- Contributed by
- Bemerton Local History Society
- People in story:
- NORMAN MORTIMER
- Location of story:
- Ponam in The Pacific
- Background to story:
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:
- A3883980
- Contributed on:
- 11 April 2005
This happened early in 1945 when I was serving on Ponam, a remote island in the Pacific, with the Fleet Air Arm, where we supplied and serviced aircraft to the carriers of the British Fleet.
This particular Saturday afternoon my mate and I were going for a shower, which was out on a jetty about 80 yards from our hut. As usual we stripped off and with just a towel over our shoulders, started off for the showers. As we reached the so called “road” a jeep was coming with 4 service personnel on board so we waited. It was not until it had passed that we noticed that the two people in the back were Wren officers visiting the island. What an embarrassment — in those days Wrens didn’t serve on Ships or remote islands.
Next day daily orders read “All ratings will in future wear shorts to the showers.
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