大象传媒

Mr.Batchelor's account was recorded by Denis Price of the 大象传媒 People's War Team, the 大象传媒 Open Centre, Hull.

In 1938 I was out of work. In those days you either had to attend a school or lose your Benefit.On About the second or third day at school, Mr. Holmes, Head of the Riley High Radio Department gave us a talk on Telegraphy. It impressed me and so I enrolled much to the disapproval of my parents.I was only eighteen. The war was looming so the Government were training Radio Operators. After about six months I passed my Provisional Licence and went to sea as a supernumary on the steam trawler 'St.Cathon' out of Hull in January 1939. I served in several trawlers around Iceland.When the war broke out we were on the way to Iceland and there was general disbelief when we were ordered to return to Hull and empty our supply of ice overboard; we hadn't even started to fish! I was at home for a few weeks.Went on a mine-sweeping on the 'S.T. Alexandria'and on returning witnessed the 'S.T.Lady Janette' sinking after striking a sandbank in the Humber, with the loss of thirteen lives.
I sent out the distress call but unfortunately we were unable to assist because of the flood tide running. Third of November 1939 I was transferred to cargo ships, the first the 'Tunisia',the second the 'La Estancia' which I joined at Newcastle 18th of January 1940, a brand new ship.We went to the Mediterranean, via South Africa to Alexandria, where we were on standby to go to the beleaguered Tobruk. Whilst there Crete was evacuated. We went on to India and back again to Hull.
On the way back through the Channel I could hear ships calling for help; they were being decimated by dive bombers etc. When we went through on the 28th of May 1940 we saw no action at all, but plenty of bodies in the water.We arrived at Hull safely but I wasn't allowed home because we may have been needed for Dunkirk. However, this didn't happen and the second trip on the 'La Estancia' was to Australia via the Panama Canal and back through the Canal, then along the American Coast to St. John's Newfoundland, where we assembled in a very large convoy. Setting out from there with about 12 destroyers, usually we had armed trawlers. After a couple of days joined by an armed cruise ship,which quickly left us, together with the destroyers,and we were on our own but still in convoy. Round about 8pm on the 19th October 1940, a balmy evening with a strong sea running, a tanker was hit by torpedo, which lit up the convoy and all the crew mustered to lifeboat stations then were intermittently stood down and recalled. Ships were being hit at intervals. We were all stood-to at midnight when we heard a gurgling noise on the port side, thinking it might be a whale we went to see.From the bridge a warning came of torpedo on the port side, so we scrambled back.
Unfortunately, I hit my head on a boom across the hatch, fortunately I was unhurt and was able to drop behind the hatch. The torpedo struck aft with a resounding bang followed by a long 'twine'and lots of debris fell on my back. I was OK. The order immediately from the bridge was 'abandon ship'.
We went to our allotted boats; mine was manned by two very efficient English AB's, assisted by Indian crew who also performed well. After launching the boat in the water the problems began. We were in the tail end of a hurricane and a very heavy swell was running and,consequently, if you went too far down the Jacob's ladder you were in danger of being crushed when the boat came up. The two AB's were in the boat first and unshackled the davits and were having great difficulty in keeping the boat off the ship's side.
Fortunately for me I was about fifth down and had my leg extended out ready and someone just got hold of it and pulled me in the boat. The ship was now going down quickly. We were trying with oars to push the boat from the side of the ship. Eventually she sank and the davit hooked onto our boat and pulled us under. After what seemed forever, the gunnel broke and we shot to the surface, but were waterlogged and a little way off the ship, which immediately sank by the stern. It sank so much then made an immediate gasp for life and shot towering into the sky. Having read stories of whirlpools being created in such situations I joined my arms under the seat and just hung on in the huge wave. After all the turmoil it was noticeably very quiet and the boat was full of seamen and top heavy. A raft came in view and an AB swam to it and managed to get it aboard and bring it nearby. About half of the seamen got on leaving about seven behind. My AB angels advised me to stay because although we were underwater the tanks would keep us afloat and the raft was dangerously overloaded and unstable. They floated away. A little later we heard a voice shouting with 'plum in his voice'-'Ship ahoy, over here'.
We knew it was the Captain because previously there had been some debate amongst the Officers whether it was a recently acquired accent, because before the war he ran a ship's watchmans business. Anyhow, we got him aboard and he still held his briefcase with the ships documents in it. After probably half an hour or so more or less sat in the water, what seemed to be a huge ship emerged out of the darkness. It was the 'Bruno', a Wilson Line rescue ship. I was frantically flashing a torch I'd found in the boat. We were afraid they hadn't seen us and were going to run us down.
With great seamanship we glided alongside and they dropped us a line, but because of the heavy swell, we had great difficulty in getting the boat alongside the Jacob's ladder. When we eventually did, the sea had twisted it round and as you ascended somehow you had to get to the other side of the ladder. When I got aboard the sparks loaned me his dressing gown and all our clothes ewre hung over the rails in the engine room to dry. The sparks gave up his bunk so I could sleep but this was not forthcoming because the cry came for 'all hands on deck'. I was expecting the worst, like another attack, but it was to give a hand to pull their rescue boat, which had been launched back on board. Apparently, the sea had twisted the falls round and they were jamming, but we did get the boat clear of the water and were able to get under way.
The passage to Gourock is a complete blank, I am unable to recall it.
We landed in Gourock about 6 o'clock in the evening and were told we would get our missing clothing replaced, but when I got there,most of the gear had been given to the many sailors who had been torpedoed in our convoy. The only item I had missing was a pair of braces to hold my trousers up and they didn't have any so we boarded the train for Hull after a scratch meal. There was no food or drink to be had on the train and very little time to get any at the stations. We arrived at Paragon Station about 2am famished. I went into the NAAFI or Church Army Canteen but was refused anything, even a cup of tea, because we weren't in army uniform. I had lost my uniform. The lady behind the counter, with a curt remark, stated 'didn't we know there was a war on?' Fortunately, I had a little money and was able to get a taxi but had to pay up front. I had to get my mother and father out of bed. Her first thoughts were 'where's all your gear?' I said I'd lost it. She said, 'including your bright blue suit?'(the current fashion amongst trawlermen). 'Good!' she said, 'I never did like it'. I also lost 40 lbs of tomatoes, a very large bag of sugar, and a mounted nugget of gold that I had been given by the very generous people of Mackay, Australia. In fact, wherever we went in the British Empire, we were given a Royal welcome, in stark contrast to the treatment we received at Paragon Station in Hull!
The Merchant Navy were probably unappreciated, as I personally consider the attitudes to be in present-day life. According to German records, we were sunk 20th October 1940 by U47-Commander Gunther Prien. Maybe the difference in the date was because it was about midnight. The convoy was HX79 'La Estancia' 5,183 tons. U47-Commander Gunter Prien sank the 'Royal Oak' in Scapa Flow.

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