RONALD MIZON IN NOVA SCOTIA 1940 - 1944 Part 6
Written by Ronald MizonPublished on January 2018
As the days went by we were kept quite busy. Games were played on the main deck in the fresh air as the weather permitted and space was made available for us by the ship’s crew. Part of the day we had lessons in the salon such as arithmetic, spelling bees, writing, reading and playing indoor games. Most important of all was the daily lifeboat stations drill, life preservers on and filing up the boat deck and taking up our positions as quickly as possible. We became quite good at it after a few days. The practise signal was the blowing of a whistle and everyone, including the crew, took part. After about a week we were well into the rough weather of the North Atlantic and we soon found out why the dining tables in the salon were clamped to the floor by an adjustable bracket and the tables had a two inch barrier around the edge.
These fittings were designed to prevent the tables from sliding across the salon and the barrier was to prevent our plates of food from sliding onto the floor (deck). It was nice to be on the deck in the fresh air and it was fun to wave to the other ships in the convoy both at the back and sides. Life felt good. We appeared to look quite well – good food, fresh sea air and exercise and there was no land in sight.
We began to feel just a little complacent, but one night when we were all tucked up in our bunks the ALARM bells went off. We were half asleep and had to be roused by leaders, nurses and crew shouting “Clothes on! Life preservers on everyone! Assemble at your lifeboat stations at once!” We scurried too and soon we were at our lifeboat station. It was dark and jolly cold. We sat down where we could in our little groups and just stared out to sea wondering what was going to happen.
A crew member informed us to be alert to new instructions as a German U-Boat had been located by the Royal Navy patrols and everyone in the convoy was on full alert. Explosions were heard on the far side of the convoy and in the distance a ship appeared to be enveloped in a huge ball of flame. We now did not feel quite so safe. What had we to worry about? We had Royal Navy warships protecting us! Then another explosion, closer this time, and a fuel tanker in the next lane had been hit by the U-Boat or boats and it was a huge ball of fire again. Apparently tankers were very susceptible to explosions especially when running with empty tanks and the vapour inside was very volatile (not a very safe job for a sailor). Now that is two ships gone. Were we next? Strangely it did not occur to us at the time. It went quiet. Ah, well that’s all over! But no! – more explosions and another ship was hit and went down close by. We could see the sailors jumping from the ship into the cold Atlantic water whilst others attempted to launch their lifeboats and rafts. Other ships tried to pick sailors from the cold Atlantic but stopping was forbidden as it meant slowing down the convoy and then a danger to us all. It must have been a navy plan to keep us evacuees in the middle of the convoy because ships were going down all around us (5 so far). Some of us were shivering, probably from the North Atlantic cold winds but some of the shivering was from fright I’m sure. We had left our homeland to find a safer place to live and now the black Atlantic stared us in the face! BANG! And another tanker was hit just yards from us and it too went up in a sheet of flame. That was No. 6. With hindsight, I often wonder how the invading U-Boat managed to fire right into the middle of the convoy. Perhaps it was a lucky shot on their part? Slowly, night turned into day and we were still sitting there on full alert. We were escorted down below in two’s and three’s for toilet facilities. We were not allowed on our own and periodically there was a total head count to make sure every child was present. By about noon time it had gone totally quiet. The U-Boats had been sunk or had been satisfied by their dirty deeds. We had been at lifeboat stations all night and nearly all morning. All clear was sounded and we trooped down below to get washed up and something more to eat. We had been handed hot cocoa and a sandwich during the night, which had been very welcome. After a short rest we were allowed on deck and we noticed that some of the remaining ships appeared to be leaving the convoy. Some were headed for New York and Boston, USA, we were told. When we arose for another day we were almost alone on the Atlantic and we picked up speed. We were doing a zigzag path so that if any more U-Boats were about they would have difficulty in getting an accurate aim on us as they would not know which way we would turn next. The stewards told us we were halfway there. How did they know? To us it seemed the same as before as we were still listening to BBC London. Then next day about 11:00 o’clock it faded away and a short time later a new voice came on and said, to our amazement, “Good Morning Canada, this is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation”. Wow! and a few minutes later it changed and another voice said, “This is CHNS Lord Nelson Hotel Halifax”. We were getting closer. A sailor was pointing out to sea. “Look kids”, he said “an iceberg.” and sure enough there it was, a small one. It goes to show how far North we had come zigging and zagging. Then a shout went up and a small whale was spouting near the iceberg. This was really fun and all our fears melted away. Next day proved to be even more exciting. Fishing boats were sighted and we all waved and shouted. We learned from our crew that they were fishing out of Newfoundland (where was that? We would learn later at our new schools). Then someone mentioned John Cabot. Well, that’s where he was years ago. Next day proved even more exciting. More fishing boats were sighted and apparently they were from Nova Scotia, Canada. We were there!! Well, not quite yet but ever closer. Land was sighted and we were ecstatic, as we were collected together and with excitement in the speaker’s voice were told that the VERY next day we would be in Canada and landing at a place called Halifax. Meanwhile, Royal Canadian Navy ships were in the area to look after us. Nearly there. Big day tomorrow. What would we find? Lots of Red Indians? Well, I remember the Lone Ranger and all I would have to do was hold up my right hand and say in a firm voice, “HOW”!