Our journey took us by the CNR route through Jasper National
Park, eventually ending in Vancouver where we boarded the
waiting "Awatea".
Park, eventually ending in Vancouver where we boarded the
waiting "Awatea".
A Passage to Hong Kong
The "Awatea" was a New Zealand liner, converted, to some extent,
to a troop ship.
to a troop ship.
Mutton was the staple diet. Before long the complaints from the
troops could be heard in every quarter. No pun intended. Ken
Cambon, who after returning to Canada wrote the book, "Guest of
Hirohito"*, composed a poem about the trip in which the mention
of mutton appears prominently. "Our cheeks were just juttin' with
nutin' but mutton", which nicely said it all, about the food.
troops could be heard in every quarter. No pun intended. Ken
Cambon, who after returning to Canada wrote the book, "Guest of
Hirohito"*, composed a poem about the trip in which the mention
of mutton appears prominently. "Our cheeks were just juttin' with
nutin' but mutton", which nicely said it all, about the food.
* Guest of Hirohito, published by PW Press, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Heavy guns had been
mounted on the upper decks
causing a certain
top-heaviness and thus
contributing to a great deal of
pitching and rolling. Some of
the men became seasick and
never got their sea legs all the
way across the Pacific. I was
lucky and didn't get sea sick
at all.
mounted on the upper decks
causing a certain
top-heaviness and thus
contributing to a great deal of
pitching and rolling. Some of
the men became seasick and
never got their sea legs all the
way across the Pacific. I was
lucky and didn't get sea sick
at all.
On the ship there was some arms training and boat drill, but in
general, not much took place to break the routine. I remember in
particular a movie that was shown. I don't remember anything
about the plot, but there was a song that has haunted my memory
till this day. I have heard it only once since then, and before I could
identify it, it was gone. Some of the words were, "You couldn't be
much nicer, You couldn't be much sweeter ...... than you are.", or
something like that. I have asked in several places but it still remains
a mystery to me. I seem to recall that in the movie it was sung to a
little girl.
general, not much took place to break the routine. I remember in
particular a movie that was shown. I don't remember anything
about the plot, but there was a song that has haunted my memory
till this day. I have heard it only once since then, and before I could
identify it, it was gone. Some of the words were, "You couldn't be
much nicer, You couldn't be much sweeter ...... than you are.", or
something like that. I have asked in several places but it still remains
a mystery to me. I seem to recall that in the movie it was sung to a
little girl.
We were warned not to throw anything overboard. The reason
given that was any garbage would give enemy ships a clue as to
where we were.
We docked in Pearl Harbor under the famous clock. Hula dancers
came to the dock and put on a show for us. Some of the lads went
ga-ga over them and showered them with money. An old adage
that my Mother used to repeat, "A willful waste makes a woeful
want", came to my unsophisticated mind. It would be only months
before the money tossed onto the dock that day would have been
very useful indeed, and possibly lifesaving.
given that was any garbage would give enemy ships a clue as to
where we were.
We docked in Pearl Harbor under the famous clock. Hula dancers
came to the dock and put on a show for us. Some of the lads went
ga-ga over them and showered them with money. An old adage
that my Mother used to repeat, "A willful waste makes a woeful
want", came to my unsophisticated mind. It would be only months
before the money tossed onto the dock that day would have been
very useful indeed, and possibly lifesaving.
Thanks For The Memory
Perhaps the following story will be classified as "bragging", but ...
I'm going to tell it anyhow.
When we loaded our office supplies aboard ship all my Company
records went into a box labelled, "D" Coy, and the number 1042,
which was, I believe the number of the Royal Rifles of Canada.
One day, during the voyage, Major Parker summoned me and
asked if I had a nominal roll of the Company. I shamefacedly had
to admit that I had no such document having packed everything
away in Valcartier in preparation for the trip.
I'm going to tell it anyhow.
When we loaded our office supplies aboard ship all my Company
records went into a box labelled, "D" Coy, and the number 1042,
which was, I believe the number of the Royal Rifles of Canada.
One day, during the voyage, Major Parker summoned me and
asked if I had a nominal roll of the Company. I shamefacedly had
to admit that I had no such document having packed everything
away in Valcartier in preparation for the trip.
What to do? After tossing it around in my mind for awhile I went to
each of the Platoon Sergeants, and got a list of the men in their
charge. I put all these lists together, arranged the names in
alphabetical order, and put the name, rank and serial number
beside each name.
each of the Platoon Sergeants, and got a list of the men in their
charge. I put all these lists together, arranged the names in
alphabetical order, and put the name, rank and serial number
beside each name.
Except for Lance Ross, whose number was E/1144, and
Randolphe Steele, whose number was E/1145, all the men in "D"
Company had numbers starting with a letter followed by a five digit
number. Doubt me if you will, but this is the truth ... I managed to
arrange 125 names and serial numbers in alphabetical order ... and
get them all right. I had typed the nominal roll a hundred times and
had a system of remembering the numbers based on the time and
place of enlistment of each of the men in the Company. I found a
typewriter and typed out the names again and presented the list to
the Major. I don't know if he ever knew what had taken place.
We stopped in Manila in the sweltering heat, but again, didn't leave
the ship. We moved on again after dark and before long it became
blissfully cool. We were headed north, to Hong Kong.
Randolphe Steele, whose number was E/1145, all the men in "D"
Company had numbers starting with a letter followed by a five digit
number. Doubt me if you will, but this is the truth ... I managed to
arrange 125 names and serial numbers in alphabetical order ... and
get them all right. I had typed the nominal roll a hundred times and
had a system of remembering the numbers based on the time and
place of enlistment of each of the men in the Company. I found a
typewriter and typed out the names again and presented the list to
the Major. I don't know if he ever knew what had taken place.
We stopped in Manila in the sweltering heat, but again, didn't leave
the ship. We moved on again after dark and before long it became
blissfully cool. We were headed north, to Hong Kong.
The Awatea. Photo courtesy of Jim Fairie