Ref.: Kenneth John Sparks Oral history
Imperial War Museum © IWM 22230
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Excerpt from original transcript:
...It was a beautiful day in a way because it was such a gorgeous looking boat... It was gorgeous especially for people like us...
Question: Was it a really big boat?
Yes, to us it was enormous, the biggest boat I had been on... It was over ten thousand tons. It was quite a big boat. It was a beautiful ship indeed. The crew couldn't have been nicer to us. I know that we weren't the only ones on board, there were an awful lot of people on board. But they couldn't be nicer to us, because we were children.
Question: These escorts, who would these be?
Initially once we got to Liverpool, you met these different escorts. They were responsible for so many children each. Mine, I can't remember who mine actually were. The escort I ended up with on the boat was Margaret Cornish, Mary Cornish I should say... And she got decorated for what she did in the boat.
Question: But you were put on the charge?
An escort was responsible for so many children. And on the boat, of course, you were looked after anyway not only by the escorts but also by the officers. And the Canadians that were there to look after us. There was a Canadian young lady who was doing all the filming. And she didn't live either.
Question: So arriving on this boat, were you sharing accommodation?
Well, we were mastered of course. In groups we were taken on to the different decks where we were going to be sleeping, and then showing our different cabins. Most of us, it was four to five to a cabin, way down below of course (laughs). It was a long walk down and a long walk back up. It was well worth back up for the dinner.
Question: How long were you on the ship before it sailed?
Before we sailed, I think we were on for about 2 days because they were amassing the whole convoy to go, and this was the lead ship of the convoy. As far as I can remember, it was two days before the boat actually sailed away from Liverpool. I can vaguely remember seeing Liverpool disappearing in the mist of rain and sort of foggy weather..
Question: What were you doing until this great disaster?
Well, each day we had lessons, just the same as if we would still be in school. We had lessons. And of course we were being told gradually about the Canadian way of life and how they manage, and what to expect each day. And then, of course we had a certain amount of freedom in which we could play games, talk, and such things.
Question: Was there much put on to you in the way of social activities?
They tried to keep us occupied. Yes. Most of us were under fourteen and there were not many of us over fourteen... And we often went to play where we shouldn't, no doubt (laughs).
Question: It must have been an exciting environment for young boys?
It was smashing for all the boys. I don't know so much about the girls but for the boys it was lovely. Most of us came from poor origins and I wouldn't say we were poor but we haven't got this sort of money that would have enable us to go on a boat like that for a holiday or anything in that sort of, in that case. But we did envoy it. We certainly got up to lots should things we shouldn't have done. But we never did find out if we should have or not, not at the end.
Question: How about the convoy? Were you aware of the convoy?
Oh yes, we were allowed on the deck for about three or four hours at least a day, especially when the weather was very nice. And even when it was wet, you could still you could still go up there and there was nothing to stop you... and there was the destroyer going up and down. Oh it was lovely for children. And of course we were younger then...
Question: Were you aware of any danger?
Well, we did not think that anything would have ever happened. I mean, all those boats and navy boats. Much too bigger convoy to have any problem. But there we are. It was unfortunate that the escort got took away. Otherwise, we possibly wouldn't have a problem.
Question: Were you aware of that when it disappeared?
No, no, we weren't told things like that. I mean, one day it was in, the next day it wasn't. I mean, it did not mean anything to us. We just told it was probably out chasing submarines. That was our thought, being children. We didn't know it wasn't coming back.
Question: What sort of training did you get on lifeboats?
Oh, we had lifeboat drill every day without fail. Wherever you were, you had to go to your lifeboat. I got a vague idea my lifeboat was number 26. You had to go there every day. You had at least one drill if not two drills a day. You had to have lifejacket on all times anyway.... They weren't taking any chances with us, I must admit.
...
Question: About the event of the night of the 17th, what actually happened in as much details as you can record?
Well, we went to bed at our normal time, which was eightish, and to our cabins. As far as I can remember, we were sound asleep when there was this rather loud noise and the lights all flickered and went on and off and out, and there were screams and, naturally, there was a lot of noise and a lot of confusion. But what I did in my particular cabin, I made sure that the three younger people in it got out into the corridor where everybody was walking, not rushing; just walking quite calmly toward the main staircase. I then realized I hadn't got me overcoat so back to the cabin and got it, and then went back and got in the same queue but of course the youngsters that were with me were further up along. We walked the same staircase, up the main staircase, through to the dining room, then out onto the deck.
