We returned to Avonmouth England from New York on the 'Desirade' in late October 1944, travelling in convoy. It was not long after the fall of Paris and the ship's crew was ecstatic at the prospect of returning to their homeland. It was Charles de Gaulle's nameday and almost every glass on board was broken when his health was drunk. I have a memory of a funeral at sea and that the chef had died. My mother went and looked at the lifeboats and said that they were in a very poor state and rusted to the davits, so its a good thing we weren't torpedoed. Marie-Lou LeggMarie-Lou Legg 020 7736 1654