As soon as we arrived in Montréal
View Larger Map we set to clean the holds ready to load grain. Our number three hold had been used to carry several hundred tons of coal and this had been partly used on the way over so our main task now was to clear what remained and clean the hold thoroughly.
As soon as we arrived I had managed to send a letter to my uncle to tell him that we were in Montreal and to my surprise that same afternoon the mate called me out of the hatch and I found him talking to uncle Douglas. He asked the mate if it would be possible for me to come to his office when I finished work and that was arranged. I was really excited at the prospect of all sorts of very basic things such as getting a bath, some good food, and just being in a home again, so that when I knocked off I simply got ready as quickly as possible in case the mate changed his mind. I had not had a haircut since I had left home 5 months or so before and I got someone to cut off enough around my ears so that they showed. I was very long and full of coal dust, but I was so anxious to get going that I had a quick wash- face, ears, and down to the neck- then hands and a few inches of the arm, so that without close inspection on one could see the grime elsewhere.
My uncle's office was situated on Bleury St and was very large. At the time I was not aware that he had an important government position in charge of chemical and pharmaceutical supplies. As soon as I entered his office he said that he had been talking with friends who had told him that the first thing a sailor wanted when he came ashore was a haircut and a bath. Unfortunately he had these in the wrong order because \ we left his office and went straight to a barber shop. As soon as the barber ruffled my hair a cloud of dust arose and the barber, quite unruffled as though this sort of thing happened every day in Montreal's city centre, suggested to my uncle that perhaps a shampoo would be in order. Three shampoos later the barber was ready to proceed with the cutting, while his formerly spotless tiled bench and basin looked as if a mud fight had taken place there.
Once that was over I was taken to my uncles lovely home at 4057 Dorchester St. Even that number was an experience as I am sure that in England we never had house numbers in the thousands, well not in Dorking for sure. I was given a wonderful meal and huge hot bath, and went to bed in a real warm, soft and comfortable bed for the first time since I had left home. I was very lucky as it must have been a weekend and I was allowed off and was taken to the Lorimer family home at Lac Marois, quite a long way west of the city and spent a couple of wonderful days there.
Somehow I had enough money to buy a food parcel at Eatons, a huge store, which I posted home and my uncle and aunt put together another food parcel which I took home with me.
Once the grain was loaded the ship took on several boxed planes which were stowed on deck, and we set out for home again making it without incident.
On this occasion we took our cargo to Ipswich and I was given leave to go home until recalled. Despite our bulk grain cargo being discharged by shovelling it into bags which were then lifted on deck and then poured into a barge alongside, the discharge took only 5 days. I was recalled but on the way back had arranged to meet my brother Geoffrey at the Greenwich college where he was undergoing some training.
When I had first joined my ship in Newcastle I had ordered a uniform and when I arrived home it was waiting for me. I decided to wear it to visit my brother and it was at this time I was mistaken for a porter at Shrewsbury station! That was the first and last time I wore a uniform during my apprenticeship.
It was a very moving experience visiting Geof and staying overnight in his quarters at the College. He took me to dinner in the Great Hall. As we entered I was amazed and frightened by the sight of three rows of tables occupied by naval officers and waited on by white coated WRNS. I pulled back and said something like "I can't go in there" and Geoff said "You've got in more sea time than most of these" and walked me right up up that long hall to a table at the end where the senior officers of the college stat and there I sat with them!
The following day I rejoined my ship and a day later we sailed back to the Tyne eventually berthing at staiths situated above the main city bridges.
It was the habit then to sign off crew as soon as a ship reached its final port leaving just the apprentices to do most of the work often helped by two or three temporary hands.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The return trip
How important these little event seemed at how little I remember of the actual passage. Suffice it to say it came to an end at last and we crawled thankfully into Newport news, desperately short of food and bunkers and were at last given a square meal of beautiful fresh American food after weeks of scraps and snacks that seemed to consist of little but bread and potatoes. I found I had a craving for fresh vegetables. After taking coal bunkers at Newport News we proceeded up the lovely Chesapeake bay to Baltimore berthing at the Lackawanna Railroad wharf. Here the balance of the slag was discharged and a full cargo of wheat loaded.
It was bitterly cold and I realized how ill equipped I was. Someone gave me a thick shirt but I was really unable To work out of doors. After three years of war it was quite extraordinary to be in the State's where there seemed to be no shortage of anything, especially luxuries like sweets and cigarettes. Mind you we had no money. I think the captain gave us five dollars each and we went to a strip tease, which was interspersed with ancient films and seem to go on for ever. It was a pretty grim bunch of bored women who from time to time paraded across the stage and took off their clothes. The first couple of times it was quite exciting but after that it just became boring as it was obvious that the women were more bored than I was.
The other apprentice, named Leithhead, had been at sea for a year or two and I was relying on his experience to help me find out how to survive in a foreign country. When we had first come ashore and were looking for a way to get in to town Leithead told me that Americans were very generous and all we had to do was thumb a lift. So we found a road and started thumbing. To my surprise the first car that appeared stopped and it was only then that we discovered it was a taxi! Anyway Leithhead seemed to be very taken with the strippers and as people left moved closer to the stage so that I lost touch with him and in the end it was three hours before he eventually left. I sent my mother a cable to let her know I was safe and it would also have shown her that I was in the USA.
We were in Baltimore about a week and left to make our way to Halifax to join a convoy back to the UK with a full cargo of grain which we had loaded.
It was about the end of February 1942 and the weather was bitterly cold as it had been since our arrival. We anchored in a bay from which a canal ran, joining the Chesapeake with the Delaware river which avoided us having to negotiate a section of the coast, which I've since learned was being targeted by U-boats.
