Sammo
New member
Clump , clump – clump , clump – clump , clump – clump – Slowly the Torpoint ferry weaved its way across the narrows towards Devonport, whilst slumped on the wooden slatted seats was a far from happy 16 year old fresh out of Raleigh. The bloody navy had given me my first draft chit and instead of going to HMS Lion, one of the navy’s newest cruisers along with all my mates, I had been drafted to HMS Tenby all on my own, so in a stroke I had lost all the friends I had made since joining Ganges a year before.
Struggling down the ramp with all I possessed in the world I saw a Landrover with a killick patrolman waving me over. How did you know it was me? I said, throwing my gear into the back of the Landrover.
Patrolmen are trained to spot things that the ordinary matlot would not notice in a million years, he sneered, like you’re the only one in uniform carrying two full pillowcases an a kitbag.
As I climbed in beside him he took off like a bullet out of a gun, I was amazed, I had never seen a Landover go so fast, weaving in and out of the afternoon traffic I was just beginning to enjoy it when he suddenly veered across the oncoming traffic swerving across the road and came to a screaming halt. TAKE YOUR ANS OUT OF YER POCKETS he screamed at a PO Stoker standing at the bus stop, Only a moment before the poor chap hadn’t a care in the world but was now shaking like a leaf.
Cutting back across the traffic he sped off. Loved that he said, chuckling to himself.
I was to busy hanging on.
Dropping me off at the station he gave me an envelope “if you get lost or need help give this to anyone in a uniform” he said, speeding off into the afternoon traffic with one of my pillowcases hanging over the back of the Landrover. Never mind I thought, it`s less to carry and I didn’t really need all that cleaning gear and the gas mask.
Boarding the train we were soon steaming through the countryside north towards Morecambe and the Heysham ferry.
Where you going then? boomed this big man in the seat opposite, Londonderry says I, dear me, says he, that’s a long way for a young lad your age, where`s your mammy?
Is it far? I asked innocently, Far, he laughed, on a clear day you can see America, that’s how far it is.
This is my wife Kath and I’m Herbie, pleased to meet you, he beamed, we’re from Belfast, why Londonderry?
I’m off to join HMS Tenby to do Icelandic Patrol, I said sticking my chest out. You ever been to sea before? he asked, Cause I have, says I, went from Shotley all the way along the north sea and around and up the river to Wivenhoe in a MFV. Came back by lorry.
Touch your collar for luck say`s Kath sitting herself down next to me. Whats that you’re clutching she says pointing to the brown envelope the mad patrolman had given me, I don’t know, says I, lets have a look.
It read.
To Whom It May Concern:
Please note this boy is a member of His Majesty’s Royal Navy and if he becomes lost or misses any train or boat he is to be directed to the nearest Police station or Army/Navy recruiting office, whichever is nearer.
Don`t you worry said Kath I`m a nurse, we`ll see you to Belfast in one piece, now do you want a sandwich?
As the train thundered on through the evening I wondered what lay ahead and my mind went back to the mates I had left behind. Never mind, I had new friends now, Kath the Nurse and an Irishman called Herbie.
The Heysham ferry SS Duke of York leaves on the dot at midnight and the trip from Morecome bay to Donegal Quay in the centre of Belfast takes 8 hours.
On boarding the ferry I lost Kath and Herbie, as they were posh they had paid the extra £2 10s each and disappeared into the first class section. Lugging my gear I soon found a seat in the lounge and settled down for the night. Dozing off I felt the hum of the ships engines and soon felt the gentle rocking as she headed out to sea on a calm winters night.
Suddenly I was woken with a start, It was the shutters going up on the bar, Instantly a queue formed, what’s happening I asked a bloke in the queue. We`re outside the 3 mile limit says he so the bar will be open for the rest of the night, where’s your mammy?
Well I`ll have to go then I said I’m only 16, Not at all says my new found friend we`re in territorial waters now, what do you want to drink? Soon the whole place was alive.
My friend Billy lived in Belfast and was going home for a funeral, sorry about that, I said. Don’t you worry, says Billy, we’ll give him a good send-off, there’s people coming from all over the world.
After a couple of hours and a few pints of Guinness someone over in the corner started singing quietly at first then louder as more joined in, then someone started with a fiddle and before you knew it the whole place was alive, I had never seen anything like this, the singing seemed so professional but that maybe was down to the stout which by this time was going down very nicely.
Then there was a bit of a commotion over in the corner where some teenage girls were sitting, after some persuasion they got up and stood in front of the bar, “on the table” someone shouted and the two girls got up on the table. With the fiddler standing to the side they stood very still with their arm straight down their side. The fiddler played a lively reel but the girls stood motionless while he played it all the way through, then as he started it a second time they started dancing. Ceilis dancing on the table they were brilliant, I had never seen anything like it before and it seemed they were doing it just for me. Then four more girls appeared and started dancing in front of the table. Soon the whole place was an uproar of singing and dancing and everyone partying the night away……
Later that morning saw Billy and I leaning on the rail as the ferry slowly made Its way stern first past Harland & Wolfe towards its berth below Queens Bridge.
