大象传媒

Early August, bagpipes ashore special sea duty men, HMS Volage along with other destroyers first out of Scapa, us lads on B gun after for exercises 鈥淎ction Stations鈥�, noticed that a truly great fleet we had to escort this time.

Duke of York Battleship, Carriers Formidable, Indefatigable, plus Furious an ex battle cruiser 1918, converted to carrier in the 30鈥檚, all fast ships.

This is the Captain speaking, Volage is part of a fleet whose object is to punish the German Battleship Turpitz, element of surprise could be vital.

Still long daylight hours in Northern waters, hiding in the Arctic Ocean from the enemy, though vast space, will be difficult to achieve with enemy U-boats and aircraft patrolling.

Zig zagging as on all journeys at sea in war time, the fleet did just that, putting a lot of sea space in between us and the Norway Coast. After days at sea the fleet made a run to Norway Coast. Aircraft taking off from carriers, circling and then dashing to their prey. Seafires for defence of fleet, Fireflies long range fighters to soften up the defences and Barracuda dive bombers.

Volage duty was to close to the coast alone, at entrance to a large fjord specifically to pick up any ditched pilots, hoping that someone is keeping watch on us and not be left behind when the fleet departs!!

Retreating into the Arctic after air strike on Turpitz, we were told that Gerry had managed to light smoke pots on high cliff which sheltered Turpitz, the bombers bombed blind hoping some damage would be done.

The next day oiling at sea for cruisers and destroyers. The weather closed in, on flying had to ride out storm, more days of hiding in the Arctic seas before another run to the coast.

Volage stayed with the fleet this time, acting as canteen boat behind carriers, our exercise to pick up pilots if ditched over the side of carrier.

Aircraft landing and taking off always seemed to be at meal times on Volage, we would have to turn sharply into the wind, so hold on to your plate鈥檚 lads.

Air fleet on approaching Norway encountered low cloud, hence strike aborted. A third time the fleet had to hide in the Arctic sea awaiting improved weather over target.

Oiling at sea again, we required some food supplies that we got from cruiser. We had some bread come aboard, we had been living on tin food and ships biscuits.

This length operation of endurance was beginning to tell on us all, other ships companies as well. Big ships less so. We, as a crew do have our time off duty sometimes, but one person on the ship is always on duty. Our Captain, most of the time sitting on the Captain鈥檚 chair elevated on the bridge for all round view on the open bridge. All weathers, very seldom going down to his sea cabin under the bridge for a little half sleep, meal up top.

Even officers have to request to speak to report, unless spoken to first. In harbour any crew member, through choice, can be a loner. The Captain has to request a fellow Officer to dine or report, and he has to be invited to be Officers wardroom. A Captain executes a tradition of naval past, that gives him respect on board ship by the crew. To us he is almighty.

This operation has a second duty; to cover a Russian convoy sailing on the 15th we were told.

A third strike is to proceed to the Norway coast, escort carriers Trumpeter and Nabob (Canadian) who join us with a frigate from Scapa. All at Actions Stations as we close the coast. Aircraft airborne as before with Advengers, Corsairs for extra punch. Volage this time way out from fleet on asdic and radar picket duty.

As aircraft return to carriers, two loud explosions are heard; a gnat torpedo hit the escort carrier Nabob at her stern, plus another hit the frigate Bickerton. A U-boat had fired gnat torpedoes some miles distance, circling to its prey. Nabob made it back to Scotland, but Bickerton had to be sunk. Volage witnessed both explosions as she had been called back to the fleet.

On the fleet reaching Scapa we were told some damage had been done to Turpitz. Slowly coming to our senses and bringing Volage back to ship shape after enduring operations against the Turpitz for over three weeks.

The buzz went around the ship that a Russian task force accompanied us in the flow, albeit Battleship Archangel (Ex Royal Sovereign) plus 20 odd (Ex RN four funnel USA destroyers) being transferred to USSR. Another buzz going round that our Captain Durlacer had been invited over to Archangel and had been seen leaving Volage via motor boat.

Hours after, motor boat arrived back, Captain Durlacer had to be helped on board, and we presumed Vodka had flowed. The next morning our comrades departed from the flow. 29th August RN Russian Convoy departed. Our thoughts why; didn鈥檛 the Russians take the convoy.

Good news, we were going to Grennock for a boiler clean (hallelujah). Arriving in the Clyde and anchoring, starboard watch piped to fall in for inspection. 48 hours leave, jumping down into drifter heading for shore, passing under the bow of liner Queen Elizabeth (Trooping) painted grey, (a member with us of the grey navy) her foc鈥檚le was way up.

A train to Glasgow to join Express, we have four seats plus a table on the Express to Kings Cross. We played pontoon, only having a pack of cards. We travelled through the night; most trains were crowded with Service personnel.

Arriving at Kings Cross early in the morning. I lost only ten bob playing all night at cards. Eric Gates and myself were going by underground to Victoria Station. When changing trains at tube stations we were amazed to see Londoners sleeping solidly on the platforms, there was just enough room to walk on the edge.

