Tag: non-fiction

  • Eastbourne D-Day veteran’s chance to say a final farewell to lost friends

    Eastbourne D-Day veteran’s chance to say a final farewell to lost friends

    An Eastbourne veteran who was the last survivor of a sunken WW2 ship could soon have the chance to say a final goodbye to his lost comrades. The ship which Patrick Thomas, 93, barely escaped with his life from is being searched for after all these years thanks to his good friend John Henry Phillips. The process of finding the ship is now being made into a documentary called No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave.

    Patrick said, “The ship was my home and my shipmates my family. I remember them as 19-year-olds with our lives ahead of us but the wreck of our ship is now their grave. “I want the tragedy of that day to be remembered forever more. The making of this documentary has awakened old memories.”

    On D-Day the Royal Navy telegraphist boarded his ship in Portsmouth as thousands of soldiers prepared for a day that changed history. But on June 25, 1944, his ship was sunk by an acoustic mine, killing 35 of the 40 men on board. Knocked unconscious, 19-year-old Patrick awoke in the English Channel in time to see his friends and craft sink and vanish from history.

    Now Patrick believes he may be the only crew member left alive. Unsure exactly where the ship went down, he and the families of the crew have never had a place to honour the fallen. Only four of the dead were given a burial. But then, two years ago, military historian and conflict archaeologist John Phillips, 25, was offered a spare room by the veteran. After hearing Patrick’s story, John promised to locate the ship, document it, and install a permanent memorial on the coast.

    Undeterred by the gravity of his promise, his friend’s age, and the fact he can’t scuba dive, John set about the search during summer, piecing together official records and Patrick’s diaries and memories to narrow down the location of the ship. He said, “Every year we lose more of these heroes and with them goes vital history that can never be retold. This is one of the last chances for a project like this to be undertaken with one of the last of the greatest generation alongside for the journey.

    “I could find the wreck and build the memorial in ten years’ time but with Patrick here to see it, it means so much more. This is more than a shipwreck search. It is about commemoration, remembrance and a promise to a friend.”

    The whole process is being recorded for a documentary directed and produced by award-winning Canadian filmmakers. They’re hoping to raise around £35,000 to produce a full-length documentary called No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave.

    Read more at eastbourneherald.co.uk

  • BBC News: Archaeologist in search for ‘lost’ World War Two ship

    A friendship between an archaeologist and a Royal Navy veteran has led to an attempt to seek out the lost wreck of a ship that sank during World War Two.

    John Henry Philips, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, met 93-year-old Patrick Thomas, from Eastbourne, while in Normandy.

    He has promised to find the landing craft, destroyed by a mine shortly after the D-Day landings and create a monument to honour Mr Thomas’ fallen shipmates, most of whom were killed in the explosion.

    Read more at BBC.com or watch the segment below!

  • PADI Interview: No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave

    PADI Interview: No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave

    We’re often told stories about how scuba diving has changed lives – from discovering a new hobby and set of friends to overcoming PTSD and finding peace from anxiety. These stories show to us what we already know; diving holds a special power over us, it’s healing and inspiring.

    There are many ways in which diving can play a role in healing and bringing peace, such as in the case of 94 year old WWII veteran Patrick Thomas and 26 year old conflict archaeologist John Henry Phillips. John has embarked upon a journey with filmmaker Daniel Oron from Go Button Media to document his journey to find the wreck of the ship Patrick was on in World War Two, which was sunk in the weeks after the Normandy Landings.

    We spoke to John and Daniel to find out more about this exciting project.

    How did this project, No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave, come about?

    John: As an archaeologist and war historian I travel to Normandy every year to visit the D-Day landing sites with veterans. One year due to a mix up I was left off the room plan so had no accommodation. Thankfully a 94 year old veteran, Patrick, had a spare room and we hit it off in a way I’ve never really experienced before and after spending the week together we stayed in contact. In June 2017 we headed back to the Normandy celebrations and I could see Patrick was visibly upset after visiting the Operation Neptune Museum – where there had been little to no mention of British involvement. I knew Patrick didn’t know exactly where his ship had sunk, along with most of his crewmates and friends, so I told him that someone should create a memorial for them and find his ship. And that it should be me.

