The Wellington Trust Board of Trustees is pleased and honoured to launch Robin’s Campaign to trace all surviving Battle of the Atlantic Veterans.
The campaign is named after Robin Boodle (100) who served onboard HMS SUFFOLK from 1940 to 1945. During Robin’s time in the Ships Company, SUFFOLK formed part of three Battle of the Atlantic convoys: two Arctic Convoys, and Convoy number WS30/KMF15 from the Clyde to Freetown, Sierra Leone. HMS WELLINGTON was also part of convoy WS 30.
Robin (Centre) with two shipmates onboard HMS SUFFOLK
In May 1943 when Robin was 18, HMS SUFFOLK was sent to Scotland to join joint military convoy WS30/KMF15 in the Clyde.
This large joint convoy departed the Clyde 19th May, bound for Freetown, Sierra Leone. This was a very common convoy route and WELLINGTON was often tasked with convoy duties to and from the UK to Freetown, or Gibraltar.
Although his memory of this convoy is very vague, Robin does remember entering Freetown harbour and seeing the palm trees and some wildlife. At Freetown, the convoy split, and SUFFOLK went on to South Africa and Western Australia.
His memories of his two Arctic convoys are more vivid. He remembers they had to keep moving all the time to keep warm. These convoys were in September 1941 and August 1942:
“I remember it was very cold. We had to keep going all the time. We couldn’t stop. We wanted to rest, but we had to keep going to keep warm.”
His most vivid memory however was not the three Battle of Atlantic convoys, but as a young 16 year old in May 1941. He was present at the sinking of the Bismarck and still recalls picking up and guarding survivors, later turning them over as POWs:
“Some of the Germans we saw [in the water] and we went to pick them up. They weren’t upset. They were grateful. They said ‘thank you, thank you.’
We took about 40. Some were injured. There was a lot to cope with. We took them down below and the Captain instructed me to look after the men. I then had to control some small groups of five or so. There were two I had a bit of trouble with, but most told me in English, they would be good, and they were.
I don’t know why, but I always got the biggest guys. One of them, an officer, was quite august. He did change though, and by the time they were all transferred, he called me Robin.
With people in the water, if are in control, you help, no matter who they are, or their attitude.”
Robin's Christmas Card home in 1942 from HMS SUFFOLK.
Robin is a remarkable veteran who went on to serve over 26 years, leaving as a Chief Petty Officer in 1966. His service history is a real testament to the famous saying “Join the Navy, see the world”.
Robin is a great inspiration for this campaign as we enter the 80th anniversary year since the end of the Battle of the Atlantic on Victory Europe Day on May 8th 1945. As the sole surviving dedicated Battle of the Atlantic convoy escort in Europe, HMS WELLINGTON will be commemorating this important anniversary.
As part of these commemorations, we are keen to find and honour all remaining Battle of the Atlantic veterans from both the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, and we appeal to anyone who is, or has knowledge of any surviving Battle of the Atlantic veterans, to get in touch with the Wellington Trust.
Chairman of the Wellington Trust, Dominic Tweddle commented on the launch of Robin’s campaign:
“It was remarkable that we learned of Robin and his decorated Second World War service, and even more remarkable that he was on one convoy with WELLINGTON when he served onboard HMS SUFFOLK. To have this living connection to the ship is special.
We appreciate there cannot be many surviving Battle of the Atlantic veterans, yet we are keen to find them and document anything they may remember, as well as learn of their individual service histories.
We not only want to commemorate their contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic, but also to ensure visitors to the ship can learn of their contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic as part of the Wellington Story.”
Battle of Atlantic Veteran Robin (100) with Wellington Trust Chairman Dominic Tweddle at LCT 7074 at the D-Day Story in Portsmouth.
If you are, or know a surviving Battle of the Atlantic veteran, Royal or Merchant Navy, please contact the Wellington Trust via email research@thewellingtontrust.org
We also welcome and encourage families of former Ships Company members of HMS WELLINGTON to get in touch as part of our wider research.
