大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Jan Kilgariff of Renfrewshire Libraries on behalf of Sandy McPherson and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

I joined the Merchant Navy, aged 17 in November 1944. After preliminary training, and a gunnery course, I joined the crew of the Royal Mail Troop Ship 鈥淢.V. Highland Brigade鈥� at Govan Dry Dock, Captained by A.E. Jones. Once sea worthy, we sailed to King George V Dock at Sheildhall, Glasgow. Troops were embarked, we then headed for the Tail O鈥� The Bank, at Gourock to join a convoy. On the 31st December 1944, we sailed off, calling at Gibraltar, Port Said, Suez, North Africa, then on to India and Ceylon, disembarking and embarking troops on the way. The Japanese were still a force to be reckoned with at this time. So Rangoon in Burma was our next stop. Here we took aboard soldiers, being repatriated to Australia and New Zealand. At each port that we called at after reaching Australia, the soldiers disembarking were given an unforgettable welcome, it was heartwarming to watch. The same occurred for the men from New Zealand 鈥� this was supposed to be a top-secret trip, but word had got ahead. The 鈥淗ighland Brigade鈥� then set sail for the U.K. on Saturday 5th May 1945. On Tuesday 8th May, when we were at the International Date Line, V.E. Day was announced. There was great joy and relief among the crew, but sadness too. Many of the crew had witnessed the horrors of U Boat attacks during the war. However, the mainbrace was spliced, and celebrations began. To me, a 17 year old, it was a wonderful feeling. I was mesmerized the next morning to find it was still Tuesday 8th May. We were still on The International Date Line, and celebrations began again. So our ship celebrated V.E. Day twice! 鈥� this I think was quite unique. After home leave in the U.K., I rejoined the 鈥楬ighland Brigade鈥� at Tilbury Docks, London. Here troops were taken aboard and we headed East. It was July 1945, and speculation was rife as to our destination. En route we picked up more troops, these men were experienced soldiers, and had seen action against Japanese troops in previous times. It became know we were heading for Singapore. When the flotilla of Royal Navy and Merchant ships, which included the 鈥淗ighland Brigade鈥�, sailed into Singapore, the Japanese had surrendered. Celebrations were limited as the area was still very much a war zone, but the relief was terrific. Next day, some of the crew, myself included, were granted shore leave. Before going ashore we were told we would meet men who had been in prison camps, held by the Japanese, and on no account were we to give them anything in the way of food, for they were so malnourished this would do them more harm than good. I had counted myself a hardened person, and yet at the sight of these skeletal and bewildered men who had suffered such cruelty at the hands of the Japanese, I was shocked and enraged beyond belief. Later, I entered the infamous Changi Jail, this is the most poignant memory I have held over the years. There were men so ill and so thin, some unable to stand or walk, some blind, all due to starvation and the harsh treatment they had received, yet they were patiently waiting and appreciating the care of the medical teams that were arriving 鈥� I will never forget those scenes. A few days later, I and thousands more watched the official surrender ceremony of the Japanese General and Chief of staff, handing over their swords to British Senior Officers, headed by Admiral Earl Mountbatten. I am now in my 79th year but I can remember with pride the bravery of the men I met at the time of this story. Men of the Armies, Royal Navy, Air Force and Merchant Seamen, and of my own Father, who saw service in Coventry and such places that suffered bombing. He was in the Fire Service.

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