Seaman Dennis Fisher

A story from Seaman Dennis Fisher 1926-2007

DENNIS FISHER

Royal Navy (Dec 1944 to Jan 1947)

At age 18 I joined  the Royal Navy at the end of 1944, first at H M S Royal  Arthur (Skegness) then for several weeks at an initial training camp at Malvern Worcs. (name not remembered). Next to H M S Caballa, a Nisson hut camp near Warrington, for about 3 months for training as a Coder. Then to H M S Mercury (The signal school at Petersfield) for posting. I was then given a C W  course and was sent to H M S Diadem to get in 6 months seatime. Travelled to Rosyth to join her to find she had already sailed for Pompey ! Back to Mercury and then to the ship – now early July ’45 . Worked as a seaman (not Coder) to experience all general work, even on the helm – not easy to hold course in rough seas ! Late Aug to early Nov ship made 2 visits to Copenhagen and 4 to Oslo. On the first visit to Oslo I made friends with a family and that friendship is still ongoing 61 years later with a daughter now living in Fredrikstad ! On one trip from Oslo we took in the whole of the coast of Norway up to Tromso (where the Tirpitz was upside down in the Fiord). We had on board the US, French, Russian as well as our own Officers valuing the German shipping. Robert Dougal was aboard as the interpreter, he becoming the well known BBC  TV  newsreader some years later (his book makes reference).

On another Oslo trip we went to the aid of a merchant ship which had hit a mine. Later we ourselves caught one in our Port Paravane, which did not cut it free. We circled to Port which kept it away from the ship's side – rifle fire failed to detonate it. We ended up ditching the paravane to get rid of the mine.

On the way back from an Oslo trip we brought home General Thorne and what felt like half the British Army, as no other ships or means were available. One could hardly move on the ship, many army men aghast at our small living quarters.

Nov/Dec it was ruled that if you wanted a Commission you had to sign on for 3 years from receiving it. As I had been half way through Law exams I declined, the office also pressing me to return. The ship kept me on as a seaman and I was given the job of crewing the FMB for the next year of 1946.

The FMB was extensively used in Portland harbour on the several lengthy spells we were there. On 7^th March we left Portland in company with H M S Birmingham and another Cruiser for the West Indies via Gib, for the first post war cruise of the home fleet to “ show the flag”. We were not allowed to exceed 12 knots crossing the Atlantic as the country could not afford the extra cost of fuel oil for going faster ! The boat was not used at Trinidad or Grenada, but was used at St Vincent, St Kitts and Bermuda where we were anchored offshore.

In June 1946 Diadem and our sister ship Bellona were sent to London for Victory celebrations and both were moored in the river alongside one another opposite the Greenwich Naval College. The boat was used to take the Captains, Officers and no doubt the local dignitaries, in the evening all the way up river to Westminster Pier to see the firework display.

Oct ’46 the whole month was spent based at Invergordon, going at various times up to Golspie for gunnery and calibration exercises. The FMB was used extensively there, and on one occasion I lost a boat hook which was wrenched from my grasp on the coxswain leaving the quay too fast. Up for Captain’s report for loss of government property ! Verdict “Accident , but be more careful”

Once, one dark night in Portland harbour we were scrambled late at night – emergency due to a U S  ships boat having collided with one of the extremely large and unlit mooring buoys. We were first on the scene and next day were commended and thanked by our Captain who had received similar thanks from the U S Captain. Our success was no doubt due to the alacrity of the crew, and to give it its due, the speed of the FMB.!

Scarborough was another occasion the boat was used when we were anchored in the bay for 3 or 4 days during the well known cricket week

Naturally the boat could not be used in very rough weather, but otherwise behaved extremely well at all times. The only difficulty I remember, was on starting the engines from very cold conditions where the pre-start heaters (presumably for fuel injectors) were not always up to the job. Water in the fuel was another, but not the boat’s fault but that of fuel storeage.

I enjoyed my time as crew and looking after the FMB – it was a good job to have. I am sure that my love of the sea (and respect !) and small boats in particular, was  in no small measure to my time on the FMB aboard H M S Diadem. From 1961 to 1998 I owned a series of boats, Seamaster, Fairy Fulmar, Westerly Nomad, W Centaur ending with a Moody 27, first 7 years at Bosham, remainder in Chichester Yacht Basin.

Dennis Fisher (age 80)

Dec.2006