大象传媒

We did have one never to be forgotten day. We were waiting for shore leave. It was December 7th. As we watched the crew of a destroyer there was a surge of activity. Yes, it was Pearl Harbour. When we were told what had happened our immediate thoughts were perhaps they will take a different attitude towards things in general now and perhaps understand what was going through our minds. However, there was not a lot of time for thought as we were on our way for a short shore leave - a couple of days to see the sights. My friends and I did manage to get to the top of Table mountain, and managed it free of charge! It was something never to be forgotten. Some of them actually crouched on the floor of the lift, it was such a height. Whilst we were wandering back to the ship, having lost all sense of direction I decided to enquire at one of the large houses for some idea as to how to get back. Fortunately the house belonged to an Englishman and his wife who asked us in for tea. He was working for a very large tobacco company in South Africa. We were able to give him all the news of home, and it was most enjoyable. They said they would write to our families. (Incidentally, when I did return home they had done so.) There was very little to do as lack of money was a handicap, but anyway our stay was cut short owing to the Americans becoming involved in the war and the convoy was soon on its way.

CHAPTER 5 鈥� HEADING EAST

We actually sailed on 13th December 1941. It was whilst in the Indian Ocean, after passing Mozambique and Madagascar that our ghost ship developed engine trouble and we had to leave the company of the convoy and head for Mombassa for repairs, arriving on 22nd December. That was one of the first Christmases overseas which I shall never forget. It was extremely hot, and there was nothing of interest at all. We did get one day off which got us into trouble. We were given a small amount of local currency. I remember the coins had holes and were strung together anyhow. Our usual crowd decided to hire a car to go into town for a drink. We strolled into a bar full of whites and ordered a drink, and being non-racial at the time and full of goodwill to all men we decided to treat the driver. We thought it odd he made it quite plain he was not thirsty and was quite prepared to come back for us, but we had made up our minds to get him in. When we did we wondered what was wrong. There was a complete silence, and we were asked to take our coloured friend out. Naturally we were not in the mood to be told what to do by these colonials, and we informed them that if they did not like it they knew what they could do. If only we had known that within a few minutes the place would be crawling with military police, and it was we who were removed 鈥� no drink and no more leave! We were eventually to come into contact with this outlook on a far greater scale when we did get to Singapore.

Christmas day arrived, sultry and hot. It was no use looking for Christmas presents. Mine was there on the notice board 鈥� guard duty from 12 to 4 o鈥檆lock, two on, two off. When I was relieved for my meal it was a little after two. We rushed down to the dining room, and as we got there the Yanks had begun to put up steel screens, which they did after serving meals to stop anyone getting into the kitchen. When we asked for our Christmas dinner this great fat Yank said 鈥淵ou鈥檚e too late, there鈥檚 nothing left.鈥� We asked in no uncertain terms what we were going to have for a meal, and he said 鈥淲e鈥檝e only got beans.鈥� Our actual meal was one of their trays with several small receptacles, almost like a cake tin, which held the meal. On each tray was a variety of beans. I had never seen so many; there must have been five different kinds. I tried a few but I could not stomach them. Since then I have always disliked Yanks 鈥� first impressions go a long way.

We sailed from Mombassa on 27th December, thank goodness. We were on our own now and our next port of call was Bombay. We had no escort and it was well known that the Japanese had more or less control 0f the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the Americans having lost most of their fleet. We finally arrived at Bombay on 8th January 1942 鈥� the gateway to the East. It was arranged that there would be one day鈥檚 shore leave. I personally was not sorry to get back to the ship. It was dirty, crowded, very poor and a long way behind the times. It was a case of stepping over the poor sleeping on the pavements.

The next day, January 9th all personnel evacuated the Orizaba, the ship from the graveyard, and boarded a train leaving for, of all places, Deolali. It was evidently a rest camp for those of the regular forces who had gone over the top 鈥� not surprising, being stationed out there. The journey was not exactly first class and the few stops that were made did not make one feel like purchasing anything. It was enough to put one off food for the rest of one鈥檚 life, although it was almost worth chancing buying something to ease the hunger pains. We had to make the best of a bad job: after all, we were only numbers to those who were controlling our future, if we had any!

Well, we arrived late in the evening. The first thing we had to do was hand in our rifles, which were then all chained together and locked. If this had not been attended to the armoury would have been empty next morning. The camp consisted of a number of large huts, holding about twenty. We placed our kit beside the beds we were given, and were then taken to the dining hut where we were given a meal of some sort - too tired to look at it properly. Just as well perhaps. Then a quick wash and under the mosquito net into bed. What with the journey and the heat one just fell asleep, then pandemonium broke out in the early hours. I awoke to a terrible amount of shouting, and as I looked along the hut I saw one of my friends with his hands around the neck of an Indian wallah. He was shouting something about 鈥淚鈥檒l teach you to try and cut my bloody throat.鈥� It appeared that he was not the only one having his throat cut. They had not got as far as us at the end of the hut. Just in time a member of the Indian army rushed in and wanted to know what was happening. He finally sorted things out. The regular army soldiers who used the place for a rest camp had arranged amongst themselves to pay a few rupees and the Indian servants would come in before reveille and shave them in bed, but that was no consolation. Can you imagine how you would feel, woken from a deep sleep, browned off after all those weeks on a rotten ship, and opening your eyes to see a black-bearded wallah bending over you with an open razor. There were not too many coming to shave us the next morning, but the fun was not over yet. Another outcry from the far end of the hut 鈥淪omeone has nicked my boots, the rotten b____!鈥� This however was another arrangement from the past. It was explained that other wallahs took away the boots first thing, cleaned them and replaced them ready for the soldier, but then how were we to know. It certainly caused an upset, in fact we saw very little of the helpers whilst we were there.

