A real WW2 story told by my grandmother.

[Guest]

I spent the last two hours typing, turning a very old paper article into a digital file.

I did it for my family and relatives but felt I might as well share it with all of you.

It is written in danish, so I translated it for you using google translate.

I will also include the danish version below for my northern members to read.

She survived,, America's "shipwreck

Jimmy, who is six, looking up from the floor where he sits with his toy trains.

,, But Mom, what happened to all those other people? "

,, They died, little friend. "

,, Oh - it was a shame. "

With a pensive sigh puts Jimmy train on the rails again and looks so up.

,, When will Rita and Dianna come home from school? "

,, The coming soon - play now nicely so long. "

At the bottom of a drawer in her dressing table has Jimmy's mother, Mrs. Ebba Lennings, an insignificant cardboard box lying.

The box contains five war medals. On the table is a cigarette lighter with a discreet inscription in English.

,, With thanks for the courage and perseverance in the struggle for freedom - 1940 "

The pillow on the chair is a souvenir from Panama, some things on the shelf and a couple of pictures on the wall are greetings from the Far East.

Mrs. Lennings brought home the sailor memories of the time when she was called Ebba Jensen and sailed as a stewardess on Danish ships.

-,, There was no doubt that I was going to sail, "says Ebba Lennings.

,, Father had sailed for the East Asiatic Company, and in my home in Viborg were the two letters inextricably linked to adventurous places.

Bangkok, Singapore and Port Said was for me not just names, I learned about in geography.

It was places that I was firmly resolved that I too once had to watch.

But East Asiatic Company not sail with young girls who are only 19 years old, and therefore I took my first hire with S / S,, Flora ".

On April 4, 1940 I sailed away from Copenhagen on my second trip to England.

We approached Manchester as telegraphist April 9 came and informed us that the Germans had entered Denmark.

Upon arrival in England, we were asked if we would sail in English service. The whole crew volunteered.

S / S,, Flora "had to go on near by England, and which can sound very nice, but that was the way with the cosiness.

The peaceful freighter was armed with light guns, and the crew, myself included, were trained in the operation of them.

In addition, I got a first aid course and I was very much needed.

At the end of May 1940 fell Dunkirk. The whole of Great Britain sat by the radio in breathless splænding and waited for Churchill's next speech.

Church Hill said,, Now France has fallen. England stands alone. It will not be easy, but we will fight to the bitter end. "

The Battle of Britain was bygndt. In Southern England was the Home Guard and tied bayonets on broomsticks.

Yes, it sounds funny now, but it was bitter earnest then.

For a month læsede the German Luftwaffe,, "tonvis of bombs over England every night continuously from 20 o'clock in the evening until eight o'clock the next morning.

S / S,, Flora "bed of their best efforts. Also I had received training on how to operate the guns, but the crew never allowed me to participate in the shooting.

When the German planes howled down over the ship, the captain said:,, Sister - go down and make us a cup of coffee - we can do with afterwards. "

And one day when we were attacked, I met the chef, who came rushing up from the galley. ,, I have to get up and shoot, "he shouted,,, They must go down and touch the pots while, sister, or burn my chicken in asparagus"

But it was real. A tanker was sailing right near,, Flora ", was on day three bomb hits.

I was watching the great ship go down like a brick iron. I suppose it had a crew of 40-50 men.

It seemed to me that it took an eternity before the surface was broken. It was 1:05 to 6:00 survivors who finally came up as waterfowl after a dive.

But after facing the German Juncker flights back and shot the swimming with their machine guns.

Where a few minutes ago had been a big ship with live people on board, there was now nothing but sea.

So you know who the enemy was, if you had not known that before. ---

In the few spare evenings we went ashore.

During an attack on London, the Germans had put Surrey Docks fire.

The whole huge area where there was timber from Sweden and Canada, burned for days, and at night meander the German bombers fire pond as letråd.

And to the accompaniment of air defense sirens howling, the hiss gun and bomb the groans sat

,, Flora "s crew along with the British, who did not fail their pub but got their AEL and played darts and chimed in with a song in between.

Outside, everything was obviously a darkness where the fires are not lit up. One evening we groped our way to a pub, and I noticed the attention out there at the curb stood a mailbox.

Just as well. The mailbox was our leading light on the way home, for it was the only one in the whole street that was quite when we were going home.

Rows of houses on both sides lay in smoking ruins.

The perpetual danger while sailing in the war assigning a crew together in a very special way.

From,, Flora "I have the memory of a bunch of splendid comrades who never made ​​it hard for me to be the only girl on board.

In particular donkey man was nice.

Still, I would like to change jobs. I made ​​a bid to become a radio operator in the RAF, but it was hopeless - they assumed no foreigners.

They looked at all the enemy of any foreigner. It was so unusual to see a woman in London's docks that I was once mistaken for a spy, and in particular it was also most mysterious that I spoke English well.

I tried to get out on longer trips, but the entire Cunard White Star Line's fleet of passenger ships had been converted into a troop transport and flight attendants mustered.

Finally wrought the Danish consul Madsen in Newcastle that I was allowed to disembark from,, Flora "and got a job on board Ø.Ks,, America".

It was in December 1940 and Christmas till I brought in Liverpool during the violent bombardment (as Susie Weber told,, home "s readers in the series of articles on,, Kanon girl Susie" in March last year).

She survived ...

With,, America "herds I tours to Southern and East Africa, we were in Aden by ambulance staff in Port Said, Alexandria and Malta, where we lay trapped under almost incessant air attacks in two and a half months.

