Royal Navy MemoriesHMS Devonshire and HMS Leopard and HMS Glasgow Portal
William Peter “Pincher” Martin
Born in Bournemouth Dec 11, 1933. Died April 1983 Peter joined the Royal Navy in October 1951 for 12 years continuous service. He started as an assistant steward and worked his way up to Petty Officer Steward. He served on the HMS Maidstone, HMS Bulwark, HMS Leopard, HMS Adamant and the HMS Forth. His time [...]
Liberation of Denmark
I joined HMS Devonshire, a County-class cruiser in the Home Fleet, on 16 September 1944. For
the next nine months we operated out of Scapa Flow, the naval base in the Orkneys north of
Scotland which had been home to Jellicoe’s Grand Fleet during World War I and harboured the
main units of the Home Fleet throughout the second conflict.
Owen Paton
Owen Paton lost his life on HMS Hood a few weeks after leaving HMS Devonshire.
Prisoner of War and a lucky man
After the sinking of his ship, HMS Exeter, Doug Grant was taken prisoner and spent three and a half years as a japanese prisoner of war.
Day of Mourning
R.I.P. 31st July 1970 Last day of “the Tot” in the Royal Navy A standard naval tot of rum consisted of an eighth of a pint of rum (which was over 50% ABV, and was traditionally named “overproof”). Generally spirits are about 40% in comparison. Once a rating reached the age of twenty he was [...]
