Sweet and Sour, the Story of a Global Trek in WWII by Frank Dunn"

2008

CHAPTER 11

AS IN PART 9, I am continuing with my diary entries for the period from August 18th to September 20th, as these were my personal observations as they occurred prior to my departure from Japan.

August 18: The birthday of Eunice, and also the anniversary of leaving the UK six years ago. NCO's deputation on distribution of Red Cross food. Camp search and inspection midday. Much cleaning up and throwing away of rubbish and unwanted kit. Red Cross food drawn from stores at 1200, check of parcels, all OK. Search off. Red Cross issue at 1600, one parcel per man, minus previous issue of uncanned foods, etc. Good! Tenko parade in best walking out kit. 'Gen' is that terms have not been signed, but talks are taking place in Manila! True? Clothing check off. Good tea. Fine, with extra Red Cross food, a sample of what is to come. 100 grams in rice ration the day after tomorrow. News is that terms have been settled.

August 19: Have bronchitis now. Good meals now. Greatcoats in. Church service, thanksgiving. Souvenir of signed fan. Now knife, fork and spoon meals. NCO's meeting. Early to bed, felt rough.

August 20: Felt a little better. Entertainment scheme organised for the camp. Lost in crib final with Les Richards.

August 21: Slept very well. Duty fatigue hut. Speech on toll call by interpreter from Japanese Headquarters. Very slimy and subservient. Actually appealed to POW's for material aid in the district.

August 22: Increase in rations expected, also mail. All guard now on duty OUTSIDE camp. We are now under our own supervision. Rations back to 600 grams. Clothing came into camp. Played tombola, very popular evening game.

August 23: Camp pickets commenced. Guarding the garden and also the Japs. They need watching. Cigarette position bad again, swapped some of my surplus kit for tobacco. Talk by CO to all British, things of general interest discussed. Issue of extra Jap clothing and large 'Tabbies'. Finished my Red Cross food. Won at tombola again.

August 24: Ration increase to 630 grams. Letters and cards arrive. Talk of supplies by air due soon. Marking camp for the airdrops. Received first communication from home since February 1942. All well - Eunice still waiting! Weighed on cookhouse scales - 50 kilos (9s 12lb). Cigarette issue of twenty. Bridge tournament commenced. Jap workmen laying out strips on parade ground and on 13 and 14 huts. News is that the No 1's of Britain and USA at Fukuoka. Jap Sgt Major attending. Expecting supplies to be dropped soon.

August 25: Large rations this morning because of extra bag 'thieved' from stores yesterday. American aircraft seen this morning, three fighters and five bombers. Library books now dispersed. Packs out of store - busy sorting. Passes the time away though. Managed to get green Dutch pack. Gramophone and good records given to camp by local civilian. More cards in.

August 26: Issuing kit all morning. Cleaned up pack. NCO's meeting. Rations increase. Rice and flour, 770 grams. Pigs and goats to be killed. Cigarettes tomorrow. We have the Japs where we want them now, all civilian company guards discharged. Postcards in for British, three more for me. Good tea.

August 28: Aircraft about early. 'Gen' about US ships and aircraft arriving Tokyo tomorrow. Just like bombing, parachutes failed to open, canisters broke away, hang-ups. Disastrous! Terrific amount of stuff dropped, all men out of camp collecting it in. An area of about five square miles covered in parties. Several local inhabitants killed by falling petrol drums, etc. I think 60% of foodstuffs undamaged. Perhaps 90-100% of clothing and medical supplies. Had some of the food for tea. Quick work! Issue of 100 cigarettes, chocolate, gum and vitamin tablets. Still awake talking at midnight, only slept one hour and didn't feel tired at all. What a day!

August 29: What a good breakfast! Parade and search for supplies hoarded by people. Fair amount discovered. Working on sorting out job. Aircraft over again. Casualties yesterday - one dead, nine injured, fourteen houses damaged. Swedish delegate and Red Cross representatives expected tomorrow. Large supplies of rice, beans and flour arrive in the camp. Smoking in hut now, more postcards in again, none for me.

