sidsal
14th November 2008, 21:26
In 1945 I was uncertificated 4th Mate on the Malakand in Vittoria Dock in Birkenhead when the dockers went on strike for many weeks. Eventually the army were called in and stared to load the ship. As you can imagine it was slow going. The master and most of the crew were on leave and the Mate whose name was Hocking if I remember rightly was in charge. One afternoon he had retired to his cabin for a spot of "Egyptian exrcises" which as you know have to be done horizontally with your eyes closed. leaving me in charge of the deck.
A convoy of limmos arrived alongside and from them came the chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and other officials and also a host of army top brass with red hat bands etc. They came aboard and peered gingerly down the hatches and one of the officers came up to me and said he was ADC to Major General Freer - GOC Western Command and could he please see the Captain. I explainedthat the Captain was absent but the Chief Officer was on board . He asked could they be taken to him so I led a line of them up to the officer's flat with the Major General just behind me.
The Mates door was open and the curtain drawn across so I entered,holding the curtain aside, shook his shoulder and said - "Major General Freer to see you sir !"
Hocking open one eye and said "Who the F**K is Major General Freer ?"
When he saw the General who had entered behind me he leapt off his setee and grovelled !
Probably did the general good to learn that there were some who had never heard of him !!
A convoy of limmos arrived alongside and from them came the chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and other officials and also a host of army top brass with red hat bands etc. They came aboard and peered gingerly down the hatches and one of the officers came up to me and said he was ADC to Major General Freer - GOC Western Command and could he please see the Captain. I explainedthat the Captain was absent but the Chief Officer was on board . He asked could they be taken to him so I led a line of them up to the officer's flat with the Major General just behind me.
The Mates door was open and the curtain drawn across so I entered,holding the curtain aside, shook his shoulder and said - "Major General Freer to see you sir !"
Hocking open one eye and said "Who the F**K is Major General Freer ?"
When he saw the General who had entered behind me he leapt off his setee and grovelled !
Probably did the general good to learn that there were some who had never heard of him !!