View Larger MapThere was ice on the water when we anchored and, during my watch, I was required to run the windlass every 30 minutes to avoid any risk of the steam lines freezing up. In the morning the ship was surrounded with ice and it took some time to break free. Along with some other ships we met we made our way to Halifax Nova Scotia. Halifax was an assembly point for a Atlantic convoys and, while there was only a narrow entrance, this lead to an extensive and deep fjord providing plenty of room and shelter to assemble a convoy and it's escorts, even including battleships. I was aware my brother Geoffrey had been there on the Royal sovereign on which he was an engineer officer, and had contacted our uncle Douglas, who lived in Montréal and had driven down to see him. So as soon as we arrived I wrote to this uncle and expected a fairly prompt response but inevitably there was none and after a day or two we sailed for home.
Once again we enjoyed a trouble free passage although the weather throughout that winter continue to be appalling. With hindsight I can scarcely believe how lucky I was. Records of the battle of the Atlantic clearly show that very few convoys made a crossing in either direction unscathed particularly during 1942 and 1943.
We took the car go to Millwall docks in London, which was still undergoing nightly bombing, but once again the ship was unscathed. As soon as we had completed discharge the ship headed to the Tyne to take on bug has and ballast and within a day or two was on it's way to loch ewe again. This was an interesting passage because on the run up from London most of the ships had been flying barrage balloons, a weird sight.
This trip we were heading for Sydney [ Cape Breton ] to load coal for Montréal where we to discharge and then load grain. This was pretty good news as shortly before we sailed from the UK I received a letter from my uncle Douglas pointing out that Montréal was too far from Halifax for him to have made that journey but enclosing a 5 pound note! So my letterhead not been in vain and I would get to meet the man on this trip. During the passage from the UK the visit to Sydney was canceled and we went directly to Montréal.
It was bitterly cold and I realized how ill equipped I was. Someone gave me a thick shirt but I was really unable To work out of doors. After three years of war it was quite extraordinary to be in the State's where there seemed to be no shortage of anything, especially luxuries like sweets and cigarettes. Mind you we had no money. I think the captain gave us five dollars each and we went to a strip tease, which was interspersed with ancient films and seem to go on for ever. It was a pretty grim bunch of bored women who from time to time paraded across the stage and took off their clothes. The first couple of times it was quite exciting but after that it just became boring as it was obvious that the women were more bored than I was.
The other apprentice, named Leithhead, had been at sea for a year or two and I was relying on his experience to help me find out how to survive in a foreign country. When we had first come ashore and were looking for a way to get in to town Leithead told me that Americans were very generous and all we had to do was thumb a lift. So we found a road and started thumbing. To my surprise the first car that appeared stopped and it was only then that we discovered it was a taxi! Anyway Leithhead seemed to be very taken with the strippers and as people left moved closer to the stage so that I lost touch with him and in the end it was three hours before he eventually left. I sent my mother a cable to let her know I was safe and it would also have shown her that I was in the USA.
We were in Baltimore about a week and left to make our way to Halifax to join a convoy back to the UK with a full cargo of grain which we had loaded.
It was about the end of February 1942 and the weather was bitterly cold as it had been since our arrival. We anchored in a bay from which a canal ran, joining the Chesapeake with the Delaware river which avoided us having to negotiate a section of the coast, which I've since learned was being targeted by U-boats.
View Larger MapThere was ice on the water when we anchored and, during my watch, I was required to run the windlass every 30 minutes to avoid any risk of the steam lines freezing up. In the morning the ship was surrounded with ice and it took some time to break free. Along with some other ships we met we made our way to Halifax Nova Scotia. Halifax was an assembly point for a Atlantic convoys and, while there was only a narrow entrance, this lead to an extensive and deep fjord providing plenty of room and shelter to assemble a convoy and it's escorts, even including battleships. I was aware my brother Geoffrey had been there on the Royal sovereign on which he was an engineer officer, and had contacted our uncle Douglas, who lived in Montréal and had driven down to see him. So as soon as we arrived I wrote to this uncle and expected a fairly prompt response but inevitably there was none and after a day or two we sailed for home.
Once again we enjoyed a trouble free passage although the weather throughout that winter continue to be appalling. With hindsight I can scarcely believe how lucky I was. Records of the battle of the Atlantic clearly show that very few convoys made a crossing in either direction unscathed particularly during 1942 and 1943.
We took the car go to Millwall docks in London, which was still undergoing nightly bombing, but once again the ship was unscathed. As soon as we had completed discharge the ship headed to the Tyne to take on bug has and ballast and within a day or two was on it's way to loch ewe again. This was an interesting passage because on the run up from London most of the ships had been flying barrage balloons, a weird sight.
This trip we were heading for Sydney [ Cape Breton ] to load coal for Montréal where we to discharge and then load grain. This was pretty good news as shortly before we sailed from the UK I received a letter from my uncle Douglas pointing out that Montréal was too far from Halifax for him to have made that journey but enclosing a 5 pound note! So my letterhead not been in vain and I would get to meet the man on this trip. During the passage from the UK the visit to Sydney was canceled and we went directly to Montréal.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The first voyage
At 8 AM the mate sent for me and told me to get down number two hatch and start cleaning the bilges. The bilges are spaces where the hull curves to form the bottom of the ship and their purpose is to collect the condensation or other water that gets into the hold and from where it can be pumped out. This ship had recently unloaded a cargo of grain and grain finds its way everywhere including into the bilges. Once there and moistened with the condensation it ferments and sprouts. Mucky to handle and no other way to do it but to get into the bilge and dig it out. I was not going to give in and I struggled on with only a break for food at midday. I was absolutely unprepared in the way of clothes for such work and, late in the afternoon, was glad to be able to get up to the town and buy some rubber boots and a couple of suits of dungarees. I also went to the shipping office where I was added to the ships articles and issued with an Minnesota identity card which carried my photograph and fingerprints. I began to feel part of the life I had chosen.
