大象传媒

When the allied troops landed in Normandy on June 6th 1944 the Samstrule was in Staten Island, New York loading 32 ton Sherman tanks. Everyone on board felt certain that they would go to Normandy, but this did not prove to be the case. Instead the ship returned to the Mediterranean to the port of Naples, where they had been some weeks previously. The tanks were duly unloaded, and then hundreds of workmen came on board. It took a couple of weeks, and they constructed crude accommodation in the ship鈥檚 holds, to enable the Samstrule to carry troops. These were men from the French first army under General Le Clerc- the 鈥渇ree French鈥� as they were called.

Geoffrey, at that time, could speak French with a reasonable degree of fluency. It had been his best subject at Pinner County Grammar School where he had been educated. This was due in no small measure to his teacher, Miss Molly Purchase, a very petite and pretty girl in her early twenties. Geoffrey was madly infatuated with her, and would work tremendously hard to get good marks, in an effort to please her. However, before he left school, Miss Purchase joined the army as an interpreter, and he never saw her again.

So Geoffrey was called upon to act as interpreter between the lieutenant-colonel in charge of the French battalion, and Captain "Moldy" Jones. The colonel had at his disposal an American jeep, which he allowed the captain to use on occasions. The jeep driver was a young- very young- French soldier, and he and Geoffrey became firm friends.

On the night before the Samstrule was due to sail, it was very quiet on board. Everyone knew, although it was not official until the next morning, that they were bound for Southern France. Snowdon, the second officer, came looking for Geoffrey.

"You know the jeep driver pretty well," he said. "Go and find him, then see if you find a liquor store and buy a couple of bottles of wine- and be quick about it." He thrust some Italian lire into Geoffrey's hand. So Geoffrey sought out his friend, who was more than willing to get off the ship, even if it was to be only for a short time.

They set off at high speed to the centre of Naples. It took only a minute of two to find a speak-easy and make the necessary purchase. Geoffrey ran out of the shop and jumped into the jeep. Then- disaster. The driver switched on the ignition and pressed the starter. Nothing. The driver tried again- and again and again. Still nothing. The driver became very agitated. He jumped out of the jeep and pounded the bonnet in frustration. He gesticulated wildly, using obscene language to explain that he was just the driver, not a mechanic.

Geoffrey was trying to think rationally but with an excited Frenchman close to hysteria, it was proving difficult. "What's the trouble, buddy?" Geoffrey looked round. There was an American master-sergeant standing there. He was a big man in every respect, close to six feet tall, and quite fat. Geoffrey explained the situation. "Probably the filter," said the master-sergeant, "nobody ever gets round to cleaning them." He undid his jacket and Geoffrey was amazed to see that he was wearing a belt with a full set of spanners and other tools round his waist.

He lifted the bonnet and went to work. He removed the filter and inspected it. "Well," he drawled, "it is dirty, but it doesn't look bad enough to stall the engine". He cleaned the filter with his handkerchief which he then threw away. He replaced the filter. The engine still refused to start. 鈥淭hat means,鈥� said the master-sergeant in his slow drawl, 鈥渢hat it鈥檚 the other filter, and that one ain鈥檛 so easy to get at.鈥� He then disappeared again underneath the jeep. When he emerged his uniform was badly stained, and his face smudged with oil. The driver pressed the starter button, and the engine roared into life.

Geoffrey started to express his grateful thanks to the American master-sergeant, but the driver was so anxious to return to the ship that Geoffrey literally had to jump into the passenger seat or he would have been left behind.

When they got back to the dock, a very worried Snowdon was pacing the deck. Geoffrey quickly explained what had happened. Snowdon said nothing, and Geoffrey did not know if he was believed or not. The following morning the Samstrule set sail for the Bay of Frejus, near the little port of San Raphael. The beach heads were not given names, as they had been in Normandy, but simply given letters. The Samstrule anchored at Camel beach (the letter C). The sound of distant gunfire could be heard as the troops disembarked, but there was no real resistance. It was a bright and sunny day.

There was some surprise when the Samstrule was ordered to remain at her anchorage. The following morning, hundreds of German prisoners of war were ferried out to the waiting ships to be transferred to Italy. On the return journey they were all assembled on the foredeck. They were all naked, and the fire hoses were turned on them. This was done, apparently at their own request- it was a de-lousing operation. They were all taken off the ship at Naples.

Geoffrey Walker

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