大象传媒

This is Michael Charnaud鈥檚 story: it has been added by Pauline Colcutt (on behalf of the Fernhurst Centre), with permission from the author who understands the terms and conditions of adding his story to the website.

An unusual and true story of a young boy who with his mother became a prisoner of both the Germans and the Japanese May 1942 - August 1945

CHAPTER 6 ALFIE ROUND鈥橲 STORY.(PART TWO)

Later on that year I met Rose who had been at the same Catholic school that I had originally been sent to. The teacher would ask us on a Monday morning which child had missed Mass. When one morning I said that I had, she first tried to whack my hand but I pulled it away. So she then picked up a cane and swiped me viciously across the bare legs under my shorts leaving an ugly weal. When I got home Gran asked me how I got that mark and I told her. She marched down to the school, saw our much feared Headmaster Mr Lorriman, who was now a trembling wreck in her presence, as he was warned in no uncertain terms that if there was ever a repetition of such a punishment she personally would thrash the teacher with her own cane! I was later moved to the Protestant School. Anyway my love for my Irish Rose grew and we would cycle into the lush countryside without ever seeing a car and we promised each other we would never be parted. As we lay on the grass looking up at the blue sky with the clouds floating by we would just lie there in pure bliss telling of our dreams to each other .

One day when making a delivery a woman asked me how much I earned and then offered me a job at 10 shillings a week with her husbands grocers store which I enjoyed, and then after a few months I went to work for a builder at the outbreak of War in 1939. Whilst there, I worked with a man who had been third officer and his tales of life at sea captivated me and I decided to apply for a post aboard a vessel but always met with a refusal which was so disheartening for a young boy. Gran and Granpa Barker too were most adamant that I should never work on a ship, but I was adamant and most determined to do so. Then one day on the 5th May 1940 I was with my pal Harry as we walked up a steep hill coming from the port. There was an elderly woman struggling with a large case, 鈥� Go on Roondie鈥� my pal said 鈥� Give her a hand and she may give you a packet of fags鈥�.
So I helped her and she thanked me profusely and asked me what I was doing there and I replied that I was returning from the shipping office trying to sign on, again without any luck. She then asked me if I really wanted to go to sea and I replied most emphatically 鈥測es鈥�.

鈥淲ell then come to my house at 7 o鈥檆lock this evening and my son Tom may be able to help you. He is the ships carpenter. That evening I was there on time at her doorstep and knocked. A voice shouted:
鈥淎ye come up鈥�

Mrs Cranston was smiling as she introduced me to her son, who then took over and asked :

鈥淗ave you ever been to sea鈥�
鈥淣o 鈥� I replied.

He was a pleasant faced man with piercing dark eyes that looked right through me summing me up in a swift glance.
鈥淎re you ready to go now鈥� and so we marched off at a brisk pace to where the 鈥淪S Embassage鈥� lay at anchor. Sometimes when starting a new job there is a sense of uncertainty or foreboding as to the reception one may get or how one will square up to the work. With me that evening, there was none. There she lay 4,950 tons of British riveted steel to form the most beautiful ship I had seen, with flush deck and cruiser stern, painted in wartime light grey. She seemed to be a proud ship that was saying to me 鈥淲here have you been this long time?鈥�

Tom gave a loud holler: 鈥淓mbassage Ahoy 鈥� and soon a rowing boat came out to us and took us over to the looming vessel high above. On deck I was thrilled, it was another world with a totally different disciplined atmosphere. I followed Tommy amidships and into a spacious cabin to meet the Chief Steward a tall well built Welshman, who had been expecting me and set me to work immediately washing dishes from the Officers Dining room. I worked in a frenzy and later the Steward said that he was very pleased with my work, but he added that I was filling in for the cabin boy who had gone on leave and they were not sure if he was returning or not. That upset me and for three days I was in suspense hoping against hope that he would not turn up. Then on the third day the steward came to me and said 鈥淭he job is yours now鈥�. I smiled a broad smile, finished my task and took the boat that ferried me ashore . I leapt on to the wharf turned round and looked at the lovely vessel with her proud bows that henceforth would be my home for as long as my work pleased my employers, and to think I was going to be paid for it and housed and fed. I turned home to Granny Barker and told her I had a job and was signing on next morning. The whole family were amazed that I had made the grade and after all their admonitions against going to sea, all rallied to give me a good send off. Gran filled my sea bag with clothes and in her trembling voice said:

