South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 06 June 1942
Happy Meeting
Wombwell Pals Pose for “Times”
A happy meeting between three Wombwell boys on a troopship bound for a distant theatre of war is described in a breezy letter written home by Davies Naylor Trout (20), son of Mr. and Mrs. Trout, of 3, Mellor Road, Wombwell.
Mr. Trout is well known as a member of the postal staff at Wombwell. The other two ” locals ” in the trio were G. H. Skidmore and Rennie Campbell Spooner, both of Hough Lane, Wombwell. Trout says the pleasure they found in each other’s company took all the dullness out of the trip. They chose a little corner of a giant troopship, called it the “rendezvous ” and met there for a chat every day.
“I took my mouth organ and Rennie sang his favourite tunes.” writes Trout. “In the evenings we took blankets to cover our legs, as it gets very cold at night, although this is near the equator. Rennie and another friend named Bert Howarth, an actor from Leeds, have played in concerts for the troops. Bert has brought Rennie right out of his shell.”
Trout tells how at one port the natives swarmed round the ship in canoes loaded with oranges, bananas, melons and coconuts. The natives threw up a line to which a basket was attached. The troops pulled up the basket, put the money inside and lowered it down to be filled. The natives counted numbers on their fingers and their broken English was very funny. Many of the troops bartered winter clothing (no use in the tropics), cheap cigarette cases, wrist watches, knives and all sorts of small articles. One man lowered a pocket watch, but the native sent it back. The soldier insisted, Good watch; cost two pounds,” to which the native replied in easily understood English, “No good for swank; must have wrist watch.”
Trout speaks of the largesse showered on them at another port of call. Buses and trams were free to the troops and food was cheap and plentiful. They bought bacon at 1d. a rasher, eggs 2d. each, cooked as required, sausages 14. each, fruit and ices 4d.
He adds, ” You could fill yourself well and truly for a bob.” He speaks of the novelty of a ride in a rickshaw and says they laughed their sides sore at the sight of these native ” cabmen ” bounding along like kangaroos in strides of four or five yards at a time—half running, half balancing in the air at the end of the shafts. He says there was a wonderful beach for swimming and surf-riding, but great nets were fixed to keep away the sharks. Modestly he mentions that while at this spot he was able to rescue a man from drowning in the sea.
Trout says that being in three different units, these old friends had to part company at last, but not before making arrangements for a grand re-union when the war is over. They sent a photograph of the trio with a special request that it be forwarded to the “South Yorkshire Times ” for publication.
Trout has since sent a wire saying he is safe and well.
Mr. and Mrs. Trout have three sons and all are serving. One son, Seaman Joe Trout (22), formerly employed at Wood’s Glassworks, is in the Navy; Gunner Jack Trout (24). also a former employee of Wood’s Glassworks and a member of their cricket and football teams, is in the Royal Artillery. Davies was at King’s Road School, Joe and Jack at John Street. Mr. Trout served four years in the last war and was wounded in France.