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JUNE 1942 — SEPT 1943
The following are the excerpts from the wartime diary of P/JX 380709 A/LS A.B. John Dolphin
All dates are first arrival.

June 29th 1942.PORTSMOUTH ENGLAND Sunny and Warm:
At Newcastle I volunteered at 17/18, I entered the “ROYAL NAVY” to do 12 weeks seamanship and gunnery training at “HMS COLLINGWOOD” (FAREHAM). 7 days leave at home before joining my first ship. Then returned to “STOCKHEATH TRANSIT CAMP” HAVANT HAMPSHIRE, to await my first draft.
I am now know as an “ORDINARY SEAMAN” . Troop train from Euston station overnight to St Enock, “GLASGOW”. Met by RN lorries to be taken to “GREENOCK” John Brown’s Docks.

November 16th 1942 GREENOCK SCOTLAND Day after a day of heavy rain.
In ” John Brown’s Docks after 4 days on Depot Ship “CARRICK” (wooden sailing ship).
I was drafted on board my first ship “HMS CELANDINE”
A Flower Class Corvette K75 (During my last 4 days on Depot Ship) “The Queen Elizabeth” came into the “CLYDE” from North Africa with wounded on board. I helped to ferry them ashore to may awaiting ambulances. The QE was Laid Off amid river, we used small motor boats from alongside .

1st Ship Corvette K75 1941
Built at “GRANGEMOUTH” Firth of Forth HMS CELANDINE K75 was one of the first Corvettes to be built 1940/41 they were know as the “Flower Class”
For all were named after flowers, They could ride them high North Atlantic waves better than any ship of its type in any Navy. Their Sailors too (in time) turn sharper than a ‘U’ boat in high seas.

November 18th 1942 LONDONDERRY NORTHERN IRELAND Dull overcast.
Called in to take on Veg and fresh water, also to top-up our fuel tanks before we escorted Convoy over the “ATLANTIC” to “NOVA SCOTIA CANADA”.
Met Convoy off “NORTH CHANNEL” NORTHERN IRELAND, 58 ships the day after at dawn. The ships came from out of the “MERSY and CLYDE”.

Sailing in a small ship the size of a trawler on those “NORTH ATLANTIC” rollers made me sick often. Coming back I was 100% OK.

Nov 29th 1942 OFF “NEWFOUNDLAND” Fog banks (cold November)
A day out from “St Johns” the Convoy and its Escorts were allowed to break radio silence for the first time since leaving “DERRY” when our Mess Deck speaker was put on for the pick up of Canadian radio stations, we all heard for the very first time ‘Bing Crosby’ singing “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”.

November 30th 1942 “St JOHNS NEWFOUNDLAND Snow and frost but dry.
Peeled off from Convoy to refuel and await an outward bound Convoy out from “NOVA” bound for “LIVERPOOL”. We refuelled alongside a captured German Oil Tanker that once supplied the German Pocket Battleship “GRAFSPEY”, now topping up the tanks of Escorts calling in at “ST JOHNS” harbour.

I made friends with a family called ‘REES’, twice who invited me to their hom. Mr Rees worked in a bank, Dad and Mum sent their Son a food parcel to Scotland.

December 20th 1942 “REYKJAVIK ICELAND” Dark and cold (dawn 10am).
“REYKJAVICK” in the winter time, dawn 10 ‘o’ clock sunset 3 ‘o’ clock what short grey days during the winter months . Girls swim in the harbour hot water springs.

Convoy on the way to Britain scatterd on the night of the 15th — 16th after battling with an Atlantic Hurricane the worst in living memory at that time. We read this fact when we docked in “LIVERPOOL” from the YMCA papers there. I still have a clipping from one.

Escort vessels had to take turns to leave the scattered Ships to make for “ICELAND” to refuel. Normally we would have used any Oil Tanker in the Convoy while in transit over. Out of 100, 15 Ships lost by ‘U’ Boats on this trip. 16 Subs detected and destroyed.

December 24th and 25th SAILING ALONE DOWN “THE IRISH SEA PAST THE ISLE OF MAN”
Arriving in “GLADSTONE DOCK” just in time for our Xmas Dinner in the YMCA hut there. (we were low on provisions by then) Church Bells ring for the first time.

