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Dusty Miller - ex PO Seaman wrote on 29 January 2009 HMS
CARYSFORT 1966 -1969 COMMISION There
is an old naval saying “My last ship was my best ship” Which
is true because you always remember the good times, and quickly
forget the bad, but in this case it is not true. CARYSFORT will
always be my best ship. My
name is Dusty Miller I was a PO Seaman on the last commission
1966-1969. If
you will bear with me I will try to relate some of my fond memories
of this commission and I hope it will bring back some to you. I
will start with the day we all assembled in the Drill Shed in Guzz
Barracks and marched down to the ship (that was the done thing in
those days) I was in the aft PO’s mess next to the greenies mess,
I remember thinking these messmates don’t seem a bad lot.
Little did I know what I was letting myself in for! We
had our commissioning ceremony in Guzz dockyard and some of the
families came on board. The Captain was Commander Bates and I think
it was a J.MEM who cut the cake with the Captain’s wife.
I hope I can find a photo of this. Next was our work up at Portland and of course the Torrey Canyon incident. What I remember of it is as follows. It was a Sunday and one watch was on W/End. Our Yeoman, Vic Cornwall had a mate on one of the other ships whose birthday it was. He came over at lunchtime for a wet and we made arrangements to go ashore that evening at 1900 (because in those days that was opening time on Sundays). I think it was myself, Jan Eddy, Tom Bristow, and the Yeo went and picked up his mate and went into Portland. By about 2100 birthday boy was getting a bit legless so we decided to get him back onboard. When we got to the dockyard gate we knew something was amiss with so much activity going on. We got him back to his ship and were told they were getting ready for sea and we needn’t laugh because we were going as well. When we got onboard it was chaotic, with people joining from other ships. The duty PO was one of the S&S department and they were getting the upper deck ready for sea so I think he was very relieved to see us. After a while we got it sorted out the best we could. The Buffer and the rest of the seamen PO’s were on w/end. Soon the pipe was made close up SSD then we realized the Coxswain, Jock Cameron, was not onboard so I drew the short straw and had to do it. I hadn’t taken a ships wheel for over 5 years and although you don’t forget how to do it, you don’t want to be thrown in at the deep end. The Captain then called down to say he wanted to be first out of the harbour so he didn’t want to waste time turning inside. Instead he would go out astern through the harbour entrance. I was told to keep it steady and he would tell me when were passing through. I felt like saying “don’t bother”. Anyway we made it and were the first ship away. When SSD fell out we mustered all the seamen on the Iron Deck to see who we had and who had joined from the other ships. We decided to chop them into 4 and said from left to right first, middle, morning, and forenoon watch, now away you go and get your heads down. Of course nobody knew who was who so when it came to watch change over it was chaos again. Within
a few hours we were in the Lands End area and we were the first RN
ship on station.
We didn’t know it at that time but we would be the last to
leave. One of the AB’s who had joined from Osprey said to me the
next morning “How long do you think I will be on here because
I’m getting married next week” I think he would have made it as
all the rest of our crew were bussed down to Falmouth within the
next couple of days.
We stayed around the area and had now been joined by other RN
ships maybe about 6 in all to keep the area clear of shipping and to
plot the oil slicks.
By now the air was full of the smell of oil and detergent.
IT WAS FOUL. Within a couple of days it was decided to bomb the wreck to try and burn off the oil in the tanks.
Prior to this, Commander Bates and our
Navigator
- Lt Simon McCaskill, had gone over in our sea boat to have a
close up view.
We were stationed about 1 to 2 miles off while the bombing
took place on 28 March 1967.
The 1st pass was a miss but on the 2nd it was a success.
Buccaneer aircraft from 800 Squadron based at Lossiemouth were used and they
dropped 42 1,000lb bombs followed by RAF Hunter jets with drop cans
of aviation fuel.
The actual flames were about 150 ft high at least, and we had
a grandstand view of this. Later
on Sea Vixens from Yeovilton and Buccaneers from Brawdy as
well as more RAF Hunters with napalm joined until the wreck was
declared free from oil. In the days that followed all the RN ships returned and we
stayed on to take charge of the mop up at sea We managed a
couple of runs ashore in Falmouth and one in Newlyn (Penzance) then it was back to Guzz for a
cleanup and back to Portland to finish off the work up. We
then started our 1st home leg of our commission.
There are a few things that I remember.
First being our visit to Kiel for Kieler Woche (Kiel Week)
and the trip along the Kiel canal.