August 30: Delegate arrived at 9am. Inspected camp pretty thoroughly. Heavy rain. Spent morning sorting out toilet stuff. What a mess! All mashed up. Issue of chocolate, cigarettes and gum. Aircraft over at 11am. More supplies dropped - better dropping this time. Issue of boots, underwear, socks, handkerchiefs and cap. More supplies dropped at 3pm. Still raining heavily. Issue of toilet necessities. Inspected playing field with CO to lay out new dropping area. Today's drops were on coloured 'chutes. Issue of tinned rations per man. Issue of chocolate and more tinned rations, "K" type rations excellent. NCO's meeting - a lot of excellent info from Consul's visit. Photographs taken on August 28 back, very good souvenir. Weighed today - 52 kilos (8st 2lb) 2 kilos up.

August 31: Queen Wilhelmina's birthday today - Dutch Day. Made strips for marking. Crazy weather. More supplies dropped at 12.30pm. Put strips out. Worked on circle and markers in line. Very fatiguing, finished by 5pm. Good magazine dropped today.

September 1: Raining very heavily, all yesterday's work ruined except for arrow. Made new strips and laid them out. Issue of chocolate, gum and tinned meats. Japs pinned strips again. Morse practice with home made Aldis lamp, not too bad, need practice. Background bad. No air activity. Issued with new KD (khaki drill), fine quality cloth. Issue of reefer jacket, dungaree suit, razor blades and more clothing. Old Commandant brought lorry load of salvaged foodstuffs to camp. Gave Nakana some broken stuff today, he was very embarrassed. More night Morse practice. Still raining heavily. (Had photo taken again today).

September 2: Slept well, camp cleaning for thirty minutes, improved signal lamp, no shutters, now open lamp with push button 'Morse key' in circuit. No air activity all day. Raining very heavily. Boys went to Hirano's place, given photo of CO and Sgt Major Spettce, very good. Ceremony tonight, official handing over of the camp to Captain Williams, including all arms, ammunition, rations, stores, keys, guardroom and offices. Apparently instructions from Tokyo where airborne US occupation troops arrived yesterday. Now allowed out of camp into surrounding district from 10am onwards. Had new KD clothing altered to fit. Went out as free man for the first time tonight. Visited Hirano and took him some old clothing, etc, he replied with a 'booze up' - Japanese saki warmed up. Boy, what a kick! Very hospitable though - went down to the village after, nothing startling. One small billiard saloon and nothing else. Back at 9.30pm.

September 3: Rained very heavily all night. Meals smaller, but still very tasty. All issues of individual tinned rations now finished, using bulk stuff. Spent morning in room making up this diary. Radio in office too. Received Tokyo, Okinawa, Honolulu, Chungking. Don't feel too bad today, just weary - need some rest. No air activity for some days now. Slept in afternoon, still raining heavily. Went for about a five mile walk in the rain. Early to bed. The rest of the boys went to Hirano's place. I backed out - scared of the saki!

September 4: Slept well until 5am, still raining. Had bath and shower early. Excellent breakfast, best to date - potatoes fried in batter, meat in soya bread, tomato juice, soup, cocoa. I also had my first egg as a free man, the first since we left Java. Quiet morning, one or two aircraft over, fairly high up. Clouds low and misty. Very good dinner. Real 'nasi goreng', ate very little though. Rain eased off. Went to village, had haircut and shave, wandered around the village, back before 5pm. Had party with Hughie in shop, very enjoyable. Early to bed. Dutch and Aussies from 26 and 8 Camps visiting.

September 5: Slept very well. Beautiful day at last. Gave room a real clean up. Amazing what collects in a short time. Did pile of washing - will have to get myself a Japanese batman! Lazy morning, usual meals, pretty fair. Could manage on two meals per day now. Did some sewing, etc. Went for a walk before tea, called in factory for wire for an aerial. Good tea. Walked down to the village about 8.30pm, tried to buy some eggs and a chicken, no luck. Back early, lots of interesting news on radio.

September 6: Slept fairly well, up early for bath and shower. Had a very good breakfast. Reported sick, have fever and septic elbow. Given aspirins and went to bed. The news states that the general treatment of POW's has been atrocious and their health has, consequently, suffered. TB and malnutrition being the main complaints. Aircraft around this morning, Lockheed Lightnings and some other types. Camp is full of visitors from other camps. They've heard that we are feeding well here and have plenty of spare clothes. Spoke to Wing Commander Matthews, Squadron Leader Barnley is dead, Flight Lieutenant Dunlop alive and well, Harry Long has his stripes, Sergeant Hale at another camp. Hidden store of arms discovered by Sergeant Perry. Went for a walk about 3pm, very hot all day - 88F. Good meals all day, 'K' ration for tea. Listened to radio all night, a little news from Chungking. Bed late.

