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A Lad Called Bris (One Sailors War) 鈥� Part 5

The next operation the Echo was assigned too was the Dodecanese Islands of Leros, Tamos and Samos, which British troops occupied. The Germans were trying to capture them and there was little or no air support for these poor blighters. Three destroyers steaming line ahead, their decks loaded with troops and supplies would dash up to the coast of the country then called Persia and anchor in the bay for twenty four hours. Persia was a neutral country and allowed this provided they left when the time was up. All the while German spotter planes were flying overhead informing the stuka bombers when the destroyers were leaving so they could dash the one and a half miles outside the international three mile limit.

The last run to Leros was another event Bris would never forget, three destroyers left Alexandria laden with troops and equipment, the upper decks were crowded, soldiers lying everywhere. With H.M.S. Belvoir leading, H.M.S. Echo second and H.M.S. Dulverton last steaming ahead they crept silently up the coast towards Turkey.

One night in November under the cover of darkness everything was deathly silent, it was 13th November 1943 and suddenly there was a faint drone of an aircraft in the distance. Action stations were sounded but the aircraft didn鈥檛 seem to get any nearer, just a drone. Suddenly there was a loud explosion, H.M.S. Dulverton was blown in half her foc鈥檚le parted from the rest of the ship. There was a fast sea running, ammunition exploding everywhere and the after part of the ship was ablaze and was being carried miles away from the rest of the ship. The other two ships stopped as no one knew what had actually happened. It was thought at first that they had entered a mine field. It was also a fleet order at that time that all personnel should wear a small battery operated red light clipped to their clothing or lifebelt, consequently there were dozens of red lights bobbing up and down and being carried along in the fast running sea, which enabled the motor launches and whaler crews to pick up survivors. It was rumoured that eight destroyers had been lost this way in the previous fortnight despite continued appeals to General Wavell and others for air cover.

It was later discovered that a mother aircraft laid off the ships about four to five miles away and released a radio controlled bomb in the shape of a small plane in the direction of the ships. R.D.F., which is the radio detection finder, then took over control of the bomb as it approached the ships but as soon as the glider bomb was over the mast the R.D.F.s cut out and the bomb dropped on the ship. In fact the ship guided the bomb on itself resulting in a direct hit every time. All this was discovered too late as the following events will show. The remains of the ill fated Dulverton were sunk by gunfire from H.M.S. Echo as it proceeded into the international waters of Persia. The Belvoir picked up survivors from the Dulverton and took them back to Alexandria.

The Echo slipped out of her anchorage in the Persian bay and moved out of the three mile limit of international waters towards Leros and entered Portalago bay which was enclosed except for a small entrance about a mile wide. It was actually a former seaplane base. It was 4.30am when the Echo entered the harbour with no lights and sidled up alongside an old wooden jetty. The troops, equipment and ammunitions were all embarked in about twenty minutes after which the Echo proceeded to the entrance of the bay.

The Germans had completely overrun the island and in about an hour and a half all the troops and equipment were captured. As the Echo passed through the entrance of the bay the Germans were firing from both sides but the shells were passing overhead and they were literally firing at each other. Everyone was caught by surprise. Bris thought he had nearly had it, especially as they rounded the northern part of the island and the Echo encountered a German F boat Troop Carrier with two thousand troops on board and armed with 4.5 guns. It was accompanied by an E boat equivalent to the British M.T.B., a motor torpedo boat. One can imagine the confusion aboard the Echo, the shore battery opened fire which was thought to be British but was actually German, the E boat was mistaken for an M.T.B., attacking the F boat but it was soon realized that they were all firing at the Echo. The Echo sank the F boat and the E boat after near misses from the shore batteries and made it back to international waters. That was the last run to Leros. Finally the Echo made it to Alexandria. The Egyptian newspapers were full of it, headlines 鈥淓cho made last run to Leros and rescued war correspondent, L. Marsland Gander of the Daily Telegraph.鈥� Bris kept a copy of the paper for years after the war ended but somehow it was lost.

In Alexandria shore leave was given, each watch in turn, so Bris and his mate, Scouse, found themselves on a train bound for Cairo the like of which they had never seen before. There were carriages with running boards and because the train was so full of people Egyptians stood on the running boards hanging onto the side of the train and even on top of the carriages. Most of the lads from the ship had a seat which was just wooden slats. It was a very bumpy ride indeed and it was bedlam! Bris joked with Scouse saying that he thought the train had square wheels.

