On arriving home from the 2002 re-union I received a 'phone call from Association Chairman John Parker. Apparently former Royal Marine Phil Jeffreys had left a briefcase with the receptionist at the Home Club which I was supposed to collect but which I knew nothing about. John kindly retrieved the briefcase which I collected from him a few weeks later and which contained two photograph albums, many loose photo's and a number of newspapers from the 40's and 50's. On the following pages are some of those photo's and a few words about Phil himself.
Royal Marine Phil Jeffreys.
Although a 'Londoner' by birth Phil has spent most of his adult life in the Midlands. Having lived and grown up in Islington North London, Phil moved to the Birmingham area to seek work soon after leaving school.
1944/45 saw Phil with Montgomery's British 21st Army fighting across Europe as a member of the 33rd Battalion, Royal Marine Brigade. In September '45 the Brigade left Flensburg, on the Kiel Canal, and returned to the UK where Phil was quickly posted to HMS Cleopatra.
1947 and the Far East beckoned with the arrival of a new draft to join HMS London, already on her way to Singapore and Hong Kong. Rather than the 'luxuries' of a troop ship Phil sailed east on the carrier HMS Theseus, joining the 'London' at Hong Kong in early November just in time for the Royal Wedding celebrations.
HMS Theseus at speed off China November 1947.
Ship's Company 1947.
HMS Theseus arrives Hong Kong, November 1947.