Publisher: The Memoir Club, 2000 £ 14.99
Mr Parker joined the Royal Navy in 1949, became a cook and eventually a Leading Hand. A year or so after he joined he went on shore leave and met Pauline who became the love of his life. Whenever he was away he wrote and told Pauline what was going on. They eventually married and are so to this day. When moving house long after he had left the Navy a box of over 600 letters to Pauline turned up and these letters are the background to his life in the RN.
He sets out what they were up to, where they were going, and adventures experienced. The misfortune is that the letters are to his beloved Pauline and thus do not reveal the goings on with Jack ashore. Not that he was one of them but he would know and chortle with his mess mates about it. But this is not for one's beloved. So much is missing. His day to day life is fascinating and it brings it all back to one. He was fortunate in that he was a small ship man so that he had an easier life than if he had been in a carrier, but he also experienced heavy sea life. What is sad is that much of his time was spent in the Mediterranean Fleet which was the No. 1 fleet of the Andrew but, alas, has been gone for many years. For those who served whether as Boy or as Flag Officer, this book will bring back memorable days. DF-R
Page prepared 19 November 2001