The photographs within this collection have been very kindly supplied by Mick Whild, son of Albert George Whild who served on HMS Ausonia as a Stoker 1st Class from May 1944 until the 23rd January 1946.
All photographs are copyrighted by Mick Whild unless otherwise stated.
Albert George Whild was born in Acocks Green, Birmingham and joined the Ausonia just as she re-commissioned as a Repair Ship in the beginning of May 1944, he would have sailed on board her from Portsmouth up to the Clyde, where she performed sea trials and then in June, left England for the Far East. After 8 months in Aden and a short refit in Bombay, he and the ship arrived in Trincomalee, Ceylon. During this stage of the war, any leave taken by crew members of HMS Ausonia, was restricted to a few select areas and it should not, therefore be surprising, that Albert’s photographs are very similar to those taken by other shipmates, during this period.
Stoker 1st Class, Albert George Whild service number KX 556853Albert’s crossing the equator certificate, dated 10th July 1944, which would have been issued to all crew members.Albert, seen here reading the Birmingham Mail newspaper with fellow crewmen on the boat deck of HMS Ausonia.Albert, seen here reading the Birmingham Mail newspaper with fellow crewmen on the boat deck of HMS Ausonia.Albert, seen here with fellow crewmen on the boat deck of HMS Ausonia.Albert, seen here with fellow crewmen on the boat deck of HMS Ausonia.Albert, seen here with fellow crewmen on the boat deck of HMS Ausonia.Albert on the left, with fellow crewmen, on the starboard side of the boat deck of HMS Ausonia.Albert seen here in the centre with fellow stokers, on the forecastle of HMS Ausonia.A keen footballer, Albert played for one of Ausonia’s football teams.Albert, seen here with fellow crewmen while at what is assumed to be the leave camp up in the mountains of “Little England” at Trincomalee.Albert, seen here with fellow crewmen while at what is assumed to be the leave camp up in the mountains of “Little England” at Trincomalee.Albert, seen here with fellow crewmen while at what is assumed to be the leave camp up in the mountains of “Little England” at Trincomalee.Albert on the right with fellow shipmates, believed to be Trincomalee.Albert posing for a photograph in his best whites, believed to be Trincomalee.Albert on the left, best man for a shipmates wedding in South Africa.