When we finally went from Malta were,, America "needs its Breda cannon.

We were attacked by Italian airmen who sent lufttorpedoer against us, but at an extremely good maneuverability managed fighters to avoid hits.

When that was shot with Breda cannon shook the entire starship suffered, so the lights went loose.

After this fight came destroyer,, Encounter "that followed us up the side of us and paid tribute to the crew for its skill.

We passed Gibraltar, and from there it went to Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

On these trips sailed,, America "alone. Danger of attack was probably not so great, but when we approached the areas where the Japanese were living in, we went in a constant fear of getting out of one of their,, live torpedoes". ---

In April 1943,, America "till Halifax to go in convoy with England as a target.

The crew consisted of 97 people, three of which were women. The three caused quite a stir. It was not often, but the girls in the job then.

In addition Breda cannon was,, America "armed with some light guns, and part of the crew were English canoe Africans, who were led by another officer.

Moreover, we had 54 Canadian airmen with the passengers, they should be inserted in the Canadian Royal Air Force in England.

Our cargo consisted of mail, cars and tanks. The convoy had on the trip across the Atlantic are protected by five corvettes and a destroyer.

Before we departed, reports had been received that there was Virka 25 German submarines waiting for us.

As was natural, were the ships that had gasoline and ammunition on board, the inside of the convoy.

For some reason did,, America "assigned to one of the farligeste seats at the back of the convoy.

On 21 April, when we were off Greenland Kyt, blew it up to a heavy snowstorm.

As always during convoy sailing ship was full insulation blacked out.

Each juices were all lights replaced with blue bulbs that only served as a guiding light.

There was lysseluser for all doors were double duty on the bridge and always a lookout man in the barrel.

Due to the risk of bearing was the telegraphist strictly prohibited to use the radio exempted till distress.

As an omen of what was to happen was,, America "that night a huge lake about it.

Huge masses of water weighed the large, heavily laden ship down, and they wanted to pat it like the clappers a horse as it slowly reappeared and just shook the many tons of water by itself.

Kæerligheden to a ship is invariably greater than usual during a war, where day and night are reminded that you can lose it at any moment.

Many of the comrades on board had even been out for war disaster.

When we sailed to Australia, we had heard about people who after a torpedo had been sitting in the boats day after day, before they had died of sun and thirst.

Every time you lay down to sleep for the attention, pulling you in long pants, ready for quick undrykning.

Life jacket hung ready on its hook when you lay in the hammock, and we had it with him when we went and stood.

The doors to the chambers were always open, because we had heard about people who were trapped inside because the doors slammed shut and went into deadlock when the torpedoes came.

In addition, all doors fitted with thin panels that could be kicked out if need be.

The creaking beside the bunk hung the clothes we had been given through the Seaman's Mission: a blue coat with a scarf, mittens and socks in loommerne and a balaklave - a cap, which simultaneously serves as the scarf,

And within reach was always a bag with liver plays (for constipation, for it must be prepared to sit in the lifeboats for several days), a packet of dried prunes, dry underwear and a tube of anhydrous cream for skin protection.

It is clear that these incessant reminders of the danger they lived in, gave nerves and sensations.

Precisely April 21 tied the first mate a rope fixed to the bridge.

He had gotten the idea that he might save himself down the rope, if he was unable to get into the boats with the other.

At 18:30 this stormy night I went down to the galley to hear hvar we should have for dinner.

,, Rice in curry, "said Sean, who was our chef.

I turned up their noses, Faroe it's just not my favorite.

,, Eat anything anyway, "said the chef,,, you never know when you get something back."

He had even lost twice before, so he knew what he was talking about.

It was 21 when I went to bed. I had the passenger guard that night, so I abode in passagerafdelningen.

My two female colleagues had gone down in the library, which was a tire nedunder.

I was in my chamber in nightgown and brushed the hair when they heard a loud crash, and immediately there came a perm.

My first thought was that it had to be depth charges, the light did not work ever.

Then came the flight attendant, I shared the chamber and shouted that we had received two torpedoes.

She immediately ran back, and she has probably got a shock, because she was beside herself.

I never saw her more.

I was still convinced that she had been wrong, but I pulled out because of my trousers in a hurry and took a sweater over her nightgown and put in a pair of sandals.

Fortunately, I had thought to bring a torch with the coat, bag and redninngsjakket.

As soon as I came on deck, I was aware that she had been right.

All floodlights were trændt, and through the snowstorm, I saw that people were getting the boats ready.

On the way up I met the bartender, an Irishman named Patrick.

,, What about the passengers? "I asked.

,, They sat at the bar and smoking lounge, so they're all together, "said Patrick.

It was as if the icy storm blew across the brain at me when I came out on deck.

It seemed completely paralyzing.

The first one I met was a sailor Brown. He took me by the hand. ,, We've got a torpedo bow and a stern, "he said.

,, And there is not much hope. "

Perched on the promenade deck took Brown two extra life belts and gave me one, and then we went together and båddrækket where we parted, I heard the second track man boat.

Up there I had nothing else to do but wait.

The seconds had passed since the first thunderous crash, had turned the ship into a hell of confusion.

Bursting ship parts were thrown up into the air and flew onto the deck again, the ship had severe impact, and there was no doubt that it was already sinking.

At the second torpedo hit, there had been something with the ship's siren.

It howled incessantly.

When I still was not scared, it was because I was there and saw the piece of impressive work of seamen, as the crew performed under the most difficult conditions imaginable.

In the howling blizzard working people on the icy deck, as if it was just an exercise, it was all about, and not life or death.

