A Royal Navy veteran’s memories of Far East service in 1945 have been captured on film as part of the local 80th anniversary commemorations of Victory over Japan.
Peter Foxon, 102, lives in Deeping St James and spent the war as a wireless telegraphist.
The video – Peter’s War – has been filmed by South Kesteven District Council and added to the Council’s YouTube library in honour of Peter’s service.
His time at sea included Atlantic convoy protection, launching British troops towards the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and action against the Japanese in the Pacific.
Peter defied pressure to join the Army when he got his call up papers – thanks to his mother’s advice to wear his Merchant Navy uniform.
“I always wanted to go into the Navy ever since I was a boy,” Peter said. “I had already qualified as a radio officer in the Merchant Marine but I got called up before I even got to a merchant ship.
“What it did mean was that I had a Merchant Navy uniform, so I wore it for the interview, gained release from the Army and went straight off to the Royal Navy recruiting centre. The uniform did the trick.”
Early in 1943 Peter joined HMS Richmond on convoy duties to protect Allied ships carrying vital supplies between Britain and America.
As well as enemy fire, 20-foot waves and the danger of submarines, Peter recalls a remarkable story of a dog rescue.
“We had a ship’s dog, a little terrier called Timo, who loved to race across the deck chasing waves. One day, after the deck had been freshly oiled with linseed, he slipped and went straight over the side.
“Against regulations we turned the ship around and searched until we found him, weakly paddling away. We stopped engines and got him back on board, with a tot of rum.”
In 1944, Peter’s ship, HMS Nith, successfully launched soldiers of the Highland Division towards Gold Beach on D Day.
Tragedy struck when the Nith was stationed off the French coast three weeks later. The ship took a direct hit from a German ‘Mistel’ aircraft drone packed with explosives. It killed Peter’s best friend, along with nine others
“I volunteered to help recover the dead and we buried them at sea,” said Peter. The badly damaged ship had to be towed back to England
By 1945 Peter was in the Far East as part of the British Pacific Fleet. With the Allied Invasion of Rangoon only days away, his ship, HMS Roebuck, encountered a Japanese convoy trying to escape. It was here that Peter witnessed first-hand the Japanese refusal to surrender.
“We sank several Japanese boats one night and the next morning sighted one of the vessels with half a dozen Japanese clinging to it. Just as our sailors were pushing off in a lifeboat to rescue them, they blew themselves up, preferring to die rather than suffer the disgrace of being taken prisoner.”
Cllr Phil Dilks, SKDC cabinet member for Armed Forces who helped Peter get his lifetime membership of the Royal British Legion, is featured on the video.
“Not many people are left who fought for our freedom 80 years ago and more. We have to thank men like Peter for their service, and never forget the sacrifices made.”