The following day the ship left the dry dock and tied up at a set of buoys with two other ships to await our turn for a bunkering berth and also To raise steam. During the shift I began to realize what a lot there was to be learned about practical work such as handling ropes and wires, which looks so easy when you see an experienced person doing it. During the next few days I obtained intimate knowledge of the ships bilges and the remains of what seemed like every cargo that the ship had ever carried. I learned the difficult art of cleaning oneself in a bucket of tepid water and I also learned that an unmade bed soon reaches a degree of comfort never attained by one that is carefully tended and that the more tied the occupant the more comfortable the bed. Nobody appeared to be the least concerned about my appearance and although my meager wardrobe soon became pretty grubby and least I was warm. And I was pretty happy. I found the men I was working with and not in the least judgmental, always ready to help or teach and I learned quickly. Amongst other jobs the apprentices were expected to scull the jollyboat back and forth between the ship and the jetty 100 feet away or so to fetch and carry crew members. Luckily I had had some experience sculling and managed quite well. What I did not learn quickly enough was that when one has only one bucket of water a day for all needs one must never get behindhand with cleanliness because it is almost impossible to catch up.
After a couple of days the ship shifted under some staiths and took on several hundred tons of coal bunkers, and mine rubble as ballast in number two hatch with a substantial quantity on the hatch itself. In January 1942, quite late at night, we sailed and I stood around feeling utterly useless as the life boats was swung out and the ship tidied up, all in pitch darkness.
During the night we joined a northbound convoy off the Tyne and morning found us plodding steadily along in the middle of a column of ships that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see both ahead and astern. It was a most impressive and exciting sight and one which never failed to stir me. We made our way through the Pentland Firth, around Cape Wrath,
View Larger Mapwhat a marvelous name, and down to Loch Ewe,
View Larger Map the gathering point for Atlantic convoys and laid there for a few days as ships and escorts gathered. Unfortunately relations between me and the mate, Mr. glass, were not good. With hindsight I wonder if it was the way I spoke that irritated him, but whatever we did not get on well. Each morning at 730 it was the job of the standby man to unlock the fresh water pump and allow each member of the crew to pump a bucket of water. That was the man's ration for the day. While we were in loch ewe this job was given to me and I managed to lose the key. Mr. glass was furious and the fact that I later found it did nothing to alter his opinion that I was probably a thoroughly spoilt young man.
By now we were on watches four on and four off. I found it terribly tough and was constantly tired. The food was grim and before we sailed our fresh meat was exhausted. None too soon it was stored in an ancient ice box, steadily deteriorating. Following that we were fed on some ancient salt pork and beef that had been stored in wooden casks from which much of the brine had escaped. The result was that great lumps of meat had gone bright purple and were the consistency of string. Still we seem to survive and occasionally were able to pinch something extra from the galley. It was very difficult eating in our cabin as we had no table and had to stand at the chest of drawers and try to eat while hanging on to the plate and trying to keep our footing at the same time.
At length we sailed, a convoy some 70 strong composed of every type of ship and, within 48 hours, had run into one of those roaring Westerly gales for which the north Atlantic in winter is notorious. We were flying light as were most of the ships but had aboard some 2000 tons of slag as ballast, of which about 500 tons was stowed on number two Hatch, just forward of the bridge. During the second night at sea the slag shifted to the port side creating a heavy port list and necessitating us heaving to. By morning the storm had reached hurricane force and the convoy was scattered far and wide. I have always believed that the rest of the ships returned to the shelter of the Hebrides but I don't really know. Suffice to say that, as there was no way the ship could be turned around in such heavy seas, and the Master had no option but to press on. We plunged on, reeling and rolling across the ocean, the propeller more out of the water than in it and the decks continually swept by heavy seas. Access to the forward crew accommodation was terribly dangerous as the slag was level with the top of the bulwarks. Whenever the weather eased enough to allow men to work on deck anyone who could be spared found themselves shoveling the slag and little by little we eased the list as the slag was dumped overboard. For 38 days we struggled westward on our own and it was only afterwards in the light of greater experience that I realized how lucky we had been to have made the crossing unharmed by either the sea or the enemy. I realize, as found as the sea at least was concerned, it was only the extraordinary ability of our captain that brought us through safely. I have sailed under the men since, who never had that power of giving reassurance to everybody, under the most unpleasant circumstances, by his complete mastery of the ship and his incredible sense and knowledge of the sea. I subsequently served under this man for nearly 4 years.
For me at least, ignorance of the real danger we were in both from the sea and the enemy saved plenty of sleepless nights and worried days, and the things that stand out in my mind are the little trials and upsets that affected me personally or my immediate surroundings, plus coming to terms with the four on four off watch keeping.
There was our complete inability to cope with the continual influx of water to our cabin, and our inability to find its source or means of entry. As the ship rolled the water swished back and forth across the deck, carrying a long abandoned fleet of shoes, socks and other odds odds and ends. The other apprentice had insisted on occupying the lullaby and but soon regretted his choice as his blankets had a habit of dangling onto the deck acting as a wick for the Walter. We were always wet. One day I carelessly emptied our bucket of what I thought of what I thought was dirty onto the after well deck only to realize to unite that it contained all our plates. The steward refused to replace them and for the rest of the trip we ate out of empty tins.
