Embarkation
It was October 1941
when the Battalion moved from Lichfield to Liverpool by train, where we boarded
the S.S.Orcades. We were part of the 18th Division, about to do our bit
for the war effort. Escorted out to sea by warships, our convoy zigzagged our
way across the Atlantic in mountainous seas. After several days out we were met
by American warships, including an aircraft carrier. Our small escort, by
comparison to our American one, left us, as we continued in icy Arctic seas for
a few more days. We docked in Halifax (Canada) and changed ships. This ship was
the luxurious American ship U.S.S. West Point, which we were told was built
to gain the Blue Ribbon. It was formerly named U.S.S. America.
We sailed south,
passing the time keeping fit, playing bingo, or watching films. Soon we put
into Trinidad for two days. Continuing south in glorious sunshine we approached
the Equator. A ducking chair was fixed at the edge of the swimming pool on top
deck. Sailors dressed up as King Neptune and his courtiers, who rounded up
officers, or men, to celebrate crossing the line. As we crossed the line,
victims were tried and ducked in the pool; hosepipes were used on everyone
within range. It was a spectacular, unforgettable experience for which we were
given a certificate; this certificate remains a most treasured possession.
Continuing to sail
south our next port of call was Cape Town. It was announced that we could have
shore leave, to our great delight: half of the ship's company one day and half
the next. Dressed in tropical kit (shorts and shirt with topee) we were met by
the local people, who invited twos or threes out with them. I, with a few
others, was taken by car for a tour of their lovely town. One public building
we were taken to gave me the surprise of my life; I had never seen anything
quite like it. While it was brilliant sunshine outside, we entered inside, and
looked up to the quite high ceiling. It looked as if the day had suddenly
changed to night. The starry night effect ceiling was so real; it looked as if
there was no roof to the building. We were then taken back to the family home,
situated close to, and with a view of Table Mountain. It was a lovely house,
with a garden and fruit trees that were laden with peaches, bananas and
oranges. The people were so hospitable. We were taken back to the ship,
expressing our gratitude. The next day we stayed on board while the other half
had shore leave. Then the following day it all happened again. A ladies
marching band came past, playing especially for us. The next day we set sail
again, around the Cape northwards.
Christmas Day was
spent at sea, with all the trimmings, but thoughts turned first to home, then
to our uncertain future. We were going to war; we knew that, but where? The
convoy sailed on, life aboard was relaxed, away from the threat of U-Boats. I
had the almost daily job of taking the platoon, and anyone who cared to join
in, on physical training.
As the huge ship
sailed northwards in the Indian Ocean, the weather was beautiful and sunny
every day. On deck, looking out to sea, it was interesting to see the acrobatic
dolphins following us for long periods. Now and again we saw flying fish
leaping and flying above the water. They seemed to be putting on a display for
our benefit as a thank you for dumping our waste food overboard. The American
cooks fed us very well but they threw away food in waste. We were told that if
food had been brought up from the hold to be prepared and it wasn’t on the menu
that day, it was dumped.
We now expected to
make coast on the North-East coast of Africa to reinforce the Middle-East
troops. But, as the days went by, that rumour faded. At last we came into land,
to discover the port of call was Bombay, India. So we had crossed the Equator a
second time, but without another ceremony. It was now eleven weeks, at least,
since we had left Liverpool.
Then to our delight
we began to disembark. We were marched to the railway station. The poverty and
squalor was astonishing, after the luxury of Cape Town. The 18th Division, of
which we were a part, called at other ports on the East African coast. Our
Battalion moved by train to Ahmednager, some distance inland from Bombay. We
arrived to find a large camp with numerous huts, all well spaced out. Our hut
was forty to fifty yards away from the cookhouse, and as we were to discover,
it was a dangerous walk. We collected our meals in our mess tins, gingerly
holding the contents out before us, but before getting too far, one of many
kite hawks swooped down from behind. With such a swift, graceful glide just
missing the topee (head cover) they would snatch the choicest part of your
meal. It was no good going back for more. Luckily, we could buy cakes and other
snacks from the Indian camp vendors. The tea sold by them was, I think, the
nicest mug of tea I've ever tasted.
The serious
business of training hard continued here for another two weeks and then we were
told we were going to move again. It had been hard thirsty work, to train in
extremely hot sunshine, and, with the daily attacks from the Kite Hawks, we
were glad to know that we were leaving. Our mystery move took us back to Bombay
where we found that we were boarding the same ship again. Soon we were sailing
away from Bombay, due south, linking up with the rest of the convoy. When we
had changed course in an easterly direction, after several days afloat, our
destination was revealed. We were given lectures on the formidable defences of
Singapore, and the inefficiency of the Japanese forces. On the twenty-eighth of
January 1942 we saw land, and with it a Japanese spotter plane, later to be
followed by a squadron of fighting planes which began to attack the convoy. As
we took cover below decks the ship picked up speed and vibrated as if it had
run aground. We had survived the attack, but other ships were not so fortunate.
The speed, for which the ship was built, had helped us to reach Singapore ahead
of all the convoy.