"Dawn Will Always Break" - book by Lt. Cdr Allan Lansley Waller VRD*

The author, Lieutenant Commander Allan Lansley Waller VRD* RNR, had a life-long interest in the sea and ships. Almost brought up by 'longshore fishermen at Southwold' he joined London Division RNVR in March 1939 aged 18. He was mobilised in September 1939 and served most of the war as a rating and officer in mine-sweeping and anti-submarine trawlers, except for a year invalided ashore in Gibraltar where he found himself appointed to the staff of the Vice-Admiral Commanding North Atlantic Station. He 'lost' several ships, including the famous 'Lady Shirley' which he left just before her tragic end. He was mentioned in Dispatches and was wounded twice. From December 1944 until demobilisation in November 1964 he served mostly in the Far East in tank landing ships. After the war he continued in the RNVR and Supplementary Reserve and, on amalgamation, the Royal Naval Reserve. He retired at 60 but he carried on in the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service until he retired again aged 65. Concurrently he also served as an Auxiliary Coastguard for 16 years at Lowestoft and Southwold. He was awarded the RNVR medal for long service and had conferred u[on him the Royal Naval Reserve Decoration (VRD) with a clasp.