大象传媒

Then there was our work as telegraphists. We had to work 4 hour watches except for the dog watches 4-6 and 6-8 in the afternoon. The first watch 8-12. Middle watch 12-4, Morning 4-8, Forenoon 8-12, Afternoon 12-4 and then the dog watches. When it was rough we had to wedge ourselves against the deck and the table to try and write legibly. They were mainly in 4 and 5 figure groups, which we had to decode or decipher and one was expected to clear all the messages to the Captain in one鈥檚 watch, not to leave any for the next watch. There were 8 bells to each watch, one bell for every half hour. On some ships the Bosuns mate rang the bell and shouted what the time was. For instance, 7 bells in first watch would be 11.30pm or 2330 hours. The Navy always used the 24 hour clock. Not all the ships did this, It really was a throw back from the old Navy when no one had watches (the bell time keeping).

We the convoy pressed on towards Malta. We were being attacked all the time now and we were losing a lot of ships. On the fifth day out we were attacked by the largest formation of bombers we had seen so far (German and Italian). It was nearly 4 o鈥檆lock in the afternoon of 2nd August 1942 when we FORESIGHT were hit by two aerial torpedoes which tore us virtually in two. The stern of the ship just disappeared taking about 30 of the crew with it. The ship just heaved and vibrated and the noise was awful as the torpedoes exploded. (As we were hit I was taking down a message in the wireless office telling us that H.M.S INDOMITABLE (Aircraft Carrier) had been hit and was sinking). The lights went out and we in the office made our way to the door of the office. It was there the Petty Officer Telegraphist stopped us and said 鈥淵ou will wait at your post until ordered to leave.鈥� We could feel the ship was sinking and were worried that we might be trapped if she went down quickly. The ship came to a halt, wallowing, completely out of control . we jhad another worry now We were a sitting duck to all the aircraft around. Happily once we were hit no one took any notice of us.

The convoy and the escorts left us behind, they had orders to keep going whatever happened. By this time we could see the vague outline of the Pantellaria Islands and took it for granted that we could be bombed from the Islands. German bombers were based there. The weather was warm, the sea calm, we were not worried about going overboard. If the ship sank as the 鈥榦ggin鈥� (sea) was quite warm However just before the ship sank H.M.S TARTER came back to look for us. She came alongside and all of us who were left, scrambled aboard thanking God we had been picked up.

Then back to the convoy, by this time there were only three ships left (merchant strips) and we had to get them to Malta. The people of Malta were starving. We had started out with seven ships. The merchandise aboard was mixed, some aircraft, some food, some petrol. The idea being that however many ships were sunk there would always be something that would get through.

I stood on the deck of the TARTAR and watched the FORESIGHT go down. She went down stern first, it seemed ages before the ship slid down below the waves. We were all upset, we had gone through a lot together. Then the TARTAR was attacked again and again by the dive bombers. Several more ships were sunk including the H.M.S CARDIFF, she was alight cruiser, the same class as the CERES, my first ship. Eventually we go to Malta, with one ship only, the OHIO a petrol tanker. She sank shortly after anchoring but they managed to pump most of the petrol ashore.

In getting this one ship to Malta it had cost the Royal Navy 2 aircraft carriers, 2 cruisers and numerous destroyers including ourselves and 6 merchant ships. What a price to pay, just to show we could do it. The Royal Navy has always had that mentality, find the enemy and fight 鈥� never mind the odds. What courage was shown by all. We had fought continuously for 6-7 days. We were all exhausted. We did not get into Malta Harbour, we were ordered straight back to Gibralter and although we were attacked by aircraft once or twice we eventually arrived in Gib. We the survivors of H.M.S FORESIGHT were transferred to HMS VICTORIOUS for our passage back to England (She was an aircraft carrier). Before we sailed we were given a few hours leave ashore. We had a good look around Gib; the famous rock and of course the apes. It gave us a chance to send telegrams home to let them know who had survived the sinking. It had been a traumatic time for Nancie , she had heard over the radio that H.M.S FORESIGHT had been sunk in the Mediterranean, but it id not mention who had survived, so imagine her relief when she received the telegram saying I was safe. We were all exhausted, shocked by what we had been through and waiting to go home. Our nerves were shattered. To give you some idea how this manifested itself there was a giant windbreak on the deck of VICTORIOUS, which was used at sea to keep the weather and wind away from the parked aircraft. When there was a storm, believe me, a storm at sea can be a pretty frightening thing. Anyway back to the windbreak. We survivors were billeted in the recreation centre just under the flight deck. The officer of the watch decide to to test if the windbreak worked, before sailing. The noise of it going up was to us, like a bomb hitting the ship. We all dived on to the deck, our nerves were so uptight. However, one of the ships crew shouted to us and we slowly got to our feet again, all feeling a little silly, but quite understandably, our nerves were shattered. We had been fighting a batlle for over 2 weeks and recently coming back from Russia we had had more than enough.

