Monday 8 August 2011

The Big Adventure Continues Book Two


The Second Notebook

These are the transcribed notes of the second book of diaries of Albert Pettman RN whilst serving on the Mine-layer HMS Manxman during World War two. This book is incomplete with pages missing and was written in pencil originally and then later parts of the diary were overwritten in Biro pen, probably by his wife Nora Pettman. 
The Young Albert Pettman

The front and back cover of Alberts Note Book



HMS Manxman in Lockalsh
Page 1
28th January sailed from Liverpool, 29th January reached Lochalsh base loaded with 150 mines. 30th left for Milford, oiled ship (refueled) 31st  and  at noon  sailed full speed for Brest, the moon is far to bright but we reach the French coast at 1am. 1st Feb, commence to lay, lay completed by 2.30am. Full speed ahead for our shores, must be across before daylight, and are able to do a terrific speed after our slight re-fit at Liverpool. Reach Milford at 9.30 2nd Feb at 12 noon loaded with 186 mines again. 3rd Feb off we go to spread destruction over the other side this time in-between the Channel Islands and France, reach…
Facing page of second book Albert Pettman writes;
“Corresponding dates are incorrect owing to operations being prearranged.”

Page 2
the selected place at 2am, 4th Feb started to drop mines at 2am, rather a thrilling time as we are spotted by enemy aircraft, but still the lay goes on. I am on watch below from midnight to 4am so have to trust to our very good luck which has been ours for a very long time. 3.15am order for full speed ahead and off we go back again like eating fear, reach Milford 3rd Feb. Another load of ---- *mines, makes one feel sick. Feb 6th leave Milford at 1am full speed ahead for coast of France, past Lands End at 6pm, beginning to get dark, 11.45pm reach mining area, 12 midnight commence to lay mines, 1pm lay completed.
*is Albert self censoring here, are those dashes meant to be swearing?
 
Page 2

You can contack me via my website http://www.carlmagic.co.uk/

Page 3
Full speed back, 2pm spot enemy convoy, but we do not open fire as we don’t want them to know we have been over there. Inform Bomber Command they will see to them for us, had a job to get along the upper deck to come off watch, spray coming over the top and bitter cold after the heat below, we are just clearing along at –* knots. 10:30am 7th Feb reach Milford for reload only another three runs over Hell’s Kitchen thank heaven, may have a spell in our base, have had no mail for days and haven’t been able to send any yet, but my love will guess I am plenty busy at sea. Feb 8th loading with 150 mines…
*Albert has not put a figure here.
Manxmam loading mines 1945
Manxman Loading Mines
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and I hear that our bombers sank two of the enemy convoys last night, bet it was cold in the water for them. Feb 8th 6pm sail for Brest this time now we hate this run as they just lay and wait for us still we all go to it together so here’s luck. Reach Brest alright, air force are pasting them all right, and we are laying the eggs ok, we are spotted again and enemy aircraft are attacking and missing us, plenty near enough though this shakes us up, we are going full speed and guns blazing away, there is a lull, Captain decides to go in again, and they think we have gone. Complete the lay ok but a very…
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severe testing hour for all, all mines gone and off we go just like a ghost ship, as we are painted like anything but a ship. Feb 9th reach Milford 11am very tired no sleep for three nights, may get a few hours today, still no mail the secret job gets one down. Feb 10th we are again loaded up with 186 mines this time for Brest harbour entrance and it looks like being a very tricky job as all our papers and ships documents and anything of value are sent ashore, well 10am 10th Feb and here we go to have which we all think will be our last little trip to see Fritz on the other side, but I…
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don’t worry as I know I shall be alright and it’s foolish to sink a ship before you are hit, we are now proceeding at – knots down our coast. 7:30pm getting dark and we are taking up position for our very bold and daring dash across, hope the German cruisers Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen* are still laying in there we all blow plenty of wind in our ‘Mae Wests’ life-belts and I don’t think you would have any wind left in you to blow them up after you was in this freezing cold Channel water. 11:30pm approaching Brest just as we expected they are waiting to receive us with open…
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*There is lots of information about these German Cruisers on the internet if you care to Google them.
Contact me via my website http://www.carlmagic.co.uk/
HMS Manxman
I’ve been asking my father, Albert’s son, some questions about some things that I didn’t understand about this diary, why Albert never mentions the speed of the ship or the year or the name of the ship for example;
“As he states, all the ship's paperwork was left at base because they were on secret missions. The HMS Manxman was a very top secret ship at the time, which is why it was always being painted to disguise it, it’s possible if his diaries were found, he could have been court martialled. The dates show they were forever on duty. I only remember dad coming home on leave 3 times during the war. The first time he was only home for 3 hours and then he had a telegram for immediate recall. I remember my mum and Daphne (Albert’s oldest daughter) crying as he was recalled each time”.
Page 7
guns our air force are not playing with us tonight to rough, shore batteries open fire, and plaster us fair and truly, we have to alter course, 12:45 still trying to elude them gunners, we lay a smoke screen, 1am they have lost us and in we go to do or die, Stucco dive bombers are dropping out of the black sky like skylarks but the great Manxman luck prevails again. 1:40 all mines gone, what a sigh [of relief] from all now all depends on us below to make ‘Her’ fly back so we are all back to our coast by dawn. German E-boats are waiting for us to come back in mid-Channel…
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they fire torpedoes but we are just flying along at a speed unknown to any ship afloat, it’s a job to stand upright in the engine room, it shakes your belly out and deafens one nearly, our guns open up on the E-boats and get a few hits but they cannot hit us by torpedoes as we are moving to fast for that. 8:30 daylight just breaking and our dear coast looms up ahead, four Spitfires fly around us, nice to hear we have got air support, I have just come up from below 8am after four hours and I feel just about a wreck and deaf, nearly covered with oil splashes, hell...
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here we are safely back I had just wondered how I would have got up from below if we had sank, still I never even thought of that whilst I was down there, I did, I must admit, think such a lot about my darlings at home tucked up in their beds and I hoped fast asleep, but that did not deter me from doing my duty. 11:30 reach Milford for another load landed our few wounded lads patched up the holes Jerry made had two hours peaceful sleep. 12th Feb full speed to sea destination not known but steaming north, maybe to Norway again, 1:30pm…

