|
Central Pacific 1963/64.
Today, Radio Kapoi Honolulu reported
severe storms in the area of Christmas Island, a spotter plane has flown
over the Island and reports that it is mostly submerged, there is no sign
of life, and no radio communication. But! In Twynham Two something stirs,
it’s Taff Williams, and wonder of wonders he’s lobbing the fags! We are
all lying on our pits waiting for the rain to stop, there’s Les Mawson,
Tom Bartley, Ernie Hodgetts, John Barker, Dennis Clifford, and yours truly
Terry Morse, we are 20 Field Sqdn RE Petroleum Fitters (ish). Those I’ve
forgotten can get in touch and tell me so.
Luxury aircraft to New York, then to San Francisco, and finally Hickham
airbase Honolulu, then cheese sandwiches and a netting bag hanging in the
hold of, I think, an Argosy. This is how we arrived. It seems like
yesterday, but mind you most of my memories seem like yesterday, it was
the sun and the weirdo’s, not to mention some of the islands inhabitants.
One of my first jobs ,was to take my gang of Gilbertese, and a tractor and
trailer, down to the Tank Farm and collect up all the old pieces of
pipeline then take 'em down and throw it in the sea, easy peasy, you would
have thought, but no.
Three days into my contract and I’m still demonstrating how I want the job
done, I am totally knackered I’ve unloaded most of the trailers on my own
coz, the Gilbo’s don’t understand , then one of our Officers walked by,
“why don’t you just tell them what you want done?” he said. “they don’t
speak English” I say. “oh yes they do” he says “they’re all taught
English at King George the Fifth School on Ellis island”!! Forty years on
I’m still not speaking to any of the articles.
Remember the Blue Lagoon Cinema? I saw that old bawdy comedy Tom Jones, in
fact I saw it again a few weeks ago on ITV, but I digress, on the Island I
went with my mate John Barker and as per usual we sat down in front of our
white painted crinkly tin screen, and down came the rain, it doesn't often
rain , but when it does, well John and I were OK we had the biggest
plastic bag you have ever seen, it went over the two of us and our chairs,
after a couple of minutes we had to cut some eyeholes coz it steamed up
and we couldn't see the screen, anyway just as the credits were rolling
some bright spark asked if we wanted to see it again, so we did! Same film
same rain, Whatever happened to Fred Quimby??
At this point I wanted to insert a picture taken on the Island this is (
Surf, ) but, can you remember the name of the beach? Let’s hope Chatty can
work his magic. (reckon it's Poland beach Terry.
Great memories!)
I recall, after an evenings frivolity, leaving the NAAFI with friend John
and suggesting we should swim the length of the pool. (this being the
shortest route to our hut) John wasn't keen coz he was wearing his new
Sampson watch. No problem say’s I, give it to me, which he did. I
promptly took off my watch coz I’m bloody quick like that, he didn't want
to spoil his watch and nor did I. Without a care in the world I put both
watches in my pocket, dived in the pool swam to the other end , got out
carefully handed John his watch. For which he thanked me profusely.
We
never mentioned the incident again until now!
Christmas Day Christmas Dinner.
Served by the Officers and senior
ranks, we all swore blind it was Grapple Bird, and all those tins of fags.
Wild Woodbine in tins of Fifty packed by the East India Company which
ceased trading about 1926, we still smoked 'em. (no wonder they were wild,
been in a bloody tin for donkeys years) I visited X Site with a few lads
and a few beers, to do a bit of snorkelling and swimming. We had a Cpl Bob Burlison with us who, armed with his trusty CO2 harpoon gun, was looking
around for something to shoot at. Well, he looked in this fairly big hole,
and he could see a pair of eyes looking at him, ever the pillock Bob pokes
his pointed bit into the hole. There followed a sight that you will not
believe.
Bob came up out of the water like he’d been shot from a gun and you know
that little lizard that runs across water? Well I’m telling you he learned
it from our Bob, he was wearing fins (both of them were come to think of
it). Bob is sprinting across the water and six inches behind him there is
one bloody irate shark, and he’s not a little shark. I tell you, when Bob
landed by me he was totally dry. I don’t think he ever went swimming
again.
I’m sorry to say that I’ve only found three photographs, one of that
beach,(see photo). One taken on our way out to try and catch Sailfin. (see photo),
one taken on the side of the football pitch from left to right it’s me.
Terry with the hat Taffy Williams and with his back to us is
Ernie Hodgetts. (see photo),
Come on you guys where are you???????
Till the next time
Best regards Terry
Thanks for the call Pete, I needed a nudge and thanks for the super site
more power to your elbow. Cheers Terry
|
