Rory's Grandfather served in World War II, Rory has written an account of his service.

My grandfather Alexander James McGregor was born on the 7th of November 1923. 

He really wanted to join the Navy during WW2 but he was too young, so he joined the Army first until he was old enough at 18 to finally join the Navy. He trained at Devonport Naval Base (which most of you have probably been to) before he became part of the crew of the ship HMNZS Achilles. 

This was a very famous NZ ship that had been involved in a naval battle called The Battle of the River Plate. There was even a movie made about this famous battle. During my Grandfather’s time on this boat in WW2, he was classed as a Stoker and they spent time minesweeping around the Pacific and was also one of the first boats to dock at Nagasaki harbour after the Americans had dropped the atomic bomb there. He was eventually discharged from the Navy after the war because of health reasons.

For his efforts in World War 2, my grandfather was awarded 4 medals which included The Pacific Star. One of the guns of the Achilles remains mounted at the Devonport Naval Base where you can visit it.

By Rory