More years ago than I care to remember, I spent six weeks going from Southampton to Singapore. The Dunera was the name of the ship and it normally took four weeks for the journey. Just my luck that a new engine needing running in, so two weeks were added to the boring voyage. Troop ships are not cruise liners. Three bunk beds, all crammed in together, well below water level, with crappy ventilation: none of this was fun. There were around 2,000 of us soldiers in one third of the ship. The other two-thirds was devoted to maybe a hundred officers, their wives, and some nurses. I have no idea about their accommodation.
Some good memories included watching dolphins in the Mediterranean leaping and playing around the ship. I counted seven in the air at one time; then there were two others happily riding the bow wave. A whale surfaced very briefly, maybe fifteen seconds or so, in the Bay of Biscay, the first whale I had ever seen. I also saw a huge turtle in the Indian Ocean, maybe six feet in length, about the size of a small dining table, leisurely paddling itself along. Also in the Indian Ocean, on a day where the sea was totally calm like a mill pond as they used to say, I saw flying fish, perhaps a dozen or so, all leaping and gliding in all directions. I assumed some predator was after them but saw no sign of anything chasing them.
Another good memory was the “Gully Gully Man” who came on board when we were stationary outside Port Said. He was a fat local magician and a good one. He sat cross-legged and did tricks. At the end of each trick he would shout “Gully Gully!” hence his nickname. After the show, which lasted perhaps, twenty minutes, he passed round a plate. Most of us were underpaid squaddies, National Servicemen getting even less than the Regulars, so we did not have much to give. We gave what we could I guess. Then he went off to the other and larger end of the ship to do the same for the officers etc. I imagine he did much better financially from them. At least, I certainly hope so.
I also recall seeing The Shark, which followed us across the Indian Ocean. The cooks threw away all the leftover food from the stern and this shark had apparently decided it was an easy meal so accompanied us for days. It was generally not good food so quite a lot did not get eaten, but I admit the navy cooks produced more edible items than our normal regimental cooks. I have to say that they were not good at their job.
Then Singapore at last. It was not long before I realised that the local Chinese and Indian food was immeasurably better than the army fodder. I ate this new and rather exotic food there and have eaten it ever since.
Good Morning Tuesday 21st July 2026
My garden has been ruined by ????
