大象传媒

MY LIFE MY WAR

By
Bernard Hallas

Chapter 11a - Heaven over the Horizon

The six-day voyage from Honolulu to Victoria dragged ever so slowly, and then one beautiful morning 鈥淪hangri La鈥� came into view just over the horizon, it was the Western Seaboard of Canada. We anchored, off shore for a small party of all ranks to be disembarked; they were the first to be sent home to England.

Our first sighting was Victoria and Vancouver, and as we steamed past, making our way to the main seaway channel, the Puget Sound, a waterway which went from Canada, over the border and finished at an inland port of the United States; that was Seattle. We had no idea what sort of a reception was in store for us. The Canadians had not seen a British capital warship for more than twenty years and they were thrilled to bits.

They had heard about the Battle of Narvik, The victorious battles of Matapan, Taranto and the Battle for the island of Crete and here in their waters was 鈥淭he Old Lady鈥� herself, Flagship of the Fleet and they expressed their admiration and delight. Thousands lined the shoreline as we passed, we were overcome with emotion, we could hear the thunderous cheers as we passed and everything that could make a noise was utilised.

Whistles, horns, sirens, clapperboards and every piece of tin that could be banged was in use. Dozens and dozens of small boats were trying to get as near as possible and a delighted and happy population were doing their best to throw cigarettes and bags of sweets over the ships side. It was a real 鈥淭ear Jerker鈥�. Eventually, with much regret, we had to leave them far behind as we entered mid stream and made our way down the 鈥楽ound鈥� to our berthing dock. It was not to be in Seattle but in the United States Navy yard in Bremerton.

Here again we were treated with a cacophony of sound. The ships in the docks showed their appreciation to a damaged ship coming in from the war zone. Every one had stopped working to gaze at the wounded veteran as she berthed alongside the dock. As soon as convenient the gash along her side was covered with tarpaulins and a rope barrier was erected to prevent the curious sightseers from getting too close. On the other side of the jetty was the giant USS Washington, resting with a suspected fracture of her turret.

Life in the dockyard was reasonably easy. Security for us was pretty lax and going in and out of the dockyard gate was no problem. On my first visit ashore, I had a mission to accomplish. One of the U.S. Marines in Honolulu had given me a letter to deliver to a young lady in Bremerton and it was to be delivered personally. Leaving the dockyard I acted like a true Englishman, I asked a policeman. 鈥淓xcuse me officer can you direct me to the Admirals鈥� Rooms?鈥�

For a moment he was speechless, he weighed me up and down and finally realised what I had said. At first I thought that he was just being awkward, but eventually he smiled and said, 鈥� I know you Limey Marines get around a bit, but I didn鈥檛 realise that the Admirals鈥� Rooms in Bremerton were that famous.鈥�

He then gave me the directions, and as I left, he said, 鈥淵ou may have to keep ringing the bell, it鈥檚 the only brothel in town and I doubt if the girls will be up yet.鈥� No wonder he was surprised. I waited until the street was reasonably clear, then I slipped the letter in the letterbox and made my way back to the main street.

Standing on the corner I was joined by a buddy, Jack Hylton and we decided that we would count up to ten and board the first bus that passed. Our money was refused and we asked to go to the end of the line and took our seat. After about ten minutes, the driver shouted out that this was the terminus. As we stepped off the bus he asked us if we would like to go back to town. Surprised, we asked why. 鈥淲ell, I guess after a long sea journey you boys will probably like a drink, and you are right in the middle of a 鈥楺uaker Town鈥�, there鈥檚 no booze here.鈥�

We had no intention of getting drunk, but it would be nice to have a few beers, so we thanked him and returned to our seats. Back in Bremerton, it was a lot better. The news had spread, and as we stood on the sidewalk (pavement), we were the centres of attraction. The girls were out in force, after all it was a naval port and I suppose that even here they had their 鈥淒ot and Dolly鈥檚鈥�.

We soon learned the drill; the girls were mostly mobile and travelled in pairs, honking their horns as they slowed down to pass. We decided that we would be a little particular when it came to choosing a car. The favourite was to be a Packard with white wall tyres, and providing that the occupants were attractive enough, we waved them in. It was all good clean fun.

