Letters home from a son in wartime, ....... by convoy to South Africa and on to Suez

Roger Hall, 1922-43

In 1941, somewhere near Basra my uncle Roger wrote a 24 page letter to my grandmother.  

It was hand written and brought home by a friend and was the first real contact that my grandmother had had since he left Britain by convoy for South Africa, the Suez, and the war in the Mediterranean.

"Well, we got our tropical kit on Jan. 4th arrived at the boat the Duchess of Richmond, which was staying at Liverpool – I dare say you find all the gen you want in Lloyd's Shipping Register and I was put along with some very old friends of mine, into a hold which had been converted into Messes by the addition of hammock hooks, fixed tables and forms.  

The food was terrible, ghastly at first, but very soon the cooks got used to the rations and it improved immensely.  I couldn’t get a letter to you from the boat because it was guarded and the crew were confined to the ship.  
We sailed on the morning of 6th, lay out in the roads for a while, and moved over to Belfast in the night, where we packed up a good part of the convoy.  

We moved over to the coast of Scotland and picked up an escort and the rest of the convoy just off the Mull of something or other, 53 ships at the start not counting a navy escort, of which ours was by no means the largest.  

The Duchess of Richmond

I doubt if there was one under 10.000 tons; it was a wonderful sight – those five lines of massive steel hulls steaming along it seemed in sublime indifference to the dangers of the sea, wind or any other element. 

We moved round the north coast of Ireland and at the end of three days we were well out in Mid Atlantic.  We turned south in good time too, for it was bitterly cold, fortunately it was calm all the way and in due course arrived at Freetown.  

Our routine on the boat was this – up, reveille, till 8, wash tidy around, break till 5, tea at 5, free till 9, - darken ship.  And damned boring it was too.  After a fortnight of this and playing cards it was warmer (the weather I mean) and were able to sun-bathe.  

A few days after this (approx 3 weeks from sailing, I lost my diary in Greece)  we sailed into Freetown and wasn’t the sight of land welcome?  We anchored in the river and were immediately surrounded by fruit sellers and native divers for pennies.  

We were there for four days and I can well understand why Service Men are only allowed to stay six months there.  Such a heavy sweet damp smell came off shore – somewhat like a hothouse smell only with a only with a hothouse there is at least an honest smell of newly turned earth.  We were given quinine every day too, as a protection I presume against mosquitoes.  

Uncle Roger in 1939

We stayed  there for four days  - unloaded some R.A.F men.  Oh all this time I was broke – my money ran out as we reached Liverpool.  A good deal of the convoy had left us by now – for the Americas, and for Gibraltar, we only had about 27 ships, and 6 escorting vessels, 4 destroyers and 2 cruisers I understand.  

We put to sea again, and after about two weeks at sea we sighted the Cape, we couldn’t see much of it because of the spray and mist but it was possible to make out the mountains easily.  We had a smooth passage  (comparatively at least)  

There was a steep swell on but it didn’t trouble me at all.  Oh, long before this, after we had left Freetown we had a crossing the line ceremony.  I was one of the Mermen – the Son of Neptune – I wore a string skirt and spear – that was all I had!  I only hope the nurses and ATS girls on the next boat hadn’t a telescope!  

Two days from Cape Town we entered Durban Harbour on my birthday February 11th.  I was also paid for the first time here 10 ⁄- in English money.  The day after we changed it, and were allowed a shore from 12.00 hours to 23.00 hours."

Next week, the delights of South Africa in wartime

Pictures; from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and photograph of the Duchess of Richmond from http://www.liverpoolships.org/empress_of_canada_loss_by_fire.html