- Contributed by听
- Len (Snowie) Baynes
- People in story:听
- Len (Snowie) Baynes
- Location of story:听
- England
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A1910738
- Contributed on:听
- 23 October 2003
There was a long spell, when the regiment saw little or no action, and I was getting bored. So when volunteers were asked to serve in a special force, although not knowing what it entailed, I volunteered. After a tough medical, I was posted to 'No 11 Independent Company', stationed in bell tents on the Dell football ground in Southampton. We were told that Churchill had decided to form these highly mobile groups to land across the channel, sabotage enemy installations, and return safely (in theory).
We were issued with binoculars, compasses, and Thompson sub-machine guns (Tommy guns). There were not enough of these to go round, Captain 'Bang Bang' Cannon was our platoon officer, and Corporal Baynes (me) his second in command. Cannon was a 'wide boy', and several times he sent me out in the middle of the night with a couple of volunteers, to filch equipment from the next platoon, commanded by Captain Hockey, also from Cambridge. Eventually the penny dropped, and he was heard shouting in the officers' mess tent, something about '...Snowie Baynes and his forty f* thieves!'
We trained hard during the daytime and after dark, being taught by the Royal Navy to row a whaleboat fast and silently, as these were the means we were going to use for our landings.
We eventually boarded a ship at Dover with our whaleboats, but before we could sail, we had to disembark, as it was thought that Gerry was assembling a fleet to invade across the channel. We were reformed with other similar companies, and renamed No 1 Commando - yes, the very first one.
We moved into a hotel in Carbis Bay (near St Ives), in Cornwall, to repell any German attack in that area. There were no sea defences, and we spent the first weeks filling sandbags, and carrying hundreds of them up onto the flat hotel roof, as well as making gun emplacements at ground level.
I was promoted to sergeant, and taught unarmed combat, and also did weapon training. After a couple of months the scare died down, and I was able, among other things, to play Rugby with the Redruth Miners Team.
Before long, having been warned they were shortly going into action, Major Mapey of our Cambridgeshires, sent for me, and I returned to my old regiment.
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Message 1 - Whaleboats.
Hello Len,
Reading your story I was wondering how you learned to row whaleboats fast and silently. At one time I was attached to a Port group and the CO. thought whaleboat practice would come in handy. He got the Navy, we were army of course, to teach us. remembering the effort it took to get every one rowing in the right direction at the right time and move the boat forward instead of backward crabwise or any direction but ahead, it amazed me to see "fast" and "silent" in the same context as whaleboat. I knew the navy could do it after months of practice but Pongo's? you must have sea water in your blood. Keep writing I find your story's interesting as I was only eleven at that time and you were all hero's to me.
Frank Mee Researcher 241911.
听
Message 2 - Whaleboats.
Dear Frank
Many thanks for your note - please don't overestimate our ability. By 'fast' I mean as fast as we were able, and similarly with 'silently.' Since we were training seven days a week for about a month, we did learn some skills.
The orders we had to learn to execute were: "Stand by to give way - give way - together!" Then all oars had to dip in together and be heaved back.
On approaching within about half a mile of the beach, if the wind was favourable the command would be: "Toss oars!" when we had to stand them on end, blades facing the optimum way to catch the wind, and act like sails.
As we were about to ground, the order whispered was "Oars overboard!", and we would have to lower them into the water, and jump out to tear up the beach as soon as we grounded.
I had written a lot more, but it suddenly disappeared, so daren't try again.
Regards Len
听
Message 3 - Whaleboats.
Dear Len,
I often lose stuff but have found that by pressing the forward and back arrows at the top left under edit you can find it again. I am on a learn direct computer course so showing off a bit! Having been on the computer for around six years I could use it within reason but like driving a car and not knowing how the engine worked. It is fun on the course with all us oldies, I think I am the youngest at 74, the young girl teaching us all said it is the most fun she has had in her life. I reckon she never met a Commando, we have her laughing fit to burst and she said it is great teaching people who really want to learn.
My whaleboat experience was very forgettable, we always managed to get more water in the boat than there was in the Solent. Blokes were falling back as they dug the oar in pulled and it came straight back out of the water, I can leave it to your imagination what happened when the order Toss Oars came, as for Oars Overboard they were already there, the Sailors had the sense to tie lanyards to them and the Rowlocks.
