Sammo
New member
Second part of the lads tale If you haven`t read the first Click Here
Sorry for being such an amateur but I quite enjoy it and hope you do to.
Struggling off the gangway with all that I owned on my back I finally stood on Irish soil in the form of Donegal quay,
“Over here Albert” I turned around to see herbie waving me over, you’re going to need help with your stuff he said, throw it on the back seat and get in the front with us.
The car a Vauxhall Cresta had column change gears and a front bench seat which accommodated the three of us easily.
Setting off we soon covered the mile to York Street Station. Hope you managed to get some sleep, said Kath, sometimes it can get quite rowdy down in the lounge bar. Oh yes I replied, In fact I had a really good night.
Deposited on the station steps and with goodbyes said, Kath and Herbie took off into the morning traffic and regretfully out of my life forever.
An hour later saw me speeding on my last leg to Londonderry exhausted, fast asleep, without a care in the world.
H.M.S Tenby in 1960 was one of newest ships in the Navy with sleek rounded lines and a closed bridge (luxury). Trouble was I couldn’t find her. Where’s the Tenby I asked one of the locals after I was deposited on the Town Quay by a Landrover from HMS Sea Eagle the local barracks. You’re standing next to it came the reply, but that’s not a navy ship surely, I said, well you stand a good chance as it’s the only ship on the quay at he moment with a 4.5 gun on the fore deck. Came the reply.
Where you bin then? I though you left Gus yesterday morning, said the coxswain. I’ve been travelling for the last 24 hrs I whimpered, Typical stoker he said always got an excuse, here go and do your joining routine.
The ship itself was on a 2 year commission `home and east of Suez` and was starting the 6 month home leg, therefore the crew when I arrived having done 18 months together had bonded and I was very much a newcomer, however I found that I was welcomed by everyone.
Later that afternoon we sailed from Londonderry with us lined up on the upper deck and a good crowd on the quay to see us off. We were destined to be on patrol off the coast of Iceland for the next 8 weeks. I was given the job of sprayer jocky in the boiler room, watch keeping 24 about. Though a bit wobbly at first, after a couple of days I got my sea legs and settled into a routine. We were given permission to stop shaving for the duration.
As we got further north the weather got progressively colder and soon we were spending more of our time off watch chipping the ice off the lines and stanchions on the upper deck. One afternoon saw 3 of us chipping away as the ship patrolled backwards and forward to the east of Iceland when the 1st Lieutenant (known as Jimmie 1) came past. Why have we been roped into doing this sir, says my new mate Geordie, can`t the deck apes cope with it. Well says Jimmie at the moment although there’s quite a lot of white water about it can get a lot rougher, If we find ourselves having to keep our bows head on in a northerly sea and we become to top heavy we can’t turn, then the further north we go the worse the ice gets till we eventually turn turtle. Gulp, said Geordie. And I though it was just to keep the ship looking tiddly, No, no said Jimmie it happens to the trawler men all the time. After that we never complained about ice clearing in fact we were much better at it.
Two weeks in found us doing a RAS (replenishment at sea) from a RFA (royal fleet auxiliary) I had never seen it before and looked on in wonder as we steamed alongside the tanker taking on fuel and stores using jackstay transfer. Send the Chief Stoker across someone shouted, but they didn`t.
See we got a great film on the RAS today said Janner, “Psycho” a new film by Alfred Hitchcock should be good.
With the film showing in the seamen’s mess that evening everyone piled in, standing room only with some standing on apple crates at the back.
Preceded of course by the obligatory Tom and Jerry cartoon (known in the RN as a “good ole Fred” after the producer Fred Quimby) we settled down to watching with bated breath as the story unfolded.
Then when it came to the scary bit where, with violins screeching he pulls back the shower curtain…….… the apple crate collapsed and with a mighty crash spilled it’s load of Matelots on the floor taking the projector with it.
