A New Day (24 page)

They’d had air cover for a while, but now that was gone the atmosphere was tense.

‘Anything?’ an officer asked.

Jack shook his head. ‘Not so far, sir, but they’re there. I can feel it.’

‘Me too. Keep your eyes peeled. They’re probably waiting for others to join them.’

Two hours later and the first ship was hit, quickly followed by two more. Then the escorts began to sweep the ocean to the rear of the convoy, dropping depth charges.

‘At least that should make them dive deep, giving us a respite,’ Harry said, standing by ready to give aid to any wounded. He was their first-aid man and usually kept busy on these convoys.

‘Or seek refuge right underneath us,’ Jack pointed out.

‘That too.’ Harry grimaced.

One of the support ships was off their port side when there was a terrific explosion. They watched as the vessel listed badly, and men began to jump overboard.

‘Oh, hell! She’s going down fast. They haven’t had time to launch lifeboats.’ Jack trained the glasses on the scene and felt their ship change course.

‘Get those men out of the sea!’ the officer was yelling. ‘Scramble nets over the side!’

Some men were able to climb aboard on their own, but others needed help. Jack and the crew worked frantically to pull as many as possible to safety, knowing that every moment they stayed there put them at great risk.

‘Thanks, mate,’ one man gasped, as Jack dragged him on to the deck.

‘Who’s your captain?’ he asked urgently.

‘Johnson. Don’t know if he made it though.’

Jack let out a pent-up breath. He had been afraid he would hear the names of Harcourt or Freeman.

They stayed as long as they could – too long really – but had been determined to pick up as many from the water as they could find. The engines sprang into life and Jack scanned the sea anxiously for survivors, and finding none they got under way again. It was a blessing their ship was quite fast because they had to put on as much speed as possible to catch up with the rest of the convoy.

When it came in sight and they took their position again, Frank joined Jack on the deck. ‘Phew! That was risky, but we couldn’t leave those men behind, and we were the nearest ship to them. We managed to find a lot of men, and we’re now packed tight. Hope to God those subs don’t strike us now.’

Jack nodded. ‘It doesn’t bear thinking about. Still, you know what Harry said, lightning doesn’t strike twice.’

‘Don’t say that, Jack!’ Frank held up his hands in horror. ‘We don’t want to tempt fate.’

‘I didn’t know you were superstitious.’

‘I never used to be, but I am now.’ Frank pulled a face. ‘Daft, isn’t it? As if any kind of superstition is going to stop a torpedo heading our way. Ah, well, I’d better go and get some food and tea for these poor devils. You’re not going to get much more than sandwiches today, Jack. Sorry, but I’ve got far too many mouths to feed.’

‘Don’t worry, that will do fine. Just make them thick slices of bread.’

Frank chuckled. ‘I’ll see you don’t go hungry.’

They lost another two ships before they reached their destination, and by then they were all exhausted.

‘Doesn’t get any easier, does it?’ Bill remarked.

‘It will.’ One of the Royal Navy sailors joined them as they manoeuvred into the dock. ‘We’re sinking more subs now. We’ve got them on the run.’

Jack and the others looked at him in disbelief. ‘We haven’t noticed.’

‘You will. Take my word for it. Now, I’d better go and check on my mates.’ He went to walk away and then turned back. ‘I expect you’ll be glad to get rid of us, but thanks. We’re missing three men, but without your help it would have been a lot more.’

‘No thanks needed,’ Bill told him. ‘We know what it’s like to have a ship blown out from under you.’

‘Ah.’ The sailor nodded. ‘Thanks, anyway.’

They watched him walk away, and Bill gave a wry smile. ‘Poor bloke’s still suffering from shock if he thinks we’ve got the submarines on the run.’

‘Must be.’ Frank gave a grim kind of smile. ‘We haven’t got much in the way of food left. Wonder how long we’ll be here?’

‘Not long. I’ve just been told we’ll be loading almost at once because there’s a convoy already gathering, and we are to join her.’

‘That’s a shame.’ Jack studied the activity on the docks. ‘This is my first time in Canada.’

‘Never mind, lad, we’ll be here again, and let’s hope it’s in summer. I’m tired of being cold.’

‘I’ll ask Hanna to knit you a woolly hat.’

‘Hey! Don’t forget me.’ Frank blew on his hands. ‘And a pair of gloves, please.’

