Bill's Memories: Chapter 7 -Nearly finished.

Nearly finished

We were soon to set off for England again, with everyone back on board we set off and hoped for a quiet journey back. Nothing did happen although it was bitterly cold on the way home. We arrived back in Belfast February 1945 and there I was in for a surprise. Cmdr. Cavan sent for me and said,” You will drill the men on the parade square this morning, then I will assess your command, so get on with it and good luck.” I had no idea. So I went with eighteen soldiers and marched them up and down giving orders and when I called them to attention, the Cmdr. had come down. I saluted him and said, “Ready for your inspection sir.” After inspection I was called into his office. He said to me “You’ve been in the Navy for five years now, your record is good so here you are.” and gave me my stripe, also made me Petty officer. I thanked him and stayed on there until the war was over, well with Germany anyway, but the Japanese war was still on. I never dreamed I was going to sea the Far East again until the Americans dropped the two atom bombs, one on Nagasaki and one on Hiroshima. That did untold damage and great loss of life, but it shortened the war out there.

This was August 1945. One day, shortly after, I was called into the office in September and told I was to go to Burma to fetch prisoners of war back to Britain. I went on a hospital ship called the Dunnera. She had been painted all white with a big red cross on it. The Cmdr. sent me and some navy lads to get my gear aboard her. When I got on I was sent for a navy Lt. who introduced me to some more navy lads who were already aboard. I had a cabin of my own and all the perks that were going. We also had a load of Army personnel and Air Force staff and a few Marines, just in case. I inspected the guns and took gun drill with the gunners and the Lt. looked on and he said everything was OK and dismissed us. Regularly I always walked round the deck for exercise instead of being cooped up and one or two of the lads used to join me. One day while walking I saw a face I recognised. He wore an Air Force uniform and was a sergeant. I made sure he saw me and called his name. he did not know me at first til I called him by his nickname, ‘Wint’ Walker. “Well, what a small world.” He said as we shook hands. He was an old Thurcroft bloke who left before the war to join the London dock Police and was married down there. We had some good natters, and told him all about Rangoon where we were going.

We hit a bit of a blow one day and I have not seen as many sick blokes running for the toilets to heave their meals back up. The food was very good on board a well. After a couple of weeks we landed in Cape Town, took on stores, oil and water. I pointed out Table Mountain to some of them who had not seen it before or only England for that matter. Like my first sighting some were amazed by it. For me, well I’d seen it all before. “Big Head!”
We sailed across the Indian Ocean to Ceylon. I paused for thought about just where I was torpedoed in February 1942, we must have passed over the spot. In Colombo harbour it was a right mess. Ships were sunk at all the anchorages by the Japs. We did not stay however, only to get orders from the Admiralty. Then we sailed for Rangoon up the Irawaddi River. We got there a week later and the Temple of Gold shone in the sun. it was a grand sight. Better now as the Japs had surrendered. The air force left and the army doctors who were to examine our prisoners of war, and get them on aboard ship. I have seen many a sight, but none to match those POW.’s that came on board. Some were like, well so thin and some were pot bellied with beriberi and thin, but they managed a cheer, as they knew they were going home at last. They had been kitted out in khaki shirts and shorts. We had been told not to make a fuss of them too much, for they would relive the hell again. If they wanted to talk they would. They were from all brigades of ‘Black Watch,’ ‘Yorks and Lancs,’ ‘Derbyshires,’ all too many to name. I know how terrible it was to drop those atom bombs but I was pleased for those who came back, and they had at least shortened the war and what a price to pay.

We got back to Britain in October 1945 and I was asked to stay on a few more months to get all the armoury and ammo off the ships in Belfast and then Liverpool. Several stayed on with me, but the married ones could not wait to get home. I finally was demobbed in April 1946. Things were still on ration and were hard to get and I went on clothes and commodities like anyone else.

I hope this has been interesting to any who have read it.

W. F. Young, Ex-Petty Officer, RN. D/JX 239126, HMS. Drake, Devonport

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