Dits Of The Onyx

by John Angus MBE (BLACK ANGUS)

Towards the end of my spell in the Submarine school I was offered a Sonar Course and Polaris. I declined the offer and asked to be recommended for Coxswain. I needed a sea recommend and was duly drafted to HMS Onyx the last ‘O’ boat building in Birkenhead. My stint in the School over I was on my way to Onyx.

The Onyx was slightly different from the norm more like the Australian ‘O’ class boats being built. As I had trained the, first Aussies (with Jumbo Johnson Chief stoker) I knew the subtle changes. I arrived in the yard and joined the boat as 2nd Coxn. The Cox’n was Reg Harris. During my first week on board I was given the job of stowing Escape Suits. I was in the fore-ends surrounded by escape suits and proceeded to open the lockers - long oblong lockers running down the hull between the T frames. I proceeded to push the first suit into the first locker but it was too big, I tried the second locker - too big. I tried all the lockers to no avail. I tried other suits but they were all too big. I reported back to the office who reported to yard management. I was given a large tin of talcum powder and a pole and given instructions on how to force the escape suits into the lockers. I thank god we never had to use them.

There was much muttering in the yard that Onyx had been built with unskilled labour. All the craftsmen had been moved to build the Polaris Boats when along came the order for Onyx. So a new team and new production manager built the last ‘O’ boat. My next task was to sign that the upper deck and casing was acceptable. It certainly was not acceptable to me. All the rod gearing was loose and noisy and this I duly reported back to the office. A little later the production manager asked me to accompany him down the boat to explain my problem. It’s not my problem I explained it’s the Submarines problem. I showed the manager the loose gearing and he explained to me that when we were dived it would not make any noise. Try as I might I could not get him to understand a casing rattle and the need for a silent submarine. He began to take a great dislike to me. However he had the upper hand and nothing was done. I don’t know if anyone ever signed for the casing.

Time was rolling on and we were all looking forward to moving to Faslane, a new estate/Married quarters was being built in Helensburgh when we heard that the Captains wife was trying to arrange that all the married men live in the same street. No one was happy with this idea - good intentioned though it was and the idea was scrapped. The captain’s wife did visit families when we were at sea, again with good intent but not always welcome.

Before commissioning I was given the task of finding a baker to provide a commissioning cake and try to keep the cost down. I tried a few bakeries, supplying all the bullshit and charm when I thought about going big. I phoned Jacobs Biscuits (Cream Crackers). I ascertained that they produced cakes so I asked to speak to the Bakery Manager. I explained who I was and that Onyx was commissioning and that VIP's were coming and there would be a party and could he recommend a good bakery in the area that could produce a reasonably priced cake for the occasion. The bakery manager came up trumps. "Why don't we bake you a cake?" he said. I said, "I don’t think we could afford your prices." "Don’t worry we’ll do it for nothing." Bless him Bless him. True to his word he produced 2 cakes, one for show decorated with Crest and Battle Honours and one to eat. The artwork was magnificent. Jacobs also wanted to adopt Onyx. I relayed this.

We left Birkenhead for Faslane and work up. Most of the crew were trainees and we were al prepared for a heavy time. The first 3 weeks from the yard was spent proving the boat and doing drills. We would have breakfast, clean up, smoke and a cuppa and start drills at 0900, stop for lunch and resume at 1300. 1600 stop for tea, after tea we all sat around waiting for more drills but nothing. What kind of work up was this we wondered and we had movies in the evening and we spent the work up 9 - 4, very civilised.

We eventually arrived at Faslane, the Captain wanted to go alongside at 0700. As we were inboard boat we wouldn’t need the plank - we would use a dockyard brow - thank God, our plank was a bastard. It came in two halves, one half slotting into the other half and was stowed under the casing, the whole casing had to be opened up when using the plank also under the casing corning into harbour was a sailor with a sharp knife hacking away at 2 pads of log line holding all the rod gearing together. Anyway, we went alongside at 0700 and found out that the dockies started work at 0800, myself and George Crowe (Blairgowrie) got onto the jetty and secured the boat. Now we needed a brow but it was too big for us to man handle so we needed a crane. Between us we decided George would volunteer to drive the crane and I would do the slinging. So away up the ladder to the control cab goes George whilst I started slinging the brow. Meantime the boat is secured and crew on casing waiting for a brow. George shouts down that there is no power. I eventually find the power box and switch on. George has an array of unfamiliar controls and the jib goes up and down and side to side. Slowly the crane starts along the jetty when one of the crane drivers comes along the jetty shouting Scottish swear words, which we pretend not to understand. The crane driver shinned up to his cab and George came down and we got the brow. The lesson learned was not to come into harbour before 0800. We had arrived three weeks after leaving Birkenhead with 483 defects. I remember hearing one of the staff saying it was twice as many as an A boat after a full commission.

