He led us through the stores and warehouses. We went to a set of rickety stairs and we climbed them to his nest. He used three keys to unlock it, "Can't be too careful! The locals would have the pennies off a dead man's eyes!"
It was barely more than a cubby hole. If he was comfortable here then he was a born submariner. It was, however, both neat and organised. There were three chairs and a map of North Africa pinned to the wall. I also saw a radio transmitter. It looked to be powerful.
He took off his beret. He had a domed, bald pate. "Take a seat." He waited until we were comfortable. "Now I have a couple of boats in mind. They are locals. One is a Spaniard and one an Arab. Personally I would recommend the Arab. Many of the Spanish are a little too close to the Germans for my liking. I can take you to see them this afternoon. Now the diesel you wanted was a little easier to get than I would have thought. That was how I met the Spaniard; he is supplying the diesel. Many of the Spanish cars use it. It costs us a pretty penny but..."
"And we can get more?"
"Oh yes. Major Fleming made it quite clear that money was no object."
"Good. And targets?"
"The Major wanted you to get your base sorted out first and to familiarise yourself with the area." He leaned forward. "I have heard that the invasion will be in the first week of November."
"You heard?"
He laughed, "Well I worked it out. Security is very tight." He saw my expression. "Before the war I was a lecturer in logic at Manchester University. I have that sort of brain. I love crossword puzzles and all that, you know?"
"I had a place at Manchester, engineering, then the war came up."
"Well you take up that place after the war! We will need engineers to rebuild everything that we have destroyed. You know there are some philosophers who say that we need wars so that we can move our civilisation on. I mean would we have aeroplanes which can cross the Atlantic without the bombers developed in the Great War? Gives one pause for thought eh?"
Alan lit a cheroot, "It certainly does, Professor!" That was how he got his nickname. He was always Prof to us.
He pointed to the cigar in Alan's mouth. "If you get through many of those I can help you out. The Spanish are very fond of them!"
"Then you and I will be the best of friends."
"I think we should meet these two captains. Perhaps we can use them both. That way it keeps our options open."
Lieutenant Ferguson nodded, "Very logical. You would have made a good student!"
We descended the stairs and he locked up again. He led us towards an area known as Campamento. "This is where Captain Garcia can be found. His is the rather dilapidated looking boat." He then pointed further around the bay, closer to the Spanish side. There was an Arab Dhow. "That is Captain Al-Muezzin's ship. I favour that one for it is silent. His crew however..."
"Don't worry about that. Let us meet this Captain Garcia."
Captain Garcia was a tubby, barrel of a man. Like his boat he looked dirty and dilapidated but he was friendly enough. He spoke good English.
"These are the officers I told you about, captain."
"Ah and you want me to take some diesel somewhere for you?" We nodded, "Very mysterious! I am guessing that it is somewhere south of here and there may be danger along the way."
Alan said, "That might be true but you have my boat to protect you."
"Ah, you mean that converted E-Boat I saw arrive not long ago. A fine ship."
That immediately set the alarm bells ringing. If he knew then who else knew? The Spanish Captain saw my look, "I am afraid that if you wished to stay hidden you should have chosen a different port. Algeciras is filled with spies and those who favour the Germans."
Alan nodded, "Then it is a good job that this will be our only visit. We need the diesel right now and we wish to leave tonight."
"Tonight? That will cost extra."
"Why?"
He looked at me as though I was stupid, "Supply and demand."
"In that case thank you, Captain, but we will find another boat."
He gave me a sly look. "And where will you get more diesel from?"
"We do not need to get any more. Our friend here has already purchased it from you has he not?"
I saw his eyes as he worked out which would be the most profitable for him. He smiled, "Let us not fall out over this. I will take it tonight for you for the price we agreed."
"Good and we may need as much again in the next weeks." It was my turn to smile. "If we are happy about your services then you will be employed again."
He did not look so cocky now. "I am certain that you will be happy."
