Fred Davenport was born in Peckham South London in 1921. He joined the Royal Navy as an Accounts Clerk in 1941 and gives an interesting account of life onboard ship.  He was serving on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle when it was torpedoed in The Mediterranean whilst escorting the Pedestal convoy to Malta in 1942. Fred Davenport stayed in the Navy after WWII and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

AUDIO

Click or tap the triangle icon to play

The sinking of The Eagle and the picking up of survivors. (Extract)

Track 1 (25 mins 50 secs)

Track 2 (10 mins 23 secs)

Track 3 (15 mins 42 secs)

Track 4 (16 mins 05 secs)

Track 5 (8 mins 53 secs)

Fred Davenport sinking of The Eagle – ext

Fred Davenport – transcript