大象传媒

1937 - I lived with my family in a terraced house in Fulham, South West London. A poor house in a poor district. I was 15 years old and due to leave school. I had an ordinary schooling with no particular qualifications. When I left school it was vital to find a job and I went to the Labour Exchange in the City who sent me to a publishing office in Southampton Street, off the Strand, for an office boy`s job interview. The offices were in a new building overlooking Covent Garden. I was able to go home after the interview and surprise my family saying "I`ve got a job". The job proved to be a mixture of post room work, telephone switchboard operator and general messenger around the publishing world offices in the City.
1938 - The World News began to be dominated by the threat of European War. Locally, steps were being taken for Civil Defence. It was obvious that war was imminent and issues of Air Raid Shelters and gas masks were being issued.
1939 - Our patch of garden at home was turned into a shelter which we dug into the ground and fitted with bunks. Firstly, when war was declared, `call up` for the services took place and registration for the armed services took place. Two of my three brothers were conscripted into the army (Royal Engineers).
1940 - The bombing of London started and the City of London was a target. The Underground Stations were used as air raid shelters, but workers from the City etc. still used the trains. Later on the raids started earlier in the evening and the journey home was fraught with bombs and gunfire before arriving home to snatch a meal to be taken into the shelter in the back garden.
During the day, work went on but every morning brought evidebce of death and damage. One day in the office, someone came in and said "there is something big and strange going on, lots of small ships and boats are moving down river". This was of course, Dunkirk. One of the many `hush hush` items we suffered from!
Shortly after, we turned up to the office, well as near the office as possible; we found the building surrounded by debris and water hose. A bomb had hit the building and damaged all the way down to the basement. We were not told of casualties but we knew many of the local staff and families sheltered there during the raids.
It was obvious that there could be no "business as usual" and we were told we would be evacuated outside London. The Company leased a country house owned by `Lord Bethel` at Bushey, Herts. Our staff needed to be residential, and whilst most of us came home for the weekend, it was a very pleasant interval.
However, mobilization loomed for many of us, and our ranks were already depleted by those who had been directed into the forces.
The most important part of my life began at this time. A member of staff who came to Bushey and who was known to me during the time we spent in the London office, now became someone more than an office acquaintance. In close contact during waking hours and in the elegance of country house surroundings, we became very close. Although we both went home at weekends, we both looked forward to the Monday mornings when we would meet again. We somehow contrived to match our fire watching weekend rotas!
However, a shadow did loom over this idyllic oeriod, although the horrors of bombings etc. were ever present. I had registered at due time for call-up and the dreaded buff envelope duly arrived. I shall not ever forget that Monday morning when I arrived to work at Bushey. I had already had the reaction of my Mother to countenance; now I was to realise that it meant even more as I was never to see her again. The future for me was in the Royal Navy as from 1st December 1941.
This would not be complete if I did not mention my service career. - I joined HMS Ganges, a training barracks, which I would consider to be on a level with a prison camp. Many would disagree with me but I am not writing as a snivelling civilian caught up in a bullying corrupt system. I served my naval future with self-pride, but had I had the advantages of proper training would have served better and happier and possibly nore efficiently. However my record stands recorded as it is in the Home Fleet, North Atlantic, Arctic, Med. and Pacific.
1943- I served in the battleship "Anson" of the Home Fleet based in Scapa Flow, Iceland and all points North. Leave was spasmodic and unpredictable, but Edith and I decided we would arrange our wedding when next I came Home. Thus, in June 1943, at short notice, we were married within 3 days of my arriving home! This was made possible by the kind assistance of many friends and family.
A very short honeymoon indeed! Back to "Anson" for me but for Edith who had to register for essential war production work, it was transfer from Bushey to an aircraft factory. After a very firm stand against a dominant civil service woman, who seemed determined that Edith should fill a vacancy in some far-flung factory up North, Edith pointed out that factories local to her home address needed employees. She provided actual names and addresses of such factories and won the day.
Eventually, "Anson" came into Devenport for service and I left her and went into Chatham Barracks and took a further gunnery course. I was able to get home for overnight leave on a fairly regular basis.
We were offered a flat in Willesden where many of Edith`s relatives lived and this was easy to get to from Chatham (we thought). Whilst she was getting the flat ready, I arrived home with the news that I was on leave prior to joining the destroyer "Tyrian".
The war in Europe was drawing to an end and thoughts of coming home again for good seemed possible. However, it was not to be. "Tyrian" sailed and it would be 14 months before I came home again.
