Editor's Column: FAINT FOOTSTEPS, World War II (14)

 The 'Queen of the Pacific', HMS Reina Del Pacifico

Favourite Ship of Many Tired Sailors During WWII

'HMS Reina Del Pacifico' transported U.S. troops to North Africa, 1942.

Four landing craft can be seen hanging from davits. Another is in the water

near the stern of the ship, alongside an open door - for exitting troops. Photo

by J. Hall at Gourock, Scotland. FL18191, Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Introduction:

In July, 2018, I received news that my columns would no longer be needed by The Norwich Gazette, my father's hometown weekly newspaper. It was closing its doors. I was very disappointed, I didn't think my columns were that bad!!

Now it is common knowledge that small- to medium-sized newspapers across the land are under threat from other forms of news media and that problem is not all my fault. So, I'm going to continue my series of short stories related to my father's Navy memoirs and the several submissions he made to The Gazette and a few other interested parties.

Questions, comments and related information re the 900 - 1,000 Canadian sailors that volunteered for Combined Operations (many manned landing crafts during the Dieppe Raid and Operations Torch, Husky, Baytown, Avalanche, and D-Day France) can be sent to Gord H. @ gordh7700@gmail.com

North Africa PT 3: A Big Tot of Rum on the 'Reina Del Pacifico'

("Getting There was Half the Fun")

American troops manning their landing craft assault from a doorway in the side of

HMS Reina Del Pacifico during Operation 'Torch', the Allied landings in N. Africa,

November 1942. Two of the landing craft are numbered LCA 428 and LCA 447.

Photo Credit: RN Photographer Lt. F. A. Hudson, A12647, Imperial War Museum

*I believe that my father is helping get his LCA (Landing Craft, Assault) into position to take on U.S. troops. It was work, work, and more work for the first four days (without rest) during his 11 days serving near Z Beach and Arzew.

* * * * *

"TORCH was a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while allowing American armed forces the opportunity to begin their fight against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on a limited scale." Operation Torch, Wikipedia

* * * * *

"The six Flotillas of Canadian Landing Craft included in the forces which made the landings at Oran and Arzew (sic) had an easier time than expected; and their heaviest casualties occurred after all resistance was over, when the ships returning to England were torpedoed... The Canadian Landing Craft ferried in American and British troops almost without incident, although they were occasionally under sporadic fire from French ships and shore batteries. After the nervous initial stage was over, the men were inclined to make a picnic of the work. Nevertheless, at the conclusion of the landings it was reported that it had actually been difficult to get the men out of their craft to be relieved." Combined Operations by Clayton Marks, London, Canada. Page 69

* * * * *

My father, Doug Harrison, unloaded U.S. troops and their supplies at

Arzew, Z Beach, upper right. Map - Combined Operations, pg. 66

Arzeu and Z Beach are in the upper right side of the above map as well.

As found in The Campaign for North Africa by Jack Coggins

"Getting There was Half the Fun"

My father, Doug Harrison, writes about some of the difficulties associated with getting "the men out of their craft to be relieved" in his Navy memoirs (excerpts below from ("Dad, Well Done", pages 25 - 26):

"I worked 92 hours straight and I ate nothing except for some grapefruit juice I stole..." 

After the 92 hours my officer said, "Well done. An excellent job, Harrison. Go to Reina Del Pacifico and rest."

Such kind-hearted words must have been greatly appreciated, but before my father could gratefully comply a few "snipers in a train station" had to be eliminated. It was recorded that American gunners in a half-track flattened the station "to the ground level." Shortly thereafter (perhaps with the smell of fresh cordite still hanging in the air above Beach Z), my father made his way by landing craft - likely with all aboard feeling somewhat safer and more secure - to the side of the Reina Del. It was a very popular liner as far as some very tired Canadian sailors were concerned, and was stationed about a mile or two off shore. 

Once the small landing craft was positioned beside the resting hulk of the liner my father reached for a single fat rope dangling from far up over his head.

"I then had to climb hand over hand up a large hawser (braided rope) to reach the hand rail of Reina Del Pacifico and here my weakness showed itself. I got to the hand rail completely exhausted and couldn't let one hand go to grab the rail or I would have fallen forty feet into an LCM (Landing Craft, Mechanised) bobbing below."

