With the epic struggle of the Pacific War, I think we forget the involvement of our 'colonial cousins' ;-) in other theatres.
This from S A Kerslake was the Coxswain on the Anti-Submarine Trawler HMS Northern Gem, part of the close escort for PQ17, the ill-fated convoy to Russia:
"Also in my memory of those few hectic minutes of the attack, is the sight of an American destroyer, steaming full out and being very, very aggressive towards these intruder German planes. She was turning in towards them and letting fly with all the guns she had, and I would not have been surprised to see her crew popping off with rifles and revolvers at anything that was airborne, I've found out since that she was the USS Wainwright"
I believe the Commodore later thanked Wainwright for her '4th of July firework display'.
I meant to post this on the 4th of July, but real life got in the way. I would also like to add my thanks: my Grandad, the most inspirational man I ever knew and a man who taught me the virtues of forgiveness, was liberated in the Philippines by US forces who repatriated him via the US after Changi and the Burma Railway. He was treated like a hero for surviving.
When he got to England they were landed in the dead of night at Southampton. No one was there; they were an embarrassment – a reminder of the greatest defeat ever suffered by the British Army: they were told not to talk about it. It took 40 years before he would talk to me, and then the things he emphasised were forgiveness of those who were cruel, and gratitude to the Americans who made him feel like a human being once more.
So thanks, and God bless.
Nick
ponders nirvana.