‘All right. Two hats and two pairs of gloves.’ Jack grinned at his friends. They all had dark circles under their eyes, were looking dishevelled and none too clean, but just relieved to have reached their destination in one piece. It was a shame they couldn’t stay for a couple of days. The break would have done them all good, but that was how it went sometimes, and they just accepted it. Perhaps the journey back would be easier.

In less than twenty-four hours they were taking their place in the convoy, and Jack was in his usual position, surveying the lines of ships.

‘What have we got?’ Bill asked as he joined him.

‘They look like troop ships right in the middle, and British and Canadian escorts. That was obviously the reason we had to load so quickly. Let’s hope we have a trouble-free crossing.’

Their hopes were realized when they reached Liverpool without the loss of even one ship.

‘That’s one to write about in your diary,’ Bill told Jack. ‘We all made it for once, so perhaps that sailor was talking sense after all.’

Jack nodded. ‘Feels good, doesn’t it? This was one of the best-protected convoys we’ve been on. Not only plenty of escorts, but air cover for part of the way. They were determined to get those troops here safely.’

‘They’re going to be needed when we make our final push to finish off Hitler.’ Frank signed. ‘And that can’t be soon enough for me. Oh, to get back to the days when all we had to worry about was the weather, and not what was lurking underneath the sea. Do you remember your first voyage with us, Jack? All that sun, all those exotic places.’

‘Seems like a dream now,’ Jack laughed at the blissful expression on Frank’s face. ‘But those days will return.’

‘Of course they will. Now, back to the present. We’ve got two days, and that isn’t enough time to get home, so what are we going to do?’

‘Find somewhere comfortable and warm to relax. We’re all tired out.’

‘I know just the place.’ Bill ushered them off the ship and took them to a small lodging house where they spent the next two days sleeping and eating.

Feeling refreshed and ready to face another trip, they returned to the ship. They were all busy until they were well under way, and then Bill came into the mess and sat next to Jack. ‘We’re back on the Atlantic run, lad, and unless we have a quick turnaround we won’t be home in time for Christmas.’

‘Perhaps we can spend it in New York.’ Frank checked the ovens to see how the shepherd’s pie was getting on. ‘Might even get turkey there.’

‘Wouldn’t mind that,’ Jack agreed. ‘But I’m hoping we at least get enough time ashore so I can keep my promise to visit Greg and Bob’s parents.’

‘Oh, yes, they’re the Americans you met.’

Jack nodded. ‘I liked them, especially Greg. He’s a merchant seaman, just like us.’

‘Have you got the address handy?’

Taking the piece of paper out of his wallet, he handed it to Bill, who studied it. ‘Hmm, I don’t know where that is, but we’ll find it.’ He looked pointedly at Jack. ‘You are taking us with you, aren’t you?’

‘You know I never go anywhere without you.’ He shook his head when they both grinned. ‘But you’ve got to promise to behave yourselves.’

‘We’ll be good boys,’ Frank said, with mock humility, and then the three men roared with laughter.

They were only two days out when the alarm sounded and they were running to their stations. Jack immediately had the binoculars trained on the sea. ‘Torpedo! Port side – stern!’

The message was shouted through the ship and they just had time to change course enough for it to miss them by the smallest of margins.

‘Phew! That was close.’ The officer with Jack slapped him on the back. ‘Well spotted. I didn’t see it.’

‘Here comes another one! That’s way off and going to miss us as well.’

They watched as it went harmlessly by, and as they were at the rear of the convoy there was nothing else for it to hit.

‘The navy’s after it,’ someone shouted.

An hour later they were still watching the navy ship searching, searching. Then depth charges began to explode in the water. ‘They might have found it!’

‘It must be hell down there.’ Bill arrived to get a better view of the battle area. ‘I’d rather be up here.’

The explosions continued one after another. ‘They’re determined to get her . . . And I think they have!’ Jack pointed excitedly. ‘Look, is that debris out there?’

‘Yes,’ the officer remarked. ‘And more than debris . . . it looks as if they’ve blown her to bits. There won’t be any survivors from that.’

‘Poor devils,’ Bill said quietly. ‘I know they’ve been sinking our ships in large numbers, and we’ve got to get them, but when you think about it, they’re just men like us.’

Jack had to agree. War, and the killing that went with it, was cruel and senseless, but there would be a lot more of it before the end finally came.

