- Contributed by听
- 大象传媒 LONDON CSV ACTION DESK
- People in story:听
- John Mills
- Location of story:听
- Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
- Article ID:听
- A8889484
- Contributed on:听
- 27 January 2006
BRITISH DESTROYER V HMS GLASGOW HEAVY CRUISER 鈥 JAN 1945
HMS Volage Destroyer 1800 tons entered Colombo Harbour Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in the forenoon, having sailed from Greenock Scotland Jan 4, to join the Far Eastern Fleet.
We had served in the Arctic with the Home Fleet escorting aircraft carriers off the coast of Norway in all weathers, plus a Russian Convoy throughout 1944. Now in the Tropics the Ships Company not knowing their luck with much higher temperatures than before.
Ordered to berth starboard side to port side of HMS Glasgow, some 13000 tons, Volage looked down on by cruisers Ships Company, as to what rowing boat lay alongside 鈥 mind our paintwork.
Those who know Colombo Harbour have experienced a heavy swell of sea coming in the two entrances at maximum high tide.
At 14.30 pm in the afternoon watch, a call on the bos鈥檜n pipe sounded throughout the ship 鈥淎LL HANDS ON DECK鈥, as we paraded on deck from make and mend (some free time), the order 鈥淧LACE TWO HANDS ON CRUISERS SIDE AND PUSH鈥
With about one hundred and fifty seamen from Ships Company of two hundred and thirty, Officers, Petty Officers and Stokers excluded, plus fenders, proceeded to hold off the two ships from crushing the Volage ship side plates and possibly sinking the destroyer.
We had a David and Goliath in reverse concept. Jimmy (1st Lieutenant) shouting 鈥淗OLD ON鈥 as Volage was crashing heavily against Glasgow. After ten minutes to a quarter of an hour the ships swung round as the tide changed, the Ships Company was dismissed, all was well.
Next high tide at 0300 hours middle watch, morning (2400 to 0400 hours), again piped 鈥淎LL HANDS ON DECK鈥, once more ordered to hold off Glasgow from destroying our ship. With us all having awoken from our dreams, while the cruiser crew were sound asleep in their hammocks. As before the two ships swung round as the tide changed and damage was averted.
Next day Volage, in the forenoon, moved away from Glasgow going to dry dock for asdic dome maintenance.
Quoting the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo 鈥淎 near run thing鈥. We were most sorry if we woke the crew of HMS Glasgow up!!
Lofty John Mills
For the next chapter in John's story go to:
A8889394
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