HALITOSIS
ON THE HIGH SEAS
Recollection
of Charlie Prescott
"Barrenjoey
Light is on Barrenjoey Head, just north of Palm Beach and is the southern
head of Broken Bay. One overcast, dark and windless night when MILDURA
was convoying a northern convoy (rare and a great relief after the
stormy southbound convoys) we were in position on the port side. We
had just cleared Barrenjoey Light when a whale surfaced under the
flare of the starboard bow. When it blew, the starboard lookout and
the officer of the watch (me) got an unexpected salt water shower.
The stench of fish on the whale's breath was unbelievable. He certainly
needed a breath sweetner. I wonder who the starboard lookout was that
night?"
THE
REFIT
Signalman
Allan Waugh recollects:
"A refit for a corvette was usually a great joy
for the sailors. It meant home leave after some twelve months of mostly
grueling sea time. It also meant dry dock for a scrape and a repaint.
A time to fix up all those little things that had worn out or broken
down during the previous twelve months and a general overhaul of all
working gear. It also meant losing some ship mates and gaining some
new ones. Completion meant "working up" exercises and then
the ship was handed back by the dockyard authorities. The first couple
of days at sea after a refit meant more seasick sailors than usual.
HMAS MILDURA in drydock for a refit, Fremantle, 1944
"Because I joined the ship at the time, the 1943
refit at Williamstown is well remembered. Being seventeen and fairly
fast on my feet, on one occasion I was detailed to sprint to the pub
at the dockyard gate to get the duty watch back on board quickly before
muster and inspection. The sight of Telegraphist Jack Coulter loping
along the wharf much worse for wear and trying to make an inconspicuous
entry over the gangway with two bottles under his arm will never be
forgotten."
HMAS MILDURA in drydock, Fremantle, 1944
"The Fremantle refit in 1944 was unique in that
home leave meant a four day train trip across the Nullarbor in a troop
train under very primitive conditions. The Army were worse off as
some soldiers traveled in cattle trucks. The trip was my initiation
to "two up". At every stop, day or night, those soldiers
would be out, a circle would form and up went the pennies."
HMAS MILDURA in dry dock, Fremantle, 1944