Kiel week is the German equivalent of our Cowes week and we
were berthed at Tirpitz mole along with around 6 different nations
warships.
Each day we were invited to different functions. The two that
come to mind were the visit to Berlin to see the wall and the last
night Banquet.
About 20 members from each
ship were invited and it was held at the Town Hall.
If I remember correctly we all mustered in the ante room for
drinks. After a while we realized the numbers were getting less and
then it was only Carysfort left.
We were then escorted on to the stage in the main hall and we
had to sing for our supper. We gave them a rendering of” My body
lies over the ocean” which always seemed to go down well with the
Germans.
The meal was good and the drinks kept flowing.
When we left Kiel we visited Stavanger which was a quiet run
ashore. We then carried out Guardship duties at Cowes which was not up to the Kiel standard. After this we then carried on as Guardship for the Royal Yacht, an old ship of mine so I had done this trip before. When I did it the last time Prince Charles’ B13 for Prince of Wales had just come through so we called into Cardiff to get him rated up, but this time I think we called into St Marys Isles of Scilly for half a day then on up to the Western Isles before dropping them off at Aberdeen for Balmoral. Next we did Guardship duties at Dartmouth Regatta, again still not up to Kiel standard. When we left Dartmouth we were to be one of the attractions of Devonport Navy days - a ship entering harbour. The Captain decided it would be a good idea to make it a sea day for the families. A coach was ordered to bring them up to Dartmouth from Plymouth but somehow the driver got lost on the way and was a few hours late getting to Dartmouth so the sea day out for the families was a quick dash down to Devonport but at least they got into Navy Days free. Next
we had Guardship duties at Gib.
I think we had a mess banyan W/end to Tangier by MFV, and
then back to Guzz for leave before we deployed for the Far East. Our
Far East employment started well. When we were about 24 hrs from Gib we were ordered to increase speed. We arrived after dark and anchored in the bay. We woke up the next morning to find half the Spanish navy anchored on their side of bay and we stayed like this for a couple days just watching each other before we were able to go alongside. An MFV was provided and manned by a duty crew. I think it was 1 officer 1 seaman PO a couple of seamen a MEM and a chef. We had to live on board for 24 hours. We were stationed in the dockyard and had to go out and cross the bay every 4 hours. I think this is when Smokey Joe came about but I may be wrong. Smokey Joe (real name Nervion) was the small Spanish boat doing the same thing as us on the Spanish side of the line and black smoke was always gushing out of his funnel when he was underway ,we use to wave to each other when we passed. Our main armament was one 303 rifle. I don’t know what he
had maybe he was thinking he could make enough smoke so we could not
see him.
We stayed in this position for some time which covered the
Xmas period.
I know our mess found a good watering hole in the RAF Sgt’s
mess down on the Airfield.
Gin was 2d old money but the tonic was 6d!
We staggered
back across the Airfield many times after midnight.
I don’t know how it came about but our mess was talked into
taking part in a Boxing Day swim by the Dockyard Club for charity.
You think not a problem!
A swim in the Med,
but I don’t think I have ever swam in such cold water.
Mind you we were well replenished with Rum to make up for it. We sailed from Gib mid January and called into Freetown for a couple of hours to refuel and pick up mail but didn’t get ashore. We then carried on down to Simonstown. On the way we had our crossing the line ceremony. I think Ken Beales had something to do with this if I remember. He was a big lad. I hope I still have a photo of this, if not maybe somebody else has. We
stayed in Simonstown for a few weeks and I think everybody had a
good time.
I know the ship had a shooting match against the SA Navy.
I don’t think we outshot them but we won the drinking match
after.
Wally the Seal use to visit the ship around the stern every
day.
I think it was just to make sure we were still there. We had
couple of shore runs into Capetown but apartheid was still in force
so you had to watch what you were doing ie sitting in the right
compartment on the train. While we were here we were asked to take
out the ashes of an expat to sea for burial.
The ashes were in a wooden box and Jim Greer the Shipwright
had to drill holes in the box and put some lead pellets in to make
sure it sank and not stay on the surface.
In the end it went off OK.
We
then sailed up the East coast of Africa to carry out our turn of
Beira patrol.
Not very exciting.
I don’t think we ever saw any ships so not much chance of
boarding them.
I think I remember a couple of sods opera’s on the
Quarterdeck.
I suppose the most exciting thing was doing a RAS for stores
or fuel.
I think we were there for about 3 weeks then we then had a
trip to Mauritius for the Independence day on 12th March
1968.
