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Ted Rogers

A veteran interview with

Edward Rogers

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About Edward Rogers

Edward Rogers, known as ‘Ted’ to his friends, was born in Liverpool in 1924. Following the Blitz, Ted was still too young to join the Royal Navy aged only 16. However instead of waiting to be called up once he was old enough, he instead made the bold decision to join the Merchant Navy as an apprentice.

Although Ted didn’t yet know it, his first sea voyage would change his life forever.

While sailing aboard the Alfred Jones, Ted and his crew were part of a vicious torpedo attack, by a U-Boat commanded by the formidable Günther Hessler. After being given orders to abandon ship as fire broke out, Ted made the unfortunate discovery that his allocated lifeboat had been destroyed in the explosion, and that he would have to swim to another for any chance of survival.

Stranded 120 miles from shore in a small, overcrowded lifeboat, he was incredibly lucky to survive, though sadly two other members of the crew were not so fortunate. As part of life in the MN, burials at sea were not uncommon, however for Ted he mainly recalls the great camaraderie he shared with his crew, despite the constant threat of U-Boat attacks, including celebrations for Christmas and the eventual end of the war.

It took another year following the end of the war for Ted to be demobilised, where he faced yet another big decision about his future, having to choose between maintaining a romantic relationship or training for the priesthood. Ted chose the latter, which would mark the beginning of yet another great adventure in his life.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Toby Boddy

Transcripts:
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Home | Veterans | Edward Rogers

A veteran interview with

Edward Rogers

Ted Rogers

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Rogers, Edward. A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 8 Mar. 2014 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
APA Style:
Rogers, E. (2014, March 8). A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved February 14, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/
Chicago Style:
Rogers, Edward. 2014. A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, March 8. Accessed February 14, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/
Harvard Style:
Rogers, E. (2014). A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 8 March. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/ (Accessed: 14 February 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Rogers, E. A Veteran Interview with Edward Rogers [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2014 Mar 8 [cited 2026 Feb 14]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/edward-rogers/
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."
Photo Gallery icon 1 Photo
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
An interview with

Patricia Davies

Patricia Davies was involved in Operation Mincemeat, one of the most notorious secret war events of WW2. 

Not many women would turn down a posting to Bletchley park but Patricia Davies did. It rubbed up a few noses but it ensured that she would be involved in one of the most audacious secret missions of the Second World War. Operation Mincemeat was a highly innovative and successful deception which helped to convince the German high command that the Allies planned to invade Greece and Sardinia in 1943 instead of Sicily, the actual objective.
In her interview, Patricia reflects on her role in the op and marvels at the secrecy that was part and parcel of her life during the war. She also offers opinion on the the film 'The man Who Never Was', which was made about the Operation.
Patricia passed away on the 22 July, 2014.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martyn Cox