Braided rope, aka hawser, found in front window of a lovely

building (below) at a Canadian Navy base. Photo GH

"Lovely building" on the grounds of CFB Esquimalt, British Columbia

Various types of braided ropes are still made inside. Photo GH

Are these called "fenders for large ships?" Made inside that

same building at Esquimalt, BC. Photo GH

Photographs found in England's Imperial War Museum reveal that U.S. troops exitted the Reina Del through an open door - with help from a rope ladder - situated no more than 8 - 9 feet  above a waiting LCA. No such short cut to the upper deck was available to Doug, but fortunately, an angel smiled in his direction when he reached the end of his rope. 

He writes, "I managed to nod my head at a cook in a Petty Officer's uniform and he hauled me in. My throat was so dry I only managed to say, Thanks, you saved my life."

Under the heading "getting there was half the fun," the better half of the fun associated with my father's journey to a ship he long-remembered* was about to begin. Though the Reina Del served in general as a troop ship from 1939 until 1946 as well as the floating HQ for a Senior Naval Officer of Landings in Sicily - less than a year after my father's visit (i.e., during Operation HUSKY beginning July, 1943) - it served up the best of hospitality for a particular worn-out young sailor.

Also in memoirs (written in the comfort of his own home during the early 1970's) my father recalls the following:

"The Reina was a ship purposely for fellows like me who were tired out, and I was fed everything good, given a big tot of rum and placed in a hammock. I slept the clock around twice - 24 hours - then went back to work."

(And after his work was completed...) "In seven days I went back aboard the Reina Del and headed for Gibraltar to regroup for the trip back to England." 

With a mind full of good memories about the Reina Del (good food, good rum, good hammocks) I bet my father was one the first to climb aboard whether by the side door or hawser.

More stories based on my father's 'Faint Footsteps' will soon follow.

*"long-remembered": Please click here to read a final article my father wrote in the 1990s - for his hometown newspaper - re Reina Del Pacifico, undoubtedly one of his favourite ships.

Please click here to read FAINT FOOTSTEPS, World War II, Part 13

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: The Roy Burt Collection, RCNVR and Combined Operations (2)

 Some Photographs from Training Camps in Canada

Other Photos from Egypt and Southern England...

WWII veterans of RCNVR and Combined Operations, present at the 50th

Anniversary of D-Day Normandy Landings, await H.M. Queen Elizabeth

Introduction:

As I look over the 80 photographs in 'the Roy Burt Collection' (given to me by Roy's daughter Laurel Pinske) I realize that Roy travelled many a mile to serve his country during WWII and then, later, when retired, to remember those who served with him.

His training days bear some similarities to my father Doug Harrison, RCNVR/Combined Operations 1941 - 1945 (oft-mentioned in some of the 780 entries - so far - in 1,000 Men, 1,000 Stories) and the rest of the 950 - 1,000 Canadian sailors who volunteered for Combined Ops duties (aboard various-sized landing crafts in most cases) from the raid at St. Nazaire (Operation CHARIOT) in early 1942 to Operations JUBILEE, TORCH, HUSKY, BAYTOWN, AVALANCHE, and NEPTUNE, beginning on June 6, 1944.

Below are a few of Roy's significant photographs and written accounts, accompanied by others from one or two WWII mates:

Above story by Roy Burt is found in a set of two books of WWII (Canadians in Combined Ops) veterans' stories entitled St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War 1941 - 1945 by David and Catherine (Kit) Lewis and Len Birkenes, page 335. Two Books - Please click on Volume 1.   Please click on Volume 2.

Underlined in blue above: 'Able Seaman Harry Westbrook' was known as Don or Donnie or Westy by many of his mates, and can be seen in top photo (first on the right) listed as 'Don.'

Underlined in red above: 'Silent Service' - more research is needed, but perhaps some mention was eventually made of Roy's pilgrimage in the Toronto Globe and Mail, or elsewhere. That being said, Roy was not the first to notice that little seemed to be written about the contribution of Canadians who manned landing crafts at St. Nazaire, Dieppe, North Africa, Sicily, and Italy prior to D-Day France. HELP WANTED. Questions or comments or research findings of your own can be emailed to gordh7700@gmail.com

Photographs now follow from "The Roy Burt Collection," along with a few related photos for context:

This photo could have been taken in more than a few places due to Roy's 

extensive travels during WWII, e.g., in B.C. before travelling overseas

I believe the next few photographs have a B.C. connection:

The arrow points to Roy Burt, participating in a drill with wooden 

rifles (it seems), perhaps as a Navy cadet or young recruit

A young man still, with lots of hair, perhaps at a Navy base (HMCS

Naden?) on The Spit at Comox, Vancouver Island. Note background

The same shoreline in background at HMCS Givenchy III, on The Spit, Comox?

