大象传媒

The following story appears courtesy of and with thanks to Les Jones and Robert Kennedy

The 23,722 tons liner: the SS Strathallan was built at Barrow-in-Furness and owned by the Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd and requisitioned by the War Office as a troopship during the war. Its last Captain was J.H.Biggs CBE.

The Strathallan which took us on our voyage of 12,860 miles
It was on Monday 17th March 1941 that we got our marching orders. After a final parade in
the evening everyone adjourned to the NAAFI for a very rowdy sing-song. At midnight we
were given a hot meal and then marched to the station. A special train was waiting for us. It
was a long and tiring journey through the night, with the carriages entirely in darkness. Early
next morning we found ourselves at Liverpool docks where we boarded the P.& 0. Liner
"Strathallan", requisitioned as a troop-carrier, the gleaming white paint of the days when it
took people on luxury cruises now camouflaged,
Prom this point in my story I am able to quote freely from the diary I kept at the time
(entirely, of course, against the rules !)
Thurs Mar 20 It is pretty crowded and we are in a bit of a muddle at present - have a job to
find our way round. There are lots of interesting things - explored it thoroughly on the first
day before it was put out of bounds. Moved out of harbour at 1500 hours. All up on deck,
band playing. Dropped anchor out in the estuary. Slight swell. Have to carry lifebelts all the
time now; boat drills. Several of my mates have got jobs eg police. I did the acquittance
rolls (ie pay sheets). Didn't particularly want much to do. All the same landed in for a guard.
They don't let you forget you are in the army. But it was only a picquet, patrolling the decks
to watch the black-out. I made up for it by spending most of the next day in bed.

Continued...
'This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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