- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
e  weekend,  if  the  weather  was  favourable,  people  would  visit the  ship.  The  boat  deck  area  was  the  chosen  place  for  many  romantic interludes.  A  naval  ëblind  eyeí  was  turned  when  it  came  to  this  sort  of activity. Late in  1944,  HMS  King George V moved to  Devonport  for  fourteen-inch  gun  calibration  plus  seven  days  leave  for  our  crew.  Then  the  ship sailed up to Greenock, Scotland, where we ammunitioned ship and took on stores. The British Monarch, King George VI, with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth  (who  is  now  the  present  Queen),  Princess  Margaret,  and  the Deputy  Prime  Minister,  Clement  Attlee  visited  the  ship.  We  properly trained young seamen formed the guard of honour. I have nothing much to  say  about  Greenock,  as  no  one  was  allowed  ashore  except  ëBona  Fide Natives.í KGV  sailed  for  the  Far East  on  29  October  1944.  Our  first  port  of  call was  Gibraltar,  mainly  to  take  on  fuel.  Our  next  port  of  call  was  Malta, GC,   where   something   definitely   went   wrong.   There   was   plenty   of activity  ashore,  mainly  in  the  area  called  the  ëGutí,  Strata  Stretta,  or Straight Street, which was full of bawdy houses, bars and eateries. At one of  the  bars  called  the  ëQEí,  Bobby  and  Sugar,  two  Spanish  dancers, strutted  their  stuff.  I  returned  on  board  ship  with  other  sailors  in  a ëdghaisaí (a Maltese one-man rowing boat, similar to a gondola.) My run ashore cost me a torn shirt, my cap, and a shoe. When asked by the duty officer if Iíd had a good time, I replied, ìMy bloody oath, I did.î ìWell,   young   lad,   you   can   swear   on   oath   at   the   Commanderís defaulters  table  tomorrow,î  he  replied.  I  was  quickly  learning  about 
HMS King George V 72 ñ Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies what  goes  on  in  the  rest  of  the  world  and  was  awarded  seven  daysí stoppage of leave and pay to assist my education. (Twenty  years  later  when  I  was  in  Gibraltar  serving  on  my  last  ship, HMS Maryland, I again met Sugar, one of the Spanish performers, at the small watering hole called ëThe Sugar Bar.í) The   activities   we   were   involved   in   during   our   stay   in   the Mediterranean  were  not  worth  mentioning,  apart  from  the  fact  that  the fastest   speed   I   recall   HMS   King   George   V   doing   was   after   our bombardment of the German gun emplacements at Melos (or Milos.) We were  close  to  shore  having  a  look-see  when  Gerry  opened  up  and  we were straddled by shellfire. I was not amused as I observed it all from my action   station   on   the   ADP   (Air   Defence   Position).   After   a   further whacking, the German garrison surrendered. Alexandria, Egypt Our stay in Alexandria, Egypt was enjoyable. The canteen at the Services Club was super. Near the jetty, a dead dog floated upside down with his legs up, all bloated and smelly. After avoiding it for a couple of days, my duty  as  the  bowman  of  the  shipís  motor  cutter  gave  me  a  chance  to despatch it with a jab from my boat hook. It exploded. The ensuing smell was  probably  worse  than  the  pig  market  smell  in  Jordan  Road,  Hong Kong  on  a  warm  day,  but  the  fish  enjoyed  eating  the  thousands  of  little white squiggly things. Alexandria,  Egypt,  more  commonly  referred  to  as  ëAlex,í  was  very diverse  in  the  area  of  entertainment.  This  ranged  from  naughty  post cards  to  absolute  obscenities.  I  must  admit  that  as  a  young  sailor, curiosity got the better of me. I found a poorly printed locally- produced publication doing the rounds of the mess decks. The titles left little to the imagination.   ëThe   Naughty   Countessí   was   one   and   the   other,   ëThe Autobiography of a Flea.í The  eye-opening  information  contained  in  these  very  naughty  books absolutely amazed me. In the Navy, these sorts of books were referred to as Alex AFOís (Admiralty fleet orders.) Many tales have been recounted about  a  peculiar  staged  performance  (which  I  hasten  to  admit  I  would never  have  seen)  supposedly  taking  place  between  a  very  large  woman and a donkey. War veterans have enjoyed many good laughs at reunions when  the  fabricated  telegrams  from  an  Alex  Madam  were  read,  stating, for  example,  ìIt  is  with  regret  that  I  inform  you  of  the  passing  of  the 
