The train pulled into Govan in Glasgow on the West coast of Scotland and we boarded the ship that was meant to take us on our journey. And then nothing happened. The ship never left the harbor and after 4 days on board the Captain announced over the ships speakers that we were going to be taken off ship and returned to Troon. Back in the Barracks we were told that our final destination was going to be Singapore, but Singapore was about to fall to the Japanese, the government had decided not to send any more troops.

Two weeks later we were back at Govern docks still with our tropical kit ready to board another ship. This time the bets were on Burma but because of security we would not be told where we were going until we were at sea because of security. Our new ship was called Duchess of Bedford. She was carrying all sorts of Airmen and soldiers from different regiments. The first night we settled down to ship board life.

A young able seaman showed us how to sling a hammock and where the mess was. The Hammock was strange to sleep in at first but after a while it got very comfortable. The ship set sail about midnight and we all went up on deck to watch the English coast line fade away. Next morning I woke to find that most of my mates had very green faces and had been sea sick most of the night. This suited me fine because I got extra grub. This did not last to long and they all got their sea legs after about three days. I was very disappointed when they felt better again because I was enjoying the Navy food.

In the Channel we joined a large convoy with lots of Destroyers protecting it and sailed south. As the days went by the weather got hotter and hotter the more south we sailed. Every day on board my section would stand by on fire watch. There was one U-boat scare but one of the destroyers chased him off with a couple of depth charges. After two weeks we pulled into Freetown on the East Coast of Africa to coal up. It was there that the Battalion was told it was going to join the rest of the 1st Battalion in Egypt. After another 3 weeks of sailing we arrived in Durban South Africa.

All the troops on the ship made a grand parade through the streets of Durban and were overwhelmingly received by the crowd who cheered us all the way. The next day local families took the troops in groups of three for a drive around the hills of Durban and afternoon tea at their houses. Many old soldiers will not forget the kindness of the South Africans for a long time. We left Durban and started sailing North destination still un-known.