My father (centre) served at a Combined Operations School, from 1944-'45.

Roy Burt shovelling fuel for a coal-burning ship at Comox?

The bay at The (Goose) Spit. Navy base (left), Comox (right), 2015

Lots of oyster beds at The Spit, with a boat at the end of a long pier.

Comox on the left, naval base centre of the spit, from 1930s photo from

the Comox Library Archives. Oyster beds were there into the '40s

Roy Burt at sea, date unknown. Heading to U.K. training camps?

Roy (centre) with two others he trained with in B.C. (far left and far

right). Visit Part 1 and go to photo of men on a swimming dock.

Training camp, location unknown

Training camp, location unknown

Training exercise, location is likely southern coast of England

Roy took part in Operation Neptune, June 1944

Roy (centre) with Canadian mates, could be in southern U.K.

or in Grand Harbour, Valetta, on island of Malta

Seven Canadians in RCNVR and Combined Ops, 1942 or 1943
Back L - R: unknown, C. Dale, Lloyd Evans, Don Westbrook
Front L - R: Don Linder, unknown, Doug Harrison. Location??
From the collection of Lloyd Evans, formerly Markham ONT

Is this a sample of standard navy haircuts? (Roy is 2nd from front, right side)

These sailors are aboard HMS Keren in June, 1943, "on way to Egypt," below

All the haircuts did not cut the mustard, at least not the C/O's mustard!

Other Canadian sailors aboard HMS Keren, 1943, including Don Westbrook,

and two that Roy knew from B.C., i.e., Jack Rimmer and Harold Tomlinson.

Visit Part 1 and go to photo of men on a swimming dock.

Photo from collection of Doug Harrison, friend of 'Donnie' Westbrook

Two of Roy's mates at HMS Saunders, a Combined Ops Camp near Bitter

Lake, Egypt. Sailor on right - a non-standard haircut under his white cap!

More sailors in 1943 in front of tents at HMS Saunders. E.g., Don Westbrook

in back row, fourth from left; and Harold Tomlinson, front, second from left.

Allied ships, location unknown

Landing crafts churn up the water, location unknown

Canadian war correspondents in Sicilian waters, July 1943

From "They Left the Backdoor Open" by Lionel Shapiro

Roy Burt, in his later years. Photo - K. Lacey Osoyoos Times Nov. 7, 2012

Roy Burt, who settled in Osoyoos 40 years ago to take the job as post master with Canada Post, fondly looks over some personal photographs taken during his time with the Royal Canadian Navy. Burt joined the military as a boy seaman when he was only 17 years old and fondly recalls turning 18 because he was then able to fulfill his dream to fight for his country during the Second World War. 

LOCAL VETERAN FONDLY RECALLS TIME SPENT IN COMBINED

OPERATIONS IN SECOND WORLD WAR

Posted by Osoyoos Times 

When Roy Burt looks back on his remarkable and rewarding life, his six years as a proud member of the Royal Canadian Navy will always provide many of his fondest memories.

“I wanted to be a soldier since I was a young child so I joined the military when I was 17 years old … next to marrying my wife (Jean) and having kids, it was the best thing I ever did,” said Burt, who, at age 89, looks terrific and possesses a rare ability to remember minute details from his life dating back decades.

Burt is known to many Osoyoosites as the longtime post master with the local Canada Post office. He transferred from Williams Lake in 1972 and worked in Osoyoos until his retirement in 1983.

He came out west to join the navy from his hometown near Hamilton, Ont. and has never left B.C. except for his six years in the armed forces.

With Remembrance Day ceremonies set for this Sunday here in Osoyoos, across Canada and around the world, Burt said November 11 always bring back a flood of memories – some tragic, but most of them good as he met “some of the best people I have ever met in my life was during my time in the navy.”

Burt was a proud member of the Combined Operations – a special team of 900 Canadian and mainly British soldiers who volunteered for “especially hazardous duty” and travelled around the world during the Second World War transporting men and equipment on huge naval landing craft.

“We went everywhere … I got to travel the world and loved every second of it,” said Burt.

After training for months in Scotland and England, Burt’s first active duty was being part of Operation Torch in the north African country of Algiers. He left on Oct. 26, 1942 on a convoy of 50 ships, with half of them headed to Algiers.

A big part of their job was transferring American soldiers to various destinations using small landing craft, he said.

