As I have said, J.W. was really keen to get to the bar; free drinks at such affordable prices it was hardly worth bothering. Regardless I was led into the Officers Bar, either Mrs Evans or Mrs McFarlaine had a birthday and was paying for the RPC (A very important abbreviation I was to learn).
Now during my school days I moved around frequently (my parents were divorced and Dad and I shifted from one lodging place to another) resulting in my being “The New Boy” at about 8 different schools. Those of you who have had that experience will appreciate the traumas associated with it. But this was something entirely different, all this “Gold Braid” after being a lowly Leading Seaman in cadets. Not to worry they seemed a decent bunch and the beer was free! Mind you I had never been and am still not accustomed to imbibing in the middle of the day (but you CAN teach old dog’s new tricks).
So this was my first experience of RFA personnel; me being very naive, still dressed in my NON TROPICAL clothes and feeling rather ill at ease. First chance I get, it’s down to “Toothy Wong’s” in the village and get some proper gear! “The Yacht” sat alongside in Stores Basin for a few weeks over Christmas and New Year, and lots of mechanical maintenance was carried out. At the risk of me being sued, the engine room team had been working “Tropical Routine”, without the early start and with a much earlier finish.
Now I told you I shared a cab with the 2nd Eng Tom Foster, he turned out to be a workaholic and ensured that everyone followed his example. I reckon every removable item in the engine room was removed, maintained and replaced. No showering and dressing in uniform for lunch; it was the “Duty Mess” or nothing. A proper start for a new 2nd; it was rumoured he was the youngest engineer in the RFA to get his “Double Ended Ticket” – steam and motor chief’s ticket. But a no messing around boss, do your work and we would get along – and we did.
I am not an engineer, but will tell you something of the main engine; A Doxford 6 cylinder vertically opposed piston diesel. This type of engine has the connecting rods of the upper pistons open to view, which then go down to connect to the crankshaft etc of the lower pistons. They look a bit like the old fashioned reciprocating steam engines
The maintenance routine called for a unit to be stripped every so many hours running, this was Tom’s delight, huge flogging spanners, pistons lifted out and liners ground to remove the wear ridge. Then new rings and all back together, after a few drinks in the bar it was not uncommon for the engineers to “Play Doxfords” . Standing in line bobbing up and down. You had to get the firing order right though.
The first time we went to sea I was standing by “on the plates” (no MCR on that ship). Air receivers full, all auxiliaries running waiting for the engine room telegraph to ring. Three levers; ahead/astern, throttle and air start. Remember this was the first time for me, the telegraph rang, the 3rd flicked the air start lever and I nearly ran for the ladder, there was the most horrendous noise as the engine turned over and fired. Air start trucks have got nothing on it. Like everything though, you get used to it.
I have mentioned DC CURRENT, well this was a DC ship and I was in for a very steep learning curve! Never mind I got there, but there is no dirtier job than pulling a galley exhaust fan apart which has years of carbon dust and fat on it! Reliant had two sets of generators, the main generators in the engine room and the RAS generators which fed the ATW’S (Auto Tensioning Winches). In a separate room, one of the many alterations and additions since being MV Somersby.
Something which caused great amusement, one of the “juniors”, had done some electrical theory and had in mind that; ”The lower the voltage the less current would flow”. Which is basically true, but when you’re putting a generator “ on line ”the incomer has to be generating the same voltage as those already running! It took many repeated explanations before he stopped winding the voltage back and then closing the circuit breaker; resulting in a flash, a bang and a pall of blue smoke drifting up through the engine room. The old DC Switchboards with “open” circuit breaker, all brass and copper contacts, and the generators with open commutators and brushgear were a lot of work to maintain.
I remember rebuilding an Air/Conditioning control panel (our workshop was in the fo’c’sle) we would strip them completely soaking the parts in acid to clean them up.
Me heading for the electrical workshop in the fo’c’sle
Mount all the components rewire everything and remount the starter in its box. I had done all this work and was taking the panel back to its location. The ship was moving about quiet heavily and as I stepped over the combing, caught my foot, fell to the deck and smashed the panel in about three pieces, BUGGER redo it all over again. The second mate was watching from the bridge window and thought this was really funny!
During my 12 month trip the ship visited the following ports, I may be chronologically incorrect but bear with me.