    Daniel: We’ve been working with John on a number of TV projects when we found out about his promise to Patrick. His passion and approach to history made us equally excited and we knew the story was too good to let pass.

    Why is it so important to you both?

    John: Patrick is something special. I’ve learned the hard way – these guys don’t last forever so it’s hard to get too invested. But their stories are so compelling; meeting these guys is like meeting rockstars to me! I think finding this wreck represented 1000’s of the small stories. It’s really now or never. Patrick is the last survivor, and if he had passed before our journey had started then the ship and everyone who died on it would be forever forgotten.

    Daniel: Every year there are fewer and fewer veterans who can tell their story. First hand stories are critical; it’s a passing of knowledge. John is a young man helping tell a veteran’s story from over seven decades ago. But John has made much more than a promise to find his friend’s ship; he’s committed to train to dive so he can see the craft with his own eyes and bring closure to Patrick.

    Why go down the crowdfunding route?

    Daniel: We’re committed to telling this story one way or another. Crowd funding helps us make the film sooner so we can capture more moments of the journey with Patrick. It’s hard to find anyone in Europe, and specifically the UK who hasn’t been directly affected by this conflict so it’s a story we think will touch many.

    How has diving been able to help the project?

    John: I always knew I was going to have to learn to dive. As an archaeologist and war historian I’m so aware of sites underwater. This project gave me the incentive to get on it. Diving on this project will enable me to tell the story of Patrick’s wreck as an archaeologist, war historian, and friend.

    Daniel: John’s foray into diving wasn’t the most relaxing; he didn’t train in the crystal blue waters of the Philippines, but in the UK so he can dive in the cold and dark waters of Normandy. Right now, we’re pretty sure we know where the wreck is and without diving that would be the end of the journey – an image on sonar. But, because of the ability to dive the team can go down and really pay homage to it and see if first-hand for Patrick.

    John: It makes it so much more special having built this relationship with Patrick and his family. I’ll diving the wreck, knowing what it is, and for the last survivor. That’s why it was so necessary for me to learn to scuba dive.

    Daniel: Diving is the difference between seeing it behind a screen and really experiencing it; diving is enabling the resolution of the story.

    Been inspired to learn more about wreck diving? Check out the PADI wreck diver specialty.

    Read the full interview at padi.com

  • MSS Episode 114: No Roses On A Sailor’s Grave (Podcast)

    MSS Episode 114: No Roses On A Sailor’s Grave (Podcast)

    It’s an eroding needle in a haystack full of needles.

    “We have two gentlemen that are trying to do what seems like an impossible task.”

    John Henry Phillips and Daniel Oron chat with Maple Syrup Shots Podcast on one wildly ambitious promise to WWII veteran Patrick Thomas and the problems they face making the documentary No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave in thisRemembrance Day edition.

    Tune in below at 10:18 for the interview:

    Listen on Soundcloud

  • Archeologist Makes Shocking Promise to Find WWII Veteran’s Lost Ship

    Archeologist Makes Shocking Promise to Find WWII Veteran’s Lost Ship

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOVEMBER 3, 2017

    TORONTO, ONTARIO – Filming has begun, time is running out and help is needed to find a vanished piece of history and fulfill 93-year-old WWII British Navy veteran Patrick Thomas’ dream to finally honor his drowned shipmates.

    Conflict archaeologist, historian and former rock star John Henry Phillips, in an impulsive moment fuelled by an unexpected bond, promised Patrick he would find his ship and plant the memorial with Patrick by his side.

    If you could help change the life of a WWII Veteran, solve a nautical mystery and honor the memories of a drowned fleet, would you?

    To learn more about this incredible story and to help us raise the funds to finish the documentary and transform history, please visit our Indiegogo page, https://igg.me/at/roses-sailors-grave.

