´óÏó´«Ã½

CANOE SONG

I recently heard a recording of Paul Robeson singing the ‘Canoe Song’ from the film ‘Sanders of the River’ and it immediately recalled for me events of some fifty three years ago.

The ‘Canoe Song’ had been adopted as the signature tune of our particular war canoe, ML 346 (Lt. A. Fear) and was played when we were leaving harbour.

The big ships would leave harbour with the marine band blasting away on the quarterdeck but we had a portable gramophone and, with the loud hailer microphone dropped in the sound box for amplification, everyone knew we were coming.

The last time I heard it in those circumstances was on the 6th June, 1944, when the local burghers at large on Plymouth Hoe must have wondered what the racket was.

As a newcomer to the Coastal Forces I had had two short stints on other ML’s before being drafted to the ML 346 a few weeks previously as part of the learning the ropes routine.

Our duties in the main were escorting Channel convoys to and from the Thames and I recall that one was laid on to mark my arrival on board. Someone asked me if had been on a Channel convoy before and I said that I had been on a dozen and had been shelled every time.

When it dawned that this one would be the thirteenth I could sense that I was not the most popular addition to the crew. However, the night passed without incident.

When the convoys had been safely delivered and we were tied up at Queenborough the one thought was for a run ashore in Sheerness (Las Vegas eat your heart out) for a jar or two and we certainly enjoyed those runs - and the walk back along the railway line.

Unbeknown to me, a draft chit had arrived for me but the skipper, obviously knowing something we mere mortals didn’t, decided to retain my services until after the main event.

My recollection of this period is very hazy apart from seeming to take root in the W/T office. I do recall that on the morning of the D + 1 I emerged onto the upper deck to find us tied up alongside a frigate which was anchored off some beach. But which Beach? I never did find out.

However, I do remember our return to the Hornet. It was a most pleasant afternoon and the skipper sent his steward to bring some liquid refreshment to the bridge in order to get our opinion of this brew. It was in a gin bottle in which there was a noticeable quantity of orange peel and sugar. After tasting, this concoction was deemed drinkable by the cox’n which was surely the accolade.
As we were coming into Pompey harbour, the skipper gave me £2 and said that when we got to the fuelling jetty at the top end of the harbour, I was to run to the pub at the shore end of the jetty and get the beers in. The others would follow when the ship was secured.

I dashed into the pub at 2150 (2200 closing in those days) to find it completely empty apart from the barman.

He looked at me as if I was daft when I ordered 34 pints and it ended up with me getting the glasses while he filled them and through the window we could see the crew in ones and twos sprinting along the jetty.

And the skipper got change out of his £2.

Then it was down to the Hornet and the skipper told me how he had hung on to my draft chit but now I had to go.

So I hauled my kitbag and hammock into the base and well knackered I eventually crashed out into a vacant bunk from which I was hauled out at 0830 the following morning by a delighted crusher positively overjoyed that he’d caught someone to put in the rattle for a slack hammock.

Fortunately the Jimmy was an understanding type who appreciated the fact that I hadn’t been getting a good night’s kip of late.

I only caught up with ML 346 once. Unfortunately most of the crew were ashore but I did have a word with my old oppo Les Adams who had just been awarded his D.S.M.

There may have been the odd bloke who wondered what happened to the Geordie sparker afterwards.

Well I went to MTB 752 (Lt. J. Ferguson) and did some mine clearance work at Le Havre. We were using depth charges, a very uplifting experience.

I finally ended my career in Coastal Forces on the ill-fated MTB 5001 (Lt. A.M. Watson)

Aye Ee Oh Koh

Ken Yardley

(CFVA Membership No. 3166)

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.