It all came in handy when I got attached to 42 Commando for a short while. The CO. made Friday training day for all us additions, which meant little metal boats with us kneeling and paddling complete with all our kit ammo and anything else they could hang on without it falling off. Me being a big lad got the Bren and mags. The idea was to scramble off the boats climb a cliff then attack the boys waiting to do us mortal harm. Again being a big lad I could also hand out mortal harm, some of those Friday battles were worse than anything I saw in Palestine or Cyprus later. We would all end up in the mess bruised and battered but good drinking pals. Being REME I got my own back by grounding all their vehicles and making them march, they learnt the lesson.
My kids have read some of the story's I wrote and it made them look up the site themselves. The grandchildren ask if it was really like that and when I tell them of my years in the desert when we could drink the corned beef from the can in the heat of day they think I am kidding them, how little they know.
Keep up the writing Len lets show them we oldies still have all our marbles and can still put pen to paper.
frank Mee researcher 241911
听
Message 4 - Whaleboats.
Dear Frank
The bit that disappeared continued the story with the fact that the oars were anchored to the boat with lanyards, and that the cox had to stay with the boat and gather the oars, and have them back in the rowlocks ready for a quick getaway.
There are dozens of anecdotes in my book 'Kept-The Other Side of Tenko', which is a factual account of the battle for Singapore, which was followed by three and a half years as POW slaves, building a railway etc.
It has a foreword by Ronald Searle, was on Heffer's 1984 Best Seller List for about six months; (they put on a joint exhibition of Ronald's work and mine). It was, I understand, the only account of those days to be favourably reported in the Japanese national press.
It is available in most libraries, but is now out of print. However I have still quite a few copies.
I am still often asked about them. For instance, a Mr.McNab from the other side of Banff rang a while back, and when he found he's got the right man, he said he wanted to thank me for saving his late father from the Japs. His dad had told him the story, but couldn't remember the name of the sergeant. He had drawn my book from his local library and read the whole account of the incident.
Take a peep at my website.
Regards Len
听
Message 5 - Whaleboats.
Dear Len,
I had no idea you were in Sigapore when it fell in 1942. I do remember being totally devastated that the vaunted fortress fell in just a couple of weeks, the speech by Churchill a couple of days before my 13th birthday I always remembered because of the birthday on the 19th Feb, you would be in the bag then. Churchill said it was the biggest defeat the British ever had, to say I and many of my ilk were disgusted does not dip the pot. Brought up on Beau Geste and Gunga Din to my mind British soldiers did not lay down their arms ever, they fought to the death.
My Father said at the time, "the story will come out some day read it before you come to any conclusions", it did not molify me but I did when the chance came read everything I could about that event. I am sure I read the book you are talking about some good while back among many official and unofficial accounts, now realising that without supplies and water the best troops in the world cannot fight. The Japs had captured the water supply in the first few days.
Reading those accounts made me sick at the thought of so many ordinary soldiers who surrendered never making it back home, I believe less than half finally got back and many of them did not last long when they got here
Again as an ex soldier myself I realise that as usual your worst enemy as was ours would be the politician's, they know more ways to kill their own men than any enemy and if they dont kill them they can certianly hamstring them, we had yellow cards too as well as Northern Ireland;- Are those bullets flying round your head really meant to kill you?, is the man doing the shooting only having fun or does he actually mean you harm? try to ascertain his mind set and if he is still shooting three days from now well shoot back. You can guess where the yellow cards went, Politicians, I would happily drown them all.
I am glad to read your story's so many years after such horric events at least you survived to live out a full life as so many did not. Reading of events in the two Gulf Wars and the Falklands before that nothing much seems to have changed. The forces are still every ones whipping boy until the balloon goes up then poorly armed poorly supplied and poorly led they are expected to come up with a miracle. I would say to them "Remember Singapore", a political disaster through incompetence and nothing to do with the men sent to try and pull them out of the mire.
Keep writing. frank Mee Researcher 241911.
听
Message 6 - Whaleboats.
Dear Frank
I had assumed that you had already read the contributions (5 in all) on my personal page, ref:240737. The cross referencing on your web pages seems very inefficient. If I type 'Singapore' in your 'search' I don't find any of mine.
Will look up some more stuff when I get time.
Regards Len
听
Message 7 - Whaleboats.
Dear Frank
Please peruse the following contribution, and if you consider it to be suitable, will you kindly pass it on to your Editorial Desk. You may be able to think of a better title.
HOW WW2 BEGAN
Britain disarmed during the thirties, our pacific government deciding to rely on The League of Nations, with what was called 'Collective Security'.
Meanwhile, Germany was re-arming fast. Hitler and Mussolini joined forces, forming 'The Axis', and Hitler later made a non-aggression pact with Stalin. Too late, a couple of years only before war was declared, we decided to re-arm, without putting the nation on a war footing.
