Weeks ago I mentioned once that I had served in Submarines, since then I have been subjected to constant sick humour ,pathetic jibes, and general bad taste jokes all relating to the fact that I served in the Royal Navy...Now I am quite happy to be the 'butt' of anyones jokes and I do have a good sense of humour and can laugh at myself, however I resent this constant abuse....I was a young teenager when I started my service in the RN, and I was deeply affected by the loss of several of my shipmates, killed while doing their duty.So I now ask you Spanish Hopes to stop with this line of what you consider to be humour...
Perhaps it would help if I gave you some idea of what it was like being a crew member of a sub. I was still aged 18 when I undertook the training required before I could go to sea in a sub., I had several times to do the 100 foot escape tank...This was the most terrifying ordeal I had ever undertaken, and I absolutely hated it.Before going into subs. I had served on an aircraft carrier and my job involved assisting the aircraft to take off and land , sometimes in pitch black and appalling weather conditions.. But the training and subsequent service in subs was far worse than anything I had ever undertaken..Going to sea in a sinister black killing machine is an experience that I will never forget, but wish that I could.. The conditions on board the sub. were dismal, 65 men having to work, eat and sleep in very cramped conditions, it was built in 1943 and had seen wartime service, it leaked everytime we dived and the engines broke down nearly every time we went to sea...On one occasion while dived we hit a ship and lost our radio and one of the periscopes and it took a very long time to get the dam thing to surface..I was the youngest on board by 7 years, and felt that I couldn't show that I was terrified and hated being on board...When we came back from patrol, usually after 3 weeks at sea, we were all filthy and exhausted, and on most occasions 'hit' the nearest pub...
43 years ago, next month, while on our usual patrol from Gib. to Corsica, we arrived just off Salobrena, during the night, waiting to send a boat ashore at first light..I remember clearly looking at the many fishing boats bobbing around as the Spanish fishermen just carried on with their duties..I went ashore with the boat to collect mail, orders and spares, where we landed was sugar cane plantations ,now it is wall to wall housing...
So I have given you a little insight into how life was in the Navy at this time, and since I left I have hardly mentioned anything about my service , until a few months ago when former shipmates started to contact me.. I really resent anyone having a go at any of the services, everyday I watch the news and hear that more young service personnel have died doing their duty.....
So lay off......
SUBMARINES
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RichardCoeurdeLion
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Submarines
Benidorm
I found your post very moving. I once saw a documentary on tv about the training for submariners. You wouln't get me within 100 miles of that 100 foot escape mechanism. My own dad served on the Russian convoys and OH's dad was torpeoded in the med and half the ships company was lost. I asked both of them to tell me about their experiences in the war, but neither wanted to and I quickly dropped the subject. I'm just thankfull that my generation (born 47, ironically wouldn't be here if not for Adolf Hitler cus mom and dad met while she was a wren in Malta) haven't had to go to war, en mas. Skip on to 2007. We have a nephew serving in Iraq. Yes, he signed up volunteraly and knew what he was geting into, but that doesn't make it any easier for the ones at home when news that yet another young life has been wasted.
Rick G
I found your post very moving. I once saw a documentary on tv about the training for submariners. You wouln't get me within 100 miles of that 100 foot escape mechanism. My own dad served on the Russian convoys and OH's dad was torpeoded in the med and half the ships company was lost. I asked both of them to tell me about their experiences in the war, but neither wanted to and I quickly dropped the subject. I'm just thankfull that my generation (born 47, ironically wouldn't be here if not for Adolf Hitler cus mom and dad met while she was a wren in Malta) haven't had to go to war, en mas. Skip on to 2007. We have a nephew serving in Iraq. Yes, he signed up volunteraly and knew what he was geting into, but that doesn't make it any easier for the ones at home when news that yet another young life has been wasted.
