Together we must all do our part

A fictional account based on the work of Arthur Ransome with pieces drawn from "Coxswain in the Northern Convoys" the memoirs of Coxswain Sidney A. Kerslane R.N.R., "Naval life and Customs" by Lt-Cmdr. John Irving R.N. and other historical sources. All events drawn from historical accounts have been fictionalized, any resemblance to actual people portrayed in this fanfic are purely coincidental. This fanfic postulates potential events in the lives of some of the primary and secondary characters in Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons books during World War II.

"It's not much"

John Walker stood on the quay with his sea bag slung over his shoulder looking at the ship he had been told to report to. Now he knew why his commander had asked him if he had small boat experience after the ship he had been assigned to was torpedoed before he could report to his first duty station after trading the Midshipman's buttons on his sleeve cuffs for a single stripe with a loop. His orders had been bollixed up but good then. He had been cut adrift, assigned to a ship that no longer existed. He had reported his situation and he had been asked, Asked!, if he would volunteer for service as an officer aboard an escort ship with the RNR.

Looking at the ship that was to become his home he realized why the staff officer had sounded almost apologetic when he handed him his new assignment. The HMT Ransom was a far cry from the aircraft carrier that he had initially been assigned to. She was a one hundred and sixty foot fishing trawler that had been requisitioned by the Admiralty and equipped with weapons leftover from the last war. It bore little resemblance to his fathers destroyer or the cruiser he had served on as a Midshipman, but it was still a ship in the Royal Navy. He walked to the gangplank looking for someone to report to but no one appeared to be aboard. "Ahoy Ransom!" John shouted, "permission to come aboard!". John heard a clatter and saw someone's head peek out from one of the hatches. "Blimy it's an officer." the head disappeared and was replaced by a burly chap who was dressed more like a fisherman than a navy rating. John said "I'm Sub-Lieutenant John Walker reporting for duty aboard the HMT Ransom. I do have the right ship don't I?" The slightly unkempt sailor responded, "yup, come on aboard then." John stepped aboard, set down his bag, turned aft, came to attention and saluted the White Ensign at the stern. The burly sailor took out a well used kerchief, blew his nose, and mumbled "you'll be wanting to see the Skipper then." Picking up his sea bag John replied "Yes I will, as soon as possible, thank you."

"I'll show you to his cabin then. You want me to stow yer kit?"

"Thank you but no thank you, I'll tend to it myself."

"Suit yourself." the sailor said as he turned and started forward not waiting to see if John was following. He stepped through a hatchway and led John to a cabin door with a brass nameplate that read Lt. Arthur Price RNR. John set down his sea bag, and knocked. "Enter" came a voice from within, John stepped in, came to attention and saluted as he said "Sub-Lieutenant John Walker reporting for duty sir!" the Skipper, a broad soldered middle aged man with a neatly trimmed beard, who despite his navy reserve lieutenant's uniform, resembled a grizzled north sea fisherman more than a naval officer, looked John over and said,"Walker huh, second one this week. Well relax boy you'll find we don't have much of that spit and polish aboard this boat. Don't let the look of the lads fool ya, they might be a bit rough but they're a right good bunch of blokes, and I'm not going to have any regular navy foolishness upset them. Understand?"

"Yes sir." John replied. "Good" the Skipper continued, "We're more like a big family aboard the Ransom, a right scranbag we are, mostly north sea fishermen, several of them young lads like yourself. Our Gunner is an old blue marine, Gunnery Sergeant-Major from His Majesty's Royals, and based on the scuttlebutt in the mess, the boys haven't decided whether the cook is a pensioner from the Boer war, the Crimean war, or Hitler's secret weapon. Everybody pulls their weight and then some. Do your job and we'll get along just fine, now get your kit stowed and sling your hammock. The Coxswain will help you with that. We've orders to sail soon but just for the now your time is yours until supper, I'll expect you in the wardroom then."

"Aye, Aye Sir. Uh sir you said I was the second Walker this week. May I ask who the first was?"

"Certainly, he's a young lad, acting as our new second engineer. He was to be a stoker but since he was so handy with the machinery, got right to work setting things right on some equipment we'd been having difficulties with he did, and seeing as we're still a bit short handed, our Chief recommended him for the slot. Roger, Roger Walker's his name"

"My younger brother's name is Roger Sir and he loves engines."