At some stage not long after leaving loch ewe I began to itch, to really itch around my crotch choose one. Close inspection revealed that I had crabs and I did not know what to do because my "friend" the mate, was in charge of the medicine longer. So I asked around. Nobody was surprised or shocked as this was a fairly common sort of happening. One of the firemen told me that one of the best ways to get rid of the crabs was to shave off the hair and wash the area with kerosene. So I did this but used some Dettol and it worked like a charm, although it was rather uncomfortable for a while. At least I had learned another valuable lesson, in this case about how to keep myself clean. I remember one night when I was on the 12 to 4 AM watch, making a Billy of the last of our ration of coffee, which gently simmered on the galley stove for most of the watch, so that by the end I had a thick and succulent brew with which to drive out the cold and damp. 4 AM came at last and I repaired to the galley to prepare two mugs of the brew laced with the last of our condensed milk and sugar, for the second mate and me. Like a fool I put the galley kettle, a huge enamel pitcher on the bench while I stirred the coffee and, as the ship rolled, I caught sight of it careering toward me over the well scrubbed Wood. With a clatter and struck the wooden batten at the end of the bench and completely overturned emptying its contents over my head and shoulders. The shock and sudden pain caused me to let go of the two mugs which shattered on the deck adding their precious contents to the water already there. When the second mate arrived a couple of minutes later I did not get any sympathy but rather a rollicking for having smashed his precious mug and wasted the coffee. It seemed a bit ungrateful to me at the time but apart from the shock there was little wrong with me and I had to admit that the second mate, like me would never get another mug. He would have to accept his nightly drink in a cup of very inferior proportions.
I also remember many weary hours in the crows nest, which could be bitterly cold.
The following day the ship left the dry dock and tied up at a set of buoys with two other ships to await our turn for a bunkering berth and also To raise steam. During the shift I began to realize what a lot there was to be learned about practical work such as handling ropes and wires, which looks so easy when you see an experienced person doing it. During the next few days I obtained intimate knowledge of the ships bilges and the remains of what seemed like every cargo that the ship had ever carried. I learned the difficult art of cleaning oneself in a bucket of tepid water and I also learned that an unmade bed soon reaches a degree of comfort never attained by one that is carefully tended and that the more tied the occupant the more comfortable the bed. Nobody appeared to be the least concerned about my appearance and although my meager wardrobe soon became pretty grubby and least I was warm. And I was pretty happy. I found the men I was working with and not in the least judgmental, always ready to help or teach and I learned quickly. Amongst other jobs the apprentices were expected to scull the jollyboat back and forth between the ship and the jetty 100 feet away or so to fetch and carry crew members. Luckily I had had some experience sculling and managed quite well. What I did not learn quickly enough was that when one has only one bucket of water a day for all needs one must never get behindhand with cleanliness because it is almost impossible to catch up.
After a couple of days the ship shifted under some staiths and took on several hundred tons of coal bunkers, and mine rubble as ballast in number two hatch with a substantial quantity on the hatch itself. In January 1942, quite late at night, we sailed and I stood around feeling utterly useless as the life boats was swung out and the ship tidied up, all in pitch darkness.
During the night we joined a northbound convoy off the Tyne and morning found us plodding steadily along in the middle of a column of ships that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see both ahead and astern. It was a most impressive and exciting sight and one which never failed to stir me. We made our way through the Pentland Firth, around Cape Wrath,
View Larger Mapwhat a marvelous name, and down to Loch Ewe,
View Larger Map the gathering point for Atlantic convoys and laid there for a few days as ships and escorts gathered. Unfortunately relations between me and the mate, Mr. glass, were not good. With hindsight I wonder if it was the way I spoke that irritated him, but whatever we did not get on well. Each morning at 730 it was the job of the standby man to unlock the fresh water pump and allow each member of the crew to pump a bucket of water. That was the man's ration for the day. While we were in loch ewe this job was given to me and I managed to lose the key. Mr. glass was furious and the fact that I later found it did nothing to alter his opinion that I was probably a thoroughly spoilt young man.
By now we were on watches four on and four off. I found it terribly tough and was constantly tired. The food was grim and before we sailed our fresh meat was exhausted. None too soon it was stored in an ancient ice box, steadily deteriorating. Following that we were fed on some ancient salt pork and beef that had been stored in wooden casks from which much of the brine had escaped. The result was that great lumps of meat had gone bright purple and were the consistency of string. Still we seem to survive and occasionally were able to pinch something extra from the galley. It was very difficult eating in our cabin as we had no table and had to stand at the chest of drawers and try to eat while hanging on to the plate and trying to keep our footing at the same time.
At length we sailed, a convoy some 70 strong composed of every type of ship and, within 48 hours, had run into one of those roaring Westerly gales for which the north Atlantic in winter is notorious. We were flying light as were most of the ships but had aboard some 2000 tons of slag as ballast, of which about 500 tons was stowed on number two Hatch, just forward of the bridge. During the second night at sea the slag shifted to the port side creating a heavy port list and necessitating us heaving to. By morning the storm had reached hurricane force and the convoy was scattered far and wide. I have always believed that the rest of the ships returned to the shelter of the Hebrides but I don't really know. Suffice to say that, as there was no way the ship could be turned around in such heavy seas, and the Master had no option but to press on. We plunged on, reeling and rolling across the ocean, the propeller more out of the water than in it and the decks continually swept by heavy seas. Access to the forward crew accommodation was terribly dangerous as the slag was level with the top of the bulwarks. Whenever the weather eased enough to allow men to work on deck anyone who could be spared found themselves shoveling the slag and little by little we eased the list as the slag was dumped overboard. For 38 days we struggled westward on our own and it was only afterwards in the light of greater experience that I realized how lucky we had been to have made the crossing unharmed by either the sea or the enemy. I realize, as found as the sea at least was concerned, it was only the extraordinary ability of our captain that brought us through safely. I have sailed under the men since, who never had that power of giving reassurance to everybody, under the most unpleasant circumstances, by his complete mastery of the ship and his incredible sense and knowledge of the sea. I subsequently served under this man for nearly 4 years.
For me at least, ignorance of the real danger we were in both from the sea and the enemy saved plenty of sleepless nights and worried days, and the things that stand out in my mind are the little trials and upsets that affected me personally or my immediate surroundings, plus coming to terms with the four on four off watch keeping.
