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A veteran interview with

Sister Veronica

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About Sister Veronica

Credits

Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker

Copyright:
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Home | Veterans | Sister Veronica

A veteran interview with

Sister Veronica

SisterVeronica-film-still

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https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sister-veronica/

Cite this interview:

MLA Style:
Veronica, Sister. A Veteran Interview with Sister Veronica. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, 15 Aug. 2016 https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sister-veronica/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
APA Style:
Veronica, S. (2016, August 15). A Veteran Interview with Sister Veronica [Interview by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee. Retrieved April 18, 2025, from https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sister-veronica/
Chicago Style:
Veronica, Sister. 2016. A Veteran Interview with Sister Veronica. Interview by Martin Bisiker. Legasee, August 15. Accessed April 18, 2025. https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sister-veronica/
Harvard Style:
Veronica, S. (2016). A Veteran Interview with Sister Veronica. [Interviewed by Martin Bisiker]. Legasee, 15 August. Available at https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sister-veronica/ (Accessed: 18 April 2025)
Vancouver Style:
Veronica, S. A Veteran Interview with Sister Veronica [Internet]. Interview by M. Bisiker. Legasee; 2016 Aug 15 [cited 2025 Apr 18]. Available from: https://www.legasee.org.uk/veteran/sister-veronica/
An interview with

Malcolm Farrow

Malcom shares his vivid memories and experiences of his time with the Navy in the Falklands where he specialised in communications and electronic warfare.

Having joined the Navy first as an engineer, then as a Seaman Officer, Malcolm had reached the position of Lieutenant Commander Staff Officer and was incredibly busy on the HMS Antrim taking part in Exercise Spring Train by Gibraltar when they starting to hear rumblings about what was happening in the South Atlantic. It then came as no surprise when they were mobilised to head south. Malcolm recalls that there was initially a degree of making things up as they went along as they didn’t know what to expect and nobody, except one Royal Marines Officer, had ever been to the Falklands. One of Malcolm’s jobs was to work on deception tactics such as laying chaff around this ships to appear a larger flotilla and charting a course which looked like they might actually be heading for Argentina. At Ascension, Malcolm transfers to HMS Hermes where he recalls a frenzied race for better sleeping conditions when the Admiral said the officers could share his cabin which included the luxury of a double bed and shower. During this time, Malcolm had two main responsibilities. When on watch he was the Anti-Submarine Warfare Screen Coordinator and when not on watch he managed communications, including highly classified messages. He vividly recalls hearing the tragedy of the Sheffield directly through his headphones but that they only had a brief time to reflect before pushing on with their jobs. Malcolm describes some of their biggest challenges being rudimentary communication, lack of advance warning about airborne attacks and confusion which could arise from the three services not really having collaborated since WWII. He also remembers the tragedies of helicopter crashes and a Harrier exploding, he thinks it was often luck that meant things weren’t worse. Malcolm says it was difficult readjusting to life at home and is grateful to the public who offered members of the task group free holidays. It was a week in Wales with his family, away from home and work, that finally helped him decompress. He reflects that the Falklands will probably have been the last time the Royal Navy will fight a fleet action in that way.
Service:
Interviewed by:
Martin Bisiker
An interview with

Patricia Parker

A Wren from Kent reflects on her military service during WWII, including her memories of D-Day and VE Day.

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.
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