H.M.S.ROCKROSE
A/B REGGIE FISH ON GUARD
The berth ahead of us was occupied by a German submarine! At its gangway a sentry standing like a guardsman. At
our, AB Reggie Fish, peeling an orange. Rifle against the gangway. Until the bosun spotted him!
The sub left and we had to wait for twelve hours. But he left our ships alone. We didn't see him again.
Arrived in Freetown on Christmas Night. Very short of rations, (1942), corned beef and biscuits. The sea had calmed
down and we had some sunburn, quiet run from Teneriffe.
This was the only time we had been on short rations or were to be for the rest of the commission. Jack Dusty had
put us on the wrong rations initially. We were living on officer's allowance for the first two months. Then he
overdid it and we went short, but once he found his feet we could not complain.
That night all the lights were on ashore and lots of drumming etc. It was strange to us after the blackout. Anyway,
next day we made up for things. We were about 8 months working out of Freetown so got to know it very well indeed.Runs
down to Lumly Beach, naked bathing. Up as far as Dakar and Takoradi. Down to Lagos, 10 days at sea.
Our job was to bring in two American liners and three transports.We met them 3 days out, they had a big escort
including the battleship Texas and we were told they were none too pleased with us. However we took over. During
the night Violet investigated a flare. It was one of our flying boats down. She took it in tow and had one of our
3 M.L.s as escort
The Americans were none to happy with their now tiny escort but it was the only thing we could do. Anyway they
got in safely and to show their appreciation they sent us an invite to a film show on the President Hoover. We
lucky few who were chosen set off in their sea boat, which was only a glorified dinghy, for the three miles up
the river. Then the engine cut out, we got out the oars and were nearly up to the liner when the cox found out
that the petrol was shut off. We arrived very hot and embarrassed. Anyway it was a good film "New Moon"
and lots of real ice cream and gophers. It was a long time before we were allowed to forget the incident though.
Out to escort an old Blue Funnel Line ship in. She was making hard work of it, smoke could be seen for miles, doing
between 4 and 6 knots. We must have been "looked after". The enemy didn't find us anyway. 4 days to get
in. She became the second depot ship to the Edinburgh Castle. She was Philocetees (well earned nickname-Flock of
Fleas!).
Off Dakar with a convoy we were challenged by a Free French cruiser, went into action stations to cover the convoy
expecting the worst. She suddenly turned away,the Dunedin was coming up fast. We were all relieved I can say. The
sad thing is she was lost in heavy seas a few days later.
Quite a few trips to Takoradi, it was an RAF transit base and very busy. They sent us to Lagos for boiler-clean
and refit. An enjoyable 3 weeks there. One leading stoker went missing there. I don't know if they ever found him.
Name of Norris. There were some strange things about this case.
We expected to go back to Freetown. But the night before we left the dhoby wallah was paid off. He told us we were
going south to the Cape, and he was right. But on the way there the ships company started to drop with malaria.
One leading seaman died. By the time we got to Simonstown only 8 of us were about, the rest were up in sick bay
at the base. We were alongside for a couple of weeks out of action.
The nearly new depot ship Hecla was brought in with a huge hole in her side. She was in dry dock for weeks. Apparently
we had been sent to help with the Madagascar landings but the malaria ruled us out. The ship which went in our
place was the only vessel sunk in the operation. Guess we were very lucky.
Commander Birch left us here and was replaced by Lieut. "Daddy" Binfield. Our run at the time was Capetown
to Wallfish Bay. The Dunedin Star went aground some miles up the coast from Wallfish Bay at night. There is quite
a story about the rescue ashore of her crew and passengers across the desert. We were interested as we had met
a few of her crew ashore in Freetown some time before.
Out of Wallfish Bay we broke down, an important pump went u/s. We crept into Simonstown for repairs. At the same
time the main pipe cooling the condenser went. It was made of copper and it was replaced with steel. After that
we had no trouble with the engines until later on.
PULLING THE SKIPPER BACK ONBOARD
The situation from then on was bad. The Germans found a soft spot round the Cape. All the ships from the Med were
coming round the Cape. We only had Rockrose, Violet, 6 trawlers and 2 R-class destroyers. It was in-oil-and-out
again for 3 months. I personally had never been so tired. We did not have any time to mope and morale was high.
The ship rescued 387 people from the sea including our Captain Birch from the liner Orcades. As he came over the
side Tanky Rowe helped him with the remark "Didn't think you would miss us so much sir!"
He replied, "I have lost all my rabbits Tanky."
We had a whipround for him. He had quite a few when he put ashore. I have always wondered what happened to him.