The view of New York as they approached never ceased to thrill Jack. He had travelled quite a lot now and this city was unlike any other place in the world.

‘Looks like we’ll be spending a while here this time, lad, so you’ll have time to go and see the family you told us about. There’s some delay in assembling the return convoy.’

Jack nodded, never taking his eyes off the scene. ‘Good, that means I can go and see Bob and Greg’s parents as soon as we get ashore – just in case we are recalled suddenly.’

‘Best to, as you never can be sure about these things. Let’s hope they don’t get that convoy assembled for a few days.’

It was another twenty-four hours before they had permission to leave the ship and they made their way ashore as soon as they could.

‘The best way to find this place will be to take a cab.’ Frank pointed to a line of them waiting outside the docks. They had been to the city several times, and it hadn’t taken them long to start calling them cabs instead of taxis.

When they reached one, Jack showed the driver the address. ‘Can you take us to this place?’

‘Sure, buddy, hop in.’

The cab roared off as soon as they were in, and Bill grimaced. ‘Hey, mate, we’ve been dodging torpedoes on the way here, and we’d like to reach our destination unhurt.’

‘No worries,’ the driver laughed, taking the next corner at high speed. ‘I’m the safest driver in New York.’

‘Ah, thanks for telling us that.’ Bill grabbed the handle on the door to steady himself as they swung on to a main road. ‘That’s comforting to know.’

Something suddenly occurred to Jack. ‘Do you think I should take a present with me? Perhaps some flowers and say they are from their sons?’

‘Good idea.’ Bill tapped the driver on the shoulder. ‘Could you stop at a florist’s if you see one?’

‘Know just the place.’

The cab took another sudden swerve and then screeched to a halt in front of a shop. Jack jumped out at once and ran into the shop. The assistant smiled at him and he smiled back, noting how pretty she was. ‘I’d like some flowers, please, done up really nice and a card to go with them.’

‘You English?’

‘How did you guess?’ he laughed. ‘I came in on the last convoy.’

‘And you want flowers for your girl?’

‘No,’ he shook his head. ‘I met two Americans when I was last home, and they’ve asked me to visit their parents. I want these for the mother.’

‘That’s lovely. I’m sure they’ll be very pleased. What would you like?’

‘I’ll leave that to you.’ He watched her as she prepared a large arrangement of roses and other flowers he didn’t know the names of. She really was very pretty. He hadn’t had much time to think about girlfriends, as the only thing on his mind was getting through the war in one piece. This was a difficult time for relationships, and being a merchant seaman made it even more difficult when they were home for a few days, and then off again. Bill and Frank seemed to manage it all right though, so it must be possible, but the girl would have to be very understanding.

After writing the card, he paid for the flowers and dashed back to the cab.

‘Took you long enough. Pretty, was she?’

‘Very.’ Jack held firmly on to the flowers as the cab shot forward once again.

‘Do you want me to wait?’ the driver asked, pulling up outside a pleasant-looking house.

‘No, thanks,’ Bill said as he paid him.

‘OK, enjoy your visit.’ Then he was tearing up the street.

‘Nice place.’ Frank was gazing around the quiet, tree-lined street. ‘We’ll wait here for you and make our way back if they ask you to stay awhile.’

Feeling very awkward holding an enormous bunch of flowers, Jack walked up to the front door, knocked, and when a woman answered, he said, ‘Mrs Lucknor?’

‘That’s me.’ She glanced from Jack to the flowers, looking slightly puzzled.

‘I met your sons, Bob and Greg, in England, and they asked me to call.’ He held out the flowers. ‘These are for you.’

‘Oh, my.’ Tears filled her eyes when she took the bouquet and read the card. ‘Warren! Warren! Come here!’

A man came rushing to the door. ‘What’s the matter, Babs?’

‘Look!’ She held out the flowers. ‘This young man has brought me these from Bob and Greg. He met them in England.’

‘That’s good of you.’ He pumped Jack’s hand. ‘Come in, and tell us how they are.’

‘Are those your friends?’ Mrs Lucknor asked, seeing Bill and Frank standing by the road.

‘Yes, we’re on the same ship. We’re British merchant seamen and arrived recently.’

‘Bring them in, Warren.’ She gave her husband a push. ‘It’s cold out there.’

They were soon sitting in a comfortable lounge, in front of a brightly burning log fire, drinking coffee and being plied with things to eat.