Scared the crap out of us I can tell you, now every time I see that film it brings back a memory…. and a smile.
Three weeks in saw me indulging in something that started with the Tenby and I always did whatever ship or boat I was on. I loved to take over the steering, I have done it on everything from submarines to aircraft carriers.
So that day on the Tenby found me at the steering position. Want a go? says the Quartermaster. He`s got no chance, said the port telegraph man, the skippers on watch, Don`t you worry I can handle him, says the QM watch this
Wheelhouse .. Bridge .. Bridge… wheelhouse, came the reply.
Permission for Junior Stoker Hall to take the wheel sir.
Certainly not! tell him to b ugger off.
He plays rugby sir.
Err.. what position?
Second row sir.
Oh alright… tell him to be careful.
Four weeks in and me and Geordie have an evening routine of sitting on the quarterdeck with bottomless tea mugs putting the world to rights Till one unforgettable Night.
Come and have a look at this Says Geordie, there in the sky above Reykjavik.
I couldn’t belive it the whole of the night sky was covered in green curtains continually rolling and weaving. Soon everyone was up to see it, I recon it`s the lights off the capital twisting around says Janner.
No says Geordie that’s the northern lights it’s a phenomena caused by a bloody great explosion on the surface off the sun then all the bits come bollicking towards us at a great rate of knots but when they reach us the magnetic forces of the earth pull them north and south and they form a ring round the poles. See.
Of cause by this time me and Janner are looking at each other and rolling our eyes. Well it don’t matter how the`re caused says I it’s certainly a sight for sore eyes.
Over the next few weeks I spent many hours gazing into the night sky being entertained by the dancing lights and it made me realise just how small we are in comparison.
Five weeks in and we have our first sight of the Icelandic Gunboat Thor. It seems that we have been playing cat and mouse with it for weeks, of course being lower deck we don’t usually see what’s going on, all we know is that Iceland extended her territorial waters from 4 to 12 Nm. Now we were here to keep their only gunboat away from our trawlers nets and here it was the gunboat Thor.
Coming off watch a crowd had gathered on the upper deck and with the two ships stopped about a hundred yards apart in what looked like a stand off. Just then one of our quartermasters Taff was coming aft with a bucket of gash I`ll show em says he and without more ado reversed up to the guardrail and whizzing his pants down gave the enemy a moony, we whistled and pointed to make it more effective.
Suddenly, although I`m sure it was pure coincidence, there was a whoosh of white water around the stern of the Thor and turning away from us it sped off.
There you are, said Taff, Never fails.
Six weeks in and the buzz went round that we were leaving our patrol area and the captain was to come on the tannoy to make an announcement. Were going home early we all said. That evening we all huddled round the tannoy in the mess waiting for the skipper. You will all be glad to hear he said that I have made special arrangements with their lords of the admiralty allowing us to make a circumference of Iceland, you will, I`m sure, all be delighted to know that this will entail crossing the arctic circle and allow us to issue you with blue nose certificates. We didn`t hear anymore cause at this point someone broke the tannoy.
Seven weeks in and the trawlermen had decided that they would supply us with free fish on a daily basis. Brilliant we said fish and chips. Yes said the caterers but you’ve got to pay for the oil the chips are cooked in, still at 3p per portion we didn`t complain and they were the best fish and chips I have ever tasted.
Returning to Rosyth still aged 16 I had done a lot of growing up in those 8 weeks not only giving me total respect for the deep sea trawlermen out in all weathers but also a bond with the sea that has never been broken.
Since leaving the RN in 1972 I have been lucky. I am now the MD of a medium sized heating company employing a dozen people or so but your past memories never leave you.
Sometimes when I am at a meeting my mind will wander, looking out the window on a cold winters afternoon, I don’t hear the talk, I am back on the Tenby fighting it`s way through a storm swept ocean, and if I look closely in the distance high in the sky I can still see the northern lights up there, just as clear as if it was yesterday.