Everything went like it was greased, although all the ropes and all fittings were thick and stiff with ice.

In the midst of it all was the radio operator on the mast for att try to fix the attention of its antenna, which had been destroyed, so he could go to send and it lykedes him att get his transmitter in time.

He was cold as a fish.

Now people had gotten the boat swung out.

It should be out on the windward side. The siren howling all the time.

As I stood there, I said to myself: That's not true - it's all just a bad dream.

In the morning you wake up in your chamber, and everything is as it used to be.

Then someone on nedfra with another champion.

He had stayed in the engine room when the explosions occurred, and had been vikdsint firbrændt.

He listened to our boat, and he asked me if I would help him in the boat, his hands were so damaged by burns, that he could not help themselves.

I managed att get him in the boat, but then called another officer to me, that I should not (missing part)

he cried,, Now! "In the difficult søgan (missing part)

the boat in the same far from sk (missing part)

that it was impossible to jump. An (missing part)

me that I needed to run machines on the promenade deck and proøve to take the chance away.

Down there was a group of Canadian flvere and the purser, and they encouraged me to jump first.

I climbed up on the railing and waited for the officer to shout:,, Now! "I kept thinking, attention I could get his legs broken when I got them caught between the ship and the boat.

I jumped on the second control man's command, and there were also a few other of the boat at the same time, but in the second we came onboard, was redniningsbåden promise of davits and thrown off the ship by a mighty lake.

At that time there was added life net and ladders down the side of the ship, but the lake had the thrown us far away.

There stood the airmen and the purser back, but they still had the opportunity to get on the raft.

I guess we were a 19-20 pieces in the boat. The waves were high as houses and broke the lifeboat, so it was just as much under the previous headings water.

A pumped, and another drew the second control man's command.

We had four oars out, and the men at the oars fought as desperate, that the boat should not be crushed against the ship's side.

In a vast trough we glided so close along the ship that we saw the hole that one torpedo had made ​​bow.

Due to the glow of the moon we had difficulty to spot the small emergency, as lifejackets automatically turns on when they get in the water, but we got saved a few pieces in the table.

Together with another mate I took care of another master who was terribly exhausted, both of burns and cold.

He had only shirt and pants.

He was one of my coat, and we got him relieve himself connected with gauze.

His complained incessantly because salt water pained his burns.

At last we got him wrapped in a piece of canvas. Although I was terribly seasick - very unusually, but it was probably because of the shock.

We could constantly see,, America "because all the spotlights on the deck was the spark. Siren howled still.

In the moonlight through the blizzard seemed ship as a large dy, who panted under the terrible suffering.

It is hard to see the ship as it has for years regarded as his home, disappearing into the sea.

It is as if one's heart is torn out.

I sat next to an English sailor, which I shared with the oar. He had a pair of my socks on his hands because he had no mittens.

,, Beautiful 'America' - what a shame, "he sighed, as the ship disappeared in the waves.

When he had waited 28 minutes, after it had been hit by torpedoes.

Some of the people had come up on one of the rafts that were at the top of the ship.

This fleet was in the middle of the boiling vortex formed when the ship went down.

,, Twice we turned with a mighty roar in the chimney, "said a pantry man I who was with the fleet.

,, It was like to look down into hell itself. "

But at that time we had no connection either with the raft or with the other boats.

The mate had given each of us a great glass of rum nødrationen, but the cold was terrible.

We rubbed our hands and legs as often as we could get to it.

Incidentally, I do not claim that we thought of anything.

The cold water and the icy winds have probably paralyzed all brain activity.

Something deep inside us said this here might be long.

We knew it separately, but we did not dare think tank to the end.

Occasionally, when the storm tore snow showers and clouds from the moon, we could make out the English corvette, which crept around to look for survivors in very slow speed for fear of sailing any lifeboats or rafts down.

corvette was apparently sailed for the sound of,, America "s siren.

We sent up flares and burning flares, as best we could, but everything we had the kind of distress, was naturally they were soaking wet.

Fortunately, it turned out that the big flashlight that I instinctively had grabbed the fly, ever be able to function.

With the turns we constantly to signal SOS.

The cold made ​​us lethargic, we thought nothing and said nothing but the most nædvendige.

Sometimes we hørde second master complain:,, Can not see any ship? "

My legs ached uldeligt of lukde. In all the lethargy and exhaustion, I tried to push the thought from me, still volunteered: What will happen if we do not soon be found?

But deep down, I felt confident that we would be rescued - although of course it was just wishful thinking.

I have no idea how the four hours went by, the corvette,, Aspedal "appeared beside us.

When was 1 o'clock at night.

Although the Corvette was close to the side of us, we were aware that it was a lotteripil if we came on board all together in the difficult lake.

First, we should have another champion on board. The British did kunstykke to lean out from the sunken warship and tail hamindenbords.

Later came the trip to us. We sat quietly and waited for our turn.

We had the feeling that when we had done us so far, so it was meninngen that we had to stand through the rest too.

And they succeeded as by a miracle. When I was on board, called st rmanden:,, Now comes the girl. "

But there was certainly no one could tell the difference between me and the other frostbitten bundles that were retrieved.

Second Master received morphine as soon as they had got him to bed. The rest of us were taken to the fair, and they asked us, from which ship we came, and how many we had been on board.

The crew of,, Aspedal "was great helpful to us. They came with grape-juice and tea and plenty of blankets., I asked, of course, immediately after my two female colleagues, but our boat was the first they had saved.

,, Aspedal "continued his search throughout the night. Sometime later they found the life raft, and all those who were aboard it were alive.

