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The following story appears courtesy of and with thanks to Les Jones and Robert Kennedy

The 23,722 tons liner: the SS Strathallan was built at Barrow-in-Furness and owned by the Peninsular & Orient Steam Navigation Company Ltd and requisitioned by the War Office as a troopship during the war. Its last Captain was J.H.Biggs CBE.

鈥淥n the morning of Sunday, 20th December, 1942,. the convoy had reached Gibraltar and we were all reforming into new positions according to our respective ports of destination and also being augmented by more supply craft already waiting at Gibraltar. At approximately 9.30 a.m. the escort ship V.88 came alongside to fire a line aboard with a small round black disc that apparently were orders, we were already under way. The weather was glorious, sunshine, slight breeze and the sea in a lazy swell. So, the convoy proceeded.
The day was spent extra busily, for all departments on board were making preparation in order for a quick debarkation that was to take place the following afternoon at Algiers. The officers, nurses and troops all had their kits packed, and in general people were beginning to talk in a "departing" manner. One usually strikes acquaintance during a sea journey hence the good-byes, farewell instructions, words of advice, when next we'll meet etc. that all makes up the atmosphere of departure.
After a little off-watch chatter and conversation and our usual phonograph record or two that was a familiar procedure and much looked forward to diversion in our cabin, I retired somewhere around 10.30 p.m. Due to hard and long hours of work I had no difficulty in falling asleep, and a deep and sound one at that, which I may include can be said of all the men, for all were very busy this particular trip. Anyhow I fancy I was so enjoying my deep and sound sleep that the next thing I knew was finding my face splattered on the bunk above me and in less than half a second I was on the deck. I calmly got up to sit on my bunk. Although all lights had failed, the noise of confusion told me everyone else was in the same predicament. The ship was shaking so violently that all bottles, boxes, cases and loose articles etc. went haywire. Some had rushed on deck to return almost immediately. There were exclamations by all kinds of people that had awakened sufficiently to allow their minds to infer what might have happened. Something seemed to tell me, since the ship had taken a sharp list immediately the shaking had subsided, that we had been hit by a torpedo. I made a movement to go out on deck but that was overruled by the thought that this means stations, so why not grab what gear I can lay my hands on. Accordingly, due to continuous training, I grabbed my bundle, lifejacket, trousers, shoes and my uniform coat and cap that happened to be near at hand. I arrived on deck just as a red distress flare was fired from the bridge. I knew then it was serious. By this time all were pouring on deck, and I made way to my boat station. The ship had now a list of about 10-12 degrees.
At our boat we awaited the arrival of all our crew, and by the time they came I turned to find our boat crammed full of soldiers along with a few natives. As yet no alarm gongs or bells had sounded. We thought they must be out of commission until probably an emergency dynamo could be got functioning. There was only one thing to do, since we could not embark any more, we crew took up positions in the boat, gave out everything. that was correct, and our lowerer lowered away.

As we were on the high side, the starboard side, going down we hit the edges of A. B and C decks and scraped along the ship's side all the way. Once I thought we were either going to be tipped out or that our falls would snap through so heavy a strain, but we reached the water safely. made quick work in casting off as to be out the way of other boats, and swung clear and away.
The soldiers in our boat were highly excited, some showing signs of fear. I thought we had better keep a sharp eye in case they panicked and tried to take charge. As it was we could hardly do a thing for a time, for they were all sitting on gear that was needed for immediate use. It took quite a lot of ordering and shuffling that almost bordered on manhandling but we eventually got our handles, tiller etc. into position and soon had the boat under way.

At the time we were hit it must have been 2.31 a.m. for that was when the clocks, as all other electrical power, stopped. And from the time we were hit to the time we launched our boat was around 6-8 minutes.
We manoeuvred round to the after end and by this time we were able to think more clearly. I happened to have awoken with a dry throat and even now I was only beginning to get the first signs of saliva back. I'd have given anything for a drink of water. The soldiers were imploring us to get well away from the ship in case she turned over sinking and taking everything else under with the suction. But no, we had a job to do. Although our boat was fully loaded, we might have been able to pick up one or two from the water that were desperate. We paraded up and down the starboard side close on two hours.

All the boats had been launched, except two. No.8 had been flung and jammed upside down on her davit heads by the blast and No.14 had been absolutely filled with water by the same. Consequently, when it was lowered and people embarked, they sat in water up to their chests, on reaching the water below it sank to gunwale level although not sinking. Its occupants just swam out and as they were situated where we had been hit everyone was literally soaked in crude oil.

We ourselves could do no more. We layoff and just propelled our way backwards and forwards from forward to aft and it was then we had time to reflect back on the life of the old ship, all she had done and also our lives aboard her. All of which would take far too long to state here, but it brought a lump to our throats at the realisation of what her end had come to.

Continued.....
'This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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