All I can say about Mauritius is very nice beaches and if
anybody says they are going there for a holiday you can say “Been
there done that
and got the T shirt”
We called into Gan on our way to Singapore. I have a feeling
we then had a SMP and we moved into Terror so it was tropical
routine.
Work on the ship during the forenoon, back up to Terror for
lunch and a couple of pints of Tiger Tops then out on the golf
course to do a Tiger Woods or whoever it was at that time.
Not a bad life. I think Commander Bates left the ship at this
time and Commander Chapman joined I think we were all a bit sorry to
see Commander Bates leave but Commander Chapman did a good job.
We did a big
exercise with the Americans off Subic Bay after this we were on our
way for a visit to Japan and Hong Kong when the signal came for us
to detach and make our way independently to Tonga for the signing of
the 100 year Friendly Treaty. We
were all a bit sad at first for missing out on our run ashore in
Japan but what followed made up for this.
We didn’t have to be there for a couple of weeks so we made
our way slowly calling into numerous islands on the way.
Two memories come to mind. The first was we had anchored off
an island and it must have been a weekend and we were staying for 24
hrs so one watch was allowed to go ashore in the morning and the
other in the afternoon for a swim on the beach.
I went in the morning with a dozen or so. After we had a swim we thought it may be a good idea to have
a look around so we followed a track and noticed some empty Fosters
beer cans at the side. We
then came to 3 totem poles so carried on a bit more still seeing
beer cans. We then walked into a clearing and saw a native village
and to one side was a village shop run by an Aussie and he sold
Fosters beer so of course we tucked in. The beer was warm but we
drank it anyway. I must
admit it was just like you see in the movies.
When we got back on board the news got round so more than
double went in the afternoon but we had more or less cleared out his
stock in the morning so they dipped out.
The second thing that comes to mind is we were off another
island and the Captain went ashore on a courtesy call.
I’m not sure if it was a hospital or an orphanage run by a
religious order. Anyway they asked him if about 20 of the crew would like to
come ashore late in the afternoon for tea.
It was nearly a detail off job to get enough people to go.
We were dropped off by boat on the beach.
The place was staffed by Aussies, both male and female.
After a while all the nuns and monks disappeared and it was
“up spirits”. Out
came the Beer and Spirits and it was drink what you could for an
hour or so. I
know we had a job getting some back into the boat.
Shortly after we called into Fiji for a few days
then it was on to Tonga.
I remember the main watering hole was The International
Dateline Hotel. I
don’t think there were many other places to drink but I remember
there was a small bar but it didn’t stay open very late.
My memories of that one was we were in there all dressed in
our whites. I
can’t remember who it was (one of our mess) went outside to look
for the heads. He couldn’t find them but there was a pigsty full of pigs.
He leaned on the gate which gave way and then fell in face
first. We all had
a good laugh before the barman gave us a hose to wash him down.
I also think we had a Rugby match against the locals.
Don’t remember the score but I’m sure we didn’t win. We
then went back to Fiji for a few more days.
I remember having a good meal in a Restaurant on the beach.
Cost a fortune but it was very good.
While we were in Fiji on one of the mess runs ashore we were
in one of the local bars and Tom Bristow got talking to the locals
who suggested we try the local brew called Kava. It should have been
firewater. Anyway it
came in an enamel like washing up bowl with a tin cup.
It looked just like Pussers cleaning paste in water.
The ritual was you all sat round the table and took turns in
drinking it. You had to
clap your hands, dip the cup into the bowl and get it down in one,
then pass the cup on to the next person.
The more it went down the bowl the thicker it got.
I think the idea of clapping was to make sure you were still
alive. That night on our way back to the ship we saw some frogs
crossing the road - the jumping kind not our friends across the
channel. It must have
been the Kava because I was sure they were the size of Kangaroos.
I never want to try that again.
At
last it was time to leave Auckland and we had another trip over to
Sydney.
Lucky for us, the Tasman was calmer this time.
From Sydney we went north and called into Townsville.
All I remember of Townsville was it reminded me of a town in
a western film all wooden sidewalks and dusty roads.
We then carried on up north. For part of it we were inside
the Great Barrier Reef.
What a sight.
I have never seen so much sea life and we were getting it all
for free.
No wonder the tourists pay a fortune to see it.
Next stop was Darwin.
Hot and dusty.
The seamen and the stokers did not have a very good time here
as the tide drop was over 50 feet at least so the duty watch of
seamen were up on deck every hour either letting out or shortening
in the wires and the engines had to remain flashed up. On the way in
I was closed up on the bridge.