First four o'clock in the morning, nine hours after the wreck, they found the last of the lifeboats.

There were more people on board, but only one, a Canadian flying, was alive.

The others were frozen to death.

While I lay wrapped in blankets on the floor of corporal agree galley. I sprugte again after the two girls who had been my colleagues for three years.

They said they were safe amidships, but so exhausted I was, I understood their tone of voice that they had only said it to reassure me.

And when the believers, I slept, I hørde telegraphist read a list of names up.

They apparently tried to find out how many are missing.

Later in the morning a man came from the English crew with orders that we should come up amidships.

There was still so violent seaway attention we had to stick to the taut rope to get across the deck and there.

The salon was some of the officers from,, America "and some of the Canadian airmen.

I only saw the first mate, but he must have read the question in my eyes, for he shook his head imperceptibly.

Afterwards he told me that if I had cried then, so were they all burst into tears.

I had lost two good workmates. A total of 49 man crew and 37 Canadian flvere had been there.

I think it bestød much to me that I had to fit another champion. He was under the supervision of,, Aspendal "s ship's doctor and was most of the time in a morfindøs.

Later, the first mate appendicitis infection (he had been given an award for its use rope), and we had to get medicine from another ship hoisted on board for him.

All that work, it gave me my secondary thought from the tragedy.

We were over 60, who had been rescued aboard,, Aspedal. "A Corvette is not a big ship, and anyone

(the final part is missing)

The original version in danish:

Hun overlevede ,,Amerikas" forlis

Jimmy, som er seks, ser op fra gulvet, hvor han sidder med sit legetøjstog.

,,Men mor, hvad skete der med alle de andre mennesker?"

,,De døde, lille ven."

,,Åh - det var synd."

Med et eftertænksomt suk sætter Jimmy toget på skinnerne igen og ser så op.

,,Hvornår kommer Rita og Dianna fra skole?"

,,De kommer snart - leg nu pænt så længe."

På bunden af en skuffe i sit toiletbord har Jimmys mor, fru Ebba Lennings, en uanselig papæske liggende.

Æsken rummer fem krigsmedaljer. På bordet står en cigarettænder med en diskret inskription på engelsk.

,,Med tak for mod og udholdenhed under kampen for frihet - 1940."

Puden i stolen er en souvenir fra Panama, nogle ting på reolen og et par af billederne på væggen er hilsener fra det fjerne Østen.

Fru Lennings har hjembragt disse sømandsminder fra den tid, da hun hed Ebba Jensen og sejlede som stewardesse på danske skibe.

- ,,Der var ingen tvivl om, at jeg skulle sejle," fortæller Ebba Lennings.

,,Far havde sejlet for Ø.K., og i mit hjem i Viborg var de to bogstaver uløseligt forbundet med eventyrlige steder.

Bangkok, Singapore og Port Said var for mig ikke bare navne, jeg lærte om i geografi.

Det var steder, som jeg var fuldt og fast besluttet på, at også jeg engang måtte se.

Men Ø.K. sejler ikke med unge piger, der kun er 19 år, og derfor tog jeg min første hyre med S/S ,,Flora".

Den 4. april 1940 sejlede jeg af sted fra København på min anden tur til England.

Vi nærmede os Manchester, da telegrafisten den 9. april kom og meddelte os, at tyskerne var gået ind i Danmark.

Ved ankomsten til england blev vi spurgt, om vi ville sejle i engelsk tjeneste. Hele besætningen meldte sig.

S/S ,,Flora" skulle gå i kystfart ved England, og det kan jo lyde nok så hyggeligt, men der var nu måde med hyggen.

Den fredelige fragtdamper blev armeret med lette kanoner, og besætningen, jeg selv inklusive, blev trænet i betjeningen af dem.

Desuden fik jeg et kursus i førstehjælp, og det fik jeg nok så meget brug for.

I slutningen af maj 1940 faldt Dunkerque. Hele Storbritannien sad ved radioen i åndeløs splænding og ventede på Churchills næste tale.

Churchhill sagde: ,,Nu er Frankrig faldet. England står alene. Det bliver ikke let, men vi skal kæmpe til den bitre ende."

Slaget om England var bygndt. I sydengland sad hjemmeværnsfolk og bandt bajonetter på kosteskafter.

Ja, det lyder komisk i dag, men det var bitter alvor dengang.

I en måned læsede det tyske ,,Luftwaffe" tonvis af bomber ned over England hver eneste nat uafbrudt fra klokken 20 om aftenen til klokken otte næste morgen.

S/S ,,Flora" bed fra sig efter bedste evne. Også jeg havde jo fået uddannelse i at betjene kanonerne, men mandskabet tillod mig aldrig at deltage i skydningen.

Når de tyske fly hylede ned over skibet, sagde kaptajnen: ,,Søster - gå ned og lav os en god kop kaffe - det kan vi trænge til bagefter."

Og en dag, da vi blev angrebet, mødte jeg kokken, som kom farende op fra kabyssen. ,,Jeg skal op og skyde," råbte han, ,,De må gå ned og røre i gryderne imens, søster, ellers brænder mine høns i asparges på"

Men det var alvor. En tanker, som sejlede lige i nærheden af ,,Flora", fik en dag tre bombetræffere.

Jeg stod og så det store skib gå ned som en klods jern. Jeg formoder, at det har haft en besætning på 40-50 mand.

Det forekom mig, at der gik en evighed, før havoverfladen blev brudt. Det var en fem-seks overlevende, der omsider kom op som svømmefugle efter et dyk.

