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George Spenceley relives his army training days in the 1950's and the many friends and memories he recalls
All the lads spent most of their spare time on the beach and this particular Sunday a group of Sea Cadets landed a large boat known as a 'Whaler' on the beach. After they had done various exercises and not realising that the tide was going out they tried to get the boat back into the water but found it impossible.
It was arranged for them to go back to HMS Ganges by vehicle. The following Sunday they returned and found the 'Whaler' high up the beach, they telephoned Ipswich Docks to have a tug boat sent to tow the boat off but by the time the tug arrived the tide was on the turn again and to the annoyance of the Officer in charge that tug also got caught on a sandbar.
It was well and truly stuck. We were taking the whole episode as a huge joke but Captain Francis rounded us up and ordered us to wade into the sea and assist in freeing the tug but again it was hopeless.
Our Captain took the crew to receive a little hospitality. The following morning at 3 am Captain Francis entered our Nissan hut shouting, 'I want every one on the beach in five minutes'. We quickly dressed and hurried to the beach, it was just coming up to high tide and the sun was just starting to rise across the water.
We could see the navy had arrived with a second tug to tow away the stranded vessels. After a great deal of manoeuvring it caught on the sandbar and it seemed as if it was in for the same fate as the other two.
The crew were shouting frantic instructions to the shore. We were still bleary eyed from the shock of being wakened out of our beauty sleep and when the order came from our Captain to remove all our clothing, tie them round our neck and go out to the tug to help, we looked at each other in disbelief at what we'd been told to do.
One of the lads mumbled we'll get drowned if we go out there but the Captain wasn't having any of it. 'Come on hurry up' he shouted and at that he started to remove his clothes. 'But I can't swim' said one lad.
'You don't need to swim or try any heroics we'll all hold hands in a chain until we get to the tug then we'll push it into deeper water' he explained. Although it was the height of summer the water was freezing as we waded up to our midriffs.
It was a mixture of fear and excitement as the lads giggled like school kids as we moved into deeper water, it was up to our chests and we were trying to walk on our toes. When we finally reached the tug the water was around our necks and only our heads were clear, the next problem was to get the tug moving.
There were small lengths of rope fastened along its sides that we could get hold of and eventually we managed to get it clear of the sandbar. The crew dragged us on board and with the other boats in tow we set off for Ipswich, once there we were put into vehicles and returned to camp and given the rest of the day off.
Captain Francis stayed on and was supposed to be detained or kidnapped for the pleasure of the Captain of HMS Ganges.
Two days later the camp phone rang and I had to go along to HMS Ganges to accept the release of Captain Francis. It was obvious to all and sundry that he had spent two great days drinking with members of the Royal Navy as thank you gesture.
George Spenceley, 2002
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