HMS King George V John Leonard Spencer ñ 73 internationally acclaimed donkey, ëLord Hee Whoreí aged fifty one years, signed  Fatima  Omar,  Madame,  Sister  Street,  Alexandria,  Egyptî.  This was  usually  followed  by  some  drunken  twit  stating,  ìCor  blimey!  That bloody donkey led a long and fruitful life.î e  weekend,  if  the  weather  was  favourable,  people  would  visit 
bloody donkey led a long and fruitful life.î e  weekend,  if  the  weather  was  favourable,  people  would  visit 
bloody donkey led a long and fruitful life.î e  weekend,  if  the  weather  was  favourable,  people  would  visit 
bloody donkey led a long and fruitful life.î e  weekend,  if  the  weather  was  favourable,  people  would  visit 
bloody donkey led a long and fruitful life.î HMS King George V 72 ñ Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies what  goes  on  in  the  rest  of  the  world  and  was  awarded  seven  daysí stoppage of leave and pay to assist my education. (Twenty  years  later  when  I  was  in  Gibraltar  serving  on  my  last  ship, HMS Maryland, I again met Sugar, one of the Spanish performers, at the small watering hole called ëThe Sugar Bar.í) The   activities   we   were   involved   in   during   our   stay   in   the Mediterranean  were  not  worth  mentioning,  apart  from  the  fact  that  the fastest   speed   I   recall   HMS   King   George   V   doing   was   after   our bombardment of the German gun emplacements at Melos (or Milos.) We were  close  to  shore  having  a  look-see  when  Gerry  opened  up  and  we were straddled by shellfire. I was not amused as I observed it all from my action   station   on   the   ADP   (Air   Defence   Position).   After   a   further whacking, the German garrison surrendered. Alexandria, Egypt Our stay in Alexandria, Egypt was enjoyable. The canteen at the Services Club was super. Near the jetty, a dead dog floated upside down with his legs up, all bloated and smelly. After avoiding it for a couple of days, my duty  as  the  bowman  of  the  shipís  motor  cutter  gave  me  a  chance  to despatch it with a jab from my boat hook. It exploded. The ensuing smell was  probably  worse  than  the  pig  market  smell  in  Jordan  Road,  Hong Kong  on  a  warm  day,  but  the  fish  enjoyed  eating  the  thousands  of  little white squiggly things. Alexandria,  Egypt,  more  commonly  referred  to  as  ëAlex,í  was  very diverse  in  the  area  of  entertainment.  This  ranged  from  naughty  post cards  to  absolute  obscenities.  I  must  admit  that  as  a  young  sailor, curiosity got the better of me. I found a poorly printed locally- produced publication doing the rounds of the mess decks. The titles left little to the imagination.   ëThe   Naughty   Countessí   was   one   and   the   other,   ëThe Autobiography of a Flea.í The  eye-opening  information  contained  in  these  very  naughty  books absolutely amazed me. In the Navy, these sorts of books were referred to as Alex AFOís (Admiralty fleet orders.) Many tales have been recounted about  a  peculiar  staged  performance  (which  I  hasten  to  admit  I  would never  have  seen)  supposedly  taking  place  between  a  very  large  woman and a donkey. War veterans have enjoyed many good laughs at reunions when  the  fabricated  telegrams  from  an  Alex  Madam  were  read,  stating, for  example,  ìIt  is  with  regret  that  I  inform  you  of  the  passing  of  the 