December 25th 1942 LIVERPOOL GLADSTONE DOCK Sunny and Crisp
Off “BOOTLE” , XMAS DAY “LIVERPOOL” When the Dockers saw us coming up the “MERSEY” to enter “GLADSTONE DOCK” they gave us all a cheer, thinking that by the look of us we had been in action (the fools).

Arrived all battered up from the Hurricane that we found between “ICELAND” and the “HEBRIDES” A distance of 800 Mls. We had lost a port lifeboat, 2 carley floats and dislodged our AA Gun plus caved-in hull plates.

The ship was towed over the “MERSEY” to “BIRKENHEAD”, 26th for repairs. It was here that I last saw her. Sent home on 4 days leave, then back to “SCOTLAND”.
At the end of the war she was scrapped.

The Ship I Fell In Love With “She veered off Death” 2nd Ship
She was one of 8 to be built (2 of the 8 were sunk) All were “Queenborough” Class. This was surely a lucky ship “HMS QUEENBOROUGH G70”
From now on we really saw life, we got to know what a “War Time Navy” was all about. She was to be my home for 2 years 4 months.

She was put together on “TYNES” SWAN HUNTERS “WALLSEND” 1941/43 and well made she was too. She was about to take, and full out speeds needed.

February 7th 1943 “GOUROCK” CLYDE — RAILWAY JETTY Sunny

From Depot Ship “CARRICK” I’m drafter on board a new fast fleet destroyer (38 knots) “HMS QUEENBOROUGH G70” (lead ship below).

as one of her crew, alongside “GOUROCK” railway jetty. Painted on a new camouflage No. 7 for we were to join the “ĂŰŃż´ŤĂ˝ Fleet” in “SCAPA FLOW” when ready.

The OLD R.N. BASE to make you forget civilisation. “PENTLAND FIRTH” “SCAPA FLOW” the worlds worse naval base, nothing but nothing there except sheep, ships and chips, plus the cold North Winds, and the water was cold for the water polo matches between Destroyers Battleships.

February 14th 1943 “SCAPA FLOW” “ORKNEY ISLES” Misty and rain showers.

Joined “HOME FLEET” including two American Battleships “USS ALABAMA” and “USS SOUTH DAKOTA” who had helped to escort the First American Army over the “ATLANTIC” to land in “MOROCCO” (Operation Torch).

Time spent in “SCAPA” was ‘Workin Up’ Ship’s Company to full fighting standard on this new Destroyer . Torpedo and Gunnerie training off “THE OLD MAN OF HOY” (We missed it).

March 2cd 1943 “CASABLANCA” “MOROCCO” Sunny and Warm
Have joined a convoy off the “CLYDE” bound for “SOUTH AFRICA” We left convoy to escort into “CASABLANCA” the two American Battleships and after 2 hour refuel stay we rejoined convoy off the “CANARY ISLES”

U. Boats were plentiful from now on to “CAPE TOWN”, more so near to “FREETOWN” we got plenty of depth charges over the side but no kills.

MY FIRST FOREIGN PORT; No Shore Leave.
We pulled in along side many sand bagged AA Guns American GIs all over this Port, they thought we were a Cruiser. In this French Harbour was the French Battleship “JEAN BART” with large shell holes in her hull. The “ROYAL NAVY” shelled this Harbour to stop the French Ships joining up with Germany, such as the “VICHY”, sister ship the “JEAN BART”
“RICHELIEU” came out to join the “FREE FRENCH NAVY” and “ROYAL NAVY” until the end of the war.

OUR VERY FIRST TIME OVER “THE EQUATOR” WE WERE TO REPEAT IT OVER 2 YEARS 11 TIMES.
“THE DOLDRUMS”. No wind, flat sea, it wasin these parts we had “Flying Fish” for breakfast daily. Every kind of fruit you could think of to be found here in their dusty dry leaf covered markets (“DOLPHINS escort you into the “CAPE”).

Mar 8th 1943 “FREETOWN SIERRA LEONE Sunny and very hot.
Convoy called in here to take on fresh water for long trip South to the “CAPE” In doing so crossing the very hot “EQUATOR” we all went through the “Crossing the LINE” Ducking. For most of us it was our first time on the “EQUATOR ZONE” The sea here was like a mirror smooth with no wind — The “DOLDRUMS and escorted by “DOLPHINS” to the “CAPE” (Cousins)?

