LAYFORCE (* FORCE Z )

We had loaded Tropical Gear,Pith Helmets,the previous week,so rumours abounded. We set sail ,with the other Glen boats with a large Escort,  ( for those days )2 Cruisers,5 Destroyers for just us three. Was it  just because Churchill had his son aboard, or the other notibles,or was it because of the fact we were the first special Ships to carry Commandos, and there was a really special important job we were bound for.The'buzz was the Dodecanese Group of Islands,off Greece,occupied by Italians

We headed for Freetown, the white man's grave they called it. At anchor we could smell the Jungle.( rotten vegetation and poo )  I can still recall it. 0ur next point of call Capetown"three marvellous days there. All you could eat,all you could drink,and the sun shining all the time. The only blot on the landscape was my first experience of ,'whites 0nly"Notice Boards, and Charlie a messmate who staggered into the Mess , late last night,and said he had been stabbed,sure enough there was the slit in the back of his tunic,and a small stab wound alongside the spine. Charlie was in a state of'no cares'so we assumed it was an Afrikanse speaking South African he had'tangled'with. As the British speaking population made us so very welcome.We did some sightseeing,went to the  top of Table Mountain by cable car,signed the Visitors Book at top,also signed by Beatty,and Churchill my name is against Evelyn Waugh the writer.