When conscripted for National Service I applied to join the Royal Navy. I was accepted and joined HMS Victory, Portsmouth (05.10.53), for basic training, then proceeded to HMS Raleigh as a Stoker “S”, training for a Commission. Promoted to Temporary Probationary Acting Sub Lieutenant (E) RNVR (19.12.53). Joined The Royal Navy Engineering College, Manadon, HMS Thunderer (08.01.54). Passed out from RNEC as Sub Lieutenant (E) (15.04.54).

Leave, followed by posting to HMS Vanguard; having volunteered for submarines, posting cancelled by telegram and ordered to join HMS Dolphin on full RN Submarine Engineer Officer’s Training Course (00.05.54 to 00.09.54) for RN Lt (E)s. Training trips on HMS Anchorite, HMS Trespasser and HMS Auriga. Passed out first.

Left UK (01.09.54) to join First Submarine Squadron, Malta. Depot ship HMS Forth. Sliema Creek?.

Served as second, full watchkeeping, EO on HMS Teredo, old type T with gun ? (06.09.54 to ??.01.55). Sardinia, Gibraltar, Naples, etc. Took part in major farewell ceremony for Mountbatten off Gibraltar (??.12.54) in which three line abreast submarines dived, surfaced and dived under two lines abreast of assembled fleet.

Cruise as auxiliary watchkeeper in HMS Forth and battle class destroyer HMS Comet to Beirut, Baalbeck, Tripoli, Lebanon, Cyprus, Malta (24.01.55 to 23.02.55).

Served as second, full watchkeeping, EO on HMS Sea Devil completing refit and trials (30.02.55 to ??.04.55). Naples, La Spezia, Malta. During illness of regular Engineer, became first national service engineer ever appointed as full submarine Engineer Officer.

Served as second, full watchkeeping, EO on HMS Truncheon, extended, converted T (??.04.55 to 14.10.55), Venice, Split, Malta. Gibraltar/Tangier Straits II exercise, returned to Gibraltar. Tangier, Oran, Gibraltar. Lisbon washup of NATO Atlantic exercise. Left Lisbon for HMS Dolphin (07.10.55 to 11.10.55).

Showed Russian sailors from visiting fleet around British subs (14.10.55 to 07.11.55). Left HMS Dolphin 07.11.55 for terminal leave.