WW2 Memories

Mr. S. A. W. Jones (Stan Jones)
10 Farm Close
Henfield
West Sussex
BN5 9RE
I joined the Royal Navy in December 1940 as H.O. were not accepted.
I signed for 7 years, 5 years on Reserve, and my number was P/SKX267.
I was called up on December 10th and then sent home on 20th for ten days leave. Good start!
Did my training around Portsmouth and during air raids my pal Mick Gilmore was hit by debris and was hospitalised. Our other friend Doug Malpas escaped injury and we completed our training.
My first ship was H.M.S. Winchester, a V & W destroyer from World War 1. Boarded her in London Docks, went to Scapa Flow where our working up trials culminated in going down to Greenock to escort H.M.S. Victorious back to Scapa after the sinking of the Bismark. We then went on escort duty between Rosyth and Sheerness by April 1942.
I was Best Man to two of my fellow stokers. When Ginger Lacey from Southampton married Mary in
Edinburgh I was told it was lucky to throw coins outside the church. Unfortunately I threw them at the side entrance instead of after the service in front of church where children were waiting to receive them, but I can still remember the guests singing “Will ye no come back again” as several of us left the Reception.
The second one was when Les Evans married Joyce in Henfield, West Sussex in June. This was arranged when we were granted four days Boiler Clean Leave. To get home quickly, when we steamed under the Forth Bridge and docked at Rosyth, four of us caught a bus from the dockyard to Inverkeithing station and crossed the Forth Bridge by train, meaning we had been under Forth Bridge and over in about one hour. Often wondered how many others have.
We arrived at Haymarket Station in Edinburgh where we changed trains to travel to Carlisle, where we caught the Glasgow to London Express. Arriving in London at 10 pm where as others due on leave were just leaving Waveley Station in Edinburgh.
I was lucky I had a taxi home to West Hendon NW9, but Les could only get a train to Brighton then walked the twelve miles to Henfield.
I went to Henfield the next day for the wedding where I met Marjorie, Les’ sister, a Wren who was home on leave after having Scarlet Fever.
When we returned to Rosyth, I was posted back to Portsmouth and as Marjorie was at Fareham we soon met up again.
My next ship was H.M.S. Durban and we were escort to a convoy to Freetown, Durban and Mombasa.
We ran aground on entering Mombasa harbour so sailed across the Indian Ocean to Cochin and then up to Bombay where we went into dry dock for repairs. We marched each day from our block of flats to the dockyard.
I represented the Royal Navy in a boxing tournament in Bombay where I beat an army man, but three days later was in St. George’s Hospital with pleurisy.
I was transferred back to Durban in upper deck cabin with Bill Bailey from Reading who was a D.E.M.S. Rating. Then we went to Baragwhanath Hospital in Johannesburgh, down to Petermaritzburgh then home from Durban on a Dutch Hospital “The Oranje” which was staffed by New Zealand personnel. Another musical memory, hearing those on board singing “Now is the hour” as friends left to go ashore at Port Suez.
Majorie and I had corresponded whilst I was away so after meeting again we decided to get married August 19th 1944. Whilst on board “The Oranje”, one of my friends was Les Glass, a R.M. who lived in Coventry and was a baker. So I wrote to Les to see if he could supply some fruit for the wedding cake. About 5lbs. of fruit arrived and with 2lbs. of icing sugar my sister obtained for me, for which we sent 2lb. granulated back, Mr. Morey the village baker made us a real cake, decorated with two destroyers, lifebelts and anchors which
I display in glass cabinet. Majorie’s Wren friends and relatives gave up their clothing coupons to buy material for the wedding dress and three bridesmaid dresses, which her mum made. So a wonderful wedding day was had.
I was Best Man at two other weddings. When Don Mills, a friend and sparring partner pre war at
West Hendon Boys Club, was married to Joan at St. Mary’s, Edgeware, Middlesex in 1941 and when Tony and Cynthia (who was our bridesmaid) were married at Godalming 1943, Majorie was Matron of Honour.

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