1st INFANTRY DIVISION, ROYAL SIGNALS, MOASCAR 1951
"FREE CRUISE"
As Remembered By Clive Spear
Browsing through past issues of ‘The Canal Zoners’ I came across an article in the Nov 2007 issue from Bill Julian – Royal Signals, Fayid – commenting on his cruise on the Empress of Australia which reminded me of the cruise I and many others took in November/December 1951 in that same ship to Egypt following the troubles there.
We left Catterick bound for Liverpool and on arriving were informed that our departure to the land of sun and sand had been delayed due to the “Cruise Liner” bumping into the harbour wall causing damage to the ship which would take about a week to repair!! We were taken to our temporary accommodation at the barracks of the Lancashire Fusiliers in Chester. There we made the acquaintance of their sergeant major who was not very pleased to have a lot of “scruffy and poorly disciplined” apologies for soldiers wandering about HIS camp and on HIS parade square. The week passed and we were taken back to Liverpool and boarded our cruise ship and set sail for Egypt. The ship was packed to the proverbial rafters with the lucky ones sleeping in hammocks or in small bunks but some were left with sleeping wherever they could find a space.
The weather was not in our favour as we left and very windy. The wind soon increased and before we had gone too far it reached gale force which continued through to the Bay of Biscay. Most of the ‘passengers’ suffered from the severe bouts of the dreaded mal de mer. Soon the heads were awash and many of the lower deck passengers were to be seen with a bucket sitting in any corner he could find awaiting what he thought was certain death. Stabilisers were not heard of then and even some of the sailors in the crew were to be seen leaning over the rails.
Sleep was not an option and some friends and I passed the nights away playing cards in one of the rest rooms with our legs hooked around the table legs and hanging on while the ship rolled from side to side and up and down. Someone with a warped sense of humour had the bright idea of serving up kippers for breakfast after the first night of the gale. Not many stayed to eat them!!
Eventually, the gale subsided and we were soon through to the blue Mediterranean and arrived at the port of Algiers. We were given shore leave for the day with strict orders NOT to enter the CASBAH and to be back in time to rejoin the ship before she sailed in the evening. A few of us had a look around the town and found ourselves in an area of very interesting shops but then noticed that the light was deteriorating and the buildings were beginning to meet overhead. Swarthy Arabs with daggers and swords hanging from their waist bands lounged in doorways and as we were deciding that we should get out of there a group of Red caps and local police appeared to advise us that this was indeed the Casbah and we were escorted out and sent in the direction of the more civilised part of town. We then found a small restaurant and after some discussion thought we could afford a meal plus one of our party said he could speak some French!! Schoolboy French, he found out later, was not understood in Algiers!! We had the meal we thought we could afford but our maths was not up to it and we found we were a little short of what was required!! The Manager appeared, our ‘French speaking member’ gave up and remained quiet whilst we explained by pidgin English and sign language that we were honest and good British soldiers from the large troopship in the harbour and it would not take long for us to return there to obtain the additional money to pay him! He eventually agreed and back to the ship we went but having got on board were told that one back we could not go ashore again in any circumstances! Our reputation must have gone down a bit in Algiers.
The cruise then went well and we could enjoy some warm sun and watch the flying fish and dolphins, this was the life.
Next stop was Port Said where we anchored in the middle of the harbour and were kept below decks as a few bullets were nipping about from the shore and ricocheting off the ships sides. Next morning all was quiet and those posted here were ferried ashore to waiting lorries to be taken to their respective camps down the Canal Zone. The date was December 15th 1951. So ended my first ocean cruise, not the last but the only one that was free!!
I agree Bill Julian that I enjoyed my time aboard despite the uncomfortable start and also my time in the Canal Zone though there were some hairy moments. I would not have missed doing my time for anything as it was in the main very enjoyable. I have not seen any photos of my comrades from that time but I have not got a very good memory for names