大象传媒

This article, presented here in 8 chapters plus an introduction, is the naval autobiography of Alec Kellaway. Alec served in the Royal Navy from January 1936 to November 1947. His story shows what life was like training for the Navy immediately before the war as well as service in a wide variety of ships during the conflict. The book was written by Alec himself and has previously been published on the HMS Hood Association web site (www.hmshood.com) and in the HMS Cossack Association newsletters.

I was There! Where? Chapter 8b - H.M.S. Concord

Concord鈥檚 next port of call was Sasebo a Japanese naval base now being used by the Americans as a destroyer base; the ship did very little sea time as we were under American control we just lay at anchor.

Leave was given to off duty personnel for a few hours per day, there was very little to do or see ashore but we could use the American P /X 鈥擯ost Exchange- the equivalent of our NAAFI. This however was a problem that only P/X money could be used, we were paid in Japanese Yen. A solution to this problem was soon found as the American sailors were only paid in P/X money, an exchange of monies was arranged between the service men British and American this then gave us currency to use in the P/X.

After a while Concord in company with two American destroyers sailed for Yokahama doing on route war exercises, our C O was second senior officer and that put the ship when sailing third in line on a follow the leader style. This proved a very good position to be in for had we been in the middle there was a possibility we could have been rammed. It happened just after 4 am while I was on watch in the only boiler room in use the ship was steaming at economical speed using one boiler, suddenly pressure was lost on the fuel pump which in turn reduced the supply of oil to the sprayers, steam pressure dropped and the ship speed was reduced if there had been a ship following us there may have been a collision.

On changing over to the stand by fuel tanks I regained fuel pressure and in a matter of minutes steam pressure was normal and speed to the ship regained a very near disaster averted.

An investigation to the incident could not find the reason for the loss of fuel pressure though I did find a solution on doing my own investigation, that at the time the fuel supply to the pump failed the engine room were shutting down the evaporator and the fuel supply valve 鈥攚hich could be operated in either the engine room or boiler room 鈥攚as shut by mistake, to me, there was no other answer. The real dismay to the situation was that the C O issued an order that when at sea both boilers would be used, this then meant that more watch keepers would be required whereas only half the watch were wanted before.

We arrived in Yokahama staying about three days limited leave being given to off duty men. Jacko and myself hoped to take advantage of this leave to visit Tokyo but found to our misfortune that the time would not be sufficient to do the round trip we then decided to have a stroll around Yokahama. The docks were only a short walking distance from the town there did not appear to be any war damage.

As Jacko and I walked into the shopping area we passed a large building something about the size of a large department store this was clearly marked P/X now this was a chance for us to use our P/X dollars. We went to the front door of this establishment to enter and were met my a very large American marine who placing his rifle with fixed bayonet across our chests said no admittance Limies this left us with no option but to keep walking. Further along the street we found an American Servicemen's canteen just right for a few beers we thought, going to the bar we purchased two cans of beer sat down at the table to enjoy these when an American naval patrol man came up and said drink your beer and leave we had no option but to go.

Thinking that this was unreasonable we wandered away meeting some of our fellow crew members who stated that if we hailed a taxi we could get to a NAFFI canteen down near the docks. Jacko and I found a taxi to take us to the canteen at pretty low cost and behold on entering found that over half of the personnel were Americans proving that British seamen were more sociable than our war time allies.

A few days later Concord sailed for Shanghi in Nationalist China where we stayed for a few days. It was surprising that all night leave was given to the non-duty watch. One evening quite a few of us senior rates went ashore to have a look around Shanghi but as it was getting late we spent our time looking round the massive shopping centre later in the evening visiting a night club.
At this time inflation was running very high a newspaper costing hundreds of Chinese dollars and a meal many thousands we were lucky in that our Sterling attracted a very high rate of exchange this gave us a reasonable evening at low cost. It was noticed that in a jewellers that a Rolex Oyster wristwatch cost over 4 million Chinese dollars slightly beyond our pockets.

There was NAAFI canteen were about twenty of us visited having a few beers and a singsong, later in the evening we split up several returning to the ship and the rest going on to a night club. The entertainment was very good the Chinese singers gave a night of modern songs in perfect English, It then occurred to Jacko and I that we had made no arrangements for sleeping, the last liberty would have gone the next boat being in the morning after talking to a waiter he said that any rickshaw boy could arrange somewhere to sleep we then left the club to try our luck. Outside the club were many rickshaw boys one who we approached spoke very good English he took us to a very clean house where we had a twin bedroom, a cup of tea in the morning and the rickshaw boy took us to the jetty in time to get the liberty boat a very good service.

One afternoon before we sailed an entertainment party of Chinese jugglers came on board and put on excellent show one act was out standing, it was a young girl who balanced spinning plates on bamboo rods this was made more difficult by the movement of the ship as she moved side to side in the wash of passing ships, it was appreciated by a very large number of the ships company.

