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Start of Chapter 10: The
Boat
Three days locked in a cargo hold
In cold, wet, filth and more.
And when we reached Palermo Bay
We took dead Tom ashore.
The Italians were not fussy about how they
transported prisoners from Libya to Italy. Often tramp steamers,
which transported coal, munitions and war materials to Tripoli,
were used to take live cargoes on the return trip.
On these occasions, little regard was shown for the comfort or
safety of the Prisoners of War, who were treated little better
than animals. So it was with both those on The Scillin and, later,
those of us on the final convoy to leave Tripoli.
How very, very, fortunate I was not to have remained with the
main body of prisoners who, on the 15th November, 1942, were taken
to the Spanish Mole at Tripoli Harbour... On arrival they saw
several ships at berth by the quay. One of these was a small coal-burning
steamer of only 1,600 tons. This was the SS Scillin.
After being kept standing on the quay for several hours, the prisoners
were ordered to board the Scillin. Once on the deck, they were
directed to the main hold from where two ladders led down into
the dark.
The hold was really only large enough to take about 300 men, if
they were to be allowed to lie down during the three days of travel.
But this did not deter the Italians. Although Captain Gilbert
protested, more and more men were sent down the ladders. When
810 prisoners had been loaded, a halt was called. The men were
then so tightly packed that no one could lie down...
The boat finally sailed on the evening of 15th November. (Another
account says at 1pm on the 13th.)
Either that night or shortly afterwards, the Scillin was attacked
by a British submarine at about 20:30 hours. At that time Captain
Gilbert was on deck treating some fifteen of the most seriously
ill prisoners.
Suddenly, out of the darkness, came a shell, which burst on the
superstructure of the cargo boat. A second shell caused casualties.
Then there was a violent explosion as a torpedo struck the Scillin
in the hold carrying the prisoners. All on deck were thrown into
the sea. Those below had no chance at all to escape.
Captain Gilbert (the medical officer), Staff Sergeant Regester
(a South African) and others were in the water for several minutes.
The boat had sunk. Then the submarine, HMS Sahib or P212, came
out of the darkness and began to pick up survivors.
Reports from the submarine crew tell a little of what happened
then. The captain, Lieutenant Bromage, and his men were astonished
and deeply shocked to find so many men in the water.
One crew member is said to have shouted, “Any Englishmen
in the water?”
Back came the reply, “Nae, but there is a Scotsman!”
The rescue went on for about half an hour before the Sahib was
forced to retreat as an escort vessel approached. During that
time 26 British and 35 Italians were rescued.
Bromage and his crew were most upset by what had happened. However,
the Scillin had been unmarked, in total darkness and had been
carrying enemy materials. Later the Captain was absolved from
all blame.
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Warning poster distributed by the Germans at
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