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we are told that we are off to the Kiel Canal probably to mine the three German cruisers in there, but it will be a hotspot in there, still they have to be caught, reach Scapa (Flow) 7:30pm. Sail at 8:30pm with a big run to Kiel we have two cruisers as escort part way across, 11:40pm cruisers bid us farewell and now we are pulling into operation at our great speed, 1am reach the specified spot commence to lay, so far so good, several enemy flying boats pass over, they never saw us, so we keep our guns from barking to remain unseen. 2am all mines gone but we…
 Contact me via my website http://www.carlmagic.co.uk/

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are observed by the shore batteries and well we know it, we slammed one of the searchlights and two guns but they can shoot straight but we are dodging in and out laying a thick smokescreen, it’s gruesome down below as we are pushing the ship along like no ship has even gone before, 7:30 in contact with our escorts they are surprised but pleased to see us back again. 14th reach Scapa all intact. 15th sail for Milford to reload. 16th sail for Cherbourg, attacked off Lands End but only get one stick of bombs aimed at us. We fade away into the darkness...
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9:30 16th reach our goal to start lay, 10:10 enemy night flights pester us a bit, but the job goes on, and by 11pm is completed, full speed for our shores again but the Channel is to rough to do our great speed, but we will make our shores by dawn. 9am able to increase to full speed reach Milford 1:30pm. 17th we actually get one day clear of mines owing to raid warning red and they have to clear all the eggs off loading jetty, afternoon sleep, everyone is looking very dark under their eyes as no sleep for so many nights, we are hoping the raid materializes and they blow all the mines they’ve got to pieces. 18th start to load 150…
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very special ones for Channel Islands. Proceed at full speed, new moon is a bit of a pest, late start at 1:30am, moon will be down we hope, we miss the air force raiding Brest now the birds have flown. 1am 19th reach our spot for the lay. 2:40am all eggs gone slight breakdown and we are laying idle about one and half miles from the French coast, be a scream if we get interned for duration. All’s well again and off we go at our usual speed reach Milford 12 noon. Tug comes out to return our papers and valuables, we are en route for the Isle of Skye our base. 21st reach Loch Alshe, Sunday, we have a…

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nice rest, no mail arrived yet but we shall soon get some now we hope and I must write to my darling today, I know they will be worried, hell we cannot help it these days. Monday 22nd, repaint ship’s disguise, looks very eluding at a distance, having a nice rest, Admiral Burnett*  leaves this place, tells us that we have really done some fine work, he’s telling us. Sent letter home 23rd, no mails have arrived yet, but they will come along I hope, our sister ship Welshman goes to dock roll on July to have a few days leave. 24th loaded…

R.L. Burnett
Vice Admiral Burnett

HMS Welshman.
Page 14
Albert's 1939-1945 Star

Albert's Battle of Britain Medal
Page 15

again 156 eggs, for Norway, hope it’s up the Kiel Canal where the three German cruisers are. 26th sail to Norway, arrive 1am. 27th commence to lay, all’s well and the lay completed by 2:30am, full speed for Milford again, arrive 8pm. 28th sail from Milford. 2nd March for Rossyth with 150 eggs, arrive 4th lay eggs. 5th our own minefield lay completed. 2:30am 6th reach Rossyth 10:30 6th sudden orders for full speed, some rescue job 800 miles in mid-Atlantic get just outside and are ordered to await further orders. 10pm we are still waiting for the…
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order to go, 12 midnight we lose the job as half of our crew are left ashore. 7th we sail at full speed for Scapa, some important job on. 8th 6:30am reach Scapa, Captain tells us we have got to wait for the German cruiser Von Tirpitz and while our cruisers are engaging her, we dash right in her path and drop there 186 special mines it don’t sound to good but will be a nice job for us, she cannot catch us, although we cannot race her shells, but will do the job ok. 12th we are still waiting for her and we get no leave no mail and no-one is allowed near us this must be kept a secret, but if…
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we only got our mails it wouldn’t be so bad, but had no mails for weeks and cannot get any anyway, but roll on for the Tirpitz to come out to get rid of her quick. We get a sudden spasm and we’re hoping it’s the bird come out of her nest, bet she’ll be well protected by planes, and so shall we, anyway we’ll do it and come out laughing again, we anchor just outside the battleships, cruisers and heaps of mine-layers and subs, several M.T.B’s, well it looks as though the great hour has come, it’s ever so dark and ever so rough, not really a good night. 15th March 9:30pm the signal go! And we are now…

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speeding out across the North Sea in a direct line for Trondtheim where the Tirpitz has just left, our battle squadron are steaming forth north to make contact, the seas are breaking over us, gosh the old Manxman is doing her stuff alright tonight and I go below at 12 midnight to 4am. Well we are getting well into where according to the laws of navigation, we should pass across the front of Turpitz about 1:30am, it’s now 11:50 and here I go down below with my ‘Mae West’ blown up and tied around my waist, gee it’s 5:30 and it was very hair-raising middle watch but the bird got to know we were…
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out after her and sneaked back but we were in a battle with E-boats and heaps of gunboats but we were well hidden by smoke and it’s dark and rough. 16th we are approaching our shores with one E-boat and two planes to our credit but our mines we still have onboard. 17th 9am we returned to Scapa arrived before the big ships. 19th still got to wait for the bird hope she makes a good run next time. March 24th all programmes altered we return to Devonport and unload mines. 18:00 hours leave each watch 18th April sail from England…
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en-route for Gibraltar, arrive at Gib, 24th. Sail from Gib, 25th, arrive at Freetown, South Africa 1st May. Left Freetown 2nd May for Takoradi, Gold Coast, reached Takoradi 10th May. Left on the11th May for Simonstown, arrived 17th May. Left 18th for Durban, arrived 19th, left same day for Madagascar, naval port being overtaken by our fleet. We are now under Admiral Summerville. We reach Mombasa 23rd, wait orders; we are trying to contact Jap fleet, from Bombay. Heat is terrible, 25th en-route for Colombo, 26th we are engaged by the Japs. Stukas…
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attack driven off, all’s well. 28th arrive at Colombo, Ceylon. 5th June we sail for Bombay with Fleet, arrive 9th June a good trip but very hot. Fleet 11th we load with 150 mines, enter the dock yard. 13th we are all painted up and disguised, 15th we sail on our own very dangerous mission to trap the Jap boys, we sail for Colombo “Ceylon”, take on camouflage nets etc., we are en-route for Trincomalee, 18th June,  we sail for Maldives Islands we disguise ourselves...
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I can be contact via my website: http://www.carlmagic.co.uk/