March 23rd 1943 “CAPETOWN SOUTH AFRICA” Perfect.
“SIMONSTOWN” JUST AN ELECTRIC TRAIN RIDE DOWN THE COAST TO “CAPETOWN” 1 HOUR.
Convoy safe in harbour, escorts despatched to Navy Base of “SIMONSTOWN” to refuel, then escorts alone sailed around the “CAPE” to bring back a new convoy from “DURBAN” (The windy City) and a great place to “jump ship”. One of our crew did just that (Jock) and was never seen again, was from Glasgow.

“RICHELIEU” (French) “SOUTH ATLANTIC”
Her guns could fire at a range of 23 miles. 16” Calibre.

Marcch 29th 1943 “DURBAN” “NATAL SOUTH AFRICA Perfect but windy.
Convoy to bring back from here bound for the UK, was the two British Battleships “HMS WARSPITE and “HMS VALIANT” alone with cargo ships and the French Battlewagon “RICHELIU” calling at CAPETOWN” for more ships.
The French “RICHELIU” was the finest Battleship (in desighn) that any of us had ever seen before. (38,750 tons of “La-Moure”). She had a big fan in her funnel for smoke.

“SIMONSTOWN” Electric train service between here and “CAPETOWN” when we went on 12 hour shore leave while in dock.

April 2nd 1943 “SIMONSTOWN” “THE CAPE” Perfect
We left the convoy in “CAPETOWN BAY” until all ships were ready and loaded for sailing. Were Dry Docked to have our stern repaired, have our stern damaged up in “DURBAN” when the wind caught us while pulling alongside jetty. It blew us stern first onto a ship a tied up British Hospital Ship, hitting her for 6 broadside on, denting our plates.

May 10th 1943 “GOUROCK” “CLYDE” Dry with clouds.
Convoy safe in “CLYDE”, 4 days leave given. Escorts during stay had orders to change their camouflage, for all eyes were on the “MEDITERAINEAN” we did not know it at the time the invasion of “SICILY” was near. After our leave at home, we set sail for “SCAPA” again, for gun and torpedo shake up (we still missed “THE OLD MAN OF HOY”)!? God help us!

May 14th 1943 “DURHAM STATION”
Snow was still on the ground when I arrived at “DURHAM” station on my way home for my short leave. Trains to “BISHOP AUCKLAND” ran daily from “DURHAM”.

June 24-27th 1943 “GIBRALTER” “ MEDITERANEN” Age 19 Warm and very sunny.
Spent 19th birthday in “GIB” arrived in the “MED” with part of the “HOME FLEET”. “HMS HOWE” and “HMS ANSON” with others to join up with the over worked big force “’H’ FLEET” . We were all to slowly inch our way down the North African coast to “MALTA” to meet up with “HMS RODNEY” and “HMS NELSON” and Heavy Cruisers of the other “MEDITERAINEAN FLEET”. Out from “ALEX” one Air Attaack off “CAPE BON”.

In dry dock here was the Cruiser “HMS PENELOPE” (Pepper Pot). She had been torpedoed holed below the water line. When we were going ashore we stopped to look down into the dock, the water was being pumped out, and was half way down the torn ragged hole in her side. It was at this point that we got the smell of dead bodies, they were the Cruiser’s torn remains of stockers (pitiful).

“CAPE BON” Germans’ “LAST STAND” on the Continent of “AFRICA”.

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We passed close to “CAPE BON” “TąŤąˇąőł§ąő´Ąâ€ there we could see scores of smashed Guns/Tanks, the German “AFRICA KORPS” retreated from North Africa here to cross over to “SICILY”, proud moment seeing that.

July 4-6th 1943 “MERS-EL-KABIA/ALGIERS/ORAN Perfect.
“FLEET” called in these French Bases to show the BRITISH FLAG and to get what remained of the “FREE FRENCH NAVY” to join us for the big show that was soon to come from these Algerian Ports.

“MALTA” UP THE CREEK (Grand Harbour)
Beer was still on the ration here 1 bottle by ticket per person daily. The ship tied up next to us, the Destroyer “NUBIAN” (see below) had a near miss during one of the

last Air Raids. Her Officers’ cook was killed in the after galley flat of the ship. Blast from the bomb came through one of the galley port holes killing him.
Lucky again, it could have dropped on our side being a stone jetty.

