Bill Wold
Bill belongs to: Royal British Legion Seaman's Mess
Bill was born in South Shields. He left school at 14. After working in a hotel down south Bill joined the merchant navy. During World War Two Bill was in the Arctic convoys and at the D-Day landings dropping off armaments.
Bill was interviewed by Kylea Little on 8 November 2005. The interview took place at South Shields Royal British Legion and lasted 16 minutes and 21 seconds.
The uniform in the merchant navy
"No uniforms- just, you know, your jeans suits and dungarees"
No uniforms- just, you know, your jeans suits and dungarees that was your uniform. You see, you’re getting mixed up with the navy. They get their uniforms for nought.
Interviewer: So it was just denim dungarees?
There are no uniforms for ratings, at sea, you know, it’s only when you’re mate, second mate or something when you’ve got to have your uniforms. The captain…. But otherwise, anything does it.
Bill has 17 memories in the memorynet:
Adjusting to life at sea- Training in the merchant navy
- Conditions in the merchant navy
- Food in the merchant navy
- The uniform in the merchant navy
- Durban
- Living conditions
- Danger at sea
- What does the sea mean to you?
Photograph of Bill- Submarine in Cape Town
- Photograph of Bill
- Continuous Certificate of Discharge
- A Marconigram from the King
- Russian medal
- Medal for the Normandy landings
- Certificate for the Normandy landings
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