Dont forget to read the other blog from Albert Pettman's first diary.

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as a tropical island, our planes take aerial photos of the ship, 10th June, we sail for Trincomalee (a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka), put all our camouflage ashore. 12th We reach Calcutta, 14th we sail for Madras, 18th we sail as decoy, for Andaman Islands (a group of Indian Ocean archipelagic islands),  we are to attract Jap planes from the Fleet which are to bombard the Andaman’s, plenty of fast Jap planes swoop on us and fall to our guns, plenty of near misses, 24th we reach Madras, 25th we sail for Colombo with fleet, arrive 28th. 6th June we sail for a (mine) lay of the Burma Coast, a madman’s…

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job, 9th July we reach the coast without being detected, lay is completed. 11th we are attacked by the one man submarine, but our high speed is to good for them and we get away easy. We are at dawn in the mid Indian Ocean.  Jap Seaplane attacks we drive it off and damage one of its wings; it’s unlikely to reach its base.15th we reach Colombo, 20th we are to operate with Fleet, en-route to Madagascar. 28th we reach Diégo Suarez * 1st August sail for Mombasa, 8th we reach Mombasa...

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*now known as Antiraňana (north tip of Madagascar as in Albert's sketch on p.26) My Thanks to Mike Salts who served on the Manxman for his National Service in 1956 you can read about Mike's time on the ship here http://www.mike37.plus.com/page10.html

I can be contacted at http://www.carlmagic.co.uk/

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August 12th left Mombasa for Diégo Suarez , arrived Madagascar 18th, exercise landing parties, very busy practicing for the new attacks on Madagascar, our job is to capture the northern island if possible, about 10 miles off Madagascar, but the main attack is to be launched by the Fleet, we are doing intensive landings to train the South African troops and our Marines. September 9th is all set for the attack on west coast of Madagascar at Nossi-be,* and the places are to be taken at all costs, all the troops and guns are onboard. Sept. 10th at 1am we reached Nossi-be, 1.30 land Marines to attack, we take the sugar refinery, 1.45 we are pushing right into the harbour…
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*Nossi-be, (Nosy Be) is an island located off the northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be is now Madagascar's largest resort. It has an area of 312 km2 and its population was officially estimated at 36,636 in 2001.
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it’s pitch dark and we pitch about 300 yards from the jetty, 2am we put our search lights on the shore and open fire, plenty of resistance but only machine gun nests, we bombard for 20 minutes all firing from shore batteries stop, our troops are landed and we stand by to open fire as soon as they fire on the troops. 2.50 am Nossi-be, is in our hands, 6.30am Sept 11th all is quiet and we get our wounded back on board, 3 Marines shot badly in the legs, several killed on shore, (natives). Sept 12th situation in hand but we land several landing parties for mopping up snipers, new received that Ma-Junga* is in our hands, Sept 13th practically all Madagascar is in our hands now, a good…
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* Mahajanga (French: Majunga) is a city and a district on the north-west coast of Madagascar.
I can be contacted drirectly via my website http://www.carlmagic.co.uk/.
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A good rake, as Madagascar is 3 times as big as England and dominates the Indian Ocean against the Japs raiding our shipping passing round the Cape to the east. Sept 14th still laying on Nossi-be harbour, a quiet time just watching the sharks swim round the ship, have had no news from home for 10 weeks. Sept 15th., all operations going to plan, we may move from Nossi-be to a point to behind the retreating French* army to cut them off. Sept 16th we go right into river inland, and blast…
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...the Vichy* soldiers out of the hills and stop their retreat. Sept 17th have to land to repair R boat, a fair good day, very hot and some sport ashore, snipers very active. Sept 18th we run on a submerged rock and out boat sinks, all get on shore ok. We find a native village and after displaying our Bren and Tommy guns we make them understand we need water and food. They kill a chicken and boil it over a wood fire, also boiled rice. We sit around and devour the two course meal, the water is dirty for us to drink so we boil that first, sleep around the fire as it is wet and cold during the nights and scorching hot at sunrise. Sept 19th we are all alive and well, we must try and get out of this jungle swamp…
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*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vichy_France
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We have to wade waist deep to find our boat, she is well under and we’ll be no more use, we are 22 miles upriver and it’s a fine job to contact our ship now. September 20th we find two of our marines who have taken a small radio station, and after two hours have got a signal to ship, they inform us that another boat will come upstream in due course. September 21st no boat arrives, we bathe in the river and shoot wild ducks for eating, but our throats are dry for water all we can get to drink is milk from coconuts and they are high up, the swamp is just a high ringing buzz of mosquitos and sand flies and tarantulas, we have a nice tin of quinine tablets so may…
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keep free from bites. 22nd September boat comes upriver to fetch us off, on our way downriver we see crocodiles in front and gee to think we had been in swimming, reach mouth of river 23rd September, arrive aboard ship and hear that the Vichy French troops have surrendered, our casualties slight, 24th September we return to Nossi-b to get our landing party back who replaced marines, we land South African troops, September 25th full speed to Diégo Suarez , Madagascar’s northern point, September 27th still at Diego very short of food as all the soldiers had all our stores, we get tinned meat and rice each day…
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as spuds we haven’t seen for months, and only get one slice of bread a day still guess there’s a war on, just had news capital of Madagascar Ma-junga has surrendered. September 18th sail from Diégo Suarez  for Tambala* halfway down the east coast of Madagascar arrive 30th September, enter the harbour under fire from machine gun nests from shore we fire a few rounds and they hoist the white flag we land a party of seamen with tommy guns, our job is to catch the Governor General who escaped from Ma-junga. 1st October we failed to find the Governor General, sail for Tamala. 3rd October reach Tamala. October 4th my birthday sail for Diégo Suarez , arrive 6th October…
*Not Sure about this place name.