鈥� You don鈥檛 have to go to sea you know, you are well below the age for going into the armed forces鈥� Gran could not cry, but she was not the only one. The Tynesiders were the roughest and yet the most determined folk that one could ever meet. Yet in extremities they were the biggest softies and would go out of their way to help out, and meet any well deserved need. Next morning with my kit bag on my shoulder I turned and had one last look at Gran and home, she turned and went inside to have a private weep. I signed on, and the Steward welcomed me back on board and showed me my cabin amidships to share with the mess-room boy who turned out to be one of my old schoolmates. We had no idea where we were heading or even the sailing date and the Captain only had sealed orders to be opened at the last moment prior to departure.

Suddenly as I cleared the dishes orders were shouted in all directions, as lines were cast, the bridge telegraph rang out to the engine room, and then the whole ship trembled as she was under way. Powerful tugs heaved her round into midstream, then gave three short blasts, as the Pilot took the helm and the Captain stood aside on the Bridge . There was a feeling of adventure and adrift into a new world, the piers slipped by, the Pilot launch came and took off the pilot, and then the anchor chain was loosened and rattled down once more. We were to remain there to await other ships from the south to make up a convoy that was to head for the West of Scotland and join others for the unknown. I stood on deck with my pal Ken and watched fishing trawlers that had been converted to minesweepers dragging the mouth of the Tyne. Suddenly as we watched there was the most tremendous explosion that sent up tons of mud and rock from the sea bed. They had detonated a mine that had probably been dropped by the German Air raid the night before. It was our first introduction still in sight of land, of just what sea warfare was all about鈥︹��.We were to learn a lot more later! Soon lots more ships arrived and the order to 鈥淗eave Anchor鈥� was rung out, and we steamed north with the others and gathered in the Loch at Oban to assemble with the rest. Here we were under threat of German Air attacks but fortunately we were spared and headed west across the Atlantic all keyed up for the danger of U-Boats this time. But that first convoy was lucky, and we had no losses and one morning the steward banged on the cabin door 鈥� Come quick on deck鈥�, I leapt out of bed and there on the port side was the most beautiful sight that I had ever seen. In the far distance was the Statue of Liberty which was all lit up with the bright lights of New York in the background all twinkling away .like diamonds. It was a crisp cold night but I could not tear myself away from the breathtaking scene to close the door. After months of blacked out England it was pure heavenly pleasure to see the millions of twinkling lights welcoming us after the three long perilous weeks crossing the Atlantic, and to know that we were now in the safety of the friendly waters of America. Next afternoon after 4 pm I could knock off work as a cabin boy, get washed and dressed and with the others go ashore. We all had a few drinks in a bar by the waterfront, but I did not want to waste my time confined there and so with my mate Ken we just walked around to take in the whole evening scene. I was impressed by the friendly American drawl and we were even treated as heroes for sailing through such a hostile sea. We loved their milk bars and even more the girls in them who were fascinated by our accents and just wanted to hear us talk. What a relief it all was from weeks of tension, and how much it was all worth just to sit and take it all in. Although I was not yet eighteen years old, I had a wonderful inner pride that I was now doing a man鈥檚 job on a ship helping to bring food back to my country that the Nazis were trying to blockade and starve into submission. Before the War there had been a wonderful Movie Musical based on 42nd Street, and so I headed for it to be able to tell my mates back home that I had actually stood and walked along it. Nearly all my schoolmates had gone to sea joining either the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy so when I got home there was no opportunity to be able to brag and boast of where I had been, as they were now all over the world.
There were posters all over the ship warning the crew to be aware of Enemy Agents as there were many Germans and Nazi sympathisers around. We were told never to discuss the ship, its movements or what it was loading, destination etc. We spent about ten days in New York loading wheat right up to the plimsoll line and then moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia where we joined a convoy of about 40 ships. We had a large escort of RN destroyers and other anti- submarine vessels that did a marvellous job dashing around the convoy using their Sonar and Asdic against any lurking submarines.