It was not long before we sailed for Hong Kong and on arrival fuelled ship before going to anchor I was supervising the fuel intake to the starboard tanks when a messenger said would I report to the administrative officer right away, wondering what was in store I arranged to be relieved from my fuelling duties and reported to the officer. I was told get my gear together as I would be transferred to H M S Cockade which would be sailing in the morning for England and I would be required to steam her home.

It was necessary for me to see the C O before I left as there was a matter of a missing boiler cleaning motor to be investigated, I hoped this matter would be solved as the motor was my responsibility as I was the store keeper. Our Engineer and myself went to the C O鈥檚 cabin and after a long discussion it was agreed that the fault was mine, 鈥攏ow this could be a costly mistake, it being that if one lost equipment one had to pay for its replacement -, however the C O said that though there were two motors supplied by the ship builders the manifest quoted only one by Admiralty instructions this then left me in the clear, what a relief.

The C O then wished me good luck on my return to England where I was about to complete my twelve-year engagement. I left Concord for Cockade after lunch she sailing for Singapore the next morning. The journey was uneventful we arrived took on stores and fuel then proceeded to Aden.

The journey to Aden was quite normal until the night before our due arrival I was called for the 4am watch only to find that the ship had increased speed some thing not normal as all navy ships sailed at economical speed to running costs. I was informed that there was rioting in Aden and we were going to assist the military authorities and act as guard ship.

Cockade arrived in Aden about twelve hours ahead of schedule our C O reporting to the military for consultation and briefing on the situation. It was decided that we would remain until as such time we were relieved providing if necessary patrols.

The main trouble was around Quater but Aden was under nightly curfew, to help in enforcing this curfew Cockade supplied patrols. The stay in Aden lasted about three weeks we supplying nightly patrols the only members of the crew allowed ashore. We just spent those weeks at our moorings no leave was given.

Eventually we were relieved and proceeded through Suez Canal briefly calling at Port Said then on to Malta staying a few days with night leave being given to the non duty watches after fuelling we sailed for Gibraltar just taking on fuel and stores.

Our C O announced over the tannoy that the Admiralty had decided to increase all annual leave to navy personnel and we would be getting this extra leave and he added that might compensate us for our stay in Aden, stating that if we had arrived in England on time we would have in all probability had our leave before the starting date of the new entitlement.

Cockade left Gibraltar steaming at economical speed reaching Plymouth her navy base early on Boxing day 1947 berthing alongside H M S Vanguard the navies latest battleship. It was not long before H M customs boarded the ship and after them leaving it was announced that all ratings in transit would leave about noon to be returned to their respective depots. We then got our gear together and awaited transport to the rail station.

While the customs had been aboard and we had collected our gear the supply staff with the canteen manger had presented the mess bills, it was then left for each mess member to pay his share this was no problem I being the senior PO had to collect the monies, it then dawned on me that no body had checked no seniority if they had done I would not have been watch keeping, anyhow, it was all behind me now.

Transport arrived and we were taken to the rail station to find that a reduced service was being operated, it being a bank holiday it left us quite along time waiting for a train to Portsmouth when one did arrive the journey took ages as rail repair was being done us travellers arriving in Portsmouth early evening.

I entered barracks reported to admin who sent me to the P O鈥檚 mess telling me to report to my divisional office in the morning. Having the rest of the evening free I decided to go home until the morning living at Eastleigh made this possible. I arrived at Eastleigh and enquired about trains to Portsmouth in the morning only to find that a reduced service was in operation, this meant that I had only about an hour to go home before I had to leave catching the only train to get me back on time. I got indoors getting the wife out of bed had a quick chat a cup of tea and away again.

On entering barracks I went to the mess and because my gear had been locked away I had no sleeping gear I then went to the lounge trying to sleep in one of the chairs until morning.

At about 8am I retrieved my kit did my ablutions had breakfast then reported to my divisional office who gave me documents to get me on leave which would take me into April as I had so much leave entitlement.
The next step was to go to the emergency pay point to collect wages and subsistence allowance, people getting an emergency payment presented their documents at the pay point their names with entitlement were entered on a list when this list was full the pay officer would make payments, but as the list had to be filled I asked the P O writer if things could be hurried up. I explained to him that two persons were travelling north and with the limited rail service in operation they might not get home to day. I finally talked him into seeing the pay officer who on hearing that were difficulties with trains immediately paid all who waited.

I went home and after my extended leave reported back to barracks to be demobilised.
This was a very quick exit returning of naval equipment a quick drop trousers cough in front of the medical officer go to the regulating office for my discharge papers and I was a civilian once more.

At the regulating office I met the divisional officer who was my chief on the Hood and the inspecting officer for Concord who now tried to get me to re-enlist for a further 10 years saying that my chief鈥檚 rate was through it would be silly not to re -engage but my mind was made up, I went to the demob centre and left the Royal Navy, end of my story.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.