大象传媒

Going overseas

Wednesday Nov.19th 1941
Padgate, Warrington, Lancashire

Last night I went into Manchester for the evening, met two raff u/t pilots bound shortly for Canada to complete their training. Had a slight celebration 鈥� why I don鈥檛 know and missed the last train back to Padgate. Slept the night at the YMCA and caught the 7.10 from Central Station.

Today we have been told that tomorrow we leave camp en route for the boat and 鈥� we hope 鈥� Canada.

This evening, being confined to camp, went to an all-in wrestling show at the camp gymnasium.

We now have our kit bags marked with the code and packed ready to move on the morrow. The code words MAXIAN CHORD apparently implying the name of the boat and our destination.

So after a month preparing and waiting it looks as if we shall very soon be on our way.

Today received a letter from home and another from Pearl, I wonder how long it will be before I see them again.

Thursday Nov. 20th 41
Padgate 8.45 pm
We have to parade at 9.00 this evening and will then proceed to our port of embarkation 鈥� where that is we do not know. I make a guess that it will be Greenock, Scotland. Met Aubrey Wensley whilst waiting for tea this afternoon. He is here on draft and thinks he may be going to Canada. We also think we are going to Canada, here鈥檚 hoping anyway. The lads are now having a sing song, now 鈥榮inging鈥� the Rose of Tralee and Mountains of Maughan. Well it won鈥檛 be long now.

Friday 21st Nov., 41. 10pm

On board the 鈥淒uchess of Hamilton鈥�

Well we paraded at 9pm last night. By the time we had eaten dinner, had a couple of roll calls and caught the train, it was midnight before we left Padgate Station.

After standing about in full pack for three hours, we were all feeling very tired and were soon all more or less asleep.

On waking I found we were in Harrogate 鈥� it was then somewhere about 2am. I soon fell asleep again and only really awoke when we arrived in Newcastle on Tyne. It was then just daybreak and a mug of tea was provided by soldiers on the station.

We soon set off and all went well until we arrived at a small station called Belford. We then found that bombs had been dropped on the track seven miles ahead of us just under half an hour earlier. A train passing at the time had also been machine gunned. We were delayed there for just over four hours and then soon after passed over the bombed section. There were about half a dozen houses at a level crossing and it was there that Jerry had dropped his load. The houses were severely damaged, but the track had been repaired. We soon arrived at Berwick-on-Tweed and there we passed the train that Jerry had machined gunned. It was damaged quite a bit and all the windows broken. From Berwick we travelled to Edinburgh and then to Glasgow. After a short stop we proceeded to Gurock, which adjoins Greenock and there embarked on 鈥淒uchess of Hamilton鈥�

Later: The 鈥淒uchess of Hamilton鈥� turned out to be merely the tender that took us out to the troopship 鈥楶asteur鈥�. The 鈥楶asteur鈥� is a former French crack liner that was taken over by Britain after the capitulation of the French. The French attempted to scuttle this ship and Lord Haw Haw has three times claimed to have sunk her.

We understand that our port of disembarkation is to be Halifax, Nova Scotia. As this is a fast ship and as far as I know will travel out of convoy after going as far as Northern Ireland, it should only take about 6 days, so we have been told anyway. The troops, army, navy and airforce have very crowded quarters, there being over 4,100 on board. In spite of this, the officers have quite
spacious accommodation with a large elaborate messing room. We have to eat, sleep, and live in the same cramped quarters right in the bow of the boat.

Saturday Nov.22nd, 鈥�41
On board The Pasteur

The weather today is dull and stormy with a strong wind blowing. At four o鈥檆lock this afternoon we cast off and proceed a mile or so down stream, passing through a large collection of shipping. The masts and three funnels of a French warship are just showing above water. I hear she caught fire, blew up and sank about a year ago, with a large number of casualties.

We are at present anchored just off the mouth of the Clyde and will probably sail sometime during the night.

During last night there was quite a long air-raid warning, the all-clear went after it was light this morning. The noise of heavy gunfire could be heard during the night.

Sunday November 23, 1941

About 10 pm last night the 鈥楶asteur鈥� moved from her anchorage and proceeded slowly to sea. At daybreak she was only just moving along and the Scottish coast was still in sight. At about 9am we met two other boats and a destroyer and proceeded on our way at about 12 or 15 knots. There was quite a swell running and quite a few were being seasick. Early in the morning we passed three ships and a while later fourteen ships in a convoy heading for Scotland. This afternoon we passed another convoy of about thirty vessels also going in that direction.