……….
end
Sorry for being such an amateur but I quite enjoy it and hope you do to.
Struggling off the gangway with all that I owned on my back I finally stood on Irish soil in the form of Donegal quay,
“Over here Albert” I turned around to see herbie waving me over, you’re going to need help with your stuff he said, throw it on the back seat and get in the front with us.
The car a Vauxhall Cresta had column change gears and a front bench seat which accommodated the three of us easily.
Setting off we soon covered the mile to York Street Station. Hope you managed to get some sleep, said Kath, sometimes it can get quite rowdy down in the lounge bar. Oh yes I replied, In fact I had a really good night.
Deposited on the station steps and with goodbyes said, Kath and Herbie took off into the morning traffic and regretfully out of my life forever.
An hour later saw me speeding on my last leg to Londonderry exhausted, fast asleep, without a care in the world.
H.M.S Tenby in 1960 was one of newest ships in the Navy with sleek rounded lines and a closed bridge (luxury). Trouble was I couldn’t find her. Where’s the Tenby I asked one of the locals after I was deposited on the Town Quay by a Landrover from HMS Sea Eagle the local barracks. You’re standing next to it came the reply, but that’s not a navy ship surely, I said, well you stand a good chance as it’s the only ship on the quay at he moment with a 4.5 gun on the fore deck. Came the reply.
Where you bin then? I though you left Gus yesterday morning, said the coxswain. I’ve been travelling for the last 24 hrs I whimpered, Typical stoker he said always got an excuse, here go and do your joining routine.
The ship itself was on a 2 year commission `home and east of Suez` and was starting the 6 month home leg, therefore the crew when I arrived having done 18 months together had bonded and I was very much a newcomer, however I found that I was welcomed by everyone.
Later that afternoon we sailed from Londonderry with us lined up on the upper deck and a good crowd on the quay to see us off. We were destined to be on patrol off the coast of Iceland for the next 8 weeks. I was given the job of sprayer jocky in the boiler room, watch keeping 24 about. Though a bit wobbly at first, after a couple of days I got my sea legs and settled into a routine. We were given permission to stop shaving for the duration.
As we got further north the weather got progressively colder and soon we were spending more of our time off watch chipping the ice off the lines and stanchions on the upper deck. One afternoon saw 3 of us chipping away as the ship patrolled backwards and forward to the east of Iceland when the 1st Lieutenant (known as Jimmie 1) came past. Why have we been roped into doing this sir, says my new mate Geordie, can`t the deck apes cope with it. Well says Jimmie at the moment although there’s quite a lot of white water about it can get a lot rougher, If we find ourselves having to keep our bows head on in a northerly sea and we become to top heavy we can’t turn, then the further north we go the worse the ice gets till we eventually turn turtle. Gulp, said Geordie. And I though it was just to keep the ship looking tiddly, No, no said Jimmie it happens to the trawler men all the time. After that we never complained about ice clearing in fact we were much better at it.
Two weeks in found us doing a RAS (replenishment at sea) from a RFA (royal fleet auxiliary) I had never seen it before and looked on in wonder as we steamed alongside the tanker taking on fuel and stores using jackstay transfer. Send the Chief Stoker across someone shouted, but they didn`t.
See we got a great film on the RAS today said Janner, “Psycho” a new film by Alfred Hitchcock should be good.
With the film showing in the seamen’s mess that evening everyone piled in, standing room only with some standing on apple crates at the back.
Preceded of course by the obligatory Tom and Jerry cartoon (known in the RN as a “good ole Fred” after the producer Fred Quimby) we settled down to watching with bated breath as the story unfolded.
Then when it came to the scary bit where, with violins screeching he pulls back the shower curtain…….… the apple crate collapsed and with a mighty crash spilled it’s load of Matelots on the floor taking the projector with it.
Scared the crap out of us I can tell you, now every time I see that film it brings back a memory…. and a smile.
