H.M.S. Royal Arthur

Norman aka Lofty is far left, second row from back

When my dad first joined the Royal Navy in October 1942 he was sent for initial training to H.M.S. Royal Arthur. This was a naval shore base at the Butlin's Holiday Camp in Skegness, Loncolnshire which the Royal Navy had taken over for training purposes at the start of the war.
My dad was just over eighteen and a half years old when he signed up as a wartime volunteer. He was almost 6' 1" tall and for that reason was nick-named "Lofty".
Recently a friend has been doing some delving into his own father's World War II story; he's found that his father trained at H.M.S.Royal Arthur too. However his dad met a local Skegness girl and the rest, as they say, is history.
There's a great Pathe News clip of some new recruits at H.M.S. Royal Arthur if you follow this link: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/hms-royal-arthur

If you want to read more of the book follow either of these links to read a free sample:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009QXEUG2

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QXEUG2