Basically they looked tired

Heroes Remember

Basically they looked tired

Transcript

We landed in Bremerhaven, Germany, and were taken to what had formally been a German barracks, and this is where we were billeted. And two days later, they took us down and showed us the ship, which was the Europa, or formally the Bremen. And during the bombing of Bremerhaven, it had been hit by one incendiary bomb on the focsle. And there was just a black mark, that was it. That was holystoned away, and it was all cleaned up, but that's all the damage that had been done to it. And the shipyards all around it were levelled, and the town from the ship from the quays where we were at the ship, up to the main street, was levelled. This was pretty much all industrial, and it was just rubble. Main street was there, street cars still ran. The, I don't know, we spent, I guess we were there five months totally, getting the ship ready to commission. And we commissioned there in Germany, where they, they, they commissioned us there as a U.S. vessel. And then we loaded troops and came back to New York. They looked, they, they looked gaunt, hungry and not... well, I wouldn't say not too clean, but they, they haven't had the facilities that you have at home. They, they crawl in the tub everyday, and this sort of thing. They showered, but they showered when they got back from getting ready to come home. They got their, their new uniforms and this sort of thing, but they, yeah, they looked tired. Their, their, their uniforms didn't fit well, and they all had loot. Well, they'd sell you anything, you know, but... And they gambled, and they really didn't care. They may not have been paid for three or four months, and suddenly, they get their pay. All, everybody's got money. And the poker games here, there, and everywhere. And the winners from this go to this, go to this, and until finally, there's only maybe two games left, and they got all the loose money on the ship. Those guys went off with thousands. But basically, they looked tired, kinda worn out. Yeah, glad, glad to just sit down, yeah. And they say the money didn't mean a hell of a lot to them, ‘cause they haven't been using it. I mean, we didn't, we didn't have to worry. I mean, you got, you had a place to sleep, you got fed, you got your clothing, you got doctored, you got a dentist. Every... you were looked after. You didn't have to worry about anything. Well, suddenly, you're going to become a civilian, you better... you gotta start thinking the other way. But, no, they, they just looked tired. I remember... Yeah, they were... I wondered at the celebration on the first army return in New York. It was a big celebration, but I kinda wondered if those fellas being able to participate. I mean, they, they go off under orders. I mean, you go off in columns, you don't go off as individuals. And I assumed that once they got, wherever the hell they were going, I'm not sure where they put them ‘em quarters, but they would then be released the same as we would, like a task from six o'clock ‘til six o'clock, sort of thing. And you gotta be back. So, I assume that's maybe the way it was done. All the big celebration seemed to me was the civilians and the bigwigs were having the celebration. And the common fella that went and did it was confined to barracks, or at least was in barracks. But, yeah they just looked tired, I would say, and glad, glad to be home.

Description

Mr. Stewart describes the commissioning of the SS Europa and his impressions of the troops being transported home.

Edward Stewart

Mr. Stewart was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1926. Following his father's footsteps, he attempted to join the navy, but was under age. Drafted at the age of 18, he was selected for naval duty. Mr. Stewart served aboard troop ships during the latter stages of the Second World War, both on deck and in the engine room, and spent considerable time ashore in Germany, France and Denmark. He also sailed on one of the mass-produced Liberty ships. Mr. Stewart eventually moved to Harriston, Ontario, where he worked 38 years for Canada Packers.

Meta Data

Medium:: Video
Owner:: Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:: 04:05
Person Interviewed:: Edward Stewart
War, Conflict or Mission:: Second World War
Location/Theatre:: Europe
Battle/Campaign:: North Atlantic
Branch:: Navy
Units/Ship:: Europa
Rank:: Able Seaman
Occupation:: Deck Crew, Engine Room

Language selection

Basically they looked tired

Heroes Remember