    “You don’t get that many chances to change someone’s life and to make sure that they will never be forgotten,” says John Henry Phillips, “If I can find the ship then I can change history and I can change Patrick’s life and his story will be there forever.”

    Like many veterans, Patrick came home from the war and got on with his life. He never spoke of the sinking or his later exploits in the Far East until his twilight years. “Very soon this history will be beyond living memory and Veterans will no longer be around,” adds Stuart Robertson, WWII author, historian and battlefield guide.

    Patrick assumed his story and the story of his ship would die with him, but meeting John changed everything.

    Henry Phillips, 26, is not the usual WWII aficionado. Two years ago, he arrived at a WWII celebration event and found his accommodations double booked. He had nowhere to stay until a complete stranger, Patrick Thomas, offered John his spare room.

    A wonderful and unique friendship began. One day, John said to Patrick: “You know, your ship really deserves a memorial.” He then went further; “Patrick, someone should find your ship.” Needless to say, Patrick agreed. John did not know this was just the beginning of an adventure that would take over his entire life.

    “When I said to Patrick I’d find your ship it seemed like a pretty simple task: go to France, find where the ship went down, put a plaque up.”

    The problems started immediately, John has no idea where to begin building a permanent memorial, where the ship is and he can’t scuba dive. Undeterred and realizing the gravity of his promise and his friend’s age, John’s search for the missing ship has begun and already inspired help from many.

    About Go Button Media: Go Button Media is a boutique production company founded by Showrunners Natasha Ryan and Daniel Oron. Together with extraordinarily talented crews, Go Button Media makes hybrid creative content for all screen sizes. Focusing on charismatic characters, universal stories and smooth delivery, the company delivers punchy, addictive content. Projects include Mom vs Matchmaker and the travel series Discovering Routes.

    For more information about “No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave” or Go Button Media, please contact:
    Daniel Oron
    daniel@gobuttonmedia.com
    416-570-0057

  • A Promise Kept: Searching for a Lost WWII Ship

    A Promise Kept: Searching for a Lost WWII Ship

    It all started with a promise kept. A promise from archaeologist John Henry Phillips to the now greyed World War II veteran, Patrick Thomas.

    Thomas served in the British navy during the war to end all wars. The two met each other by happenstance as a series of unpredictable events forced their paths to cross. Thomas just happened to be in the right place at the right time to ironically help out Phillips. Phillips was on his way to a WWII celebration event in England when the arrangements for Phillip’s accommodations came unraveled.

    The two men quickly became friends. During the friendship, Patrick revealed his story to John. After participating in the D-Day landings on Sword Beach, Patrick went back aboard his ship to provide communications for the ground forces. Almost 3 weeks later, Patrick’s ship would be struck by an acoustic mine, sinking the ship. Patrick was knocked unconscious. When he regained consciousness, Patrick found himself floating among the debris in the water as his ship dropped to the bottom of the English Channel. With no memorial and the veterans of the unforgettable day in history passing on, there may not be anything to remember the sacrifice of the brave sailors who braved U-Boat infested waters off the European coast.

    While visiting Sword Beach, the idea happened upon John: Patrick’s story should be told and the ship ought to be memorialized. When he told Patrick of his idea, he was all for it, despite not knowing exactly where the ship was or where a permanent memorial would be placed for the ship and his fallen shipmates. The team began shooting and diving, searching for the wreck in the summer of 2017 and plan on having the memorial finalized with Patrick performing the ribbon cutting on the new memorial as early as June 2018. The movie detailing the entire search, No Roses on a Sailor’s Grave, is currently being worked on and will hopefully be released soon.

    When genocide and war took Europe by a death grip, ordinary men stepped up and delivered the world from this evil. May they be forever immortalized in our memories and memorials. We look forward to seeing more about this endeavor about a promise kept between two friends, separated by generations, brought together by fate.

    Read more at americangrit.com