Postby NigelTickner » Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:28 pm
I came across this website after a google search in which I was surprised to find the wreck of my father's SGB 7 had been found by divers in the Baie de la Seine area. Let me introduce myself; my name is Nigel Tickner and I served as an officer in the RN and RNR (HMS SUSSEX) in the 70s and 80s. The true story lies with my father, Petty Officer Jim Tickner (RN 1936-1946) (born 1921) who I believe was Coxswain of SGB 7 on that fatal night of 19th June 1942. My Dad sadly died when I was only 14 in 1975 and I never had the chance to ask him all those questions young men wish to ask their fathers of their wartime exploits. My treasured heirloom though is his Red Cross POW log he kept in Marlag near Westertimke after being picked out of the sea by the crew of an E-boat that night, and taken as a casualty into Brest and then Rennes, before he was taken by armed guard as a POW to the camp near Bremerhaven. I read with such interest therefore David Purvis' article of 21st July 2009 on this website about the finding of the wreck of SGB 7 by divers. My Dad was already selected for the Upper Yardman scheme. He was originally a boy telegraphist at HMS ST.VINCENT. He'd served already onboard the cruiser HMS CORNWALL and had seen service in the battleship HMS RODNEY during the Bismarck action. To become an officer he had to switch to a seaman branch and thus became I believe a Petty Officer Torpedo Coxswain. From my Dad's accounts from what I remember of them as a boy the Free French skipper laid the charges for'ard to scuttle her and my Dad laid the charges aft. He said the skipper didn't want to admit to the Germans he was Free French so was going to tell them he was French Canadian. My Dad was picked up by an E-boat with shrapnel wounds in the leg, lost consciousness at some point and came round in hospital in either Brest or Rennes. He survived the war by being in the prison camp for three years before being liberated by the Scots Guards. There were three prison camps for different services, and his wartime log is such an interesting read as his companions included all sorts of nationalities including Greek submariners from a submarine called TRITON sunk off Crete. I just add this message to the forum as I see Purvis' article says not much was known of the surviving crew of SGB 7 who went on to Marlag POW camp. If there is anyone still out there who has stories about SGB 7, the day to day life onboard a wartime SGB, and of that fatal night I would love to hear them. I feel honoured that my parents were of the WW2 generation, and although they are now both deceased that I am still a link to the memories of that generation. It is important for me to pass this on to my son and daughter. Ironically, my son, James was in the Baie de la Seine area earlier this year training to be a commercial yachtmaster with UKSA in Cowes and he wondered about that night, where it occurred and what happened. Thank you for reading my tuppeny halpenny's worth in my message here. Best, Nigel Tickner