the  ship.  The  boat  deck  area  was  the  chosen  place  for  many  romantic interludes.  A  naval  ëblind  eyeí  was  turned  when  it  came  to  this  sort  of activity. Late in  1944,  HMS  King George V moved to  Devonport  for  fourteen-inch  gun  calibration  plus  seven  days  leave  for  our  crew.  Then  the  ship sailed up to Greenock, Scotland, where we ammunitioned ship and took on stores. The British Monarch, King George VI, with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth  (who  is  now  the  present  Queen),  Princess  Margaret,  and  the Deputy  Prime  Minister,  Clement  Attlee  visited  the  ship.  We  properly trained young seamen formed the guard of honour. I have nothing much to  say  about  Greenock,  as  no  one  was  allowed  ashore  except  ëBona  Fide Natives.í KGV  sailed  for  the  Far East  on  29  October  1944.  Our  first  port  of  call was  Gibraltar,  mainly  to  take  on  fuel.  Our  next  port  of  call  was  Malta, GC,   where   something   definitely   went   wrong.   There   was   plenty   of activity  ashore,  mainly  in  the  area  called  the  ëGutí,  Strata  Stretta,  or Straight Street, which was full of bawdy houses, bars and eateries. At one of  the  bars  called  the  ëQEí,  Bobby  and  Sugar,  two  Spanish  dancers, strutted  their  stuff.  I  returned  on  board  ship  with  other  sailors  in  a ëdghaisaí (a Maltese one-man rowing boat, similar to a gondola.) My run ashore cost me a torn shirt, my cap, and a shoe. When asked by the duty officer if Iíd had a good time, I replied, ìMy bloody oath, I did.î ìWell,   young   lad,   you   can   swear   on   oath   at   the   Commanderís defaulters  table  tomorrow,î  he  replied.  I  was  quickly  learning  about 
e  weekend,  if  the  weather  was  favourable,  people  would  visit the  ship.  The  boat  deck  area  was  the  chosen  place  for  many  romantic interludes.  A  naval  ëblind  eyeí  was  turned  when  it  came  to  this  sort  of activity. Late in  1944,  HMS  King George V moved to  Devonport  for  fourteen-inch  gun  calibration  plus  seven  days  leave  for  our  crew.  Then  the  ship sailed up to Greenock, Scotland, where we ammunitioned ship and took on stores. The British Monarch, King George VI, with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth  (who  is  now  the  present  Queen),  Princess  Margaret,  and  the Deputy  Prime  Minister,  Clement  Attlee  visited  the  ship.  We  properly trained young seamen formed the guard of honour. I have nothing much to  say  about  Greenock,  as  no  one  was  allowed  ashore  except  ëBona  Fide Natives.í KGV  sailed  for  the  Far East  on  29  October  1944.  Our  first  port  of  call was  Gibraltar,  mainly  to  take  on  fuel.  Our  next  port  of  call  was  Malta, GC,   where   something   definitely   went   wrong.   There   was   plenty   of activity  ashore,  mainly  in  the  area  called  the  ëGutí,  Strata  Stretta,  or Straight Street, which was full of bawdy houses, bars and eateries. At one of  the  bars  called  the  ëQEí,  Bobby  and  Sugar,  two  Spanish  dancers, strutted  their  stuff.  I  returned  on  board  ship  with  other  sailors  in  a ëdghaisaí (a Maltese one-man rowing boat, similar to a gondola.) My run ashore cost me a torn shirt, my cap, and a shoe. When asked by the duty officer if Iíd had a good time, I replied, ìMy bloody oath, I did.î ìWell,   young   lad,   you   can   swear   on   oath   at   the   Commanderís defaulters  table  tomorrow,î  he  replied.  I  was  quickly  learning  about 
HMS King George V 72 ñ Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies what  goes  on  in  the  rest  of  the  world  and  was  awarded  seven  daysí stoppage of leave and pay to assist my education. (Twenty  years  later  when  I  was  in  Gibraltar  serving  on  my  last  ship, HMS Maryland, I again met Sugar, one of the Spanish performers, at the small watering hole called ëThe Sugar Bar.í) The   activities   we   were   involved   in   during   our   stay   in   the Mediterranean  were  not  worth  mentioning,  apart  from  the  fact  that  the fastest   speed   I   recall   HMS   King   George   V   doing   was   after   our bombardment of the German gun emplacements at Melos (or Milos.) We were  close  to  shore  having  a  look-see  when  Gerry  opened  up  and  we were straddled by shellfire. I was not amused as I observed it all from my action   station   on   the   ADP   (Air   Defence   Position).   