257112 L/Bdr Norman Power British Army Maritime Regiment Royal Artillery from:Bradford, Yorkshire My late father in law was Norman Power. He served with the Royal Artillery Maritime Regiment in WW2. He was a gunner on merchant shipping on both the Atlantic and Arctic Convoys.
I remember him telling me about runs to Malta and how soldiers shouldn't have been on ships. He said he always craved the soil under his boots. He was torpedoed and sunk twice but fortunately rescued on both occasions. I remember him telling me that he was actually on his first day of a period of survivors leave when D Day commenced.
Many years later he wrote a short fictional story about a Maritime Regiment gunner who brought nothing but bad luck. The story is called The Jinx.
From things he had said prior to his death, the family believe that the story could actually be based on himself and those he served with. Whilst it is only short, it gives a vivid account of life on board ship as a RA gunner during WW2. The story was hand written and falling apart but I have typed it up for preservation.
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