Received from Mr. George Wells on 13th February 2007

I joined the Capetown Castle on June 30th 1938 as a deck boy and stayed with her until April 1946 in various capacities as OS & AB serving under Masters Sir E.H. Thornton and the renowned J.C. Brown

I was a member of her 6 inch gun crew and various other anti aircraft guns.

I think that we were one of the few Merchant Ships that actually opened fire on a German Submarine on the East Coast of America somewhere near to Bermuda. The South African Naval Chief P.O. Hugh Glass who was on the gun deck relieving, for the change over of watch  keepers, saw the periscope , sounded the alarm and he and I fired the first shot.

I have quite a few photos of events taken on board including my Emergency station card, Boat station card etc

I also have a large picture painted in oil of the Capetown Castle leaving Capetown 4 pm Friday homeward bound in her peacetime colours with Table Mountain in the background

I left the Capetown in April 1946 and went to work as mate on an Admiralty tug and later to the Shipping Division of the Southern Railway eventually retiring as assistant operating manager of the port of Newhaven in Sussex

I hope that this potted history is of some interest to you

H.G.Wells    

George Wells