S.S. Ormonde 15,000 tons Built at Clydebank by John Brown for the Orient Steam Navigation Coher completion being delayed because the ship builders were needed by the British Navy; Launched in June 1918, she was completed as a troopship and didn’t start her maiden voyage until 15th Nov. 1919. Requisitioned again as a troopship in 1939, she took part in the evacuations from Norway and France. In 1944 she was based at Bombay for Far East trooping work and returned to commercial service in 1947; she was sold for breaking up at Dalmuir, Scotland in Dec.1952.
We eventually set sail & we settled down to the ship’s routine & trying to find amusement for ourselves & also space to sit or lie on deck. The vessel was the S.S. Ormonde the smallest ship of the Orient Line it carried 3,496 troops including officers & men. On it we had some good food three meals a day also on board was a bulk issue canteen & for the mess table you could get an issue of sugar fruit (tinned) jam & chocolate etc. which was very good. Fresh water was available in the morning & evenings for a short time & we all used to fill our waterbottles. The weather & sea throughout the trip was glorious & I as a bad sailor could not have wished for any better. The trip itself was very uneventful only twice did the “Frigates” which were escorting us have to drop depth charges. We saw no aircraft of Jerry’s at all & judging by the armaments of the ships he would have got a hot reception. The way everyone amused oneself was chiefly by playing cards & also the game of “Housey House” was always being shouted out. Every afternoon for about half an hour we had P.T. which at times was quite vigorous. Each morning we had a parade at 10:30 hours while the O.C. troops on the ship inspected it. During one of these parades towards the end of the voyage we heard of the job we were to do & where we were going. Before going through the straits of Gib there was organised a sweep on the time we should pass Europa Pt. this we passed at night & one of our crowd won it.
The next day we docked outside Algiers the famous North African port but no one was allowed ashore. That evening we sailed again along the North African coast & in the morning we heard read out to us General Montgomery’s message to the 8th Army before the invasion of Sicily which had that night started.
Later we were told we were members of the 8th Army & we were going to be the G.O.R. at Catania one of Sicily’s main ports. We were also given an outline of the general points of the attack.
Later we passed the Island of Pantelleria & then after cruising about the Med docked at Malta. Here we anchored while waiting for the attack to be sufficiently far advanced for us to land. One evening we sailed again & the next day had our first glimpse of Sicily.