I had now set my mind on getting out of the Cabin boy job and so work my way up to becoming an Able seaman. But to do this I would have to be able to 鈥淏ox the Compass鈥� or be able to recite quickly the compass points. I scribbled them down and placed them by my bunk and repeated and repeated them again till I was fluent and about 6 months later I approached the Chief officer on the bridge and asked him if there was any chance and he replied that he would consider it when we were back in port and the ship signed off. And so a month later I was installed in my new job as an ordinary seaman and could now take the helm. We sailed to Montreal, in Quebec and once again the cargo was wheat, and again we assembled at Halifax to form a convoy of about 30 ships. We sailed into atrocious weather with huge seas running. One huge wave hit the portside of the vessel taking away the lifeboat and even bent the davits from which it had hung. A message was flashed by Aldis Light to our Commodore vessel and we were ordered to to turn 鈥淓mbassage鈥� back to port to have a replacement. We turned in seas that seemed to come from every quarter and the decks and rigging were icing up. Tommy Cranston the ships carpenter was nearly swept overboard as he slipped and was thrown against a steel bulkhead breaking some ribs. I was told by the Bosun to be night watchman which meant that I had to see that Tommy was comfortable and visit him every hour as he was in great pain. I used a hurricane lamp to pick my way forad over the icy decks and then fuelled an open stove each time to keep him warm in his cabin. It was Tommy who had got me my first job and a chance at sea and I felt a special responsibility to him in his hour of need. It was a relief to finally reach the calmer waters of Halifax. Early next morning at first light a Doctor came out by launch and was able to give him proper aid. We replaced the lifeboat and a few days later we joined the next convoy and safely arrived without mishap in England through waters which now had far more U-boat activity. Eleven months had passed since I had joined the 鈥淓mbassage鈥� as a cabin boy and as we sailed into Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth I had a tinge of regret. I had started work as a boy but now being part of the Battle of the Atlantic, felt very mature, grown up and very much a man. Captain Emerson stood behind the counter at the Shipping Office as I stood before him to sign off.
鈥淎re You leaving us then Alfie?鈥�

鈥淵es I think I need a short break ashore awhile before I return鈥�
鈥淚 am leaving too鈥� he replied with a wry smile,鈥� I am having to go into hospital for an operation on my toe.鈥�

I remembered that I had been responsible for the accident. We had been sailing from New Jersey with a cargo of pig iron and on nearing England there was heavy sea with a big swell running. I was at the helm and had a moments lack of concentration, the ship veered off course a little causing it to suddenly roll heavily. Capt. Emerson鈥檚 cabin was immediately below and from the bridge I distinctly heard a loud thud. About ten minutes later, with the ship steady again, he limped into the wheelhouse wearing a slipper and gave me a very nasty look. The truth suddenly dawned that his left foot was in great pain which I discovered had resulted from a heavy paper weight dropping off his desk on to his big toe crushing it. I hoped that he would not put a bad notice onto my final report. But I need not have feared, and as I was discharged he turned and said:

鈥淚f you ever want a job there will be one on my new command when I am out of hospital鈥�

I thanked him profusely. The result of that lapse of mine, of allowing the ship to veer momentarily, Capt. Emerson going into hospital was that the poor 鈥淓mbassage鈥� was torpedoed at dawn on the 27th August 1941 at 54N 13W in a heavy westerly blowing. The two torpedoes fired by U 57 at another target had missed their mark but one hit 鈥淓mbassage鈥� forward of the bridge. Capt. Kiddie and thirty-eight crew perished almost immediately as the ship went down. Only the bosun and two seamen survived holding on to a boat full of water that had half foundered. They were rescued after 4 days adrift. Such was the luck of war, a mistake of steering, and a paperweight accident had saved our lives!

Cont/鈥︹�ee A Child鈥檚 War part Thirteen

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