At Victoria my mate Eric was taking a train to his home at Hythe in Kent, myself boarding a train on the Mid Sussex line. Journeying to Arundel and then Ford, I could feel a lump in my throat, now coming into Barnham Station, nearly home. I said hello to someone I knew on the station who asked when are you going back 鈥� the last of my thoughts at the moment.

I entered the phone box 鈥淗ello mum! I am at Barnham Station, she was almost crying like me, do you want dad to pick you up by car (he being a market gardener he could get petrol) No! My reply, I wish to walk on air.

Walking across the fields about half a mile, shorter than by road (knowing the owner). My mother had alerted my dog (Chum) an Alsatian that I was coming and as I got near home I started to whistle a special tune that Chum knew. On hearing the tune he came to meet me, jumping up and bowling me over and tearing around in excitement, myself with tears in my eyes as I have today writing this, 61 years on.

Wonderful to be home on leave, home food etc. Seems special this time, probably because of the endurance at sea in Arctic waters. Seeing friends and relatives time goes so quick. Twenty hours only, worth every minute of long journeys and then to retrace steps back to Volage now docked at Greenock.

Port watch on leave, our watch took over painting the ship. I remember Sunday morning, HMS Northumberland a cruiser across the dock at Sunday Divisions, us painting the ship with a record of Bing Crosby on the tannoy singing 鈥淢ay I be the only one to say I鈥� and others at full volume with us accompanying.

Scapa Flow still our base, September 15th bagpipes ashore. We are going on a Russian convoy ourselves with some apprehension knowing of the horrendous sea journeys that entails.

Leaving Scapa and dashing down to Loch Ewe with the other destroyers early afternoon, early morning leaving with some 30 merchantmen ships, leaving the Orkneys and are joined by Battleship Rodney (could we be expecting the Turpitz to come out of the Norwegian Fjord), cruisers, escort carriers, destroyers, trawlers etc. on a voyage of unknown endurance.

I have written a separate article on JW60 convoy to Murmansk, returning with RA 60 and arriving back at Scapa October 3.

Early in October Volage being duty destroyer, required ship to be on 4 hours notice should we be needed. I remember that morning the first of the winter snow on the hills around the flow (I took a picture).

A signal was received late afternoon to proceed to sea immediately, a Sunderland flying boat down north of the Shetlands. Stop. Go!! 2 hours had to lapse to get the required steam head up on our boilers. Special seamen was piped to prepare Volage for sea. The Captain, First Lieutenant (Jimmy to us) and Officer of Watch up on bridge assembled to proceed to sea.

Us on the Foc鈥檚le received the order to slip the shackles holding the wire hawser to the buoy, being knocked out with a hammer. Foc鈥檚le party line up for leaving harbour, weather overcast with slight rain, still light but fading fast. As soon as we wet through the boom the ship gathered speed. We on foc鈥檚le endured spray coming over us as we secured the cables. Tannoy (as always on leaving harbour) the command for exercise Action Station, after testing gun firing circuits. A gun crew had 2 hours watch on B gun at cruising station. The wind increasing 6 to 7 on Beaufort scale, and so Volage plunged into its mercy mission directly into the storm.

All crews exposed to the weather, getting drenched and having to stay soaked to the skin for the length of their watch. The storm increasing to 8.9.10, Volage battling forward to position given to us for the stricken Sunderland flying boat. 11.12 hurricane force winds, those in exposed positions ordered to seek shelter, the sea enemy number one.

On reaching position given to carry out rescue, a signal received that Sunderland crew picked up yesterday by Catalinia flying boat. Stop.

The Captain ordered to turn to port, we turned slowly and came beam on to a huge wave, which lifted the ship on top of the wave, then sliding through and laying us over to starboard. The next wave crashing down on top of the ship, now under water with even sea water cascading down our smoke stack (funnel). Fortunately it didn鈥檛 put our boilers out, Volage emerging from the deluge surviving and now with a stern sea proceeded back to Scapa. Arriving the next morning, some damage on the upper deck, though whaler smashed. More detail in writing 鈥淪underland Down鈥�.

A week in harbour, ship vitalated, below decks ship had to be cleaned. Not many of the crew came through the hurricane ordeal without feeling seasick. Mess decks needed squeegeeing with some disinfectant. Repairs on upper deck completed and a new whaler. I had time to answer mail and caught up with dobying (washing), taking same to ships boiler room for drying.

Getting used to harbour routine, was not to last, orders for sea. The crew must make sure that all personal clothing is not left in the boiler room or sculling around the mess deck, as with other effects also, they would be put in scran bag by stokers off watch below as is their duty as damage control party, to clear all areas below that could be a fire hazard.

This operation was to be escorting carrier Implacable to execute aircraft strikes on coastal enemy shipping up Hardanger Fjord, Norway, at first light.

