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Showing posts from March, 2014

H.M.S. Nabaron

Earlier in the blog I wrote about my dad's war-time experiences when he was stationed at H.M.S. Nabaron  http://tinned-variety.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/hms-nabaron-monab-4-msr6-1945.html on Ponam Island in the Pacific Ocean. When I was researching the background for I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety I read several books and websites that had a few references to H.M.S. Nabaron - but not a lot (as someone famously once said). Nevertheless, from time to time, I continue the search and yesterday stumbled upon this fantastic insignia which seems to really sum up the place and the situation. You can read more of the story in   I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II by N. Buckle & C. Murray at  http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009QXEUG2  and http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QXEUG2

1945 and off to join the British Pacific Fleet

When Norman arrived back in the UK, in December 1944, he was given a couple of weeks leave before he was sent for more training at H.M.S. Gosling at Warrington (Cheshire). Norman's job in the Fleet Air Arm was that of a radio mechanic and the training at H.M.S. Gosling was for air fitters and air mechanics and for those working on electronics and radar. On March 10th 1945, Norman was sent to Liverpool for embarkation on R.M.S. (Royal Merchant Ship) Empress of Scotland . He wrote in his diary: Left England. A party of girls from the dockers' canteen sang songs as we left the dock trying to cheer us up. By Hell, but I felt terrible watching England slip away once again. The Empress of Scotland was a beautiful liner built in 1929 by Fairfield Shipbuilding at Govan on the Clyde in Scotland. Originally known as The Empress of Japan , on conversion to a troop carrier her name had been changed on the special orders of Winston Churchill as it was against regulations

I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety Book Trailer

I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety:  The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm  during World War II  by N. Buckle & C. Murray http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009QXEUG2 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QXEUG2