A Ship Must Die (1981)
“Brazier was another Australian, one of the latest draft which had come aboard as replacements.
It took some getting used to. Each time Blake left his quarters he heard new voices, different dialects and saw the lost expressions of men exploring fresh surroundings.
It had been touching when the latest batch of old Andromedas had left the ship. They had gathered in an embarrassed, shuffling group while he had said a few words to them. But how did trite phrases and emotional handshakes sum up what... he felt, what they all must have felt?
Those men in their best uniforms, starting back along the passage to Britain. New ships, courses, promotions, adjustments in every way.
Now he was back in his day cabin he could recall each man as he had once fitted into their elite company. A sun-reddened face yelling defiance as the Stukas had come screaming down. Another murmuring encouragement to a messmate pinned beneath twisted steel. Sailors wading ashore to lift wounded troops from Tobruk, Farleigh’s marines firing a volley over a line of graves.MoreLess
It took some getting used to. Each time Blake left his quarters he heard new voices, different dialects and saw the lost expressions of men exploring fresh surroundings.
It had been touching when the latest batch of old Andromedas had left the ship. They had gathered in an embarrassed, shuffling group while he had said a few words to them. But how did trite phrases and emotional handshakes sum up what... he felt, what they all must have felt?
Those men in their best uniforms, starting back along the passage to Britain. New ships, courses, promotions, adjustments in every way.
Now he was back in his day cabin he could recall each man as he had once fitted into their elite company. A sun-reddened face yelling defiance as the Stukas had come screaming down. Another murmuring encouragement to a messmate pinned beneath twisted steel. Sailors wading ashore to lift wounded troops from Tobruk, Farleigh’s marines firing a volley over a line of graves.MoreLess
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