大象传媒

On Sunday 1st October 1939, H.M.S. Enterprise was lying at anchor at Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands, when a sudden announcement said we had to make ready for sea immediately. This entailed frantic action by the engine room staff, lighting boilers and trying to raise enough steam to drive the engines. Orders had been received to proceed to Plymouth with all despatch (as quick as possible). No further explanations were given.
Rumours circled like wildfire. But, whatever it was, it was taking us away from the monotony of the Northern Patrol, which was between Shetland and Iceland, with all its hardships and constant stormy seas. By the middle of the next afternoon, we had passed the 鈥淥ld Man of Hoy鈥�, a precipitous column of rock that rises sheer out of the sea, providing mariners with an ideal landmark.
At 23.30 on October 3rd, we dropped anchor in Plymouth Sound. At 07.00 next morning we weighed anchor and proceeded into harbour, tying up at No.6 Wharf.
It soon became apparent that something unusual was afoot when the area around the ship was cordoned off by armed soldiers. Speculation and rumour was partly allayed when the ship鈥檚 company was mustered and issued with tropical kit; white suit, white shorts and white stockings. Surely, it could only mean the Far East. Little did we know it was part of a subterfuge to prevent any hint of the ship鈥檚 real destination leaking out. Ship鈥檚 movements during wartime were very top secret, otherwise, there would be a welcome committee of U-Boats waiting.
Our captain had been ordered to attend a conference, along with four other ships鈥� captains, and had we been privy to the conference we would have known the contents of a secret message, handed to each of them, which read. 鈥淭wo million pounds in gold bullion is to be embarked in each ship, for transportation to Halifax, Nova Scotia. A railway truck is expected to be placed alongside each ship at 0100 hours on October 7th. Each truck will contain 148 boxes, each weighing 130 lbs. (59 kilos). Armed guards are to be put on each truck on arrival at the ship. Embarkation is to commence at 06.30鈥�.
At 16.45 that afternoon we sailed, in company with H.M.S.Emerald (our sister ship) and at dawn next morning we rendezvoused with the cruiser H.M.S. Caradoc, and the battleships H.M.S. Revenge and H.M.S. Resolution, all carrying gold bullion.
And so began the transfer, two million pounds each trip, of the Nation鈥檚 Gold Reserve.
If Hitler鈥檚 armies had invaded these shores, which was a very real possibility at the time, he wasn鈥檛 going to get our gold!

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