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and await orders. 8th October sail for Ma-junga lay minefield down west coast of Madagascar. October 15th minefield completed, sail for Diégo Suarez , October 17th sail for Mombasa, arrive 22nd October, boiler cleaning alongside adamant, October 20th sail for Aden, October 26th arrive Aden sail for Port Lueg 27th arrive 28th. Repair engines etc., our next job is to steal through Suez Canal to Alexandria, load with urgent stores for Malta, gosh it’s a dangerous run through the Med, past Crete, but it must go through this is where our sister ship caught it and sank, but not us, oh no, not the Manxman, and I told Nora I’d be back…
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again, but our speed may get us through and I hope to be alive to put it here what it was like, if not, well here ends the first lesson, and I reckon we’ll do it, but there’s not many ships get away with it now and Malta must have these stores to hold out and they are worth sticking your neck out for, they have done well to hold out as they have, gosh it will be great fun. 1st November sail from Port Suez to entrance of Canal, November 2nd, arrive Port Said, on route for Alex, November 3rd 1:30pm off we go on this do or die run, we have about 450 tonnes of stores for the gallant defenders of Malta, well, we are now steaming at full speed… 
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By dusk we shall be passing Crete and the dive bombers, I shall be down below and watch; gee it’s a great feeling to think that Malta depends on us getting there. Nov 6th Had to call at Alex (Alexandria) for 100 Air Force pilots, Nov 7th away we go en-route to Malta. 8th Nov reach Malta and a great reception from all the people, gee the place is smashed to bits and everyone is starving, this is the only ship to get through for months, our speed has done the trick. All soldiers unload, working all night, plenty of raids, have got to unload and get going out of here. 16th Nov every…
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Thing is quieter now, since the great landings in North Africa 20th we load with bombs and shells, have got to dash across to Algiers to supply the soldiers there. 21st heavy raid here unable to leave, 22nd off we go again, plenty of U-boats about, but our speed is our saviour and luck our destiny. The Maltese cheer us as we leave, 4 merchant ships arrive with 10 destroyer escorts, Arethusa gets torpedoed, but gets back to Alexandria alright. 23rd we are approaching Tunis, I expect air attacks tonight. 24th we reach Algiers OK, plenty of excitement last night why do they waste their dear torpedoes on us, they always miss...
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25th plenty of activity here and raids, we have got to unload these 1500 pound bombs off the back to Malta calling at Bone and Bougie* on the North African coast, collect German prisoners to disembark at Malta. 26th November completed unloading, fuel ship, 8:30pm off we go always at very high speed, still we have got that way that being down below is just like sitting on the lawn at home, gee I’d love to get a letter from my darlings and I pray they are all safe and well and not having anything like this, with biscuits rice, and a tin of sardines between three for dinner and it’s been like that for weeks now. Still...
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* A small port on the North African coast near Bone. Thank you Dr. Barbara Tomlin for the info. http://www.barbaratomblin.com/
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I don’t know why I’m moaning again, we are lucky to be alive I guess, but we are looking for anything that’s German or Italian or Japs. 27th we were attacked very heavy last night, rather a nerve-wracking watch below, was pleased to see my reliefs foot on the ladder at 4am. 27th 8pm enter Malta unload the gash, prisoners get an hours sleep if no raiders come over. Gee I’m tired. 28th we load with 100 anti-tank guns, we are to force a landing between Tunis and Tripoli a nice lively job, but we’ll do it, a nice surprise for the Germans to find a gang before them it’ll be a tricky job but I feel sure we’ll dodge the bombs again...
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December 1st missing page 37 “I have torn out as it was far too bad to read”. (This page is the page where my grandfather’s ship was torpedoed and my father says the page was torn out because my grandfather couldn’t bear to read it.) I imagine after having read the following pages that some men on the ship have been killed. The next page starts where the torn out page ends, in the middle of a sentence. However at the back of the book there is a drawing of where and when the Manxman was torpedoed.

Drawing showing the area and circumstances of the Manxman being torpedoed.
Torpedo Hole in the Manxman

Torpedo Hole in Manxman
Derek Pettman, Alberts second son remembers this story from Albert:

"I remember clearly my father telling us that he had just come up off "watch" and that his "oppo's" had gone below when the torpedo hit the Manxman. He told us that the sailors were blown out of the side of the ship and the boats were lowered to pick up the dead and survivors.

Dad and other sailors took off their (Mae Wests) life jackets and went below, he described how dark it was and the oily water and the smoke, they had to swim through filthy oily water. He said they carried axes with them to chop off the pipe-work to release the trapped dead sailors and how to get them out of the engine room. He said it was the most terrible thing he had experienced.

Following that, dad went below to repair the boiler to keep it going and to keep the pumps working. He told us of the intense heat he suffered and that a sailor was throwing buckets of water Over him to cool him down.That is why he was "Mentioned in Despatches". He did this to stop the Manxman from sinking, I'm sure the admiralty would have some records."

