Landing Party at Spitzbergen - HMS Wager's first operation

Signalman Ted Longshaw writes:

Our first proper operation, in June 1944, was to re-supply the radio station at Spitzbergen, an island north of Norway in the Arctic Ocean, as escort to a cruiser, which had most of the supplies. The cruiser and HMS Whelp stayed outside the fjord (Isfjord, perhaps?), while HMS Wager, the junior ship, went in to ensure that the station had not been secretly taken over by the enemy. I had to go ashore with a landing party, led by a junior officer, and four other ratings, armed with ordinary rifles, in the motor boat, and then signal back with the Aldis lamp that everything was okay. Oh what fun it all was!

For Aldis lamp, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_lamp.

 

Orders for Surrender Ceremony

These 2 pages relate to the Victory Parade held in Hong Kong. I was on duty in the signal office when the instructions arrived, and I delivered the other copies to the Captain, and kept these. The pages were produced using a roller and an ink covered jelly in a tray as a copier. I remained in the signal office and did not witness the event.

Leading Signalman Ted Longshaw

Original photo of the orders

Historical Footage: Japanese Surrender Signing Aboard Battleship Missouri Sunday Sept. 2, 1945

 

HMS Wager - AB Smith - casualty

Casualty Details

Name: SMITH, RAYMOND

Initials: R

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Able Seaman

Regiment/Service: Royal Nav

Unit Text: H.M.S. Wager.

Date of Death: 28/12/1944

Service No: P/JX694809

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. H. 11.

Cemetery: TRINCOMALEE WAR CEMETERY

 

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