Bob Cook

Bob Cook joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17 in 1937. As a Boy Second Class he qualified as a Signal Boy and on attaining 18 years became an Ordinary Signalman. Bob relates his experiences at the Naval Training establishments and on to his wartime experiences as a signalman. He saw service on a number of different vessels, preferring smaller ones to the impersonal atmosphere of the large cruisers and destroyers. Bob tells the story of minesweeping, of escort duty in the frozen Russian...See more

Bob Cook joined the Royal Navy at the age of 17 in 1937. As a Boy Second Class he qualified as a Signal Boy and on attaining 18 years became an Ordinary Signalman. Bob relates his experiences at the Naval Training establishments and on to his wartime experiences as a signalman. He saw service on a number of different vessels, preferring smaller ones to the impersonal atmosphere of the large cruisers and destroyers. Bob tells the story of minesweeping, of escort duty in the frozen Russian convoys, and of service in the Mediterranean. The move to peace time naval duties was very different and the readjustments needed were considerable. When Bob was due for discharge from the Royal Navy he responded to an advertisement for experienced senior ratings due for discharge from the Royal Navy to join the New Zealand Navy and serve for a further period. By this time he was a Chief Petty Officer. Bob and his family made New Zealand their permanent home. Bob has written the account of his very full life mainly for his family and descendants. It is an interesting story. Much of the book is also historically important. First hand eye witness accounts of WWII events need to be preserved and Bob has done this in a readable and interesting manner. See less