大象传媒

Fresh from one year鈥檚 training as a telegraphist, I joined HMS Suffolk early in September 1939.She had recently returned from peace time service in the Far East. We sailed for Scapa on the 29th. For a brief 鈥榳ork-up鈥�. Left October 8th for Alexandria with a stop over in Gibraltar.then to Alexandria,Egypt. Nothing exciting happened in the Med.. We returned to Scapa. Then proceeded north to assume Northern Patrol in the Denmark straights.. In November we moved to cover the Iceland faroes area along with two destroyers to search for the Scharnhorst after the sinking of the Rawalpindi.
It was in April ,1940 after we had collided with a merchant vessel and received repairs, that things changed for the Suffolk and our crew.. After transporting a detatchment of Royal marines to the Faroes, we proceded north east overnight to the Norwegian coast. At around midnight, we were addressed by our skipper, Capt. Durnford. Our objective was a bombardment of an enemy occupied air base at Stavangar.
Arriving at around dawn and already at battle stations, our 8 inch guns commenced firing at a range of about 11 miles. Both of our Walrus aircraft had been previously launched for spotting duty. That was a washout due to poor radio conditions. My battle station was aloft in the remote wireless office above the bridge. Radio silence was being maintained. After an hour or so the firing ceased and all was quiet in our remote location above the bridge . We remained at our battle stations. At sometime after 8AM as we were steaming supposedly West for Scapa Flo, our Ack Ack guns commenced firing and the sound of bombs indicated to us that an attack had started, A message was handed to us to be transmitted requesting air support. Seeing outside was impossible. All deadlights were in place.
As time passed the noise of our own guns and that of bombs falling around became a constant barrage. A much larger explosion and the shaking of the ship that occurred caused us to lose contact with operations center below decks. I was relieved from my operating position and ordered to act as a messenger carrying messages to and from the remote to the below deck operations center. The route was hazardous but gave me a chance to see what was going on in the skies .Below the main deck many of the crew not actively involved in gunnery were huddled around in groups. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 up Sparkes? 鈥� was the oft given question. 鈥淣ot much鈥� was about the only reply I could think of. On my first return trip I saw that our X turret had its top torn open and was at a rakish angle. Since radio silence was no longer necessary, we continued to send and receive messages so I was kept busy for a good while. All the time seeking the best time to dodge what I heard or saw in the sky. It was sometime in the afternoon when the firing and attacks ceased and I noticed the friendly aircraft above. Below decks the scene was not so pleasant. Wounded shipmates were being carried to the flat area and tended to as best as possible. At the same time others were handling portable pumps to get ride of sea water that had entered aft where the damage had occurred. I spotted a destroyer close by that had apparently been with us the whole time and the signal lamps between us were getting a workout.
The irony of all of this is that it was a beautiful day out there topside. Blue cloudess sky with the sun now high in the heavens. With as much of a chance the enemy had to sink us. only one of their many bombs found it鈥檚 target. As we approached Scotland and Scapa several ships came out to escort us in. Our quarter deck was very close to being awash. Our ship was beached in Scapa to avoid further sinking. In the next few days or a week or so. temporary repairs enabled us to sail down to the River Clyde and dry dock where we decommissioned. I returned to Portsmouth barracks (HMS Victory,for reassignment. After a couple of weeks I was assigned to a special services group that were fitted out with tropical gear. We transferred to a large merchant ship and headed south down the west coast of Africa to French Senegal where we participated in the failed attempt by free French forces to retake the capital Dakar.(previously reported) I finally transferred to the Polish Ship Sobieski and finally reached Freetown Sierra Leone to await further assignment
It was August 1940 and still living aboard The Polish ship Sobieski, No duties and tempers getting short. Freetown is not a cool place in which to be stuck.. Several of us were transferred to the Edinboro Castle, This aging liner was being used as an off shore barracks for naval personnel unassigned.. Seems that mosquitoes cannot fly very far over water so the 鈥楥astle鈥� moored in mid harbour was a safe retreat. We languished in Freetown until early 1941. Four of us 鈥楿nassigned鈥� sparkers were reintroduced to the same Warrant Officer from our original venture to French Senegal.. Ordered to pack and loaded aboard a small freighter that headed South.. Also aboard were a detachment of British soldiers, whose destination was not revealed. It was a slow, unescorted trip and crossing the equator was not accompanied by any ceremony. I became ill and diagnosed by an on board medic as afflicted with appendicitis. We arrived at Ascension Island and I was debarked slung over the side with a winch and a stretcher on to a motor launch. Ascension had no harbour, and all loading and unloading is accomplished in this manner. My destination was to a small one room hospital in the small community of Georgetown. It became apparent that this community was populated by employees of British Cable and Wireless, and menial staffing was composed of natives of the island of St Helena. My doctor turned out to be a retired Royal Navy Physician of considerable age. His wife was the nurse.. My appendix problem was reduced to a severe belly ache and cleared up in short order . Our mission was finally announced. Build a small radio station from scratch. Our aim was to maintain wireless communication with Freetown, repeating all urgent messages relating to vessels in distress. Enemy U-Boat activity had increased considerably by this time in the South Atlantic, and most commercial shipping traveled unescorted.
