WILLIAM Patrick Young, known as Bill to his friends, was born at Old Warps Nursing home in Warrington on July 4, 1921.

The family lived in Clough Avenue, Longford. He joined the Royal Navy October 1938.

This is his story in the Second World War as told by his son Bob.

“Dad’s initial training was undertaken at HMS Wildfire in Sheerness and his first posting was to the new ship HMS Khartoum.

“At this time his action stations would have been to assist anywhere in the ship, helping gunners, working in the sickbay, helping with the wounded when war started and just about anything else to support the more experienced crew.

“In February 1940, Khartoum was deployed for escort of convoys to Norway. In May 1940, she was sent to evacuate personnel from the Netherlands and Belgium before being transferred to the Mediterranean Sea on May 8 and leaving Plymouth for Gibraltar on May 16, with sister destroyer HMS Kandahar.

“A week later they joined the flotilla at Alexandria, Egypt, and deployed for screening and patrol duties. It was during this time dad had ‘Egypt 1940’ tattooed on his left arm, a tattoo that would be a constant reminder all his life about that year.

“It was also when he started smoking Lucky Strike cigarettes and reading books by the psychologist Carl Jung.

“Khartoum and Kandahar were then detached for surveillance of Italian warship movements from Massawa on the Red Sea. After the Italian declaration of war on June 10, she was deployed for patrol and convoy defence at Aden. Dad said this was the hottest place on earth and you could fry an egg on a stone.

“On June 23 she was deployed with HMS Kandahar in search for Evangelista Torricelli, a Brin-class submarine near Perim Island. After interception, Khartoum took part in a surface engagement with the submarine, during which Torricelli was sunk.

“However, during the battle, Khartoum was hit by return fire.

“Some five and a half hours later, at 11.50am, a torpedo’s compressed air chamber exploded, propelling the warhead through the deck and causing a serious uncontrollable fire from a ruptured oil tank. Shortly afterwards the after magazine blew up. This wrecked the stern structure of the engine room while causing extensive flooding. The crew thought that was all, and the abandonment could proceed unhurriedly, but about 10 minutes later an even bigger explosion occurred.

Warrington Guardian:

HMS Khartoum was sunk

“This was the depth charge magazine with some 40 depth charges in it. The fuel tanks split open and caught fire, but fortunately the wind blew the burning oil away from the ship.

“It was a case of sliding down her side and over the round of the bottom to swim ashore, only about a 100 yards or so away. The crew went in feet first. However, this last explosion of the ship’s magazine, was to kill one of the ship’s company, dad’s friend John Thompson, aged 17.

“While he was swimming ashore he was hit by debris from the ship.

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“Perim was garrisoned by Sikhs of the Indian Army. The crew mustered at the army barracks. The explosion of the torpedo air vessel had brought down the wireless aerials, but jury ones were rigged and a signal sent to Aden. It was not known however, if it had been received, so they expected a long wait, and settled down and made the best of things.

“The army started to prepare a large curry for supper, when suddenly Kandahar appeared the signal had got through. Next morning all were in Aden. Dad was gutted he had missed the curry.

“A very fine and happy ship had gone, and there was great sadness over the loss of young seaman. This was the first of many bodies dad would see over the next five years.

“Later in Aden the ship’s company were accommodated in HMS Lucia, the depot ship at Aden, until they were dispersed to other appointments.

“Dad spent the next month on HMS Kandahar before being assigned to the famous small gunboat HMS Ladybird on August 4, 1940.

“Admiral AB Cunningham was to say that they should write a book about the gallant service of HMS Ladybird after the war and it became famous for its heroics even after it sunk.”