"CORFU A HEL SHIP"

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1946, Page 5

"CORFU A HEL SHIP"

Press Assn.

British Troops Waik Off OVER 40Q RETURN TO CAMP

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Tu'esday, 10.40 a.m. LONDON, April 8. Complaining of "hell ship" conditions, 700 British soldiers walked off' the Corfu, which was due to sail from Southampton this. a^ternoon. When the Corfu did sail between 200 and 300 of the objectors were aboard ^ier and the remainder stayed in the transit camp. The Corfu was returning with 2,098 men to the Middle East and Par East from leave. The men complained of inadequate accommodation, bad messing arrangements necessitating queuing for two.hours, an absence of recreational ' facilities, a shortage of washing and lavatory space, insanita.ry conditions and a shortage of blankets which meant that some had none. They also complained that there had been no pay and no leave in the transit camp at Southampton for the week before embarkation. After an appeal from'a brigadier for an orderly presentation of the complaints, three N.C.O.'s accompanied him aboard. The brigadier, upon returning from the inspection, told the men that the Corfu was 350 short of hei^maximum capacity, the number of lavatories was up to scale and there would be no messing difficulties. After the men had settled down' aboard he would arrange for a pay parade, and extra blankets ; and a pillow would be issued to jeach man. When the brigadier tried to eonitinue his address to the men, his Ivoice was drowned in catcalls and 1 shouts from the men. The ship's ofiicers and passengers j described conditions on the Orion, j complained of several days ago, as ; exaggerated. The offlcer commanding the troops and also the ship's captain are reporting to the War Office and to the Ministry of Transport.