There was our complete inability to cope with the continual influx of water to our cabin, and our inability to find its source or means of entry. As the ship rolled the water swished back and forth across the deck, carrying a long abandoned fleet of shoes, socks and other odds odds and ends. The other apprentice had insisted on occupying the lullaby and but soon regretted his choice as his blankets had a habit of dangling onto the deck acting as a wick for the Walter. We were always wet. One day I carelessly emptied our bucket of what I thought of what I thought was dirty onto the after well deck only to realize to unite that it contained all our plates. The steward refused to replace them and for the rest of the trip we ate out of empty tins.
At some stage not long after leaving loch ewe I began to itch, to really itch around my crotch choose one. Close inspection revealed that I had crabs and I did not know what to do because my "friend" the mate, was in charge of the medicine longer. So I asked around. Nobody was surprised or shocked as this was a fairly common sort of happening. One of the firemen told me that one of the best ways to get rid of the crabs was to shave off the hair and wash the area with kerosene. So I did this but used some Dettol and it worked like a charm, although it was rather uncomfortable for a while. At least I had learned another valuable lesson, in this case about how to keep myself clean. I remember one night when I was on the 12 to 4 AM watch, making a Billy of the last of our ration of coffee, which gently simmered on the galley stove for most of the watch, so that by the end I had a thick and succulent brew with which to drive out the cold and damp. 4 AM came at last and I repaired to the galley to prepare two mugs of the brew laced with the last of our condensed milk and sugar, for the second mate and me. Like a fool I put the galley kettle, a huge enamel pitcher on the bench while I stirred the coffee and, as the ship rolled, I caught sight of it careering toward me over the well scrubbed Wood. With a clatter and struck the wooden batten at the end of the bench and completely overturned emptying its contents over my head and shoulders. The shock and sudden pain caused me to let go of the two mugs which shattered on the deck adding their precious contents to the water already there. When the second mate arrived a couple of minutes later I did not get any sympathy but rather a rollicking for having smashed his precious mug and wasted the coffee. It seemed a bit ungrateful to me at the time but apart from the shock there was little wrong with me and I had to admit that the second mate, like me would never get another mug. He would have to accept his nightly drink in a cup of very inferior proportions.
I also remember many weary hours in the crows nest, which could be bitterly cold.
Friday, December 26, 2008
The ship itself
Baron Saltoon, Sister Ship to the Baron Cochrane
A valuable lesson
I left my two bags in the left luggage and took the train from Newcastle to South Shields. It is not far and I was soon decanted at high shields, which is the nearest station to middle docks, which is where my ship, the Baron Cochcrane, was supposed to be. I found my way down to the dock side which is surrounded by a high wall and although I could see some ships I could not see the one I was supposed to be joining. I was too scared to ask anyone. This was really strange country to me, cobbled streets and row upon row of little terraced houses with smoke and grime everywhere. In the afternoon I gave up and went back to Newcastle where I found a fairly rough hotel for the night. I was given a room far away in the back of the building with a broken window and a huge double bed equipped with sheets and two blankets for a single bed and snow was now falling. It seemed like heaven to me. There was a wash basin with hot running water and for the first time in two days I was able to have a wash. I soaked my feet in the warm water and after eating a few of my biscuits crashed into that ghastly bed and slept like a log until morning.
Hugely refreshed but too nervous to join strangers at breakfast I set forth determined To find this allusive ship. Back to the middle docks. This time I plucked up the courage to ask the policeman at the gate but he couldn't help so I went back to Newcastle to the agent's office. I explained that I could not find the ship that I had been sent to. This caused a great deal of hilarity is spatially when they realized that I'd been sent to the wrong docks. It should have been Brigham and Cowans at South Shields. So I collect my two suitcases and took the train to South Shields.
In the village where we were living and for that matter in my home town of Dorking, there was quite a healthy respect for other people's property, and because I didn't know any better I thought it was like this everywhere. I soon learned my lesson but once again someone was watching over me.
View Larger MapIn the middle of the marketplace in South Shields stood a building, like a summer house with no walls. Here beneath its roof there were benches occupied by venerable gentlemen of the sea, long since retired and anyone else with time on his hands. I made my way to this place and putting my suitcases under one of the benches went off to see if I could find where the ship was.
I made my way up a road. That overlooks the dry dock and there she lay, Grey and dirty and looking incredibly small out of her natural element. I looked and saw all this but incredibly felt no sense of disappointment, only one of excitement and anticipation, overlaid with the knowledge that I could no longer put off the moment when I must go aboard and make myself known.
I walked slowly back to the marketplace determined to put off the dreaded moment for as long as possible and there to my horror was space where my suitcases had been. Frantically I searched beneath all the benches but not a trace of them. But here came a lesson and relief all in one. I looked up on the verge of tears and despair to see a large policeman approaching purposefully. In my desperation I lost my timorous tongue tied self and poured into his ready ear all my troubles. What sort of suit cases where they and what was in them? And how could anyone who is not a complete imbecile be so stupid as to leave such portable property in such a public place? Drawing a key from his pocket he unlocked a nearby police telephone box and there were the two suitcases. I felt utterly ashamed of myself, grabbed my cases, mumbled my thanks, and fleed in the direction he indicated. A
it was not far to the dock gates and the nearer I approached the more my confidence receded until 100 yards from the entrance I stopped. I just couldn't seem to pluck up the courage to go any further though surely it could be no worse than the experiences of the last few days. I slowly retraced my steps not in the least desirous of facing the policeman again but at least he was a devil I knew. I was halfway across the marketplace when I saw him approaching. I stopped. "Now what the devil are you doing here again? I thought you were supposed to be joining a ship."
"I know" I replied trying to look as self assured as possible "but I decided I would like to get a cup of tea and something to eat before I went on board". I'm sure he did not believe me and knew perfectly well that I was just too scared to face going aboard so he asked to see my identity card and then explained that all the cafés were closed but he would find me somewhere to go. He lead me to a café just off the market called Duttons, banged on the door and, delivered me to the proprietor with instructions that I should be fed and given tea, to pass it departed.
