大象传媒

This is the second of two actual messages copied by me, the Second Radio Officer, during my watch on board the S.S.Rancher (Harrison Line) somewhere in the Indian Ocean on 8th May 1945. The 鈥淩ancher鈥� was a very typical example of the hundreds of cargo liners and tramp ships owned and operated by British ship owners in pre-war years. I have copied the text at the end of this story.

This voyage had started from the London River on 13th December 1944 with a full cargo of cement for Mombasa, Tonga and Zanzibar. On completion of this part 鈥榮he鈥� 鈥榯ramped鈥� with general cargoes between the Cape, Bombay, Karachi, Port Said and hence to Calcutta where a cargo of jute was loaded for Brazil. After bunkering in Durban and rounding the Cape into the South Atlantic news of Japan鈥檚 capitulation was received.

From the wireless operator鈥檚 point of view this leg of the voyage was also historical and exciting. This was the first opportunity since 1939 that they had to transmit as well as receive messages, other than distress calls. Other ships were spoken to and an ETA was sent to Santos 鈥� PPS de GNBP 鈥� 鈥淩ancher鈥檚鈥� first Brazilian port of call.

Cargo was discharged in Santos and Paranagua where loading also took place for the U.K. A stop in Rio de Janeiro to pick up a few passengers, on to St Vincent to bunker, arriving in Avonmouth on 27th November 1945.

A memorable last wartime voyage for a vessel that had served Britain well through six years of constant war at sea.

Text of second message:

RECEIVED FROM GZH
BY J.W.C

IMPORTANT STOP FROM ADMIRALTY 鈥�

鈥淭HE GERMAN HIGH COMMAND HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO GIVE THE FOLLOWING SURRENDER ORDERS TO U BOATS. (A) TO REMAIN ON THE SURFACE FLYING A LARGE BLACK OR BLUE FLAG BY DAY AND BURNING NAVIGATION LIGHTS BY NIGHT (B) TO MAKE FOR SPECIFIED PORTS UNDER ALLIED CONTROL (C) TO REPORT THEIR POSITION IN PLAIN LANGUAGE ON 500KC/S EVERY 7 HOURS 鈥� 2 鈥� U BOATS APPARENTLY COMPLYING WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT TO BE ATTACKED BUT SHOULD BE GIVEN A WIDE BERTH. W/T REPORTS OF SUCH SIGHTING ARE TO BE MADE IN PLAIN LANGUAGE IN THE FOLLOWING FORM (A) NUMBER OF U BOATS (B) POSITION (C) ESTIMATED COURSE (D) ESTIMATED SPEED. IF HOWEVER U BOATS COMMIT A HOSTILE ACT OR OTHERWISE DISREGARD THESE ORDERS REPORTS ARE TO BE MADE BY NORMAL DISTRESS PROCEDURE AND ALL APPROPRIATE DEFENCE MEASURES TAKEN鈥�

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