Across the Atlantic
That same evening we set sail overseas from Halifax and arrived at Greenock on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland six days later. Our crossing was quite uneventful. A couple of times we sighted Royal Navy ships but the Q.E. did not have any escort vessels. Its only protection from enemy U-boats was its speed and maneuverability, as it kept changing its course back and forth by about 15 degrees every 10 minutes.
Most of our time on board was spent on lifeboat drills, playing cards, sleeping, reading, star watching, and of course lots of eating. It was somewhat eerie at night gliding through the water at about 35 knots without lights. A couple of nights there was a full moon glistening on the water and some of us spent the evenings leaning on the railing watching for the enemy. The coast of Ireland was a most welcome sight.
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Toronto Star, Nov 23, 1943
After arriving in Bournemouth we went directly to the High Cliff Hotel which was to be our initial home in England for the next two weeks. Luckily we did not have to report to the R.C.A.F. overseas headquarters at the Royal Bath Hotel until the next day. I spent the morning soaking in a giant size bathtub and then having a long, long sleep.
After catching up on our sleep we gathered in the lounge of the Royal Bath, one of England's premier five star hotels, to mingle with other R.C.A.F. types in the hope of finding a few familiar faces. We did find out that a couple of the ships from our original convoy were diverted to Newfoundland because of the storm and still hadn't made it overseas.
After dinner we listened to the BBC news on the radio or the wireless as called in Britain. It was tuned into Lord Haw-Haw on the Germany shortwave. Apparently he broadcast propaganda along with distorted news bulletins each evening. This night he welcomed the new contingent of Canadian aircrew which had just arrived at Bournemouth on the south coast. He also said that the Luftwaffe (German air force) would be over to give us an official greeting the next morning.
About 6 a.m. the next morning we were awakened by the air raid sirens. Jumping out of bed I saw three Messerschmitts flying in low from the English Channel. They buzzed over the town for about five minutes and then disappeared out over the Channel flying about 50-100 feet above the water. By flying at this height the aircraft cannot be picked up by radar and as they are traveling at such high speeds it is virtually impossible to hit them with anti-aircraft fire. Also we learned that by the time our friendly fighter aircraft could scramble to intercept, the enemy would be long gone. We also were told that raids such as we witnessed were quite common along the south coast, but caused little damage. On that evening's news Lord Haw-Haw asked if we enjoyed their reception committee's welcome.
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In Bournemouth
Bournemouth is one of England's most beautiful cities - very clean, lovely parks and gardens, quaint shops, and friendly people. The second evening some of us decided to go to the dance at the Pavilion which was located in the park a few blocks from the ocean. It was a great spot, a good orchestra and lots of pretty girls, although the competition among the service personnel was quite fierce. I was lucky, however, and wasn't turned down too often. Considerable time was spent by my partner and myself trying to interpret the funny English expressions which were used.
The last Waltz was played at 10 p.m. and I asked my favorite partner, Diana, if I could escort her home. England then was on double summer time with the result that darkness started about 10:30 p.m. By the time we arrived at her home in the suburbs it was really dark due to low cloud and black out restrictions and I had the problem of trying to find my way back to the High Cliff Hotel. From Diana's directions the first few blocks were fine but then I got lost at the roundabout. For a couple of minutes I talked to what I thought was a young person but he or she turned out to be a mailbox. I finally made it back to the promenade walk that winds around the English Channel shoreline, and after receiving directions to the hotel I started up the final few hundred yards in total darkness. Before I knew it I was in the middle of a barbed wire entanglement. Large barricades, which had been set up to slow down any possible invasion from the sea, were dotted along the water front roads and walkways. Unfortunately, by the time I had extricated myself from my predicament my combination raincoat-topcoat bore a few noticeable scars.
While awaiting available postings some of us were granted a week's leave, and the local R.A.F. Ladies Auxiliary arranged for Monty Brunton and myself to spend some time at a private home in Edinburgh, Scotland. We took the train to Waterloo Station in London and then transferred to the "Flying Scotsman" for the nonstop trip to the north. It is quite eerie zipping through the darkened country side at 100 m.p.h.
The last Waltz was played at 10 p.m. and I asked my favorite partner, Diana, if I could escort her home. England then was on double summer time with the result that darkness started about 10:30 p.m. By the time we arrived at her home in the suburbs it was really dark due to low cloud and black out restrictions and I had the problem of trying to find my way back to the High Cliff Hotel. From Diana's directions the first few blocks were fine but then I got lost at the roundabout. For a couple of minutes I talked to what I thought was a young person but he or she turned out to be a mailbox. I finally made it back to the promenade walk that winds around the English Channel shoreline, and after receiving directions to the hotel I started up the final few hundred yards in total darkness. Before I knew it I was in the middle of a barbed wire entanglement. Large barricades, which had been set up to slow down any possible invasion from the sea, were dotted along the water front roads and walkways. Unfortunately, by the time I had extricated myself from my predicament my combination raincoat-topcoat bore a few noticeable scars.
While awaiting available postings some of us were granted a week's leave, and the local R.A.F. Ladies Auxiliary arranged for Monty Brunton and myself to spend some time at a private home in Edinburgh, Scotland. We took the train to Waterloo Station in London and then transferred to the "Flying Scotsman" for the nonstop trip to the north. It is quite eerie zipping through the darkened country side at 100 m.p.h.
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Monte Brunton and GF Deeth in Edinburgh
Our hosts were very friendly and we spent a nice week taking in all the famous sights, as well as enjoying good home cooking. One evening we were taken to the local pub where we had lots of fun playing darts, penny tossing and the Scottish brew, although at that time I was staying mainly with ginger beer or gin and lime. Mixed drinks in Britain during wartime measured about 1/2 an ounce of liquor so you weren't likely to get too tipsy on one or two. Monty met a couple of friends from his home town and they insisted we go along with them on a pub crawl. However, after the first stop I bowed out and headed for home. About four hours later there was a large commotion outside my bedroom window and I ended up putting Monty to bed and apologizing to our hosts for waking up the neighborhood. I am sure it was several weeks before they asked any more Canadian aircrew to spend a week with them.
