大象传媒

Christopher served in the Merchant Navy between 1937 (Galley Boy) and 1963 (Chief Steward). He considered himself as 鈥渆xtremely lucky鈥� never to have 鈥済ot his feet wet鈥� (sunk) during the whole war.
When war was declared I wasn鈥檛 allowed to go to sea straight away as I had to have some teeth out! No one was allowed on the board with tooth problems at that stage of the war.
My first wartime trip was on the 鈥楽anta Clara Valley鈥� to Narvick (Norway) and we were all together in the same port, Germans鈥� and English alike. The port was very tightly packed with vessels. The Altmark was in the port and the Germans were tapping on her side giving details of everyone who was aboard, below deck. We were moored almost close enough to shake hands with her crew!
On the trip home I, as the mess room steward, I was taking food from the galley to the mess room when a shadow flash across my shoulder. I quickly turned to look and so a German plane so close I felt I could have reached out and touched its wingtip. I could see the crew taking up their places at the aircraft鈥檚 guns so I just threw the food over the side and ran for cover behind a steel bulwark. The Germans machine-gunned up and down the whole length of the ship. When I eventually made it to the mess room and explained what had happened to their food, I received a good thumping. I was called by the Captain to explain what had happened and he advised me to tell the crew it was just bread and jam. I did 鈥� and got anther beating for my trouble.
I remember in particular being one of the few survivors of Convoy PQ17 which left Newfoundland 120 vessels in strength with only 9 vessels surviving the journey to arrive in Liverpool. By the time we reached Liverpool each of the 9 survivors had three accompanying escorts which had strict instructions to escort us right up to the quayside and not to leave until we were tied up, so valuable was our cargo by this time.
We were paid-off in the saloon where a group of Red Caps were waiting to lecture us. It was made very clear that PQ17 was not to be spoken of again. As far as anyone was concerned it was just a normal trip; nothing unusual happened. We were warned of dire consequences if it was discovered that we had talked to anyone about that trip. We were warned again on arrival at Liverpool鈥檚 Lime Street Station, on the train home to Hull and again on arrival at Paragon Station (Hull).
I headed home and dropped my kitbag over the wall and into the back yard, you knew it was safe to do that in those days, no one would touch it, and set off to the pub where I met up with my dad. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e had a rough one there haven鈥檛 you son?鈥�, adding 鈥淲e鈥檒l say no more about it shall we鈥�. Dad worked on the docks see, and every day as he passed 鈥榃ilson鈥檚鈥� offices his friend would shout; 鈥淗e鈥檚 still on top.鈥� as they received all of the logistical information. Dad usually knew more about the trips I was on then I did myself.
I remember being in Buenos Aires when the Graff Spree was scuttled. I had three more trips there and every time she had sunk a little deeper. On my third visit to Buenos Airs, only the top rigging remained visible.

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As told to Alan Brigham, Hullwebs.co.uk, 11/11/2005

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