- Author
- Werner, Arthur
- Subjects
- WWII operations
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 1980 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Advantage was taken of our stay at the Chagos Isles to carry out necessary repairs to our ship. Having been at sea for a long period the hull under water was covered with barnacles and seaweed, thus reducing our speed considerably. The funnels were almost burnt through and the starboard engine had a defect owing to a faulty piston. It was therefore necessary to stay close to shore to carry out such repairs and to this effect the Captain chose the Chagos Isles.
Land was sighted early one morning and we approached the shore with the utmost caution. From the masts, crow’s nest and bridge we kept a sharp lookout for anything indicating the presence of the enemy. Nothing unusual was observed and it was decided that this was the ideal spot for the carrying out of repairs. As soon as we had dropped anchor the sub-director of an oil company (a Creole) came aboard to pay his respects. He was not aware that a state of war existed between Britain and Germany as there was no wireless station on the island. He told us that the last ship had left the island three months ago and since then he had been without news of the outside world.
Soon afterwards a large boat, manned by several natives and bearing the Governor, came alongside. The natives brought large amounts of fish, fruit, eggs and fowls aboard. The Governor, as head of the island, stepped up the gangway where he was greeted personally by our Captain. ‘Welcome to Diego Garcia, Captain’, said the visitor, ‘Are you a German?’ ‘Yes, I am’, replied our Captain.
The Governor appeared to be very astonished at the miserable condition of our ship. The normally snow-white decks had suffered badly, due to the continual coaling, and bore no resemblance to their usual gleaming condition. Several side plates were dented and the paint had peeled off showing rust. On top of this our funnels were also burnt through.
Whilst our guest was looking around the ship he seemed to become more suspicious. ‘Where have you come from? Did anything happen to your ship? Have you any news to tell?’ he asked with an uneasy voice. Our Captain told him a worldwide movement of the fleets of England, France and Germany was taking place, that the weather had been very bad for a long period and that we had narrowly escaped a typhoon. In actual fact we looked exactly like a badly worn-out warrior.
In order to try to remove his distrust our Captain then led the Governor to the officers mess where he plied him with good whisky and soda as well as other alcoholic beverages. The officers also entertained him well and finally our Captain told him that the Pope had died. (Actually the Pope had died shortly before the outbreak of hostilities). ‘How dreadful’, he said, ‘I am so sorry to hear such news’. After a while he asked our Captain whether it was possible for us to repair his motorboat, which had a mechanical defect. Our Captain consented gladly and experts were sent ashore to carry out the task. On leaving the ship the Governor was accompanied to the gangway by our Captain, the two gentlemen shook hands cordially and the Governor thanked him for the excellent entertainment and assistance.
As soon as the repairs to the motorboat had been carried out the Governor again sent us a boat loaded with fruit, eggs and a pig. In return we presented him with some bottles of whisky, wine and two boxes of cigars. Meanwhile hard work was being done aboard. The port tanks were flooded to give the list required and we all went to work with hammers and scrapers to clean the hull of barnacles and seaweed. The plates were repainted and when this was completed the starboard tanks were flooded and the port side was cleaned and painted. Engines, boilers, condensers and funnels were repaired to the best of our ability, refuelling was carried out with haste and we once again weighed anchor and left what had been a haven of refuge. The Governor sent us a ‘Bon Voyage’ message.
We took a southerly course and immediately we were out of sight changed it to north. We had left only in the nick of time as two days later the British Cruiser Hampshire, accompanied by the auxiliary cruiser Empress Of Asia, arrived there, looking for us. The Governor must have pulled a very wry face indeed on hearing what a serpent he had just nursed in his bosom! We had certainly been very lucky in escaping the intentions of Captain Grant.