Welcome to the Rock, wooden walls and the start of a long wait
The Vetch had docked about 300 yards south of the dockyard signal tower and the day we left her there was a final number of items we had to take to naval stores such as five sets of binoculars, telescopes and flags etc. On arriving at stores I tried to make a deal for a pair of binoculars but the storekeeper would not play. Eventually he said bring your trolley this way and went round the store disposing of the equipment in a very rough fashion. Coming to a 6’ by 6’ by 4’ deep box he picked the binoculars up and slung them into the box one at a time. Telescopes went in another box in a similar fashion.
Those binoculars whilst on the ship were given a right royal treatment and were incredibly well looked after. I once saw a sig given seven days jankers for cleaning the lenses with bunting material from a flag. They reckoned it was too rough and could scratch the lenses…
Those binoculars whilst on the ship were given a right royal treatment and were incredibly well looked after. I once saw a sig given seven days jankers for cleaning the lenses with bunting material from a flag. They reckoned it was too rough and could scratch the lenses…
After returning from the stores with the required signed forms, we said our good byes and the three sigs were transported to one of old England’s wooden walls, HMS Cormorant¹. The ship had headroom of around 5’-3”, going down to 4’-6” below the massive cross beams and it was possible to step into your own hammock. The dog Oppo (who incidentally had never been ashore since we got him) came with us and settled in well. If the square rig was there he was happy and this sailing ship was next to full of them.
Gibraltar was a staging post for demobbing servicemen. If your demob number was high, you could be on the Rock for quite a while though. This was because Churchill did not want too many troublemakers back home too soon. There were a number of these holding units around the world that were worked by the demob number that the government could fiddle to suit their own purposes.
Actually, wars can be useful in many respects because men and women of all creeds and colours can debate and prepare to set it right. My discussions on the mess decks, in barracks and meeting places, it became common knowledge that our parents had had a green rub before the war and it was up to us to correct it. The anomaly still exists today of jobs for the boys, but after each world war we take a bigger step to correcting these shambolic practices.
So in 1945/46, the system was to hold them back until they can control them. Remember some are coming back armed and they know we know how to use them. Gibraltar was inundated with forces of all description and accommodation was difficult to find, hence our quarters being the sailing ship.
Another trial is keeping these idle minds occupied, as there were probably 500 men available for each profession or trade on Gib at that time.
As a signalman, I started off working one week in four at the dockyard signal station, as there was so many available to cover the duties. The other three weeks were spent sunbathing, undertaking sports and doing voluntary work for charities. Later on voluntary classes of all description were held and by 1946 were highly organised although teaching facilities were meagre but most subjects were open to those with the hunger to learn. I attended classes in mining, building, and surveying, looking for the niche I intended to fill back home. Gibraltar was one place I explored more than any other I ever visited. Although the place was crowded, a lad called Pinnah and I virtually had a private beach at Catalan Bay, a small village at that time, totally secluded only access through the tunnel from the dockyard and from the sea. The occupation of the village was mainly fishing and families were very suspicious at first but delightful when the trust grew. Now a road has been thrust through to this once Shan-gri-la and life is just bearable. Although there were many army lads based there I cannot remember any visiting Catalan in my time.
Gibraltar was a staging post for demobbing servicemen. If your demob number was high, you could be on the Rock for quite a while though. This was because Churchill did not want too many troublemakers back home too soon. There were a number of these holding units around the world that were worked by the demob number that the government could fiddle to suit their own purposes.
Actually, wars can be useful in many respects because men and women of all creeds and colours can debate and prepare to set it right. My discussions on the mess decks, in barracks and meeting places, it became common knowledge that our parents had had a green rub before the war and it was up to us to correct it. The anomaly still exists today of jobs for the boys, but after each world war we take a bigger step to correcting these shambolic practices.
So in 1945/46, the system was to hold them back until they can control them. Remember some are coming back armed and they know we know how to use them. Gibraltar was inundated with forces of all description and accommodation was difficult to find, hence our quarters being the sailing ship.
Another trial is keeping these idle minds occupied, as there were probably 500 men available for each profession or trade on Gib at that time.
As a signalman, I started off working one week in four at the dockyard signal station, as there was so many available to cover the duties. The other three weeks were spent sunbathing, undertaking sports and doing voluntary work for charities. Later on voluntary classes of all description were held and by 1946 were highly organised although teaching facilities were meagre but most subjects were open to those with the hunger to learn. I attended classes in mining, building, and surveying, looking for the niche I intended to fill back home. Gibraltar was one place I explored more than any other I ever visited. Although the place was crowded, a lad called Pinnah and I virtually had a private beach at Catalan Bay, a small village at that time, totally secluded only access through the tunnel from the dockyard and from the sea. The occupation of the village was mainly fishing and families were very suspicious at first but delightful when the trust grew. Now a road has been thrust through to this once Shan-gri-la and life is just bearable. Although there were many army lads based there I cannot remember any visiting Catalan in my time.
¹ An 1877 sloop; renamed Rooke in 1946.