Three weeks in saw me indulging in something that started with the Tenby and I always did whatever ship or boat I was on. I loved to take over the steering, I have done it on everything from submarines to aircraft carriers.
So that day on the Tenby found me at the steering position. Want a go? says the Quartermaster. He`s got no chance, said the port telegraph man, the skippers on watch, Don`t you worry I can handle him, says the QM watch this
Wheelhouse .. Bridge .. Bridge… wheelhouse, came the reply.
Permission for Junior Stoker Hall to take the wheel sir.
Certainly not! tell him to b ugger off.
He plays rugby sir.
Err.. what position?
Second row sir.
Oh alright… tell him to be careful.
Four weeks in and me and Geordie have an evening routine of sitting on the quarterdeck with bottomless tea mugs putting the world to rights Till one unforgettable Night.
Come and have a look at this Says Geordie, there in the sky above Reykjavik.
I couldn’t belive it the whole of the night sky was covered in green curtains continually rolling and weaving. Soon everyone was up to see it, I recon it`s the lights off the capital twisting around says Janner.
No says Geordie that’s the northern lights it’s a phenomena caused by a bloody great explosion on the surface off the sun then all the bits come bollicking towards us at a great rate of knots but when they reach us the magnetic forces of the earth pull them north and south and they form a ring round the poles. See.
Of cause by this time me and Janner are looking at each other and rolling our eyes. Well it don’t matter how the`re caused says I it’s certainly a sight for sore eyes.
Over the next few weeks I spent many hours gazing into the night sky being entertained by the dancing lights and it made me realise just how small we are in comparison.
Five weeks in and we have our first sight of the Icelandic Gunboat Thor. It seems that we have been playing cat and mouse with it for weeks, of course being lower deck we don’t usually see what’s going on, all we know is that Iceland extended her territorial waters from 4 to 12 Nm. Now we were here to keep their only gunboat away from our trawlers nets and here it was the gunboat Thor.
Coming off watch a crowd had gathered on the upper deck and with the two ships stopped about a hundred yards apart in what looked like a stand off. Just then one of our quartermasters Taff was coming aft with a bucket of gash I`ll show em says he and without more ado reversed up to the guardrail and whizzing his pants down gave the enemy a moony, we whistled and pointed to make it more effective.
Suddenly, although I`m sure it was pure coincidence, there was a whoosh of white water around the stern of the Thor and turning away from us it sped off.
There you are, said Taff, Never fails.
Six weeks in and the buzz went round that we were leaving our patrol area and the captain was to come on the tannoy to make an announcement. Were going home early we all said. That evening we all huddled round the tannoy in the mess waiting for the skipper. You will all be glad to hear he said that I have made special arrangements with their lords of the admiralty allowing us to make a circumference of Iceland, you will, I`m sure, all be delighted to know that this will entail crossing the arctic circle and allow us to issue you with blue nose certificates. We didn`t hear anymore cause at this point someone broke the tannoy.
Seven weeks in and the trawlermen had decided that they would supply us with free fish on a daily basis. Brilliant we said fish and chips. Yes said the caterers but you’ve got to pay for the oil the chips are cooked in, still at 3p per portion we didn`t complain and they were the best fish and chips I have ever tasted.
Returning to Rosyth still aged 16 I had done a lot of growing up in those 8 weeks not only giving me total respect for the deep sea trawlermen out in all weathers but also a bond with the sea that has never been broken.
Since leaving the RN in 1972 I have been lucky. I am now the MD of a medium sized heating company employing a dozen people or so but your past memories never leave you.
Sometimes when I am at a meeting my mind will wander, looking out the window on a cold winters afternoon, I don’t hear the talk, I am back on the Tenby fighting it`s way through a storm swept ocean, and if I look closely in the distance high in the sky I can still see the northern lights up there, just as clear as if it was yesterday.
……….
end
