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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
HM LCI(L)-501
The ship (501) was under going refit before its use by the British navy at Alloa in Scotland, we the crew and officers. overlooked the refit together with fitting a twin pom-pom on the front in front of the wheel house, we then commissioned her and sailed to Poole harbour where they fitted sun screen fittings prior for our journey to Burma, Fortunately the war over there ended so we, then had a job of escorting a number of landing craft tank to Bordeaux for local use as barges. I remember sailing in the Bay of Biscay and sitting on the fo'c'sle when the sea was like a sheet of glass with dolphins playing around us, what a difference on the return it really was rough. After that when we returned we were shifted to Plymouth (Devon) and then, we sailed for the USA to return a flotilla of LCIs, by this time we had a new CO, Lieutenant RN (Peace Time Navy) who was the squadron commander. Our first port of call was Gibraltar, on entering harbour one of the propellers refused to change pitch, as we were carrying a spare we entered dry dock and spent about a week there while the spare was fitted. We then proceeded to the Azores. I remember the commander gave the order to heave to while in the middle of the Atlantic and sent hands to bath, after that on route one of the port engines began to get hot and the revs started to rise, so the petty officer (Eric Tingle) shut down this engine and we resumed on a lower pitch to the Azores. After spending some time there we then continued our journey to Hamilton Bermuda. Had a lovely time there, then onto Brooklyn Navy Yard. We stopped at an island, I think it was Staten Island, to off load ammunition and then onto Brooklyn (39th street) and we then unloaded stores etc . and then flew the paying off pennant, and returned to UK as passengers on the Queen Mary.
Ron Hyde
Engine Room and Watchkeeper, Leading Stoker Mechanic
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