Based on a Diary kept by John Davidson
The 7th BW sail for Egypt 1942


The 7th BW, part of the reformed 51HD were billeted at Ash Nr Aldershot when they set off for Glasgow in June 1942.
Click here to see picture of 7th Battalion Sergeants 1942



Thursday, 18th June 1942
Entrain and leave 1am by LNER via Leicester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, and Glasgow to King George V dock arriving about 7.30pm Detrain and straight on to troopship R.M.S "Stratheden" Billeted on 'd' deck bunk 302 with 7 others. Ship laden to capacity and men fairly crammed.



Also on board the Stratheden were divisional HQ 1/7 Middlesex Regt. - The machine gunners, Reconnaissance Regt. Workshops, RASC companies and divisional signals - in all about 4000 men.


Sunday, 21st June Still lying in dock. Sail at 10.20am. Fair size convoy. Count 16 troopships and 4 cargo vessels and escort. Fog settles down and visibility poor, speed very slow. Time back 1 hour from midnight.



Some of the convoy sailed from Liverpool and others from the Severn. Once all were joined at the rendezvous it seems that there were 22 ships with a destroyer escort of 8/9 later to be joined by the battleship Malaya, just north of the Azores.
The names of the troopship with their arrival dates and regiments where applicable are given below

Name Carried Arrived
Empress of Australia 5BW, 153HQ, 1st Gordons August 13th
Stratheden 7BW, Div HQ, 1/7 Middlesex August 11th
Cuba 1BW, 154 Brig HQ staff August 12th
Bergensfjord 5 Seaforth August 14th
Duchess Richmond 2 Seaforth
Leopoldville 7th ASH August 15th


Others
Arundel Castle
Stirling Castle
Strathmore
Politska
Awatea of Melbourne
Narkunda
Empress of Russia
Adrastus
Obosso
Palma
Banfora
Empire Pride
Esperance Bay
Moltan
Orion

The fog did not clear until the convoy reached the open sea south west of Islay. Although there was much discussion among the troops as to the destination - India was favourite due to much of the kit issued - officially all baggage was simply labelled W24191.


Monday 22nd June
Reveille 6am, up at 7.30am, breakfast 8am. Well out to sea. Weather much clearer. Convoy formation opens out. OC's inspection "rounds" at 10.30am Finish 11.45am
Issue Jam rations afternoon, Balmoral concert party on 'B' deck 8pm. Lights out 10pm.


Thus was set a pattern of life on board that was to exist for the next seven to eight weeks. Reveille at 6am followed by getting up 7-7:30 and breakfast at 8am.
Staff commanders and OC's inspection would take place at 10-10:30am. As a substitute action stations and boat stations would be practised at 10am. As the convoy moved south and the temperature increased there would be a ritual opening of portholes on lower decks.


Fri 26th June
Sgt Green R.A.C - Deck Sgt in hospital. Afternoon - inspection of bunks H.M.S. Malaya joins convoy. Weather very warm.

Sunday 28th June
Change of uniform. KD shorts and shirtsleeves. Morning church services 10.30am. Afternoon 2.15, 3.15 pipe bard playing on 'B' deck.

Thursday 2nd July
Land sighted. Arrive in Freetown. 12.15 anchor dropped. Afternoon viewing sights from deck. All lights on till 10pm. Weather - monsoon rains.

Monday 6th July
Weigh Anchor 10.30. Turn around and under way at 11.00. Still sharp rainfall.


For the first few days out of Glasgow the convoy had sailed west then south passing the Azores on 28th June. Course was altered to the south-east and the Cape Verde islands/Cape Verde passage gone through on 1st July.
In all of the books and histories I have read life for the troops seemed to be one long organised round of short 45 minute lectures on all aspects of military life combined with P.T and 'spelling bees'. However, none of this comes across from my father's diaries - just the sheer monotony of a 10,000 mile, 8 week voyage. As an antidote to 'official' histories I suggest that those interested read a book called 'Journey With a Pistol' by Neil McCallum. Published by Gollancz in 1959. This to me at least gives a real flavour of the time and of the attitudes held. It is particularly redolant when it comes to the description of the time spent at Freetown.
Due to virulent Malaria no one was allowed ashore at Freetown and the troops were warned not to buy and fruit form the 'native bumboats' which came out to the convoy. Of course this was ignored and many suffered from the 'gripes' as a result. You can imagine the banter between the 'jocks' on board and those in the small boats. In this politically correct age it is left to your imagination. Anchored of Freetown were a number of Royal Navy warships including the battleships Rodney and Nelson, which were lit up. This lack of blackout is a much mentioned feature in all accounts of this time, as was the extreme humidity and the very attractive looking luxuriant vegetation ashore.


