235604 Charles Stretch Royal Navy HMS Sirius I met Charlie Stretch about ten years ago, and through our research a marine called Pat Smith got in touch. He used to live in Birmingham but had emigrated to Florida after the war.
It turned out that he knew my grandfather Des Jones, and he has broke his nose in a boxing match on board HMS Sirius.
Pat came over from Florida a couple of years ago to see his family in Birmingham.
I picked up Pat Smith and then Charlie Stretch and took them for a pint.
It was the first time that each of them had met a fellow shipmate from HMS Sirius since they were demobbed.
It was great to see these two old sailor's reminiscing about their days on board HMS Sirius.
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