Wartime experiences of Lt Commander James Paterson RNVR

Autobiographical anecdote from James Paterson’s Memories

“I was Crown Lessee of a Salmon Fishery based at Lybster in the Caithness East Coast of Northern Scotland……….The coast is sheer steep rocks formation….the harbour at Lybster had been a natural inlet carved into the great rock masses…..

In April 1940 the war at sea was in full swing. …the HMS Sloop the “Sphinx” was torpedoed, and turned turtle and drifted ultimately into our fishery nets.
The Emergency Signals had alerted the Naval Staff at Invergordon……..my crew were in the salvage operation immediately …..two Naval Officers pleased to accept my offer to lend my crew……the combined efforts of the Royal Navy personnel and my crew managed to save considerable quantities of ammunition and stores of all sorts.

Captain G.O.Hewitt DSO duly made contact ……..he forwarded my name to the Admiralty for consideration (my keenness to join the RN) and emphasized my assistance in the salvage.

In a matter of weeks I received a letter from the Admiralty to attend an interview in London……..I later received a Commission as a Sub Lieutenant RNVR and with instructions to report to the HMS Osprey for a anti submarine course known then as ASDIC to fool the enemy agents.

James Paterson was put in command of the HMS Duncton (following a Court Martial for not obeying a commanding officer; he decided to ignore the compass course as he knew the dangers of the waters around the north of Scotland; he was acquitted and promoted) as a Lieutenant, on 29th May 1944 until the end of the war.

We have the bell from the Duncton.
He was later made Lt Commander RNVR.