 It was while serving on HMS "Cassandra" during Arctic convoys to Russia that his ship was attacked and had her bow blown off.On 30 November 1944, the "Cassandra", with three other destroyers of the 6th Flotilla, left Scapa Flow to cover the passage of the North Russian Convoy JW62 (31 ships), as part of Operation Acumen, which had left Loch Ewe on the previous day.The Home Fleet was under the command of Rear-Admiral Rhoderick McGrigor, with his flag in the escort aircraft carrier "Campania".