Princess Royal’s naval charity begins campaign for lost Battle of the Atlantic heroes

Robin Boodle was just a boy sailor when he took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, a contest Winston Churchill named himself in 1941 to emphasise just how important the war at sea was becoming.

The battle began on Sept 3 1939, when the first Atlantic convoy sailed, comprising Royal Navy escorts and Merchant Navy vessels taking with them vital supplies to the UK and allies from the North Atlantic and elsewhere in the British Empire.
However, the seas were treacherous as all ships were at risk of being torpedoed by German U-boats as they made their perilous crossings.

For Mr Boodle, 100, who served onboard HMS Suffolk from 1940 to 1945, which formed part of three Battle of Atlantic convoys, two of which were Arctic, it is the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941 which remains the most vivid memory.

Despite being only 16, he remembers rescuing German sailors, who kept saying “thank you” to the British.

“Some of the Germans we saw were in the water and we went to pick them up,” said Mr Boodle, who served in the Royal Navy for more than 26 years, from his care home in Portsmouth.

“With people in the water, if you are in control, you help, no matter who they are or their attitude.”

He told The Telegraph: “They weren’t upset. They were grateful. We took about 40. Some were injured. There was a lot to cope with. We took them down below and the Captain instructed me to look after the men. I then had to control some small groups of five or so.

“There were two I had a bit of trouble with, but most told me in English they would be good, and they were. 
I don’t know why but I always got the biggest guys. One of them, an officer, was quite august. He did change though, and by the time they were all transferred, he called me Robin.”

It is stories like Mr Boodle’s which the Wellington Trust charity is pledging to keep alive to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8 2025, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe in 1945, and the end of the Battle of the Atlantic..

The trust is dedicated to preserving HMS Wellington, the sole surviving dedicated Battle of Atlantic convoy escort in Europe.

The campaign is named after Mr Boodle as he was onboard HMS Suffolk as part of a convoy with HMS Wellington going from the Clyde to Freetown, Sierra Leone in Sept 1941.

It will be the first time work has been done to trace the last remaining Battle of the Atlantic (BoA) veterans.

The charity, of which the Princess Royal is patron, is now appealing for BoA veterans from the Royal and Merchant navies to get in touch with the Wellington Trust.

All veterans found will be commemorated onboard with a roll of honour and photos where available, including visits if their health allows.

Admiral Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, told The Telegraph: “The 5,000 Merchant and Royal Navy ships and 70,000 men and women lost winning the Battle of the Atlantic are too often forgotten, despite it being the most important and longest battle of the war.

“It is crucial that we recognise the very few survivors and their bravery and resilience.”

Dominic Tweddle, chairman of the trust, added: “It was remarkable that we learnt of Robin and his decorated Second World War service, and even more remarkable that he was on one convoy with Wellington when he served onboard HMS Suffolk. To have this living connection to the ship is special.

“We appreciate there cannot be many surviving BoA veterans, yet we are keen to find them and document anything they may remember, as well as learn of their individual service histories.

“We not only want to commemorate their contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic, but ensure visitors to the ship can learn of their contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic as part of the Wellington Story.”

Anyone wanting to get in touch with the trust regarding tracing BOA survivors is urged to email: research@thewellingtontrust.org