Alan nodded to me, "We will meet you one mile east of Trinity Lighthouse at eight thirty."
"We will be there."
As we returned to our boat with Lieutenant Ferguson he said, "Well negotiated. I will speak with the Arab about the next cargo. Do you know where you will be using as a base?"
"West of Algiers. If the Germans intervene then we need to be able to interfere with their plans as much as possible."
He shook his head, "It will take too long for Captain Garcia to get that far. You need somewhere closer. That will be better for the radio too."
"We will test it on the way out. When we discover the range then we will sail back to that point when we need to report. We will arrange times and call signals."
"Good."
The 'Lady' was bobbing in the bay and we took a Royal Navy tender out to her. The ratings were instructed to wait while we went aboard and gave Hugo a tour. It was important he knew the layout of the boat. We had found that made for better communication. We introduced him to Wacker and Scouse. We then scoured the charts for a closer base. Hugo's mind proved invaluable.
"Here, five miles east of Sidi Abderrahmane, it is a small bay. It looks quiet enough and you should be able to get there by dawn."
"It looks fine to me. We will use this one but we will still scout out the other one as well."
By the time he left, at seven thirty, we had the signals all arranged. We would return, if all went well with our patrol, in a week by which time we hoped that Major Fleming would have come up with suitable targets.
Captain Garcia was late. That worried me. However, when he hailed us he seemed quite happy that we had a night's sailing ahead of us. We did not tell him our destination. Alan fumed all the way east. The Spaniard's ship was slow and Alan fretted about us being caught at sea during daylight.
"Alan, we are going to be seen. The problem comes if someone sees us burying the diesel. If we can get there before dark then we can complete our plan. Besides the Spaniard is not as slow as you think. We have two hundred and fifty miles to go. It will be close but we should make it."
"You are right." He looked up. We had lowered the White Ensign. We would not fly under false colours but we would not advertise our nationality. If the enemy was confused then so much the better.
Alan decided to test the engines of the Spanish ship by increasing his speed. The Spaniard kept up. We passed Sidi Abderrahmane when it was still dark but it would not be for long. Captain Garcia was less than happy. "You did not tell me it was this far!"
"You did not ask! Now let us get the barrels ashore."
"And how do I do that? There is no jetty."
We had already thought this through. Our men had the dinghies already manhandled in the water. "Just back into the shallows and drop them off your stern. My men will do the rest."
"You English are mad!"
We also backed the 'Lady' around. Alan would use the engines to make a tide and push the barrels ashore. The hard part would come once they were ashore but Hugo had found us a good beach. It was flat and we could roll them. The spit was larger than it had looked on the aerial photograph. Even better was the fact that this beach was connected to the shore by a narrow spit of sand. There was little tide here in the Mediterranean but I discovered that the connecting sand was sometimes submerged. It made it even better. There was no reason
for anyone to visit it. In the dark the Spanish captain would not see that but Alan had brought us, by dead reckoning, to the perfect landing site.
Although the barrels sank a little they floated enough for them to be pushed by the engines and the ten men in the dinghies. Others waited on the beach and were already digging a hole. It was a big hole and would almost be as big as the beach. It took but fifteen minutes to off load the barrels and then the Spaniard headed west, eager to be away from the dawn and German or Vichy patrols. Once he had gone we left a skeleton crew on board our boat and went to help bury the barrels.
Dawn was now breaking. A faint glow of pink tinged sky appeared in the east. It helped us to see what we were doing but still prevented prying eyes from watching us. The seven barrels took a big hole and I worried that we would not be able to cover them. The bottom of the hole kept filling with water but we persevered. Alan pointed to the water, lapping around the spit. "This will work out fine, Tom. Don't worry. We have covered it higher than it had been and spread the surplus sand around the sides. The sea and the wind will complete our task. The wet sand mean the barrels will sink a little. Besides we will use all of this diesel in less than two weeks."
