The only open areas were the lounges and the large ballrooms of
peace time. In these the almost continuous poker games took place. I
spent very little time on dock except for the abandon ship drills. It
was December and the weather was not very good. On the few good days
we could go up on the stern and shoot skeet. The shells were free and
we could shoot all we wanted. We usually found an enlisted man to run
the machine to shoot the clay targets. It gave us a little more
practice in 1eading a moving target.
I didn't get seasick, but in the morning when I went to the dining
room and saw the fish for breakfast I did not feel so well. I took a
couple of rolls and bacon for sandwiches and went back to my room to
eat them in my bunk. This being an all English crew we got very
English food. About half way across the Atlantic the ship began to
take a zigzag course and the direction was changed every three
minutes. It took longer this way but was the only protection against
the German submarines as we were alone with no escort ships. When
walking down the corridors we would feel the ship 1ean one way and
then the other. We soon got used to that and the thing which bothered
us the most was at meal time. The tables had a board along the edge
and all the plates would slide from one side to the other. When you
wanted salt, pepper, etc. you would grab it when it came to your side
of the table. We had to hang onto our plates as we ate, but that
didn't seem to hurt our appetites.
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