September 7: Slept well, up early for shower. Issue of 200 cigarettes and five bars of chocolate. Duty hut today. Aircraft over at 9.30am - seven drops up to 2am. Had rations. Tried to contact aircraft with lamp and flag. No replies except wing wagging. Left camp at 1 pm by rail to Camp 9, met Flight Lieutenant Knight. Very depressing camp, no supplies dropped. Left by rail for Camp 1, Fukuoka. Met lots of friends including Warrant Officer Long. Apparently all aircrew are now Warrant Officers. Slept the night at Fukuoka.

September 8: Terrible camp, alive with fleas. Hilly Hall looked after us. Left early morning for Tobato Camp. Nice camp, met "Soapy" Hudson and plenty of old Tengah boys. Had a good meal with "Soapy". Left for Moji early afternoon. Saw the results of the bombing all the way from Orio to Moji, also in Fukuoka. Flat as a pancake! Visited Moji 4 camp, met Frank Pearman, poor fellow looks sick but cheerful. Left for camp at 5pm, long train journey. Arrived back at camp at 10.15pm - very tired but enjoyed trip immensely. Late to bed. One crate of 'K' rations. 10 in 1 per man issued while I was away. Enough and more to last ten days. Cookhouse only to supply hot water for drinks. Received letter from Eunice, also a note from Flight Lieutenant Dunlop at 9 Camp.

September 9: Slept well, up early. Fine breakfast. Raining heavily. Weighed again, 58.75 kilos (9st 3lb). Lazy day, just eating and reading. Swam in pool for exercise. Flight Lieutenant Dunlop and Flight Lieutenant Knight came up to camp, entertained and fed them well, also provided beds. I didn't feel so good, asleep at 9.30pm, didn't wake up until 6am.

September 10: Lovely morning. Cookhouse breakfast, roast beef and potatoes. Didn't feel like breakfast at all, just pecked at a little food. Jack and Tommy went to Moji to visit Frank Pearman. Went for a walk to the village. Good meals all day. Exercised by swimming a little. 'Gen' seems to be that everyone is to stay within three miles of their camp. Several persons have managed to leave the island already. Hospital people are still standing by for immediate move. Jack came back for tea. Went for evening walk with Hughie. Early to bed.

September 11: Up early. Stomach a little unsettled. Raining again, Had a real English breakfast, Porridge, bacon, fried bread, biscuits, butter, jam and coffee. Didn't rest all morning. Rained all day. Enjoyed all my meals. Early to bed.

September 12: Up early, a brighter day. Reported sick with bad chest and throat. Just a common cold. Quiet morning. Issue of chocolate, gum, tobacco, matches, etc. Went for a swim. Very good lunch. Slept very heavily until about 4pm. Had a shower. What a grand tea! Clare and Hughie certainly surprised us. Roast chicken, baked potatoes, tomatoes, peach pie and cream, fruit and coffee. Went for a walk to the village to settle the meal. Bed very early.

September 13: Slept very poorly. Chest tight, body aching, head throbbing. Raining heavily again. Enjoyed breakfast, dosed myself up with aspirin. Issue of toilet necessities. Good lunch. Had my first American hot cake. Air display by four Mustangs, very pretty. Slept a while. Very good tea, what with meat pies, jam turnovers, chocolate cake, fruit, etc. Fiddled about with a load of radios in the office, hopeless heap of junk. Early to bed.

September 14: Slept poorly. Rained heavily during the night. Chest very bad. Had a good breakfast. Reported sick, diagnosis asthma, no treatment available. Commandeered some wire for an aerial from the factory. Light lunch. Put an aerial up behind the office and fiddled about with a few radio sets. Had tea at 6pm. Quiet night. Bed earlier than usual. News is that this camp moves on 21st to Nagasaki, from there by sea to Okinawa and then by air to Manila. We encamp there, fit men for perhaps five days, after which Yanks go home, mainly by air, British by sea. Sick personnel will remain. Weighed again today - 59 kilos (9st 4lb).