By the time the sun had come up we had finished. We were exhausted but the job was done and seven barrels had been buried. The eighth barrel was used to top up our tanks so that they were full again and then we headed out to sea. When we were six miles offshore we lowered the empty barrel into the sea and allowed it to fill up with water. It did not completely sink but it was harder to see. The currents would take it away from our spit.
Alan set a course for our original bay to the east of Algiers. We had a week to become familiar with the coast and it started that moment. The coastal road looked to be mercifully free of any military traffic. Our lookouts scanned the skies but saw no Luftwaffe aircraft. It was the most peaceful place we had seen. As far as I could tell the invasion would be able to walk into Algeria with no problems whatsoever.
When we passed Algiers we saw the first real military presence; part of the French fleet. Vichy were here. A couple of Vichy fighters were scrambled and they inspected us half an hour after we had passed the port. Although the gun crews stood to we did not fire. They flew over us, unable to decide what we were. When we continued east they stopped wasting fuel and returned home.
"That was easy."
Alan shook his head. "Next time it will not be so easy, my friend. Next time there will be a launch or two as well." He looked at his watch. It will be dark in an hour or two. What say we find a quiet bay and let the men have some rest."
"A good idea and we try out the radio."
We had planned on testing every three hours until midnight. Hugo would be listening then. Alan headed north east and he swung us around so that we headed back towards the coast. When Wacker tried the radio he heard nothing. The range was too far. The darkening sky behind us helped to hide us and we edged our way to Reghaïa. When we reached the beach we found our original choice had been a good one. The coastal highway had to take a mile long detour around the lake. The land between the beach and the lake was swampy and covered in mosquitoes. People would avoid it.
We pushed on while it was dark and used the night to get closer to Tunis. Radar helped us to keep close to the land without risking the rocks and shallows. When we were a few hours from Tunis we headed closer to the beach. Alan dropped an anchor.
My section and myself went to bed for a couple of hours. We would be up in the night to investigate the land and the highway. This would be the main route for the Germans to use to fight the invasion. It would be a good place for us to hold up the Germans. Just before we went to our hammocks I sought out Corporal Hay.
"Corporal, I would like you with us on this patrol."
"Certainly sir, do you mind me asking why?"
I smiled, "Let us say I wanted a different perspective on matters. Scouse and Ken are good lads but they are young and do not have your experience."
He smiled, as though relieved, "I would be delighted, sir."
We left at four a.m. I wanted to get to the coast road and see its condition. We took just hand guns and grenades. I wanted speed and not firepower. We were rowed ashore in the dinghy which then returned to the boat. We double timed it west across the rough ground. It was not as swampy as it had appeared in the aerial photographs,. Ken led. This was his element. He had the ability to find the best route.
We only had six hundred yards to run before we found the road and, at the same time, some huts with Arabs within. Dogs barked but no one came out. Had we been in France I would have turned and headed back to the boat but this was Vichy France and we had seen no signs of soldiers for many miles. We ran through the huts and found ourselves at a small cape.
"Let's explore this headland eh? It is close to the road."
There were no houses and the headland rose a little. Corporal Hay, take Fletcher and explore the beach. See what it is like. Ken you come with me." We returned to the road. "Tell me Ken, if you were going to blow the road would this be a good place?"
He went to the road surface and picked up the stones. He took out his dagger and hit the tarmac with the hilt. It crumbled a little. Then he turned and looked at the headland where Bill and Scouse were busy looking at the sand and the shore.
He nodded, " The road surface is rubbish sir. And the road takes a ninety degree turn. If we was to wait up there in the trees then we could explode the road when something was coming this way." He smiled. "That is why you sent the Corp to check out the escape route." I nodded. "You worked this out for yourself sir."
"It is always good to get a second opinion and now we shall get a third."
Fletcher and Hay had returned, "Well?"
"No rocks sir. The beach is fairly shallow. We could wade out and there is good cover in the trees. Nice spot for an ambush."
"Ambush?"
"Yes sir. Mine the road and set off a charge when lorries or tanks come down and then have it away on our toes." He saw Ken grinning, "What? Have I said something daft, sir?"
