It was reported that Thomas was leaving  to rejoin his unit on the east Coast. TT 26/03/42. Tom and his brother were both home in Tilbury in July 1942 on furlough from Halifax, NS and New Westminister for Jack.

Thomas was reported on furlough for two weeks in May of 1943 to visit his parents. He served on Corvettes HMCS Amhurst, Moncton and mine sweeper HMCS Thunder during D-Day invasion. Thomas passed away 15 September, 2003.

Veteran’s Story: Thomas writes – In his own words, “I joined Navy October 1941. Basic training in Windsor and Stadacona, Halifax. Trained for Seaman and later graduated to Able Seaman, Leading Seaman and Radar II.

Early spring went to Sea, Convoying slow convoys – speed of convoy’s averaged 7 knots.

Our run was from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Londonderry, Ireland. Times taken to cross ocean varied from sixteen to twenty-eight days.

Our longest trip was from Ireland to Newfie with convoy of sixty empty oilers. We were attacked by twenty-five subs while crossing. I saw seven subs on surface at one time.

Rough storms on North Atlantic almost as scary as subs. One really rough trip we traveled full speed ahead with anchors down, being blown back nine miles per day for two days. Lots of icing up – example, one inch cables with four inches of ice on them and of course all of the ships superstructure withy up to eight inches of ice all over. Our days were taken up standing watch, chipping ice and sleeping.

Arrived Newfie twenty-eight days later with only six tankers left that had holes in each one.

There were two destroyers and six corvettes escorting this convoy and we arrived with one hundred and twenty-five survivors; as did all the other escort vessels.

One incident happened while walking down Starboard side, I saw a survivor in water. I caught hold of the overhead safety cable, leaned over side of ship to grab his outstretched hand, but missed him by three inches. Not a good feeling. Many merchant seaman drowned or were blown to bits.

During my forty thousand sea miles we sailed with many convoys. Never did we have a crossing without losing ships.

In nineteen forty-three the Navy asked for twenty-one volunteers to take Radar Course. Of course, they promised to put graduates on destroyers. They did not and sixteen of us ended up on Bangar mine sweepers which ended up in the English Channel sweeping for the invasion. Mine sweepers were built for coastal patrol so had never crossed the Ocean before.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	CDN (27-05-1943), CDN (11-11-2010)
Supplemental Information	The son of Mr. and Mrs. Percy and Marion King of Jeanette’s Creek, R.R. #2 Tilbury.

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