Entry Text: | WADE, Frank. A Midshipman's War: A Young Man in the Mediterranean Naval War 1941–1943. 256p., bibliog., illus., index. Vancouver: Cordillera, 1994. ISBN: 189559006X.
He joined Conway for training in 1936 but in 1939 failed the RN entrance exams. However he managed to join the RCN in mid-1940 and was sent to Dartmouth. In January 1941 he joined Queen Elizabeth. In April she moved to the Mediterranean. He served with her until her "sinking" by Italian underwater craft, apart from a spell ashore on the C-in-C's staff. In May 1942 he moved to Jervis which took part in convoy operations, Spud Runs, the disastrous Tobruk raid and fleet actions. In April 1943 he was appointed to the staff of FO Red Sea in Port Tewfik but very quickly moved to Bulolo as cypher officer in time for the Husky landings. After this he moved to Combined Operations, based at Suez as administrative secretary to the base commander. Rather derivative and fizzles out in late 1943 when he was recalled to the RCN. |
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