Our first choice took us home to meet Mom and Pa, they lived a few miles out of town in a large wooden hacienda and Pa had a 鈥榮till鈥� out in the back, perhaps not a 鈥榮till鈥�, but a large barrel of 鈥淎pple Jack鈥� foaming and bubbling away. With a large ladle we had to move the scum to one side and as Pa said, 鈥淒ig deep boys.鈥�

The girls joined in the fun and with food provided, we had an evening to remember. It was quite late when we said goodnight and the girls took us back to the dockyard gate, kissed us and waved us off. I was looking forward to more of the same treatment, but the next day; there it was, on the notice board in big black letters, CHX1219 B. Hallas. Posting to U.K.

It was with mixed feelings that I received the news. Disappointed that I would not be spending the next six months as a guest of these lovely people but at the same time happy that within a few weeks, I would possibly be home on leave. But first we had to get there and the journey we had to undertake was out of this world. Arriving at the railway station, some four hundred of the ship鈥檚 company, sailors and marines, entrained on The Canadian Pacific Express.

It was six days and five nights of luxurious travel. Full Pullman service all the way. Two ratings per four seat berth, one to sleep in the lower berth and one in the pull down upper berth. We had clean sheets every night and in the dining car, one attendant to every two tables. Wine or beer with every meal and at the rear of the carriages, a specially refrigerated car stocked with beer, all paid for by 鈥淟ease Lend鈥�. At frequent intervals the train stopped and it was surprising how the news travelled. At every station there were local residents waiting to greet the British visitors to their country.

One young couple in Medicine Hat, a very small community, were so happy to meet us that the young husband stood by while his wife threw her arms round the lucky ones and planted a big kiss on each and every one of us. The smiling husband explained that his young bride was a teacher and they had left England only six months previous and she was still a little home sick. When we arrived at the larger cities, Calgary, Winnipeg, etc, we stopped well out of the town.

For obvious reasons, it had not been unknown for sailors to 鈥渏ump ship鈥� and get lost in the crowd. To this end, no one was allowed to leave the train and Royal Marine sentries were posted on the doors of the carriages. For the most of us, it was sufficient, just to sit back and enjoy the scenery. Going through the Rockies had been an experience that I shall always remember.

Looking back through the windows as the train went round the mountainous bends, the rest of the train looked for all the world like a small 鈥淗ornby鈥� toy against a magnificent background.

The journey was over too soon and the train was pulling into the main street of Philadelphia, where we detrained and loaded on to lorries, and made our way to the dockyard to join our transport home, and lo and behold, it was an old friend. Lying alongside, having some minor repairs was my old ship of the Spanish Patrols, HMS Resolution.

Making my way down the familiar ladders to the Barracks, I was surprised to see that there were still a few friends remaining who had been on board way back in the old days. Jimmy Brunt from the Elephant and Castle, the fleet welter weight champion, who was considered good enough by the Americans to be employed as a sparring partner to Fritzi Civic, the welter weight champion of the world, was just one of them.

It was a nice surprise to be told that we would be in port for at least two weeks before leaving for the United Kingdom.

Jack Hylton my buddy from Bremerton was still with us, and together we went ashore on our first liberty. Again we roamed the 鈥淢ain Drag鈥�, sampling one or two bars en route. The popular beer was Budweiser and if you bought a pitcher, you received five pints for the price of four. Again we made friends with various locals and on one trip out, we, Jack and I, made for Camden Town in New Jersey.

It was there that a rather portly, well-dressed gentleman, who asked, very politely, if he could sit at our table in the bar, approached us. At first we were a little cautious, we had both met some very queer people in our time in the navy. This time however there was no problem; opening his jacket, he sported a large gold coloured shield and informed us that his name was George Roundey and he was the Governor of Camden County 鈥楯ail鈥�. He was more than pleased to meet us and enjoyed listening to our British accent.

It would please him a great deal, he explained, if we would go home with him to meet his wife and join them in a Sunday lunch. Of course we accepted and after he had put a case of drinks in the car, we set off for his home. It was most enjoyable and the first of many more visits.

Pr-BR

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