As we were reading through Alfred Conti Borda's feature 'A Maltese seaman on a Polish submarine' (The Sunday Times, October 4), we noticed, much to our surprise, that one of the pictures accompanying the feature, showed our father, then still quite young, who had volunteered to join the Royal Navy.

Emanuel Gialanzè, was described in the caption as "an unidentified British colleague of the late steward Paul Camilleri". Presumably the author was not given the correct information. Our father confirmed that it was indeed him, and warmly recalled his years in the Royal Navy with the late Mr Camilleri and his other colleagues.

He also told us that, contrary to what is stated in the caption, the photograph was actually taken in 1943 at Vahe Studio in Beirut, Lebanon, and not "on HMS Cossack in 1940".

My father met Mr Camilleri while off duty in Beirut when dad was on Submarine Depot Ship 'Medway II and Mr Camilleri was on the Polish Submarine 'Sokol'. My father and Mr Camilleri were great friends and eventually also became related through marriage.

My father was born in Zabbar. He lived in Paola for many years but now lives in Marsascala. My mother was Theresa née Mizzi from Senglea, who sadly passed away four years ago. They had four children - Pauline, Lilian, Louis and Marvic. Dad retired from the Royal Navy in December 1965 as Chief Petty Officer.