There was not much to do. There was a funny little picture place for the troops. You got there on a gharry, an open carriage. We usually managed to squeeze about six of us on it, and according to the information received, the plan was when in walking distance, one by one each person would slowly slip off, not making any sound, so that when the gharry actually got to the cinema there would only be perhaps two left to pay the driver. Those who were left had a task on their hands, insisting that no one else had travelled with them, and by the time they got away it was usually too late to see the whole film, and it meant walking back. The drivers made sure they did not stop for us - can you blame them.

The most outstanding event happened here. Some bright officer with the Engineers decided that a toughening up march would be a good idea. Having spent so much time on the ship we of the RAOC should not have been included, but I learnt later that owing to a bit of trouble with the OC and certain NCOs it was decided we should all join in this route march, so there we were at 8 o鈥檆lock in the morning with small kit and rifle, waiting for the officer in charge. The point was we had no idea where we were going, or how far. We had been told to be absolutely sure that our water bottle was full, and apart from that we had been given rations for the day of sandwiches, a tomato, and a piece of fruit. Then I realised how stupid some of the party were. Not all, but quite a few had decided that they might as well start eating some of the rations, in spite of being warned by the rest that they would probably want something to eat later on, and were even drinking from the water bottle, but oh no, they knew it all, we were not going far, why worry. Even then it was getting very hot. Eventually we started off. The sun was blazing down on us, and it was some considerable time before we were given a much needed break. We partook of a drink of water and just a little food, as we knew there was a long way to go. There was no shade at all and the heat was beginning to tell, What little formation there was had become a straggling column, and several were looking tired. We had now been told that we were heading to some old Indian temple. As we got nearer so the ground rose, and it became difficult to climb. What we had come to see was beyond everyone鈥檚 imagination. We finally made it, and there we ate most of our rations, which were not very generous, and some of us saved a little water for the return journey, as we knew there would be no chance of filling our water bottles. Those who had paid no heed to our warning were in a bad way. They had no water left and expected the others to share, but that was not possible 鈥� every drop was needed in the terrific heat. The effects of this ordeal were now showing. Many were too tired and footsore to move at any pace at all, and the whole thing was becoming serious. Many just fell out on the ground. I could hardly walk myself, but I knew that if I stopped I would not be able to continue. It was also getting towards dusk. They must have been concerned at the camp, because they had sent out a search party with carts drawn by bullocks. Those who had collapsed or were too weary were given a lift, and the rest of us slowly made our way back, all in a pretty bad way. The whole thing was meaningless, and caused quite a lot of sickness to the units concerned. We worked out that we had covered well over twenty-five miles and none of us were in a fit state for it. All of spent the rest of the evening soaking our feet, which were absolutely raw in places, and no one was fit for anything the next day. I consider that the officer who suggested the march should have been disciplined. I wrote from Deolali, complaining to my family, but the letter never arrived. We were informed that the temple was used for the dead. The bodies were laid on a kind of grid, and the vultures came and picked the flesh, which was thought to be hygienic. Everyone to his own!

One other thing I remember. After collecting your meal and walking back to the verandah to eat it, you made sure it was covered. It had been known for what we called the shite hawks to carry out a remarkable dive from the sky and carry off the best part of the food 鈥� it was incredible. As long as it wasn鈥檛 ours we thought it quite comical.

However, our rest was nearly over. We were on the move again, back to Bombay. It would appear that our luck had changed. We were to board the USS West Point which had been the American liner. Conditions were much better, in fact it was so big one easily got lost. We sailed on 19th January 1942. Things were a little easier, there being so many troops on board that the work was spread out. I had one day as a runner taking messages to the different officers. Tension began to build up. We knew that there were very few naval ships to protect us. The Japs had already sunk the battleship Prince of Wales and the battle cruiser Repulse with terrible loss of life. We were now well on our way and as we sailed nearer to Singapore we were having lectures on what to expect when we arrived. I do recollect that the situation was getting worse, and one occasion comes to mind. I heard unofficially whilst on duty in the ship鈥檚 HQ that the position had been discussed with London as to whether it would be advisable to land as things were, and the answer was to carry on whatever happened 鈥� it was vital that there should be a high percentage of British on the island to match the Australian and Commonwealth troops. If it had not been for that stupid idea thousands would have been sent to another theatre of war with considerable equipment, all of the latest design.

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