Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Page 18



February 1946

On one occasion the Navy decided it would be a good idea if they were to send some of the matelots stationed in Trieste to our barracks for a day's leave. We showed them around, let them drive our tanks etc., and in short they had a good day's fun. In turn the Navy invited some of us back to their own units and I was chosen to spend a day on a mine sweeper in Trieste harbour.

It was a lovely day and all was going fine until it was pointed out to us that the Degaussing equipment aboard (that neutralised the magnet mines in the harbour) had developed a fault. For the balance of the day consequently the boat was surrounded by floating and very lethal German mines and we found ourselves fending them off and taking potshots at them!

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