Men lidt efter vendte de tyske Junckers-fly tilbage og skød de svømmende med deres maskingeværer.

Hvor der for få minutter siden havde været et stort skib med levende mennesker om bord, var der nu ingenting andet end hav.

Så var man klar over, hvem der var fjenden, hvis man ikke havde vidst der før. ---

På de få friaftener gik vi i land.

Under et angreb på London havde tyskerne sat Surrey-dokkerne i brand.

Hele det kæmpemæssige område, hvor der lå trælast fra Sverige og Canada, brændte i dagevis, og om natten bugte de tyske bombefly brandskæret som letråd.

Og til akkompagnement af luftværnssirenernes hylen, kanonernes skratten og bombernes bragen sad

,,Flora"s besætning sammen med englænderne, som ikke svigtede deres pub, men fik deres æl og spillede pilespil og stemte i med en sang ind imellem.

Udenfor lå alt naturligvis en mørke, hvor brandene ikke lyste op. En aften famlede vi os vej til en pub, og jeg lagde mærke til, att der ude ved fortovskanten stod en postkasse.

Godt det samme. Den postkasse blev vores ledefyr på hjemvejen, for den var det eneste i hele gaden, der var helt, da vi skulle hjem.

Husrækkerne på begge sider lå i rygende ruiner.

Den evindelige fare under sejlads i krig knytter en besætning sammen på en ganske særlig måde.

Fra ,,Flora" har jeg mindet om en flok prægtige kamerater, der aldrig gjorde det svært for mig at være eneste pige om bord.

Navnlig donkeymanden var flink.

Alligevel ville jeg gerne skifte job. Jeg gjorde et forsøg på at blive radiotelegrafist i RAF, men det var håbløst - de antog ikke udlændinge.

Man så i det hele taget en fjende i enhver udlænding. Det var så usædvanligt at se en kvinde i Londons dokker, at jeg engang blev antaget for spion, og navnlig var det naturligtvis mystisk, at jeg talte så godt engelsk.

Jeg prøvede at komme ud på længere rejser, men hele Cunard White Star Line's flåde af passagerskibe var blevet ombygget til troppetransport og alle stewardesserne afmønstret.

Omsider udvirkede den danske konsul Madsen i Newcastle, at jeg fik lov til at afmønstre fra ,,Flora" og fik et job om bord i Ø.K.s ,,Amerika".

Det var i december 1940, og julen tillbragte jeg i Liverpool under det voldsomme bombardement (som Susie Weber fortalte ,,Hjemmet"s læsere om i artikelserien om ,,Kanonpigen Susie" i marts sidste år).

Hun overlevede...

Med ,,Amerika" hjorde jeg ture til Syd- og Østafrika, vi var i Aden med ambulancepersonale, i Port Said, ALexandria og Malta, hvor vi lå indespærret under næsten ustandselige luftangreb i to og en halv måned.

Da vi endelig gik fra Malta, fik ,,Amerika" brug for sin Breda-kanon.

Vi blev angrebet af italienske flyvere, der sendte lufttorpedoer mod os, men ved en fantastisk dygtig manøvrering lykkedes det mandskabet at undgå træffere.

Når der blev skudt med Breda-Kanonen, rystede hele skiber, så lamperne gik løse.

Efter denne kamp kom destroyeren ,,Encounter", der fulgte os, op på siden af os og hyldede besætningen for dens dygtighed.

Vi passerede Gibraltar, og derfra gik det til Irland, Australien og New Zealand.

På disse ture sejlede ,,Amerika" alene. Faren for angreb var vel knap så stor, men når vi nærmede os de områder, hvor japanerne huserede gik vi i en konstant skræk for at komme ud for en af deres ,,levende torpedoer". ---

I april 1943 kom ,,Amerika" till Halifax for at gå i konvoj med England som mål.

Besætningen bestod af 97 personer, hvoraf de tre var kvinder. Vi tre vakte en vis opsigt. Det var ikke så tit, men så piger i det job dengang.

Foruden Breda-kanonen var ,,Amerika" bevæbnet med en del lette kanoner, og en del af besætningen bestod af engelske kanonere, der stod under ledelse af andenstyrmand.

Desuden havde vi 54 canadiske flyvere med som passagerer, de skulle indsættes i det canadiske Royal Air Force i England.

Vores last bestod af post, biler og tanks. Konvojen skulle på turen over atlanterhavet beskyttes af fem korvetter og en destroyer.

Inden vi afsejlede, var der indgået rapporter om, at der lå virka 25 tyske undervandsbåde og ventede på os.

Som naturlig var, lå de skibe, der havde benzin og ammunition om bord, inderst i konvojen.

Af en eller anden grund havde ,,Amerika" fået tildelt en af de farligeste pladser, bagest i konvojen.

Den 21. april, da vi var ud for Grønlands kyt, blæste det op til en voldsom snestorm.

Som altid under konvojsejlads var skibet fulstændig mørklagt.

Hver after blev alle lamper udskiftet med blå pærer, der kun tjente som ledelys.

Der var lysseluser for alle døre, der var dobbelt vagt på broen og altid en udkiksmand i tønden.

Af hensyn til faren for pejling var det telegrafisten strengt forbudt at bruge radioen undtaget till nødsignaler.

Som et varsel om det, der skulle ske, fik ,,Amerika" den aften en kæmpemæssig sø over sig.

Kolossale vandmasser tyngede det store, tungtlastede skib ned, og man fik lyst til klappe det, som man klapper en hest, da det langsomt dukkede op igen og ligesom rystede de mange tons vand af sig.