After war broke out late 1939, we sent all our available forces to help France defend her borders (The Maginot Line) against the anticipated German assault, and began all-out re-arming.
For several months Hitler consolidated his gains in Poland, Czechoslovakia etc. in what was called 'The Phoney War'. Then he quickly conquered the low countries, which left The Allies' flank exposed. The French defence rapidly collapsed, and after retreating, leaving our flank exposed, they capitulated. Japan was to take the opportunity to attack, as we had disbanded our Far Eastern Fleet, so could no longer defend our Far East empire.
We were left with our only stratagem, to get out of the country as quickly as possible to fight another day. This entailed fighting a rearguard action against the quick-moving Panzer tank divisions across the whole of France, to Dunkirk.
As their remnants neared the coast, Britain called for every available ship and boat to assemble on the Channel coast, ready to cross over and evacuate our troops when they reached Dunkirk.
They came in their thousands, from small launches to trawlers. When the day came for the rescue the bad weather eased enough for them to cross. Although many were lost from air attack, the majority of our men were saved, although all their equipment and weaponry was lost.
'Collective Security' failed. Britain and her Commonwealth faced the world alone, with her factories, towns and cities being devastated by the overwhelming superiority of the Axis airforce. Ships bringing supplies of food and equipment were sunk by the enemy submarine fleet. Our forces in North Africa were being pushed back by Rommel and the Italians, as we could not supply them from the sea. That was when Churchill made his presence felt with his famous 'We shall fight them . . . .' speech.
After that Britain really got its nose to the grindstone. Our wooden Hurricane fighters' parts were made in cottage workshops all over the country; metal Spitfires were made in every car factory and engineering works; Ford turned over its workshops to producing Rolls Royce Merlin engines, the finest aircraft engine in the world. Finally the time came when, in 'The Battle of Britain', the Luftwaffe found it was losing its bombers faster than it could make them, and the worst of 'The Blitz' was over.
However, Hitler had by then made his greatest mistake. His plans to invade England across the channel, when we were at our weakest, were postponed, while he reneged on his Non Aggression Pact with Stalin, and, hopeful of another quick victory, he attacked Russia.
Then came the turning point. In America Roosevelt instituted 'Lend Lease', under which he supplied us with armaments and food, (buy now and pay later). When the Germans began sinking American ships on their way to us, Roosevelt declared war on Germany. Victory, although still far off, was no longer in doubt, as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour finally brought the mighty USA completely into the war.
Christians Believe that The Hand of God Was Behind Our Victory.
Yours Len
听
Message 8 - Whaleboats.
Hello Len,
I read the article and agree it should be put on the web page of Peoples war as a run in to how we managed to make such a mess of things.
Most young people do not know that we were on our own until Dec 7th 1941, they think America was with us all the way and it needs to be told.
Problem.
When I tried moving things around to get it to editorial I very nearly wiped out my site and all the mail appended so pulled back fast. I am on a tutorial course for computers but like all things I need practice. Can you not get through from your site although watch for the new sign in or you too could lose everything.
I print everything I do just in case but do not possess a scanner otherwise could do it that way.
I will try to suss out some other way if you cannot get through.
Frank Mee.
听
Message 9 - Whaleboats.
Thanks Frank, will try. Scanners are cheap compared with other 大象传媒 equipment - don't know how they manage without one!
Regards Len
听
Message 10 - Whaleboats.
Hello Len,
I thought a couple of times we were talking at cross purposes.
I do not have anything to do with the 大象传媒 my only association is by posting material to the site.
At the beginning they told me to write under the signature of researcher 241911. They then asked me to put my full name on as well so people could see who I was. Now I think under the new sign in they want you to go to a nick name for security reasons but they still keep calling me Frank Mee Researcher 241911 when I am only an article writer.
I hope this clears the decks as we say up here in the North.
frank.
听
Message 11 - Whaleboats.
Dear Frank
Yes, I've been working under the illusion that you were one of the editorial desk team from the start, I expect you've found me a pain in the neck. Sorry.
I had no trouble in sending my 'How WW2 started' to the editorial desk.
My 'Kept-The Other Side of Tenko' is available at most public libraries.
Regards Len
听
Message 12 - Whaleboats.
Hello Len,
Glad we got it sorted with no hard feelings. I got to read some fascinating stories of yours and put right some of the wrong thoughts I had as a boy when Singapore fell.
I will try to get your book from the library as you have opened my mind for more knowledge of what it was really like there at that time.
Thanks and regards,
Frank Mee.
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