A Merchant Seaman Throughout the War

A Merchant Seaman throughout the War

I was a few months short of my sixteenth birthday when war was declared and probably looked young for my age. Small wonder, then, that the recruiting officers for the Army, Navy and Airforce all refused to accept my services; the RAF simply told me to go away, the Navy said I had flat feet and the Army told me to go and join the Boy Scouts!

I had been thrown out of the orphanage on my 14th birthday and had no idea what to do. I persuaded a friend’s mother to sign the parental consent form and joined Vindicatrix as a trainee deck hand. I celebrated my 16th birthday in the Vindi and then shipped out as a deck boy in the Arundel Castle: I made three voyages in her and moved on to “Bosworth”, “Iroquois”, “RFA Dingledale”, “San Ambrosio”, “Empire Bittern” and then “British Fidelity”.

Whilst aboard the Dingledale we took part in 'Operation Pedestal' involving refueling the escort ships protecting the convoy to Malta. Amongst the ships in the convoy was the 'Ohio', a tanker which was severely bombed. Barely afloat, she arrived in Malta assissted by two Destroyers with her cargo of much needed aviation spirit intact.

Sometime during 1942 I found myself in hospital in Gibraltar suffering with duodenal ulcers. I was subsequently returned to the UK as a DBS (Distressed British Seaman) and told to report to my doctor with my medical report. I was enjoying my life at sea and had no desire to come ashore so I threw it away and reported to the shipping office as fit for duty.

Around September 1943 we made a passage to the U.S.A aboard British Fidelity and thence to Bizerta where a combination of circumstances (involving some alcohol), resulted in me missing the vessel when she sailed. I met up with a couple of black American GIs who were transporting stores and hitched a lift with them to Algiers. (It seemed a good idea at the time!)

In Algiers I reported to the British Consul, who was less than impressed with my adventures. He did, however, have me hospitalized because I had contracted Malaria during my travels.

I returned to the UK, (I’ve forgotten the name of the vessel), and reported to Dock Street Pool Office where the Clerk was unhappy with my explanation of the “Voyage Not Completed” from the British Fidelity. He told me that it was a serious offence to jump ship and that I could be jailed. He did, however, offer an alternative: if I chose to sign on for special operations all would be forgiven. I signed and my Discharge Book shows “ Special Ops. for the liberation of Europe”.

My involvement in the Normandy Landings began on D-Day + 1, when I crossed to Arromanches in the “Otterhound” which was, I think, a coastal tanker laden with fresh water (in case the Germans had poisoned the water supply ashore). Next was an ammunition ship, I’m afraid I’ve forgotten her name, then the Duke of Lancaster (Hospital ship), and various other vessels until November 1944. Throughout this whole period my Discharge Book shows me as being signed on the Otterhound.

Fed up with the weather in the Channel I then signed on the “Ruahine”, and sailed for New Zealand.

My final ship was the “Sam Donard” and I came ashore at war’s end.

Dear Lord, I miss those days.

Reg Payn. Discharge Book number R206591

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