We four sparkers had to perform beyond our signal school training. Become hole diggers, pole setters and wire stretchers. The transmitter and antenna were to be almost a quarter mile uphill above the actual operating room in Georgetown. Once completed, we settled in to routine of continuous watch keeping, repeating traffic as requested. This method of repeating Freetown W/T鈥檚 traffic was due to naturally poor reception in many parts of the south Atlantic and our naval vessels operating in this sphere would have a better chance to receive the correct information.
Far removed from the visible war. It was obvious that the South Atlantic had become very hazardous to commercial shipping as we repeated a great number of messages relating to U-Boat activity and vessels in distress. When off duty we could relax on the one good beach nearby. 鈥淒o not Swim in the ocean鈥� we were told, This became an obvious rule if one went the short pier and looked into the crystal, clear water. The only fish seen were sharks and an occasional barracuda. There were many interesting features about Ascension Island I could relate butI鈥檒l stick to our wartime adventures.
As December rolled around and we heard of the USA joining the war, a strange event happened. On a clear Sunny day on a calm silvery sea a submarine surfaced about 2 miles off shore at Georgetown
Since we had no communication re any friendly sub in the area. it was assumed to be a U-Boat.. The W.O. dispatched me to the beach with an Aldis lamp. He was informing Freetown W/T of the event. All I could do was signal in Morse 鈥淚NT U鈥� repeatedly, which I assumed would be understood as 鈥榃ho are you鈥�? No response ensued and the sub remained on the surface. After a while at this endeavour, shore gunfire started from a small detachment of British soldiers stationed on one of the the hills known as The Three Sisters鈥�. Somewhat erratic, since the shells were falling wide if the target.. Within minutes the gunnery improved and the splashes got very close to the sub which immediately took a dive and disappeared.. I returned to our station. The word back to our W.O was that HMS Devonshire had sunk a German supply ship further South and U-Boats would have to scramble north for home, We were in danger of such a sub attempting to land at Ascension if it鈥檚 defenses appeared weak.We were issued The standard Lee Enfield Rifle and a clip of ammo. Put on our hard hats and prepared for a night-long vigil. Suitable landing sites are few which helped us in our defense. Come the dawn, nothing happened. Word received that the destroyer HMS Brilliant was proceeding to Ascension for a conference with British Cable and Wireless General Manager who acted as the Governor of Ascension Island, Great news for me as my old school chum and workmate at the Grimsby post office, Arthur Toynbee, was a crew member on the Brilliant. The W.O. got me permission to accompany the Governor aboard the launch that ferried us out to the anchored Brilliant
Arthur almost fell of the mess deck bench at the sight of me all dolled up in my best tropical whites (as ordered !). A small tot of his 鈥榮tached鈥� rum as a toast and he told me the tale of the sinking of the German supply vessel that had caused all this ruckus. Seems the brilliant was part of the naval force with HMS Devonshire , operating in the South Atlantic.
Shortly after the departure of the Brilliant, we were greeted with the arrival of an American cruiser that debarked a crew of half a dozen who came to survey an island area known as Wideawake Plain. It鈥檚 name derived from the seabird, a Tern that used this spot to nest and raise it鈥檚 young every year. This spot was chosen as the suitable site for an airfield that could be used to land and re-fuel US planes on the long flight across the Atlantic (or, so we were told), This survey lasted several weeks.Christmas was fun with the yanks and all those yankee Cigarettes.
Now into 1942, Jock Telford and I were returned to Freetown to join with the W/T force there for an indefinite period. Once again aboard an unescorted merchant ship. The U-Boat scare had diminished with the sinking of the supply ship.
Jock Telford and I stayed until August ,42 where I had been able to upgrade to leading telegraphist, We both were returned to the UK. I aboard a frigate named HMS Fishguard. And Jock aboard a similar frigate. I was told they were of Canadian build although the crews were RN. Arriving back home in mid Sept,1942,landed me at the new Signal school known as HMS Mercury in the pleasant country setting of Leydene, Hants.
