CONVOY

A sea-stained notebook in Gaelic was found on an empty liferaft floating in the North Sea in the wild winter weather of January 1943. The translation follows………………

CONVOY

Many years have now passed since the time

When my brothers and I used to climb

Over sun-splashed rock shores

Washed clean by the waves’ force,

Life was sweet, then, the world was all mine.
 

But I grew up and left my birthplace

Where the sun seemed to kiss each small face

Joined the Merchant Marine,

So the world I have seen,

But saw nowhere my home to replace
 

Then the war came and I sailed away

Out of Methil, on board “Mandalay”.

Heading North to Murmansk,

Cargo ; much-needed tanks .

Nazi bombers attacked from Norway.
 

I’ve been on this liferaft for three days,

For those bombers left my ship ablaze.

The cold bites to my bones;

I’m the last, all alone,

In this vast, empty sea :walls of grey.
 

As I write these last words I can see

That this world is no longer for me.

As my eyes close once more,

I’ve reached that cottage door

Where my spirit has flown - I am FREE.