Sydney Adlam was a budding young sportsman when war broke out. It was at his local athletics club that he met a man by the name of Brady who introduced him to an altogether more explosive activity. Brady invited Sydney to join the Auxiliary Unit, a secret resistance network of highly trained volunteers, where he learnt how to assemble explosives, time pencils and switches, and to understand the workings of a hand grenade. Sydney recalls details of regular training sessions in Havant, Gosport and Aldershot, including a close encounter in a trench with a hand grenade dropped in error by his comrade but hurled to safety by the lightning-fast instructor nearby. Although the invasion never came, the Auxiliary Unit stood ever ready to disrupt and deter the enemy in defence of their homeland with the courage and bravery that came to define their generation.

Upon joining the Merchant Navy in 1940, David served on the oil tanker SS Vimiere. During his early career, he witnessed a ship sink whilst returning from Halifax, Nova Scotia – a disheartening experience that marked the beginning of several challenges at sea.  David trained as a wireless operator and was part of the Russian convoy JW53, braving a nasty hurricane that forced multiple ships to turn back. His vessel successfully reached Murmansk, where he recalls narrowly escaping an aircraft bombing while anchored. The ship was damaged during an attack but, luckily, disaster was avoided. For his efforts, David received a King’s Commendation.  By the age of 19, David had ascended to the role of Chief Radio Officer on the Eastern Prince, a refuelling ship for the convoy. He reflects on his scariest convoy where, despite the odds being stacked against them, he and his crewmates survived a relentless bomber attack.    There are also some lighter moments that David recounts. One involves the unexpected retrieval of a giant bear in Murmansk. He also has fond memories of surviving on spam (which he still likes) and sailing to amazing places.  David's colourful stories illustrate his resilience, courage and camaraderie at sea.