Here is some more information about the torpedo attack on the HMS Manxman;
At 1702, when MANXMAN was in position 36 degrees 39 minutes North, 00 degrees 15 minutes East, about 71 miles north-east of Oran. A torpedo was observed to approach the ship and pass close astern from port to starboard, running shallow. This was followed about three seconds later by a second torpedo witch struck the ship on the port side. The explosion occurred abreast the engine room in the vicinity of station 119 causing the after end of the ship to lift violently.

The torpedoes may have been ether 21 inches diameter with a 660 lbs. warhead or 18 inches diameter with a 440 lbs. warhead. The smaller type of torpedo is known to be in use by Italian submarines.

For more info about the HMS Manxman visit the website;
There is more fascinating information about this episode in the HMS Manxman from Frank Rusling who was on the ship at the same time as Albert. Please visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Website;
You can buy a hardback version of Alberts Diaries, each one made to order;
Visit my webpage www.carlmagic.com


The diary continues:
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the oil and water, but his foot is caught upon the pipes, cannot get the remaining two out until we are in dock it was a hell of a job, but me and others volunteered to get him out 18th December destroyer takes us all out to sea to bury our dead, Watson and Heather, Wragge and Stokes seamen will be all decomposed. 19th we have to shore up compartments to stop her from going down both engines are a total wreck and it’s the end of the Manxman and I hope no-one at home gets to know, but I told Nora that we had plenty of sport out here, we may go home on some other ship, but the Manxman is lucky to have been afloat this long. 20th ERA* Wragge is brought…
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* Engine Room Artificer

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from engine room badly smashed about and of course he is all black and decomposed, (we) bury him at sea tomorrow and we are told by our Captain that we may write home and just say that we have met with a spot of bother and not to worry, as us left are ok but news travels so, and my darling would go crazy to hear the Manxman had been torpedoed, expect to be finished the patching in 14 days, then get towed to Gibraltar a distance of 250 miles, dock there to repair ship for the dangerous tow right across the Atlantic home. Captain said it is very risky at this time of year, weather bad, andwe are out of control for good. 21st they take all guns off and all heavy upper deck fittings to lighten the ship, 22nd we are nearly back to even keel…
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again, plenty of work to do, all our officers have lost all their gear. 23rd expect to be sent to another ship, heavens know when we shall get home now, still bear up Joe there’s a war on and must be won by us. 23rd ready for towing to Gibraltar. Another body comes to the surface. ERA Wragge a bad sight, but we got him up and he will be buried at sea tomorrow. Buried Wragge ERA at sea, left Oram? being towed at 10 knots, distance to Gibraltar 265 miles, we expect to dock at Gib to repair the 30 foot hole to stand up to the 1540 miles from Gib to England, it will be a tricky job but I hope I’m one of the few picked to sail home on her she’ll never sink. 25th XMAS, 5:30pm reach Gibralter, we... 
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had 6 destroyers escorting, The Med is alive with submarines, 3 torpedoes were fired at us just after we was towed out of Oram, but we are at Gib safely, gee there’s scores of boats here that have been torpedoed, HMS Marne, HMS Delhi, HMS Lord Roberts, us and several others, destroyers HMS Porcupine, Quentin, Partridge. We hope to soon get home now, its Xmas today, still it’s nearly over now, I hope my love ones at home had a nice time together, gee I am dying to go home, no mails for months. 26th We can not dock for a few weeks as there’s heaps of damaged merchant ships for repair, Captain is flown home to Admiralty, wishes us goodbye and good luck and I think we’ll need it...

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plenty of luck to get home from here gets one fed up laying here, we are pumping night and day to put her afloat, no mails have arrived yet, get some news one day, a very dry Christmas, I had the afternoon watch from 12 to 4pm on diesel lay main, never had even a cup of tea during the afternoon. 26th wrote home, still waiting to dock, have to keep the pumps going. 28th ?? comes out of dock. 30th HMS Manxman goes to dock we expect to be the next one. Still no mail arrived, 1st Jan 1943 sent letter to Nora,  been told that I had been mentioned in despatches, Jan 3rd still waiting to get repaired to weather the ship home. January 4th wrote to tell Nora of the New Years Honours list...
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in which I get mentioned in despatches. (I'm) sure how proud they all will be. January 5th still no mail arrives, be glad to get some news from my darling. January 6th try to get a birthday card for my little daughter Stella’s birthday on the 10th but can not get one and I’m sure they will understand. January 7th wrote to Nora, also Will and Grace. January 8th still no news from home yet, have to wait as ships and planes are needed for war necessities. January 9th received two airmail letters from Nora, Nora has received four of my letters, doesn’t know we have been torpedoed, didn’t understand when I said the same as Sid Sole, of course his ship was torpedoed, but it’s just as well they are all well at home so I don’t care now. January 10th answered letters, HMS Firedrake…
Page 43

Albert Pettman's Despatches Certificate

Back to the diary...

Page 44

torpedoed, same area as us, off Oran, Jan 11 Cruisers Argonaut torpedoed two fish but gets to Gibraltar ok, a lot killed. Jan12th May’s and June’s mail arrives but none for me. Jan13th More June mail arrives, still unlucky, guess my mail has all gone down. Jan 14th only 3 oil tankers out of 12 which left Trinidad reached Gibraltar and was torpedoed. U boats have hit us hard, it is critical just now, we have a long dangerous trip home, being towed and helpless, but it’s worth the chance, no signs of us going to dock, heaps of torpedoed, heaps of men-of-war here waiting to be dished up before we go into dock to patch the hole in. Jan 16th Welshi* ready to sail for UK, am going to see V Measday to take letter to Nora. Jan 17th received letter from Nora...
*HMS Welshman, the Manxmans sister ship

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dated 19 may, wrote home, HMS Ashanti goes to dock, one more cruiser to dock HMS Argonaut, then its our turn, and we’ll soon be home again, our Canadians leave ship for home. Jan 18th received airmail letter from Nora dated 7th Jan, all’s well at home so (I) am just happy again, plenty of rain today and its blowing a gale but we are tucked away along the wall here in Gibraltar just waiting to get in dock. My loved one at home is always asking when I shall come home, I wish I knew my darling, but it will be soon. Jan 19th 14 enemy supply ships sunk in the Med by destroyers and some by our mines we laid between Tunis and Cape Bon. 8th Army nearly in Tripoli now it will soon be over now, its tough laying here helpless…
Page 45

Below is a letter written on a note sheet with an embossed seal from the Captain of HMS Manxman RK Dickson.