In and out of Subic Bay a couple of times during exercises,the great place of Olongapo City, this was like a cowboy town. A bar a shop, a bar a shop and so on (a bit like Sembawang). Tiny kids begging, and as soon as you opened your mouth they had you sussed ”Limey Bastard” you were called! Thanks to The Yanks.
Hong Kong better than Singapore cooler and cleaner,but full of Yanks on R&R from Vietnam. Red cross blood transfusions were followed by parties with the staff, as were Consular and Ambassadorial get-togethers. All in all a party town!.
Whilst in HK the engine room officers were treated to a “Banquet” by #1 Fireman, the crew (HK Chinese) had not been home for over 3yrs so we were treated to a big night out, see picture.
We also had a very sad experience; after customs rummager’s had found Opium in The Carpenter’s cabin, he was confined to the ship and his drugs confiscated. One morning the 2nd asked me if I’d seen the carpenter and told me to see if I could find him. I went to his cabin but the door was locked, so I went outside on deck and looked through his porthole.The poor man had hanged himself,from the pipe work on the deckhead. Believe me it was not a pretty sight, having forced the door open we cut him down and called the doctor. TOO LATE!
The Chinese being very superstitious, were reluctant to occupy his cabin. I think it took 3 applicants for his position before someone would stay, even then all soft furnishings had to be replaced. I don’t blame them!
ON A DIFFERENT TACK
They say “There’s no show without Punch”, well one of our 4ths Danny was a bit inclined to be violent. So much, that juniors on watch with him would always keep a safe distance. One night in the bar (in port) Danny asked our 2nd R/O “Scofe” for a “Lucky Strike” who declined, as he was running short (not very far to Danny’s cabin I might add). Danny became aggressive, with his usual statement of, “I’ll bleeding thump you”. However his seemingly spontaneous temper, became tempered when the reefer eng Ted Ellis asked “Would you like to thump me Danny” He backed off real quickly, it seemed he was selective as to who he would take on.
As is usual in these cases, he was his own undoing. During a “BanYan” he actually thumped the Doc’, who took the matter all the way and Danny was paid off. The funny part was he threw an RPC when leaving. MR HO the officer’s Bar Steward, always counted the empty cans after the event, to arrange the bill. Well, every empty can around was collected and placed outside the bar; must have cost him a fortune!
Our next notable trips[s] were to Aden – twice if I remember correctly. The Arabs and Yemenis were at odds and Britain was acting as a peacekeeping force. We were transporting whatever Stores we could, back to Singapore, the ship was tied up to bollards in the harbour and the “Pongoes”(Army) were ferrying the goods out to us in flat bottomed barges. The expats were burning cars and domestic white goods on the dockside,as there was no means of taking them home.
A scary side to this was that the Quartermaster and Duty Officer were armed.QM with a .303 from the bridge and the Duty Officer with a revolver. A 3rd Off (Povey) ex PO Himalaya was more dangerous than the locals (steer clear of the Quarterdeck).
On our second trip, things were hotting up between the locals and we were trying to complete the exercise ASAP. Whether by accident or design, aircraft came in and strafed the fuel tanks ashore.Leading to fuel being spilled across the harbour,others them dropped incendiary devices and ignited it. This seemed to be a covert way of attacking the RN and RFA’s,time to go so ship’s crew fore and aft. The 1st Off’ “Lurch” was on the fo’c’sle head when small arms fire was coming in from a dhow nearby. Poor old “Lurch” came down the ladder to the RAS Point keeping very low! See pic of me going to el/workshop above, that was the spot!
Back to Singapore and a bit of a rest (isn’t it wonderful when you are young you are bullet proof)? Backtracking to our arrival at Aden (1st or 2nd I’m not sure) and RPC’s. It was my birthday, so being a very good fellow I did the right thing and bought the drinks. Now you have to be very aware of protocol; Reliant having a Chinese Crew we also carried three British PO’s who had their own bar. The Yeoman and 2 signallers and it was the accepted thing to invite these three to an RPC should you desire! The trouble was that one invite was always reciprocated; now that was dangerous. “Come back aft after tea lecky” says “Nobby and Pat”, which I did the top was unscrewed from the “Don Bacardi”, thrown in the bin-won’t need that again!
My cabin was very poorly air conditioned, so quite often I would sleep out on the boat deck.
After the RPC’SSS, I awoke during the night lying on my back, staring straight up at the sky. Which was just a mass of stars, I’m not deeply religious, but remember quite clearly thinking; Jesus Christ I’ve done it this time!
Next episode 1st trip to Western Australia