蜜芽传媒

This poem has been submitted to the People鈥檚 War website by Peter Quinn of the Lancashire 蜜芽传媒 Guard on behalf of Bill Dixon, and was added to the site with his permission by the staff of Blackpool Central Library.

The Last Day of SS Kingswood
A Tribute to BOB LANG, Quarter Master of the Kingswood.
By Bill Dixon of the Blackpool Merchant Navy Association.

We left the port of Lagos late one afternoon.
We鈥檇 slaked our thirst and done our worst in Bertha鈥檚 Beer Saloon.
The crew had supped the night away, they knew they鈥檇 sail the coming day.
She left at five looking spic and span,
With ropes all stowed and a course home planned.
The engines pound as she made her way out in to the Atlantic bay.
鈥淎ll serene鈥�, the captain said, as he eyed the ocean up ahead.
What they鈥檇 missed on the ship鈥檚 port side,
A periscope trying to hide among the ocean鈥檚 dancing foam.
A U Boat threat many miles from home.

The first torpedo struck with might, it lifted the ship from left to right
And like a harpooned whale she shuddered and shook
Down by the bows a sorrowful look.
There鈥檚 only one lifeboat, the rest are all gone,
Blown to the wind by the U Boat鈥檚 鈥済un鈥�.
With engines still turning she鈥檚 still making way
Trying for home, her very last play.
The second torpedo the Germans gave
Sent her down to a watery grave.

The crew that were left all saved in the boat
Plus one or two more that were still afloat.
The diesel sound and the U Boat鈥檚 light
Pierced through the tropic night, lighting up the lifeboat鈥檚 crew
Scared to death and what to do?
A German voice with English tones demanded to speak to Captain Jones.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not here, he may have gone down, maybe he鈥檚 still swimming around?"

The U Boat men left the scene of the crime,
Not to be seen for a long, long time.
Till after the war and the world was free
They visited Bob, at his home, for tea!

[The author of this piece has written a number of other contributions to the People鈥檚 War website. They are:

My last day ashore
My first ship 鈥� M. V. Wim
Jumping ship then the Ocean Volga
Convoy preparations
A Lancastrian in New York
Thanks Yanks!
Voyage around the world
I meet the "SS Grodno" and the cook!

He has also contributed two poems:

The SS Grodno 鈥� one more trip 1939
The last day of SS Kingswood]

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