General Chat

We always knew that my dad's cousin had died in the Carribean.We knew he was a marine on HMS Renown at the same time as the then Prince of Wales,later Duke of Windsor,was alaso aboard and had fallen overboard and we believed,was eaten by sharks.
I have his service record now and it shows that the wire railing was loose,probably inadvertantly unscrewed by other ratings who who

had leaned against it. The lifeboat was lowered and the ship turned a little to move the propellor away from him.
Half an hour was spent searching and they went on their way.
That was it,no enquiry,no compensation.His mother,a widow who had lost another son in the war,was left to do the best she could.

Oh Sharron how tragic.

Sharron, so sad, so sad. Fortunately, my dad came back from the Russian Convoys safely, or I would not be here.
Sadly, I have learned that a Gt Aunt was offered safe passage from the Japanese in Singapore after it fell, only for the Japanese Navy to sink the boat she was on bound for Australia. It is all so sad.
I have the CD by Vera Lynn in OH's car, and I cannot listen to it, and sing a long, without shedding a tear. I must look a terrible fright when I go into M.....sons to do my shopping. If they played it in there, I would want to do a foxtrot or american smooth down the aisles.
God Bless
Julia in Derbyshire

what I was really getting at was that the report was half a sheet of typed paper.No enquiry and,of course, no thought of any compensation.

Now,I wonder,if the Prince of Wales had fallen overboard instead.............

Ah yes Sharron-that was the "good old days" - you just got on with it !!

However , you have to bear in mind that no one EXPECTED compensation/apologies etc !