Hi john I really enjoyed reading this, as my grandfather was on the daffodil that night she sank. I would really be grateful if you could tell me where you got the pictures from, as I would really like to get a copy. I read your story about HMS Daffodil. I would like you to contact me. Kind regards, Brian Morrison Montpellier, France phototrans orange. Really interested to hear the above comments. My great uncle Norman Ward also went down with this ship.
As a shipwright he had the unenviable task of trying to keep this old ship afloat all through the night. As it sank the next morning he was never seen again, his widow, my great aunt Win, is still alive and living in Selsey, Sussex, she never remarried. Ian Norman Lipscomb, Stanion, Northamptonshire. I too was really interested to read about HMS Daffodil. Sadly my father went down with this ship just 4 months before I was born. His name was Charles Edward Bird. I have often looked on the PC for info on the ship but never been very successful until today.
I too would be interested in obtaining the photographs. Please contact me. I found the comments and the pictures very interesting but also very moving. Thank you to the people that have posted comments. Trish Waltham. Folks, Thanks for the various comments and remarks. I'm glad you've gotten something from this post. Our fathers and grandfathers did many brave things and suffered a lot of hardship for us and the free world, I'm happy that stories and tales are still being passed around about their exploits and are not forgotten.
I was on duty steering a course for home when the explosion occured at about A rope ladder was lowered , but climbing it was impossible due to our condition. It was a hazardous time each one being hauled up the steep side of the boat due to the heavy swell and the fear of the man being rescued slipping out of the loop back into the pitch black night and icy sea.
Once on board board we were given Rum and the crew worked relentlessly to recover ou circulation and body temperatures. Unfortunately one of us was unable to be saved despite the valient efforts of the crew men working on him. The MGB took us into Dieppe wher wrapped in blankets we were put into Ambulances and taken to an American field Hospital for several days , being allowed attend the funeral of shipmates burriel's in the Canadian Cemetry again'st their normal procedure Jim Gill.