After   a   further whacking, the German garrison surrendered. Alexandria, Egypt Our stay in Alexandria, Egypt was enjoyable. The canteen at the Services Club was super. Near the jetty, a dead dog floated upside down with his legs up, all bloated and smelly. After avoiding it for a couple of days, my duty  as  the  bowman  of  the  shipís  motor  cutter  gave  me  a  chance  to despatch it with a jab from my boat hook. It exploded. The ensuing smell was  probably  worse  than  the  pig  market  smell  in  Jordan  Road,  Hong Kong  on  a  warm  day,  but  the  fish  enjoyed  eating  the  thousands  of  little white squiggly things. Alexandria,  Egypt,  more  commonly  referred  to  as  ëAlex,í  was  very diverse  in  the  area  of  entertainment.  This  ranged  from  naughty  post cards  to  absolute  obscenities.  I  must  admit  that  as  a  young  sailor, curiosity got the better of me. I found a poorly printed locally- produced publication doing the rounds of the mess decks. The titles left little to the imagination.   ëThe   Naughty   Countessí   was   one   and   the   other,   ëThe Autobiography of a Flea.í The  eye-opening  information  contained  in  these  very  naughty  books absolutely amazed me. In the Navy, these sorts of books were referred to as Alex AFOís (Admiralty fleet orders.) Many tales have been recounted about  a  peculiar  staged  performance  (which  I  hasten  to  admit  I  would never  have  seen)  supposedly  taking  place  between  a  very  large  woman and a donkey. War veterans have enjoyed many good laughs at reunions when  the  fabricated  telegrams  from  an  Alex  Madam  were  read,  stating, for  example,  ìIt  is  with  regret  that  I  inform  you  of  the  passing  of  the 
HMS King George V John Leonard Spencer ñ 73 internationally acclaimed donkey, ëLord Hee Whoreí aged fifty one years, signed  Fatima  Omar,  Madame,  Sister  Street,  Alexandria,  Egyptî.  This was  usually  followed  by  some  drunken  twit  stating,  ìCor  blimey!  That 
the  ship.  The  boat  deck  area  was  the  chosen  place  for  many  romantic interludes.  A  naval  ëblind  eyeí  was  turned  when  it  came  to  this  sort  of activity. Late in  1944,  HMS  King George V moved to  Devonport  for  fourteen-inch  gun  calibration  plus  seven  days  leave  for  our  crew.  Then  the  ship sailed up to Greenock, Scotland, where we ammunitioned ship and took on stores. The British Monarch, King George VI, with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth  (who  is  now  the  present  Queen),  Princess  Margaret,  and  the Deputy  Prime  Minister,  Clement  Attlee  visited  the  ship.  We  properly trained young seamen formed the guard of honour. I have nothing much to  say  about  Greenock,  as  no  one  was  allowed  ashore  except  ëBona  Fide Natives.í KGV  sailed  for  the  Far East  on  29  October  1944.  Our  first  port  of  call was  Gibraltar,  mainly  to  take  on  fuel.  Our  next  port  of  call  was  Malta, GC,   where   something   definitely   went   wrong.   There   was   plenty   of activity  ashore,  mainly  in  the  area  called  the  ëGutí,  Strata  Stretta,  or Straight Street, which was full of bawdy houses, bars and eateries. At one of  the  bars  called  the  ëQEí,  Bobby  and  Sugar,  two  Spanish  dancers, strutted  their  stuff.  I  returned  on  board  ship  with  other  sailors  in  a ëdghaisaí (a Maltese one-man rowing boat, similar to a gondola.) My run ashore cost me a torn shirt, my cap, and a shoe. When asked by the duty officer if Iíd had a good time, I replied, ìMy bloody oath, I did.î ìWell,   young   lad,   you   can   swear   on   oath   at   the   Commanderís defaulters  table  tomorrow,î  he  replied.  I  was  quickly  learning  about 
