French operated Carrier. The Convoy did depart and I recall seeing it disappear over the horizon with columns of smoke being the last we saw of the other ships. Two escort destroyers remained with us and circled our ship. I found out later that they were not aware of how many troops were in the water until approximately six hour had passed. They did pick up 13 survivors. We drifted for a period and finally went broadside to the swells and rolled, as I was told, to 44 and 1/2 degrees and had it gone to 45 degrees I probably would not be writing this.
They finally covered the hatches with Canvas and, again as I heard, pumped air into the holds to assist in keeping the lower bulkheads secure and not collapse.
We eventually limped into the Azores at Puenta Delgarda and remained for a few days.
There was no Mutiny at the Azores.
On about the 4th day in port a ship bound from Australia to Liverpool waited at the 3 mile limit for us to be shuttled on an Escort Destroyer to the ship, The DeNother Castle.
Upon arriving at Liverpool a minor dust-up with the troop Commander may have been seen as a Mutiny. Let me explain. We as a group of Paratroopers were a bit cocky and we had a countdown such as 48,49 and on 50 and all hollerd "Some shit". The troop Commander was making some comments, the subject I cannot recall, when someone gave the count. Immediately the troop commander drew his pistol , grabbed one of the troop and asked" Who said that" holding the pistol to the troopers head. As one, we surged forward with knives drawn confronting the troop commander. He hastily released the man holstered his pistol,Stated "this is the worst troop formation that he had ever encountered" and began to leave when someone again gave the count with 48. This may have been the Mutiny referred to in previous material.
It finally took five ships to get me to France and the war zone.
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