I found that life on a destroyer very different to that of a Battleship. The mess deck was above the waterline rather that 3 to 4 decks down. My new messmates were mainly young with one trip behind them, out to Malta to bring "Tyrian" back to the UK! On learning that I had served on "Anson" they were at great pains to tell me how much Tyrian rolled unlike `big ships`! By the time we had cleared the coast we hit some choppy sea and most of them were very sick! The subject of rough seas didn`t crop up again.
We reached Gibraltar without incident. I enjoyed the brilliant weather, a complete change from my previous travels up North. The war in Europe was rumoured to be nearing completion and the chance of perhaps returning to England was mooted. No such luck. We pushed on to Malta, we were able to go ashore and found the people delightful and very hospitable to the Navy despite the bombing and damage by the German and Italian bombers.
Great excitement! V E Day. Peace in Europe. War over. An evening ashore in a Maltese Pub!
But no mention of going home, no such luck! We continued Eastwards, Port Suez, Cairo, Columbo, Madras, Freemantle, Australia - Sydney, Melbourne, Sydney. News of the dropping of the nuclear bombs on Japan had come through bringing feelings for the future. Suddenly in Woolamoloo harbour, the announcement was made!
The war was over! The little ferries in Sydney harbour preceded the announcement by steaming at speed sounding their hooters, this being taken up by every vessel in the harbour. A great moment. Shore leave in Sydney? on V J Day momentous! but no! Prepare for sea, leaving harbour at 2.30 p.m.
We left harbour, sailed up the East Coast to Townsville on the Barrier Reef. No shore leave, continued on to Manus Island R>N> Depot, continued to Hong Kong. Formed an armed party to go ashore - to assist Royal Marines and other units. Our party was cancelled and we continued to the Phillipines for some unknown reason and on to Shanghai to Formosa even though the Japanese had not left Formosa. We sailed into the harbour and tied up at a large jetty where trains ran along the quay. A large godown (warehouse) 2 storey building was on the jetty. On securing "Tyrian", our skipper ordered fire hoses connected and bags of lime powder scattered over the front of the godown and washed down with the hoses. We thought this was for sanitary reasons, Surprise Surprise! The gallery at first floor level of the warehouse was suddenly filled with Japanese soldiers who watched in amazement as we completed the job. I had a very eerie feeling! We next stopped the trains when they drew level with the ships` bow or stern. All those on the train were turned off to walk behind the godown to join the train at the other end of the jetty. By this time we had set armed sentries at bow and stern. These made no attempt to stop us marching beyond the length of the ship either way. However, when we started to march, two Japanese soldiers would fall in, one on either side, bow and march side by side with us before reaching the joining point again and stopped when we stopped, bowed and left us. This sounds like Comic Opera stuff but the atmosphere was very tense.
We were told our purpose for being there was to assist the berthing of a New Zealand hospital ship which would arrive to take off prisoners of war of the Japanese. I assume that our purpose was to be there to "test the water" as it were, regarding the hostility or otherwise of the Japanese. The cruiser "HMS London" was said to be close to hand. When it was assumed to be in order, the hospital ship came alongside the jetty. Our ship`s Doctor/Surgeon Lt. Much went ashore to assist. I cannot describe the sight of those POWs who arriced at the ship, even though I have seen it in my mind`s eye every day since. As the doctor said, these are only the ones who are fit to travel. I think the name of the Hospital Ship was "Wanganui". We saw little of the `Jap troops although one incident was quite comical. One of the Leading Seaman in my mess, was put in charge of the motor boat and ordered to patrol the immediate anchorage. Things were quiet and after dusk pone evening, he left his boat and drew close to the godown. He went to look for souvenirs. He entered the darkened warehouse and waited to get his eyes used to the vague light. He felt around for anything of interest and found quite a lot of Jap Army gear. His ability to see became clearer and to his horror, the place was full of Japanese soldiers plus kit obviously ready to pull out. Not as ready as he was to return to the boat sans souvenirs of course. The Japs departed in the night and we left Formosa thankfully with the most horrific memories of the war in that one and only contact with the Japs.
We returned to Shanghai where the Nationlist Army were somewhat in control, and most of the ships company spent an interesting time. Some of us went Horse riding on Shanghai Racecourse, on Chinese army horses and played Rugby on the Racecourse sports ground. We left Shanghai after a bitter Christmas and returned to Australia. Spent some time in Melbourne, where I contacted a friend of my sister who was on the household of Government House, but whom I had met at home before the war. I was made very welcome there by all the staff and was able to repay their hospitality in a small way by inviting them to visit the ship. The arrival of the Government car and chauffeur and party at the gangway and the look on the officer of the day`a face was a sight to behold. We departed for home which took about 6 weeks and arrived in Harwich. I left the ship with no regrets also the Navy, but with many memories.

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