259663 ERA4. Edmund Ward Royal Navy HMS Duke of York from:Billingham, Durham The certificate of service that I have shows that my father, Edmund Ward, served in the Royal Navy. This shows he was a volunteer joining on 6th of March 1941. He was in HMS Drake from 6 March to 2 July 1941, then again 24 March to 5 April 1945, and once again 1 August 1945 - 17 March 1946.
My father's rank from what I remember was Petty Officer and he worked in the engine rooms of these ships, he was a Fitter & Turner. He also served on HMS Dunluce Castle and the HMS Duke of York.
He did not speak much of his war time experiences, except to say how frightening it was to be battened down in the engine room.
My father was fortunate to survive World War 2, he returned home to marry my mother Patricia. He passed away at the age of 80 in Featherston, New Zealand.
|