Kæerligheden til et skib bliver uvægerligt endnu større end ellers under en krig, hvor man dag og nat bliver mindet om, at man kan miste det hvert øjeblik.

Mange af kammeraterne om bord havde selv været ude for krigsforlis.

Da vi sejlede på Australien, havde vi hørt om folk, der efter en torpedering havde siddet i bådene døgn efter døgn, inden de var døde af sol og tørst.

Hver gang man lagde sig til att sove, trak man i lange bukser, parat til hurtig undrykning.

Redningsjakken hang parat på sin krog, når man lå i køjen, og man havde den med sig, hvor man gik og stod.

Dørene til kamrene stod altid åbne, for vi havde hørt om folk, der blev lukket inde, fordi dørene smækkede i og gik i baglås, når torpedoerne kom.

Desuden var alle døre forsynet med tynde paneler, som kunne sparkes ud, hvis det skulle blive nødvendigt.

På knagen ved siden af køjen hang det tøj, vi havde fået udleveret gennem sømandskirken: en blå frakke med tørklæde, vanter og strømper i loommerne, samt en balaklave - en hue, som samtidigt gør det ud for halstørklæde,

Og inden for rækkevidde havde man altid en taske med levertranspiller (mod forstoppelse, for man måtte være forberedt på at sidde i redningsbådene i flere døgn), en pakke tørrede svesker, tørt undertøj og en tube vandfri creme til beskyttelse af huden.

Det er klart, at disse ustandselige påmindelser om den fare, man levede i, gav nerver og fornemmelser.

Netop den 21. april bandt førstestyrmanden et tov fast til broen.

Han havde fået den tanke, at han måske kunne redde sig ned ad det tov, hvis han ikke kunne nå at komme i bådene sammen med de andre.

Klokken 18:30 denne stormfulde aften gik jeg ned i kabyssen for at høre, hvar vi skulle have til middag.

,,Ris i karry," svarede Søren, som var vores chefkok.

Jeg rynkede på næsen, fær det er just ikke min livret.

,,Spis noget alligevel," sagde chefkokken, ,,man ved aldrig, hvornår man får noget igen."

Han var selv forlist to gange før, så han vidste nok, hvad han talte om.

Klokken var 21, da jeg ville til køjs. Jeg havde passagervagten den nat, derfor opholdt jeg mig i passagerafdelningen.

Mine to kvindelige kolleger var gået ned i biblioteket, som lå et dæk nedunder.

Jeg stod i mit kammer i natkjole og børstede håret, da der lød et mægtigt brag, og straks efter kom der et till.

Min første tanke var, at det måtte være dybvandsbomber, for lyset fungerede stadigt.

Så kom den stewardesse, jeg delte kammer med, og råbte, at vi havde fået to torpedoer.

Hun løb straks igen, og hun har sikkert fået et chok, for hun var helt ude af sig selv.

Jeg så hende aldrig mere.

Jeg var stadig overbevist om, at hun havde taget fejl, men jeg trak da i mine lange bukser i en fart og tog en sweater over natkjolen og stak i et par sandaler.

Lykkeligvis havde jeg tanke for at tage en lommelygte med sammen med frakken, tasken og redninngsjakket.

Så snart jeg kom op på dækket, blev jeg klar over, at hun havde haft ret.

Alle projektører var trændt, og gennem den forrygende snestorm så jeg, at folkene var ved at gøre bådene klar.

På vejen op mødte jeg bartenderen, en irer, der hed Patrick.

,,Hvad med passagererne?" spurgte jeg.

,,De har siddet i baren og rygesalonen, så de er ude alle sammen," sagde Patrick.

Det var, som om den iskolde storm blæste tværs gennem hjernen på mig, da jeg kom ud på dækket.

Det virkede fuldkommen lammende.

Den første jeg mødte, var matros Brun. Han tog mig i hånden. ,,Vi har fået en torpedo forskibs og en agter," sagde han.

,,Der er vist ikke meget håb."

Oppe på promenadedækket tog Brun to ekstra redningsbælter og gav mig det ene, og derefter gik vi sammen og på båddrækket, hvor vi skiltes, for jeg hørte til andenstyrmands båd.

Deroppe havde jeg intet andet at gøre end at vente.

De sekunder, der var gået siden det første tordenlignende brag, havde forvandlet skibet til et helvede af forvirring.

Sprængte skibsdele var slynget op i luften og fløjet ned over dækket igen, skibet havde svær slagside, og der var ingen tvivl om, at det allerede var ved at synke.

Ved anden torpedotræffer var der sket et eller andet med skibets sirene.

Den hylede ustandselig.

Når jeg alligevel ikke var bange, var det, fordi jeg stod der og så det stykke imponerende sømandsarbejde, som mandskabet udførte under de vanskeligst tænkelige forhold.

I den hylende snestorm arbejdede folkene på det isglatte dæk, som om det bare var en øvelse, det drejede sig om, og ikke liv eller død.

Alting gik, som om det var smurt, skønt alt tovværk og alle beslag var tykke og stive af is.

Midt under det hele var radiotelegrafisten oppe i masten for att prøve på att ordne sin antenne, som var blevet ødelagt, så han kunne komme til at sende, og det lykedes ham att få sin sender i gang.

Han var kold som en fisk.

Nu havde folkene fået båden svinget ud.

Den skulle sættes ud i vindsiden. Sirenen hylede hele tiden.

Som jeg stod der, sagde jeg til mig selv: Det er ikke sandt - det hele er bare en ond drøm.

