THE EASTERN FLEET llj 



from the tropics to the polar regions. Besides their bulging kit- 

 bags each carried a linen bag containing a white tropical helmet 

 and catching on every projection as they made their way up the 

 gangway to the ship. 



All was last-minute bustle at Sheerness ; the old well-seasoned 

 surveying crew who had been with Commander Jenks in the 

 Iceland and West African surveys were now scattered throughout 

 a hundred ships of the Royal Navy. The new crew were curious 

 as to their role in this ship armed with but two Oerlikon guns, 

 w^hich had now replaced the even more inadequate pom-poms. 



The ship had been painted in camouflage, giving her a novel and 

 unusual appearance, mattresses had been hung around the outside 

 of the bridge to protect the personnel from attack from the air ; 

 new boats had been built to Captain Wyatt's specifications, 

 modelled on the Labrador dories he had used when on that coast 

 in Challenger years before ; they were designed for landing survey 

 teams through surf on the open coasts of the Indian Ocean. Still 

 the boom and gaff for the spanker remained, for the Captain 

 considered that his sails would be needed for that extra knot 

 during the long ocean voyages which lay ahead. 



The ship had been fitted with a new asdic set and a small outfit 

 of depth charges. Lieutenant-Commander Robin Bill, short and 

 dapper, was the new First Lieutenant and was to take the ship 

 with her green crew to the famous anti-submarine working-up 

 base at Tobennory where evolutions and drills at all hours of 

 night and day were designed to 'shake down' the ship's company 

 and weld them into a useful body. After that they were to go 

 on to Heysham where Captain Wyatt was to take command of 

 Challenger again and a trial survey, including the printing of the 

 chart, was to be completed before sailing for the East. 



On the long lonely voyage to the Cape the crew spoke of the 

 unusual work ahead ; they turned to the surveying recorders like 

 Petty Officer Charles Long with his pleasant smile and quiet 

 explanations or to Leading Seaman Jimmy Greenshields who knew 

 that the finest thing they would find at the Cape was the brandy, 

 for he dearly loved his run ashore. 



There were many of the crew who were free with their advice 

 to the Marines as to what to do at sea and what not to do. The 

 Canteen Manager explained his theory that eggs should always be 



