大象传媒

This scrapbook was compiled by me when serving as a Cadet on HMT Cameronia from May 1944 to December 1945.
Cameronia was fitted out as a troopship and had sailed throughout hostilities surviving an aerial torpedo attack during the North African landings in 1943.

During early 1944 I attended a three-month course at the Royal technical college School of Navigation Glasgow and in April was successful in obtaining a position as Cadet with Anchor Line Ltd of Glasgow. I was 17 years of age.

Early in May 1944 I reported on board Cameronia at KGV Dock Glasgow where I was one of three Cadets.

Having had a V stamped on my identity cards I was told I was a volunteer for War duties and Special Operations.

On May 20th the ship sailed from Glasgow for Loch Ewe thence North through the Pentland Firth to Methil on the East Coast of Scotland before steaming south in the North Sea to Southend Essex.

Fuel was taken at Thameshaven before berthing at Tilbury Landing Stage where 2500 troops boarded on 5th June 1944.

At Portsmouth anchorage on 6th June and departing on the following evening for Normandy Beachead arriving midnight on 7th to disembark troops on 8th June 1944.

Warspite shelled coast of Normandy throughout and at 20 minutes past midnight air attacks for almost one hour were launched by the Luftwaffe ------- one plane was shot down in flames.

At 0930 departure was taken form the beaches with a late afternoon arrival at Portsmouth.

On June 11th it was decided that the large troopships had other business to take part in and so we sailed for Glasgow to await instructions.

Cameronia was the largest troopship to take part in Normandy landings and was destined for more adventures starting with the landings in Southern France on 15th August 1944.

In mid-July Cameronia sailed from Stobcross Quay Glasgow and following nine days enjoying double summer time on the 8 pm-midnight watch departure was taken bound for the Mediterranean. This entailed steaming well westward in the Atlantic and taking ten days before passing thru the Straits of Gibraltar changing the rig of the day to Whites.

It was difficult to relax in the warm sunshine as the convoy was shadowed by enemy Aircaft.
On 29th July 1944 the convoy arrived at Port Augusta in the shadow of Mt. Etna, Sicily.
On 1st August arrival at the Anchorage Taranto where we joined several other troopships including Anchor Line Circassia now fitted out as an Assault Ship. It was on a visit to the Cadets on Circassia that we were introduced to Sir David Bone Commodore of Anchor Line and respected author of The Brassbounder.
Taranto was my first visit to a foreign country -----unfortunately this Italian Port had suffered the rigours of war although despite this we visited an Opera theatre and also saw the balcony of a building where Mussolini had spoken to the locals a year before. On the 6th August Circassia headed the convoy of troopers as the day dawned over the sparkling sea which we realised on the 14th was not so friendly when a floating dud magnetic mine struck the bow of the ship and bumped along the hull to disappear astern.

The islands of Sardinia and Corsica were passed late afternoon and late evening on 15th August 1944 some twelve hours following the invasion of Southern France. It was 8.30 pm when Cameronia anchored off St. Tropez welcomed by the German Air Force on a raid which lasted for over an hour.
Convoy smokescreen required us to don our gas masks as we stood-by Action Stations --------- troops below decks appeared gasping for breath the ship鈥檚 ventilators drawing the smoke into the holds.

Initially some of the soldiers appeared somewhat reluctant to board the waiting landing craft ranged alongside. To resounding cheers from all onboard the trooper the French Nurses clambered down the Campanionway Ladder, boarded the craft and headed for the shore.

All other personnel followed suit and disembarkation proceeded throughout the night and the troopships were ordered to leave the area as soon as the last man was ashore. At 0900 Cameronia got underway bound for the Oran in North Africa and enduring several air raid and submarine alerts on the three-day passage.

A three week stay in Oran proved a most enjoyable break and to eighteen year old Cadets journeying from Mer-el-Kebir on Jeeps and Dukws drive by youthful Frenchmen, Poles, Americans and the occasional North African this was adventure on a big scale. Several accidents did occur on the roads during our stay but luck seemed to be on our side as we bathed from the sandy beaches in the area.

On 9th September we left Oran bound for the Clyde arriving at Stobcross Quay on 18th September after lying at the Tail of the Bank awaiting berth in the over crowded port of Glasgow.
So ended my second voyage on Cameronia both giving me taste for some action.

My next voyage would take me via the Suez Canal to India and the Eastern City of Bombay.
Sailing down the Clyde with 3500 RAF Personnel and 500 WAAFS having embarked at KGV Dock Glasgow was quite an event and en route to the Tail of the Bank shipyard workers ran to the riverside waving and cheering and exchanging greetings on what seemed a joyous occasion despite the fact that the was far from over particularly in the Far Easter theatre where we were bound. Cameronia sailed in convoy to Port Said and with only Strathnaver and a destroyer for company across the Indian Ocean where the flying fish play.

Following disembarkation of RAF and WAAF Cameronia returned to the Med. New Years Day 1945 heading for Piraeus with troops and the Civil War in Greece. Guerrilla fighters taken onboard and transferred as POW in Egypt ------ many youngsters were captured鈥ad.
Second trip to Greece.
Transported German and Italian POW------German Officers conversed with Captain Kelly whilst German volunteers holystoned the Boat Deck.
Voyaging to and from the Mediterranean followed a routine transporting POWs from Greece to Malta and Egypt Garrison at Sudha Bay Crete and the tiny outpost at Leros.
All German troops appeared fit, healthy and disciplined
Various Allied troops were carried Gurkhas, Australians, New Zealanders, Sikhs, British French Foreign Legion and civilians of various countries.
A force of Parachute Regiment was carried to Haifa in an attempt to stem illegal entry to Palestine.
Before that voyage two trips were made to Canada and on VJ Day Cameronia received a wonderful welcome to Halifax Nova Scotia.
The war was now really over.

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