HMS King George V 72 ñ Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies what  goes  on  in  the  rest  of  the  world  and  was  awarded  seven  daysí stoppage of leave and pay to assist my education. (Twenty  years  later  when  I  was  in  Gibraltar  serving  on  my  last  ship, HMS Maryland, I again met Sugar, one of the Spanish performers, at the small watering hole called ëThe Sugar Bar.í) The   activities   we   were   involved   in   during   our   stay   in   the Mediterranean  were  not  worth  mentioning,  apart  from  the  fact  that  the fastest   speed   I   recall   HMS   King   George   V   doing   was   after   our bombardment of the German gun emplacements at Melos (or Milos.) We were  close  to  shore  having  a  look-see  when  Gerry  opened  up  and  we were straddled by shellfire. I was not amused as I observed it all from my action   station   on   the   ADP   (Air   Defence   Position).   After   a   further whacking, the German garrison surrendered. Alexandria, Egypt Our stay in Alexandria, Egypt was enjoyable. The canteen at the Services Club was super. Near the jetty, a dead dog floated upside down with his legs up, all bloated and smelly. After avoiding it for a couple of days, my duty  as  the  bowman  of  the  shipís  motor  cutter  gave  me  a  chance  to despatch it with a jab from my boat hook. It exploded. The ensuing smell was  probably  worse  than  the  pig  market  smell  in  Jordan  Road,  Hong Kong  on  a  warm  day,  but  the  fish  enjoyed  eating  the  thousands  of  little white squiggly things. Alexandria,  Egypt,  more  commonly  referred  to  as  ëAlex,í  was  very diverse  in  the  area  of  entertainment.  This  ranged  from  naughty  post cards  to  absolute  obscenities.  I  must  admit  that  as  a  young  sailor, curiosity got the better of me. I found a poorly printed locally- produced publication doing the rounds of the mess decks. The titles left little to the imagination.   ëThe   Naughty   Countessí   was   one   and   the   other,   ëThe Autobiography of a Flea.í The  eye-opening  information  contained  in  these  very  naughty  books absolutely amazed me. In the Navy, these sorts of books were referred to as Alex AFOís (Admiralty fleet orders.) Many tales have been recounted about  a  peculiar  staged  performance  (which  I  hasten  to  admit  I  would never  have  seen)  supposedly  taking  place  between  a  very  large  woman and a donkey. War veterans have enjoyed many good laughs at reunions when  the  fabricated  telegrams  from  an  Alex  Madam  were  read,  stating, for  example,  ìIt  is  with  regret  that  I  inform  you  of  the  passing  of  the 
HMS King George V John Leonard Spencer ñ 73 internationally acclaimed donkey, ëLord Hee Whoreí aged fifty one years, signed  Fatima  Omar,  Madame,  Sister  Street,  Alexandria,  Egyptî.  This was  usually  followed  by  some  drunken  twit  stating,  ìCor  blimey!  That 
the  ship.  The  boat  deck  area  was  the  chosen  place  for  many  romantic interludes.  A  naval  ëblind  eyeí  was  turned  when  it  came  to  this  sort  of activity. Late in  1944,  HMS  King George V moved to  Devonport  for  fourteen-inch  gun  calibration  plus  seven  days  leave  for  our  crew.  Then  the  ship sailed up to Greenock, Scotland, where we ammunitioned ship and took on stores. The British Monarch, King George VI, with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth  (who  is  now  the  present  Queen),  Princess  Margaret,  and  the Deputy  Prime  Minister,  Clement  Attlee  visited  the  ship.  We  properly trained young seamen formed the guard of honour. I have nothing much to  say  about  Greenock,  as  no  one  was  allowed  ashore  except  ëBona  Fide Natives.í KGV  sailed  for  the  Far East  on  29  October  1944.  Our  first  port  of  call was  Gibraltar,  mainly  to  take  on  fuel.  Our  next  port  of  call  was  Malta, GC,   where   something   definitely   went   wrong.   There   was   plenty   of activity  ashore,  mainly  in  the  area  called  the  ëGutí,  Strata  Stretta,  or Straight Street, which was full of bawdy houses, bars and eateries. At one of  the  bars  called  the  ëQEí,  Bobby  and  Sugar,  two  Spanish  dancers, strutted  their  stuff.  I  returned  on  board  ship  with  other  sailors  in  a ëdghaisaí (a Maltese one-man rowing boat, similar to a gondola.) My run ashore cost me a torn shirt, my cap, and a shoe. When asked by the duty officer if Iíd had a good time, I replied, ìMy bloody oath, I did.î ìWell,   young   lad,   you   can   swear   on   oath   at   the   Commanderís defaulters  table  tomorrow,î  he  replied.  I  was  quickly  learning  about 
