WAR AND HOW !

• In September Nineteen Thirty Nine,

  • The outbreak of the war

  • A Sunday bright and fine

  • All leave expired.... Ashore.

• At first the worst was Home Defence,

  • The Fleet in calling distance;

  • But "U boats" getting more intense

  • Called for our assistance.

• The Sydney Heads we left behind,

  • And swung off to the north.

  • Some enemy ships we hope to find

  • The Hobart sallied forth.

• At Darwin we spent half a day,

  • The town we never saw.

  • With fuel to see us on our way

  • We left for.... Singapore.

• The ship's a breeding ground for mumps,

  • Caused ample discontent.

  • Faces swelled with ugly lumps,

  • and this is what it meant.

• Singapore we never saw,

  • Because of quarantine.

  • To enable us to drink ashore,

  • They made a wet canteen.

• Accompanied by "Birmingham"

  • We patrolled Sumatra's' coast.

  • Our plane met with disaster

  • And shattered all our boasts.

• On returning to the airport,

  • We traded in our plane.

  • The old one ditched, a new one bought

  • We off to sea again.

• As escort to the "Eagle",

  • An afrcraft carrying ship.

  • We led her to Colombo

  • A twenty-six knot trip.

• Colombo's Rickshaw army

  • Four miles a rupee note.

  • They fairly drove us barmy

  • When we stepped off the boat.

• After several days of leave

  • Our rupees all but spent,

  • Other places to perceive

  • A-way to sea we went.

• We¹d only been at sea a day

  • Then came an S.O.S.

  • We opened throttles all the way

  • The "Lieth" was in distress.

• Soon the location found,

  • But not a distressed ship.

  • The helmsman turned the ship around

  • And continued with the trip.

• We reached Bombay on Saturday,

  • The forenoon watch below.

  • And when the ship had ceased to stray

  • We let the anchor go.

• We found this city of Bombay

  • An ideal place for leisure.

  • With modern customs of today

  • And houses built for pleasure.

• The beat idea that did appear

  • Was leave for recreation.

  • The landing party packed their gear:

  • Four days of relaxation.

• A taxi to Beach Candy  

  • For swimming we would go,

  • A glass or two of shandy

  • Then dance or picture show.

• The shops they did a roaring trade

  • With sailors from the seas.

  • Rings inlaid with precious jade

  • For just a few rupees.

• We lay in harbour for a week

  • Then on patrol again

  • The enemy we went to seek

  • Retiring all in vain.

• But our return was not to stay

  • Of that there was no doubt.

  • The following day we pushed away

  • To take a troopship out.

• The S.S.Akbar was the ship,

  • Indian troops her freight.

  • As far as Aden was the trip,

  • Four thousand tons her weight.

• From dawn of day til sun did set

  • We gave her our protection.

  • A ship the Germans didn't get

  • To add to their collection.

• And when with them we had to part,

  • Those India-n Soldiers fine.

  • They cheered us with an open heart,

  • As our band played "Auld Lang Syne".

• We cruised about the sea that night

  • Just steaming round and round.

  • Next day the "Ettrick" came in sight

  • And we were Bombay bound.

• Again in port to stay the night

  • And to set sail next day.

  • The news received was far from bright

  • A shipmate passed away.

• At church our prayers were sent

  • For the man whose life had ceased.

  • His time on earth now spent

  • May he rest his soul in peace.

• Now "Shifty" was our barber

  • A hearty chap was he

  • A seaman Petty-Officer

  • A worthy man at sea.

• It was Sunday we were well at sea

  • With ships that numbered ten

  • Steaming Aden bound were we

  • With a crew of homesick men.

• The fifth day of our Aden run,

  • A tanker hove in sight.

  • A British ship with covered gun

  • In wartime is not right.

• Abreast of her the Captain roared

  • "Man where's your common sense,

  • To cover up that gun aboard;

  • Your one line of defence.

• The convoy we were due to leave

  • Our turning point at hand.

  • With other; duties to achieve

  • And plenty in demand.

• The fifteenth of December fell

  • And so the proud display.

  • With band in patriotic swell

  • We steamed Colombo way.

• After five days steaming steady

  • In Colombo we arrived,

  • For leave the men were ready.

  • To drink and be revived.

