NOT-SO-SEA STORY - By John Wetherall (Ex-telegraphist)

I was a telegraphist serving at RNAS Lossiemouth (which I hated) and so put in for a sea-going ship. In due course, I was drafted to HMS BILDESTON - a Coastal Minesweeper - in July 1953. Of course, at that time, not many people had ever heard of that class of ship, so with kitbag, hammock and case I set off on the overnight train to Kings Cross (no sleeping compartment for me) and arrived about 0800.

It was then down to Waterloo to get the Southampton train, as I was due to join her at the docks. On reaching the docks I spent ages trying to find BILDESTON but to no avail. By this time I was feeling quite 'Chokker' and no one had even heard of her (as she had been built in Grimsby). I then decided to try the Docks Office, who eventually traced her to HMS VERNON in Portsmouth. So it was back on the train to Pompey, as I had no other means of transport, arriving at Portsmouth Harbour station, then a tiring walk round the corner to Vernon at 1730.

The ship only had a skeleton crew when I joined, so I ended up doing the job of 'POSTIE' for a while, and in the afternoon I would ditch the belt and gaiters and head for Southsea beach - A very pleasant summer !!

Eventually we got a full crew and carried out sweeping trials on a daily basis. We took part in two exercises - one in Den Helder the other in Dunkirk, but then we developed engine troubles and was turned into an experimental ship, and so spent the rest of my draft alongside in the dockyard. So much for my SEA - GOING ship !!.

My next ship was a Tank Landing Craft stationed in Malta and at the time of joining her a CIRCUS was being loaded aboard for passage to Sicily. We steamed out of the Grand Harbour (at a mighty 9 knots) with the tannoy blaring out "THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS........."