Rick G
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peteroldracer
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Re: Submarines
Whilst accepting that the death of a young man or woman is sad for those left, I don't think it is right to think of it as a waste.Rick Gale wrote: news that yet another young life has been wasted.
To die in the process of willingly upholding the wishes of one's government and in the service of one's country- remember, willingly, is surely an honourable death - unlike other young men who steal a car, take drugs and/or booze, then smash themselves and their friends into a lampost - that is a waste. Too many of the friends of my youth died (see my 'handle'), but it was while doing the thing they loved most. If you haven't faced the prospect of death, you haven't lived, some might say.
I used to cough to disguise a [email protected] I f@rt to disguise a cough.
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RichardCoeurdeLion
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Re: Submarines
peteroldracer wrote:Whilst accepting that the death of a young man or woman is sad for those left, I don't think it is right to think of it as a waste.Rick Gale wrote: news that yet another young life has been wasted.
Good point. I hadn'thought of it that way
Rick G
Submariners
Benidorm, Some people are unable to conduct normal relationships with others on a face to face basis due to their own social inadequacies and therefore use the only things they have as a medium of communication, on web forums such as this it's usually rhetoric, sarcasm and ultimately criticism of their chosen mark.
You will usually find that this sort are lacking in guts or moral fibre, call it what you will, Tom Wolfe described it as "the right stuff" the truth is that they are usually lacking in guts and would probably not be able to handle themselves in combat, consequently when they meet or perhaps in your case I should say become aware of someone who has achieved more than they have in terms of personal bravery, they attack, not personally of course, that would involve confrontation where they would be exposed and therefore discredited, but with words and of course hiding behind a false name, we all use false names here of course but most of use do not constantly whine and dig at others, only the weak and unfulfilled use this method.
My father was a submariner during the second world war and twice survived attacks on his vessel, once by another sub and once by a surface vessel, whenever I approached this subject he declined to go into detail other than to say he was a lucky man.
People who attack you in this manner actually believe they are humorous (you will no doubt get a whingeing apology telling you how you totally misinterpreted his comments ) but an apology from his ilk you will not get, this sort also believe that others will find their comments funny, unfortunately a few sad individuals do.
My advice to you is to forget these dolts and be proud of the fact that you have served your nation with pride, I for one am proud of our armed forces, good luck
Retro P.
You will usually find that this sort are lacking in guts or moral fibre, call it what you will, Tom Wolfe described it as "the right stuff" the truth is that they are usually lacking in guts and would probably not be able to handle themselves in combat, consequently when they meet or perhaps in your case I should say become aware of someone who has achieved more than they have in terms of personal bravery, they attack, not personally of course, that would involve confrontation where they would be exposed and therefore discredited, but with words and of course hiding behind a false name, we all use false names here of course but most of use do not constantly whine and dig at others, only the weak and unfulfilled use this method.
My father was a submariner during the second world war and twice survived attacks on his vessel, once by another sub and once by a surface vessel, whenever I approached this subject he declined to go into detail other than to say he was a lucky man.
People who attack you in this manner actually believe they are humorous (you will no doubt get a whingeing apology telling you how you totally misinterpreted his comments ) but an apology from his ilk you will not get, this sort also believe that others will find their comments funny, unfortunately a few sad individuals do.
My advice to you is to forget these dolts and be proud of the fact that you have served your nation with pride, I for one am proud of our armed forces, good luck
Retro P.
Ah! the full english!!
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spanish hopes
In response to a post in another thread Spanish Hopes wrote:
Re-arrange this name into a well known troll or dimwit;
RETRO P
T.O.P. (oops someone has taken the P again) E.R.
PLEASE At least try to be alittle more inventive.
Usually he has a couple of other ID's at the same time which he uses to bolster his main ID with back-up when he feels he is flagging. Oh what a tangled web he weaves.
Re-arrange this name into a well known troll or dimwit;
RETRO P
T.O.P. (oops someone has taken the P again) E.R.