The deck itself, the hatches had been blown off, the emergency lights were on. There were electrical sparks coming out from the different parts. And, of course, there was an awful lots of noise. The wind was blowing. It was raining like mad. And we then we walked around... going to the crew to get rounded, to where the lifeboats were on whichever side you were on. We were on the far side... walking down to what was my lifeboat. I was picked up by a sailor, whose name I should never know, who said 'there is this boat for you son' and just put me in.
Then, there was a few more who got in the boat, and you could still see everything that was going on, such a lot of noise, and mess, and steam of course. We were then lowered and luckily we were one of the lucky ones; we were lowered correctly. We actually got into the water without even getting wet other than by rain, of course, and wind. It wasn't a boat with oars. It had a system where you pushed a handle and pulled a handle, which in turn, turned a propeller....
You could see the boat with all the lights on gradually going down. There were boats, lifeboats that were dropping people out because they were tipping, letting one end go loose before the other end, so a lot of people fell out of the boat. And of course, there was a lot of noise, a lot of screaming naturally. And the lights were all there. But we pulled away a little because you had to allow for the fact that when the boat did sink it would create quite a problem with pulling boats with it. So we had to get away, a reasonable length away. We pulled away. Nobody else pulled away with us. We didn't see any other boat at all, no lifeboat. And it was rather horrific, yes.... That night enormously a nightmare...
We managed, we pulled away far enough and then, of course, when daylight came, cause this was somewhere about half pass ten or eleven o'clock at night, but when daylight turned up there was nothing, no people, no boat. Just us.
Question: did you see the boat actually go down?
Actually going right down, yes...
Question: What was it like when you see a boat going down?
When you think how gorgeous a boat it was, but the state it was in, I suppose, and the steam, the serene going as it went down. In a way I suppose it wouldn't have been able to be manned, so perhaps it went to its own grave...
Question: Were you the only ones in the boat, the six kids ?
Oh no, there were forty six seamen, there was a steward, and there was Johnny the gunner, there was I think at all, I suppose, it must have been well over fifty of us, cause there was this millionaire businessman as well...
Question: Were you squished together?
Well, we squished together for warmth (laughs). It was the middle of the Atlantic. It was awfully cold and, of course, also it was raining like mad naturally. The wind was blowing. I think it was a full eight gale actually at that time. We kept together mainly to keep warm and dry. And of course you had to bail the boat out as well because that was getting all the rain as well. We had a little canvas cover over the front of the boat which once that was up stopped the sea shipping in anyway. So at least we had only to contain with rain in. But initially we were so busy bailing and pushing. Although we were small we weren't too small to help.
...
Question: So you were on that boat from the 17th?
I've got a very vague idea that we were picked up somewhere around the 21st but I am not a hundred percent certain. Because we were on that boat for quite some way. And the first day on the boat we were not allowed to eat anyway (laughs). I think our stomach had shrunk too much.
Question: What are your memories of these days on the boat?
Well, at first it was of course an adventure in a way. Not a nice adventure but an adventure. But, of course, there was very little food. We had a ship biscuit and or a piece of peach or a piece of sardine or whatever per day. And a sip of water per day. And it kept us alive...
Some days were nice. The sun shone. And it was a nice day when the sun shone. Then, of course other days it wasn't. Once, I don't know how many days out, about three or four days, we were surrounded by a pod of whales. We had to chase them away because otherwise their fluke could have easily smashed the boat. Then I know on the fifth day, we saw a merchant shipping not very far away. We made a lot of noise, waves, but it didn't see us. And it stopped for some cause, possibly a breakdown of engine. But they never saw us. Just as we were getting nearer perhaps to hear us, the screw started and off it went (laughs). That was a big disappointment to everybody. But on the other hand, there was this thought that if we've seen one boat we must be in the shipping line. Little did we know that it was also a ruse of the Germans to do this sort of thing with merchant ships to entice other boats to come and help. And then, they sink them...
Question: How did your spirit keep up?
Well, I think it was Mary Cornish kept it going, sings songs and stories and, of course, initially we were quite fit. We would help push and propel the boat and bail. But after a couple of days with next to no food and very cold Atlantic wind we got quite lethargic, and I think she used to slap us to keep us awake in the daytime. I don't know how she managed, I must admit...
Question: Sighting the plane, what that day was?
Well, we sighted it but we didn't except it to see us. I must admit that... Of course, we waved naturally and I stood up and signaled that we were here and eventually they saw it and came down lower. Oh dear, wasn't it lovely. Saved. They tried to land but it was far too rough. They just couldn't land. So they signaled... they gonna get help. And they found this destroyer and the boat went up to us the next day....