September 15: Up early. Asthma still as bad. Hugh is on guard. Hot, clear day. Little air activity. Mitsui Company 'presento'. A strip of coloured ersatz silk and a paper fan - for two years of slavery! Disgusting. I don't think that Captain Williams should have accepted it. Had another trim up, the last in Japan. Light tea for a change. Having a lot of trouble with camp lights. Circuits overloaded with radios, irons, hot plates, high wattage lamps, etc. Went down to village, played billiards until 10pm.

September 16: Slept well, had a good breakfast. Expecting the 'flying kitchens' over today. Reported sick again, got some medicine this time. Diagnosis is asthma/bronchitis. Raining again today. Went for a long walk over the hills to another valley, very picturesque, spoilt by the rain. Allowed to draft a ten word cablegram at last. Good tea. Had chocolate cake and peaches for supper. Early to bed. American lieutenant of salvage unit came to camp, didn't see him.

September 17: Rained very heavily all through the night. Heavy breakfast, reported sick for treatment, still about the same, hard to breathe. Am guard commander of RAF guard tomorrow. Quiet day, rained all day, particularly heavy at night. Detachment of US Recovery Units arrived in camp, lost all their transport in the paddy fields and walked about 2 miles in pouring rain. Fixed a few of them up with cakes and coffee. Two Aussies and two Dutch among them.

September 18: Terrific storm during the night, lighting failed. Very high winds and heavy rain. Fences down, trees flattened, tiles off roofs, most huts swamped. My kit survived. Had a good breakfast. Guard commander today. Recovery Units back in for camp interrogation. We all now have our embarkation tickets, all we want is the name of the boat and the date! Beautiful day after last night's storm. Lieutenant Jones, two sergeants and one private 1^st class left for Nagasaki. They can go, but the sick in hospital must wait. US troops left at 5pm. Easy guard, slept most of the night, no incidents.

September 19: Off guard at 9am, aircraft over at 9.30am. Five loads dropped, fair drops, most gathered in. Issue of half case of 'K' rations 10 in 1. Five days supply. Very warm day. Went for a long walk. Quiet evening. Hirano sent some 'Scotch' whisky, 98% pure alcohol - fire water. Late to bed.

September 20: Up early, good breakfast. 'Blondie' as guest. Went for a long walk with Jack. Must have the exercise. NCO's meeting, movement instructions. In charge of RAF party No 6, move off at 07.30. No 1 of factory sent 'hanchos' to camp to invite us to a 'beer-up' and farewell party. Beer issue, one bottle per man. One B29 over at 12.30pm, dropped two loads of food. Good drops. Handed kit complete to Chinese Commandant. Weighed again, 61 kilos (9st 5lb). Went to CO's farewell party, got horribly drunk. Went from there to Hirano's place, drank some more, ended up in telephone exchange with Percy. Bed about 1am.

CHAPTER 12

SO NOW WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME at last and my story continues with extracts from my diary between 21 September and 31 October.

September 21: US and Dutch left for Nagasaki at 0530, also Capt. Williams. Had good breakfast. Left camp at 0745. Depart Kano by rail at 0815, arrived Nagasaki approx. 1430. What a reception - Naval band swinging it, coffee and donuts. Greeted by Red Cross females. Went through pretty good disinfecting baths, rekitted, etc. Finished with ham sandwiches and ice cream! Taken by invasion barge to 'small' carrier, USS Chenango (a converted tanker). Quartered in aircraft hangar on camp beds, very nice and roomy. Some of the boys including Jack and Hughie went on a destroyer. Food pretty good, cinema show - Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland in 'Crystal Ball' - enjoyable. Goofy cartoon also. Had supper in ship's bakery.

September 22: Slept well, moved out of harbour at 1000. Under way in company with a destroyer. Turned a little rough towards evening. I'll bet the boys on the destroyer are sick. This ship is as steady as a rock. She was the world's largest tanker, weighs 27,000 tons. Cinema show - Jon Hall and Sabu in 'Cobra Woman' - fair.

September 23: Slept well. Heavy rainstorm this morning also very strong winds. Lots of aircraft sighted about 9am. Church service at 10am. Anchored in Buckers Bay, Okinawa, 12.30pm. Harbour just one mass of shipping. Inspected ship's radio equipment, pretty good, fairly easy to operate. Spent night on board ship. Another cinema show - 'Minesweeper', pretty good.

