THE TOW

UNDER TOW

The fact that Glenroy had been hit was soon well known in Cairo especially by the Italians. My Brother Ron also in Cairo at the time ,commandeered a truck and tried to race to the rescue,Fortunately for him he was stopped before he got too far .

<Patching and temporary repairs took 5 days to achieve, Powerful pumps kept the water at bay and the tugs( ST ISSEY and ST MONACE successfully got us off the sandbar. Fortunately the weather was good. So began the long tow home. We had two anti submarine trawlers plus the destroyers Farndale Eridge and Avondale .to escort us.

All this activity was in full view of the coast well behind enemy lines. Attacks by bombers and torpedo bombers followed over the ensuing seven days. All the torpedoes passed in front of the ship, we were so low in the water we put up a huge bow wave which fooled the enemy into thinking we were faster than we were. At one stage the navigator threw an union and a lump of wood overboard from the bow to estimate speed (we were so slow the log didn’t operate) He estimated it at a KNOT and an onion.

NOTE MY CARLEY FLOAT STILL TIED ON JUST IN CASE

As there was no power an army field kitchen had been put on board from which bully beef stews, bully beef casseroles. bully beef plain adnausium. Plenty of tinned fuit, the flooded holds had it floating around. If it was not blown.Water from the engine jacket was used for cooking, Water in"Jerry" cans was for drinking only.We had the run of the ship and the contents of the canteen was soon liberated especially the Nestles Milk chocolate which was normally rationed This was locked in the case the chippies had made to protect the Piano from army boots etc,Pineapple was also available however after a few days in the salt water the cans were already starting to spoil,The ships condenser also supplied a rusty qty of freshwater,for drinking, All hands slept on deck at night in case of torpedo attack .Seven days later we reached Alexander, and had to sit off the harbour whilst the ballast was shifted so we could enter, We drew more than a battleship. Eventually we went ashore