Mission to Britain

by J Eugene Porter

  Next, the officers accompanied by the ever-present Marines got into two jeeps and drove around the base which was stacked with boxes of all sizes and shapes and piles of corrugated iron to build all the Quonset huts the base required. The Quonset hut was based on the World War I English Nissen hut but used corrugated iron in each of its metal rings instead of the original wood and tenting. This design enabled the construction of a sturdy building twenty feet wide and forty-eight feet long to be rapidly constructed on either a board base or a concrete slab.

  This design could then be doubled to make a forty foot by ninety-six-foot building for different purposes. The large units were often used as dormitories for the soldiers or sailors, while other units could be set up as hospitals or latrines. Any combination was possible if it used the basic building blocks. These metal buildings were laid out in long rows connected with roads or pathways, depending on their usage, creating a new American city inside the Scottish countryside.

  The jeeps traveled through the nest of buildings and passed through an area with additional barbed wire surrounding the munition dumps. These mounds used the same Quonset hut but buried it in the dirt then piled more dirt on top of each one. Large doors were set on one end with blast walls of mounded dirt in front of the door to reduce the impact of an explosion. The jeeps stopped at one of the mounds, and everyone got out to look at the finished product. Evans showed them inside where they saw crates stacked up ten feet high. Each crate was stamped “U.S. NAVY—.50 Caliber—1000 Rounds” with some having the same lettering but with an added “Tracer Rounds” to the stenciling. Evans explained in each of these buildings was storage for every conceivable munition found in the United States inventory as well as large caliber rounds up to two thousand pound sixteen-inch naval cannon shells plus the highly volatile one hundred-ten pound silk wrapped bags of smokeless gunpowder that made these weapons work.

  After seeing the buildings under construction and those filled with ammunition, the jeeps stopped at another area stacked high with bombs. The fins were not attached, nor were there any detonators. These were installed when loading the bomb on a plane. Even though the practice minimized the chance of explosions, these large “bomb yards,” as the commander explained, were being set up in areas with large dirt walls to minimize secondary explosions in case of an accident. Large trucks with hooks that looked like something out of an amusement park ride were used to stack the bombs in neat rows.

  The executive officer told Captain Jameson out of every convoy that reached the United Kingdom, at least three ships carried nothing but munitions. These were unloaded at a special wharf constructed away from the main disembarkation point where the hordes of Americans arrived to fight the war. A special Shore Patrol unit was assigned to ensure the safety of these munition dumps as well as to make sure that unauthorized individuals never got close to seeing what was stored at the base.

  The team finally went down the wharf where two ships were unloading. Both ships were carrying miscellaneous supplies. Commander Evans told them that oilers went directly to Liverpool while troop ships might go to any of three different ports. He told them the first American ground troops from the 34th Division under Maj. Gen. Russel P. Hartle had landed in Northern Ireland on January 26 as the first part of Operation Magnet, which called for deployment in the United Kingdom of three American divisions by the middle of 1942.

  The Roseneath Naval Base was a key part of the effort and not only for the buildup of supplies. The well sheltered Gare Loch at the entrance to the great wharves of Glasgow would be a prime location for American escort vessels to be based and resupplied after their long and hazardous journey across the Atlantic. American submarines would also be based there, but Evans thought that would be of a minimal requirement.

  Jameson complemented the commander and his executive officer for a splendid tour and how fast it had taken shape. The commander was glad to hear this compliment because he had not seen anyone from London or the U.S. command structure since his first week in Scotland. All he did was to send in reports and listen to an endless number of requests for updates on things that were already in his reports which he diligently sent daily to Ghormley’s staff. Jameson saw that the commander was frustrated by all the back-seat drivers who complained but never came to see what was going on.

  The area of Roseneath was not exactly the place to spend a great deal of time, especially when you could spend it in a city like London. Glasgow was not that close, and it was easier to take a boat than drive the distance to the heart of the Scottish city. Commander Evans was part of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and as such, not a glamorous part of the navy. He was an academy graduate but had always been a professional engineer. Evans had experiences building naval facilities throughout the world over the past eighteen years. The navy leadership knew full well that without bases the navy did not function.

  Jameson and Brand took their notes and admired the challenging work and dedication of these men. Jameson asked about what they needed to get their jobs done in a timelier or more efficient manner. They had this discussion during dinner at the officer’s club in the old castle. There was quite a spread of Scottish lamb and some very good root vegetables. The cooks at the base were quite resourceful and had learned to barter with local farmers for fresh meat, even though it was against navy regulations. Substantial amounts of flour and sugar along with an occasional box of coffee seemingly disappeared in return for fresh farm products. Commander Evans never asked about the shortages and knew how to make the accounts balance to everyone’s satisfaction.

  Sitting with Captain Jameson, Lieutenant Brand, and Lieutenant Commander Weston after dinner, Commander Evans answered the questions about what he needed from the navy.

