大象传媒

Written by Kennth Waterson telegraphist (trained operator), as observed from the R class destroyer HMS Relentless at sea in the East Indian Ocean.

Fresh food supplies were coming through now, per note of September 21st 1945. For a spell all food had been dehydrated or tinned. Dehydrated potatoes, tinned cabbage, corned beef, rice of a kind but no tinned flour yet. With the fresh food coming through our messes were opened to the ex-prisioners of war. Australians came aboard for tea and showers. At first the "rich" food we gave them made them sick. After they got used to it they ate heartily. They were very thin and sunburnt. The worst sick ones were sent home first. The ones who were not desperatly ill had to wait for transport back to their homes someone said that all they had had to eat was grass.

We had changed from Trincomalee Radio station to Singapore. I had been allocated to go ashore with a transmitter to set up communications but I was not needed as bigger ships had put bigger and better equipment ashore. The organisation was pretty good. It must have all been well planned in advance. Radio traffic died down now that the war was over. During the war the signals came through twenty four hours per day. Mines were floating about the sea lanes and channels were swept through them: 4 cables(800 yards) width on either side marked by buoys with flags atop. This job was done by mine sweepers.

I wrote an airmail letter home dated September 26th 1945 describing Adu Atoll.On the return from Singapore we apparently went to Abu Atoll in the Maldive Islands.I have no memory of this occurrence and can only surmise it was a recrational trip as we had been at sea for some considerable time.The Atoll must have been made into some kind of harbour built by S.E.A.C(South East Asia Command) engineers.Perhaps it was an auxiliary anchorage to harbour part of the massive armada of ships sent out east after the end of the war in the west.Talk about organisation, the Japs would have stood no chance had they not surrendered.The facilities at Adu Atoll were basic.One hut for wireless telegraphy,a tanker in the lagoon for fuelling and the engineers' masterpiece-a bridge connecting two of the islands.

We were allowed to go swimming and went in a party in a L.S.T(Land Ship Tanks).Rig of the day was swimming trunks and shoes (sandals).A strange rig.There were no local inhabitants to see us so that is perhaps why we were allowed out without white uniform.When we got to our lagoon we kicked off our shoes and jumped in.It soon became apparent why we had been instructed to wear shoes,the coral was razor sharp and lacerated our feet.The day was hot but the lagoon was very cool.The Atoll consisted of several small islands in a circle full of tall straight trees.On the outside of the islands was a coral reef at sea level.There are gaps through which ships can pass.Inside the ring of islands is a small circle of coral below sea level.Each island had its own ring of coral almost on the beach and just below water.Some had navigable gaps.The whole group of islands was about 2 miles across and 4 square miles in area enclosing about 3 square miles of sea.

We were now getting more water in the taps,per another letter of September 26th 1945,that is for longer periods,the same period as the officers.It used to be for 1 hour during meal times.The water is made from sea water and is very oily.It is hard to get a lather.Peace time regulations are being brought back,now we have to wear a hat and white shorts during the forenoon.We can wear casual clothing afternoon onwards as long as one is not on upper deck watch.The ship keeps getting coats of paint here and there.An announcement was made by the Captain;anyone who wished could come foward and avail themselves for selection for continous service.That was to join the Navy as a regular as most people were H.O.'s- hostilities only.Not many people volounteered for a permanant life in the Navy.

The Bay of Bengal,hot and sweaty, did not offer much attraction.My duties consisted on reading Morse in four watches and scrubbing out every other day. Now the war was over there was no BUZZ, it was glamorous (GUNG HO) being on board a Fleet Destroyer. The ship was scrubbed out form end to end every day. This was supposed to keep disease down but bugs thrived off all the soap left in crevices. These bit me all over.

Now back in Trincomalee Harbour we got more fresh food from Ceylon and recieved a stack of mail. I got two pipes which made my mouth sore and I had not smoked one for some time. Whilst we were there we recieved orders to sail back to the U.K. Draft chits were prepared for men who had not served two full years in the Far East. They were to be put ashore at Colombo and their replacements taken on board. On 26th September 1945 a party was arranged in Trincomalee to say farewell to the Commodore (D), the commander of all the Far Eastern Fleet Destroyers. The party was for the officers only and was held in the Ward Room, the Officers' Mess. The crew had the job of scrubbing and painting the ship for his visit.

On October the 2nd 1945, we arrived in Colombo and dropped those staying out East and took on board those going West, back home. As I had only served 15 months our East I was put ashore.

All the Rotherham class destroyers were going home; they had been the mainstay of the Eastern Fleet in the build up after the disaster of 1942 in the Far East.

The Rotherham Class made up the 11th Destroyer Foltilla. This was made up of Rotherham, the leader Roebuck and Racehorse, the half leaders, and Rocket, Relentless, Redoubt, Rapid and Raider.

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