As the military band began to play the striking sound of Nimrod echoed across the Palace grounds.  A moment of history and remembrance as a long-life passed, a memorial steeped in Naval military history.   It was this moment that reminded me of where paths had crossed in my own family history of my late Uncle serving under Prince Philip.
 

It led me on a journey of discovering and exploring exactly what our naval and other military services endured, stricken and alone on often rough and perilous seas in their plight to protect our shores and country during WW2.
 

Like the great expanse of seas they traversed, the field of discovery was vast, leading me to research into many areas previously unknown to me.   Heroics and unsung ventures of the merchant navy navigating the dangerous routes being harassed by wolfpacks in order to bring vital supplies to our shores, to the submarines in the Mediterranean subjected to the constant and relentless bombardment of the areas around Malta.  Secret missions, bravery and courage engulfed them all.
 

Many sadly succumbed to the dangerous nature of their roles and unfortunately forever lay to rest under the deep and unforgiving sea, it is for those souls and all that gave everything for the greater good that the following sections are dedicated, they were all subjected to the ‘perils on the sea’.