"Dear Pettman, My heartiest congratulations, on your mention in despatches, you had a disagreeable job in the “Manxman” -  everlastingly patching away at the boiler, tricky work in all sorts of climates, but I know how important it was  and how cheerfully and well you did it; and I am delighted that has been recognized by the King. Yours Sincerely R.K. Dickson"



Page 46
like to be out having some sport with them, still we haven’t done so bad, our jobs are always right under the enemy’s nose and I touch wood to be above the water today and I want to get this dangerous trip  home over, then Ill be happy again. Jan 20th sent letter to my love on at home, our food is terrible, Nora will say I am thin I guess, but I am as fit as a fiddle right now, all we get is a bit of pressed beef and boiled rice in lieu of spuds (potatoes). Jan 26th wrote to Nora received two lovely letters from home. L/sto*. Grey and L/Slt Lagnes dip their raft for stealing and leave ship. Fen 4th our sister ship is torpedoed and sunk, only 40 saved, two destroyers torpedoed. Feb 6th lots of lives lost, it’s deadly in the Med just…
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along the coast of Africa, but its war. Expect to dock on the 8th, new captain comes on board, we should get home during April, we are fed up right up with laying here all this time. , torpedoed on the 1st December and here it is, Feb.  Feb 9th Captain tells us we go into dock end of this week and the he hopes to get the ship towed home before Easter, and I hope we do its pretty grim laying here. A big convoy has just left for UK and the destroyer Marne is being towed, hope she makes it ok. Feb10th received letter from Win, was surprised to hear about Teddy and Old Ted and Win, Grandpa and Granma. Expect to get some mail tomorrow. Feb 16th still not in dock, received tow lovley lettes form Nora. Feb 17th answered….
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 Page 48
letters, also wrote to G,W,W, Feb18th bought another hand bag for my big daughter (Daphne) £1.12.6. a nice bag. Feb 20th received postal order from the British Legion. Feb 21st sent letter to C.W. Stewart acknowledging postal order for 7/6 Drafted to HMS Acute, Destroyer, ASDIC patrol from Gibraltar to Oram and Algiers, will not write home to change address as my duck would worry and we are only lent aboard for two or three weeks, Not bad but there are too many tin fish flying about here, but I can take another packet alright. Feb 22nd at Oram, Feb convoying a big heap of ships  to back to Casablanca. 27th Sail for Gibraltar for fuel, Feb 28th for Algiers escorting HMS Nelson and...
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Formidable. 1st March plenty of air attacks and we made successful attacks on 3 U-Boats, dropping about 70 depth charges and certain of getting two of them. March 4th reach Algiers; hope to stay in a day or so. March 6th still at Algiers, plenty of activity on shore with the Yankee Army, as they have bee thrown back by the Germans, we are going to bombard the land approaches between Tunis and Cape Bon. 7th 7.30pm 9 of us destroyers sail for the attack on Tunis, some sport I guess. 1am 8th March bombardment starts, plenty of houses and stores going sky high, a few shots from shores batteries. 1.45, we cease fire and draw away from coast at full speed, expect air attack at dawn. 7am 8th nearly back in Oram.
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9th reach Oram. Had no air attacks all cushtie/ 10th March 10th March Admiralty announce that our Sister ship HMS Welshman has sunk*, this happened on the 2nd Feb in the same area as we caught our packet. One of our officers Mr Cherrywent down on her, he was lent for three weeks, bad luck, as he was one of the very lucky ones on here. March 11th leave for Gibraltar, 12th reach Gib, 13th return to ship (Manxman) and very pleased about it. No news from home yet, still waiting to get back. Weather turning quite hot again, sent t letter to Nora 14th. HMS Avondale*** torpedoed, 39 killed and tow more destroyers tin fished, so don’t know when will get in dock now...
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*HMS Welshman (M48) the Manxman's sister ship, as an Abdiel class minelayer of the Royal Navy. During World War II she served with the Home Fleet carrying out mine laying operations, before being transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet in mid-1942 for the Malta Convoys. She also saw service during "Operation Torch". The ship was torpedoed and sunk off Tobruk by U-617 with the loss of 157 lives.
**John Conrad Hazlehurst Cherry (7 September 1914 - 1 February 1943) was an English rower who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Cherry was born in Paddington and educated at Westminster School and Brasenose College, Oxford University. In 1936 he was a member of the losing Oxford boat in the Boat Race. Later in the year he was a member of the crew of the eight which came fourth representing Great Britain at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. He again rowed for Oxford in the Boat Races in 1937 and 1938. After being commissioned into the Royal Navy during World War 2, Cherry was killed in action on 1st February 1943 when serving as a Lieutenant on HMS Welshman a cruiser-minelayer sunk by U617 northeast of Tobruk.
Page 51
15th am told that I am going home this week end Gi Pi Li. 16th HMS Lightening and HMS Farendale torpedoed and sunk, 69 survivors from Lightening all lost on Farendale...





Having read some more of the book from the scanned pages it looks like we have come to the end of the main diary on page 51. The following pages appear to be notes, thoughts, diagrams and poems. The technical notes are thought for an exam or test.