• Yes! all-night leave was granted

  • The first lot of its kind.

  • We had the fun we wanted

  • With the beer we didn't mind.

• Two days harbour then to sea,

  • For gunnery exercises

  • Then for Malacca Straits to be

  • Escort for Indo-Chinese soldiers.

• Christmas day on the ocean wave,

  • With duck of the Navy pattern,

  • Unstrained ale they freely gave

  • And duff to make us fatten.

• With cruiser "Suffren" of proud France

  • And Convoy of the same.

  • We took position just advance

  • Proceeding back again.

• So to Colombo we returned

  • Our oil fuel fairly spent.

  • There tied up to the buoy

  • Was the heavy cruiser "Kent".

• Two days in with leave ashore

  • Where kegs of beer were dripping,

  • Then out again to do some more

  • For unprotected shipping.

• Nineteen-thirty-nine went by

  • The New-Year took its place.

  • The ringing bells did not apply

  • Nor spliced we the old main brace.

• The aircraft carrier "Glorious"

  • Her planes all roaring round.

  • An impression so victorious

  • The fleet-Air-Arm renowned.

• With Cape of Guardafuiai near

  • Our journey half complete,

  • We swing around and reappear

  • Making our retreat.

• After four long days and nights

  • Of tiresome weary watches.

  • We saw Colombo's lights again

  • And beer and whiskey scotches.

• Taxi tours and picture shows,

  • Swimming baths and dances.

  • The dives and dens a sailor sees

  • In any place that chances.

• The money soon was almost spent,

  • An ending to a spree.

  • On hands and knees aboard we went

  • And sobered up at sea.

• Eastward to Malacca straits

  • To shadow ships of commerce

  • That carry war material freights

  • The Merchant-Navy's premise.

• Working in the tropics,

  • Practising a shoot.

  • With the "Eagle" and the "Sussex"

  • Warships of repute.

• Three days on the watery waste

  • Then a week of harbour free.

  • With provisions and oil replaced

  • We sailed.... for Trincom-alee

• In Trinco there did once belong

  • A big Dutch population.

  • This little town in East Ceylon

  • Is now a Naval station.

• Our stay was brief but long enough

  • As Trinco. is no heaven.

  • The A.I.F. were on their way

  • And this convoy we were given.

• The "Empress of Japan", 

  • and old " Canadian Pacific"

  • The "Orcades" and "Orion",

  • "Otranto" so terrific.

• The "Empress of Canada"

  • With "Orford" in her wake.

  • "Strathaird" and "Strathmore"

  • Ships of modern make.

• "Sobieski", Rangitata"

  • With "Dunera" in the story.

  • Like the relic of a crater

  • Was the "Athos" in her glory.

• Steaming in formation,

  • With convoy heavy-laden.

  • Red Sea our destination

  • Refuelling ship at Aden.

• Battleship "Ramillies" together

  • With "Andes" clean and free

  • We were making easy weather

  • Across the Arabian Sea.

• Colombo after twenty days

  • Of scran to make us heave.

  • And then the old Commander says

  • "Forty-eight hours of leave".

• You'll find it's true in what they say

  • A phrase we all enjoy.

  • Excessive work and little play

  • Makes Jack the dullest boy.

• Our next trip found us due south-east

  • To a position not afar.

  • Our boundary line had been increased

  • To the isles of Nicobar.

• Returning at a crawling speed

  • With gunboats two in number.

  • For Trinco we were to proceed,

  • The sardines to Colombo.

• When ship had fuelled at China Bay

  • For Bengal Bay we sailed.

  • Escorting "Eagle" all the way

  • Ensuring nothing failed.

• The journey went without even

  • A four day trip return.

  • Four days in Colombo spent

  • A fortnight's pay to earn.

• So to sea to see the sea

  • Bengal Bay again.

  • There we found the job to be

  • Escort to a sweeper train.

• Four minesweepers strung astern

  • One behind the other.

  • And so we made our slow return

  • Like chickens with a mother.

• Colombo March the twenty third

  • Awaiting further orders

  • Our homeward trip still un-referred

  • Though buzzes were aboard us.

Anonymous (anyone know the author?), but preserved by Syd Clark who also made sailor's uniforms on board HMAS Hobart with his sewing machine, as well as checked & taught use of amphibian's radio gear…