WORLD CRUISE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20861, 13 August 1942, Page 5

WORLD CRUISE

N.Z. “ACK-ACK” GUNNERS UNEXPECTED WANDERINGS SINGAPORE BOMBING (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspj.ident.) CAIRO, July 31. When four South Islanders volunteered last September to work with the Maritime Anti-Aircraft Service of the Royal Artillery,- little did they realise that it would lead them to Liverpool when it was being bombed, to Singapore not long before its fall, back to New Zealand, to England again, and then to Egypt. They thought they would be joining a troop-ship to the Middle East, but instead they had a remarkable round-the-world cruise. I met the men this morning, shortly after their arrival in this part of the world. They are Colin Manson, of Christchurch, Allan Humphrey, of Dunedin, Bill Moore, of Winton, and Ted Davis, of Akaroa. They had been in the same platoon in the South Pacific for several months and had returned to New Zealand when the chance, came for what they thought would be an early arrival in the Middle East. Within 12 hours they were aboard cargo ships, bound for England after loading at coastal ports. Two were on one, and two on another, but the ships arrived in England within a few days of each other. They had some excitement during the voyages, dodging raiders off Panama, and mines which bobbed up in rough weather in the Irish Sea. They had their first experience of bombing in the streets of Liverpool, but London was quiet during a week’s visit on leave. There they met New Zealanders in the R.A.F. and the Forestry Unit. “We will be with the unit soon now,” they thought as they boarded another ship at Liverpool. It was not to bo, for Japan had just entered, the war and the ship, with its valuable supplies, was diverted to Singapore. There followed an experience the New Zealanders will not easily forget. Their ship, one of a convoy of five, with an escort of 18 warships, some Dutch, reached Singapore safely and sneaked into the harbour in the early morning, just as a force of nearly 200 Japanese aircraft appeared. Torrential rainfall blotted out the enemy s targets and their ship berthed m safety. First Hurricanes For Singapore Among her other valuable cargo she carried the first Hurricanes to reach Singapore. Nine hours after the ship had berthed these planes were in the air. The New Zealanders worked the ship’s winches and handled the cargo in the holds. There was little time for leave, but they managed one short trip to the city. They met many New Zealanders, and had very high praise for the wives of men engaged in important work on the island. The women refused to leave while there was . still useful work to be done by themselves at the Anzac Club and while their husbands were still required for the defence of the island. Bombs were dropped near the ship as she lay berthed at the naval dockyards The bombing started at 7 o’clock regularly, and continued all day. “We were never late for breakfast at seven,”, the New Zealanders said, “but we often missed dinner.” The planes were usually out of reach of the ships’ ack-ack guns, and between times the New Zealanders were busy helping to unload the vessel. After six days at Singapore the shipleft for Australia, making good time under a strong warship escort. . She called at Fremantle and Adelaide, where the four South Islanders found themselves the first New Zealand soldiers to have called there. In their peaked hats they were at first mistakeri. for Americans, but thenwelcome was equally cordial, and they were all sorry to leave. They arrived at Wellington about five and a half months after they had thought they were going to the Middle E After a week’s leave they returned to Wellington, to find the ship loaded and ready to sail. The watersiders must have done a great job, they said. She went to Liverpool this time. On the south coast of America she was hove-to in a heavy storm for 24 hours, and later found herself • only a few hours behind a ship that was being shelled by a submarine. Seven SOb signals from different ships were heard. A flare which it was believed was fired from a submarine landed almost on their own ship, but she was not attacked. . 'After a short leave in London the New Zealanders again set out for the Middle East, where they have at last arrived, anxious to join their machinegun unit as soon as possible. it was a great experience, they said but it tvill be good to be with the boys again.”