Myself, watch below, kipping in hammock this night, I was awakened by the Action Station alarm bells, jumping on to the mess deck, still fully clothed and donning duffle coat, running to reach the upper deck with others to our action station on A gun, clearing gun for action. A small drifter was illuminated by our search light, all guns trained on the boat waiting for command to 鈥淥pen Fire鈥�.

Captain placing Volage alongside drifter whose deck was devoid of crew, two of our crew jumped aboard as commanded and pulled out from below exhausted men, starving and thirsty as they had no water left. Four Frenchmen, one Belgian and two Norwegians escaping from Nazi occupation at Norway.

Days later when we reached Scapa, at a press interview, the Captain stated that we made an emergency turn that saved them; one had been killed by German aircraft. He also stated that Volage had steamed 34,000 miles since May. This time Volage truly made a rescue. Another of my writings 鈥淓mergency Turn鈥�.

Nearing the Norwegian coast at dawn, all ships company of the fleet were at Action stations. Aircraft took off, circled carrier and fleet to strike at enemy ships that were over a hundred miles up Hardanger Fjord to furthest point of the Fjord. Volage station again to be nursemaid to any fleet air gun planes that perhaps not making it back to fleet.

A lonely and vulnerable job, at the entrance of Hardanger Fjord and town of Bergen. Though a large estuary we all felt isolated and hoped once again not forgotten, that some planes and other ships would be on hand if we were attacked.

At Action Stations on A gun it was interesting to watch RN planes returning on deck, some twenty feet above sea level. We waved to the pilots who replied with the thumbs up sign to state their success at sinking their targets.

Mission completed we returned to Scapa and the discharge of passengers. The weather in Mid October in Scapa and at sea becoming increasingly rougher, with rain squalls and little sun.

Bagpipes ashore, here we go again, escorting fleet including Implacable, to the Norway coast. Fleet air arm planes on mining coastal sea lanes between the islands, to disrupt enemy shipping traffic.

Watch keeping duties have to be maintained on board at sea. U-boats, surface ships or aircraft could strike. Vigilant lookouts must scan the sky and sea. Radar operators constantly checking blips on screens, Asdic operators constantly listening for change of tune on apparatus.

Into November more gales. Fleet air arm to press home air strikes; need a light cloud window for success on target, spending more time in Flow now. There must be a window, putting to sea once more, fleet including carrier Implacable. Two days out at sea the fleet runs into gale force winds, increasing to severe storm. We are heading directly into waves, now hurricane force, crashing of huge waves over foc鈥檚le, the bow plunging 40 to 50 feet.

On watch we on B gun at cruising stations, we have to squeeze into the gun shield; all eight of us, getting cold and wet as back of gun shield is open. We have contact with the T.S. Transmitting station signal to evacuate gun, the Captain tells us to evacuate one at a time. To do this we have to dodge the waves and go down two ladders to reach the safety of the mess decks. Myself glancing at Indomitable and seeing huge waves crashing over her flight deck.

Most ships company feeling the effects of violent movement of the ship, not many of the crew felt like eating at meal times, but the old salts said 鈥淛ust eat a few biscuits鈥� Myself I liked to find shelter on the upper deck, I felt better then.

In a few hours the wind and seas died down. Signal operation aborted, cloud over target, the fleet turn back to Scapa.

HMS Keppel had been leader of the 26th Destroyer flotilla, having taken over from HMS Hardy who was sunk in the Arctic on January 30th 1944. Now HMS Mings to be next ship for Captain manly power. For one operation Captain D and his staff came aboard Volage, which meant Officers had to double up in their cabins. Our Captain Commander Durlacer to his sea cabin and for Captain D to his day cabin.

Through November our duties at sea eased, as new destroyers were commissioned. Volage involved next in a covering force for RA61 Russian convoy home coming from Murmansk. A covering force of a battleship, carrier, cruisers and four to six destroyers, considered a powerful force.

At other times we got some sea time in to exercise new escort carriers and destroyers, out for just a night or day. Night exercise involved firing star shells, which light up in the sky, their lights descending by parachute.

November 23, excellent news that the Turpitz had been sunk by RAF Lancaster Bombers, carrying tall boys, 12 tons each on the day before.

Once more Volage operating with cover force for Russian convoy JW62 to Murmansk, so out at sea for four to five days, gales, storms, sleet or fog can be encountered. With the exit of Turpitz, escort carriers only with home fleet.

Mid December 26th destroyer flotilla assigned to East Indies fleet. Volage proceeded for a light refit and boiler clean, plus leave at Leith Docks, Edinburgh. Starboard watch and myself home for Christmas.

Volage crew 鈥淓ndurance and Duty鈥� in Arctic completed. Some of the crew leaving the ship and new faces arriving joining in the new year, plus a new gunnery Officer, Lt Scott and bagpipes a draft to other duties.

In after life, it came apparent that Volage and many other ships, our sides, inside and deck heads (ceilings) were coated with ASBESTOS. Though keeping crew warmer in Arctic conditions, we did not know of later health hazards.

Lofty John Mills
For the next chapter in John's story got to: A8890284

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