Thurs 2 May 40
After breakfast we were taken in a high speed launch from a jetty near the Sandbanks chain ferry to Caledonia on her mooring off Parkstone. As I recall, Caledonia operated off moorings the whole way down the route and was never berthed at a pontoon. The launches used as passenger tenders were beautiful samples of the boatbuilder’s craft. Built of wood by the Power Boat Co. they used the planing hull-form pioneered by Scott-Payne, and were the forerunners of the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches, I believe. They used to go like rockets.
The forward entry port (see Tony Draper's link)was always used for boarding. Forward of the entry port were the mail room, the ladder to the flight deck (“bridge” <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> and, in the extreme bows, the hatchway from which the moorings were handled. On the bulkhead by the entry port I remember an engraved plaque commemorating Caledonia’s exploits pioneering transatlantic air mail. Opposite the entry port there was a galley (in which it was possible to cook – not just heat up - proper meals) and two loos (for only 12 passengers!), aft of which there was a cabin with three seats. The midships cabin had six seats on to starboard and none to port, making a space where passengers could stand and move around. The promenade deck windows were those immediately beneath the port flap in the image. Up a step and through a bulkhead to the after cabin with six seats. This was the smoking area, also the quietist part of the boat. My mother and sister, two other Memsahibs from Rangoon and a 15 year old Aussie girl booked all the way to Sydney, were seated here. I was allowed to occupy the seat by the window just aft of the emergency door (visible in the image) on the understanding that I gave up the seat to anyone who wanted to smoke. Right aft I believe our “not wanted on voyage” bags were stowed. Overnight bags were held in the mail room.
Getting off the blocks was more complicated than lighting the fires during push-back. Once the four Pegasi were fired up and warm, full-power checks were needed and these could not be done against chocks or brakes, so we went on a tour of Poole harbour while various rituals were performed. Each Pegasus was run up while we taxied around in circles with crash tenders and other high speed launches in attendance. Meanwhile the Steward had showed each of us how to use our seat-cushions as floats in an emergency , where was our nearest emergency exit, and ensured that our seat belts were secure. There was no PA sound system, seat-belt or no-smoking sign. All instructions were passed by the steward in person. Eventually all was ready, we lined up, and for the first time all four Pegasi opened up together. The surge of acceleration seemed incredible. The howl of the engines was gradually overcome by the rush of water,and the bow wave from the hull and port float almost obscured my view until suddenly, magically, she got up on the step and all went smooth except for a feather of spray. The float was no longer really in contact with the water. The water-hiss gradually faded until we were airborne – at about 1100 hrs. Climbout was sedate and we settled at about 2000ft, taking our departure from Old Harry and waving a fond farewell to our home at Swanage.
About 45 minutes later we were circling Jersey Airport and some Morse was being flashed at us by Aldis lamp. I expect that radio silence was in force and that this was our clearance into French airspace. Some time later we did the same thing over St Nazaire. We alighted on the Garonne near Bordeaux to refuel at what may have been a military seaplane facility, because we were taken for a launch -ride on the river while the aircraft was refuelled and were not allowed off the jetty where we landed to stretch our legs. During the next leg to Marseilles the weather started to make itself felt with the usual build-up over the Massif to port. We remained in contact, presumably because navigation depended mostly on map-reading, so turbulence was quite severe and air sickness arrived in the passenger cabins (of course I maintained my superior male immunity!). The noise, I remember , was obtrusive even in the rear compartment.
We landed at Marseilles (probably on the Étang de Berre off Marignane) at 1745. Immigration formalities were tedious and there was a long bus ride into town over rough pavé (cobbles) with a maniac driver, whose style was to steer with one hand ,elbow on the horn, and gesticulate with the other. We arrived at the Hotel Splendide at about 2000 hrs. To me it seemed vast and sumptuous, and the dinner prolonged and exotic. Mum said the Duke of Kent was staying in the hotel. We went for a walk and it was good to see the bright lights after the blackout in UK. . . <img src="smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
[ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: Flatus Veteranus ]
[ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: Flatus Veteranus ]
[ 30 January 2002: Message edited by: Flatus Veteranus ]</p>