I was glad off a chance to sit down, glad of that tea and sandwiches choose to, and the chance to talk to someone at last. I told the man what I was doing and have done and he listened I think understood that, although what I'd been through in the previous couple of days, although nothing much to a city boy, had been quite an ordeal to someone with my sort of background. He pointed out that there was really nothing to worry about and that probably when I at last reached the ship I would find another boy of about the same age and would soon feel quite at home.
He refused payment and I left feeling happier than I had for days and knowing that this time there could be no turning back, as the policeman prepared as he had been to help a boy who was feeling lost and scared would give a downright coward short shrift. I walked down the street to the dock entrance and looked back once and sure enough the policeman was there watching. Then he waved. I waved back, Went in the gates and up the gangway.
I was greeted by an aged watchman who directed me to my quarters. There seemed to be a lot of noise going on inside the cabin and it wasn't until I knocked a second time that I received a hearty invitation to step inside. The cabin was a complete shambles of gear strewn in all directions; cutlery, crockery, tins, foodstuffs cluttered the chest of drawers and in the midst of it all, stood a boy in his shirtsleeves joyously packing his bags and only waiting my arrival To depart on leave. He indicated a corner where I could put my suitcases and, while I leaned against the door, continued his packing, the while giving a continuous stream of talk concerning the unpleasantness Of the ship, the cook and most of all, the mate. The scarcity of food and the need to consume what there was in the cabin dominated a great deal of this. I have since found in nearly all walks of life and particularly in the case of seamen who cannot escape, the quality and quantity of grub was a major factor in considering with up a ship was a "good" one or not.
At length, when the worst of the confusion had been cleared, we seated ourselves on the bare wooden settee and over a cigarette I was catechized as to how I'd managed to land in such a company, where I came from, and much else on the same lines until eventually he advised me to seek out the steward and let him know off my presence.
The steward, when I found him, displayed a marked lack of interest in me or my welfare and directed me to report the captain, who would be found in the saloon with his officers. Once again I found myself doing something I would far rather have put off that having knocked on the door I had no choice but to enter and face whatever was going to happen.
The saloon, a cramped and uncomfortable place, contained two tables, at one of which sat a small man in a blue serge suit, a lanky individual in uniform and an imposing, fully bearded, uniformed man, to me the very picture of a real seaman and officer. So I addressed myself to him, explaining the whys and wherefores of my presence and showing him the telegram that had brought me here. There was a silence and then the man in the serge suit, looking at me a bit doubtfully advised me to get unpacked and settled then. That was the end of it it seemed and thankfully I departed. It'd probably surprised the captain, for it was him in the suit, that I should address myself to the second mate and not him and I've often wondered what sort of comments were passed after I left.
In 1958 when we were living in Stokes Valley I was a contestant in a radio quiz show. When I heard myself on the radio some weeks later I could scarcely believe the why I spoke. Although I had been away from the influences that had brought about my style of speech for many years I still spoke in what many people would describe as an upper-class English public-school voice.
What on earth must I have sounded like way back in 1941? No wonder everybody seemed a little surprised by me especially as the company I was apprenticed to was about as much a tramp ship company as you could get. All I can say is that I simply never remember being taken to task or teased about the way I spoke in all the years I was at sea both in the UK, the Middle East, or New Zealand.
To resume. Upon my return to the cabin I found the other apprentice had departed and selecting the top bunk as the one with the cleanest covers I crawled into bed supperless as no one had advised me where or how to get any food and I was too overcome to inquire. Fortunately I still had a few biscuits left and after eating these I fell asleep and did not wake until my new roommate arrived at 7 AM the following morning. C
Hugely refreshed but too nervous to join strangers at breakfast I set forth determined To find this allusive ship. Back to the middle docks. This time I plucked up the courage to ask the policeman at the gate but he couldn't help so I went back to Newcastle to the agent's office. I explained that I could not find the ship that I had been sent to. This caused a great deal of hilarity is spatially when they realized that I'd been sent to the wrong docks. It should have been Brigham and Cowans at South Shields. So I collect my two suitcases and took the train to South Shields.
In the village where we were living and for that matter in my home town of Dorking, there was quite a healthy respect for other people's property, and because I didn't know any better I thought it was like this everywhere. I soon learned my lesson but once again someone was watching over me.
View Larger MapIn the middle of the marketplace in South Shields stood a building, like a summer house with no walls. Here beneath its roof there were benches occupied by venerable gentlemen of the sea, long since retired and anyone else with time on his hands. I made my way to this place and putting my suitcases under one of the benches went off to see if I could find where the ship was.
I made my way up a road. That overlooks the dry dock and there she lay, Grey and dirty and looking incredibly small out of her natural element. I looked and saw all this but incredibly felt no sense of disappointment, only one of excitement and anticipation, overlaid with the knowledge that I could no longer put off the moment when I must go aboard and make myself known.
I walked slowly back to the marketplace determined to put off the dreaded moment for as long as possible and there to my horror was space where my suitcases had been. Frantically I searched beneath all the benches but not a trace of them. But here came a lesson and relief all in one. I looked up on the verge of tears and despair to see a large policeman approaching purposefully. In my desperation I lost my timorous tongue tied self and poured into his ready ear all my troubles. What sort of suit cases where they and what was in them? And how could anyone who is not a complete imbecile be so stupid as to leave such portable property in such a public place? Drawing a key from his pocket he unlocked a nearby police telephone box and there were the two suitcases. I felt utterly ashamed of myself, grabbed my cases, mumbled my thanks, and fleed in the direction he indicated. A
it was not far to the dock gates and the nearer I approached the more my confidence receded until 100 yards from the entrance I stopped. I just couldn't seem to pluck up the courage to go any further though surely it could be no worse than the experiences of the last few days. I slowly retraced my steps not in the least desirous of facing the policeman again but at least he was a devil I knew. I was halfway across the marketplace when I saw him approaching. I stopped. "Now what the devil are you doing here again? I thought you were supposed to be joining a ship."
