Remembering a World at War
Remembrance Day 2013 is just a few days away. On November 11 two neighbours will join me for the walk to the cenotaph in downtown London.
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Today's quote -
"Glasgow was a popular hangout for the Canadian Navy. It was then a
big dirty seaport but we always felt quite welcome. The Lacarno Dance
Hall was a favourite haunt where we were sure to find out what
Canadian ships were in port." Lloyd Evans, RCNVR,
Combined Operations re 1942
Today's story -
The Cold, Cold Winter of 1941
A day after seeing an explosion, hearing cries from survivors of a sinking ship and helping fire one round at a submerging submarine, my father arrived safely in Scotland. Though he later wrote about the warm reception offered by the Scots, he says the UK winter weather served up nothing but cold:
We spent little time at Niobe (barracks in Scotland) but entrained
for Havant in southern England, to H.M.S. Northney 1, a barracks -
formerly a summer resort - with a large building for eating and then
cabins with four bedrooms. This was December, 1941 or January, 1942
and there was no heat at all in the brick cabins. The toilets all froze
and split. But we made out. Our eating quarters were heated.
[pg. 11, "Dad, Well Done"]
Lloyd Evans, another member of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve and volunteer for Combined Operations recalls the cold at HMS Northney I as well in an online site:
In the winter months there was usually an icicle hanging from the
tap when we arose in the mornings! I used my navy mattress at night
in an often vain attempt to keep warm. Meals were served in a large
central dining room which was a welcome relief from the cold. The
R.N. types couldn’t imagine why we complained about the cold since
we came from the land of ice and snow - not appreciating that our
Canadian homes were, out of absolute necessity, well insulated and
properly heated. [Combined Operations website]
We spent little time at Niobe (barracks in Scotland) but entrained
for Havant in southern England, to H.M.S. Northney 1, a barracks -
formerly a summer resort - with a large building for eating and then
cabins with four bedrooms. This was December, 1941 or January, 1942
and there was no heat at all in the brick cabins. The toilets all froze
and split. But we made out. Our eating quarters were heated.
[pg. 11, "Dad, Well Done"]
Lloyd Evans, another member of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve and volunteer for Combined Operations recalls the cold at HMS Northney I as well in an online site:
In the winter months there was usually an icicle hanging from the
tap when we arose in the mornings! I used my navy mattress at night
in an often vain attempt to keep warm. Meals were served in a large
central dining room which was a welcome relief from the cold. The
R.N. types couldn’t imagine why we complained about the cold since
we came from the land of ice and snow - not appreciating that our
Canadian homes were, out of absolute necessity, well insulated and
properly heated. [Combined Operations website]
["Combined Ops insignia: from Comb. Ops website"]
While the young sailors adapted to the UK winter their Cobined Ops instructors, in locations in northern Scotland and southern England, served up more training, for the first time on navy barges that would one day be used for very serious business, i.e., the invasion of foreign shores, e.g., North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Normandy.
My father writes:
So, as the navy goes, we went back to Niobe on March 21, 1942...
Thence to H.M.S. Quebec barracks in Ayrshire, Scotland on Loch
Long. We were all in good shape and this was to be one of the more
memorable camps, with our first actual work and introduction to
landing barges. We trained on ALCs (assault landing crafts) which
carried approximately 37 soldiers and a crew of four, i.e., Coxswain,
two seamen and stoker. Some carried an officer.
re-embark, always watching the tide if it was flowing in or going out.
You could be easily left high and dry, or broach too, if you weren’t
constantly alert. We took long trips at night in close single formation,
like ducks closed up close, because all you could see was the florescent
waters churned up by propellors of an ALC or LCM (landing craft
mechanized) ahead.
[Assault Landing Craft, like 'ducks closed up':
Lloyd Evans also recalls experiences concerning the early days of training that would remind him of the seriousness of war:
Posting to Combined Operations - we discovered we had 'volunteered'
to operate Landing Craft for future raids and landings under the
auspices of Combined Operations. Portsmouth and Southampton came
under heavy bombing raids courtesy of the Luftwaffe (while we were
there). What an unforgettable sight it was with ack ack fire arcing
upwards and bombs dropping. Large piles of timber, located in
uninhabited places around the cities, were set alight during bombing
raids. This was to confuse German bombers into thinking that the fires
were part of the cities marked by their Pathfinders and to have them
release their bombs where they would do little or no damage. Some
nights I stood guard duty at the end of a long pier as lookout for
German raiding parties. In the lonely darkness of the night this
inexperienced 18 year old discovered the power of the imagination!
It seemed that the end of the watch would never come.... I was
gaining a sense of the terrible nature of modern warfare as I realised
in my imaginings how easily they could be turned into brutal
and bloody reality. [Combined Operations website]
["Doug Harrison stands guard (with a wooden rifle?)"]
As things turned out, 'brutal and bloody reality' was only a few weeks away for many young sailors and their barges.
More to follow.
Photos, if not otherwise noted, by GH
***Please click here to read time, like a silent river (10)
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