HMS Queen Of Bermuda, Part Four.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Bill Ross of the ‘Action Desk — Sheffield’ Team on behalf of Brian Armstrong, and has been added to the site with his permission. Mr. Armstrong fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
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Arriving there on the 8th November in the afternoon, we found to our delight that we were in for 48 hours owing to some necessary repairs to condensers and what not. So a welcome let up was experienced and we didn't sail till Sunday 10th, in the afternoon.
The first week after leaving, B.A. was perfectly lousy, wet nearly all the time and bad weather for the first three days; most unpleasant. The first bright spell began on Sunday 17th. It was a poor start to a long patrol, as we'd been told we were out for 35 days which was not so hot, in fact it didn't go down at all well.

Round about this time the T.124 deck officers had their first shock. The Admiralty had decided they were holding commissions much senior to their lawful expectation and there was much heartburning as to what would happen; also the news came through that the first batch of reliefs, instead of coming by the Hawkins, were due about the 19th November in Carnarvon Castle from Cape Town.

So the week commencing 17th November looks like being somewhat exciting from a gossip point of view if nothing else. As I remarked, the week commencing Nov 17th looked like being exciting. I didn't know how true that was going to be. We got our R.V. with the Carnarvon Castle for Thursday 21st, and the spot was well out to sea. So after messing around our old stamping ground until the time came to leave, we proceeded on the Tuesday, I think 19th. All went well for 24 hours then we got messages about enemy surface craft not too far away, so everyone was on top line.

In the early hours of Thursday at 0130, the alarm rattles went off and the watch below was wakened to the sound of "Action stations" on the bugle. Then there was a scamper. I seized my night clothing and dashed aft and on the way I spotted a nasty black shape, which looked exactly like a cruiser. My first thoughts were, now we are for it. Fortunately for all concerned, the cruiser as well I expect, turned out to be the Enterprise on her way to investigate the enemy reports, but she'd have had us very much on the hop if it had been otherwise. It gave the old man a nasty scare and eliminated a lot of his noise. It was some experience, and valuable too. It was a good start to a busy day, as late on, we arrived at the R.V. and effected the change.

The replacements look all right. How they will work out I do not know but it looks as though they are an improvement on those who have gone. They are under the fond delusion that they will be home for Christmas, but I'm very much afraid it will be nearer Easter. Our patrol continued without incident until Sunday 24th November when we had news that some Germans were trying to take passage in a coastal steamer from Rio Grande to Santos. So we altered round in an effort to intercept said ship. It's a far-fetched chance, but some of our previous ones have come off and this one might do so as well.
There seems to be a gradual filtration of Jerrys up the coast to Santos. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the Windbuk was slowly filling up with the intention of making a break some dark night when there is no moon, unless the movement is being continued up the coast to Para, where there are more German ships. Doubtless the news will leak out before very long what has been happening.

Having successfully missed the ship with the Huns on board owing to the shilly shallying of the big noise, we wended our way back on patrol and all was quiet. Thus on Tuesday 26th November, we were ordered to beat it back to Santos and escort Lord Willingdon in the Avila Star down to the Southward, and off we went at 17 knots. If we'd carried on the original haul we'd have been almost on the spot. Such is life.

I met the Avila Star on 28th November and escorted her for about 20 hours until the admiral came along in the Enterprise and took over. One good thing was our mail. We managed to get one from the passenger ship that was very acceptable, also the news that we'd probably bunker at Monte next time. There are some funny things in connection with this patrol. We heard today, Dec 2nd, that our pal the Carnarvon Castle had nabbed Huns and tentatively suggested that she take them to Freetown. This was frowned on heavily by the C in C, and she was ordered to transfer them to us so that she could proceed into Rio to fuel and store. She was nicely ticked off for even hoping that she could go north.
I wonder what our gallant T124 brigade will think when they see their late home heaving in sight again. I wouldn't mind betting that some of them wish they were back again, while some of the others would never be satisfied no matter what ship they served in. I don't suppose we'd care to have that section back on board here anyhow. They were no loss when they went down the ladder.