We did some exercises and local running and during one period were in and out of Rothesay Bay. I was being left inboard one day when I was sent for by the 1st Lt. He explained, that we were going to Lisbon in the near future and he had received a letter, requesting that we lay on a children’s party. He wanted me to buy presents for 20 children and gave me £15. Bloody hell I thought, £15 for 20 children. I asked how old the children were and were they boys or girls; the letter had just said 20 children. So off I went into Rothesay to find something suitable. I finally ended up with marbles, packets of coloured pencils and colouring books, it’s difficult when the ages are unknown. We arrived in Lisbon and Reg gave me the run of the store. I made jellied trifles and a variety of sandwiches. I put all the cartoons on one reel and prepared the sailors mess - Nuns accompanied the children down the boat - they were from a convent - girls and boys 6 - 14. We showed the film then tucked in, no one spoke English so we all laughed a lot and smiled politely. Still, we managed to spend a good 4 hours partying.

The day of the Wardroom Cocktail Party I was duty SR and was informed by the 1st Lt that he wanted me on the casing at 1930 to escort a guest down to the wardroom. Strange I thought I’ve never been asked to do this before. However live and learn I had the boat made ready and the duty watch aft. I made my way to the casing and joined the 1st Lt awaiting the guests. "Here she comes" - said the 1st Lt; a Mini drove up the jetty and did a U turn at the gangway. The driver was a woman who gave us a wave. I was there to help her down the boat. The Mini’s door opened and the woman disappeared. Oh boy I thought, she has fallen over as I raced across the brow. Hello there, have you come to help me. The woman stood alongside the car, she had a body of a 6-year-old and a normal sized head. I had never come across anyone like this and I said I’m your man and picked her up. I carefully crossed the brow. I then stood on the casing whilst the lady exchanged pleasantries with the 1st Lt, then it was down the hatch and along to the wardroom. Sitting in the Wardroom her feet came to the edge of the seat. This lady was the secretary to the Naval Attaché. Later on I reversed the process and carried her back to her car.

Another trip took us to Londonderry this story has already been told from John Bond’s viewpoint and I’m sure he won’t mind me giving mine. We were to pick up Admiral Le Fanu and take him to sea for a week. He had never been to sea in a Submarine and apparently liked to do everything. He arrived at Harbour Stations, Captain and 1st Lt and casing party on casing ready to slip. He shook hands with everyone and mentioned us all by name before going to the bridge. We headed down river and turned into the Atlantic and dived. The admiral could be found everywhere, having tea with the stokers or a beer in the fore-ends. He relayed many humorous stories and was pleased as punch that he was on board on his own with no subordinates fluffing around. He told the story about being in his garden doing a bit of weeding. He noticed a young man looking at him and asked if he could help. No no said the young man, I’ve just come to see where the Admiral lives, I’m his new assistant. Getting into conversation the young officer asked about the Admiral and was surprised to hear the gardener running down his employer. The young officer departed with a mental picture of the Admiral obviously wondering what kind of future he had. The following morning he reported to the Admiral and sat behind the desk in full uniform was the gardener!!

Whilst in Singapore the Admiral was walking into the dockyard in company of a young lady. As they passed a donkey boiler feeding a destroyer he excused himself and approached the stoker. "Do you know who I am", he asked. The stoker replied, "an Admiral sir". "Yes I am an Admiral and I am trying to convince that young lady that I am very important and it doesn’t help my cause when I don't even get a salute when I pass". The Admiral told stories of reccies with commandos and flying in spotter planes. He told lots of others and kept us all amused.