We survivors were all billeted in the recreation centre just under the flight deck. The Officer of the watch decided to test the windbreak worked, before sailing. The noise of it going up was to us, like a bomb hitting the ship. We all dived on to the deck, our nerves were so uptight. However, one of the ships crew shouted to us and we slowly got to our feet again, all feeling a little silly, but quite understandably, our nerves were shattered. We had been fighting a battle for over 2 weeks, and recently coming back from Russia we had had more than enough.

NAVAL HISTORY OF G.T.H GREEN: ESCAPE FROM MALTA, HOME LEAVE & RETURN TO THE MEDITERRANEAN

We set sail for home and although there were one or two attacks from aircraft we arrived safely at Plymouth which was my base. Well, actually it was Devonport where the barracks were. The worst part of the voyage was the fact we had no proper place to sleep, no hammocks, no change of clothing, no soap or towels. All the gear had been lost, when the FORESIGHT had gone down. I found a place to sleep on top of the hammock netting, very uncomfortable but at least a little private. Unfortunately, I caught scabies during this period. It is a small insect that gets into your skin and irritates dreadfully, which made a bad time worse.

We eventually arrived at the barracks and were kitted out with new gear and luxury of a hot shower and clean clothes. Then to the Draft Office where they gave us our travel warrants, some money, and two weeks survivors leave. What heaven. We travelled from Plymouth during the night and got into Birmingham during morning and got to home at about 10.30 am. By this time Nancie knew I was coming home, she and Pam were waiting for me. How marvellous it was to be home at last, again on survivor鈥檚 leave. I realised I was leading a charmed life.

Then it was 2 weeks of sleep, love, eating, drinking but there was a snag. The scabies got into Nancie and Pam's skin and like me, went nearly mad with irritation. They can be cured quite easily but it takes time. During the time home, people were always asking me about my experiences and seemed quite proud, but, what did annoy me they were always asking, 鈥榳hen do you go back!鈥�

I said to Nancie one day, 鈥楾he next person, to ask me that I shall thump鈥�. I never did. Then the terrible day when my leave was finished. To go back to war wondering if I should ever see home again and the people I loved. I asked Nancie not to come to the station to say goodbye, it was so poignant and very upsetting. We used to sit on a bench in the city centre, and when the time came for me to go I would get up, give her a last hug and kiss and walk away fast, frightened I might break down in tears. A crusty old sea salt could not do that.

So on to the train and the long journey to Plymouth and Devonport wondering all the time what was in store for me in the future and the marvellous time I'd had over the past 2 weeks with Nancie and Pam.

I did manage to get a seat on the train which was a bonus, sometimes I had to stand for a night. The trains were always full of sailors, soldiers and airmen. I have slept on the luggage rack at different times. There was nothing to eat and drink, apart from what you might take yourself. By the time the train got into Plymouth, we were all shattered. But that鈥檚 how it was! You just made the best of it.

Since my last leave Plymouth had been badly bombed and most of the town centre had gone up in flames. The barracks had also been hit. We all said what a pity the barracks had not gone, although very imposing and a super entrance. It had no facilities. No one liked the barracks but it was better than being at sea, anyway for a short time -it was a short time!!

