大象传媒

During the early months of 1942 I was posted again - this time to the Torpedo Training Unit at Troon, on the west coast of Scotland.
The C.O. there was a Royal Navy Officer - Lt. Soper - held in high esteem by sailors and airmen alike. Our main job at Troon was to follow - at a reasonable distance - the target vessel, HMS Pollux, which was based at Campbelltown, and wait for the various aircraft to attack with torpedos which were the real thing, but fitted with dummy warheads. The target vessel had strong metal collision nets hung over her sides, some ten yards out, which were supposed to at least slow the 'tinfish'down - but now and again the torpedo would break through and carry on to thud against the ship's side, which had the effect of bringing most of the crew up on deck to inspect the damage (if any). Our job then became one of picking up the tinfish and storing them in the hold of our G.P. Pinnace to return them to harbour. The torpedos had a flare set about half-way along its length, so that it could be found even if it was just below the surface, and this was the first thing to be torn out and discarded when the pick-up was made. It was not unknown for the attacking aircraft to ditch in the sea before or after a low-level attack, but if the aircraft was either a Swordfish or Albacore, we would arrive to find the pilot sitting on the wing, enjoying a cigarette !
What sticks in my mind after all these years, were the gentle giants of the deep - the basking sharks that often accompanied both our boats and the target vessel, sometimes rubbing their great bodies against the sides to rid themselves of the lichen that grew on them. Legend has it that if they come across a drowning man, they will push the lucky person to the shore - but I never had cause to try this out ! I do recall that Lt. Soper was very angry with some of the sailors on the target vessel who shot at these harmless giants. "Damned unsporting" he said....
It was at Troon that I met Bill Dyce from Edinburgh, who taught me more about boat handling and seamanship than anyone else. We later served together on HSL 2554 at the Air Sea Rescue Unit at Newlyn but I found out after the war that Bill was one who didn't survive the war. I had the pleasure of serving with many Scottish friends during the war, but Bill Dyce was very special.
I cannot leave Troon without expressing my deepest thanks and appreciation to the wonderful ladies of the Scottish W.V.S., who not only cooked our meals, but served them in their spotless canteen. (It made us feel sorry for the lads who weren't there!)

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