We then boarded a train for Pier 21 in Halifax, boarding R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth. After loading on 25,000 personnel, the tugs started to push the ship away from the dock, then the tugs pushed the ship back to the dock and a lot of Americans started to board the ship. Later I was told an American ship almost lost its rudder near Newfoundland. It crippled back to Halifax, where a cargo of 8,000 U.S. soldiers squeezed on with us.

Then we were off to the open sea with 33,000 on board. The two large swimming pools were planked over to serve as mess halls. We were served two meals a day and on our way from the mess we could pick up some bread and cold cuts as well as some fruit for a lunch. One day about mid afternoon I was called to the Orderly Room, where I was told I would be in charge of 16 soldiers for blackout watch. No one was to be allowed on the open deck during the night hours. For this I was given an RP (Regimental Police) badge and arm band. This was a security watch and I had to relieve each of the 16 guards every two hours. The only trouble I had was with some medical officers, who were across the passageway from the Orderly Room. I guess they were toasting our cruise overseas. The next morning my duties were complete so I turned in the arm band but kept the RP badge, which permitted me to roam the ship at will.

On the third day at sea, I think about 14:30, the ship's alarm sounded. I was on the Sun Deck at the time, where about 200 nurses were congregated. I heard an order for "Full Left Rudder". They also shut one propeller off and opened full speed ahead on the right rudder. This huge boat seemed to pivot and really listed to the right. Looking down at the ocean, we saw two German torpedoes slowly passing by. They told us later that that was the 14th time the Elizabeth was fired on by U boats and never was hit. On account of this situation, we detoured by Greenland as there was a pack of German subs loitering in the Atlantic Ocean.

A soldier's favorite past time that prevailed during the days on board was shooting craps. This prevailed all day long but not at night because of the large population of the ship, we slept one night in a cabin and the next night on the inner decks. Most of the crap games had quite high stakes. The gamblers didn't like one dollar bills as they didn't count up too fast and they were bulky so they were thrown over their shoulders and the surrounding audience picked it up. I garnered enough to buy a case of cigarettes. Obviously, I didn't stand there all day.