91Čȱ¬

On the third or fourth day at Kythira we were told our chances of getting away were very slim and to destroy any information or diaries we may have possessed. I had kept a diary since leaving England and now regretfully, I destroyed it by tearing it up and pushing it down into the cracked soil of the olive grove. I since realised I was probably the only person to do so.
A Walrus amphibian aircraft had flown over one of the days but nothing came of it. That crew had guts because the sky was
full of enemy aircraft at that time. It was being said that the Germans would send them back to get a decent aircraft before battle could commence. The Walrus crew were probably looking for us.
I think there was a bit of despondency setting in amongst some people. An elderly officer was sleeping near me. He said he was cold so I gave him the red blanket that the Greek soldier in Piraeus had given me. I must say that I did not give up hope; I knew deep down that “this too shall pass”. However, it had better happen quickly, I thought. The best of being young and not too well educated was that although a lot of very hectic and serious things happened around me I don’t think my fear stayed with me. During attacks I “twittered” like everybody else but when it was over I didn’t remain worried. I seem to have let it all flow over me. In later life I realise that it must have been “quite an adventure”. The days were passed so “busily” and the nights were so welcome that we slept the sleep of babes once we could get to sleep.
The day we realised that we may not get away was in fact the last day. About two in the morning a “black” ship silently appeared in the bay. We were awakened quietly and told to get down by the quay. All the villagers were asleep. I was concerned about the people up in the cave which I had left the day before. I could not climb up to get them.
Later on I met a man who had been in the cave with me, they had all left the cave to come down on that day. I was glad I did not go back, I might have been left behind again.
The ship was H.M.S. “Auckland”, a New Zealand class sloop with 6 guns.
The necessity for quiet and secrecy of movement was now apparent to everybody. A “fifth columnist” would have somehow sent information through to “Gerry” that we were getting away. I did hear that the Germans moved in the day after we left.
We got aboard the large whaler type boat that came to fetch us from the beach. There were two or three in use — it was starlight and no moon thank goodness. I heaved myself up the rope ladder where, at the top, a large Chief P/O said, “Come on you lads hurry up”. We hurried. I’ve seen films since then of
people climbing ladders or nets up the ship’s side. I now know how they felt.
I was accommodated in the C/PO’s mess which was about twelve feet by ten feet in size. I huddled on the floor to sleep but I was immediately given some navy cocoa and a “bully” sandwich — that was the first real hot drink of anything I had tasted since leaving Athens, other than Greek coffee or water. Some of us were given jobs or told what to do when the bell for action stations sounded. I was told my place was to stand by a short flight of steps up to the deck.
On the way to Crete a Blenhiem appeared in the blue morning sky. It showed no colours of the day. The Auckland opened fired with an anti aircraft gun. Out came the very lights of the recognition colours of the day. Fire ceased. “We don’t trust any bloody aeroplanes any more” said a sailor when I asked why. Come to that neither did I. I am now one of those with immense respect for sailors of the Royal Navy. When at sea and under attack from the air there is nowhere to go. When “action stations” bells sounded I noticed the lack of panic, but the speed and efficiency was of the highest order.
I had not seen a single soul who belonged to my unit since I had gone from Athens up to Lamia with Sgt. Wallis. The Auckland took us to Suda Bay, Crete, where we boarded the “Itria”, a British India ship that was coal fired.
The Germans were using the airfields of south Greece by now to hammer at anything afloat. Suda Bay harbour was a prime target and I was pleased to know that “Itria” was not staying long. A constant air raid alert existed.
Out at sea “Itria” joined a naval squadron of some strength, The “Ramilles” and “Barham”, “The Courageous” aircraft carrier and various destroyers and cruisers. On the “Itria” I found a nice quiet place on a heap of coal on the open deck and I had a good sleep. The “Itria” could only manage twelve knots. There was a stove set up on deck full of hot McConakies meat and veg stew. Anyone just got a mug full if he needed it.
No troops were to sleep on deck so when I awoke I moved to a hold towards the front of the ship. There were about three hundred men in the hold with one ladder up to the deck.
I went down this vertical ladder into the hold where I was happy to meet some men of my unit — 54 R.S.U. They had left Hassani and gone to Kalamata and thence to Crete. Lofty Collins, Ken Hawke, Lofty Maybour, Borely, Arthur Mee, Organ, Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all. Two of the 54 R.S.U. detachment had received bomb splinter wounds. Don Robinson had shrapnel wound on his back; Luxton had his calf sliced off by a bomb splinter.
A check was made of who was on the ship; number, rank, unit, and the sun shone on high. That night we found out how sound carries at sea. A series of crashes occurred on the ship’s side. The heavy battle cruisers with their sixteen-inch guns were carrying out a bombardment. We later found out that the big ships had bombarded a target on Rhodes Island.
All troops are below decks when there is any action unless they have been given a specific job or action station. It is not very “happy making” to be below deck in a hold whilst there is “something doing” aloft.
The gunfire went on for a while then stopped as suddenly as it started and I thought the German Air Force would make us pay tomorrow. Nothing happened. We sailed to Alexandria. We then returned to Aboukir.
At Aboukir we rejoined our unit, where we were rekitted, then paid two weeks pay and sent on leave.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.