"Don't get defensive Corporal; Private Shepherd here just came up with the self same plan. Great minds and all that! Well done. Let's get back to the boat." I saw the hint of a smile on Bill Hay's face. He was thawing.
As we passed through the huts there were villagers. They stared at us. It was only then that I remembered Arab clothes. That was something Lieutenant Ferguson could acquire for us. We boarded the boat at eight and Alan headed east. We had the gun crews closed up and all were ready for action. We were getting closer to Tunisia and that meant German patrols.
One of the hands handed me some tea as I boarded and I went to the bridge. "Well?"
"There is a headland just west of where we spent the night. It is a perfect place for an ambush." I pointed to the shore. "That is German territory."
Alan grinned, "That doesn't mean to say we can't do something there too."
I took out the map we had of Tunisia. The main road was the one we left when we took the track over the mountains. It would have to be here, Tabarka, it is a crossroads and the coastal road is just yards from the sea."
"I will take her in and have a look and then we will head west again."
It took another hour or so to reach the port and, to our dismay, we saw the German flag flying and, even worse, boats in the harbour. Alan idled the boat while we scanned the defences. A daylight attack would be out of the question but the road was clearly visible and appeared to be very close to the sea. He pointed to the jetty, "There looks to be fuel there. We might be able to nip in and steal some."
One of the lookouts said, "Eh up sir! Jerry is on the move. I can see E-boats. One has fired his engines."
Alan needed no urging, he spun the wheel around and gunned the motors. Two E-Boats raced from the harbour towards us. We had a five hundred yard start but they both had forward firing guns. They both made the mistake of firing as soon as they left the harbour. That was a major error of jud
gement. Both boats were heeling and the shots were wildly inaccurate. Two waterspouts appeared on our port side.
Bill Leslie shook his head, "Amateurs!"
"Are you going to show them a clean pair of heels, Alan?"
He shook his head, "A lady does not show everything on a first date, Tom. We will leave that surprise for another time. We will lose them but only slowly."
"Isn't that a risk? What if they call in air support?"
"By the time they have scrambled aeroplanes we should be losing the E-Boats already."
He was right and I remembered the time it had taken for aeroplanes to come and search for us. I stuck my head in the radio shack. "Wacker, have we been able to contact Gibraltar yet?"
"No sir. We need a better radio. This is clapped out."
"Keep trying. It would be handy to know when we can call in the cavalry!"
I took my mug of tea and went to the stern. The Germans had decided to conserve their ammunition but were using all the power at their disposal to catch us. Their captains would wonder what an enemy vessel was doing here so far from a British base. They began to increase the distance between the two boats so that they could cut off any move we made away from them. We were increasing our lead. By the time I had finished my tea they were a further fifty yards behind us. I knew our boat well enough to know that Alan still had more power available to him.
I returned to the bridge. "The problem with this speed is that we are using more juice. We will need to refuel."
"That is all right isn't it? I mean we can check out the coast from Algiers west as we head back to Gib. We have two targets already and we can report the lack of Vichy forces along the coast."
"You are probably right."
"Aeroplanes, to the east sir. Three of them. They look like FW 190s."
"It looks like we have outstayed our welcome."
"I'll get my chaps to add their firepower too." I went aft, "Sergeant Poulson, get the lads on deck with their Thompsons. We will make life difficult for these Jerries."
"Sir."
I went below decks to deposit my mug and pick up my own gun. The three aircraft were much closer when I returned. They were diving to attack. The only guns which could be not brought to bear were the two German guns in the tubes and the Oerlikon which would have to wait until they had passed the bridge. I felt the German shells as they hit our stern. I felt us slow. It was only a slight decrease in speed but a glance at Alan told me that he had felt it too. I would have to worry about that later. We opened fire. It was a wall of bullets we threw up and we got lucky. A bullet must have hit the engine for it began to smoke and, more importantly, drifted across the line of the second 190.
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