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Lt. Robert Edward "Scratch" Williams
Royal Navy HMS Manchester
from:Cosham, Portsmouth
Robert Williams of Portsmouth, joined the Royal Navy in September 1938. He was on HMS Vindictive and went to Barbados and Puerto Rico in 1939. His next ship was HMS Nelson and during 1941 he crossed the Equator in her. His next ship was HMS Manchester serving as Captain's Secretary. Many years later, Robert took part in the documentary shown on TV about the Manchester (the case of Captain Harold Drew). Robert was one of the crew survivors who returned to Britain on HMS Pathfinder.
Robert then joined HMS Argus. Argus was the first aircraft carrier ever built. The ship went under attack in Algiers when Robert was keeping the Action Log. In August 1944 Robert was appointed to HMS Flycatcher, a Naval Air Station in Norfolk. Later Flycatcher moved to Middle Wallop in Hampshire (now Army Air Corps).
After the end of the war Robert was appointed to staff in Malta working for Admiral Sir Algernon Willis. In the summer of 1948 Robert embarked on a course in Russian in Cambridge. Following his course he was appointed the staff of the Admiral Commanding Reserves in March 1950. The Naval Reserve at that time was a large command.
