大象传媒

We embarked the troop ship 'Empress of Scotland' at Gourock in Scotland for an unknown destination. She sailed on her own not in convoy as she was considered fast enough to avoid U-Boats, although we did have a couple of scares. It took about ten days to get to our destination because of a zig zag course, it was only when we saw the Statue of Liberty that we realised we were in New York.

One day we were sent to a shipyard to commission a ship. We got there in all our gear but the ship wasn't there and we were told to come back the next day. When we returned it was ready - it had been missing due to a trial run up the Hudson River.

The boats were built inland and brought in sections with everything in them. They were assembled and welded together on the slipway, then all the wiring, piping and fitting out was completed. The Americans were marvellous organisers and very efficient, they put the boat together overnight and all we had to do was load up, although the paint was still wet.

We spent two weeks in New York while minor work was done to the boat. While there we were allowed to stay out all night. There was a United Services Organisation in New York where you could book all night parties, the cinemas opened all night long showing news and cartoons and I saw the Tiller Girls at Radio City Music Hall and one or two film stars at the 'Stagedoor Canteen'. We also went to Jack Dempsey's Bar.

After about two weeks we left for the Norfolk Naval Base but we didnt get into town as our battleship King George V was docked and there had been some trouble between her crew and the Americans.

(my Grandad then sailed for Bermuda, Gibraltar then the Lebanon. Taking part in the landings at Sicily and Normandy, then on to the far east ).

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