September 24: Slept well. Spent morning in radio room playing swing records. Standby to move at 1 pm. Landed quayside 5.30pm. Transported by truck across the island to camp. Arrived late, too late for a meal and a bath. Accommodation - tents with camp beds. Visited Red Cross canteen, managed to get a meal. Bed late.

September 25: Slept well. Very good food at this camp. Some Yanks and Dutch left this morning. Terrific amount of transport here. US-built roads as busy as main roads at home. The whole island appears to have been transformed into a vast military stores and camp. This morning saw the bodies of Jap soldiers in their hideouts in burial grounds near the camp, they had died of starvation. Called and made ready to move off at 1pm - by boat? Wash out, back to quarters. Rained heavily. Camp concert and cinema show - 'The Woman in Green'.

September 26: Called up at 0300. After coffee and donuts, transported to Bodo airfield. Took off at 0830 approx in Curtiss C46 transport. Handled radio set in the air, contacted Manila. Landed Nelson Field, Manila, 1.20pm. Had some refreshments. Transported to camp on outskirts under Aussie command. Very large camp, tented with camp beds, meals good, a cinema, many canteens with every kind of refreshment. Met many chaps I had known including Dick Grainger, MacIntosh, Kuhn, Cpl Stickley, etc.

September 27: Up early, slept well. The only thing I don't like here is the heat and it is hot! Quiet day except for a lot of incoming drafts. Met many people I knew before, including several from 62 Sqdn. Visited British canteen, bed very late. Sent 1 cable, wrote 3 letters, also drew 40 pesos from RAF pay office, the equivalent of 5 pounds.

September 28: Quiet all day, still not called for. Wrote some more letters. Went to stage show at main theatre. Poor show.

September 29: Medical examinations, inoculations and vaccination. Received part of kit. Easy rest of day, received rest of kit. Hughie Edwards and Reg Scales arrived on hospital ship, 'Haven'. I am now a Warrant Officer with 3 ½ years back pay to draw!

September 30: Uneventful day. Cinema show 'Bell for Adano'.

October 1: Quiet day. Met S/Ldr Wyrill and F/Lt Dunlop, talked over old times with Squadron, also discovered what happened to them. Went out to Manila tonight, saw the sights and spent a lot of money on nothing. Terrific rainstorms later. Stayed with Aussie signals for the night - they certainly looked after me. Good bed, etc.

October 2: Back to camp at 10am. Received two letters dated end of August, one from Mother and one from Eunice. Good and bad news. Dad died February 1943, Allan is married, Norman in Tank Corps, Gerald Lyons and Harry Langford killed. Strange place to go back to. Went out to town, got a little sozzled with Tony Wooley, Tait and 'Shifty' Smith. Danced for first time for 3 ½ years. Slept at Aussie Signals again, thanks to Lloyd Brown.

October 3: Slept late. Talked for a while with Lloyd. Played table tennis in Club 500. Rained very heavily. Went into town in the afternoon. Visited Little Theatre, good show. Met three US Corps pilots. Drank in theatre, dinner at the Ideal then to 'Shangri La'. Danced my feet off, enjoyable evening. Broke up at 10.30pm, back to camp.

October 4: Felt pretty rough all day. Very hot day. Went to cinema, very good programme. Met Patrick today.

October 5: Slept heavily. Feel pretty good these days, losing a little weight, perhaps because of heat and sweating. Moved quarters today. Went for a long walk for exercise, must get into pretty good shape. I've got to meet a pretty and particular girl when I get home.

October 6: Another scorcher of a day. Did some voluntary work in the PO. Visit by Lady Mountbatten. Main theatre show - 'Hello Chicago'. Good.

October 7: Quiet day, cleaned up a little. Real chicken for tiffin, first time for years. Wrote to Eunice. Stage show at main theatre, Danny Kaye and Leo C…….in person, pretty good.

October 8: While I remember, I met a fellow in the 6^th HAA from Mold yesterday, very interesting person to talk to, knows all my old schoolmasters. Draft moves out today on HMS Glory, to Vancouver? Us tomorrow? - no luck yet. Wrote to Ken Hibbert, received another card from Mother. Warned for draft at 5pm. Issued extra clothing, etc.

October 9: Left camp at 6pm. Boarded SS Marine Shark, US Transport on maiden voyage with troops for San Francisco, crowded quarters. I am not sailing as a WO, very annoying. Very hot below decks. Food good. Hughie Edwards aboard and most of Yanks from camp in Japan. Slept on deck.

