"I was an eye-witness to the sinking of the Bismarck!" FOR many of us World War II occupies a distant place in history, far removed from our every day lives, yet immortalised for a generation who paid heavily for the price of freedom. For Durban North's Ray Lock, the recent publication of his book Bismarck, Dorsetshire and Memories, is a recollection of events documenting his eyewitness account to one of the major historical events in WW II that has rightly found a place in historical archives. In 1939, at the tender age of 16, Ray, eager not to miss the action of WW II, falsified his age by two years and managed to enlist as a seaman for the Royal Navy. After spending a couple of months undergoing military training at the Natal Command in Durban, Ray was assigned as a crewmember aboard the battleship, the Dorsetshire. His book is an eyewitness account of the events that led to the sinking of the Dorsetshire on 5 April 1942. Penny Tsepouras from the NorthGlen Times Ray Lock was an eye-witness to the sinking of the German battleship, Bismarck. In these memoirs recalls details of this epic battle, as well as many other memoirs from his fascinating life. Bismarck, Dorsetshire and Memories is another good book, produced privately, that we are fortunate to be able to read and learn more about a sailor's war. A very well presented book, nicely printed, good quality photographs and most of all very interesting. from Warship World Ray Lock, a South African, tried to join the South African Air Force at the age of 16 as a pilot. Told he would have to wait, he like many others went to a service that would take him, then and there. He thought the war would be over by the time he allowed to join the air force. Joining the Royal Navy instead, he had in fact lots of time to get involved in some well known and some lesser, but equally important actions. Throughout this book is packed with detail and without doubt will prove of interest to those who like the nitty, gritty of Naval Life. The author served on DORSETSHIRE, prior to the BISMARCK action for some time and until the ships loss in the Indian Ocean, where he was wounded Both CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE were sunk by Japanese aircraft attack. The survivors, many wounded, including Mr Lock, were then machine gunned in the water. Sighted by an aircraft, the group was rescued by HM Ships ENTERPRISE, PANTHER and he was personally picked up by PALADIN. After extensive recovery time in hospital Mr Lock was selected for Officer Training, after which he was seconded again to the Royal Navy. Further service in small craft including HDMLs in the Mediterranean with even more operational diversity concluded the author's war. This is another good book, produced privately, that we are fortunate to be able to read and learn more about a sailor's war. This one is beautifully presented. from Warship World "I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the rich and varied life of the author, including being an eye-witness to the sinking of the Bismarck. Young readers will be especially interested and fascinated by Ray's well-written experiences from an earlier generation....and the horrors of war. A most revealing, interesting and excellent read!" PPS "But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated." Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea