For most of our free time, Jimmy Wiggins and I spent it at the ship's stern which, being of the cruiser type, was not far above the ocean. During the many hours we gazed upon the ship's wake, a member of the crew regularly stopped for a chat. During one of these conversations I happened to tell him that I used to keep a record of yellow-funneled CPR liners sailing upon the River Mersey - both the twin-stacked Duchesses and the triple-stacked Empresses. He asked was I aware that the aft funnel was a dummy? Receiving a negative answer, he told us to come along with him. Arriving at a small door, oddly enough not locked, he ushered us through to a space, of just a few feet, between an inner funnel and the outer one.

From the decks we could see an aircraft carrier on the starboard bow and, perhaps six or seven other ships. Ascending spiral steps, leading up to the funnel's top, we then saw how large the convoy actually was. Not only could we see thirty or more ships, mostly freighters, but also many destroyers steaming on both its flanks. Reluctantly, some two hours later, we descended to thank our friendly seaman and to promise not to tell anyone about this adventure until we had disembarked.

After a few days steaming westwards our ship changed course towards the south which she held until changing course again, this time eastwards. With each passing day stronger became the belief that the Regiment was going to join 1st Army which had landed in Algeria the previous October - but as Artillery? Confirmation came when, about 0100 hours on New Year's Eve, we were awakened by an announcement over the loudspeakers that the ship would shortly be passing very close to the Rock of Gibraltar. So many crowded the ship's port side, to view the well-lit Rock, it was a wonder that she didn't take on a list!

It was back to bed (hammock), as the Duchess of York ploughed her way eastward on the Mediterranean Sea, with the only unknown remaining whether she would dock in Oran (now Wahran) or Algiers (now El Djazair). This question was resolved about midday, with a further announcement that the Duchess was expected to dock in Algiers, shortly after noon the next day with disembarkation taking place an hour or two later. Barring anything untoward happening, our voyage was about to end and soon, we and our fellow Regiments of the
25th Tank Brigade, would be facing the enemy.