July 8-10th 1943 “MALTA” George Cross Island. Sunny Warm Perfect.

“MALTA” had ships in all of its harbours and outside off its shores, and more coming.
The very last week of Air Raids on “MALTA” but now there was a first class Ack-Ack being voiced on the Island, from all the Battleships and Escorts. There were no more Air Raids on “MALTA”. The “FLEET” had gone over to “SICILY” to keep it quiet. — INVASION.

Before the INVASION of “SICILY” and before all ships were ready to leave “MALTA”, we and our Captain ‘D’ (“HMS QUILLIAM”) had some torpedo practise to do. She would fire one at us and we would do likewise with a dummy warhead fitted. They were set to go under the hulls and with a compressed air warhead. When they ran out of fuel the bounce up and down in the water with a smoke canister giving off their position. I was in our whaler rowing to retrieve our torpedo, but orders were slow and we over-shot-it. It came right through the bottom of our boat.
Off clothes to BUNG up the hole. Alas! We sank “QUEENY” the lads shouted put in for survivors’ leave. Once more starkers!

July 10th 1943 “AUGUSTA” 60 MILES OFF.
You start to smell “SICILY” as soon of leaving “MALTA” the closer you get to it the stronger the smell of sweet burnt bracken and vineyards. It was in this small harbour while on recreation leave ashore (we rowed our own whalers to the beach), that we saw girls enter the farm barns to tread the grapes with their feet to help make wine. Vineyards all around us with the smell of bomb holes.

August 4th 1943 “AUGUSTA SICILY” Sunny and smelly.
After following up thr 8th Army and Bombarding when they wanted our help from the sea for the past two weeks, we had a rest in this ‘MARTIAL LAW’ Town and harbour with Mount Etna as a back cloth.

It was in this harbour that we had a 7 hour lasting Air Raid on the whole FLEET that had formed up for the INVASION of “ITALY” Sept 3rd. I was at action station on ‘A’ Gun in the ‘NUDE’ I was having a shower at the time.

“QUILLIAM” stood off while we went in close to the ITALIAN MAIN LAND to ½ a mile off to shell a coastal gun turned on the advancing troops when out of the Sun came 6 Mets with a bomb each aimed at us. They were all very near. My Gun was ‘A’ Gun right across the Bows, we went right through a bomb water spout.

September 12th 1943 “PALERMO SICILY” Warm.
A REST UP. Met up with the American 5th Army here.
Next the INVASION of “ITALY” at the ‘Toe”, right over the “MESINA STRAITS”
“HMS QUEENBOROUGH” (and our Captain ‘D’) “HMS QUILLIAM” were the very first Warships to pass through the STRAITS (RN that is). WE were bombed by 6 ‘ME 109’s thank God they all missed, but we all got a dammed good wetting. “LUCKY SHIP” (FACT).

September 9th 1943 Off “SOLERNO” September 16th 1943 “HMS WARSPITE”, “USS SAVANNAH and a “HOSPITAL SHIP”.
Were all hit by Guided Flying Bombs they were called “FRITZ X” first time ever used. They only had three, all hits. Thank God no more (while we were there).

September 9-16th 1943 OFF “SALERNO (NAPLES BAY)” Misty and warm
The night before “SALERNO”, ITALY SURRENDERS This was the start of our Night Patrols at this Headland Off “CORFU”

Sept 21st 1943 “BRINDISI ITALY” Sunny Adriatic.
From the INVASION of “ITALY” we have been bombed 10 times (all missed), shelled 7 times. We have made landings at “SALERNO” and escorted from there the bombed Battleship “HMS WARSPITE” back to “MALTA”.

Back to “MALTA” from there 4 Destroyers sped to the “ADRIATIC”. To help the 8th Army’s fight up “ITALY”. The 4 Ships “HMS QUEENBOROUGH,QUAIL, QUILLIAM and RAIDER”. During the day we bombarded for the Army at short range. During the night Patrol work starting at “CORFU”.

FIRST TRUE “STAND OFF” BOMB. RADIO GUIDED GLIDER BOMB
“FRITZ X” — 1500lb 9ft long.
With wings and tail also red light for gliding .

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