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The reminiscences of
Stores Assistant, P/MX736065 Jim Davey.
Jim was drafted to R.N.A.S Middle Wallop
to join MONAB 9 and recalls the passage out to Australia and on
to Singapore.
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I was assigned to MONAB IX which commissioned as H.M.S. Nabrock on
August 1st 1945.
We sailed from Liverpool early August, in fact I
believe it was on 1 August but cannot swear to that now. Our ship
was MV Dominion Monarch launched I believe in 1939 and pressed into
war service immediately. We lost way in the Indian Ocean due to an
engine breakdown. Drifted for about 24 hours before regaining power.
Sailed through the Australian Bight to Wellington, North Island, New
Zealand. Given shore leave for the one day then sailed to
Christchurch, South Island. No shore leave at this port.
From Christchurch to Sydney. We experienced some heavy weather as we
progressed around NZ, believe we hit the tail end of a typhoon.
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After a brief stay in Sydney we were transferred to the Troop
ship Largs Bay. This can only be described as a
vermin us tub. My understanding was it was launched in 1913 and
it showed every day of its age. Having been used to transport
former POWs from Singapore, it was in a ruinous condition. The authorities determined that fumigation was unnecessary.
About 600 personnel boarded the ship and within a few hours over
300 requests to see the captain and state a complaint had been
filed.
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Australian Medical Officers came aboard and examined the specimens
we had collected and determined there were no dangers organisms and
we sailed on schedule. A few days later, delousing procedures were
necessary.
We proceeded within the Great Barrier Reef to Port Darwin. Given a
day ashore we found ourselves surprised by the tides which rose
about 20 feet between the time we went ashore and the time we
returned to ship. The town had been evacuated because of Japanese
bombing and the only civilians I saw were 3 aborigines. From Port
Darwin we sailed to Singapore Island. We were apparently the last
group to arrive at Sembawang airfield. I found men I had trained
with there ahead of me.
On 15 December 1945 we recommissioned as H.M.S. Simbang.
Jim Davey
I believe I am the guilty party in the fourth row down and the
16th person from you left in the ships company photograph
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