During most of the day various types of aircraft flew around us, all British, thank goodness. About dinner-time the wind started really blowing and by tea-time we were in a fully fledged gale, with quite a sea running.

We were not allowed on deck where the gusts were enough to blow one overboard. At tea-time another destroyer joined us. It looked like one of those we get from America. Our ship pitches and rolls too much for my liking, but these destroyers are standing on their tails one moment and sticking their noses under the next. A lot of fellows have been sick today. I have not been sick 鈥� yet 鈥� although at times I have felt far from good. At the moment the ship is rolling like hell鈥�.. It鈥檚 funny I should have written that because almost before I finished the word 鈥榟ell鈥�, I had to jump up and run for it, so now I鈥檝e been seasick.
I don鈥檛 feel like writing much more tonight.

At 10pm we put our clocks and watches back 1 hour.

Monday, Nov. 24th 1941

Nothing much to write about today. Just sea, sea and still more sea. The other two boats and the destroyer are still with us. The sea is still rough so there have not been many people eating their meals. I watched the other boats and often all that could be seen was the masts and tops of the funnels of the destroyers. At about 3am this morning everybody was awakened by the ship vibrating like a jelly, just as if we had struck something. Many jumped from their beds. Apparently it was just an extra large wave. The 鈥楶asteur鈥� is of over 30,000 tons yet that wave shook her like a rattle. Saw some seagulls flying near the ship this afternoon. They must be hard up for a job coming all this way out. This afternoon I saw a water spout reaching from the clouds to the sea, not very far from the boat. The weather has been stormy, with heavy rain quite a lot of the time.
We have not seen any other boats beside our little convoy, to-day.

This evening I was caught for fatigues and spent an hour or so down in the cookhouse 鈥� maybe I should call it galley. But it got so hot I got fed up and walked out on them. I didn鈥檛 join the raff to cut up parsnips in the middle of the Atlantic.

Have seen no planes today. Yesterday morning our destroyer suddenly broke away from us and went chasing around. Some of the crew said there was a U-boat hanging around. We put the clock back another hour at 10.00pm. tonight.

Went to the ship鈥檚 cinema show this afternoon.

Tuesday, Nov 25th 1941

Not a lot to write about today except the weather and the sea, both of which are much rougher. The 鈥楶asteur鈥� has been rolling and pitching a lot all day, oftentimes digging her bows under the waves. This afternoon water smashed through some doors and flooded the promenade deck so no-one will be able to sleep there tonight. Some of the lower decks and have been, and still are, flooded and many of the troops are this evening baling it out, but it is still coming in, where from I don鈥檛 know. The evening cinema show has been cancelled.

I鈥檝e seen some huge waves today, makes the ship seem quite small. The two other ships and the destroyer are still with us and pitching so much that at times their screws leave the water. Although its rougher than ever today I鈥檝e felt very fit and am eating well. I slept well last night. We have not seen any ships or aircraft today. I did see one seagull this morning flying around although it was blowing a full gale at the time. At times the sea shakes this ship like a leaf. Tonight we had to put the clocks back an hour.

Wednesday, Nov. 26th 1941

Today has been almost uneventful. Sometime during last night the other two boats left us. The destroyer is still ploughing on ahead of us. The weather early this morning had improved somewhat and the sea was slightly calmer. After an hour or so we ran into some hail storms and a very strong head wind with the sea almost as rough as yesterday. Early this morning I saw a ship on the horizon heading towards England. Our destroyer left us for a short while and went to have a look at her, soon returning apparently satisfied. Quite a few birds were flying around the ship today, stormy petrels I believe 鈥�

This afternoon went to the cinema show and saw the film 鈥楥onvoy鈥� 鈥� as if there was not enough sea outside.

Boy! This ship rolls like hell.

Thursday Nov. 27 鈥�41

Last night the sea was very rough and I woke in the night to find the ship jolting and shaking so much I thought she must be falling apart. When I awoke this morning the ship was still in one piece and the weather much improved with the sea a lot less rough.

For days now we have only been crawling along, but at 9 am this morning the speed suddenly went up to about 17 knots and this evening I should say she is going over 20 knots, in spite of a head wind of gale force. The 鈥楶asteur鈥� is said to be capable of 28 knots, making her about the fastest trooper in use.

This evening we saw a light someway away on the port bow. I suppose it was another boat. Anyway our destroyer went over to have a look. Our destroyer, the H37, is still ploughing on just ahead of us 鈥� they鈥檙e tough little boats, almost as much submarine as boat in the seas we have been through. The fellows on them sure earn their money.