He was supposed to be getting a new frigate. He really was a good skipper.
Off Wallfish Bay early in 1943 a contact was obtained and the Rockrose made 2 attacks. Fifteen charges were dropped
and some air bubbles and wreckage was seen but we could stay no longer. The ship was allowed a "possible"
but records show that one 1/D2 boat did not return from that area. We also found some empty lifeboats after that
which were sunk by pom-pom.
Things went quiet when we were sent for a big refit in East London. Sponsons were built each side of the funnel,
but I believe the Bofors guns were never fitted in them, at least not in my time. Also the air conditioning was
improved with new fans.During the run from Capetown to Durban the 18.5 knots was proved with a burner in hand.
We could not go any faster or the Asdics would not work and as we were looking for a submarine which had been reported
close in-shore in that area we did not find anything. But it was quite exciting watching the land slip by at that
speed.
The boat was turned over to East London dockyard. One half of the ship's company sent to Joburg for 4 weeks, the
others including me went to Cala in the Transkei, native territory, and a good time was had by all, horse riding
etc.
The refit over, re-stored and oiled, the ship set off for trials and Durban. We worked up to full power and a tremendous
noise ensued, slowed right down and sneaked back to East London. On inspection of the engine found that the H.P.
piston had been put back with one nut instead of two, no securing ring or split pin. Sabotage? There was a big
enquiry but we heard no more. But whoever did it must have learned. A while later we heard another vessel had left
East London- the same thing happened with disastrous results. The Rockrose was indeed a lucky ship.
This stay at Durban the Rockrose football team played Vallientes. We won 2-1. I am not sure whether our lads played
Queensbury rules but they won.
On to Mombasa, then Aden. We were plagued with bugs now. I hated them.
Our run was to Bombay. Big riot there one night with the Americans over a film in which John Wayne said "We
won the last war and we'll win this one for you"
We were not allowed ashore after that and it was the last time I was in Bombay. We used to enjoy going to a place
called Beach Candie, with an inside and outside swimming pool, also Cape Bar.
One run from Aden to Karachi escorting a mud hopper and tug towing a dredger, a very slow run indeed, kept stopping
for the tug to top up with coal from the hopper. The only bright spot, we caught some big tuna on lines and they
were really good to eat.
Smallpox had been bad in Bombay and we were all re-vaccinated again except one stoker who refused. Wether or not
it was his fault one of the other stokers caught it, Henry Brown. He was a time serving man in his 30's and he
was very bad indeed. He was put ashore in Aden. He got over it and rejoined us but he was not really well and went
on light duties ashore in Durban.
Anyway we were quarantined and spent several weeks guardship at Aden, just plodding back and forth across the entrance
to Aden. After a while, with the heat and monotony tempers got very frayed.
About this time "Daddy" Binfield left us and a lieutenant from a frigate joined us in his place. We did
not find out what happened to Lieut.-Cdr, Binfield. It was very sudden and unexpected. But things happened like
that in those days. One day nice and settled, then all upside down.
After Lieut.Makepeace took over the spark seemed to go out of the ship for us.The atmosphere seemed to change.
We became a junior ship out here after being a senior ship. But the real reason we, most of us, had been with her
from commissioning, nearly 3 years. So much had happened. We did not get much news from home and then the gloomy.
Dusty Miller, a stoker had had his 6 year old son drowned in the Thames and got no leave. Several homes had been
ruined. My own had been hit and an uncle was killed after that in a road accident with some Canadians.
A few of us had been promoted. I was on line for my P.Os course. I think we were really homesick. Still there were
others worse off than us.
One time we put to sea in a panic. A ship had been run up on the island of Socotra in the Red Sea. We tried to
tow her off but couldn't, so we stood by until a tug came then dashed off as a troop ship had been sunk south of
Aden. But we were too late and saw nothing.
Then a couple of fast runs across the Straits of Berbera which had been taken from the Italians. The RAF had a
rest and recreation camp there. We used to grin at the airmen on board. They used to stay on the upper deck by
the funnel the whole 8 hour trip. Still we would have been just as nervous in an aeroplane no doubt.
Next back to Mombassa, how that had changed in a few short months. The Eastern Fleet had gone, just a few escort
vessels and some merchant ships. Of corse the Americans were doing well in the Pacific.
We left for Durban. During the night we were sprayed with bullets from a merchant ship, thinking we were a sub
on the surface. Back up to Mombassa, then we left forDurban again.This was to be my last run in the old ship. On
the way down one of the Tail end Charlies, a Greek, was hit. She did not sink and managed to get in.But our Asdics
got a firm contact and we dropped a full pattern. Then we had orders to rejoin.