Before the end of the week I was called to the draft office and was given my sailing orders to the CLAN LAMONT, a merchant ship carrying high octane fuel, ammunitions etc. She was lying at Avonmouth, up the river from Bristol. What made life difficult was the fact that I had not only my kit bag and hammock but, receiver, transmitter and batteries. Normally three men would be needed to carry all these, but in war time you did it all yourself with a lot of cursing and sweating.

I eventually arrived at the dockside having pushed a trolley with all my gear on from the dockyard gates. The sailor on duty by the gangway was not impressed by me or my gear. Merchant sailors and Royal Navy sailors did not gel. He gave me a glance and told me to wait for the Bosun to come aboard. It was a little annoying in as much as it was getting dark and finding your way around a strange ship was an impossible job. I think he enjoyed making me wait on the dockside, especially when he knew I was a telegraphist. They are Officers in the Merchant Navy. It started to rain, there is no place on earth which is more lonely, more miserable, than the docks on a cold, dark wet night.

I was feeling pretty foul. Just when I had made up my mind to walk away from it all the Bosun I appeared. In next to no time he had me aboard, told me someone else would bring my gear aboard. However, after the trauma of the last few hours, I had a nice surprise. I was given a cabin (the size of our lounge at Park Close) to share however, with the R.N Signalman. He was a nice chap and we got on well together.

Our meals were served and brought to us by the steward. It was real luxury after the cruisers and destroyers I served in. We slipped our mooring at 6 o'clock in the morning, and after I'd had my breakfast I went on the upper deck to watch Bristol and Clifton Bridge disappear in the distance, wondering if I would see them again. The weather was fine, the sun shining and hardly a ripple on the water. I felt nostalgic and very homesick. However there was work to be done. I had to set up my receiver and transmitter in preparation for the work ahead.

My job was to contact Royal Naval ships when we sailed in convoy with them. We had a shock about 2 days out from Bristol. We found we were going back to the Mediterranean. Having just come back as a survivor we did not relish the idea. I had seen merchant ships like the 鈥楥LAN LAMONTE鈥� blow up after being hit by a bomb or torpedo, with all the petrol and ammunition aboard, there was not much chance of survival. You can imagine our feelings. Would we be lucky again!

But for the moment we were enjoying a pleasure cruise. We had no work to do, the ships own telegraphist did the routines, they worked on different wave lengths to the Royal Navy. We were now approaching the Bay of Biscay, the weather worsened, the seas became very rough, so bad that we could not do our daily walk on the upper deck. There was a consolation though. No submarines or aircraft would come out in such bad weather. We had by now joined up with other ships to make up the convoy. We were approaching the Straits of Gibralter, and were hoping to go through them at night, so the enemy would not know. It was difficult to keep anything secret. There were so many spies around Gibralter.

These included the fleets of little Spanish fishing ships. At night time, at sea, they looked like glow worms. They all had mast headlights, so with the movement of the sea in the dark, these lights twinkled and moved -quite fascinating. We hated them. We knew that they would contact the Germans if they saw us. Then the subs and planes would come looking for us.

We did get through the Straits at nighttime with all the convoy intact, into the warm Mediterranean sunshine. What a relief it was, after the cold rough Bay of Biscay. We knew, of course, that it was the only pleasant thing about it. We were going to be bombed day and night, with submarines joining in to sink the merchant ships.

As I said earlier, I had just come back from the Mediterranean as a survivor only three weeks previously and my nerves were a little on edge. Every time we were attacked, I thought this is it. I don't know how many times I 'died' in those days. It seemed the only way to survive.

The ironic thing was that I was never required to use my transmitter or receiver. The ships were in communication by 'lamp', the signalman using the Aldis Lamp from ship to ship. It was really a better way than wireless for a short distance. When the ships were out of sight of each other, then wireless was needed. Another snag with using wireless telegraphy was that the Germans could pick it up with their direction finding equipment and know where we were.

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Anastasia Travers a volunteer with WM CSV Actiondesk on behalf of George Green and has been added to the site with his permission. George Green fully understands the sites terms and conditions.

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