We only had a skeleton crew on board and we were told that we were going to Liverpool to train R.N.V.R.’s on HMS Eaglet. With hindsight, we now know why we were sent there.

We sailed for Liverpool about the third week in August. All arrangements had already been made for us to have a full compliment of R.N.V.R.’s and a few more regular R.N. ratings, including five brand new ASDIC ratings.

Once commissioned, we started to get the ship shipshape. Incidentally, prior to sailing for Liverpool we had heard about the loss of the Thetis in Liverpool bay. I had to search around for a few ASDIC rating to send up there but I did not have to go.

On the way to Liverpool, I picked up the Thetis on my ASDIC. They had not moved her up to that time and it was a very sad occasion.

HMS Brazen had already picked up the Thetis on their ASDIC when she was first missing, long before her bow protruded through the water when the tide ebbed.

Because ASDIC was so secret we would not tell the world that we could locate submarines.

Harry Rainer (ASDIC) on the “Brazen” picked up the Thetis and was also the Coxswain of the whaler that picked up the four survivors of the submarine.

Captain Orum and lieutenant Woods were taken to the wardroom on the Brazen, Reynolds or Shaw (I forget which) was also taken to the Brazen and the dockyard man was taken aboard one of the dockyard vessels.

The Naval rating taken aboard the Brazen told Harry Rainer and others all the details of what happened in the Thetis and what the situation was when he left. He thought all the others would have been saved but something went drastically wrong. What it was will never be divulged.

We took on oil fuel and ammunition in Liverpool and set sail for Rosyth on the 29th August and arrived there on the 31st.

At 0100 on the 1st September HMS Wallace and HMS Valorous steamed out of Rosyth en route to outside Gydina to pick up three polish destroyers and escort them to the UK. They had no defence against U boats. So we were actually in the war before it was declared on the 3rd of September.

I have heard recently that we had escorted all the Polish VIP’s

One of the young ASDIC ratings was named Harry Kelly. I called him ‘young Derby’ because he was about 18 years of age and I was an old 28. The five youngsters were naturally green from an ASDIC point of view, but with being at sea most of the time it was a golden opportunity to give them first class training in the real environment. They were all good material.

After about two and a half years I could see young Derby’s potential and recommended him to go back to HMS Osprey and train as an H.S.D., which he did. We all now know the results.

I take great pride in the knowledge that I gave him his initial training and made him into the spectacular success that he was.