CAPTAIN JIM ETCHES
At the outbreak of war, after blacking out all white paint, we sailed out of Gibraltar on the S.S. Thursa bound for Hull. Ships in the Mediterranean had immediately been attacked and some sunk by surface submarines. At this time the Mercantile Marine carried no defence and we were fortunate in not being challenged. After rounding Cape St. Vincent I was on the bridge as Third Mate and in the darkness saw a blue light flashing. I thought if I ignored it it will go away - which it didn't - so I stamped on the deck of the wheel-house to summonse the Captain who was asleep. below. The blue light got closer and a large French Battle Cruiser made itself apparant and requested our identification after which it signalled "Are you aware hostilities have commenced?" We assured him that we were and he pushed off.
Later on the trip we were diverted from Hull to Liverpool via Milford Haven. Kath came over to Liverpool and we were married there shortly after the commencement of hostilities. After a brief honeymoon Kath returned to her home in Withernsea and I set sail on the S.S. Runo for Italy. While we were moored at Messina, it was disconcerting to have Mussolini's Fascists bombarding us with tomatoes from the wharfside. It was a case of turning the other cheek, as at this time Italy was neutral.
Subsequently I was still Third Mate, this time on the S.S. Bassano sailing to New York but early in 1940 was promoted to Second Mate on the S.S. City of Ripon bound for India. We did three trips to India - the long way round the Cape, as the Suez Canal was closed. We carried military stores outward and the usual Indian products such as jute etc., back to the UK.
In September 1941 I came home to sit my Master's ticket and thereafter joined the S.S. Grodno as First Officer bound to the Indies for sugar. I stayed with this ship for four years mainly on the run to Lisbon and Gibraltar with cargoes of stores and arms.
Early in 1942 while sailing off Cape St. Vincent accompanied by a Royal Navy Trawler and a Dutch Skoot boat, we were attacked by three low flying Fokker Wolfe Condor airplanes. Fortunately no damage was received but we managed to shoot one Condor down into the sea. The Naval Trawler tried to claim all the credit but eventually we were both credited with "half" a Condor.
Once while travelling in convoy at night, a Belgian vessel which should have been steaming ahead of us turned up in the morning behind us. Our skipper said "how did the bugger get there!" Anyway the Convoy Commander signalled the Belgian skipper to get into his proper position. Unfortunately, as he did so the vessel managed to become impaled on our bows and he had to make for Lisbon for repairs.
When VE day finally came we were in Cadiz, loading the first cargo of sherry for many a long time. Our Spanish Agent came down the quay with bottles of sherry for a celebration. We then set sail for the Pool of London.
On VE Day I was in Bristol and thereafter followed my chosen calling as a peace time Captain in the Mercantile Marine.