  “Captain Jameson, you asked about what we need to make our job go faster or easier. Well, for starters, we need to get more skilled craftsmen over here. The Scots are great to work with, even though there is a language barrier,”

  Evans waited for the normal laughter to die down at this familiar joke, then continued. “The Scots are pulled in too many directions, and the remaining men are much older than anyone on my staff. The Brits are digging very deep to find men for the war effort, and that means men over the age fifty are all we have available, and many of these are working for the British already. So, my number one need is manpower, but trained people, not just warm bodies.”

  Commander Weston jumped into the conversation by adding, “We also need more heavy lift machinery. It’s hard to unload ships without men or cranes, and we have neither. The merchant marine sailors, either American or other Allies don’t unload their vessels unless they get paid extra, and they don’t seem to care. I know they are facing a lot more danger than we are, but they are no help once the ship arrives. We need portable cranes, big trucks, and more diesel generators. The power system in Scotland is terrible and spotty blackouts don’t help our situation. So, add generators and heavy tractors to the mix along with the men to keep them operational.”

  James decided to take a run at the two officers, sensing there were other issues. “Commander, it appears most of your supply items are not for the navy, but I have not seen many army people at the base except for those in the Headquarters unit passing papers. Would this command be better or worse with more help from our fellow service members?”

  Evans smiled acknowledging Brand’s declaration by nodding his head. “Lieutenant, you are very diplomatic at the least, and you must be trying to get the inter-service good conduct medal at best for your observation.” The other officers smiled and nodded in agreement.

  “What you said is a major problem. There is our way to do something and the Army’s way to do it, and if you add the Air Corps, there are three ways to do just about everything. I have command of the naval base, and there are at least five other Army or Air Corps majors and lieutenant colonels on this base in charge of everything from logistics to transportation to whatever it is they do. I don’t have any command or control over them
and spend a great deal of time-fighting, or shall I say working out inter-service grievances.”

  The base commander smiled as everyone at the table laughed, knowing the challenges in dealing with the other services. He continued by raising his hand and pointing in different directions saying, “Usually, this is all about space to store something, space for new personnel, space on trains, buses, ships, just about everything. But, I cannot command these individuals, nor can I convince the people in London it would be best to have a unified command. I cannot conceive how this will play out over the next year if we don’t have some unified leadership for this effort with specific command authority regardless of the location or service.”

  Jameson asked Evans directly, “Could you see yourself under the command of an army officer even though you had direct responsibility for wharves and ammunition dumps?”

  Evans thought for a moment as he sipped the Scotch whisky the cooks had mysteriously acquired for a ten-pound bag of sugar. He then looked at the captain saying, “I don’t think that it would be a problem given the understanding of what the mission is and how it contributes to the war effort. This war is not about just the navy, and after a few months in Britain, I realize it is not just about our country. I have had the opportunity to meet with some Norwegian officers who are manning Royal Navy escorts, and they have given me a whole new perspective on what it is to wage total war. The British have been very good to us, even though we don’t see eye to eye on some things, but they are in this fight up to their eyeballs. We need to throw off our pre-war army-navy battles and just fight the Germans.”

  Evans then picked up his glass. “Gentlemen, may I offer a toast to the president of the United States and the country we all serve. The key is country, not just the navy.”

  Everyone picked up his glass, with Brand drinking his favorite Coca--Cola, and said in unison, “To the United States of America.” They all drank, and as he looked around the table, Jameson felt a growing affinity for these Docks and Harbor sailors he had never known before, and he knew this was one topic he would include in his report even though it wasn’t popular with many of the senior admirals, including Admiral King.

  14

  30 March 1942

  Achnacarry, Scotland

  • Joint Chiefs of Staff order Pacific Ocean divided into two commands: Pacific Ocean Areas (Adm. Chester W. Nimitz) and Southwest Pacific Area (Gen. Douglas MacArthur).

  • Christmas Island is occupied by the Japanese.

  It was late in the afternoon when the staff car bearing Captain Jameson, James, Gunny, and Corporal Williams arrived at the Commando School. James loved the countryside of Scotland which was so different from his home in the Arizona mountains. Here the mountains were green with large lakes, or lochs as the Scots called them, interspersed between each mountain range. It was like God made a flat earth and then bunched it all up like some tablecloth with folds and valleys that soon filled with water. They stopped at villages along the way for tea and lunch and enjoyed talking to the locals who had never met Americans before.

  The key to these interactions was carefully listening because the Scots version of English was difficult to understand. The captain enjoyed lunch at the town of Crianlarich where he had some lake trout and a beer at the only pub in the village. People stared at the Americans and asked all sorts of questions as to when they were going to see more Yanks in the area. Jameson politely informed the people about the need for secrecy regarding troop movements, and this got everyone agreeing on the need to be quiet. The men were sad to go because the quality of the food in this village was some of the best they had encountered on the entire trip.

  Arrival at the Commando School was uneventful. The newcomers were expected by the support staff, who quickly located Colonel Vaughn who was formal in his greeting.

  “Captain Jameson, I’m Colonel Vaughn, commander of this facility. Welcome to our humble home. Let me be the first to congratulate you on your Marines. A fine lot of men with great skill and passion. You should be proud of them.”