We closed up the attack team and were doing a mock attack and things were quite tense, I was on the plot and George Crowe was on the fruit machine (unusual for a rating but George had spent many, years in the Attack Teacher at Bute). Suddenly a loud bell sounded, it was the Gyro alarm. I leaned over to George and said, "get that George it’s probably a phone call for the Admiral". Later in the week the Captain wanted to show the Admiral how the boat flew! We went to 500’ the helmsman/planesman was the PO Electrician, a chap called Wilding. ‘Batteries in Series’ ‘Full Ahead Together’ the speed increased and the boat gently began to vibrate. The speed indicator passed 20kts the skipper ordered Starboard 35, the wheel went over and the boat leaned over all very exciting, we didn’t do this very often and then crunch - the boat stopped the log showed zero the excitement turned to not fear, more of anticipation that we would need to move fast depending on the damage. There was that excruciating pause when all hell was expected to break loose. The boat held. No water came in although much damage was sustained. Emotions changed, swear words uttered and much relief expressed. Although I cannot remember, I am quoted as saying to George Crowe. "George you get the Burberrys, I’LL get the leave passes, the water is going to pour in." The Admirals comment was, "That was very interesting." We returned to Derry to drop off Admiral Le Fanu. Great memories. Before he left he laid on and paid for a P.U. in a local pub.

We then sailed to Faslane for repair and removed lots of rock from the keel. Repairs were completed and we prepared for a long trip north. We still had lots of wriggly problems. We stored ship making sure we had enough of everything from salt to toilet paper, from tea to pencils. We were soon ready and would be sailing shortly. Last run ashore for the single men and a long night of passion for the married men. Sunday morning saw us at Harbour Stations and we sailed to our diving area. We dived, checked the boat, surfaced and returned to Faslane on Monday hoping to make repairs and sail. However repairs couldn’t be done so we would sail Tuesday and leave was given, so the married men went home for a night of passion for 10 weeks and the single men went to the canteen for a last P.U. for 10 weeks. We sailed on Tuesday morning - dived and checked the boat before heading north. We surfaced and returned to Faslane. The inboard staff would work overnight and we would sail in the morning. We got leave and the married men went home for the last night of passion again for 10 weeks and the single men went for their last P.U. again for 10 weeks. We sailed next morning, dived in the Gareloch failed the trial and were back alongside within the hour. We sailed again - failed again and came in and had leave. The married men went home for a last night of passion for 10 weeks again and the single men were running out of money so they pooled what they had and went for their last PU for 10 weeks. We sailed the following morning. This was it, we were off. We dived for trials - failed and returned to Faslane, the married men waited for the pipe about leave and when it came dragged themselves ashore for a last night of passion for 10 weeks and the single men forced themselves to the canteen for their last P.U. For 10 weeks. The married men were beginning to look worse than the single men. We sailed eight times that week before we eventually got away. It became very difficult to convince the wife that each day was the last for 10 weeks, when we were coming home every night and then one night we did not come home. What a life. Off we went and did what we had to do. Things soon went wrong, we had to surface a number of times open up the casing, make repairs and secure the casing and dive. Then we lost essential electrical power and had to put into port in Norway. We eventually got out and back on station. We went into port again and a US destroyer was also there. The American was meeting up with British units and going on to Tromso. We were going to be in Tromso at the same time as the Americans. We had run out of beer. I asked the 1st Lt for permission to ask the Americans to pick up some supplies for us and we would pick it up in Tromso. He gave permission and off I went to see the X.O. of the destroyer. I was taken to the X.O’s cabin and I explained our plight. The XO was not amused, there was no way a US Warship would carry alcohol. I was marched off. Sorry lads but we did try.

The rest of the trip was hairy and scary and we pulled into Loch Ewe. We had an ETD but no charts to work out an ETA at Faslane. The EA Jan Harding and myself were discussing the ETA when Jan produced his cigarettes -- a tin of Benson and Hedges. Inside the tin was a wrapper with a map of the world Say no more out with the dividers and slide rule and we had soon worked out the ETA 0730. The skipper and navigator carne into the Control Room with the charts ready to work out the ETA. Jan and I said 0730 and were told not to be so silly, we couldn’t possibly know as we had no chart. A little later the navigator announced ETA 0730. We went alongside at 0800, it saved on crane driving.

