replacement. We turned in seas that seemed to come from every quarter and the decks and rigging were icing up. Tommy Cranston the ships carpenter was nearly swept overboard as he slipped and was thrown against a steel bulkhead breaking some ribs. I was told by the Bosun to be night watchman which meant that I had to see that Tommy was comfortable and visit him every hour as he was in great pain. I used a hurricane lamp to pick my way forad over the icy decks and then fuelled an open stove each time to keep him warm in his cabin. It was Tommy who had got me my first job and a chance at sea and I felt a special responsibility to him in his hour of need. It was a relief to finally reach the calmer waters of Halifax. Early next morning at first light a Doctor came out by launch and was able to give him proper aid. We replaced the lifeboat and a few days later we joined the next convoy and safely arrived without mishap in England through waters which now had far more U-boat activity. Eleven months had passed since I had joined the “Embassage” as a cabin boy and as we sailed into Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth I had a tinge of regret. I had started work as a boy but now being part of the Battle of the Atlantic, felt very mature, grown up and very much a man. Captain Emerson stood behind the counter at the Shipping Office as I stood before him to sign off. “Are You leaving us then Alfie?” “Yes I think I need a short break ashore awhile before I return” “I am leaving too” he replied with a wry smile,“ I am having to go into hospital for an operation on my toe.” I remembered that I had been responsible for the accident. We had been sailing from New Jersey with a cargo of pig iron and on nearing England there was heavy sea with a big swell running. I was at the helm and had a moments lack of concentration, the ship veered off course a little causing it to suddenly roll heavily. Capt. Emerson’s cabin was immediately below and from the bridge I distinctly heard a loud thud. About ten minutes later, with the ship steady again, he limped into the wheelhouse wearing a slipper and gave me a very nasty look. The truth suddenly dawned that his left foot was in great pain which I discovered had resulted from a heavy paper weight dropping off his desk on to his big toe crushing it. I hoped that he would not put a bad notice onto my final report. But I need not have feared, and as I was discharged he turned and said: “If you ever want a job there will be one on my new command when I am out of hospital” I thanked him profusely. The result of that lapse of mine, of allowing the ship to veer momentarily, Capt. Emerson going into hospital was that the poor “Embassage” was torpedoed at dawn on the 27th August 1941 at 54N 13W in a heavy westerly blowing. The two torpedoes fired by U 57 at another target had missed their mark but one hit “Embassage” forward of the bridge. Capt. Kiddie and thirty-eight crew perished almost immediately as the ship went down. Only the bosun and two seamen survived holding on to a boat full of water that had half foundered. They were rescued after 4 days adrift. Such was the luck of war, a mistake of steering, and a paperweight accident had saved our lives! Instead in due course I joined Capt Emerson on the “Royal Crown” for a couple of trips, until I took another short breather and decided once more to go to sea, after Christmas ashore, this time I signed on the “Kirkpool” 4,842 tons. The winter that January 1942 had really set in with a vengeance. The bitterly cold streets of North Shields on Tyneside were heaped with slush and ice amidst all the rubble from the constant night time bombing and the yellow coal smoke from hundreds of chimneys added to the gloom of the usual overcast skies. However the ragged kids still played

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