Surviving the First Attack and the Hunt for the Bismarck

Alf Burton spent 23 years in the Royal Navy, beginning his career just as the Second World War broke out. His service almost ended before it began: while working high up a funnel on HMS Edinburgh in the Firth of Forth, his ship was strafed in the first German air attack on Britain. Sixteen naval personnel were killed across three ships and Alf’s funnel was left riddled with machine-gun holes.

In his interview, Alf speaks candidly about life at sea. He recalls the poor condition of some wartime vessels, the sheer scale of the guns on HMS Rodney, and the moment an ingenious German pilot nearly sank her. He gives a gripping account of the chase for the Bismarck and a bird’s-eye view of her sinking — a reality for which no training exercise could prepare the crew.

His memories offer an extraordinary window into the Navy’s endurance and transformation, from the war years to his later reflections on visiting a modern warship.

Alf died on Thursday 27th January 2018, aged 1998.

Ted was born into a boating family and became an apprentice towing up to 150-ton barges on the Thames. He joined The Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Combat Engineer) Waterman. He was sent to Field Company Kitchener Barracks Chatham, then to the 229 Field Company, a territorial unit in the 49th West Riding Division. He undertook pontoon training, building rafts and dismantling bridges. Ted was put on a cadre course to earn his lance corporal stripe and travelled to Norway as part of The North -Western Expeditionary Force (NWEF). He arrived in the port of Narvik to obtain iron ore supplies, facing gun fire and bombing. After damaging cranes, quays and railway lines to slow down the enemy, he travelled back on The Lancastria ship, stopping to build defences from Scotland to East Anglia. Ted became a sergeant and was posted to 947 in the world of transport company. He later became a sergeant major, working as a tug skipper and undertaking OC2 (Officer Cadet) training. As D-Day approached Ted had a detachment of army lighterman with the 953 Inland Water Transport Company (IWT).  He was sent to Normandy in charge of Rhino ferry barges on Gold beach. He describes the responsibility of the men in his ferries and the dangers of mines and mortar shells as they loaded cargo at the Mulberry Harbour. Ted brought his company back after V-E Day and was sent to Marchwood as Marine and IWT Superintendent. He was demobbed after serving for over six years. Ted later reminiscences about the fear he felt, his friendships with his fellow sergeants, and how lucky he was to survive.

Tim Macmahon, was Flight Commander and pilot of a Lynx helicopter aboard HMS Antelope during the Falklands War. He recalls his sudden deployment to the South Atlantic in April 1982 where initially he performed routine duties including transporting the Argentinian POW Alfredo Astiz and British Antarctic Survey members.  The mood shifted after the sinking of the Belgrano and HMS Sheffield, leading to a mission on May 23rd, where Tim and his crew fired Skua missiles at an enemy supply ship. While away, HMS Antelope was severely damaged by bombs. Tim evacuated casualties and assisted bomb disposal efforts by hovering with floodlights above the ship. He returned to the UK onboard the QE2. Reflecting on the war, Tim shares experiences of refuelling without modern technology and the emotional weight of attacking an Argentine carrier once crewed by his father.