After an extended leave and further training, Burt participated in Operation Husky, which took him and the Combined Operations unit to Sicily in July of 1942. This time, his job was to help transport and transfer British soldiers to shore. Admitting he saw many of his fellow soldiers killed, Burt said he doesn’t like to talk about the losses, but is more than willing to talk about the good work performed by his unit.

Burt and his fellow soldiers from Combined Operations were then called back to Europe in the spring of 1944 and participated in D-Day, one of the most important military operations in history. Military planners had given Canada a major role on D-Day to take one of five designated beaches where Allied forces were to land to begin the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany. The Americans were designated to take Utah and Omaha Beaches in the west, British soldiers landed at Gold Beach and at Sword in the east, while Canadians landed at Juno Beach. 

The greatest seaborne invasion in history was aimed at 80 kilometres of mostly flat, sandy beach along the Normandy coast, west of the Seine River. There were 155,000 soldiers, 5,000 ships and landing craft, 50,000 vehicles and 11,000 planes set for the battle. For Canada, 14,000 soldiers were to land on the beaches, while another 450 were to drop behind enemy lines by parachute or glider. The Royal Canadian Navy supplied ships and 10,000 sailors. 

“We did six trips across the channel every day, transporting 300 soldiers at a time … we did that for just over a month,” said Burt.

Being part of that historic event was something he will never forget. “That opened up that part of Europe to the Allied Forces and helped change the course of the war, so it was very important,” he said.

Being able to fight for his country to help defeat the Nazis remains something he’s very proud of, said Burt. “When I joined I was too young to go to sea … I remember how happy I was to turn 18 because I joined the navy because I wanted to fight in the war. That’s why I signed up. I remember telling my band master that I was almost 18 and could finally get on a boat and he finally agreed it was time to leave the band.”

After his time in Normandy, Burt returned to Canada and Halifax when a commander asked who was willing to travel to Japan on the HMCS Algonquin – a destroyer. “Some people can’t keep their hands down or shut their mouth and I couldn’t do either so I was on the move again,” he said smiling. “I loved being in the navy and this was my career and I wanted to keep fighting.”

The ship was halfway across the Pacific Ocean when the crew received word that the war had ended, he said. “I remember it was a very strange sight to see all these other ships with their lights on,” he said. “We had run for months under the cover of darkness and trying to hide from the enemy.”

On the trip home, he and his crew managed some leisure time in Egypt, Jamaica and eventually San Diego, California. “We came back through the Suez Canal … I still remember when we ended up in Jamaica. That was alright,” he said laughing. “We ended up having more than a few cups of rum.”

Considering he had only seen his wife – they got married in the summer of 1944 while he was on leave – a couple of times since tying the knot, Burt decided to retire from the navy on March 15, 1946. “I looked my wife in the eye and told her I had had enough of this navy and I was going to quit,” he said. “I had achieved my dream of fighting in the war and thought it was time to do something else with my life. I loved my life in the navy, I really did, but it was time to move on.”

He and a brother started a successful boat building business near Hamilton following the war, but they shut that down after three years. Burt was then hired at Canada’s largest steel mill (Stelco) in Hamilton and worked there for eight years before deciding the coke dust he was inhaling every day would kill him.

“I loved the job and made some really good money, but I knew my health would never last sucking in those horrible gases every day,” he said. “Me and the wife had a talk and decided we would like to head back out west.”

They intended to go to Victoria, however, they visited a friend of a friend in Penticton and ended up loving that town and called it home for several years. Burt worked at a car dealership for one year before applying for a job with Canada Post in 1956. He worked for the post office in Penticton and Williams Lake before coming to Osoyoos in 1972.

“I took a pay cut to come back to the Okanagan,” he said. “But I had visited Osoyoos many times when I lived in Penticton and remember telling my wife the first time we came here that this is where we would retire.”

Because he has bad knees and can’t sit for extended periods of time, Burt hasn’t attended the local Remembrance Day ceremony the past two years. However, his mind always flashes back to his days in the navy every November 11.

“You don’t ever forget,” he said. “It’s an important day for all of us (veterans). It really is.”

More photographs from the Roy Burt collection will soon follow.

Please click here to view Photographs: The Roy Burt Collection, RCNVR and Combined Operations (1)

Unattributed Photos GH

Photographs: The Roy Burt Collection, RCNVR and Combined Operations (1)

 Dozens of Excellent Photos and a Story or Two by Roy Burt

And Wouldn't You Know It, He was a Poet!

Roy Burt, RCNVR, closest to viewer, center, with black cap and wet shorts.

