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Chapter 3
From there to join the British Pacific Fleet via India, we were only a short time in Sydney Australia when the atom Bomb on Hiroshima ended the war. Indomitable and Vengeance then sailed to Hong Kong.
Admiral Harcourt on Indomitable gave the Japanese 24 hours to surrender.
He took over as Governor, then Indomitable sailed off to other climes leaving Vengeance to take control of the Island.
We formed a company of four platoons of armed sailors. Being a P.O. Gunners mate, I was in charge of 4 platoon of 24 sailors and we had the job of taking over and securing Victoria Barracks the old British H.Q.
After clearing up there, we moved to Kowloon the mainland taking charge of some 2,000 Japanese Prisoners of war who had voluntarily shut themselves into the prisoner of war camps, to protect themselves against Chinese bandits who were roaming around.

Whilst in Victoria barracks I used to set a watch from my platoon around the perimeter of what was a very large area. One night my officer and myself were wandering around when we came across a quite large circular building with a typical Chinese roof. It was boarded up and surrounded by masses of barbed wire. No way in at all. My officer, [I can’t recall his name] and I decided it was our duty to investigate this.
Eventually we made an entrance through all the obstacles and got into the building. Lo and Behold ! it was an Aladdin's cave stacked from floor to ceiling with wonderful Oriental ceramics etc. Well, he and I decided to take a souvenir and before long word got around and others started to help themselves. Eventually the Governor put a stop to what was really looting. Any way, the only thing I had taken away was a large Chinese vase highly decorated.
I went from China to Sydney, then to Freemantle and embarked on the SS Britannic to travel back to the UK.
We called in to Bombay en route but crossing the Indian Ocean I had a very funny feeling about the Chinese vase.
I felt that it had an aura of very bad luck, so much so that I heaved it over the side.
Two days out from Bombay and an artificer with whom I had shared a mess with on Vengeance contracted Smallpox. The poor chap was shut away in a temporary hut on the forecastle. He eventually died. The rest of us were battened down below, vaccinated and only allowed out when we arrived in Liverpool.

[His daughters note.]
Dad was very fond of this tale as there was a sequel to it when he got home.
He had written as had all the sailors to their families instructing them to get vaccinated against small pox before the men came home on leave.
Dad was horrified when he reached our little house to find mum had chickened out of having us done. It gave you a notoriously painful arm and I was such a miserable baby she couldn’t face more tantrums.
Dad went mad and arranged for the doctor to call and give us both a jab.
He came and duly scratched our arm with the vaccination.
Dad asked ‘How much?’ [pre National Health days] While drawing a five pound note from his wallet. The doctor reached across and deftly took the note from dads hand saying ’That’ll do nicely, Good morning’ and had left before dads fingers had closed.

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