大象传媒

Working on bomb damage 1940 in London. Called up for the Army September 1941. Spent 21st birthday in training camp at Aldershott. Left Liverpool on the 5th January 1942. Collision with another boat in Greenoch Bay while forming a large convoy, our ship the Stirling Castle 25,000 ton had to go into Dry Dock on reaching Durban, South Africa. We all went into a camp for a while, when given a ship of 10,000 ton we all refused to go on board, a Mutiny was had.

We were told time were bad and that where we were going to was Singapore and that we were lucky, we could have been prisoners. We did go on board with terrible conditions, so over crowded, many died and buried at sea every day, ship kept breaking down in the Arabian sea.

After weeks at sea we arrived at Bombay end of March 1942. Boat nearly turned over with so many troops wanting to look at the dock so many had to run to the other side to right the ship.

Being the R.A.S.C. we collected trucks, all American with winches, tools etc. worked extensively all over India for a few years.

Then we became a Tank Transporter Company with very large American Trucks and 24 wheel trails to carry the tanks, the tanks were also American, General Stewarts, Lea, Grant and a few Sherman. Later we had the job of clearing the Calcutta docks of crated American material to assemble areas, this important job kept us out of Burma.

The Americans closed the Docks and modernised them to lift much more, the Americans did much more than some give them credit for. I was in India for four years, because of a serious illness I went to Darjeeling in the Himalayas twice for convalescence so paid a visit to Sikkim, Bhutham and Nepal.

Came home at the end of 45 after the Atom Bombs on Japan, took 21 days on a ship named SS Carthage, it was like a cruise. Only a couple hundred troops then, mostly women, children, families, Nurses, Doctors etc. and PEACE - all deck games out and we could wear what we liked.

Pulled into Southampton next to the Queen Mary with all American Troops going home.

Now my interest has been for the past 17 years doing tours of the U.S.A.F. bases here.

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