Unloading Landing Craft, Mechanised (LCMs) at HOW Sector/Beach on

east coast of Sicily (perhaps near Gallina), from July 10 - August 9, 1943

Introduction:

I knew about Roy Burt because I knew first about Clayton Marks (also RCNVR, Combined Operations, WWII) of London, Ontario. Clayton wrote a book in the late 1980s or early 1990s entitled Combined Operations, my father had purchased it in May, 1993, and it was part of a collection of materials he left behind when he passed away in early 2003. The book has been an integral part of this blog since I began work on it in February, 2015. 

Clayton and Burt volunteered for Combined Operations a short time after the first draft of sailors did so (i.e., the Effingham Division) in late 1941 while completing their training at HMCS Stadacona, and a good bit of Burt's navy history will be shared as part of a series of posts featuring his collection of rare and significant photographs. 

Part 1 begins below and includes a few related maps and photos to provide some context for interested readers. Contact me at gordh7700@gmail.com with questions or comments. 

R. Burt, a member of the 81st Canadian Flotilla of Landing Craft, transported 

all materials of war for Monty's Eighth Army onto beaches at HOW Beach.

Names of ships to be unloaded appear above, e.g., O Henry, US Liberty ship

Map is found in a book of veterans' stories (RCNVR/Comb.Ops), pg. 179

80th and 81st Can. Flotillas of LCMs operated south of Syracusa, above right

Roy Burt, likely with wet shorts, appears in back row, fourth from the left.

At a Navy training camp, perhaps near Victoria, Vancouver Island

Three Canadians, raw Combined Ops recruits, at HMS Northney on

Hayling Island, early 1942. Roy Burt, centre. Clayton Marks, right

C. Marks, centre, from London ONT. Author of Combined Operations

HMS Northney was sub-divided into 4 camps, (I - IV)

Also at HMS Northney, 8 members of the first draft to Combined Ops

L - R: Al Adlington (London), Joe Spencer (Toronto), Chuck Rose (Chippewa),

Doug Harrison (Norwich), Art Bradfield (Simcoe), Don Linder (Kitchener), Joe

Watson (Simcoe), and Jake Jacobs (unknown town of origin). February, 1942

Roy B. at HMS Quebec, I believe, in spring, 1942. Stationed on Loch

Fyne at No. 1 Comb. Ops Training Camp, for training on landing craft

 

More Canadian ratings in large (Nissen?) huts, south of Inveraray

Sailors went to Glasgow while on leave, got their pictures taken

Photo found in Combined Operations by C. Marks, back row

Don Westbrook, at Camp Auchengate, just south of Irvine, Scotland.

Sailors were accommodated in huts and bell tents, Spring 1942

Canadians trained aboard LCAs on Loch Fyne, south of Inveraray

Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Members of the 81st Flotilla on their way around Africa to get to

the Red Sea, then on to Sicily. Late spring - summer, 1942

Roy is back row, left side

Roy's mates C. Marks and C. Michael in front row, right side

Roy may be in the back row, centre. Prior to invasion of Sicily

Sailors may be getting tired of the grub! Roy is in middle row, left.

Clayton has had enough with the photos! Middle row, right side : (

Would Roy Burt have taken this photo while on board a supply ship?

The beach is part of HOW Sector, south of Syracusa and 80th flotilla

"Bombs dropped and guns did bark, then smoke curled up from a freighter."

(Roy Burt quote)

I think this is a bit farther south from Roy Burt's part of HOW Beach

Photo - "They Left the Back Door Open" by L. S. Shapiro, pg 15

Lionel S. Shapiro at ease on board a transport ship, east coast of Sicily.

Mr. Shapiro was a war correspondent with The (Montreal) Gazette

See the first article listed in July 29, 1943 issue of the newspaper here

Photo - No. 21545, Album 61, Canadian Army Film Unit (CAFU)

Work continues at HOW Beach. Note: Shrubs have been flattened in two

locations so that supply trucks can travel to nearby road.

LCMs belonging to the 81st Flotilla. Two are numbered... 81-8, 81-6

Landing craft, likely LCMs of the 81st Flotilla, are heading toward

The Grand Harbour, at Valetta, on the island of Malta. Aug. 9, 1943

LCMs of the 80th Flotilla, having completed the transport of all materials

of war at GEORGE Beach, just north of HOW, are heading to Malta as well.

