Page 119 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

dozens of workers riveting, drilling, welding, caulking, and burning etc, making a noise

and working at top speed about one hour before lunch break. On the deck of the ship,

however, all the sailors were sitting in the sun having their tea break and smoking.

After a pause he looked at me and said “Look out there son and tell me who is winning this
war now?” He then went over to a cupboard and took out a silver badge with the South

African coat of arms and a small orange ribbon hanging from it, similar to the orange flash
our soldiers used to wear on their epaulettes. He said to me “You wear this badge with

pride and help us win this war”. I was so disgusted as I walked out of his office that I threw

that badge away at a convenient place over the dockyard wall. The badge was called a
“Key Man’s” badge, which implied that one was playing an important part in the war

effort.

The Navy also engaged three of our local fishing boats on certain days of the week when

the navy would practice firing torpedoes, without a warhead of course. It would be the job
of these boats to retrieve them and return them to the ships.

Peter Goles

Security: Signs all over: "Don’t talk about ships or shipping”. Air-raid sirens were placed

on the Outspan and practices took place at 10 a.m. on Fridays. Security guards were
present on the trains between Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town and a special pass was

required to travel through to Simon’s Town. Further security was required in all homes
where windows and doors were covered with black curtains to prevent light from being

seen from the outside. Also, motor car lights were hooded. Two well-known residents who

patrolled the blackout were Mr. Alec Bassios and Mr. Andrew Dreyer.

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