"I know" I replied trying to look as self assured as possible "but I decided I would like to get a cup of tea and something to eat before I went on board". I'm sure he did not believe me and knew perfectly well that I was just too scared to face going aboard so he asked to see my identity card and then explained that all the cafés were closed but he would find me somewhere to go. He lead me to a café just off the market called Duttons, banged on the door and, delivered me to the proprietor with instructions that I should be fed and given tea, to pass it departed.
I was glad off a chance to sit down, glad of that tea and sandwiches choose to, and the chance to talk to someone at last. I told the man what I was doing and have done and he listened I think understood that, although what I'd been through in the previous couple of days, although nothing much to a city boy, had been quite an ordeal to someone with my sort of background. He pointed out that there was really nothing to worry about and that probably when I at last reached the ship I would find another boy of about the same age and would soon feel quite at home.
He refused payment and I left feeling happier than I had for days and knowing that this time there could be no turning back, as the policeman prepared as he had been to help a boy who was feeling lost and scared would give a downright coward short shrift. I walked down the street to the dock entrance and looked back once and sure enough the policeman was there watching. Then he waved. I waved back, Went in the gates and up the gangway.
I was greeted by an aged watchman who directed me to my quarters. There seemed to be a lot of noise going on inside the cabin and it wasn't until I knocked a second time that I received a hearty invitation to step inside. The cabin was a complete shambles of gear strewn in all directions; cutlery, crockery, tins, foodstuffs cluttered the chest of drawers and in the midst of it all, stood a boy in his shirtsleeves joyously packing his bags and only waiting my arrival To depart on leave. He indicated a corner where I could put my suitcases and, while I leaned against the door, continued his packing, the while giving a continuous stream of talk concerning the unpleasantness Of the ship, the cook and most of all, the mate. The scarcity of food and the need to consume what there was in the cabin dominated a great deal of this. I have since found in nearly all walks of life and particularly in the case of seamen who cannot escape, the quality and quantity of grub was a major factor in considering with up a ship was a "good" one or not.
At length, when the worst of the confusion had been cleared, we seated ourselves on the bare wooden settee and over a cigarette I was catechized as to how I'd managed to land in such a company, where I came from, and much else on the same lines until eventually he advised me to seek out the steward and let him know off my presence.
The steward, when I found him, displayed a marked lack of interest in me or my welfare and directed me to report the captain, who would be found in the saloon with his officers. Once again I found myself doing something I would far rather have put off that having knocked on the door I had no choice but to enter and face whatever was going to happen.
The saloon, a cramped and uncomfortable place, contained two tables, at one of which sat a small man in a blue serge suit, a lanky individual in uniform and an imposing, fully bearded, uniformed man, to me the very picture of a real seaman and officer. So I addressed myself to him, explaining the whys and wherefores of my presence and showing him the telegram that had brought me here. There was a silence and then the man in the serge suit, looking at me a bit doubtfully advised me to get unpacked and settled then. That was the end of it it seemed and thankfully I departed. It'd probably surprised the captain, for it was him in the suit, that I should address myself to the second mate and not him and I've often wondered what sort of comments were passed after I left.
In 1958 when we were living in Stokes Valley I was a contestant in a radio quiz show. When I heard myself on the radio some weeks later I could scarcely believe the why I spoke. Although I had been away from the influences that had brought about my style of speech for many years I still spoke in what many people would describe as an upper-class English public-school voice.
What on earth must I have sounded like way back in 1941? No wonder everybody seemed a little surprised by me especially as the company I was apprenticed to was about as much a tramp ship company as you could get. All I can say is that I simply never remember being taken to task or teased about the way I spoke in all the years I was at sea both in the UK, the Middle East, or New Zealand.
To resume. Upon my return to the cabin I found the other apprentice had departed and selecting the top bunk as the one with the cleanest covers I crawled into bed supperless as no one had advised me where or how to get any food and I was too overcome to inquire. Fortunately I still had a few biscuits left and after eating these I fell asleep and did not wake until my new roommate arrived at 7 AM the following morning. C
Joining my ship for the first time
H Hogarth and sons proudly acknowledged the title of "tramp", having a fleet of 59 such ships by the outbreak of the war and also having survived the depression and slump of the 20s and 30s without laying up a ship, in fact continuing a building program.
It was 1941 and only a week of Christmas holidays had passed when a wire turned up summoning me to join a ship at South Shields on at South Shields on 27th of December 27 of December. It added that if I was not there by early on the Monday morning it would be assumed that I was not coming and that would be the end of the matter. Papers were following.
There it was just like that and no other warning whatsoever. My mother had known nothing of my approach to the company and since the time when I filled out an application form, sometime in September, I had heard nothing.
my mother hurried to get together all the warm clothing she could find, not an easy task as we had moved to Shropshire are very hurriedly hardly a year previously and had been compelled to leave much of our belongings behind in Dorking. Anyway she managed to fill two small suitcases and thus, scantily equipped, I set forth for my first expedition into the real world on my own.
The post office was specially opened to find the letter from the company containing my indentures which had to be signed by a parent or guardian. Fortunately my brother Geoffrey was at home and he accompanied me to Shrewsbury in the train as there being no time to get the papers signed before the only train of the day left.
To get to Newcastle I had to first to get to York and the journey took ages. After I was conveyed around the countryside, every minute bringing a greater sense of loneliness and anxiety as to what I was to do when I reached Newcastle late at night. Obviously I would have to stay somewhere as no offices would be open at that time and I had no idea where the ship was or how to get to it. Somewhere in the Midlands, when I began to feel hungry I bought 2 pounds of biscuits and have always blessed the urge that made me buy so many because they were all I had to eat for the next two days.