Tuesday 7th July
Nine men charged - 'smoking'. 9.30am A.A action stations (divisional commander and others late for other alarm!) Afternoon - all quiet. Out on the open sea. Water! Water!


The convoy seemed to have crossed the equator on July 7th and the 5BW aboard the Empress of Australia on July 8th. Very illustrative of the social chasm between officers and men is the little aside in some accounts of the day of the Eton and Harrow cricket match being celebrated by a game between Eton and Harrow. The Eton Captain, being Brigadier Harry Houldsworth and the Harrow Captain, one Roper-Caldbeck*. The ball, of course, was a pair of rolled up socks. Shades here of First World War Officers kicking a football as they went across No Mans Land.

*William Noel Roper-Caldbeck DSO awarded Sword of Honour Sandhurst 1922. T/Lt Col Commanding 1st Btn 14th March 1942. Retired 1st October 1953 died 22nd July 1965.


Friday 10th July.
Burial of Pte Wedderburn . Man accidentally shot with Tommy Gun.

3322916 Pte J T Wedderburn 7th Btn BW died Thursday 9th July aged 26. His name is recorded on Brookwood Memorial Surrey.

Saturday 11th July
Afternoon Pipe Band plays on B Deck. Inter Unit Sports on A Deck. Weather cool and misty.

Monday 13th July
1.30 p.m. Man dies from gun wound. Report of man having fallen overboard and drowned from the Empress of Russia. 5.30 p.m. funeral service for above man. Weather good, heavy swell.

Tuesday 14th July
Report of man died aboard other ship in convoy. Uniform changed from khaki drill to battledress.

Wednesday 15th July.
10.30 a.m. Action and Boat Stations timed for 7 minutes. 11.00 a.m. Boxing Competition. 2.00 p.m. BW leading at close.

Thursday 16th July.
10.30 a.m. inspection of ship by the Master, Captain Drew RD RNR. All ranks congratulated on ship's cleanliness. Afternoon Boxing Finals. Middlesex 1st, BW 2nd.

Friday 17th July.
Convoy splits half to Cape Town ten carry on to Durban. Weather very rough, heavy swell.

Monday 20th July.
Dock at Durban 1.30 p.m. Shore Leave 6 p.m. to 12 midnight. At the "20th Century Cinema" to see "Rise and Shine" Supper at Café.

Tuesday 21st July.
In Dock. All troops less duties go off ship to bivouac camp for route march training (at Greyville Racecourse). Shore Leave. Out in town from 3 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. At "Metro Cinema" to see "Vanishing Virginian". Tea at Victoria League Club.


Wednesday 22nd July.
9.00 a.m. general cleaning of decks. Afternoon in town. Pipe Band plays Retreat in Square. Speech by Lord Mayor. Supper in Churches' Canteen. At show on stage in Town Hall. Very good.

Thursday 23rd July.
Scrub out own cabin. 3.00 p.m. Shore Leave. Supper in St. Paul's Canteen. At "Princes Cinema" to see "Bride COD".

Friday 24th July.
At South Beach. Photos taken. Meal at the Jewish Institute, Old Fort Road. Walk into City Centre. Book seats for the last house at the Metro to see "Phantom Raiders". Supper at café on way back to ship.

Saturday 25th July.
All units re-join ships plus RAF Draft. All Shore Leave cancelled.

Sunday 26th July.
6.00 a.m. Gangway up! Move out of harbour and sail off about 8.30 a.m. Goodbye to Durban! Evening spent in ship's rounds. Decks in a very dirty condition. Two men charged. "Smoking" and "Sentry not at post".

Equator crossed 3rd August.


Tuesday 4th August.
Issue of limejuice to troops.

Thursday 6th August.
Arrive at Aden. Refuelling. Burning wind. No black out. 140 deg. fahrenheit in the shade.

Friday 7th August.
In port Aden sail out 6.30 a.m. Weather very warm and sticky.

Saturday 8th August.
Open Port Holes. Sleep in the open on A Deck.

Tuesday 11th August.
Disembark at Port Tewfik.


Hard training now lay before the 7th Btn BW before the Battle of El Alamein.


7th Battalion Black Watch Signal Section 1942

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