HMS King George V 72 ñ Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies what  goes  on  in  the  rest  of  the  world  and  was  awarded  seven  daysí stoppage of leave and pay to assist my education. (Twenty  years  later  when  I  was  in  Gibraltar  serving  on  my  last  ship, HMS Maryland, I again met Sugar, one of the Spanish performers, at the small watering hole called ëThe Sugar Bar.í) The   activities   we   were   involved   in   during   our   stay   in   the Mediterranean  were  not  worth  mentioning,  apart  from  the  fact  that  the fastest   speed   I   recall   HMS   King   George   V   doing   was   after   our bombardment of the German gun emplacements at Melos (or Milos.) We were  close  to  shore  having  a  look-see  when  Gerry  opened  up  and  we were straddled by shellfire. I was not amused as I observed it all from my action   station   on   the   ADP   (Air   Defence   Position).   After   a   further whacking, the German garrison surrendered. Alexandria, Egypt Our stay in Alexandria, Egypt was enjoyable. The canteen at the Services Club was super. Near the jetty, a dead dog floated upside down with his legs up, all bloated and smelly. After avoiding it for a couple of days, my duty  as  the  bowman  of  the  shipís  motor  cutter  gave  me  a  chance  to despatch it with a jab from my boat hook. It exploded. The ensuing smell was  probably  worse  than  the  pig  market  smell  in  Jordan  Road,  Hong Kong  on  a  warm  day,  but  the  fish  enjoyed  eating  the  thousands  of  little white squiggly things. Alexandria,  Egypt,  more  commonly  referred  to  as  ëAlex,í  was  very diverse  in  the  area  of  entertainment.  This  ranged  from  naughty  post cards  to  absolute  obscenities.  I  must  admit  that  as  a  young  sailor, curiosity got the better of me. I found a poorly printed locally- produced publication doing the rounds of the mess decks. The titles left little to the imagination.   ëThe   Naughty   Countessí   was   one   and   the   other,   ëThe Autobiography of a Flea.í The  eye-opening  information  contained  in  these  very  naughty  books absolutely amazed me. In the Navy, these sorts of books were referred to as Alex AFOís (Admiralty fleet orders.) Many tales have been recounted about  a  peculiar  staged  performance  (which  I  hasten  to  admit  I  would never  have  seen)  supposedly  taking  place  between  a  very  large  woman and a donkey. War veterans have enjoyed many good laughs at reunions when  the  fabricated  telegrams  from  an  Alex  Madam  were  read,  stating, for  example,  ìIt  is  with  regret  that  I  inform  you  of  the  passing  of  the 
HMS King George V John Leonard Spencer ñ 73 internationally acclaimed donkey, ëLord Hee Whoreí aged fifty one years, signed  Fatima  Omar,  Madame,  Sister  Street,  Alexandria,  Egyptî.  This was  usually  followed  by  some  drunken  twit  stating,  ìCor  blimey!  That 
the  ship.  The  boat  deck  area  was  the  chosen  place  for  many  romantic interludes.  A  naval  ëblind  eyeí  was  turned  when  it  came  to  this  sort  of activity. Late in  1944,  HMS  King George V moved to  Devonport  for  fourteen-inch  gun  calibration  plus  seven  days  leave  for  our  crew.  Then  the  ship sailed up to Greenock, Scotland, where we ammunitioned ship and took on stores. The British Monarch, King George VI, with Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth  (who  is  now  the  present  Queen),  Princess  Margaret,  and  the Deputy  Prime  Minister,  Clement  Attlee  visited  the  ship.  We  properly trained young seamen formed the guard of honour. I have nothing much to  say  about  Greenock,  as  no  one  was  allowed  ashore  except  ëBona  Fide Natives.í KGV  sailed  for  the  Far East  on  29  October  1944.  