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Tel. Ernest Leonard Pegrum
Royal Navy HMS Nelson
from:Hertfordshire
Just looking at my Grandfather’s naval service medals and they cover both wars. His names was Ernest Pegrum, he signed up in 1917 aged 15 and was on various training ships until August 1919 when he served on HMS Dragon. Ernest and his brother George (Royal Marine) were in Canada escorting HRH Prince of Wales and (I believe) the Royal Family and I have a postcard showing him and some of the crew at a roadside halt. A few months later in October/November HMS Dragon was involved in a conflict in Russia where she was involved in shelling the Latvian coast and sustained some casualties. My Grandfather was signed off in 1928.
I do not have the WWII service records yet but have a beautiful Crossing the Equator certificate dated 9.4.1941 with Cape Town in the background and the silhouettes of ships that were (presumably) in the convoy. I recall my mother saying he was torpedoed on HMS Nelson. I believe that he served on HMS Pasley in 1945. I understand around D Day the Nelson and the Dragon were in Portsmouth at the same time (I wonder what Grandad thought on seeing his old ship). HMS Dragon was later damaged in an attack and scuttled as a Mulberry harbour breakwater. I would just like him to be remembered. He never said much about it of course – or I was too young to listen.
Additional Information:
During a visit to the Portsmouth Naval Museum a couple of years ago I saw a cine film by Commander George C Blundell showing the Crossing of the Equator on HMS Nelson dated 9 April 1941 - the same date as the Certificate above. Sailors were dressing up in a variety of clothing and being dunked and generally having a good time. Grandad would have been about 39 by then! Sadly the film has now been removed from view.
David Few
