大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site by Allan Price on behalf of Colin Bannatyne and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

I spent VJ Day on the Arabian Sea. I was aboard the mis-named SS Nirvana as a Veterinary Officer in charge of some 650 mules. En route from Italy, scheduled to continue their war service in the Far East Theatre. Why, it may well be asked, was the humble mule, now redundant in Europe, being re-mobilised for what could only be a continuing war of attrition in Asia, when simultaneous plans were afoot for crushing of Japan by a single - ultimately double - blow from the most devastating weapon in the history of warfare? The answer must surely be that the secrecy surrounding the atom bomb was such that even the high command in Europe and the Far East were kept in ignorance of its impending deployment.

And so, sometime around the 20th of July 1945, while serving as a junior veterinary officer at a Remount Depot in the north of Italy. I was handed a pencilled note, copy of a signal to my CO - I have it before me now - "Dispatch Lt Bannatyne to Bari immediately... sufficient kit for a voyage to India conducting mules. On completion of duty will return to 812 Bare Remount Depot, Italy."

Before the end of July I was at sea, accompanied by my 650 mules, tended by a detachment of Indian army muleteers who had been on active service with a Pack company throughout the Italian Campaign.

The voyage took us through the Suez Canal and down the Red Sea, the heat progressively increasing as we moved south. The animals were installed on four decks and ventilation was a major problem, especially for those in the deep bowels of the ship. The only forced draught was achieved through wind scoops which were ineffective when the wind fell astern, occasionally forcing the captain to turn the ship around and head into the breeze for a spell. Even so, half a dozen animals succumbed to heat exhaustion and were buried, without ceremony, at sea.

We heard the news of the bombs, and the Jap surrender, on the radio, and for this soldier it only remained to disembark the equine passengers and to try and organise a homeward journey, "home" being Italy where I was desperate to be reunited with my personal possessions which included my precious dress uniform. After weeks of frustrating delay I managed to bum a lift as the one and only "troop" aboard a small troopship which took me as far as the local army.

"Movements" department showed little interest in moving me further, but I eventually found my way to Cairo and reported to the RAVC Directorate. Colonel John Judge used his influence to secure me a lift on the RAF Dakota bound for Naples. Officially I was aboard as a courier - and I have the movement order before me now - "to escort one package of opium from Cairo to Naples on Flight 332 on 5th October 1945".

The mention of this opium still intrigues me.

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