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Sussex Evening Argus 4th March 1943
EIGHT DAYS IN OPEN BOAT IN ATLANTIC. HASTINGS MAN’S ADVENTURES. ENTERTAINED BY NEW YORKERS. A paragraph in an American newspaper just received by an 'Evening Argus' representative states 'The Navy announced to-day that a medium-sized British merchant vessel had been torpedoed and sunk by an enemy submarine in mid-November, in the Atlantic.'
The story behind this brief report is of great interest to Hastings readers for on board this ship was a former Hastings schoolboy, now serving as an officer in the Merchant Navy.
He is Purser Colin Stanley Ransom, aged 20, who until the outbreak of the war, lived with his parents, brother and sister, at 231 St. Helens-Road, Hastings and attended Hastings College.
Mr. Ransom joined up in 1941 and since then has sailed thousands of miles and had some grand experiences. Not so grand, however, were the trials that he, and 41 others underwent during the latter half of 1942.
In describing his experiences Mr. Ransom said a cold moon was just setting in the bleak early hours of a morning in November. Mr. Ransom, clad in pyjamas, was asleep on the settee in his cabin, when suddenly there was a shattering explosion, which shook the vessel from stem to stern, the lights aboard flickered out and there followed a moment of unnerving, pregnant silence, broken only by the sound of gushing, gurgling water pouring into the bowels of the ship.
A minute or two later the members of the crew, six of whom were killed by the explosion, set about their different jobs deftly. Every man was cool, calm.
THE BOAT OVERTURNED The boats were lowered, but, unfortunately, one of these overturned and Mr. Ransom, with others, swam through the oil-topped water to a raft. The overturned boat, a small jolly boat, was afterwards righted, and 11 men clambered in. The other, a larger lifeboat, held 30. In this was the Captain, who before leaving the vessel, searched in vain for his little puppy.
Another well-seasoned old salt, who has been torpedoed more than three times, made a last minutes dash back to his quarters and fetched more of his clothing.
The two boats were pulled clear of the vessel upon which those merchantmen had sailed so far, and it sank within 15 minutes.
The coming of the dawn brought evidence that their perils were not yet over, black triangular fins betrayed the presence of man-eating sharks in constant attendance, sometimes brushing the sides of the lifeboats. Later, multi-coloured barracudos, glistening beneath the surface, also appeared in eager hope of an easy prey. For more than two days the boats kept together, steering a course for the land nearly 300 miles away. Then a storm blew up and the boats were parted.
Mr. Ransom was in the jolly boat, he was still clothed in pyjamas, one leg of which was torn off during his 'get-away,' and a scarf which he had grapped from his cabin. His wallet and its contents were the only belongings he managed to save.
EIGHT DAYS OF PERIL For eight days the little jolly boat and its crew remained at the mercy of the Atlantic seas. Once a vessel was seen zig-zagging on the horizon but failed to observe them. The food that the eleven men ate during that unforgetable period consisted mostly of biscuits, canned meat and concentrated food tablets. Water was the principal need however, and was very much rationed. Sleep in the boat was practically impossible and throughout night and day shifts were taken on the oars.
The men, said Mr. Ransom, were very light-hearted about the situation. During the day it was tremendously hot, but at night intensely cold and the crew huddled together in an effort to keep warm.
At last, another vessel appeared on the horizon and a red rocket was set off by those in the jolly boat. Imagine their joy when the vessel altered course and began steaming towards them. They were finally picked up and friendly hands helped them on board. A few days later the eleven survivors were once more on dry land. After a few days they were taken off by another ship bound for New York, thus realizing Mr. Ransom’s greatest dream. There they were treated right royaly.
A ROYAL TIME First came a visit to a departmental stores where they were supplied free of charge, with a completely new outfit including, a suit, underclothing, shoes, even toilet articles and night attire as well as a suit case. Next they were taken to a luxury hotel where they were to live during their stay.
They received invitations to many of the best shows in the city. Everywhere those Merchant sailors went, it was free of charge. Mr. Ransom stayed throughout Christmas and the New Year in that great city.
Afterwards it was learned that the other lifeboat which became separated during the storm was sighted within five days.
At the beginning of February, Mr. Ransom arrived in England after an uneventful journey and is now on leave waiting for another ship.