Things can change very rapidly in this part of the world (Dec. 9th). We met Carnarvon Castle on Wednesday last, the 4th, and transferred her prisoners, some 22 in all. We saw one or two of our gang on deck too, when we separated. At 1300, she was bound south for Monte, to fuel as it was considered not good policy to send her to Rio after the incident when the prisoners were passengers. We were instructed to take over her patrol. Sixteen hours after we separated she was in action and we were going hell bent for election on the raiders trail. The Carnarvon Castle managed to get a couple home on the enemy before she got one in her engine room and the raider got away. We weren’t so very far away but far enough for the enemy to get clear. Anyhow the net result was that we cruised around for 48 hours in a sweep but found nothing except that relaxing on a teak wood deck was neither restful nor comfortable, and after the second night was conducive to minor aches under tropical conditions. Thank goodness it wasn't cold weather. Now we are legging it for a R.V. with an oiler to get some more fuel. We have pretty well expended our lot and have another eight days before we can go into port, unless for emergencies. We did some quite hard steaming during the past three days, most of the time at 19 knots. The old works did well considering their amount of running and the fact that the water is very warm hereabouts. As a shake up it was a good thing and we managed to get fairly close.
After the unsuccessful attempt to find the raider, we were very short of oil, in fact we had broken into our special reserve and it was necessary to beat it back to the coast to replenish. So off we went at 17 knots to San Baromber Bay where we arrived after an uneventful trip on 10th December, and our oiler did the necessary.

There was going to be a bit of a concentration of H.M. ships around Monte, so our visit was postponed from 16th to 18th. There are changes to us in the S.A. Division. Hawkins isn't returning and Commodore is transferring his flag from Enterprise to Cumberland, so when the changes take place, this section will comprise Cumberland, Newcastle, Asturias and Queen of Bermuda. We met the Carnarvon Castle the day after oiling, Dec. 11th and gave her back her prisoners. I think they were quite sorry to leave the Queen of Bermuda. The Castle boat had many traces of her brush with the raider. I'm told there were 22 hits altogether, she had six casualties in all with some 28 slightly wounded.

Her starboard side bore the brunt of the fight and when she was with us, the starboard guns were out of action. Her electrical system was shot to bits according to reports, so we are practicing up a form of group control in case we are, which I expect we will be, if there is any action worth talking about. It seems that all A.M.C. actions have been impaired by electrical failures. The T124 crowd we transferred certainly fell into it. Rumour has it that they may not get home for months now. They'd have been better off to stay here, but as most of them were useless, it wasn't worth while keeping them in the ships.

We are still putting up with the fancies of the old man. He has been bitten afresh with the paint mania, and is raving about the barrels being painted down on "E" deck. Why? No one knows. The Commander too had been roaming around. His territorial claims are being slowly satisfied but he still grabs what he can. His latest effort is to try and build a squash court in the mess deck, but I think that will be defeated on the grounds of expense, he couldn't get a badminton court in the cinema and that wouldn't be anything like the cost of a squash court.
Life carried on in the usual quiet way. Rounds and what not until arrival at Monte on Dec 18th. We only managed 24 hours there and sailed on Thursday 19th, heading up for our old stamping ground K.33. A nice warm patrol. There were scares and rumours floating around. Pocket Battleships and raiders, concentrations of cruisers and what not, but we pursued our quiet way with Hawkins as monarch of all he surveyed, and Healey the stooge trying to grab a little more of the daily limelight. A good team of crosstalk comedians were Hawkins & Healey; they'd do well on the stage provided they didn't mind having things thrown at them.

Christmas day passed off gently, there was no excitement and even things in the mess were fairly quiet. The troops managed to chuck the commander into the pool and I don't think they'd have needed much more persuasion to demand the old man come along for a ducking too.
The year ended without incident. I tallied up our time at sea. From Feb 3rd when the ship[ left Portland and not counting her months refit at Durban, she had done 280 days at sea on patrol and 16 in port, fueling and storing. Not a bad record for the old box. She has done very well and it's high time she was sent somewhere for another refit, perhaps there will be some orders coming along soon.

1941

The New Year started gently, but on Jan 4th, we got unexpected orders to go via Rio for water and stores, but no oil. This caused lots of speculation as to what was in the wind and the rumour factory started on overtime. One duly helpful effort was Trinidad, Bermuda, Halifax and Belfast. That seemed to please a lot of people. Another was round to the west coast of South America for a spell to relieve a ship thus, then off to Sydney for our refit. Some people have never visited Australia it seems.

After a speech by the President of U.S.A. it was decided on Brooklyn or Newport Mews as a refitting ground. But most of the ship's Coy were content to go back to South Africa.
Anyhow we went into Rio on Thursday, 7th Jan, for 24 hours, and on sailing found ourselves bound for the Falklands. We needed stores and they were there. And they were going to give us all of four days in port. Someone was feeling generous or else the engines needed a big overhaul.

It was very pleasant to be heading South again after a long absence and our first day out of whites was a real change. Even the weather seemed nice and fresh and not too rough by way of a contrast. Once again the rumour factory was busy and our movements after the Falklands were the cause of much speculation and comment.
As the old man has said definitely (12.1.41) that he has no orders re our refit, well anything might happen now.
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Continued in part five: A5409371

Pr-BR

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