I morgen vågner du op i dit kammer, og alt er, som det plejer at være.

Så kom nogen på nedfra med andenmester.

Han havde opholdt sig i maskinrummet, da eksplosionerne skete, og var blevet vikdsint firbrændt.

Han hørte til vores båd, og han bad mig, om jeg ville hjælpe ham i båden, for hans hænder var så ødelagte af forbrændinger, at han ikke kunde tage for sig.

Det lykkedes mig att få ham i båden, men så råbte andenstyrmand til mig, at jeg ikke måtte (missing part)

han råbte: ,,Nu!" I den svære søgan (missing part)

båden i det samme langt ud fra sk (missing part)

at det var umuligt at springe. An (missing part)

mig, at jeg skulle løbe ner på promenadedækket og proøve at tage chancen derfra.

Dernede stod en gruppe af de canadiske flvere og purseren, og de opfordrede mig til at springe først.

Jeg kravlede op på rælingen og ventede på, at styrmanden skulle råbe: ,,Nu!" Jeg tænkte hele tiden på, att jeg kunne få benene ødelagt, hvis jeg fik dem i klemme mellem skibet og båden.

Jeg sprang på andenstyrmands kommando, og der kom også et par andre over i båden samtidigt, men i det sekund, vi kom indenbords, blev redniningsbåden løftet af daviderne og slynget væk fra skibet af en mægtig sø.

På det tidspunkt var der lagt redningsnet og lejdere ned langs skibssiden, men søen havde jo slynget os langt væk.

Derinde stod flyverne og purseren tilbage, men de havde stadig den mulighed at komme med på flåden.

Jeg vil tro, vi var en 19-20 stykker i båden. Bølgerne var høje som huse og slog over redningsbåden, så den var lige så meget under som ovan vandet.

En pumpede, og en anden øste under andenstyrmands kommando.

Vi havde fire årer ude, og folkene ved årerne kæmpede som desperate, for at båden ikke skulle blive knust mod skibssiden.

I en vældig bølgedal gled vi så tæt hen langs skibet, at vi så det hul, som den ene torpedo havde lavet forskibs.

På grund af skæret fra månen havde vi svært ved at få øje på de små nødlys, som redningsvestene automatisk tænder, når de kommer i vand, men vi fik da reddet et par stykker indensbords.

Sammen med andenstyrmand tog jeg mig af andenmester, som var frygtelig forkommen, både af forbrændinger og kulde.

Han havde kun skjorte og bukser på.

Han fik min ene frakke på, og vi fik ham nødtørftligt forbundet med gaze.

Hans klagede ustandselig, fordi saltvandet smertede i hans brandsår.

Omsider fik vi ham pakket ind i et stykke sejldug. Selv var jeg frygtelig søsyg - meget mod sædvane, men det var sikkert på grund af choket.

Vi kunne hele tiden se ,,Amerika", fordi alle projektørerne på dækket var tænd. Sirenen hylede stadig.

I månelyset gennem snestormen virkede skibet som et stort dy, der våndede sig under frygtelige lidelser.

Det er tungt at se det skib, som man i flere år har betragtet som sit hjem, forsvinde i havet.

Det er, som om ens hjerte bliver revet ud.

Jeg sad ved siden af en engelsk matros, som jeg delte åre med. Han havde fået et par af mine sokker på hænderne, fordi han ingen vanter havde.

,,Beautiful 'Amerika' - what a shame," sukkede han, da skibet forsvandt i bølgerne.

Da var der gået 28 minuter, efterat det var blevet ramt af torpedoerne.

En del af folkene var kommet op på en af de redningsflåder, der lå øverst på skibet.

Denne flåde var midt i den kogende hvirvel, der dannedes, da skibet gik ned.

,,To gange tørnede vi med et mægtigt drøn ind mod skorstenen," fortalte en pantrymand mig, som var med på flåden.

,,Det var som at kikke ned i selve helvede."

Men på det tidspunkt havde vi ingen forbindelse hverken med tømmerflåden eller med de andre både.

Styrmanden havde givet hver af os et mægtigt glas rom af nødrationen, men kulden var frygtelig.

Vi gned vore hænder og ben, så tit vi kunne komme til det.

I øvrigt vil jeg ikke påstå, at vi tænkte på noget som helst.

Det kolde vand og den iskolde blæst har vel lammet al hjernevirksomhed.

Noget dybt inde i os sagde, at dette her måske ville vare længe.

Vi vidste det hver for sig, men vi turde ikke tænke tanken til ende.

En gang imellem, når stormen rev snebygerne og skyerne fra månen, kunne vi skimte den engelske korvet, som listede rundt for at spejde efter overlevende i ganske langsom fart af frygt for at sejle eventuelle redningsbåde eller flåder ned.

korvetten var åbenbart sejlet efter lyden af ,,Amerika"s hylende sirene.

Vi sendte nødraketter op og brænde nødblus, så godt vi kunne, men alt, hvad vi havde af den slags nødsignaler, var naturligtvis blevet drivende vådt.

Til alt held viste det sig, at den store lommelygte, som jeg instinktivt havde grebet i farten, stadigt kunne fungere.

Med den skiftedes vi til ustandselig at signalere SOS.

Kulden gjorde os sløve, vi tænkte ingenting og sagde ingenting udover det allermest nædvendige.

Ind imellem hørde vi andenmester klage sig: ,,Kan I ikke se noget skib?"

Mine ben smertede uldeligt af lukde. I al sløvheden og udmattelsen forsøgte jeg at skubbe den tanke fra mig, som stadig meldte sig: Hvad vil der ske, hvis vi ikke snart bliver fundet?

