DARLASTONS SUEZ JAUNT - By Fred Sampson (Ex-Telegraphist) P/J 932676

Leaving HMS Gambia after a 14 month tour on the East Indies Station based at Trincomalee Ceylon, I found myself waiting at HMS Mercury, outside Portsmouth, to pick up my next draft chit, which should be – Home Sea Service.

It was – HMS DARLASTON, a minesweeper in the 104th MS Sqdn.  

I wasn’t quite sure what I would be in for but the fact that I would be the only Telegraphist quietly frightened me to death.  There were 66 Comms ratings in Gambia, plenty to hide behind but now the only ‘sparker’!  Who could I blame if the message was wrong?

I enjoyed visits to Brighton, Ostend and Zeebrugge etc and was beginning to get the hang of things when, alas, we were ordered back to Harwich to prepare for a trip to the Mediterranean.

HMS Mull of Galloway became our Mother ship and, I believe, it was 14 M/Sweepers left the River Orwell following dear mother down channel for a trip to Malta. 

'We couldn’t go as slow as mother' so we headed off unescorted, and all arrived, without mishap, in Gibraltar where we tied up in trots of three all alongside under the, then, Comms Centre in the harbour.

I say ‘without mishap’ - well!  The powers that be decided in their wisdom  to keep Jack away from anything that went BANG! they would embark some soldiers and would mount on the gunwales and on the bridge some things called Bren guns and other small armament to protect us during our visit to the Meddy! 

This proved to be a very worthwhile exercise as not one of these soldiers had been to sea before and before getting out into the channel and turning south- yes, they were a bit poorly!  By the time we reached the Isle of Wight they were really poorly and before we reached Lands End they were nearly dead!

Now being a serviceman onboard a war vessel entitled these soldiers to a tot each day but it was obvious to all and sundry that no way were they going to drink anything but water.  Rum bosun, Leading stoker Harry Jones, laid down the rules that it was imperative that the soldiers involved must be heard to say “Yes, you can have my tot!” before he would allow anyone other than the name on the board to have it.  No statement !, then all tots into ‘Queens’ and equal share-out with his thumb half way down the measure.

The sight at tot time was hilarious.  Prostrate soldier with hairy assed matelot leaning over him, breathing thick rum fumes down his throat chanting:

Matelot            “Can I have your tot please soldier?”

Soldier             “Urrhhg!”

Matelot            “No soldier, you must say 'Yes Sparks, you can have my tot'”

Soldier             “Go Away (in nautical language)” (short spew)

Matelot            “I will if you just say or point at me and say You can have my tot!”

Soldier             clearing throat “Yes ‘ave it and I hope it chokes you”

Matelot            “Thank you soldier-it won't, and see you tomorrow!

What a lovely trip it turned out to be: the seaman beat the miscellaneous at Uckers and crib but I didn’t mind too much as I had two tots to play with all the way to Malta.

Our stop at Gib was nothing more than a quick PU ashore, six hours leave to those that wanted some ‘rabbits’ and six hours leave to those that would prefer a little relaxation in The Winter Gardens, The Trocadero, or a trip down Irish Town.  I took the little relaxation leave period and still have the scars on one cheek to prove it plus the fact I have not been able to chew meat since as the molar count was drastically reduced!

We sailed next morning after sorting out what ship we were on, after all they did look alike at the best of times let alone when the back of the throat is awash with alcohol !!!!!

The photograph (above) is taken with me behind a Bren gun en-route to Suez on 3rd November 1956.  I could play with it because my soldier friend was still a bit poorly but getting better, so the period of more than one tot was just about to come to an end.

We arrived at Suez after collecting a few more ‘sweepers from 108th MSS and went down in history as being the first minesweepers to sweep a harbour prior to and during the invasion.

I’ll be putting together some more notes about Suez, patrols X, Y & Z, and Cyprus.  Please join me in reminiscing, I appreciate hearing from anyone involved in that little fiasco!

Ken Tillyard - Ldg Seaman (later Cox’n), Tancy Lee (National / Service Stoker ),  Shiner Wright (N/S Stoker),  Harry Jones - Ldg Stoker, ‘Brad’ Bradbury, L/Seaman Renshaw (you owe me a Sub), Signalman Alan Meekin where are you all now?  Get in touch now!

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