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Killed in Action
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
9th Battalion
18th Division
History
Compiled by Ronnie and Kevin
30th October 1941 - 8th December 1941
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers boarded Warwick Castle at Liverpool docks and a convoy was formed after further ships joined up from the Clyde. The CT.5 convoy included several troopships and a naval escort which had set sail on the 30th October 1941 from Liverpool setting a zigzag course across the Atlantic. At the time the destination was thought to be the Middle East.
There were several alarms in the first few days at sea but the danger from enemy submarines or ships were not a problem, a major problem was seasickness as the seas were extremely rough and the ship did not stop rolling, causing many of the Fusiliers to hang on the ships rails, making sure there was no one upwind with the same problem.
Early morning tea was brewed on the open decks and a queue was always formed. On about the fourth day the queue dispersed quickly as smoke appeared on the horizon coming straight for the CT.5 convoy. It was accompanied by low flying aircraft, which to the delight of the dispersing queue bore the signs of the US Air force, the Stars and Stripes. The approaching convoy were merchant-men with a big escort on its way to the UK, with much needed food and materials. Many of the escort ships were American, as were the air cover. The two escorts then changed place, the American escort followed the CT.5 Convoy and the British escort sailed with the Merchant-men back to the UK. With the now American escort the CT.5 reached Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 8th November 1941.
Arriving at Halifax the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (RNF) disembarked but had to stay on the dockside before being transferred to another ship further along the harbour.
The ‘Orizaba’ was an American ship which was much smaller than the Warwick Castle and after embarking many of the RNF started walking off again as the accommodation was poor. compared with the Warwick Castle. The men sat on the dock refusing to sail in the ‘Orizaba’. The longer the sit in went on the more serious it became, serious punishments were threatened because it was classified as a rebellion and service mutiny. Reason prevailed after much discussion and the troops again embarked.
The RNF troops were supplied with hammocks which took some getting used to, also the American food baked beans, sweet corn, spinach, etc., all served on small compartmented trays, with coffee, no tea. Little did they know at this point the ‘Orizaba’ was luxury compared to what they were about to face.
The ship proceeded as part of the Convoy William Sail 12X down the East Coast of America to the Port of Spain where the American crew were given shore leave, the RNF stayed on board enjoying the sun and view from the deck.
Sailing once again south for days, crossing the equator with the ‘Crossing the Equator’ ceremony, and then towards South Africa. Till now the water had been very calm but on reaching the ‘Cape of Good Hope’, it changed dramatically, with the ship being tossed about, flooded holds and kit being thrown all over the place. Eventually the seas calmed and Table Mountain could be seen as the ship pulled into Cape Town docks. Shore leave was given and the RNF found the hospitality of the South Africans towards them was fantastic, with private cars to provide tours of the city and many families inviting them to their homes for meals, The RNF were made truly welcome.
Embarking again, the Orzaba sailed North towards Mombassa in Kenya, the news then reached them that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbour and invaded Malaya. Britain and America were now at war with Japan.
