In 1957 at the age of just 18, I joined the regular army for 6 years,the regiment I joined was the 1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, {city of London regiment}, all the lads in there being from all over London, I was sent to the Tower of London to do my basic training, then off to Dover ten weeks later, to join other troops from all over England that were all to board the troop ship the Dunera.

It was in November 1957, I had never been abroad before, and it was the thrill of my life time, to board the Dunera at Southampton, so much going on, mass bands were playing, as we left England, there was no one there to see me off, but I did not care.

I had met a new fusilier friend that had joined the battalion on the same day as me, and as we slowly sailed out ot  Southampton docks, and saw the tug boats drop the  lines off, and head back to port.

I felt free from being a boy, and feeling like a man, for the first time, curly Clifford and I stood at the rail of the ship and both knew we were in for a great adventure.

Our boys had bunks on e2 and e3. On the other decks were the Camoronians, the Buffs, the Royal Engineers, and many more regiments and companys, plus all there married pads {wives,children etc}.

The kitchen crew were Chinese, and we had to take salt tablets. We had film shows, and piped music of all the old songs requested mostly by the senior ranks, and families. A lot of time spent laying on our bunks listening to the nice relaxing music; we also had pokey drill, weapon firing off the back of the ship, and when it got to hot to sleep, we took our bedding up on deck to sleep.

We stopped at Gibralta, Malta, Bombay to change kitchen crew from Chinese to Indian. When we went into a port, we had bumboats come along side, selling watches, t-shirts, wallets, radios etc.

When we crossed the Equator we had a party on board, plenty of good food and a day off to just laze about. We dropped off troops and half our battalion at Sharjah if my memory is correct. Then off we went again to Kenya,{Mombassa}.

It was a trip of a lifetime for a young 18 year old. The crew were great, the accommodation was not to bad, the food was eatable, and even when the ship rolled about it was not enough to make us sea sick.

In all, it was a great, great experience; one I will never ever forget, thank you  DUNERA.