The Skipper gave John a serious look and said, "yes I think I see a resemblance. If he is your brother you wont have any difficulties working with him will you? You are going to be the second officer on this boat after all."

"No Sir, we've sailed together before, their wont be any problems."

"Good, now git, I've got bloody paperwork to do before we sail."

John took his leave, picked up his sea bag and made his way back to the deck where the crewman with the kerchief, seemed to be waiting for him. John asked, "could you tell me where I could find the Coxswain? I'm supposed to ask him to help me get settled in and familiarize myself with the ship." The sailor blew his nose again before replying, "well, I suppose I could, seeing that would be me. Names Leslie, lets get you stowed and then I'll take you on a look about." Once again he headed forward, feeling a bit embarrassed John followed. They stopped at a small cabin below the bridge and Leslie said, "drop your kit here, you can stow it after our look about." John placed his sea bag on the bunk and followed Leslie back on deck and forward once again. They headed towards the bow and onto a platform where Leslie stopped. "Here's our pride and joy," he said patting an old four inch MkV quick firing gun, "it's not much but it's the best we've got to show Jerry off with". Pointing forward he continued, "capstan, chain locker, and forward stores are up under the bow here." He then lead John aft stopping frequently to blow his nose and point out features of the ship. Mast with lookout, conning bridge and top bridge above with officers quarters below. Twin Lewis guns port and starboard just off the bridge above the Skippers cabin, life boats either side of the funnel with another twin Lewis gun atop the galley between them. Depth charge throwers port and starboard of the galley, crew's quarters, and finally the depth charge rails at the stern. In no time they were back to John's berth. Through his kerchief the coxswain said, "Unless you'll be needing me for anything else sir I have a few things needing to be done."

"By all means, Leslie it is, I don't want to keep you, carry on then, and thank you." The coxswain left and John turned to really take a look at his birth and start stowing his kit.

His berth was a small cabin, if he stretched his arms out he could touch the bulkheads to either side. Straight in front of him as he looked in from the door was a small scuttle looking out, to his left was the bunk where he had left his sea bag. The bunk was made up with white sheets and a good woolen blanket. Below the bunk were two large drawers that, when he pulled them out, appeared to double as leather covered seats and, when he lifted the seat cover, a locker. On his right was a mirror fixed to the bulkhead above a small desk who's top lifted up to reveal a small wash basin with it's own hot and cold water taps. The only other thing was a built in wardrobe between the desk and the side of the ship with the scuttle, in it were already hanging a life vest and a tin hat. It did not take John long to properly stow his few things and he returned to the deck. Well he thought, I ought to check out this acting second engineer and see if it really is Roger, wouldn't that be quite the coincidence if it was? He made his way back towards the engine room and, not wanting to trespass into the engineers territory, called down the companionway, "hullo, is seaman Roger Walker around". A familiar voice replied from below, "John? Is that you?" Then somewhat muted as if he was talking to someone below deck with him, "Chief can I go topside for a moment?" Then up the ladder came Roger with a grease mark on his forehead where he had wiped some sweat from his brow. John smiled and said, "well look at you, right at home it seems". Roger returned the smile and replied, "it is you, and look at you an officer. What brings you to this old boat? Are you going to be in port long?"

"No I don't expect to be in port long but your not going to be rid of me, I'm to be your new second officer."

"Really? That's smashing, there will be three of us then."

"Three?"

"Yes, Tom Dudgeon is aboard as well,you remember him don't you, Dick's friend, leader of that bird protection society of the broads. It will be jolly good having you aboard, almost like old times, though without the girls and having this bloody war and all" Roger added with a frown. "Sorry to hear about the Courageous, I know how much you were looking forward to serving on her, but I'm glad you weren't aboard her when she sank."

"Yes so am I but it did mess up my posting for a bit. You must be happy getting to work with engines and all?"

"I am quite. This boat has a coal fired boiler and a triple expansion steam engine, she'll make eight hundred and fifty horse power which will give the ship a speed of about twelve knots. Not a bit like the handy billy on Goblin. I bet you'll miss sails though."

