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Survived Torpedo Sinking

Heroes Remember

Survived Torpedo Sinking

Transcript
We went out this night, we were a convoy and a hospital ship down to, going down to that island down there (Malta.) Malta, s right, that's the place where. And on our way down we got torpedoed, and they put two fish into her, torpedoed her twice right there. And she sank right there, just like, I'd say three or four minutes, five minutes it was all over, down. And there was 126 aboard the ship and there was 18 of us picked up and out of the 18 that was picked up there was 12 survived. Interviewer: You were a stoker aboard that ship? Yeah. Interviewer: How did you get out Mr. Ellis? Well, I was, happened to be lucky that day I was in the engine room, up until ten to four that morning and I went up to wake the watch that took over at four and I happened to be out of the engine room, at that time and the other fellas were going down, some of them didn't get down. See the, like the, the chief or the office, petty officer down below would be running the thing while these fellas would be taking over and we getting them up and getting them going and I didn't go down, and the first thing, she went bango. I was down in the mess tank, but that was only one flight down and I was at the back, the ship, our mess deck was at the back, and she was hit it the front. Interviewer: Were there any survivors from the engine room? No, not that I know of. I can only remember the fellas that were picked up, like the 18, and there was none in that. Interviewer: How long were you in the water Mr. Ellis? Four and a half hours. Interviewer: What do you remember about that? Well I thought it was all over. I was, oh, I wasn't in very good shape cause the, the depth charges went off, on our ship that went down, they went off and they shook us pretty well, ya know, they, we were bleeding pretty well. Interviewer: Did they fire because they were (Set at depths? Yeah.) So when the ship reached that depth all the depth charges went off. Yep, yeah some of them were going off in different intervals. (And the concussion.) Oh, oh me ears were bleeding, I was bleeding everywhere, every place was, there was a place for blood to come out. Yep.. Interviewer: Were there any life rafts or boats in the water? There was one life raft off of that ship, and the rest of them, there was, there was a carry float or probably two and I was by myself, I just had my, what they call a May West lifebelt and it was there and I would have no chance whatsoever, of living with that. But anyway, up after a few explosions and the ship was down and everything else, there was a square hardtack can came right up beside me, and sealed. And I just put that underneath me arm and that's what held me there. Well, I'll tell ya four hours and a half is a long time in the water and you covered with oil you're as black as your boot. Interviewer: What did you think the chances were of being picked up by another vessel? I didn't think there was any, at the last of it, but our sister ship was with us that night, the Alarm, and she followed on with the convoy, with the hospital ship, followed on with it and I wouldn't know how far she went, but anyway she came back and she put out these scrambling nets and they put the little boat of the, motor boat of the ship and went around picking them up. And I was the last or the second last fella getting picked up. I was a way out from the rest, ya know, I was off and got a scare, thought it was all over. You think of all the things you done in your life.
Description

His ship was torpedoed on the way to Algiers in North Africa. There was a heavy loss of life as his ship sank. Mr. Ellis was one of only 12 survivors. He recalls the frightening experience, including 4 ½ hours in the water, hoping to be rescued.

Bruce Ellis

Bruce Ellis was born in Donaldston, Prince Edward Island on June 19, 1918. His father was a machine salesman and operated a small farm. He comes from a very large family with a total of 18 siblings - 9 brothers and 9 sisters. He was the fifth born. He recalls attending a one-room school with almost 50 students attending. He left school in Grade 8 near the age of 15 years. Mr. Ellis originally enlisted in the Canadian Army but moved to the Royal Canadian Navy after basic army training.

Meta Data
Medium:
Video
Owner:
Veterans Affairs Canada
Duration:
05:15
Person Interviewed:
Bruce Ellis
War, Conflict or Mission:
Second World War
Branch:
Navy
Occupation:
Stoker

Copyright / Permission to Reproduce

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