We saw a native in a boat with what looked like a rifle. The
Captain asked the Pilot who was bringing us in what he was doing and
he said shooting crocodiles so that put off any thought of swimming.
We
then started our trip back to Singers.
We had a few stops on the way.
New Hebrides, New Caledonia, and Efate to mention a few.
I think Efate was governed half by the British and half by
the French so everything was written in English and French.
We didn’t stay very long in Singapore before we started on
our way home via Beira. Before we left, Tom Bristow who was now Mess
Pres and Jeff Jeffery who was the Bar Manager (could do wonderful
things with figures which could confuse anyone the mess officer
didn’t stand a chance) decided we needed to get on some extra
cases of beer to complement the draught beer because it was a long
trip.
Our beer was stowed in the gland space below the mess.
We never had any proper Beer storage spaces in those days.
All was well to start with but it was very damp down there.
OK for the metal barrels but not for the cans in cardboard
crates.
After a short while the damp got into the cardboard and all
the beer cans were down around the prop shaft.
The ship had to stop engines for about an hour while we went
down to retrieve them.
We were not top of the pops for some time. Our
second Beira Patrol was like the first. Nothing to write home about.
We had a couple of Race meetings on the iron deck and the
after PO’s mess decided to record a programme to broadcast over
the ships SRE. It was all done in good fun.
We tried to take the wee wee out of as many people as we
could.
Nobody was spared.
The first ditty was about Nutty Nutcott (may he rest in
peace) I can’t think what it was about but I know the first line
went “Nutty Nutcott up in one”.
Jimmy Green who had been rated up to PO and been moved into
our mess gave a rendering of his party piece WORMS!
I can’t remember the words I should do;
he used to sing it every time he had 2 pints.
Sorry Jim it was 3.
What a character, you could never forget him.
The S&S Department of PO Wtr John Willis and POSA(S) Don
Loveridge did a sketch of the Captain and his secretary giving and
taking notes.
The punchline was “Right Sec now get off my lap you are
creasing my trousers”. Tom Bristow and PO GI Sticky Leach did one
of the Jimmy and Buffer - not sure how it went. The POSA(V) Shady
Lane did one on the weather forecast.
Can’t remember it but I think it was a good laugh.
Myself and Jan Eddy gave a rendering of our party piece
“Underneath the arches”. The whole programme was about half an
hour long I think.
It went down well and I know we had a great time making it. After
our Beira patrol we went south to Simonstown for about a week then
started on the way back to Guzz.
Once again we called into Freetown.
Some members who had not got their rabbits took the
opportunity to buy some from the Bum boats who came out.
The main ones were Bongo Drums but within a couple of days
the Drums were playing themselves.
The hide on the top was full of insects and they had to be
ditched over the side.
We called into Gib for a couple of days and some were
able to replace the ones that had gone over the side.
I think the Carysfort pub in Gib was the London Bar.
We arrived back in Guzz for leave which took us over the
Christmas and New Year. The
only visit I think we had after that was to Liverpool.
We berthed on the south side of the Mersey at Port Sunlight.
This was coincidental to me because I did the last commission
on HMS Comet in 1957 and the last visit was Liverpool and we also
berthed at Port Sunlight. I think the ships company had a good run
ashore then it was on our way back to pay off.
On our last Channel night the mess made a cardboard coffin.
We took it up to the Wardroom and invited the Officers down
to the mess for a drink.
We had 4 pall bearers to carry the coffin, with us all
following on behind including the wardroom.
Shady Lane POSA(V) was the Vicar leading.
I can’t remember why we didn’t ditch it with reverence
over the stern but we did it down the gland space in the mess with
the words - ASHES TO ASHES,
RUST TO RUST, IF THE NAVY WONT HAVE HER ,THEN THE SEA MUST. Before I finish I must relate the tale of the Gnashers I will not say who’s they were but someone in the CPO’s mess had to have a new set of gnashers. Somehow the old set came into our mess trophy case and it became a ritual whenever we had a visitor, after the second drink they always ended up in the bottom of their glass. I
think that is all I can put to paper only to say I was very sorry to
hear of the death of my old bosses the Gunnery Officer, Billy the
Kid - I didn’t mind his whistling- and the Buffer Jerry Knott.
What Jerry
didn’t know about seamanship was not worth knowing.
My oppo Jan Eddy died of a heart attack while playing Squash
about 1985. I
hope my memories have brought some back to you
Regards
to you all. Dusty |
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