大象传媒

This story has been added to the People's War website by CSV Volunteer, Ann Toomey, on behalf of the author Mr. John Morris who is aware of the site's terms and conditions.

It was the 8th November, 1942 that the Squadron had left West Raynham in Norfolk. It must have been the 8th, because it had been announced that an Anglo-American force had invaded North Africa code name "Torch" and we were to join them

Somewhat bewildered I lined up with the rest of the lads on the dock side, so this was Algiers. Having just disembarked from an Orient Luxury Liner, now a troop ship, which had been our home for almost a fortnight. Along with dozens of other ships zig-zagging across the ocean in order to miss the "U" boats laying in wait for us.

The convoy had passed through the Straights of Gibraltar at night seeing Spain brightly lit up and on to the Med. As we sailed on to our destination, ships left the convoy heading for Bone and Bougie.

In spite of the fact that we were the second convoy to visit Algiers, the journey was very quiet and we did not meet any opposition, it was hoped to get off the ship that day. As it got dark all hell let loose. We were billeted below the water line, and could hear the bombs exploding and the shrapnel hitting the side of the ship. It seemed next day that very little had been done in the way of damage. In the afternoon we were towed to the quay side ready for our disembarkation.

Once on the dock side it was suggested that tin helmets be worn, these were buckled onto our back packs. It is amazing the number of items that dropped on the road, the odd pair of socks, shaving gear and the like.

Transport took us a short way from the docks, to a building which did not look very safe, being built of hollow bricks, by that time it was beginning to get dark. In one corner was a stack of wooden boxes of what was know as Compo rations, marked up one person for 7 days or 7 persons for one day. Inside was toilet paper, boiled sweets, small slabs of plain chocolate, a round tin with 50 cigarettes, smoking wasn't frowned on in those days. A small flat tin 3" x 4", this contained a powder which when mixed with boiling water made a passable cup of tea. Also tins of rashers of bacon, soya links, steak and kidney pudding stew, and many more tins of different food, but no corned beef. A small solid methylated spirits burner was also included.

By now it was getting dark and the Ack Ack guns started firing - one could hear the shrapnel falling onto the roof.

There was an Officer with us and he was making suggestions as to what we should eat, just as if he was ordering a meal at The Ritz. Instead of bread there were very hard biscuits, packed in large airtight tins, the best ones baked by Spillers and Sprats, they made dog biscuits, we looked for the code, I think it was about 3 months before we saw bread.

Next day saw us moving on to Blida about 30 miles from Algiers, we went by train in cattle trucks, they had not been cleaned out and as the sun got up they smelled awful.

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