265026 CPO. James Michael Caldwell Royal Navy HMS Quebec from:Belfast N.I. My late father, James Caldwell joined the RN in 1929 and served until 1957.
He was a physical training instructor and as well as 22 other ships, served on HMS Quebec from 14.7.1942 until 14.2.1943 over several occasions.
The only photo we ever saw was of him in PT kit with 4 other servicemen in a two line formation. Unfortunately they are lost.
My dad never spoke of service other than mentioning Scapa once.
I am so anxious to find out more information if possible and will be registering all the other ships on which he served.
- HMS St George Ldg seaman 4th September 1940 - 21st Feb 1940
- HMS Columbo Ldg seaman - PO 21st February 1940 - 13th July 1942.
- HMS Quebec PO 14th July 1942 - 27th July 1942.
- HMS Louisberg PO 28th July 1942 - 11th August 1942.
- HMS Quebec PO 12th August 1942 - 14th February 1943 (3 periods in town camp).
- HMS Dartmouth 111 PO 15th February - 18th July 1943.
- HMS Effingham PO 19th July 1943 - 22 December 1943.
- HMS St Matthew PO 23rd December 1943 - 10th September 1944.
- HMS Drake PO 11th September 1944 - 7th November 1944.
- HMS Duty PO 8th - 9th November 1944.
- HMS Gadwall PO 10th November 1944 - 8th December 1944.
- HMS Eastleigh PO 9th December 1944 - 19th December 1944.
- HMS Gadwall PO 20th December 1944 - 30th March 1945.
- HMS Drake Temporary CPO 31st March 1945 - 30th May 1945.
After that went to serve in Canada and Far East on many more establishments until 3rd May 1957.
As a CPO Instructor he was a PTI winning many medals for every sport apparently having his teeth knocked out by someone with the same name.
Apart from service awards, he had a box of about 15 medals for almost every sport which we no longer have.
He died in 1995.
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