That you Jack ? ( based on a true story that happened to my grandad)

 It took me six weeks to gain my sea legs now I was finding it an usual sensation to be back on dry land. 

The docks in Liverpool were dull grey and feature less in fact no less feature less than the arctic circle in the middle of winter. I had never known cold like we experienced on those winter coveys. 

I held a cigarette to my lips to fight off the  cold of a bitter wind at the quayside. The dock was a hive of activity we were loading up for the next voyage but it was long slow work and at present there was no real sense of urgency. 

Another ship was docked much further down the side of the quay. They were offloading prisoners off war in handcuffs. 

Albert who I was working with started shouting at one of them “ well bugger me , Jack , Jack is that you ?”  The prisoner looked over at Albert and smiled a smile of pure joy. “Albert” he responded. 

“What the hell are you doing in a Jerry uniform”. The guards did nt seem to mind the two of them chatting.  “Well it’s a funny story really I was visiting my uncle  in the Black Forest, when the next thing you know war had been declared and they have conscription over their well I could nt very well say no or they d have had me shot , so the next thing you know I am in the German navy”. 

 I did nt let on I was English or they d have hung me as a spy but all those summers in the black Forrest helping on the farm with Uncle Ernst meant I was a fluent in German , anyway it’s been a nightmare and the ship getting torpedoed was really a blessing in disguise,  can you do me a big favour and let the wife know I am still alive may be just keep quiet about the been in  German navy part.