We lay alongside for many weeks enjoying the home life annual leave and long week ends. Our Chief ERA was Monty Burton whose hobby was Opera. His Tot time was like an Opera -- a Sods Opera. He would draw his tot - take a glass of water and sit at the mess table with the rum and water in front of him. Like an athlete he would psyche himself up for a few minutes - grab the rum glass and drink it down. What an effort - immediately the rum came backup and was caught in the glass. What a relief - he didn’t spill any. His head then dropped to rest on the table for a few minutes before starting the rigmarole all over again. He would carry out this ritual 5 or 6 times before the rum got the message and stayed down. Once down he drowned it with the water. I asked him why he drank the stuff when it obviously caused him such discomfort. You can’t not drink your tot he replied. Personally I couldn’t stand the stuff, I tried the first one and didn’t like it and I had the last one for sentimentality, in between, my tot was passed round.

Francis Chichester sailed around the world and was near the end of his trip when he was sighted near Lands End. Then the RAF lost sight of him. At this time Onyx was heading for a prearranged position to give a check report to a Shackleton. This must have been deemed important to send an aircraft to check we were OK. It turned out to be more important to cancel the Shackleton so it could go and look for Gypsy Moth. All round the world and everyone was worried about his last 20 miles, it made us feel really special.

Later it was decided to send Onyx to Devonport for a mini refit because of the many defects. The crew remained on board. The battery was removed. Under the battery should have been duckboards but all there was, was odd bits of' scrap wood. The straps to the switchboards were held in by very large nuts, which had not been tightened and had, arc marks all over the switchboard. Looking at this and remembering other defects made us all wonder how lucky we were. A few months later I was drafted to Coxn’s course and during Coxn’s course I was drafted to Onyx as Coxn. I did not think this was fair to me or to Onyx and made representations to the course officer (Peter Christmas). My draft was changed to Oracle and Darby Allen got the Onyx.. My other classmates were Billy Garrod, Billy Kid, Bill Brierly and Jo Alford. Course Coxn was Alf Mullet. Alf was TI on Otter and was responsible for an incident.

Coxn Lofty Castle was making out his demands for his next trip when he was called to the Wardroom. Alf looked at the list and saw Walls Ice Cream 3d blocks 300. "Not enough", said Alf and added 00. When we came to store ship there was no Ice cream, it was coming separately. It came In a very large Walls van. Someone in stores must have thought we were a cruiser, but it caused a hoot at the time.

Early in the commission at Faslane, I was being viewed with suspicion from some quarters because I was driving a posh car and smoking cigars. The fag caterer had ordered cigars but no one used them and to help get rid of them some of us bought them. One day I was inboard with the chief sparker (Frank Parker) and I visited the spare crew office. The spare crew Coxn (Bill Williamson) asked me if I wanted to buy a car. He explained the car was a Jaguar, had failed its MOT, and was lying in the main car park - the owner serving in Dolphin. Off we went to have a look at the car, a blue 2.4 jag, no carpets but otherwise looked OK. Key in the ignition, turned the key and nothing. We went back to the spare crew office and Bill got the owner on the phone. I was given the big sell and asked to make an offer. I thought I would be cheeky and offered £15. At that moment sweary words entered my ear. I retorted that the car was in Faslane - the owner was in Dolphin and liable to be charged for dumping the car. After arguing for a time I became the owner of a broken down Jaguar. We towed the car to my house, connected the battery to Frank Parkers car and tried the ignition. To our surprise the engine started. The next day we took the car to a garage and asked for an MOT. When we went back we were charged for a clamp for the hand brake cable - only pennies. Now for insurance - £19 and the tax was still in date. What people saw was me driving a jag and smoking surplus cigars. At that time our skipper drove a Morris 1000. My family and I had many happy times with the car.

