A Home on the Rolling Main: A Naval Memoir 1940-1946

by A G F Ditcham

This WWII memoir of a Royal Navy Lieutenant offers a vivid account of maritime combat throughout the European Theater.   From first joining the Royal Navy in 1940 until the end of the campaign against Japan, Tony Ditcham was in the front line of the naval war. He served aboard the battlecruiser HMS Renown in the North Sea and Gibraltar. Serving on destroyers in most of the European theatres, he saw action against S-boats and aircraft off Britain's East Coast, on Arctic convoys to Russia, and eventually in a flotilla screening the Home Fleet.   During the Battle of the North Cape, Ditcham was one of the first men to actually see the German battleship Scharnhorst, and he vividly describes watching it sink from his position in the gun director of HMS Scorpion. Later his ship operated off the American beaches during D-Day, where two of her sister ships were sunk. En route to the Pacific Theater, his combat service ended with the surrender of Japan. Written with humor and colorful descriptive power, Ditcham’s account of his incident-packed career is a classic of naval memoir literature.

645 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 17, 2013

Reviews

[John McNair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this informative and at times humorous memoir of Tony Ditcham's years as, first, a midshipman and finally lieutenant in the Royal Navy through just about all, and even after, the Second World War. He based his book on his Midshipman's Journal, which was a requirement of the position (thankfully!) and which he was able to keep after release in 1946. Ditcham was RNR and so excluded from any fast path to promotion or even the best ships (although one could say that HMS Renown was such a ship). Most of his duty was on destroyers in the Channel and escorting Murmansk convoys, just plain old tough slugging against both the enemy and the sea and weather. But Ditchan also participated in Op NEPTUNE, served in the Med for a bit and ended up on a far east tour post-hostilities. Not bad for a young man in his early 20s! He earned a DSC while capturing a German S-boat as a 20 year-old, being presented his medal by King George VI. Because Ditcham was able to use his Journal, dates and times are very accurate, and he was able to corroborate events long after the fact (the book was written in the late 1990s and then more in the 2000s) through official archives and recollections of others. I liked very much that when he introduced one of his colleagues he was, in many instances, able to inform the reader of that person's life, usually followed through reunions and just personal friendship over the years. I believe that Tony Ditcham is still alive, making him near about 99! This was a remarkable memoir/archive, very readable and engaging and my thanks go out to Tony Ditcham for not only his service, but the monumental effort he put into this book so that others may enjoy it for many years to come.

[Stuart Austwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read.
If you want some insight into the life of a young officer, during WW2. Then this is a must read.
Not originally written as a book this story was taken from the journal, the author kept during his time on board mostly destroyers, during some grueling times, and periods of inaction.
It’s a rare look at life on board ship and what the experience was like for the writer.
It’s an excellent look at wartime life in the Royal Navy of the time.
The humour is often hilarious, their comradeship lifelong.
For me a very moving book.

[David Deakin]

An exceptionally lucid Naval Autobiography,

The fascinating diary of an embryo Naval officer, particularly recommended for a reader uninitiated in naval affairs - although as an experienced Seaman officer I enjoyed revisiting the elementary detail of shipboard life. The reference to many of one’s contemporaries still serving in the post war years added to my enjoyment.
This is a recommended introduction to wartime shipboard naval life.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writer was involved in some of the major actions of World War Two and lends a unique perspective to those incredible battles that shaped the war. Excellent read.

[John Pattison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally gripping and fascinating story. Well written, portraying war at sea in its reality from day to day.

[M Link · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valour on the sea

An excellent account of service on the seas in war and peace and the devotion to the duties of a mariner in all weather well researched and documented. A interesting and informative read.

[Mark Wendruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naval History par Excellence

Fascinating personal and technical account of one young officer's war at sea. Hold's one's attention from start to finish. I couldn't put it down. Superb.

[Michael J Holt. · Rating 3 out of 5]

truth, but told to a later generation

The book is speaking the truth but the atmosphere does not reflect the seriousness of its subject, even if of necessity death was not dwelt upon

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb memoir of life at sea during WWII.