When they got to Cairo they took a Gary, a horse drawn carriage, to the Pyramids, where there were several camels and their owners plying for 鈥楯olly Jack鈥� to have his photo taken on a camel with the Pyramids in the background at ten acres a time. At the entrance to the Pyramids they were charging another ten acres for the guide and another ten for the hire of so called holy shoes. Everyone seemed to be bent on taking money from 鈥楯olly Jack鈥�, even the little kids were at it, selling dirty postcards, one little black kid who must have been from Nigeria had a basket of bananas and was shouting 鈥淚鈥檓 Jock McClean from Aberdeen, Scotch Bananas.鈥� Of course he didn鈥檛 realize what he was saying he was just repeating what 鈥楯olly Jack鈥� had taught him to say, but it did cause a laugh.

The guides lead the way into the Pyramids holding a candle while giving a commentary on the vaults of different Pharohs, Scouse lagging behind wanted to urinate and some of the lads followed him. They thought it was a big joke but not so if the guide or another Egyptian had caught them. The lads were 鈥榟alf up the pole鈥� as usual, but even so Bris reckons that a curse was put on him. Everything that he took back from Egypt was lost, a crocodile handbag for his mother was left on a bus, the contents returned minus ration books and money, a wallet for his Dad was stolen and several small items disappeared.

The Echo was ordered back to Malta where she was transferred to the Greek Navy and renamed Navarinon R.H.N. The ship鈥檚 company spent a week showing the Greek crew around the ship explaining everything about her. One day both crews were assembled on the dock side for the official take over. The Echo鈥檚 crew were transported to St. Angelo Barracks where after a week or two some ratings were drafted to other ships and some were sent home to Devonport in the UK including Bris and his mate Scouse, this turned out to be another grueling experience for both of them!

They were to take passage on an L.C.I., of which there were ten, let me explain that these craft were infantry landing craft and the ratings were crowded in the compartments normally occupied by soldiers for comparably short distances. There were just long rows of slatted seats which were uncomfortable and the craft was not the ideal transport for a long journey. First port of call was a place called Bon in North Africa and the next was Algiers. These landing craft were, as already explained never meant to carry men on long journeys and Bris and the others were required to sleep in a sitting position. Shore leave was given in Algiers and then they were off to Gibralta where again they were given shore leave. Then the fun started on the long journey to the UK.

The C.O., of these fourteen L.C.I.s was an R.N.V.R., lieutenant or what a time serving man in peace time called 鈥榓 Saturday night sailor鈥�. This officer led his command into the mid Atlantic three hundred miles west of the Azures, in fact they were lost. The small craft had a small bridge amid ships, no mast, so as they resembled a pack of submarines at night recharging their batteries the result was that a flying Sunderland patrolling sea plane spotted them at 4am one morning and commenced to drop packet depth charges on them. The ships C.O.s were in a panic, they dare not signal or use the radio for fear of attracting enemy subs or other craft in the vicinity. They ended up waving white sheets on the bridges until the mistake was recognised. They were in a head-on sea and these craft were doing three knots ahead and getting knocked back two.

The morale among the ratings taking passage was very low and they had no confidence in the C.O., leading them. Bris thought they would never make it, but finally they steamed into Devonport dockyard which adjoined the barracks. The scruffy ratings were escorted to the Pay Office for pay and leave plus Travel Warrants. During their hazardous journey each rating was rationed to one mug of water to drink. The small ships had no facilities for making fresh water, hence they were unwashed and unshaven and very low morally. Within hours they were on their way home except for one rating who after all he had been through took exception to the WREN in the Pay Office, who didn鈥檛 realize the circumstances, by telling him to get washed and shaved before coming to the Pay Office. Much to her regret as he punched her on the nose through the office window. Of course he was immediately arrested but the WREN apologized and so did the rating and he was eventually sent on his way with a warning to control his temper in future.