Newcastle at last at half past 7 PM on a dark and cold night. I had never been there before and the realization that I'd have to find somewhere to sleep and that I was very tired brought a great wave of homesickness over me and then to be told at the first hotel that there was no room was awful. The woman at the reception desk looked me up and down and was not impressed. Disheveled, untidy, a teenager and not a little frightened, I obviously didn't look a good risk so she not unkindly announced that they were full up. Perhaps if she had realized the awful sense of despair that her words evoked. The sudden realization that I was on my own and there was nobody I knew to whom I turn to for the help and support a good home had always given me, she might have relented. As it was she said "no" and as far as she was concerned that was the end of the matter. With a last look at the warmth and lot of the lounge that I could see I made for the door and here had one of those pieces of good fortune that make life worth living. The night porter waylaid me as I left and said that if I couldn't find anywhere by 11:30 PM to come back and he would find me a place to sleep and be warm I thanked him and returned to the station, which was just across the road, too weary and frightened to seek any further and took my place amongst several other lost souls on a platform bench at length I dozed off only to be awakened by someone wanting me to lift my feet so he could sweep under the bench it was close to 11:30 PM by then so I made my way back to the hotel. My friend the hotel porter hurriedly ushered me into the boiler room to await the manageress retiring to bed and here in the wonderful warmth I fell asleep.
It was not long before the porter returned and brought me upstairs, gave me some tea and ushered me to a long couch. It was not long before I realized he intended to join me there so once more I headed back to the station.
When I think back on those first few days on my own and realize that, despite an expensive education, I really knew nothing about the world and how ill equipped I was to look after myself, I'm amazed that no effort was made to teach us any of these life skills. There were a number of organizations like the salvation army if I could have tried and of course I should've thought to ask a policeman, who would certainly have done something but none of this occurred to me. In the first 12 hours or so after leaving home there was so much I ought to have known about end it was more luck than anything that kept me from getting into real trouble.
I slept fitfully until about half past 6 AM when the buffet opened. At least it was warm in there and I waited until offices were open and went in search of the agents office feeling that the worst was over and that with any luck I soon find myself on a ship. Vain hope that proved to be.
The office was vast and imposing but the man who dealt with me was friendly and, after much telephoning, presented me with a card, on which was written the ships name and where she was berthed, and wishing me the best of luck, he sent me on my way.
It was 1941 and only a week of Christmas holidays had passed when a wire turned up summoning me to join a ship at South Shields on at South Shields on 27th of December 27 of December. It added that if I was not there by early on the Monday morning it would be assumed that I was not coming and that would be the end of the matter. Papers were following.
There it was just like that and no other warning whatsoever. My mother had known nothing of my approach to the company and since the time when I filled out an application form, sometime in September, I had heard nothing.
my mother hurried to get together all the warm clothing she could find, not an easy task as we had moved to Shropshire are very hurriedly hardly a year previously and had been compelled to leave much of our belongings behind in Dorking. Anyway she managed to fill two small suitcases and thus, scantily equipped, I set forth for my first expedition into the real world on my own.
The post office was specially opened to find the letter from the company containing my indentures which had to be signed by a parent or guardian. Fortunately my brother Geoffrey was at home and he accompanied me to Shrewsbury in the train as there being no time to get the papers signed before the only train of the day left.
To get to Newcastle I had to first to get to York and the journey took ages. After I was conveyed around the countryside, every minute bringing a greater sense of loneliness and anxiety as to what I was to do when I reached Newcastle late at night. Obviously I would have to stay somewhere as no offices would be open at that time and I had no idea where the ship was or how to get to it. Somewhere in the Midlands, when I began to feel hungry I bought 2 pounds of biscuits and have always blessed the urge that made me buy so many because they were all I had to eat for the next two days.
Newcastle at last at half past 7 PM on a dark and cold night. I had never been there before and the realization that I'd have to find somewhere to sleep and that I was very tired brought a great wave of homesickness over me and then to be told at the first hotel that there was no room was awful. The woman at the reception desk looked me up and down and was not impressed. Disheveled, untidy, a teenager and not a little frightened, I obviously didn't look a good risk so she not unkindly announced that they were full up. Perhaps if she had realized the awful sense of despair that her words evoked. The sudden realization that I was on my own and there was nobody I knew to whom I turn to for the help and support a good home had always given me, she might have relented. As it was she said "no" and as far as she was concerned that was the end of the matter. With a last look at the warmth and lot of the lounge that I could see I made for the door and here had one of those pieces of good fortune that make life worth living. The night porter waylaid me as I left and said that if I couldn't find anywhere by 11:30 PM to come back and he would find me a place to sleep and be warm I thanked him and returned to the station, which was just across the road, too weary and frightened to seek any further and took my place amongst several other lost souls on a platform bench at length I dozed off only to be awakened by someone wanting me to lift my feet so he could sweep under the bench it was close to 11:30 PM by then so I made my way back to the hotel. My friend the hotel porter hurriedly ushered me into the boiler room to await the manageress retiring to bed and here in the wonderful warmth I fell asleep.
It was not long before the porter returned and brought me upstairs, gave me some tea and ushered me to a long couch. It was not long before I realized he intended to join me there so once more I headed back to the station.
When I think back on those first few days on my own and realize that, despite an expensive education, I really knew nothing about the world and how ill equipped I was to look after myself, I'm amazed that no effort was made to teach us any of these life skills. There were a number of organizations like the salvation army if I could have tried and of course I should've thought to ask a policeman, who would certainly have done something but none of this occurred to me. In the first 12 hours or so after leaving home there was so much I ought to have known about end it was more luck than anything that kept me from getting into real trouble.
I slept fitfully until about half past 6 AM when the buffet opened. At least it was warm in there and I waited until offices were open and went in search of the agents office feeling that the worst was over and that with any luck I soon find myself on a ship. Vain hope that proved to be.
The office was vast and imposing but the man who dealt with me was friendly and, after much telephoning, presented me with a card, on which was written the ships name and where she was berthed, and wishing me the best of luck, he sent me on my way.
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