My name is Bob Metcalfe, Service number DJX 369593....

I volunteered for the Royal Navy in 1942 when I was just 18yrs old, and served on the Eclipse and the Newfoundland until 1946.

There were some funny and many sad things.

I remember being on the Russian Convoys - it was so cold, and most of the time off watch was spent chipping ice from the upper decks. At that time the Eclipse had done 13 Russian convoys. Funnily enough she was sent to the Mediterranean for a rest and was sunk there. I had left her 6 weeks before that.

I then joined the Newfoundland and went East, and finished off the war with the occupation of Japan. This was just the opposite to the Russian run, with it being very hot, and I got very badly sunburned with blisters on my shoulders and back.
I was among the first 200 men to land in Tokyo, and waited there until the US army relieved us two weeks later.

I remember Mr Churchill stating in parliament that "no service man under the age of 20 would be sent overseas".
At that time I was 18 years old and in Murmansk with a convoy, but it was in PQ 18, not the really bad one which was PQ 17, luckily I missed that one.

I was glad to get home after being away from home almost non stop for 4 years. I got home just once in that time.

Bob now lives in New Zealand with his wife Jean