Speaker Ian Milton

Rotary report for Friday 9th Oct. 2015

Our visitors host Colin Bayes welcomed four visitors, three Rotarians, Klaus Starke, Klaus Grah and Milli Grah from Solingen, Germany and a returning guest Jane Wilson.
John Rankin reminded members about President’s Night on 3rd December and also the chance to go and see Elaine C Smith in Annie at the Kings Theatre, Glasgow in February.
Colin Bayes reminded those competing in The Gavel on Thursday 15th October - Away - Kirkcaldy RC - Kirkcaldy Bowling Club at 7:30pm. And Fellowship Cup against The Carse of Stirling Rotary Club on Sunday 18th October 12 noon at Stirling Golf Club with a meal afterwards.
Malcolm said there was still room for a few more Rotarians and guests to visit the new Forth Road Bridge on Monday 19-10-15 with a lunch afterwards.
President Peter then presented Klaus Grah with a Stirling Rotary Banner and Klaus in turn presented a unique banner incorporating an actual knife from their Club in Solingen which is famous for making knives and cutlery.
Our speaker today was Ian Milton, a member of our club since 2000. His title was A Cruise to Cape Town. We were all expecting a holiday escapade taken by Ian, but soon learnt that the term “Cruise” referred to a journey taken by his father William Milton in 1943 aboard HMS Largs. The story that Ian unfolded was taken from a comprehensive diary that his father had kept which included notes and sketches made by William on a daily basis.
HMS Largs was formerly the French passenger liner MV Charles Plumier and seized by the Royal Navy at Gibraltar. She subsequently became a Combined Operations Headquarters ship for almost every significant amphibious operation of World War II, including Operations Torch, Husky and Overlord and she would be manned by naval, army and air force crew.
Ian’s talk included all the trials and tribulations of life on board ship during the war, the problems of engine failure, the near misses and the anxious moments, but the diary also contained hundreds of snippets of information not normally heard about. Like sunbathing on board ship was limited to twenty minutes a day, getting sun burnt could result in a charge. While in Freetown only coins were acceptable (no notes), but if you had cigarettes to barter you were in luck. A pint of beer cost 2 shillings and six pence (12.5p), but a glass of whisky was only 11pence (less than 5p today). Fights in the streets with the locals were common place but the troops so learnt to stamp on their opponents bare feet.
An amusing vote of thanks was given by Philip Allison and this was well supported by all members and guests.
Next week speaker’s host is Gordon McCulloch, Visitor’s host is Bill Bryce
Robin Sutton