Sept.19 to Nov.5th. gave me the chance to relax at the pleasant, former abode of Beatrice Lilly, Now lady Peel. This was the main building of the new Signal school at Leydene. Surrounded by Nissen huts to accommodate us Sparkers and Signalmen. Assigned to a work party we had the pleasure of repainting several inside rooms of the mansion,which housed some officers and a company of Wrens. Some night guard duty and then a new assignment. My permanent record lists us heading for VICTORY lll on Nov.6th. We embarked in Liverpool aboard a troopship, mostly RN and some marines, then, headed for the USA. On arrival in New York, all navy personnel were bused to Asbury Park, New Jersey. Two Hotels on the beach named berkeley Carteret and Altamont had been fenced off. apparently this was Victory lll.A British naval officer addressed us that first day to inform us that our future assignments were still under 鈥榳raps鈥� and the local citizens were given to understand we were here as war weary sailors seeking R and R (Rest and relaxation.). since Christmas was approaching, we started to receive invites to peoples homes.. Some of us got assignments in the camp. I was lucky enough to be assigned as a mailman..Two of us were driven by a yank sailor to the post office daily. We met a nice postal worker that took us to his home prior to Christmas. Four of us were invited to spend Christmas with the Birtwhistles. An elderly couple originally from Yorkshire. Had a great time.
On Dec..31st,1942,several of us. entrained for Baltimore, MD, and boarded a new LST (407). Now we had a better idea of what was to follow. The Skipper welcomed us aboard and suggested we go ashore and enjoy New Year鈥檚 Eve. Little did I know that this evening jaunt was to shape my life for many years to come, including the present as I write.
.Walking down Baltimore Street, we met three young girls fresh from their jobs with the US social security administration. One brave soul said 鈥淗i sailor are you lonely鈥�?. I,and this soul spent the evening together.We met daily for 20 days and married on the day that LST 407 sailed, I missed the sailing and was hauled before the captain when I caught up with the 407 In Delaware bay. 鈥淩ayner, you could be shot for desertion. There鈥檚 a war on.I am a married man, and, I do understand. 30 days stoppage of pay and 30 days stoppage of shore leave.鈥� After a couple of weeks practicing beachings on the mud flats of Delaware, we sailed to New York. Then to Bermuda where we formed a convoy of LST鈥檚,LCI鈥檚, and an assortment of other vessels. Staying far South as we crossed the Atlantic to lessen the problem of U-boats, to Gibraltar, and into the Mediterranean. The convoy separated at this point and we headed alone for Alexandria. Once there we took on tanks and other types of vehicles plus a few troops. Now into June, 1943. We sailed back through the Med to the African coast around Bizerte,now joined by several LST鈥檚. One seemed to have assumed command and we spent endless days practicing manouveres, using fancy new (then) short wave transceivers mounted on the bridge of each LST. Our captain, a merchant navy man reservist, was not happy with this gadget blaring him orders. At one point he hollered at me to turn the blasted thing off. We had a three man wireless staff. As the leading rating I got all the guff from the captain. However, I considered him a good skipper and a fine seaman.
Come July and the approach of the Cicilly invasion date, forces gathered along the African coast in preparation for the landing. The operation started on the 10th July. LST 407 was scheduled to beach at H hour plus three. At the appointed time we headed in with some speed and taking orders from the captain we reduced speed, Dropped stern anchor and reversed engines in some kind of preordained arrangement. Bow doors opened and tanks streamed out . We remained at the wireless until orders to secure. Aproximately 45 minutes later we got the news that we had landed at an accelerated speed and could not get off the beach. While viewing this disaster from the bridge with the captain and signalman, a sudden whistling of a bomb had me scurrying back into the chart room. Too late, I was hit along with the captain and the signalman.. Not sure of their wounds, I had shrapnel in my throat, right shoulder and right wrist. The throat was bleeding profusely. A navy medic pulled a piece of jagged metal from the wound and stopped the bleeding. He laughingly said it was mighty close to the jugular. I was lucky. We were ferried out to a British hospital ship about ten miles. off shore. Shortly after dark this hospital ship was bombed and sank very quickly. Alone on a lower deck Not receiving any instructions from the hospital staff, I went topside as the ship began to list..With 鈥楳ae West鈥� in place and inflated, I went over the side dressed in underwear and my sneakers. After swimming for an hour in the dark, I was hauled aboard a British destroyer that got me transferred to another hospital ship then to Tripoli, Libya and an RN hospital. Where I recuperated and finally got back to the 407 still high and dry on the beach. A sea going tug finally returned us to deep water and to Gibraltar for repairs.

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