With a long-held ambition to join the Navy, Fred Estall keenly awaited the arrival of his call-up papers, which sent him first to Pwllheli in north Wales for initial sea training and then to HMS Wellesley in Liverpool for gun training. He passed out as a DEMS gunner (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ship) and went to Nova Scotia – via HMS Belfast and RMS Queen Mary – to join the crew of a Merchant Navy oil tanker. Fred talks about life on board, describing the extra work available to anyone willing to get his hands dirty – which he always was, not only because he could earn more money, but also because keeping busy helped him keep his mind off the U-boats. He explains the stark difference between the atmosphere of camaraderie in the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, and talks about the distinct lack of entertainment onboard a merchant ship. Recalling heavy seas, storms and the huge expanse of ocean, Fred’s memories bring vividly to life what it was like to move from tanker to tanker while the world was at war, keeping allied ships fuelled from 1940 – 1944.

When Patricia Parker turned 18, two years after the Second World War had begun, she was eager to do her bit, and as soon as she was called up she joined the WRNS (Women’s Royal Naval Service). After completing her training in Kent, Patricia was sent to HMS Ceres in Wetherby, Yorkshire, where her job was to rate new recruits and decide which ships they would be drafted to. Recalling that 500 ratings passed through the station every eight weeks, she shares her emotional reflections on the uncertainty of their futures. Patricia also highlights the crucial role of the convoys in keeping Britain fed during the war; fondly remembers the regular dances hosted by the RAF, Navy or Army, at which many people found romance; and vividly recalls the build-up to D-Day, when England’s roads were lined with men and machinery in preparation for the invasion. Patricia’s reflections offer a poignant glimpse into the experiences of those who worked quietly yet valiantly behind the scenes. From the uncertainty faced by countless new recruits to the camaraderie and brief moments of joy shared within the ranks, her memories paint a vivid picture of resilience, duty and the human experience of war.