Men inderst inde følte jeg mig sikker på, at vi ville blive reddet - selv om det selvfølgelig bare var ønsketænkning.

Jeg aner ikke, hvordan de fire timer gik, til korvetten ,,Aspedal" dukkede op ved siden af os.

Da var klokken 1 om natten.

Skønt korvetten lå tæt på siden af os, var vi klar over, at det var et lotteripil, om vi kom om bord alle sammen i den svære sø.

Først skulle vi have andenmester om bord. Englænderne gjorde det kunstykke at læne sig ud fra det dybtliggende krigsfartøj og hale hamindenbords.

Senere kom så turen til os. Vi sad roligt og ventede på, at det blev vores tur.

Vi havde på fornemmelsen, at når vi havde klaret os så langt, så var det meninngen, at vi skulle stå resten igennem også.

Og det lykkedes som ved et mirakel. Da jeg skulle om bord, råbte st rmanden: ,,Nu kommer pigen".

Men der var vist ingen, der kunne se forskel på mig og de andre forfrosne bylter, der blev halet ind.

Andenmester fik morfin, så snart de havde fået ham til køjs. Vi andre blev ført til messen, og der spurgte de os, fra hvilket skib vi kom, og hvor mange vi havde været om bord.

Besætningen på ,,Aspedal" var enestående hjælpsom mod os. Man kom med grape-juice og te og masser af varme tæpper. Jeg spurgte naturligvis straks efter mine to kvindelige kolleger, men vores båd var den første, de havde reddet.

,,Aspedal" fortsatte sin eftersøgning hele natten. Nogen tid senere fandt de redningsflåden, og alle de, der var om bord på den, var i live.

Først klokken fire om morgenen, ni timer efter forliset, fandt de den sidste af redningsbådene.

Der var flere mennesker om bord, men kun én, en canadisk flyver, var i live.

De andre var frosset ihjel.

Imens lå jeg indpakket i tæpper på gulvet i underofficerenes kabys. Jeg sprugte igen efter de to piger, som havde været mine kolleger i tre år.

De sagde, at de var i sikkerhed midtskibs, men så udmattet jeg var, forstod jeg på deres tonefald, at de kun havde sagt det for at berolige mig.

Og da de troende, jeg sov, hørde jeg telegrafisten læse en liste over navne op.

De prøvede åbenbart at finde ud af, hvor mange der savnedes.

Senere på morgenen kom en mand fra den engelske besætningen med ordre om, at vi skulle komme hen midtskibs.

Der var stadig så voldsom søgang att vi måtte holde os til udspændte reb for at komme over dækket og derhen.

Der i salonen sad nogle af officererne fra ,,Amerika" og nogle af de canadiske flyvere.

Jeg så bare på førstestyrmand, men han må have læst spørgsmålet i mit blik, for han rystede umærkeligt på hovedet.

Bagefter fortalte han mig, at hvis jeg havde grædt dengang, så var de alle sammen bristet i gråd.

Jeg havde mistet to gode arbejdskammerater. I alt 49 mand af besætningen og 37 canadiske flvere var blevet derude.

Jeg tror, det bestød meget for mig, at jeg skulle passe andenmester. Han var under tilsyn af ,,Aspendal"s skibslæge og lå det meste af tiden i en morfindøs.

Senere fik førstestyrmand blindtarmsinfektion (han havde i øvrigt fået brug for sit tov), og vi måtte have medicin fra et andet skib hejset om bord til ham.

Alt det arbejde, det gav mig, afledte mine tanke fra tragedien.

Vi var over 60, som var blevet reddet om bord i ,,Aspedal". En korvet er ikke noget stort skib, og enhver,

(the final part is missing)

Edited August 19, 2014 by Guest

[Wells 1st MRB]

Wow when was this printed, Lennings?

[Guest]

Wow when was this printed, Lennings?

In 1961.

I noticed google translate did not do a very good job on translating, but I think most of you can figure out what it says anyways.

Edited August 19, 2014 by Guest

[Wells 1st MRB]

Pretty neat stuff Do you think the magazine's company would still have record of that article? Maybe you can somehow get the missing part.

[Guest]

Pretty neat stuff Do you think the magazine's company would still have record of that article? Maybe you can somehow get the missing part.

I believe my uncle has another copy of the magazine with all pages still intact, along with all her medals and the lighter.

I might ask him about that.

Edited August 19, 2014 by Guest

[Guest]

I have not found any information about any of this on the web, not that I have spent that many hours googling it but I have tried.

If anyone of you know of a good way to find information about the ship "Amerika" or anything about this convoy, please tell me about it.

Thanks.

[C. Wilson 1st MRB]

Det er en rigtig god artikel Lennings (specielt fordi den er på dansk ) , mange tak fordi du lavede en dansk version og delte den med os!

Edited August 19, 2014 by C. Wilson 1st MRB

[Guest]

Det er en rigtig god artikel Lennings (specielt fordi den er på dansk ) , mange tak fordi du lavede en dansk version og delte den med os!

Yeah! I had a feeling you would enjoy the read!

I'm glad you liked it, it makes me both proud and sad reading it..

Now that it got translated it was the first time I could understand a 100% what it said.

And I bet you could do that even better.

What is really interesting to me is how that radioman climbed up and probably saved many lifes, he himself could not have made it getting that cold and wet straight away before even going into a lifeboat.

And the fact that my grandmother grabbed the flashlight before going in is also something that probably saved her and those with her.