They were all given six weeks leave during which time the allied landings started in France. Bris was very much on edge and expecting to be recalled from leave at any time, although as far as Bris was concerned his leave was a continuous booze-up! Lunch times he was drunk and evenings were the same to the extent that both his parents were getting fed up with him, although they did realize what Bris had been through and he was somehow trying to blot it out. So keyed up all the time he could not sleep without bad dreams, reliving some of the worst scenes from his experiences.

His father laid down the law, he was to be in before twelve o鈥檆lock at night or he would be locked out. Bris did not take any notice of this as across the road was a fire watchers ladder kept in an archway which Bris would collect, take off his shoes, tap on the bedroom window to wake his brother who would open the window, this allowed Bris to get into the house, creep downstairs open the front door, take the ladder back and Bris was in. After about ten minutes his father would call out 鈥淚s that you Bill?鈥� to which Bris replied 鈥淵es Dad鈥�. 鈥淲ell how did you get in?鈥� his father said 鈥淭hat鈥檚 my secret鈥� said Bris.

Time for Bris to return to barracks at Devonport where he observed that most of the people or ratings in the Regulating and other offices were the same people who had been there two years previously before Bris had been sent to the Med, and this made him determined to stay in barracks as long as he could by applying to go on as many courses as possible. First a diesel course at Chatham Barracks near London for six weeks and a High Power Electric course at H.M.S. Marlborough barracks in Eastbourne, this gave him another twelve weeks in barracks.

There was one incident which Bris was involved in while at Eastbourne. The lads were jugging-up in the Commercial Hotel when someone started singing, there was anotice behind the bar 鈥楴o Singing Allowed鈥�. Instead of the manager asking the lads to stop he adopted a very aggressive manner, picking on Bris, who was not singing but laughing. This annoyed the manager even more and he threatened to throw Bris out, saying 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want you people in this hotel. If the Navy was not in Eastbourne the Germans would not bomb it鈥�. This really annoyed Bris who held him against the bar and having a flagon of beer in his hand, threatened to hit the manager on the head. The manager鈥檚 lovely bald head tempted Bris by the manager saying 鈥淕o on then鈥� several times. Bris, who didn鈥檛 want much coaxing just let the heavy bottle dap on his head. The manager slumped to the floor. The lads made a quick exit and ran around the corner. Someone shouted 鈥淨uick lads there鈥檚 another pub鈥� and in they went.

Meanwhile the manager had telephoned the police who got the Navel Patrol to search the town for Bris and his mates. Unknown to Bris and his mates they were actually in the same pub which was on a corner but stretched some way up the road. It was near closing time, the manager was checking his staff in the several bars of the very large hotel. He came into the bar where the lads were and couldn鈥檛 believe his eyes, 鈥淭here they are鈥� he shouted. Bris and company made another sharp exit and made it back to barracks. The next day there was an identification parade of the watch ashore the previous night. The C.O., and the manager walked past Bris but picked out another leading hand who the manager swore was the man who had hit him over the head. The manager had quite a large bump on his forehead. When the leading hand and the rest of the lads were summoned before the C.O., some days later Bris couldn鈥檛 keep quiet and let the leading hand take the blame. Bris asked permission to speak and admitted that it was him who had hit the manager because of what the manager said 鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for the Navy being there the Germans would not have bombed them.鈥� This turned the tables on the manager. The C.O., gave Bris and his mates ten days stoppage of leave and rum and so the matter was closed. Afterwards the C.O., gave the manager a piece of his mind.

Back to Devonport barracks Bris spent another six weeks going through the Petty Officers course and that was the end of the courses. Bris was given a special duty job, in charge of the cleaning party, in the Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officers canteen. When he reported there for duty there was already someone in charge, so Bris made a quick retreat. No-one was allowed to stay in the barrack quarters during working hours so Bris had to walk around and generally get lost. Bris had a special duty card which allowed him ashore every night and life was great, too good to last! After a month Bris received a report to go to the Working Party Office where he reported to the Chief Stoker on duty who asked 鈥淲here the hell have you been? You were supposed to have been drafted to H.M.S. Chance a month ago.鈥� 鈥淲ell I have been here all the time, special duty in the P.O.鈥檚 canteen鈥� said Bris. Of course it was the Chief鈥檚 mistake so Bris had to get packed and leave straight away to relieve the person who had been sent in his place. Off to Aberdeen to join H.M.S. Chance.

(Continued in Part 6.)

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