There is a very mixed crowd on this boat 鈥� some women and their children, RAF aircrew and ground crew, Atlantic bomber ferry pilots on their way to America to pick up more olanes to fly to England, marines and sailors on their way to Seattle to join the Norwegians going to Canada, and a lot of slightly wounded and medically unfit Canadians returning to Canada.

This evening a lot of us, raff, sailors, Canadians, and anyone else around had a good sing song with the aid of an accordion, a couple of banjos and an empty tin banged with a couple of sticks. The old boy, a Canadian, who started it has now invited a score or so of the revellers up to his quarters 鈥� which also happen to be my quarters, and here, when I want to go to bed, they鈥檙e still 鈥楻olling out the Barrel鈥�.

Friday, Nov. 28th 1941.

Not much to write about today. The sea about the same as yesterday, maybe a bit rougher. The wind鈥檚 still blowing a gale, and it is getting much colder tonight. There鈥檚 some ice out on the deck.

This afternoon I noticed quite a flock of seagulls were flying around the ship. The destroyer is still escorting us. We have seen no sign of any other shipping. Tonight we have been on this boat for just a week. The clock has to be put back another hour.

Saturday, Nov. 29th 鈥�41

Today is much colder. We had some snow last night and it remained in the deck most of the day, during which time we passed through several small snowstorms. The sea was moderate again today and the destroyer is still with us.

This afternoon I went out onto the forward deck, the first time since the rough weather. The sea has smashed one of the stairways up to the bridge and broken away two paravanes that were lashed to the deck. One of them had struck a metal upright and was twisted around it as if it were made of putty. No wonder, the sea gave this ship such a shaking.
Altogether an uneventful day.

Sunday, Nov. 30th 鈥�41

The weather is somewhat warmer today although there was some snow on deck this morning. The sea is almost smooth and there is little wind.

This morning I went to a service in the lounge and this evening went to the ship鈥檚 concert in the first class dining room. It was quite good. Howard Marshall and Prof. Julian Huxley were there. This evening I met a raff corporal I know by sight. He lives in St Michael鈥檚 Avenue, Yeovil and is now on his way to some place in Canada.

I should think it is nearly time we saw some land 鈥� we鈥檝e not seen any for over a week now.

Monday Dec. 1st 1941

This morning work to find the weather bitterly cold, with a strong wind and roughish sea. The decks are covered in ice and we often pass through snow storms.

This evening though the sea is as smooth as a millpond and although we are now moving faster than we have before, the ship is as steady as if she were in harbour. We are due to dock at Halifax, Nova Scotia at 12 am tomorrow. Outside it is freezing cold.

Tuesday, Dec 2nd 鈥�41

6.30 am I have just pulled on some clothes and have been out on the deck to see the lights of Halifax.
So it won鈥檛 be long now.

-------------------------- 飦� --------------------------

Tuesday 1 February 1944

So, since the last entry 24 months have passed, all spent at Debert, Nova Scotia, a good enough camp but somewhat in the wilds, a fac6t that has been exaggerated by the inadequate transport to and from the town. Tomorrow I shall be leaving here for Moncton en route for home, so at long last the proverbial boat is on the way. Almost missed it today though when trying to assist in pushing a snow plough out of a bit of a ditch in which it was stuck. It moved alright, but in the wrong direction, knocking me down so that I landed up between the wheels. Another foot or so and I should have been a goner.

Must finish packing now in preparation for tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, 2nd February 鈥�44

This morning we all paraded at 8.00 and at 9.00 were loaded into three trucks that were to take us to Debert Station, only about three-quarters of a mile up the road. The trucks were packed, overloaded in fact, and the one in which I travelled headed the 鈥榗onvoy鈥�. It felt top heavy and when proceeding up the road at a goodish speed we swerved to pass a bowser and turned over, everyone being turned out onto the deep snow which luckily saved many from injury. The second truck managed to pull up without running into us but the third truck in pulling up, swerved and also turned over.
鈥︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌︹赌�..

Friday, March 2nd, 鈥�44
Well, a month has passed since the last entry 鈥� that鈥檚 much longer than I had expected to be here, but it鈥檚 not been too bad. In fact it has included a week鈥檚 leave in Montreal. I spent one day in Quebec City.

Thee weather is bright and sunny but very cold. This morning the wind was making my eyes water and it was freezing in quite large lumps on my eyelashes.

We are at last almost ready to leave here 鈥� it will only be the matter of a couple of days now. I only hope the boat is a big one 鈥� can鈥檛 be too big for me.

Added later: We embarked on Royal Mail troopship Andes on 5 March. It was a smooth crossing until the Irish Sea, where storms prevented us from docking for two days. We disembarked in Liverpool on March, 15 1944.

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