SAFE almost IN ALEXANDRIA HARBOUR

There was a very nice nemory on Ianding at Alexandra, as we stepped over thegangplank, the Red Cross gave us a parcel , each one of us had toothpaste and brush,soap,towel and a 200 piastre note equivalent to one pound Sterling. What a surprise, what a thoughtful way of doing it. Because of the conditionson board 'Glenroy' we were biIIeted in an ex- Imperial Airways Hotel "The Atlantic" all modern conveniences,and believe it or not Sudanese Servants who woke us with a cup of tea every morning,that was if you put down for an'early call' You really knew you were in the East when you opened your eyes to see a man in a'Fess'by your bedside. We travelled by lorry to the Docks every day,and worked on 'Glenroy' which the powers that be had decided that the Hole,which was big enough for two double decker buses to drive through,would be repaired while we stayed in the water. There were too many Cruisers Battleships etc. needing the stretched resources of the Iocal Ship Repair Shops. So South African div ers came aboard and prepared to stop all our 'Ieaks' it was ,at the time,the Iargest underwater repair ever, and it was the first time I had ever seen the Cox's G u n , w hi c h drove these 1" d ameter threaded bolts through our Ship's plate, and alIowed this large prepared shaped and drilled plate to fasten straight on to us, the propelling charge was gun powder, We had at the time  lntelligence with information that the Italians were going to mount some sort of attack on the Fleet in harbour. We thought Torpedo Bomber attack. The Fleet  was put on alert' and even liberty boats had to give a password when approaching at night. What actually happened was the Italians had Frogmen on a wreck outside the Harbour,they got under the Torpedo Nets and pl aced Limpet  Mines on the bottom of the Battleship  Queen Elizabeth w h i c h was  severely damaged. "Queen Eli zabeth' was docked hurriedly,and we were put in her usual Harbour Berth ,Smoke Pots and Anti Torpedo Nets put round us,to all intent and purpose nothing was amiss from the eyes of the recon. planes  which would certainiy come.

The 'ploy' worked,and the Italian Fleet never put to sea. Lucky for us,for we had nothing to oppose them. So as the months rolled by,the Ship was comi ng back to life again,the Ships' Engineers had stripped the Engines, cleanedthem up and assembied them,using onl y the Ship's resources.(refer admiralty report for details)

In those days Naval Personnel coul d put their name on a Roste r, after eighteen months abroad,which when their name came to the top of the list,entitled you to a trip home. So as the 'Glenroy' was leaving 'Hot Climes'all of the original Crew were sent where needed most. I was 'drafted ' to H. M. S. "Saunders " on the Suez Canal at Lake Timsah.It was a Repair Base where Landing Craft were Slipped,Bottoms pain t e d , p r o p e I I e r  s haft sleeves renewed etc. there were fi veSlips,we worked 12 hour Shifts.It was one of the worst postings  one could get.

You lived in tents . no facilities  stinking hot. plus hard work.

 Sicily landings were ahead,so 'Glenroy'went home for more permanent repairs.( see the Admiralty report for the voyage home. (She broke down more than once)

After two years nine months I eventually headed home on theTroopship 'Strathmore" through the Mediterranean .Much safer waters now, we were calling 'the shots' The Ship deliberately sailed close in shore,we could clearly see Cape Bon where Rommel's Invincible Army was exposed,and the Germans in their thousands laid down their Arms. It was a coincidence,but  i Landed at Liverpool where it all started ,just under three years earlier.

The Glenboats went on to bigger things,and really did the jobs they were intended to do in the first pl ace "lnvasion'