My dearest dead uncle was a Canadian war hero; navy . Amongst other high seas ordeals, he captured the Canadian ninth prize of the war, which he boarded with a prize crew off the Prescott. That ship which left him to seize the vessel off the coast of Spain, was called up to escort a convey through the straits of Gibralter, at which time she was wounded, leaving my uncle and his hand picked crew of seven, stranded on a 200 foot long wooden ship with fifty prisoners from about every country in Europe. Indeed, he decided after a few days, to sail the ship to Newfoundland, which they did, albeit arriving there the prisoner count was less afer some attempts initially to overpower my uncle. Half way across the pirate captain, who ship hd been selling diesel oil and cognac to the german subs, oficially surrendered his boat and men, knowing that they would be safe in Canada. Point is, I think to take your point forward, Royce, that some of the German submariner courage, came in liquid form in bottles from france. A little libation was a great and accepted tool of war. My uncle talked of splicing the main brace, and he and many from here who saw so much action, came home alcholics. I remember being told that when they did get ashore in places like Briton England for repairs, the idea was a night out with the maidens of the town, was better than life aboard their ships with rum, bum, and the old harmonica. My uncle WW2 hero would have been proud of this posting. Cheers! The Canadian On Oct 9, 2009, at 9:56 AM, Royce Perry wrote: > > No matter what side you are on, you have to admire the German > captian's shear nerve going right into the Royal Navy's home port. > And his luck getting out again! > > R > > > >> Date: Fri, 9 Oct 2009 14:57:51 +0100 >> From: charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk >> To: orcadia@rootsweb.com >> Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Royal Oak >> >> Hi >> >> Could be interesting, though I doubt there can be anything new. >> >> By the way this was not really a tragedy, though the deaths of so >> many >> of the crew was certainly tragic for their families. >> >> In reality it was the result of an unprepared and incompetent >> Admiralty >> which utterly failed to provide adequate defenses at Scapa Flow. >> >> In fact it was a remarkable feat of arms for U47 and its crew. And a >> wake up call to the British. >> -- >> Charles Tait Photographic Limited, Kelton, St Ola, Orkney, UK KW15 >> 1TR >> Tel 01856 873738 Fax 01856 875313 Mobile 07785 220269 >> All outgoing and incoming mail is checked by Norton Antivirus >> email charles.tait@zetnet.co.uk >> website http://www.charles-tait.co.uk >> photo gallery http://gallery.charlestait.com >> >> Charles Tait Photographic Limited Company Number SC240761 >> >> Warning: This email is intended only for the addressee. >> If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified >> that any sale, usage, distribution or copying of this email >> or its attachment(s) is strictly forbidden. >> If you have received this message by mistake please notify us. >> It may contain data that is copyright,confidential or >> otherwise not for distribution. >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >