As we proceeded
on our journey south, the temperature started to drop and we changed out of our
tropical whites into blue uniform. Everyone found the change from the heat of
the tropics very pleasant. We also saw our first whales, and albatross. High
winds and a sea swell prevented flying for a few days, which gave us a bit of a
rest. The Admiral, of whom we normally saw very little, decided to address the
ship’s company. His subject was a general run over the present naval policy and
what was expected of us during the forthcoming tour. He wound up with a few
words of warning, particularly about desertion, and marrying Australian girls.
As there were to be many ceremonies and marches through the towns and cities of
Australia, we got down to some serious drill on the flight deck. Practice makes
perfect they say, and it wasn’t long before we were looking very impressive and
raring to go.
About 300 miles from Hobart, ‘Radio Australia’ greeted the squadron over the air
as we arrived in Australian waters. Messages from the Lord Mayors of Adelaide
(for Glory), Hobart, Melbourne, and Sydney (for us), were relayed to us over the
‘Tannoy’ our P.A. system. It all sounded very good, and it was obvious that we
were due for a great welcome.
We arrived at Hobart. Tasmania on Sunday 6th July and berthed alongside Ocean
Pier at 0830 hrs. It was raining at the time, so not a lot of people were on the
jetty to see us arrive. However, the skies cleared and by the time the ship was
open for visitors there was a very long queue on the dock wall waiting to come
aboard. All duty personnel acted as guides for our guests, and non-duty
personnel were allowed ashore. The tremendous welcome we received was
unbelievable. We were mobbed in the streets with people wanting our autographs
and all public transport was free to us. Trips around Cadbury’s, Fry’s, and
Pascal’s’ factory were organised with plenty of free chocolate.
Tasmania is the apple growing State of Australia, so we ate free apples ‘til we
looked like them’. I hadn’t seen an apple since leaving the UK. There was such
abundance that the Government provided every school child with a free apple,
every day of the year. Fresh milk was another luxury that we hadn’t seen since
leaving home. Local milkmen were allowed on board each day, and there was always
a long queue when they arrived. We would get whatever containers were at hand
and have them filled, then go to the back of the queue, drinking the delicious
ice cold milk whilst we waited in the queue for a second lot.
The first thing we had to get accustomed to was the different licensing hours in
Australia, 6am to 6pm. It seemed very strange to see workmen calling for a beer
on their way to work in a morning. It was a case of drinking all through the
day, and we soon found that we could carry on behind locked doors after 6pm if
we wished. To go into a bar meant that we were likely to come out the worse for
wear. All drinks were free; bartenders and customers alike wouldn’t allow us to
put our hands in our pockets. If this was a sample of things to come, then we
were going to have a truly remarkable tour.
The very first time I went ashore I was stopped in the street by an elderly lady
who asked if I would give her my name and home address. She wished to send food
parcels to my parents back home, as she knew that food rationing was still in
operation in the UK. I gave her my address and didn’t think any more of it but,
true to her word, she sent regular food parcels to my mother for many years
after I was de-mobbed.
We left Hobart on the morning of 9th July, and said our thanks with a full
formation flight over the city. Despite a heavy swell, the ‘land on’ was without
incident and we set sail for our next port of call, Melbourne, Victoria. The
next day the wind had reached gale force so flying was cancelled. In fact all
aircraft had to be double-lashed down for safety; an uncomfortable 24 hours.
The storm eventually subsided, and on Friday 11th July, six Fireflies and seven
Seafires took off at 0730 hrs and gave Melbourne and District their first
glimpse of the 14th C.A.G. operating in close formation. They then flew on to
the RAAF Station, Port Cook, to enable flying practice to continue from there
whilst Theseus was berthed in Melbourne.
The ship berthed alongside Station Pier, Port Melbourne, at 0830 hrs to a huge
crowd and a terrific flag-waving welcome. Also waiting on the dockside
handcuffed to Naval Police was our first sprinkling of deserters. The welcome we
had received in Hobart had been so tremendous that they hadn’t heeded the
Admiral’s warning, and had foolishly decided that they wanted to stay. The Naval
Police had obviously picked them up after the ship had sailed, so that was the
end of the tour for them. They were put in the ship’s cells until such time as
they could be sent back home for Court-Martial on the Navy’s most serious
charge, desertion. They would be looking at a dishonourable discharge and
several years in prison. In years gone by, desertion carried the death penalty.