October 10: Moved out at 0730. Anchored in bay to fuel. Moved out of bay at 4.40pm. Slept below, too hot for comfort.

October 11: Miserable day. Rain and wind. Ship rolls a quite a bit. Slept on deck.

October 12: Lovely day. Boat drill. Am now in charge PX supplies for compartment. What a job. Slept on deck.

October 13: Uneventful day. Boat drill.

October 14: Sighted group of islands south of Guam.

October 15: Miserable day. Dull. Trip becoming boring.

October 16: Usual day. Busy with PX goods. What a headache! It's unbelievable how dumb some chaps are! Cinema show.

October 17: Feeling tired these last few days. Cinema show.

October 18: Run into very heavy rain this morning. Developed engine trouble. Can only move at 12 knots, just our luck. We haven't reached Honolulu yet. Crossed date line today. Slept on deck.

October 19: Fine day. Drew $8 pay. Routine search for contraband. Discovered that WO's are allowed to use the same deck as officers, also the lounge. Slept on deck.

October 20: Ship stood to from 11pm last night, still stood to this morning. Engine trouble again. The sooner we're off this ship the better. Lack of entertainment and poor accommodation make things difficult. Under way again at 12pm. Another breakdown, under way about 3pm. Slept below.

October 21: Still under way. No more breakdowns. Making about 8 knots. Lovely morning.

October 22: Usual day. Wrote 2 letters home.

October 23: Land sighted at 7am. Had talk with Major about WO's position. Docked Pearl Harbor at midday. Here for about 24 hours for repairs. Slept well on deck.

October 24: Disgusting exhibitions when ice cream, candy and pies came aboard for sale, also papers and magazines. Sailed 5pm. Engine broke down again until 1am. Stood to for 5 hours.

October 25: Strong head winds, heavy seas, making 8-10 knots? Food getting very poor - not enough.

October 26: Cigarette day. Nothing special to report.

October 27: Destination Seattle not San Francisco. Means another day on the ship. Very cold and rough today.

October 28: Had field jacket stolen during the night. Getting serious. Have no suspicions. Cold morning, sea not so rough. Played Monopoly for a change.

October 29: Terrible night, ship tossed around like a cork. Cold morning. WO's meeting re disembarkation arrangements. Food now very poor, back on RICE and stew. Ship seems to be out of control, she just pitches and rolls as she pleases. Did a spot of washing, etc. 5pm, destination now San Francisco, due to arrive on Thursday, November 1^st at 10am. Rumour has it that there are some Royal Navy personnel in the engine room now. The ship certainly put on a dash of speed during the night.

October 30: Lovely morning, sea fairly calm although ship still rolls quite a lot.

October 31: Preparations for disembarking were being made throughout the ship as the estimated landfall for November 1^st drew near. This couldn't come soon enough after the trials and tribulations of the past month. It will be good to get one's feet on dry land again.

CHAPTER 13

SO IT WAS THAT we steamed under the famous Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco harbour to a mind boggling welcome from a cheering crowd on the quayside, intended in the main for returning US combat troops, some of whom couldn't wait any longer and literally swam ashore! Priority was given to the disembarkation of returning POW's as we were transferred to a large ferryboat for the short but very interesting trip across San Francisco Bay to Fort McDowell, an Army base on Angel Island. The sight of the infamous Alcatraz Prison en route only served to remind us of our recent experiences, which will not easily be forgotten despite the genuine efforts of our American hosts - their generosity and concern for our welfare was overwhelming.

The short stay at Fort McDowell will be remembered for our introduction to the complete absence of food rationing of any kind - truly a land of plenty. It was good to let one's taste buds run riot on giant steaks, fresh baked bread, exotic sweets and fruit of every kind, really too much for digestions which had only just recovered from a rice diet. While those with enough common sense took care not to overdo it, there were others who couldn't resist another helping with later regrets. It was difficult to know when to stop - after so little - so much! At this rate, we would soon be putting on a bit of weight before arriving in the UK.

Obviously the short break at Fort McDowell was intended to prepare us for the next stage of our journey as we boarded the ferry for the return trip across the Bay to San Francisco. Here we boarded a train for the first leg of an incredible train journey across the country to New York. The 700 mile journey north took us through the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain Ranges to the city of Tacoma in the State of Washington.

