Hadlow, James Dennison (b.1921 - d.1964) - Part 2

9
It is marvellous what passes through your mind when you
come across some-thing like this. My thoughts flew home
then of the good times I'd had & many other things
Then I thought well I take every thing with me that
I treasure, like send off presents & things like that.
Then I thought well I’ll probable drown with all the
weight so I stacked them all back again hoping to sling
them into a boat or something. Well as each wave struck
her it banged her against the rocks & I can assure
on that its not a very comfortable feeling to hear
the bottom been ripped off your ship. After a couple
hours of this we started to get (farther) closer
to the shore we could then see the captains idea was
to try and beach us. We got within about a ¼ mile
of the shore when they lowered a life boat. ( She was
going in side-on so they could lower a boat with
little trouble on the side nearest the shore. ) manned
by volunteers both from the naval lads that were
on the ship & the [[?]] and rowed ashore with a
life-line. We didn't think she [[?]] make but she
did. Some of them stayed ashore with the rope while
the others came back. This meant now we had a rope
on each end of the life-boat. We were then told
that we were to abandon ship & the only thing we
could take with us was our overcoats. So out came
all the presents and I jammed my coat & jacket full
with them. 

10
Then we started to disembark. The life-boat was pulled
along-side then about 12 men would leap over the side
of the ship into the life-boat below hoping they did not
miss in the attempt. Then those on shore would pull the
life-boat ashore. It was a very risky business with the
waves so high & as rough as they were. It was very fortuned
for us that there was a narrow strip of beach about
200 yds long on which we could land. All the rest of the
coast-line was nothing but big rocks against which the
waves washed with a terrific force. In the midst of
all this managed to get my camera going & got
some wonderful shots which I will send as soon as
possible. When it came my turn I felt just a bit
squirmest but after I had jumped from the ship
into the life-boat I felt better. I’ve rode in most ships
since I’ve been in the army from Steam Rollers to Airaplanes
but never in a life-boat trying to get away
from a ship that’s breaking up. As soon as she beached
we all jumped out & waded to the shore & I think everybody
fell down & kissed the sand then said a silent
prayer. The next load to come ashore got into the
boat & got about half way over when the waves got it
side on & tipped it over. We were horrified for the
moment then as quick as light men were rushing
into the water & trying to save the lives of the
men in the boat. It was a wonderful thing the way
they saved these men – although some of them were imprisoned
beneath it.
 

11
After we had got them ashore & give them 1st aid they
felt a bit better although out of the 13. 10 of them got
hurt in one way or another. The rest of them all got off
with-out any more trouble of that sort. A British
Major was in charge of the journey & I don't think he
would have in the least stood any nonsense. He had his
revolver hanging by his side & he wouldn't hesitatered
to use it to stop any panic Xx Well they threw a couple
of boxes of rations into the last boat & that was
to keep us for we didn't know how long. Now
there we were stranded on the coast of Libya with nothing
but sand-dunes in front of us & a raging sea & a wrecked
ship at the back of us. The Officers got together &
decided that we didn’t have enough rations to keep
us for any time & to give the men as much as they
could, then strike out for the roads which followed
the coast from Bardia to Tobruck. They reckons it to
be 6 miles away from the coast. The ones that were too
bad off had to be left & picked up later if we could
get help. We then split up into parties and set off
to try & find the road. Making sure we were well
dispersed in case of a air attack as we were in enemy
country. After struggling through the desert all the
after-noon with-out seeing any-thing but “Wogs” we
didn’t know which was the best sea or land. We
didn’t have very much water & quite a let had none
at all
 

12
It would be impossible to describe that march, but nearly
every-body made it. At last we reached the road. &
pulled up every car coming along & got water off them.
The Major made arrangements to have us transported to
Bardia where xxxxx ^we were billeted for the night. That was
the best night’s sleep I ever had. And so ends the story
of the ship-wreck. You might think I’ve been reading too
many books or some-thing but I in assure you that its
perfectly true. Well we stayed in Bardia for about a week
before we moved on to Tobruck. Now I'll start another
letter & describe Bardia & what I saw there xxx as
well as the salvage of our gear from the boat
other-wise it will cost me more than the letters
worth to send xx it.
From your ever loving
Son Jim.
[*O Cosgreiff*]
 

[*OCosgreiff*]

Mrs. E. Hadlow
13 Hope Street,
Spotswood. N14.
Melb,
Vic
Australia.
[*No 6*]

[*Part 1
Wreck
News*]
 

  
Mrs. E. Hadlow
13 Hope Street,
Spotswood. N14.
Melb,
Vic
Australia

[*Part 2
Wreck
News*]
 

PART 2