Photo from the collection of Joe Spencer, used with permission

The Grand Harbour, at Valetta, on the island of Malta, August, 1943

I believe this is Anthony Bouchard, RCNVR/Combined Ops who was

a member of the 80th Flotilla. Sipping tea in the Grand Harbour?

More photos from the Roy Burt 'foto files' will soon follow.

And for those who didn't know, including myself until recently, Roy Burt was a poet and I didn't even know it:

BON VOYAGE

We set sail from Scotland,

Never knowing where we were bound,

Never knowing that within a year

We would travel the world round.

We never imagined the things we'd see

Or that twice we would cross the line. (equator)

See a place where rations were not known,

And see the southern stars that shine.

We saw albatross and flying fish,

Sharks and porpoi too.

But the grub we had was awful,

And we were glad when the trip was through.

They landed us in Egypt.

Where we had tents upon the sand,

And we all thought that we'd be glad -

To see the sight of land!

We stayed there a couple of weeks,

Beating off bugs and flies.

When we read of lovely Egypt now,

We know how the author lies!

We spent some leave in Cairo,

In Alex and Port Said,

And in all the stories that we've heard,

Who says the Red Sea's red?

Then came talk of invasion.

Arguments as to where it would be,

But none of us ever imagined

We'd end up in Sicily.

They put us on a transport

And we started on our way,

But then we did not know to where,

Nor did we know the day.

We stopped three days in Alex., (Alexandria)

All the leaders they did meet,

Then away again into the west

With most of the "Med" fleet.

Five days we spent in going there,

But on the first, we heard,

Sicily was to be the place,

But do not breathe a word!

Two days from our destination

Disaster struck us blind.

A German sub was lurking,

And one ship was left behind.

The tenth of July was the day,

At two-four-five A.M.

The assault craft, they had landed.

Good luck to all of them.

At three o'clock they piped for us.

They told us to prepare.

Everyone was up and ready.

We knew we were next in there.

At four-three-five we manned our boats.

The ones left behind were sighing.

As we looked ahead through the darkness

We could see red tracer flying.

At five-two-five o'er the side we went,

And all the boys were wondering

If the guns we could hear in the distance

Were ours that were a-thundering.

Our boats went roaring through the dawn,

To the beaches we were bound,

There to let our boats all go

And come back for another round.

We worked away the morning

And it was drawing nigh to noon,

When a sudden shadow crossed the sun

And boy, it wasn't the moon!

The first one was a nightmare.

Bombs dropped and guns did bark,

Then smoke curled up from a freighter.

A bomb had found its mark.

The smoke came pouring out of her.

Ammunition burst in the sky,

But there was no time to save it.

Jerry was back for another try!

The raids at first, came thick and fast,

But our losses were not tall.

Of all the raids, and stuff they dropped

Three ships they got, is all.

For weeks we went without a rest.

We worked by night and day,

And waited for the slightest news:

How goes it? Are we making any way?

The slightest change in news was good,

It kept our spirits flying,

And we needed a lot of bucking up

To keep us really trying.

One day the buzzes came to rest,

At last we were returning,

But no one told us where it was,

And our curiosity kept us burning.

Then on the morning of the ninth, (August, '43)

Our boats up to their best,

We headed down the coastline,

And at dark dropped the hook to rest.

The next day, before daylight,

We headed out to sea.

All the boats in line ahead,

And fifth in line was me.

And so across to Malta.

From there no one knew where,

But all of us were hoping

That we wouldn't linger there.

They put us up in a rest camp,

Our own pleasure for to seek,

But now the days got longer

And slowly grew to weeks.

We're still here now, and do not know

If ever we'll be leaving,

But we still have our thoughts of loved ones

With whom we can spend the evening.

And so, dear Jean, I leave you now,

And my love for you grows stronger,

Just as the days grow into weeks.

But the time can't be much longer.

* This was written to Jean* while we were sitting in Malta waiting to see what happened next.

Roy Burt.

*Jean. Roy and Jean married after the war and were together for 77 years. More details in a future post.

And what happened next? The 81st Canadian Flotilla of Landing Craft returned to England via Gibraltar. The 80th Flotilla were sent north from Malta to participate in the invasion of Italy, Operation Baytown, beginning September 3, 1943.

Roy made it home from the war in Europe and enjoyed different occupations,

at home on the West Coast of Canada

More photographs - maybe even another poem! - from the Roy Burt collection, as given me by his daughter Laurel Pinske, will follow.

Please click here to view Photographs: Coming Back from Dieppe, Sicily (Joe Spencer Collection)

Unattributed Photos GH