大象传媒

The first convoys for the landings in North Africa sailed in October and, thereafter, at fortnightly intervals. I was earmarked for Convoy No.6. and we entrained on December 22nd for Greenock on the Clyde, where I was allocated space in an 8 bed dormitory at about water level on the liner "Strathaird". The accommodation was quite comfortable and the food was good - much better than at home where rationing was strict.
Our convoy assembled at Greenock and my colleagues and I spent Christmas Day looking at the coast line only a few hundred yards away. One poor chap could see his family celebrating Christmas with them not knowing he was so close.
We sailed at 0001 hours on Boxing Day passing down the Clyde estuary and then due west across the top of Northern Ireland and out into the Atlantic. Naturally, we were all somewhat apprehensive about German submarines and we were pleased to see that our convoy, which stretched as far as the eye could see, was under the care of the British Navy. Several times our guardians left their position, circled around several times, and then dropped depth charges. Obviously we were under close watch by the enemy and we tended to wander around with our life jackets slung over one shoulder.

We went so far west that I thought we must collide with the American Continent but one morning we woke to see we had changed direction to the south. But not for long, as we turned due east and eventually saw the welcoming outline of Gibraltar in the darkness.
We passed through the Straits in darkness and the following day stood off our destination - Algiers. Disembarkation took place without incident as the opposition of the Vichy French had been overcome soon after the initial landings. We did learn that one of the troopships in the previous convoy had been torpedoed as it entered harbour but all were rescued from the "Winchester Castle" before she sank. For the first night we were allocated accommodation in a block of apartments where we thought we would be comfortable being in the Mediterranean but sleeping with one blanket on a marble floor resulted in a sleepless night. Little did we know then that nights in the Med could be very cold in the winter months.

The next day saw us off to what was to be our permanent destination in Algeria - Maison Caree - a French barracks complete with workshops and reasonable accommodation, about seven miles out of Algiers. There life became somewhat humdrum. Our mess was about a mile away from the workshops and we had to make the journey every time for our meals.
The local French were very friendly, not being French Viche supporters. One particular family adopted 'Pony' Moore and me, and their house was always a second home to us. The father was a violin teacher and they had three children - all very musical. There were so many things they could not obtain and on one occasion 'my love', when sending things for me, enclosed some soap for them. An item they had not seen for years.
With the Army moving along the North African coast in pursuit of the enemy it follows that, as GHQ we followed at a safe distance and eventually the time came for us to move forward.
When the German Army had been surrounded by the Allies and the Eighth Army from Libya and Tunisia, the enemy finally surrendered - thousands upon thousands of them. When the prisoners were being shipped from Algiers away to the United States there were instances where the Germans refused to go aboard - they could not comprehend that they were safe on board. They had been 'eyewashed' into thinking that Germany ruled the waves.

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