  Jameson was surprised by the warmth and praise because he had been told by Lord Mountbatten how abrupt and precise Vaughn was. “Sir, thank you for your kind words, I’ve not spoken to Captain Flannigan since we last saw each other some weeks ago, so I’m glad that he and his men have made a positive impression on you and your command.”

  Vaughn invited the captain and lieutenant—whom he had been warned about—to be seated at his conference table, and an orderly quickly appeared with tea. “Your man Flannigan is quite a resourceful individual and so are his men. They have participated in several aspects of our training and have done top notch work. They are excellent with all sorts of weapons and seem to be in tip-top shape. We ran them ragged the past few days in the high country, and they did as well as or even better than many of our top recruits.”

  Vaughn described the past two weeks of training and what was involved in these exercises. He informed Jameson he would like to recruit at least one or two members of Flannigan’s team as instructors, especially in small arms training. Vaughn then explained the training event they would witness in the morning. It had been requested specifically by Lord Mountbatten to demonstrate the techniques needed in an attack on enemy--held lands.

  The exercise entailed two squads of commandos who had passed the primary training to land on an enemy-held beach, which was not a nice sandy beach, but a rock-strewn piece of nasty water that crashed into a sixty-foot wall of solid rock. The commandos would approach the designated beach at dawn after rowing across the mouth of the bay known as Loch Linnhe, then climb to the top of the cliff, and take out an enemy position. The Americans would not be participating in this training because they were not deemed proficient in the use of the rubber boats, even though they had spent some time in them in calm waters.

  Jameson thought this was a promising idea and inquired as to the rest of the day’s events.

  Colonel Vaughn now spoke rapidly about what was to occur. “Well, Captain, tomorrow afternoon we are going to have our head of close quarter combat conduct a training class for the recruits, and your people may participate. The program is one of particular interest to all the commandos because we need to be able to handle any situation, including killing silently or defending ourselves without firearms. Our instructor is a man of many talents and a former Royal Marine, who served with the Shanghai Municipal Police and ran their riot squad. He is a formidable character, and we richly prize his knowledge and ability. His name is William Fairbairn. Hopefully, you will meet him this evening. I have invited him along with some of my officers to dine with you and your officers at 1800 hours. I promise you some interesting conversation, but we must be in early to meet our date on the coast.”

  Jameson thanked Colonel Vaughn and followed an orderly to their quarters where he and Brand met up with Flannigan and Sergeant Laird. The two Marines kept up a one-way conversation for almost an hour before Jameson told the eager reporters it was time to get dressed for dinner so that they would look like proper representatives of the American Navy and Marine Corps.

  At dinner, Jameson met Captain Atwood who was very happy to tell stories about his friend Flannigan and especially about their time in Shanghai. James listened intently trying to figure out what was fact and what was fiction. Dinner began with Jameson sitting next to Vaughn and then the two American officers were interspersed with several British officers from the school.

  James had the luck of sitting next to an older looking captain who he quickly found out was the famous Fairbairn, now serving as the principal trainer for all close combat training for the commandos. James inquired as to his background and how he had learned his skills. Fairbairn described his days working for the Shanghai police, learning from the criminal gangs and combining those skills with various martial arts found in Asia. He had retired from the Shanghai police in 1940 at the age of fifty-five, which James thought was amazing because he didn’t look that old.

  After the dinner, A
twood and Flannigan walked over to Fairbairn’s table who had been conversing with Brand. “Sir, do you remember this young American Marine from your last days in Shanghai?”

  Fairbairn looked closely at the American officer, who he had seen at the training base in the last few days but had not met or spoken to, but then a flash of recognition came to him. “Yes, I think I recall a very young second lieutenant who was trying to get some of his men out of my jail. If I am correct, I think the young lieutenant still owes His Majesty’s Shanghai Police some bond money for the release of some rather inebriated Marines?”

  Flannigan smiled and replied, “Sir, I think we paid your jailor, but in Shanghai sometimes things were not recorded as they should have been. Accounting practices were, shall we say, loose in those days?”

  Fairbairn smiled. “Captain Flannigan, it is good to meet you again. I wondered if you were stuck in Shanghai when the Japs took over, but I see you and your old partner in crime, Mr. Atwood, are doing fine. I heard the regiment left Shanghai just in time but like our experience in Hong Kong, some of your people were not so lucky.”

  “Sir, the Fourth Marines did make their escape a few days before the curtain went up, but I understand the Peking Marines and those in a few other locations were cut off and I presumed captured. The Fourth is now in the Philippines fighting for their lives.”

  Fairbairn looked at both Marines, one British, one American. He recalled they had shared some of the same experiences in escaping danger. This had to weigh on them as he was concerned with many of his British and Chinese friends who were still on duty in Shanghai when the Japs attacked.

  “Good to see you again, Flannigan. I am glad you made it out.” He stood and shook everyone’s hand and then announced his departure. “Gentlemen, I know some of you have an early morning exercise, and I have to prepare for the afternoon training where I hope you will all participate. Goodnight. See you in the morning.”