 Home Sick
Home sick in a land that’s strange and sometime lonely too-
 far from all I cherish most
but there’s a job to do, that’s why I’m here
and if the choice was mine to make I wouldn’t come back,
no not yet for something is at stake,
something we must fight and keep and die for willingly that dear,
that sweet, that precious thing that men call liberty.
And so until the battle’s won and exile I must be. But one thing I ask
 that you remember me. (ARP)
Page 51
Diagram Drawn By Albert


 
The above are diagrams drawn by Albert and notes that I believe he made for his examinations.
A Sailors Prayer
 A Sailors Prayer
Give me courage when in danger.
Help me, Lord to carry through –
Every order I am given – Everything that I must do
Give me strength to do my duty –
Never shrinking form the test…
May I never fail or falter – may I always do my best.
Bless O lord, my little effort – small and puny though it be – may it help to
hasten on – the day of peace – and victory. ARP

I as far as I can tell, this is an original prayer written by Albert.

Forty Eight Hours Leave
(Forty Eight Hours Leave)
Eight and forty carefree hours – away from
Strain and stress…Two days leave, A passing glimpse of Home and Happiness.
Time has wings when hearts are glad.
The precious moments fly. All to soon the
Words of greetings change into “Goodbye”
The best road is the road that leads us to our own front door. Two great days
then down to earth – and back again
to duty

Exam Notes
(Duties Main Steaming)
3 watches in engine and gear room water tender, no 1 Boiler room. Two Evaps, two F.L pumps, Turbo Action Stations off watch ammunition supply For’d (forward) and magazine flooding leading hand. Magazine No’s 1&2 Pom Pom  and 5 mag aft. Are Le Kons mag aft. Depth charge storage aft, No 1 boiler room = 4 high speed turbo fans. 1 mail main oil fuel pump turbo, 1 aux oil pump, Drysdale fire and bilge pump**. Two oil fuel heaters, inboard and outboard automatic boilers for galley and heating steam to bathrooms, two high power boilers, steaming pressure 300lbs per square inch.
**for fire fighting or to pump out compartments on the ships lower decks in the event of flooding.
It’s difficult to make sense of the above paragraph, they appear to be notes for an exam or test.
Exam Note Diagram
Another poem written in pencil by Albert, overwritten by Nora Pettman in biro, I know it’s her hand writing as I have letters from her. I have taken some liberties with the editing of the poem below to help it make more sense.
Goodbye Dear One
Goodbye dear one – Goodbye Dear land, goodbye to all familiar things.
The day of my returning is beyond mere mortal reckoning.
I know not where my star will lead
Or what strange ways I must pursue.
But this is where my heart will be
Here in this place at home with you, here where my fondest hopes are set
And I have found my life delight; it is for this that I must go
To take part in this great fight and share the task, the toil, the tears
With all free men who now must stand
Against the enemies of peace
Goodbye dear one, Goodbye dear land. ARP
Entering Port
Entering Port
What must it mean to the sailor who has come through death-sown seas – to put into a friendly port and hear along the quays – the speech of allies and friends – like kisses it must sound – after days upon the deep with dangers all around.
And it is good when beset by cares and by misfortunes tried – to find somebody we can trust, in whom we can confide, to put into a friendly port for just a little while, welcomed with a happy word and greeted with a smile.

The list or notes and drawings relate to exams or test the Albert had to take. They where probably written at the back of the book before he started writing his diary.

All boilers fitted with War’s steady feed contraflow automatic feed checks, steam. Temp of superheated steam approx. 700° with working height of water in boiler 2 ½ feet in glass, sudden rise in water level will reduce superheat steam to about 630° or 600° thus reducing speed of ship great care to be taken to keep just about 2 ½ inches showing. Air pressure to be at minimum without any smoke, smoke gives away position to enemy at all times. Sprayers to be kept clean and oil temp to at 175°, oil pressure as ordered for engine room. 1500 sprayers used only for main steam, 1500 lbs. oil per hour. A stoker to attend sprayers, no panic is to take place anywhere. All orders to be obeyed promptly by P.O. or leading hand on watch.
Shopping List
Here is a shopping list that Albert wrote near the back of the book. The numbers and dashes for those of you that don’t know refer to Pounds Shilling Pence the UK currency of the time.
4 boxes face powder 12/-
Hand Bag for Nora 12-15-0
Hand Bag for Daphne 2-0-0                13 Rupees
12 Pair Silk Stockings 3-0-0               40 Rupees
12 Yards Blue Silk for dress, 2-0-0
2 Silk Frocks for Stella 5-16-0
Total £17.00
Dec 1st Ship torpedoed
Dec 5th lost nearly all the gear. Have salvaged 2 Silk Stockings and Nora’s handbag and powder, all the other gear gone west.
And another one of Alberts heartfelt poems.
Your Smile
Your Smile
Sweet heart mine, keep smiling!!
I remember you that way
You were always bright and cheery
Confident and gay
Fully of hope and happiness no trough of doubt or fear
That’s how I can see you, when I’m thinking of you dear.
That’s the picture that I keep within my memory
That’s the vision I can always conjure vividly
I can do the extra task and go the second mile
When upon my heart there breaks
the sunshine of your smile. ARP








This page was originally next to the Diagram of the Manxman at page 36/37 but is out of order because I thought that the diagram was more relevant in context of the attack on the Manxman.
Sunday 20th Sale of ERA Wragg, ERA Heather, Lte Watson, Lte. Seamans Kit. £20 has been sent to each of next kin, from the Manxman Canteen Fund. £50 to each next of kin from the Isle of Man fund, their kits have fetched about £30 each, We expect to get Lte Seaman’s body out of the engine room as soon as we dock at Gibraltar, Also likely to get another ship may be lucky enough to go home by her.
Ships Sunk operating with us during November 1942
North Africa
Manxman, torpedoed Engines Total Wreck 4 Killed.
Arethusa, torpedoed, Total Wreck 150 Killed
Partridge, torpedoed, Sunk, 80 Killed
Quinton, torpedoed, Sunk, 68 Killed
Hicklar, torpedoed, Sunk, 135 Killed
Delphi, torpedoed, Engines Total Wreck, 27 Killed
Several others damaged during our invasion of North Africa. HMS Marne, Destroyer, stern blown off, 27 killed, Farendal, torpedoed, 17 killed.

