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A veteran interview with

Gordon Hooton

Gordon ran away from home and the Navy and the opportunity to travel was a natural calling for him.

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About Gordon Hooton

Having long been drawn to the water, Gordon Hooton decided to run away from home and volunteer for the Royal Navy at just sixteen years old. Both his time in the Home Guard and the skills inherited from a childhood of swimming and high diving put him in good stead for naval training at HMS Ganges, and Gordon soon found himself waiting for a draft at Chatham Dockyard.

Following some work aboard the submarine recently returned from the stratagems of Operation Mincemeat, Gordon assumed a position aboard the HMS Savage and embarked north to join a huge convoy headed for Russia. Gordon shares his experience aboard the HMS Savage; everything from his initial sea sickness to narrowly avoiding being torpedoed by a fleet of German U-Boats in Polyarny. Following the German surrender, Gordon disembarked the HMS Savage and boarded a great American liner bound for Sri Lanka from Southampton. Assigned as chief quartermaster of this ship, Gordon recounts his experience of escorting a Japanese ship up the Malacca Strait to be sunk. He also explains the processes involved in the dangerous task of mine sweeping at sea.

After the war Gordon was decommissioned on medical grounds, which unfortunately brought a premature end to his career in the Navy. Gordon’s story highlights the dangers inherent to a career in the Navy, and his ability to adapt to the ruthless naval warfare of the Second World War at such a young age is a testament to his fortitude.

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
Reviewed by:
Amelia Bolton

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

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Home | Veterans | Gordon Hooton

A veteran interview with

Gordon Hooton

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Gordon ran away from home and the Navy and the opportunity to travel was a natural calling for him.

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Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Hooton, Gordon. A Veteran Interview with Gordon Hooton. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 26 Aug. 2014 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/gordon-hooton/. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
APA Style:
Hooton, G. (2014, August 26). A Veteran Interview with Gordon Hooton [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved June 13, 2026, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/gordon-hooton/
Chicago Style:
Hooton, Gordon. 2014. A Veteran Interview with Gordon Hooton. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, August 26. Accessed June 13, 2026. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/gordon-hooton/
Harvard Style:
Hooton, G. (2014). A Veteran Interview with Gordon Hooton. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 26 August. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/gordon-hooton/ (Accessed: 13 June 2026)
Vancouver Style:
Hooton, G. A Veteran Interview with Gordon Hooton [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2014 Aug 26 [cited 2026 Jun 13]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/gordon-hooton/
An interview with

Chris Clarke

From country boy to Master of the MS Europic Ferry, Chris Clarke supported the naval task force during the Falklands War.

Chris Clarke shares an inspiring account of his time at sea, contributing to the Royal Navy during the Falklands War. Though born in the depths of the countryside, Chris dreamed of going to sea and commanding his own ship from the age of four. After training at HMS Conway in Wales, he joined the P&O company where he worked aboard cargo and passenger ships in the far east. However, after his marriage, he wished to stay closer to home so he moved to ferries. Eventually, his dream of commanding a ship would come to fruition when he became Master of the MS Europic Ferry. When war in the Falklands erupted, the Europic was requisitioned as part of the War effort. Chris describes the conversion of his ship from a passenger vessel to a military vessel after the inclusion of naval and paras troops. Certain configurations were required such as, clearing storerooms to accommodate the troops and the installation of naval radio communications. It also supported in storing artillery from machine guns to military aircrafts which was impressive considering it was not the largest ship. His voyage would take him from Ascension Island, all the way to San Carlos in the Falklands where they offloaded the troops and their artillery. Even from the outside, Chris was close to the action and vulnerable to attacks where there was a fifty percent survival rate. He recalls one incident involving a large splash near the ship, indicating a possible bomb. Despite the adversity, he managed to maintain a sense of calm while keeping his crew under control, a feeling he would always cherish. After the War, Chris continued with the P&O company for another fifteen years before leaving to become a teacher at Warsash Academy in Southampton. Chris's interview offers a comprehensive look into the experiences of a sea captain who was not used to seeing military action before the Falklands War and the bravery men like him demonstrated while risking their lives for the troops they supported.
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Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker