ments see below
The first of my parents to be officially classed as visiting England was my Father in 1942 - His ship SCOTIA, was mined and sunk of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (13th April 1942).
Prior to this he was on an Estonian ship KODUMAA, registered port Glasgow, from the 20th September 1941, this was the date he started his sea service with the British Merchant Marine as 2nd Mate. (Later he passed his Second Officers ticket in 17th November 1947 and his Capain's ticket on the 11th December 1950; so becoming a Master Mariner).
He had joined the SCOTIA as 3rd Officer just the night before. He was just leaving his cabin to go on watch when the explosion happened, knocked his head against the steel door sile; the concussion delayed him picking-up any personal effects (books, watch, papers etc) as he eventually made his way to Bridge/lifeboat station.
Now classed as an alien (the Estonian government was in exile), he had to report weekly to the nearest Police station. Also, as like most foreign seaman form occupied europe he was allocated to the Cardiff 'pool'. (Sailors mustered here would be drafted to any foriegn ship registered or on UK government service). The SCOTIA was a Swedish ship, but a third Officer a crewr short, who's convoy was bound for Newcastle to load coal.
My Mother had a different war, prior to 1940 and Stalin's occupation of Estonia, she worked as a typest (clerk) for the Estonian government.
She hide an Estonian male while others were rounded-up and deported by the Russians - but someone revealed them and she was locked-up in prison.
As the Russians retreted they mustered 36 warships and 36 merchant vessels to leave Tallinn (their equivalent of Dunkirk). She with other prisoners were hearded into the cargo hold of a sailing schooner bound for Leningrad. Whilst the German's attacked this convoy the schooner straggled and left the convoy; the Soviet crew abandoned, leaving the vessel to its fate. A hatch cover was opened and some Estonians managed to set a course back for Tallinn. The Germans processed the prisoners and my Mother started to work for the TROT organisation. She said her main work was as a clerk and also delivering supplies to Germain outposts in Estonia.
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Estonian
uk Graham Bartram
ee Antonio Martins/Ivan Sache
ie Vincent Morley
4ie Mario Fabretto