Aboard the Devonshire
The grey ship looked dirty. We went on board and were shown our quarters. All ‘troop deck personnel’, as we were designated-in the typical military and British class system-occupied the lower decks. To say our accommodation was spartan would be an exaggeration. It was a metal compartment painted grey with watertight doors in the bulkheads between it and the next. The floor was of a composition material and to avoid damage to it we had to remove our boots and wear shoes or plimsolls. Our troop deck was just above sea level with two above it. Across these compartments were fixed mess tables and benches seating about 20. At one end was a porthole which gave some light and sight of waves passing by. Above the tables, another surprise, we were expected to hang hammocks and sleep.
We discovered the galley on the deck above were our food, served in containers, had to be carried down to our deck, shared out and eaten at the mess table. The accommodation was so restricted when all the hammocks were slung, head to feet, we were packed in as snugly as sardines in a tin. We moved from deck to deck via stairways (companionways). In this compartment we were expected to live, eat and sleep. The mess table was our home. Ablutions and the ‘heads’ (lavatories) were forward in the bow of the ship. We were issued with saltwater soap (which never lathered) for washing in sea water. Fresh water was restricted. Conditions on the troop decks were not all that different from the times of the old wooden walls of Nelson’s day and before.
We then found that troop deck personnel served as working crew too. The next day we were to form a baggage party to assist passengers board when she berthed at the Princes Landing Stage across the Mersey.
The ship was cold and as we were the only troops aboard very empty. It was a little eerie. That first night, we had a meal of some description and not being confined to the ship I ventured ashore – this shows a lot of trust in us not attempting to abscond – to attempt to visit the parents of my school friend Mac, whose parents had moved to nearby suburban Wallasey. I telephoned and they promised a welcome. But try as I might I could not find their home, and after wandering for many a mile around many unlit streets and the dark and inhospitable docks I gave up.
We had also been given our ports of call. These were Port Said, Aden, Colombo, Singapore and Hong Kong with expected dates of arrival so one of the first things I did was to dash off a note to my father with these. And along the route at these ports of call it was pleasing to get letters from him.
That night was our first in a hammock. It is a peculiar thing to sleep in for it closes around one. One sleeps in a ‘U’ and it is hard to get in, but easy to fall out of. Eventually the cold night passed-there was no heating at all. Then next morning standing on deck I thoroughly enjoyed the trip from the outer Float, through all the other docks and various locks of the Birkenhead dock system as the Devonshire was towed stern first through them by tugs.
Greetings from France. interesting account. The plane was a ‘Mustang’, shooting up, the P.L.A radio station.
I had the pleasure of the sea trip to H.K. on the”Dev.’.It was certainly a way of getting to know ones fellow warriors. As I remember it, there were 200 hammocks on our troop deck, and one ‘sprung’ porthole,the smallest unfortunate be allowed the adjacent space, Lo Wu was heaven. Incidentally after the flood came the pestilence,
Do you remember the plague of dysentery that hit all of us.I have a mental image of an disinterested M.O. sitting at a 6′ table doling out heaps of white, unmarked ,tablets without speaking or looking up. Guard duty was a pleasure, one was never alone. As ‘The Chief Scout’ says,’ What dos’not kill you, will make you stronger’.
Cheers, John
John, you must have been in the same draft as me, and yes passage on our troop deck was quite an experience. I remember still those hammocks and waking in the night when we all swung together. And the lives we led centred upon our mess table. The food too was quite awful. The same day after day. Lo Wu at least stayed still.
A Pestilence indeed, with only that row of filthy thunderboxes, stinking fly infested holes in the ground and nothing else by way of a door for privacy, no loo paper as such, or hand washing facilities and set at a slightly higher elevation and parallel, thus in full view to the track running through the camp.
As to guards, there was certainly plenty of company but not that one would normally seek out. But what did impress me were the number of stars in the sky the myriad bugs, how noisy it was with sundry cries, croaks and screams plus, of course the smell (stench?) of China.
Certainly Cheers to all that.
John.
I still have 2 Menu cards from 1943 when 78 Med Rgt (DLOY) was sailing on the Devonshire from Capetown to Durban en route to Egypt.Incidentally the Comet flew commercially long before 1958,I was stationed at Changi (1952-1954)where the Comet was based and have a letter recovered from the aircraft that crashed whilst taking off from Dum Dum airport.
Regards,Len.
Len,
Thank you for that and for getting in touch. The Devonshire had a long history and there must be thousands of squaddies, like you (?), me and others who have memories of her. It would seem you are an ex-regular or survivor from WWII and served in Singapore and no doubt other stations as well.
It’s also surprising the Devonshire had menu cards, never mind a menu card the food we got was of the same kind every day and universally lousy. Or do I take it you weren’t travelling troop deck?
Would you care to share any of those experiences with us?
If so please use the contact form and I shall get back to you.
Regards,
John
Hi John,
The squaddie in 1943 was my father,who was BSM of 106 Battery,that’s probably why the Menu Cards!I am ex RAF,hence the Changi connection.Possibly a disappointment to dad that I didn’t become a gunner.His father was a Bombrdier with A Battery,100 Brigade in WW1.Here endeth the history lesson.Cheers,Len.