We had the news two days after we arrived in Durban that an Italian sub gave itself up, badly knocked about. Anyway
Italy had surrendered but had we persisted in our attack we would have got our only score. Still we did well but
no glory.
Suddenly one morning the messdeck seemed to fill with strange faces.Four of us were called aft to the Chiefs cabin.
Mickey Bothwell, Jan Normanton, Dusty Miller and myself. The Chief said "sorry to all of you, but you are
on draft to Africana at Durban then Devonport so pack your bags and hammocks and Good Luck" By tot-time we
had been put ashore and taken by transport to the transit camp.
A leading stoker introduced himself to me as my relief though I did not have time to chat with him, though he seemed
rather choked over a quick draft chit.
I think I met Ken Downer at a Sea Sunday one time but he was not on the ship with me, I know he died last year.
I only met one other ex-Rockrose stoker, Art Shorter who left us in Capetown. He was in air-sea rescue launch out
of Dunoon after the war.
Rockrose came home to Devonport. An acquaintance of my son (they used the same pub) worked in the dockyard as a
fitter until he retired. He remembers the corvette named Rockrose being brought in for conversion to a cable-layer
for the South African Postal Service. They took out the forward boiler and shell-rooms as cable storage. She was
renamed Proteus and eventually sold out of service in late 1960 according to Lloyd's records. Not bad for a vessel
expected to last only a year or so.
That just leaves a list of the ships company which I remember.
Captains- Birch, Binfield, Makepeace.
1st Lieutenant.-Isherwood.
C.E.R.A. (Chief Engineer) Tink, Boyston, "General"Boot, Asdic, Reggie, Fish AB, Lofty Duval,AB "Tankie
Rowe, AB, Jan Normanton, Phill Feart, Cyril Moore, Cyril Dungar, Nat Jennings, Art Shorter, Mickey Bothwell, Blood
Read, PO. Cook, Jack Hibbs, Blondie Holdsworth, Gitsham, Then there was Doc (sick bay) Jaunty, Coxswain, 3 bunting-tossers,
Sparks.
I never knew any of the officers by name, just they seemed to us a good lot and the ship was happy and efficient.
It was so long ago but most of what I can remember, hearsay and fact, I have told you.
I know a ship depends on one and all. We hear, read etc., of famous actions and deeds, never about the men below
the decks, their joys and sorrows, the little kindnessess and laughs which made life worth living and kept everything
working to do the job. They were just "Jack". There was no medal for the Indian Ocean, we only had defeats,
lost Cornwall and Dorsetshire and the old carrier. The Fleet was in hiding in Mombassa but the little Corvettes
still plodded across it. One victory- an Indian Navy sloop sank a jap armed raider and chased away another one,
not many people know about that.
BY DAVE DONOHOE
LEADING STOKER ON H.M.S.ROCKROSE
More Information about the later years
Dear Sir,
I hope you won't mind my suggesting a correction to a narrative on your excellent website.
The narrative about HMS Rockrose is fascinating and it is indeed fortunate that so much detail has been recorded.
However, the information about her post war career is incorrect. She was NOT acquired by the South African Post
Office, renamed "Proteus" and converted into a cable ship.
She was in fact transferred to the South African Naval Forces (as it was then called) in 1947 and commissioned
as HMSAS "Protea". She sailed from Devonport to Table Bay in company with the minesweepers HMSAS "Bloemfontein"
(ex HMS Rosamund) and HMSAS "Pietermaritzburg" (ex HMS Pelorus), arriving on Christmas Eve, 1947. She
was then sent to Durban where she was converted into a hydrographic survey ship. The reconstruction did not entail
the removal of either boiler and her magazine was converted into a cool room for the ship's perishable stores to
meet the needs of fairly long spells at sea. Her accommodation was improved and every one of her post conversion
eighty two man crew was provided with a bunk.
"Protea" spent the rest of her naval career surveying the waters around the Southern African coast. In
1957 she was paid off into reserve. In 1961 she was acquired by a local businessman who converted her into a refrigerated
tuna fishing vessel and renamed "Justin". She was finally scrapped in 1967.
In 1951 the South African Naval Forces were reconstituted as the South African Navy. In 1952 the prefix of South
African Naval vessels was changed from HMSAS (His Majesty's South African Ship) to SAS (South African Ship), HMSAS
"Protea" thus becoming SAS "Protea".
The Soth African Navy's current hydrographic survey ship is a "Hecla" class ship which proudly carries
the name SAS "Protea".
Yours sincerely,
Harold Lincoln
Hingham, Massachusetts, USA