" I will at that but not much place for sails in a modern Navy. Hopefully things will get sorted out quickly and this war will be over soon so we can all get back to more pleasant things. Speaking about getting back to things I'd better let you get back to work, don't want to get in trouble with your chief."

" Yes I'd better get back to the condensers, but she's in pretty good shape if I do say so myself. We'll have to spend time together when we're not on watch."

"Yes that will be grand, see you later." Roger disappeared back to his beloved engines and John made his way to the conning bridge and the weather deck of the top bridge to look at where his station would be. Just like he once did with the ropes of the Goblin, John familiarized himself with where everything was so that he would be able find whatever he needed when he needed it, when not having to search for something could make the difference between life and death. John glanced at the chronometer and decided that he had best get himself washed up and presentable for supper. It would not do to be late to the wardroom on his first day.

A handful of people started to gather in the wardroom and find places at the table before the Skipper entered and took his seat at it's head. After offering grace the Skipper said, "Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce the newest addition to our family, Sub-Lieutenant John Walker. John comes to us from the real navy courtesy of Jerry's torpedoes and the admiralty's paper shufflers." Going around the table the Skipper introduced everyone. "John you've already met our Coxswain, Leslie Muir, after me he wears the most hats on this boat and I'm sure he'll privately be grateful that you're here to take on a few of them.

Andrew Shepard, our Chief Engineer. We are not often graced by his company at supper because he tends to live with his engines. Andrew is from Newfoundland, he got stuck with us when he chose the wrong time to visit relatives in Glasgow and figured that volunteering on a boat that was going to be hunting U-boats was better than trying to go home on a boat that they might be hunting. If there's anything on this boat that's broke that he can't fix, or at least jigger, we don't need it. Beware if he ever invites you to share some screech with him because if you're not careful that is exactly what your head will be doing the next morning

Our signals officer, Stephen Hill, he also acts as ships librarian and schoollie. He sometimes fancys himself a reporter for the times so be careful what you say or do around him or it might end up in the boat's excuse for a news letter. Stephen spoke up, "Call me bunts, everybody does,I believe I had the pleasure of having your father as an instructor when I was at HMS Ganges. I'd love to hear what parts of an old story about children facing a north sea storm in a small boat are true."

The skipper smiled and said, "See what I mean" then he continued with his introductions.

This is our sparks, our wireless operator, Clarence Bennett, when we're at sea he maintains our connection to the world beyond the horizon and in his copious spare time he also acts as our ground chaser, helping the Chief keep everything electric on this boat operational,

our gunner and Royal Marine detachment , Sergeant-Major Morgan Cawley, I'd say retired but he seems to want to prove the saying, once a marine always a marine. Of all of us aboard this boat he should have known better.

"And I would be remiss if I did not include our steward," the Skipper motioned towards the dark complexioned man who had been busy placing trays of food on the table, "I bloody well can't pronounce his name so we know him as Sandy. by far the person on this boat farthest from home. His family in India sent him here to go to school, silly bugger left university to make sure those of us sitting at this table were properly cared for. In addition to making the finest curries in the fleet and putting a plaster or poltice on one of the lads once and awhile he does his best to introduce some culture to, and guard the dignity of, this ship. Which is at times one of the most difficult tasks aboard. "

after Sandy had cleared the remains of supper and poured coffee for everyone the Skipper said,

"Gentlemen, tomorrow we head out on patrol, we have to be ready for anything so in addition to our normal lookout for Jerry we'll be doing a lot of drill this time out. By the time we get back to port I want every man aboard this boat to be at least comfortable with, if not skilled in, all the weapons we have and, in case of casualties, be able to fill as many of our vital positions as possible.

"John you're to be our executive officer and first lieutenant, additionally I'm going to give you primary responsibility for navigation. I want you to start by plotting us a course north around the Shetland islands which is to be our patrol area this time out."

The Skipper reached for his glass of port and everyone at the table followed suit.

He held his glass up and solemnly said,"Gentlemen, the King."

everyone at the table responded,"the King, God bless him" and they all downed the toast.

When they were dismissed everyone left the wardroom to attend to final preparations so that their departments would be ready for departure with the mid morning tide. For John that meant checking that the chronometers were wound and the freshwater tanks were topped off before pulling out the charts and tide tables he would need. He felt that he was settling in nicely, from stem to stern it looked like they were ready for sea.