Our  first  port  of  call was  Gibraltar,  mainly  to  take  on  fuel.  Our  next  port  of  call  was  Malta, GC,   where   something   definitely   went   wrong.   There   was   plenty   of activity  ashore,  mainly  in  the  area  called  the  ëGutí,  Strata  Stretta,  or Straight Street, which was full of bawdy houses, bars and eateries. At one of  the  bars  called  the  ëQEí,  Bobby  and  Sugar,  two  Spanish  dancers, strutted  their  stuff.  I  returned  on  board  ship  with  other  sailors  in  a ëdghaisaí (a Maltese one-man rowing boat, similar to a gondola.) My run ashore cost me a torn shirt, my cap, and a shoe. When asked by the duty officer if Iíd had a good time, I replied, ìMy bloody oath, I did.î ìWell,   young   lad,   you   can   swear   on   oath   at   the   Commanderís defaulters  table  tomorrow,î  he  replied.  I  was  quickly  learning  about 
HMS King George V 72 ñ Waving Goodbye to a Thousand Flies what  goes  on  in  the  rest  of  the  world  and  was  awarded  seven  daysí stoppage of leave and pay to assist my education. (Twenty  years  later  when  I  was  in  Gibraltar  serving  on  my  last  ship, HMS Maryland, I again met Sugar, one of the Spanish performers, at the small watering hole called ëThe Sugar Bar.í) The   activities   we   were   involved   in   during   our   stay   in   the Mediterranean  were  not  worth  mentioning,  apart  from  the  fact  that  the fastest   speed   I   recall   HMS   King   George   V   doing   was   after   our bombardment of the German gun emplacements at Melos (or Milos.) We were  close  to  shore  having  a  look-see  when  Gerry  opened  up  and  we were straddled by shellfire. I was not amused as I observed it all from my action   station   on   the   ADP   (Air   Defence   Position).   After   a   further whacking, the German garrison surrendered. Alexandria, Egypt Our stay in Alexandria, Egypt was enjoyable. The canteen at the Services Club was super. Near the jetty, a dead dog floated upside down with his legs up, all bloated and smelly. After avoiding it for a couple of days, my duty  as  the  bowman  of  the  shipís  motor  cutter  gave  me  a  chance  to despatch it with a jab from my boat hook. It exploded. The ensuing smell was  probably  worse  than  the  pig  market  smell  in  Jordan  Road,  Hong Kong  on  a  warm  day,  but  the  fish  enjoyed  eating  the  thousands  of  little white squiggly things. Alexandria,  Egypt,  more  commonly  referred  to  as  ëAlex,í  was  very diverse  in  the  area  of  entertainment.  This  ranged  from  naughty  post cards  to  absolute  obscenities.  I  must  admit  that  as  a  young  sailor, curiosity got the better of me. I found a poorly printed locally- produced publication doing the rounds of the mess decks. The titles left little to the imagination.   ëThe   Naughty   Countessí   was   one   and   the   other,   ëThe Autobiography of a Flea.í The  eye-opening  information  contained  in  these  very  naughty  books absolutely amazed me. In the Navy, these sorts of books were referred to as Alex AFOís (Admiralty fleet orders.) Many tales have been recounted about  a  peculiar  staged  performance  (which  I  hasten  to  admit  I  would never  have  seen)  supposedly  taking  place  between  a  very  large  woman and a donkey. War veterans have enjoyed many good laughs at reunions when  the  fabricated  telegrams  from  an  Alex  Madam  were  read,  stating, for  example,  ìIt  is  with  regret  that  I  inform  you  of  the  passing  of  the 
HMS King George V John Leonard Spencer ñ 73 internationally acclaimed donkey, ëLord Hee Whoreí aged fifty one years, signed  Fatima  Omar,  Madame,  Sister  Street,  Alexandria,  Egyptî.  This was  usually  followed  by  some  drunken  twit  stating,  ìCor  blimey!  That 
HMS King George V John Leonard Spencer ñ 73 internationally acclaimed donkey, ëLord Hee Whoreí aged fifty one years, signed  Fatima  Omar,  Madame,  Sister  Street,  Alexandria,  Egyptî.  This was  usually  followed  by  some  drunken  twit  stating,  ìCor  blimey!  That bloody donkey led a long and fruitful life.î 
Comments