PLEASE At least try to be alittle more inventive.
Benidorm - I too found your post very moving.
My father served in Submarines - HMS Templar is one name I remember off photos/info I found after he died - throughout WW2 and found it very hard to discuss in later years when I was old enough to ask questions.
Anyone who has the courage to go into one of those vulnerable tin cans has my upmost respect, as does anyone who enlists in any of the Services.
My father served in Submarines - HMS Templar is one name I remember off photos/info I found after he died - throughout WW2 and found it very hard to discuss in later years when I was old enough to ask questions.
Anyone who has the courage to go into one of those vulnerable tin cans has my upmost respect, as does anyone who enlists in any of the Services.
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peteroldracer
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Re a particularly boring poster: I have found that people from York are like their local countryside - flat and boring, and anyone that deliberately goes to live in Marbella ? Well!!
I used to cough to disguise a [email protected] I f@rt to disguise a cough.
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Lorraine - Mijas
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What I wrote about submarines happened over 40 years ago,this is the first time I've ever written anything about it..I've only just started to think about it after being contacted by former shipmates, who I haven't seen for over 40 years.I have never joined an ex service club or attended any reunions, and if you asked my children what ships that I have served on , they wouldn't be able to tell you....If you walked around my house, you would find no reference to my 'Navy Days'.....
Peteroldracer, thanks for your uplifting coments, I did not deliberately go to live in Marbella, my wife told me topeteroldracer wrote:Re a particularly boring poster: I have found that people from York are like their local countryside - flat and boring, and anyone that deliberately goes to live in Marbella ? Well!!
I'll try not to be so flat and boring in future, however I really hate bullies and will speak against them whenever I feel I should, by the way we have a really beautiful cathedral in York and some of the finest soldiers in the world Ah! the full english!!
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nevada smith
as a combat veteran
(stated to establish experience)
i (as well as the veterans i know) have always felt that
discussing our experiences was an easy route to 'sympathy' or 'heroism' and ultimately led to misunderstanding rather than
to any understanding...
as to the loss of any life in combat, i return often
to the poetry of wilfred owen...
perhaps, beni, it is a dialog best left between shipmates...
(stated to establish experience)
i (as well as the veterans i know) have always felt that
discussing our experiences was an easy route to 'sympathy' or 'heroism' and ultimately led to misunderstanding rather than
to any understanding...
as to the loss of any life in combat, i return often
to the poetry of wilfred owen...
perhaps, beni, it is a dialog best left between shipmates...
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spanish hopes
Now, Now Silver!, I have had a lot of PM's asking me to leave the daft old coot alone, as you are not completely with it. So don't start. My contributions to Age Concern do not stretch to letting you get away with everything.silver wrote:spanish hopes wroteHa Ha thats really funny..coming from youPLEASE At least try to be alittle more inventive.
You can not keep on professing to be the much maligned innocent if when I leave you alone you insist on coming after me with your infantile jibes now can you?
I much prefer to ignore you and have you ignore me. I am happily ignoring *yawn* at the moment so adding you to the list would be easy.
Now make your sympathetic fans who obviously care and worry about you more than I do happy by avoiding me like the plague so that i can do the same to you. Thank You.
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bored to tears
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they maybe you should realise that you are boring everyone here and give it a restNow, Now Silver!, I have had a lot of PM's asking me to leave the daft old coot alone, as you are not completely with it
why do you have to be so rude and belligerent to other posters, by the way nobody made you moderator or admin - so most people are fed up with you constantly tell us who can post, comment etc. give up on the bullying please - its tedious... give up on the vendetta for the mysterious "topsy" nobody else cares for your paranoia.
The board was a much pleasanter place when you weren't posting. Yes we all know that we have a couple of idiot trolls on the board, but the vast majority just ignore them - hence no need for constant insults and conflict resulting in threads being deleted.
strangely when you weren't posting no threads where deleted.
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