Details of Water System 1
Details of Water System 2

Diagrams  and Notes
  
Notes
This is the last poem in the Albert’s book.
The Last Poem
A lonely hearth and empty chair, something’s missing everywhere.
One cup and saucer on the tray where there were two yesterday.
A kind of stillness in the home, for one can not lunch alone.
A silence reigns about the place, a look of yearning on the face.
Of one who loves the mate she misses his tender loving words and kisses,
The laugh that made the world look bright and turned the darkness into light.
So, patiently I’ll long and wait, until the day decreed by fate, when united once again we’ll be,
 from then until eternity. ARP


Places of call in correct rotation
Gibraltar
Freetown
Takaradi
Cape Town
Durban
Diego-Suares  (Madagascar)
Mombasa
Seychelles
Colombo
Bombay
Colombo
Maldives
Trincomalee
Calcutta
Madras
Colombo
Madras
Adamans Iles
Madras
Colombo
Seychelles
Mombasa
Aden
Red Sea
Port Said
Alexandria
Malta
Tunis
Algiers. N Africa
Gibraltar
Casablanca.  N Africa
Algiers
Oram 5.30 pm Torpedoed 1st December
Gibraltar Xmas 25 December.
That’s the end of the book below are photographs of all the medals that Albert was awarded. These are the actual medals that are in Derek Pettman's possession.
The Battle of Britain Medal, East Palestine Medal 1936 1939, THe African Star, The Italian Star With Oak Leaf for being mentioned is desatches, The Burma Star, The 1939 - 1945 Star, The Atalantic Star, Ribbon with two rosettes and the Long Service Medal




You can buy a hardback version of Alberts Diaries, each one made to order;
Visit my webpage www.carlmagic.com

Below are scans of Albert's Service Records. They list all his achievements and awards and exams. Click on them to enlarge. If you would like a better detailed scan of them contact me and I will send them by email.




Below are scans of Albert’s Employment Records. On these are a list of all the ships that he served on. There are two separate records seven pages altogether.



Albert also served on, amongst other ships, The HMS London which was on part of the Russian Convoys PQ 17 , which was the code name for an Allied World War II convoy in the Arctic Ocean. More of which you can read about if you click here : Convoy PQ 17
I have found the entry in the London Gazette January - March 1943 of Alberts notice of being mentioned in dispatches. The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published. The London Gazette claims to be the oldest surviving English newspaper and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the UK, having been first published on 7 November 1665 as the Oxford Gazette
London Gazette January - March 1943


Albert's name is second column about half way down.

I found this information about the torpedoing of the Manxman after this book was printed. It was first published on the Veterans Affairs Canada website; www.veterans.gc.ca. Frank Rusling was aboard the HMS Manxman at the same time as Albert Pettman when it was hit on the 1st December 1942. He recorded a video about his experience for the website and below is the transcription.

The Welshman and the Manxman continued to operate in the Mediterranean and to bring supplies in, into Malta until in November and the date, the actual date escapes my memory at this time. It was early, within the first week of November at 5 p.m. or 5, 1701.5 hours, that's 1.5 minutes past 5 p.m., we were struck by a torpedo fired at us by a U-boat. We avoided the first one but the second one hit us directly into the engine room and brought us to a standstill. It's just a loud explosion and of course the air blown out through the ship's side and, you know, the water sprayed up where it hits. We had, we lost 4 men who were on duty in the engine room, 2 engine room artificers and 2 stokers. We never did recover the body of one stoker and just above the engine room was a pom-pom gun, 20mm pom-pom and a rating was standing, leaning over the rail around the pom-pom when the torpedo struck the ship on the opposite side. There was an air vent that came up just underneath the pom-pom from the engine room, a big air-exchange and the force of the air picked this rating up and through him over the side of the ship. He was unharmed; he just sailed through the air into the ocean.

Well, we put down a boat to go and rescue him and when the boat was en route to pick that man up, the stoker, one of the stokers was found in the water and he had his lifebelt on which was half inflated and it was keeping him alive. Unfortunately he was brought in onto the ship, both legs were shattered, both arms were broken and of course water had entered his lungs. Unfortunately, the doctor - they had used the petty officers' mess on the foredeck as an operating theatre or at least a treatment theatre - and unfortunately that stoker died in the early hours of the following morning. It was miraculous that we did not sink because, because of our open deck work and the large volume of the engine rooms that we had. It was always said that we could not be struck and not sink. We could not have enough air-tight compartments in the ship to keep us afloat. We managed to be towed into Iran which was only 60 miles away and there they, they put a steel plate on the ship over the hole just to strengthen the ship and some weeks later we were towed into dry dock at Gibraltar where the ship was drained and, of, and then they covered the hole, there was nothing they could do to repair, it had just blown the engine room to pieces. There was nothing there except fragments.

And of course when we got to Gibraltar, two-thirds of the crew went back to England. It was, and just one-third was left on of which I was fortunate to remain to be, to await the tow back to, back to the United Kingdom. We were towed, eventually towed back after about seven months; we were towed back to England. The damage was such that they never did attempt to repair it before the war ended although there was an alteration to the ship following, after the war. They did make, not, not, it wasn't the same ship, it wasn't required for the same operations. I left that ship after decommissioning her; I left the Manxman on the 17th of July 1943 and as I said, it was November 1942 when we were torpedoed. You become attached to the vessel that you're on, no matter which vessel it is, it's your home, it's your place of work. You, you live in a tight community, of friends, you make, you have friends, you have the ship-born acquaintances, and when the numbers only 250 people, you become very close.


You can buy a hardback version of Alberts Diaries, each one made to order;
Visit my webpage www.carlmagic.com