大象传媒

In 1942 I had no friends left all were in the armed forces. I decided to learn mechanised side of transport system, with all intake procedures completed a civilian clipboard man called eight names said you have good mediacals and I was drafted to HMS Ganges as the RN was short of Seamen.
Arrived in May 1942 and put in annex, my intake was June . In October 1942 went by Qeen Elizabeth to Nw York. I then went to Newark, New Jersy up the Hudson River to join LCIL 122 of 380 tons assembled in one week. I am sent to Rhode Island for Orelikon Gun training and ammo loading at Staten Island. The ship entered Atlantic City at dusk, local US Army Air Force has Sunday curfew lifted because of ship's presence. Left Norfolk Virginia and arrived in St Georges Bay Bermuda. LCIL 122 sailed without me as I was hospitalised with sunstroke! I joined LCIL 115 at the same time as its new commander. We were the sole escort for ten merchant ships convoy to Gibraltar, we carry six depth charges that roll off - we have no asdic equipment.
On the North African Coast the Cheif P.O. tells me to steer the ship as the helmsman is unreliable, join rota - 3 0f us.
In Algiers there is a heavy air attack making all ships disperse. US Lightnings a/c defend, some ships sunk. We took 4 coastal vesels towards Bizerta, called at Djeyellt on way back for fresh water, French not helpful so we trained Oerlikon gun on them We took on water and joined the mother ship Abercrombie. She carried two 15 ins guns built to go inshore and shell land based targets.

Take US 5th Army trops Italian Americans to Palermo. First ship blown on to Mole this in a squall. We enter next , make harbour but I knock stopper off anchor lock so we spun in circles in the middle of the harbour until the squall receded.

Termini Evening A troop ship with mast red lights was hit in the stern and started to sink so we towed her, bow first on to a rocky shore. The casualities were laid out on our decks. Am,erican doctors tended the wounded and put amputated limbs in blankets. I throw up overboard as we sail into the night.

Syracause Tunis In 1941 a British Destroyer was sunk to block the harbour entrance. In an inland sea lake an armada was gathered. We left for Syraccuse with the task force. En Route an air attack, arriving on deck I was thrown down the hatch and landed on the mess deck Had a small wound on the left side - I pressed it with my hand and the bleeding stopped. Couldn't report it as there was no doctor or medic on the ship. Italian torpedo boats suprised us as we refuelled. So convoy sent packing with small LCT as escort. At end of bay a munition ship blew up and metal was hurled miles around. Informed airborne troops troops would be arriving at 10.00 p.m. that night. German aircraft attacked at 9.50p.m. result - disaster.

Messina Straits I rode a golden stallion along the beach and then the British spear head arrived so I was ordered back to ship. It is night time and we draw the short straw, we start across the Messina Straits and head for Reggio Harbour in Italy. Monty spoke via tele/room, amnd then came the biggest bombardment yet. We hope their range is correct! LCIL 107 wrecked off Reggio.

Salerno We headed North with HMS Abercrombie as monitor ship. She got hit with many personnel killed and had to retire. We hit the right side of the beach, with the weather holding. I was ordered to find the Beach master. Attired in shorts and sandals I sprint to the centre of some small sand dunes. He stood there with a baton in his hand and wearing a glengarry hat with the rank of a commander RN He was told of a 10,000 ton LST coming in with a lorry burning at the front. Tanks pushed it ashore. LCT 115 disembarked to the right and the tanks to the left. We refuelled at naples and then went back to Gib.

UK Bound
Leave GIB ship like a colander, sea water and oil mix. Result electrics gone, so deck plates off and diesel units went overboard.
At night time have to climb down inside ship next to stern bulkkhead. The ship's prop spinning between legs in water. Crew lower down water pumps to help drain the area.
Large metal manual steering wheel, have to put on head phones to bridge steer through the night. When daylight came we were able to retore electric steering.
Speed reduced through the Bay of Biscay, and a Liberator Bomber attacked us mistaking us for a submarine. Low cloud no help as navigation limited due to damage. Skipper considers ditching on coast, but we talked him out of it.
We reached Milford haven - journey of 1000 miles that seemed like 1000 days. Most of crew were assisted off by ambulance staff and WRENs. They had been flaked out for several days.
Sailed from harwich up River Colne to a village called Wivenhoe. The river is tidal, the dry dock is next to a Pub. Land Army girls waved to us. The village is not far from Colchester. The Skipper gave bananas to a local primary school. All the crew went on leave except me and the and the Skipper. He goes to london and comes back the following evening with a beautiful regal lady. I then went on leave.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.