.‘Courageous’ still needed aircraft and for these she sailed to Portsmouth, first to have a minor defect attended to and then to take on planes from the Gosport air base. During the time at sea the hands were kept busy.   There is not much to tell about my short stay in Portsmouth, except to say it was the only time I was ever thoroughly searched by dockyard police on my way ashore. Presumably they were looking for anyone taking out excess 'duty free' tobacco. They found nothing and I joined my oppos outside the dockyard gate, where they were loudly voicing their opinions of M.O.D. policemen in a most uncomplimentary manner.

 

 Boys never had any money to spare, and we were no exception with very little to spend on this run ashore. To conserve every penny we decided to visit the seamen's mission to see what could be scrounged. We were in luck and after singing a few hymns we were rewarded with a couple of big buns and a mug of tea. It provided enough sustenance to keep us going for the short time we were allowed ashore. Leaving the mission we made our way to the fairground on Southsea Common, knowing we would be spectators as far the rides were concerned. We didn't have much money in our pockets but we did have exuberant youth on our side. It proved our biggest asset and we had very little difficulty finding suitable female company to have a bellyful of laughs. Young and carefree we could make our own fun and amusement with the girls, using a sense of humour for collateral. One day I went ashore with the captain's wife and a young pretty girl I took to be her daughter. The Coxswain drove us in the car to the Commodore's house where Mrs. Makeig-Jones did a lot of measuring up for curtains and such like. My job was to carry several parcels to the house for her. I asked the Coxswain what it was all about and he said that the Captain was soon to take up residence there on his promotion to Commodore. He also told me to keep it to myself because it was not common knowledge as yet. Anyway I enjoyed the day out away from the ship as much as the 'eats' the ladies provided.

 

 When the Swordfish aircraft were due to join the carrier, Courageous made ready for sea to take them on board. As she eased her way tentatively towards the Channel those of us on deck were treated to the impressive spectacle of the two world famous liners, Queen Mary and Normandie, moored one behind the other. Bosun's Calls piped the Still and ensigns on all three ships were dipped in the traditional manner. For once it seemed worthwhile to go through the pointless exercise in maritime diplomacy. As the ship passed the gaunt looking blockhouses that rose up out of the water like giant sentinels, the roar of aircraft engines could be heard approaching in the distance. It was exciting for me to see the first of our planes sweeping in towards the carrier. The pilots undoubtedly felt just as apprehensive about their first landing as the deck crews felt about receiving them. After an initial pass over the ship the leading flight broke formation and took up position to land, arrester hooks trailing under the bellies of the planes. Everyone on deck seemed to be 'on pins' as the first 'Stringbag' came down very precariously towards the steel surface. It skidded along the deck, before coming to an abrupt stop as the hook caught in the wire hawser, then the pilot switched off his engine and all on the Bridge sighed with relief. With more planes coming in nobody had the time to watch the formations 'buzzing' around overhead. Touching down the planes wings were folded back and the 'kites' quickly lowered by lift to the hangers, clearing the deck for the next incoming Swordfish. H.M.S. Courageous was allocated a reduced compliment of aircraft but it was sufficient to make the carrier a significant force to reckon with.

There was always 'perks' attached to being a special ‘dutyman’ and more so on the Captain's staff. For me personally it meant being excused general ships' duties, many of which were considered obnoxious chores. One I was particularly pleased to be excused was acting as human ballast for the aircraft. This came about mainly when the fresh young pilots rehearsed landings and take-offs to improve their skills. It was considered an unnecessary waste of Fleet Air Arm Observers and Wireless Operators valuable time to sit in the planes during these practise sessions. The ships' hierarchy considered boy seaman the ideal substitute to fill the role of makeweight. When needed, the duty Petty Officers had the responsibility to supply the necessary ballast. They moved swiftly through the messdecks like the 'press gangs' of old, rounding up sufficient bodies. Protesting all kinds of ailments and phobia the reluctant 'volunteers' were herded to the planes already 'ticking over'. The old fashioned 'Stringbags' were reputed to have a mind of their own. In inexperienced hands they barely got airborne before running out of flight deck. On approach they had a habit of weaving badly from side to side prior to leapfrogging to an unsteady stop. Crashes, when they happened, were not always the fault of the pilots. A heaving deck, a sudden strong gust of wind, or poor visibility could make it difficult for the most skilled of the flyers. Finding the carrier was difficult in bad weather and the Swordfish were constantly grounded, radar having not been introduced at this time.

From a vantage position at the side of the bridge I enjoyed the spectacle of my faint-hearted messmates peering uneasily over the rim of the rear cockpits waiting for take-off. It was a source of great amusement for the other boys who had escaped capture this time, they were totally unconcerned that tomorrow it might be their turn to change their underpants after a free flight. Less nerve racking but avoidable if possible was 'chock boys'. Two boys were detailed to lie flat on their stomachs, one under each of the planes wings holding two large wooden chocks against the wheels. When the pilot signalled 'ready', the flight deck officer lowered his flag and the boys pulled the front blocks away to let the plane move forward. After the tail wheel had passed between the boys they stood up and dragged the blocks to the side of the flight deck by the rope lanyards. If they stood up too quickly the slipstream from the aircraft on full throttle hit them square on, strong enough to bowl them over. It was not a very pleasant job but it was necessary

 

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HMS Courageous

HMS Courageous June-September 1939 from the book “Taking the King’s Shilling” by John Cannon