Blackie Boys story continues-, Breakdown

personal experiences of PO John Priscott served aboard 1940 -43 LAYFORCE ( Force Z) THE CANAL  CRETE Queens Royals Account ACCOUNT A E WEBB BLACKIE BOY (CONT) AE WEBB - CONT 2 TROOP TRAINING TORPEDOED (with photos) MAP MAN THE PUMPS SAVING THE SHIP THE TOW NO ROOM IN HARBOUR REPAIR WORK BEGINS FORCES MAGAZINE ARTICLE REPORT  on VOyage back to UK D day D DAY 2nd Devons Account 1946  her last job FAREWELL  1946 newspaper Article OFFICIAL REPORT ON SALVAGE OFFICIAL REPORT HULL DAMAGE OFFICIAL REPORT ENGINEERING COMMENDATION Letter Louis Mountbatten COMMENDATIONS  DECORATIONS PHOTOS by CPO John Turner Gunner PHOTOS  more follow MOVIE OF GLENROY Contact



We were not home and dry yet> somewhere off the coast of Africa, Bathhurst( gambia) comes to mind but Im not certain.in the early hours of the morning.There was a" BANG"  from the engine room , the ship stopped moving. First thoughts were that we"d been hit.Then a call went out for me to report to the engine room with Oxy-acytelene gear.The chief engineer met me at the steps. He said," I know you dont like the engine room whilst we are at sea Blackie but the forward cyclinder has jammed on the port engine. We cant move a large nut on the  piston, so I want you to burn it off.Ill get the cylinders taken down, Stay here till i call you." In due the call came. To say I was shocked when a saw thew size of the nut was an understatement.

I'd never used that size jet in the torch before, nor had I cut through metal that thick.I swera I was being guided by the Lord.My hand never shook and I knew i must not get the jet blocked and backfiring and keep the meatl flowing, The cut was as clean as a whistle.The engineers gave a little cheer and the Engineering Commander patted me on the back and said." well done Blackie get yourself back up top,Ill have the cylinders sent up no doubt there will be a couiple of pieces needing welding."Ill have those brought up to you. After a while we were under way again. Anyone who hasbeen on a ship that has broken down will know the feeling when the engine starts "thumping" again.

During this time HMS Janus had been circling around us but she would have had a job to protect herself let alone Glenroy> never the less we were looked after. I never put it down to luck.We were aware there were german submarines about , not always alone> Hms Glenroy and Janus didnt look much of a prize. One thing I pretty sure about was that the germans didnt know Glenroy was carrying Gold.

When we left England our Cruising speed was eighteen knots, what we were capable of now I had no idea. War being full of surprises perhaps we presented ourselves as a decoy The Lord was with US and Glenroy and Janus made  it into Cardiff docks.

We tied up alongside a rail track . I was sent for and told to get my oxy-acytelene gear and burn through the staps on the Bond and bullion cupboard.

Top brass were there to see I didnt di a runner witha cuople of gold bars. Our seaman were carrying a gold bar each and loading them unto a railway truck, There was no sign of any armed men like there jhad been in Cape Town.

I stood on the deck watching the lads with a bar of gold on thier shoulders and a dockyard matey siad.

"whats in the boxes Jack" My reply was "gold"

If my reply was corned beef he would have believed it. but no way did he believe it was gold.

Having leave I left the Glenroy and  returned to portsmouth Barracks still attached to Combined Operations.

Glenroy was refiied and went on to D Day and Rangoon. I went to the Pacific on HMS Lamont

I will never foprget HMS Glenroy and her crew, In the 2 and half years I have covered often in the thick of battle, we killed no one but saved many lives.

She tool me to war  and carried me safely home. " GOD BLESS HER".

I later read in a boollet writtem for combined Operations that  the then Earl Loius Montbatten thad praised  the engineers for the job  they did on Glenrou wgile at sea. He said It showed what me could do when they were determined to keep gping.",

The second world war was to me frightening at times and I admit to not being very brave, The dependency of others on me using my skills to the best pf my ability as and when needed kept me gping. The family link with Glenroy is still strong almost sixty years later, my parents having named my yopungest brother  born at the height of the ships involvment ( 1941)GLENN ROY in her honour.

The reason I wrote this was my eldest grandson bought me a picture of the old girl and the write up under the picyture did not do the old girl justice so I have tried to put that right. I wasa twenty years old when i joined HMS Glenroy and about 33 and half when I left her. I am now 78 and half and it was a long time ago but my memory isnt too bad.

A E WEBB  

P/MX 61705                               January 1999