Len, thanks for that. It explains a lot.
Sorry we won’t be hearing more about you, for the RAF was a different world to mine and my fellow Gunners.
But your father’s service is duly noted.
Regards,
John.
I was on the Dunra on way to Hong Kong it broke down and had a refit in 1949
Thanks Bill for getting in touch, it looks as if we have things in common like both being Gunners and serving in Hong Kong.
Would you care to share something about your self and Hong Kong?
What were your experiences?
We are all getting older and soon won’t be able to do so. It’s then gone forever. Now is the time to pass the story on, and for each one of us NSmen there is something to tell particularly like you and I who troopshipped tofar away destinations the other side of the world. Young lads today don’t have that opportunity.
I look forward to a positive response and then I can tell you how we can proceed.
Again my thanks for writing.
Kind regards,
John.
I Sailed out to hong kong on the Devonshire In Nov 1950 , In the army R.A
Hi Ron,
Interesting and thank you. Always good to hear from another Gunner.
All those who traveled on the Devonshire have distinct memories of the ship! Perhaps you would be prepared to say something about your experiences.
Perhaps too as a fellow Gunner you would add what unit you were with in Hong Kong, where and something about your service.
I hope you will do so for as we all get older and pass away such re-collections now in your memory are gone for ever.
Sincerely,
John.
I remember those swinging hammocks; eating jugged hare and stewed something or other – prunes?
I was on my way back to Blighty from Korea out of Pusan via Hong Kong about Sept/Oct 1951. We had BCOF lads who were all spit and polish; Gloucester survivors who kept to themselves and KOSB National Servicemen who were in a helluva mood and downright mutinous over our treatment on board. We were going home so we got over it. I can also remember manhandling tubs of slop from the pitching galleys in the bow down iron stairways to our messdecks. I know those tubs received an extra ration from the poor seasick stumbling squaddie at the other end of the tub! One lasting memory of that trip was the guy with a jar of gold teeth who had it ripped out of his hand and thrown overboard. Wasn’t that a wonderful welcome home parade we got at Southampton!
Hi Alan,
Thank you for getting in touch and making that lively response. A pleasure to read.
Conditions on the Devonshire certainly impressed themselves on your mind as it did so many others who traveled aboard her. It seemed to me that the conditions could have been improved but there was no will to do so. Eventually she was improved but long after our time. I doubt though they got rid of her roll or improved her sea-worthiness. But she did give and had long service. Lastly as a school ship in the Mediterranean.
Of course, and as you say a lot depended upon which direction one was traveling!
Aboard the Dunera on which I returned, there was little fraternization between the different drafts of returnees. We all kept to ourselves just being glad we were going home. There were quite a few from Korea, a very mixed bag and none seemed in good shape. Most were drunk all the while. We had no particular reception at Southampton. What I do remember is that it was a beautiful day, we were soon ashore and on a train
Would you care to write more about your National Service in general and in Korea with the KOSB’s?
If so, please let me know. All these memories are important as pieces of history, personal, social. military and world.
As an old KOSB National serviceman I remember the Devonshire and the swinging hammocks; the lousy food and arrogant treatment from the “staff”. After Korea we put up with all of it because we were going home.
Hi John
Having been referred to in your memoirs and reading again the added written hint, in your last year’s Xmas letter I decided to also make a contribution to the exchange of comments that others have made. I was most intrigued to read that I accompanied you to the same TA airborne unit in Hendon after our discharge from the regular army. My memory only recalls the idea and prospect of jumping out of an aircraft, with only a survey instrument, behind enemy lines, did not really appeal to me at all.
My first job after demob was a Temporary Civil Engineering assistant in the Admiralty initially down at Chatham Dockyard. My experience as a Surveyor in the Army helped significantly to kick start my career in engineering right up to Chartered Engineer status. I am therefore very grateful of that which National Service bestowed upon me. I post this comment because I may not be the only one who at the time really thought that life in the army, was not an ideal way of absence 10,000 miles away from home. My memories of the passage of a five week, slow boat to China, (the song was actually popular at the time) which on arrival in Hong Kong made me think I was an awful long way from home. I have since returned there (with Tim Tate-Smith a fellow NS man, now a sadly departed lifelong friend), by air and could not believe how quick the same journey has become, with the progress and passing of time.
Many thanks John for keeping in touch and sharing those remarkable years with you.
Ian.
Hello Ian,
How happy I am to see (at long last) you have joined me on here. We did after all spend two years together in close proximity and shared many of the same experiences.
As you rightly say, although we didn’t appreciate it at the time, our National Service did confer in more ways than one individual benefit. For like you as a Chartered Engineer it gave me a kick start in my profession and in becoming a Chartered Surveyor. I’m very grateful for that.
It’s sad about Tim TS (also a life long friend) that he didn’t live to see and share this further experience. And, as you rightly remark so much has changed in the intervening years.
My very kindest regards and my appreciation of a long time friendship that commenced in 1949, as squaddies in a vintage WW1 wooden hut at Larkhill.
John.