We had our first hold-up on the journey, resulting in a longer stay in Tacoma than expected. Cross-country rail traffic was heavily committed to priority military movements. However, as in San Francisco, the US Army and the citizens of Tacoma did everything possible and impossible to curb our growing impatience. The city was 'open house' and we were left with happy memories of our stay in Tacoma. There was concern about our families waiting at home, but they had been informed of our present whereabouts. The delay also gave us a further chance to put on a bit more weight and to give thought to the future. We had read of the effect of the war at home and the extreme shortages we would encounter - so different from our present situation. Even so, home is where the heart is, they say!

Eventually, a solution to the bottleneck was found after negotiations between the US and Canadian authorities. This resulted in an agreement by the Canadian Government to assume responsibility for the remainder of the journey. All we had to do was to arrive at the Canadian border!

The solution to the problem was overcome under cover of darkness by the local US Transport official. He was able to arrange for a convenient US Medical Corps hospital train to be shunted into the US Army camp. By becoming bed-bound casualties in USMC pyjamas, the journey was legitimate as hospital trains had priority over other traffic. The 100 mile journey was made in the comfort and care of a bevy of most attentive USMC nurses - our waiting was over.

WE STEAMED INTO VANCOUVER fairly late in the evening where we cast off our USMC pyjamas and were able to resume normal dress before saying a sad farewell to those who had helped us on our way. I assume the Canadians allowed the hospital train to return to Tacoma! Things were really moving now as we crossed the platform to the waiting train for the journey of a lifetime in conditions which will be remembered as first class. The sleeping-tourist coaches were well appointed, positively luxurious whilst the cuisine was of a very high standard - what a way to travel!

Our route would take us north through the Rocky Mountains, at that time of the year, very picturesque as we climbed to the snow line. The track followed the Fraser River to Kamloops and Jasper where the twin locos were given a chance to get their breath back after the stiff climb and to take on fuel and water. We also had a chance to buy a few souvenirs before boarding the train again. There was apparently a 'shuttle service' operating on several routes to the west as we weren't the only ex-prisoners on the move. It was rumoured that it was possible to leave the train and pick up a following train. It was also rumoured that some ex-prisoners actually liked what they saw - mainly females - so much that they stayed on and missed the boat.

Cocooned in our luxury coaches, towns and cities came and went - Edmonton and Saskatoon, with heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures outside. A major stop was made at Winnipeg, again for water and fuel and a chance to stretch our legs - I always thought that the Japanese winters were cold but Canadian winter temperatures were something quite different. The air was too cold to breathe comfortably and we weren't suitably dressed for such low temperatures - back to the warmth of the coaches.

We had passed the halfway stage of the 3,000 mile journey as we skirted the northern shore of Lake Superior to take in Ottowa and by-pass Montreal to finally cross back into the USA and complete the journey to New York where, to our surprise, we were embarked on the "Queen Mary" - a fitting way to travel home. She had just crossed the Atlantic with a full compliment of returning US troops and they had certainly left their mark on the vessel. As we only totalled about 2,000. we weren't overcrowded, only impatient to be on our way - this was the most important leg of the whole journey, As I remember, the vessel was a 'dry' one but food was plentiful and English! To pass the time away there were lectures, film shows and lots of line shooting.

EVENTUALLY we steamed up Southampton Water to a rapturous welcome home, both on the water and on the quayside, on a typical November day - cold and damp. The organisation ashore was quite impressive. Those who weren't being met or collected, boarded trains to all parts. I think the sight of so much war damage and obvious shortages were quickly noticed and compared with the land of plenty across the Atlantic. So ended my overseas tour of six and a quarter years. I was grateful to return in one piece, a lot wiser for my experiences and, at that moment, just itching to get home.

POSTSCRIPT. After a spell at RAF Cosford for medical checks and a lot of head scratching about my future, I took the advice given to me by medics at Cosford and decided to stay in uniform. After numerous postings - some good, some bad, all in Signals Branch and including a return overseas to RAF Eastleigh, Nairobi - I finally changed my uniform for a civvy suit in November 1959. A week later, I became a Civil Servant (MOD-Air) at No 30 MU, Sealand, only six miles from my original home in Buckley, and I remained there until 1979, retiring on medical grounds.

Author: Dunn, Frank 6

Sweet and Sour, the Story of a Global Trek in WWII by Frank Dunn"

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