One day in harbour in a town in Northern Norway a fore-endy was clearing out the forward torpedo trench (if you remember, everything was stowed down there). As I had the soft drinks stowed there I went to give a hand. The fore-endy (George Tremble) had put the loading rails on to the racks. The trench was dirty, oily, rusty and we were filthy. Somehow a rail slipped off the rack and hit George on the head causing much blood. I had to stop the blood and get a dressing on the wound but all around us were dirty rags. Then I spied a box of Andrex toilet paper and tore open a bog roll and planted it on George’s head. We then made our way topside and took a taxi to the local hospital. We must have looked a sight walking in. The wound looked worse than it was. If you know of George Tremble give him my best regards.

‘S’ boats, ‘T’s, ‘A’s, and early ‘O’s had one, later O’s had two and we had two, what was it? It was an extra chef. Ours was a baby chef straight from the Fleet. One day he would prepare carrots, the next cabbage and so on and before long he progressed to preparing two veg on the same day. He was drafted to the Submarine Service and we got him. Everything went well, Senior took charge. We all thought we might get better things as baby chef was a trained officers cook. We didn’t notice much change. One time we were day running and senior cook was left inboard. Baby chef was on his own. As the crew walked fore and aft they could detect the aroma of something good coming from the galley, roll on lunch time. The time ticked by and soon it was 1100- nectar time, the rum fanny was ceremoniously got ready, the glasses laid out and the rum board checked, the graphite pen ready for ticking off. The rum bo’suns mustered and drew the rum which was added to the rum fanny which contained an equal amount of water. The rum was duly issued, sippers offered to oppos whilst regaling last nights run ashore and stories from previous visits. At this time in the middle mess was the boats stud - he had many runs ashore and had seduced every lady in a 50 mile radius of the base and knew them all by name. Enter the T.I. who related that he had been out with a lady by the name of Muriel who had previously been out with ????? The stud preened and blew out his chest and said he remembered her well. The T.I. said, "Yep, she remembers you too", (more sag from the stud), "she reckons it’s the worst night she ever had.

Back in the mess the lads finished their rum and the glasses and rum fanny were put away and condiments and sauce bottles were put out ready for dinner. Duty cook of the mess heads off aft to the galley for all the dinners minus the watch on. "Right cookie lets have it". The duty cook returned to the mess very perplexed and puzzled and explained the cookie had made dinners for the officers only. There was cries of Fauuuuuck Oooofff in disbelief. But, yes, cookie had made dinners for 7, after all, he was an officers cook and he could not explain why cooking for all the crew had not occurred to him. Later on when left on his own he didn’t salt the vegetables and forgot to sugar the custard and got very cross when we all expected him to get everything right. Living on the lower deck obviously has it’s advantages. Senior chef was not amused as the Jimmy was reluctant to leave him inboard in the future - better leave cookie inboard!

Another time comes to mind. I had come off watch on the one man control and saw the Chief Tiff (Monty Burton) and the Outside wrecker (Pony Moore) huddled over a ships drawing and going backwards and forwards to the CO2 Absorption unit. Asking about the problem I was informed that they could not get the unit to work on air (could be a problem in an escape situation). I offered my assistance and was told to poke off. What did a daptoe (seaman) know about things mechanical? Well, as an instructor I did know about CO2 canisters - soda lime - air motor - air turbine - top dead centre etc. etc. "Have you checked the air supply?", I asked. That obvious question really got through. Much muttering and much searching later I realised what the problem was. You have to open up the air supply I said, to be told angrily that they could not find the supply, the drawing clearly showed the air supply coming off the cross connection. It’s very difficult trying to tell experts their business and I said that the supply does not come off the cross connection. They said it did, the drawing said so, who was I to say different. So I explained the drawing showed the supply coming off the cross connection and was correct for an ‘O’ boat, but Onyx had been improved and the air supply came straight from the HP Air manifold - disbelief from the Chief Tiff, but true and the problem was solved. How come I was such a smart arse? Two instructors had trained the Australians Chief Stoker Jumbo Johnson and myself and Onyx was the same layout. Hopefully the drawing was corrected.

Finally regards to all in the Association. Still very difficult to get across from Rothesay to a meeting. As you can see my eyes are still as bad and am writing this with a 6 x Magnification head band.

Best regards to all

John Angus MBE
 

Reproduced with kind permission from
Tartan Topics
Newsletter of the Submariners Association (Scottish Branch)

< BACK