanny was on shift when the day came. She gives us a first hand recount of the operations room during such a tense time. Following the D-Day landings, she was sent to Normandy, September 6th 1944. She recalls the devastating sight as she travelled through Normandy to Granville. Fanny talks about the impact on morale that the death of Admiral Ramsay had on her and the rest of the team. Ramsay's replacement was Sir Harold Burrough whom she describes as a "big, teddy bear of man." Fortunately he stayed with them through to Germany. Fanny reflects on her war. She missed out on a place at Oxford but says, "I have been so thankful for the experience, people I met, people I worked with, people I worked for and the friends I made. And I think it made one feel, you can do things if you want to. It's up to you. Get on and do it. And that stood me in a very good stead."
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Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Alec ‘Ernest’ Kellaway

A 12-year naval odyssey from the Spanish Civil War to post-WWII peace building

Alec 'Ernest' Kellaway joined the Royal Navy at the age of eighteen, embarking on a career that spanned a period of global unrest and offered a unique perspective on life at sea. He began his service aboard HMS Hood, where he spent over three years. HMS Hood, a legendary battlecruiser, played a significant role in naval history until its tragic sinking in 1941—a fate Alec narrowly escaped, having been sent ashore for training just before the disaster.
Alec's journey didn’t end there. He served on destroyers like HMS Cossack, participating in daring missions such as the famous Altmark incident in Norwegian waters. As the war progressed, he adapted to new challenges aboard Motor Launches, carrying out anti-submarine patrols and convoy escorts along the West African coast. His adaptability and resilience were further tested when he joined HMS Skate, where he braved the perilous Arctic convoys and took part in the D-Day landings.
After the war, Alec's duties extended to Africa and Asia, where he played a role in post-war peacebuilding aboard ships like the HMS Loch Tarbert and HMS Concord. His experiences included everything from laying mines to combating drug trafficking in the Far East.
Alec's story is a powerful example of strength and the unstoppable spirit of those who served. It’s filled with chilling experiences and moments of camaraderie, offering a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people who played extraordinary roles in shaping history.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker