General Chat

There was definitely no hanging around for my Dad. After his Atlantic and Med battles, he was sent to join the Pacific Fleet and was in the first fleet into the South China Sea after the fall of Singapore.

Hanging around again ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVI5d30E_v8

Yes, Andy's Mum. My brother, cousin and I came to that conclusion as it was a stealthy operation by all accounts.

As children, my siblings were only told the funny stories, nothing serious. My cousin learned of that one operation so Dad must have confided in his brother only.

For Andysmum

Defensively equipped merchant ship (DEMS) was an Admiralty Trade Division program established in June 1939, to arm 5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defense against enemy submarines and aircraft.

Marines based at HMS Badger ( and other stone frigates) had the thrilling job of manning Bofors/Oerlikon AA guns ("pom pom") mounted on DEMS merchant navy ships. Sort of naval equivalent with the RAF tail end Charlie.

There were simply not enough RN ships to both run and defend the convoys and provide air cover.

The idea of Marines hanging around waiting for the next job in the manner of post war black cab drivers is hilarious. Nobody "hung around" with nothing to do at that time. Least of all in the North Sea.

HMS Badger was a shore establishment at Harwich, so any Marines there would not have been doing anything in particular, just waiting to be sent to their next job.

They probably occupied themselves with exercises, drill etc.

JoyLouise, the men with your father were probably specially trained divers, so that they could attach limpet mines to any U-boats they found. They might have been Marines (as in Cockleshell Heroes) or they could have been RN seamen.

You are right Rollo. MY father said very little about his wartime service but more about his pre-war antics. The only thing he told us that when war was declared they were in the Med and had to sail north immediately without warmer kit.

The one war story I heard was from my male cousin, the son of Dad 's brother and it was by chance when he asked whether I could tell him more about Dad's service throughout WW2. He went on to tell me that Dad had skippered a craft from his ship into one of the fiords in order to drop off some men (cousin said specially trained Mariners but I have no idea) who were seeking out German submarines and were convinced that one was hiding there.

I was pleased to hear of one wartime story but my cousin was disappointed that I could tell him none.

Just had a quick look at Wartime Memories site for HMS Badger.

Victoria, someone called Jonathan Ridgley found his father's full record after his death and he has mentioned service on HMS Badger. I wonder whether he would be able to help you in some little way as his father appears to have served on several vessels including Badger.

The Russians would not allow RN Ships or personnel to land/dock in Murmansk or Archangel. That included RN Marines. Thus Marine gunners would have no Royal Navy record of their activities at sea only at HMS Badger for pay etc.

From the Russian point of view they were just merchant navy crew members. However the Marines would be recorded by the merchant ships themselves. All you need to do is find a site with listings of the (many) merchant navy crews. You can disregard vessels that sank as your father survived.

https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=298

Being frozen, hungry, bombed and shot at with an evens chance of Davy Jones Locker was not the greatest thing for most sailors. There was a tendency on the one hand to say v little while back in the 60s and 70s children showed little interest anyway. Now we have all too little about their personal battles.

My father served on the Russia convoys 1942-1944.

Interesting, that, Rose.

I would advise ringing the Museum and actually speaking with someone Victoria. I did that when seeking my father's RN records several years ago.

A very helpful gentleman told me that my father would have received the full detailed record of his service himself and the Museum only held 'the bare bones' record, he explained that since I was already aware of places his ships sailed in and had inherited photos of various battles - now passed to my son, it would cost me £30 for a copy of what very brief material held by them. In short he did not think it was worth £30 - probably more than that now.

So, I hope the record you have is that given to your father which will be much more detailed than that held by the Museum.

Do try googling as there may well be someone reminiscing about his WW2 service online who can enlighten you.

Good luck.

Have you googled it? There is a site called WartimeMemories where it is mentioned. But, more than that, there are sites with contributions from people and some may well be able to answer your queries.

The reply on this thread by 'HMac' may be of interest?

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=815845.0

Good morning! My father was a Marine based at HMS Badger from 1942-45. I have his war record - it says nothing more than that! Have researched the books and contacted the Royal Marine Museum but cannot find out what a Marine would have been doing on Badger during the war - is there anyone out there who might know please?