“Do you know Billy”, I said, “I think Ireland is a wonderful country.”
“Well there you are”, says Billy, “and there’s you not even there yet”.
……..
to be continued.
Struggling down the ramp with all I possessed in the world I saw a Landrover with a killick patrolman waving me over. How did you know it was me? I said, throwing my gear into the back of the Landrover.
Patrolmen are trained to spot things that the ordinary matlot would not notice in a million years, he sneered, like you’re the only one in uniform carrying two full pillowcases an a kitbag.
As I climbed in beside him he took off like a bullet out of a gun, I was amazed, I had never seen a Landover go so fast, weaving in and out of the afternoon traffic I was just beginning to enjoy it when he suddenly veered across the oncoming traffic swerving across the road and came to a screaming halt. TAKE YOUR ANS OUT OF YER POCKETS he screamed at a PO Stoker standing at the bus stop, Only a moment before the poor chap hadn’t a care in the world but was now shaking like a leaf.
Cutting back across the traffic he sped off. Loved that he said, chuckling to himself.
I was to busy hanging on.
Dropping me off at the station he gave me an envelope “if you get lost or need help give this to anyone in a uniform” he said, speeding off into the afternoon traffic with one of my pillowcases hanging over the back of the Landrover. Never mind I thought, it`s less to carry and I didn’t really need all that cleaning gear and the gas mask.
Boarding the train we were soon steaming through the countryside north towards Morecambe and the Heysham ferry.
Where you going then? boomed this big man in the seat opposite, Londonderry says I, dear me, says he, that’s a long way for a young lad your age, where`s your mammy?
Is it far? I asked innocently, Far, he laughed, on a clear day you can see America, that’s how far it is.
This is my wife Kath and I’m Herbie, pleased to meet you, he beamed, we’re from Belfast, why Londonderry?
I’m off to join HMS Tenby to do Icelandic Patrol, I said sticking my chest out. You ever been to sea before? he asked, Cause I have, says I, went from Shotley all the way along the north sea and around and up the river to Wivenhoe in a MFV. Came back by lorry.
Touch your collar for luck say`s Kath sitting herself down next to me. Whats that you’re clutching she says pointing to the brown envelope the mad patrolman had given me, I don’t know, says I, lets have a look.
It read.
To Whom It May Concern:
Please note this boy is a member of His Majesty’s Royal Navy and if he becomes lost or misses any train or boat he is to be directed to the nearest Police station or Army/Navy recruiting office, whichever is nearer.
Don`t you worry said Kath I`m a nurse, we`ll see you to Belfast in one piece, now do you want a sandwich?
As the train thundered on through the evening I wondered what lay ahead and my mind went back to the mates I had left behind. Never mind, I had new friends now, Kath the Nurse and an Irishman called Herbie.
The Heysham ferry SS Duke of York leaves on the dot at midnight and the trip from Morecome bay to Donegal Quay in the centre of Belfast takes 8 hours.
On boarding the ferry I lost Kath and Herbie, as they were posh they had paid the extra £2 10s each and disappeared into the first class section. Lugging my gear I soon found a seat in the lounge and settled down for the night. Dozing off I felt the hum of the ships engines and soon felt the gentle rocking as she headed out to sea on a calm winters night.
Suddenly I was woken with a start, It was the shutters going up on the bar, Instantly a queue formed, what’s happening I asked a bloke in the queue. We`re outside the 3 mile limit says he so the bar will be open for the rest of the night, where’s your mammy?
Well I`ll have to go then I said I’m only 16, Not at all says my new found friend we`re in territorial waters now, what do you want to drink? Soon the whole place was alive.
My friend Billy lived in Belfast and was going home for a funeral, sorry about that, I said. Don’t you worry, says Billy, we’ll give him a good send-off, there’s people coming from all over the world.
After a couple of hours and a few pints of Guinness someone over in the corner started singing quietly at first then louder as more joined in, then someone started with a fiddle and before you knew it the whole place was alive, I had never seen anything like this, the singing seemed so professional but that maybe was down to the stout which by this time was going down very nicely.
Then there was a bit of a commotion over in the corner where some teenage girls were sitting, after some persuasion they got up and stood in front of the bar, “on the table” someone shouted and the two girls got up on the table. With the fiddler standing to the side they stood very still with their arm straight down their side. The fiddler played a lively reel but the girls stood motionless while he played it all the way through, then as he started it a second time they started dancing. Ceilis dancing on the table they were brilliant, I had never seen anything like it before and it seemed they were doing it just for me. Then four more girls appeared and started dancing in front of the table. Soon the whole place was an uproar of singing and dancing and everyone partying the night away……
Later that morning saw Billy and I leaning on the rail as the ferry slowly made Its way stern first past Harland & Wolfe towards its berth below Queens Bridge.
“Do you know Billy”, I said, “I think Ireland is a wonderful country.”
“Well there you are”, says Billy, “and there’s you not even there yet”.
……..
to be continued.
