大象传媒

I was born in Argentina, where my father worked as an electrical engineer on the Southern Railways, then British owned. In the first half of the 20th C there was a large British community in Argentina.

When WW2 started, I was 17 years old and I became very much involved with "Knitting for the Forces" and other things connected with the war effort. I was one of 3 sisters, and in 1942 the eldest Ines joined as a volunteer in the WAAF. I followed in April 1943. I do not know how many volunteers of both sexes joined the services in WW2, but the number ran into thousands.

I sailed from Buenos Aires on April 7th (my mothers birthday) along with 26 other passengers mostly volunteers) on a small cargo ship carrying a cargo of much needed beef carcasses for Britian. Usually the ships going from South America joined a convoy travelling from North America. On this occasion however, there was some urgency in getting the cargo to Britain, so the ship Port Victor travelled on its own, zigzagging most of the way and avoiding the bay of Biscay and keeping to the North Atlantic.

One evening after dinner, we were torpedoed. The Port Victor had been hit by 3 torpedoes and was sinking fast. We managed to get into the lifeboats - I was in No 2 boat with my friend Pam (who now lives in Australia), but as the lifeboat was being lowered, a 4th torpedo hit the ship just under the lifeboat - this caused it to become deflated and it was thrown into the sea, spilling out most of the passengers including me. Fortunately, we had our lifejackets on, so we surfaced and were able to float. I was semi-conscious and would probably have drowned if 2 young boys aged 12 -14 had not held on to me until help came in the form of a wooden raft. My friend Pam was on it and had to insist very strongly that the three of us were also helped on board. The raft was already very overcrowded and was being pulled down by the suction caused by the sinking Port Victor. I must have been in the water for about 20 minutes - bumping into meat carcasses that were spilling out of the cargo holds.

The night passed very uncomfortably, being soaked through and the heavy swell made us feel very seasick.

An SOS had been sent out by the ship's wireless operator, which had been acknowledged, so we knew help was on its way. A Liberator flew over us and droppped food etc plus a note to the Captain wishing us luck and telling him to get in touch when we landed.

A British Naval sloop "Wren" was despatched to pick us up. it arrived the following day and we all clambered onboard by rope which was thrown over the side. The Fleet Air Arm kept watch to stop any lurking U-Boats from trying to sink the Naval Ship. The rescue was swift and well organised.

I cannot remember how long it took us to reach Liverpool (our original destination) but we arrived about one hour before we had been scheduled to do so on the Port Victor!

Life on board the naval sloop was very cramped - but the crew were wonderful, the officers giving up their cabins to the women. We slept 2 or even 3 to a bunk.

A cheeky Customs Officer in Liverpool asked us if we had anything to declare! I arrived with one shoe as the other had been blown off by the torpedo! A crew member very kindly gave me a pair of tennis shoes which I wore until we arrived in London and were gven coupons and clothing.

The volunteers destined for the WAAF joined up about a fortnight after arrivial in England, still with aching backs from the bruising sustained by being thrown into the Atlantic.

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