Now in his 90s, this amazing man has an incredible memory and sense of humour. We didn't want the session to end. With thanks to Stockland.
The titanic had sunk in the Atlantic. We had a boy who’d lost his father aboard the ship just two doors away from us. Every time the boy came into the house he’d take my chair, which rather annoyed me. I was only knee high to a grasshopper then but I’d be told to shut up and sit on the box over there. I’d been told by my mother that we’d be looking after this boy while his mother was at work in the hospital. My first introduction to Western Australia was sitting on that red box, which was made of wood too hard to chop. On the box was a label that said ‘Donnybrook apples, WA’.
I ended up with a job as a navy cadet on the RMS Windsor Castle. I looked after the three wires operators. I would tidy their cabins, organise their meals and take around the telegrams. It was the best job for a boy. I did two trips on board that ship.
Later we went to West Africa, in convoy to the Azures. The war had been on a while then and there were bangs in the night, with ships going down. I was frightened; a very young man - not even 19, then. We lost four or five ships in that convoy.
Back at home for a visit, my brother persuaded me to go into South Hampton for a few beers. On the way back, we walked passed a recruitment centre. Men cajoled us in with a bed for the night and the promise of eggs in the morning. The next day they signed me up to the navy and I was carted off to the east of England where I joined a royal navy patrol force, mine sweeping.
I was on a nightshift one day when I picked up a newspaper and saw an advert that said ‘Become a ten pound Pom’. I was keen because it always seemed to be raining in England! I have since been to Donnybrook, to see the source of the apple box, quite a few times.
The best advice I ever received was to marry my wife. She was a wonderful woman, fortunately for me.