大象传媒

I found this hand written account of a wartime experience whilst searching through my late father's papers. Apparently Tom had given a copy to my father in return for a free pint in the pub that my father run for many years

Destination Singapore
Departure Liverpool

I was a private soldier in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, 5th Battalion, 鈥淒鈥� Company.

We were stationed in Liverpool awaiting the word 鈥淕O鈥�, where to, we did not know 鈥� only rumours.

But we soon found out.

Now we were ordered to board ship. After about 2 days zigzagging across the ocean we were told 鈥淪ingapore鈥�, via India.

The journey was quite boring with the zigzagging and the length of the journey. But it was an experience to remember.

During the trip of four or five ships plus escort of navy ships, we saw several mishaps.

We saw a man fall over-board and although efforts were made to rescue him with life jackets and life lines, he missed them all and not one ship was allowed to stop to help him. He had to be left behind shouting.

After many days and nights sailing we arrived at Cape Town our first stop. Here we were allowed ashore for two or three days whilst the ship was being prepared for a longer trip. Now most of the lads preferred the fresh company, and they soon got it as people came from Johannesburg to take them for a free trip to their homes to show them round. But I wandered around on my own from pub to pub.

I was enjoying myself quite well until I went off the road a bit. Then I first went into the wrong pub and nearly got cut up. It was for blacks only and once I was in they locked the doors and I had to jump over the ruddy bar top and get through the back way. Although I was still chased, I managed to get away.

But I had to run into another pub, but this time I picked the right one. It was called the Del-monica 鈥� (it) was a marvellous place with a band playing on one side, and their roof seemed to be open because I could see the half moon and stars shining through a darkened sky.

But there was no bar and I had to be waited on . So I sat at a small table by myself. I was there for ten hours drinking and listening to music and getting a bit muzzee, I ordered some more medicine from the waiter or waitress. The trouble was to save waiting a long while for drinks it was best to order six at a time, so I did. I drunk two of them, and was about to drink another when, two young ladies sat down beside me, and they had already ordered their drinks, and I presume they were regulars. (They) were being waited on immediately.

After partaking part of their beverages they started conversation with me. Now as I was in uniform (H.D.) I had to be careful of this talk. But I need not have worried about that, as I found out much later. The drinks kept coming in and what time it was, I never did know, but I was still with most of my senses when they asked me to got to another pub, somewhere else. So I went after a bit of haggling (trying to get out of it).

To get to this other place we went down one street and another until I heard a steam engine. So I asked them if it was near a railway station, they said we are going on a train to some place up by the table. I said 鈥渨hat ruddy table!鈥�. The reply was 鈥渢he Table Mountain鈥�. So we boarded the train. I don鈥檛 think it was steam (because) I couldn鈥檛 hear it and away we went.

After a while travelling 鈥� I don鈥檛 know which way 鈥� one of them produced a bottle of rum and some glasses. We had a drink.

We kept going on and on and on. Then we came to a halt 鈥� where I don鈥檛 know, and somehow I didn鈥檛 much care. We wobbled from the station and went up the side of a hill. They both held me and started kissing me, until they said something to one another then one said Goodnight and left the other and myself to walk on, still going up this ruddy mountain until I could see some houses. There were a lot of houses and we went up to one, and she tried the door but then swore because it would not open. So she took me round to a side window, opened it and told me to follow. She climbed in with me behind her. It was ruddy dark, I would not see a thing until I found out where my head was. No wonder it was dark 鈥� I had my head up her skirt.

We both had a good laugh, then some more bottles came on the scene. So we sat in her room for a while. I did not know it was her bedroom until she pulled the bed down from the wall and within a couple of minutes had taken off all her clothes, and she pulled my trousers off and some more, and then she showed me her (tis,wastee) and 鈥淗oly mackerel鈥� it looked like a flower garden.

I grabbed my clothes up, and opened one door, and another until I was out in the street. But I didn鈥檛 know where I was, so I had to look around, then I could see I was high up, and then I spotted the docks and ships.

So I headed towards them. It was then that I realised it must be the early hours of the morning and trouble was awaiting me, because I should have been back on board before midnight.

After a lot of walking down hill, I came to a street which led to the docks only then did I suddenly realise that I had not (got) my trousers on.

So I stopped, put them on, best I could and tried to dress myself in orderly fashion. But I was still very muzzy and rocking (or the streets were).

At last I came to the docks, now here were several ships and I had to find the right one. So I made my way through the large sheds on the wharf, until I saw some of the lads on picket. But my troubles were not yet over. I had to get up the gang plank, and at the top was the officer of the Guard, resting on the deck, right at the end of the gang plank. I don鈥檛 know how I climbed up to the top but I did. Now to step over the 鈥榬uddy鈥� officer, but some fool rocked the ship (or did they) anyway I missed my footing, and sat on him.

鈥淗alt who goes there!鈥� he shouted. It would have been too late for that if I was a spy, I shouted back. Then the guard caught hold of me and I was marched off to the Brigg (ship鈥檚 jail).

It was very dark in the Brigg and it was small. I soon discovered I was not alone, but I would gladly get out at the first chance. Unknown to me that chance soon came. As it was later than I thought, the other lads in with me started shouting and swearing. Then before we realised it the big door was being opened by the guard who shouted breakfast. It was then I realised that it was my chance to get out. Water was being given around, but instead of drinking mine, I slopped it over my head and face. Then my chance came, the guard in the doorway half in the dark of the Brigg with his legs apart dishing out some sort of food. I crawled between his legs and the Dixy and I was out, on the deck and sea air. After pausing a moment to take air I went below to my bunk to get ready for the first parade, which to my horror was P.T.

I took off my K.D. and changed into my shorts and vest, went for damned good cold wash and was ready. I had a cup of tea, then folded my KD and whilst doing so I discovered I had that girls knickers in my pocket. Although I was feeling a bit under the weather but not so bad as I had been during my exploit.

I decided to have fun so I put them on over my P.T. shorts and went on parade with the lads. The R.S.M. was there too, he was limbering up and we were then put through all the exercises, half of which I could not do, and the lads laughed their heads off even (poor Beaky) the R.S.M. I was disciplined about it, but as no-one had taken my name or number before putting me in the Brigg, I was just forgotten, at least I never heard any more about it.

That evening I was free again, no duties, so I went back to the Del-Monica but not looking for those ruddy girls, and my luck was in 鈥� they never showed, so I enjoyed myself with beer and band until closing time.

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