Merchant Navy Radio Officers

Ian Malcolm, Radio Officer, 1943-51

On 8 July, 1943, he sailed from Greenock as a passenger on the Queen Elizabeth to join the Samite, one of the first of the Liberty Ships to be given to Britain under the Lease-Lend agreement.  On 4 October, the Samite was between Oran and Algiers, in Convoy UGS18, when she, with high explosives in every hold except No.3, was the first British ship to be
struck by a glider bomb.  Fortunately, it struck No.3 hold, and though Ian and the 1st R/O were in the wireless room and only about 30 feet from it, they felt little of the explosion. The deck, however, was curled up and with her engines not working, she was towed the 100 miles to Algiers.  One man was killed and several injured, but not seriously.  The Fort Fitzgerald was sunk in that action and the Hiram S. Maxim and the Selvik were damaged.

After temporary repairs in Algiers, followed by permanent repairs in her home port of Baltimore, the Samite was in Convoy UGS38 and about 100 miles farther east from her previous encounter, when an aerial torpedo struck No.2
hold.  This time her engines still functioned, but with the steering gear out of order and down by the head, she was again towed to Algiers.  During that air attack, on 20 April, 1944, a large piece of metal landed on the Samite's boat-deck and this turned out to be from the US Liberty Troopship, Paul Hamilton which, carrying troops and high explosives, had blown up.  All 580 on board perished.  The US destroyer Lansdale and the Royal Star were also lost that night and the Stephen F Austin was damaged.

Ian's next ship, the Samforth, sailed from Avonmouth, for Halifax, on 7 December, 1944 and, after loading at Saint John, NB, she joined Convoy UGS75 which dispersed on entering the Mediterranean.  This 10-month voyage was
more of a grand tour, visiting Egypt, India, Mozambique, Uruguay, Argentina, Orkney, Norway and Finland.

After another spell at Dundee Wireless College to gain a 2nd Class PMG, Ian joined the Samnesse and, having done a brief voyage to the Continent, was promoted 1st R/O and Purser.  The ensuing voyage lasted 11 months with the
ship carrying, first, South African Army material and then coal.  Ian then went to Leith Nautical College and returned to Holts with a 1st Class PMG and Radar Operator's Certificate.

Subsequent deep-sea voyages were on the Atreus (pilgrims to Jeddah homeward), the Glengarry (four voyages to the Far East) and the Deucalion (Australia and Indonesia).

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On leaving the sea, Ian stuck a clerical job in Dundee for two years before serving a year at Wickradio followed by two years at Portisheadradio.  In 1956 he left to train as a teacher at Edinburgh University and Moray House. He retired in 1987 after 26 years in teaching, 22 as a Head of Department in Viewforth High School, Kirkcaldy. 

During his retirement, he has written his seagoing memoirs, all of which have been published in The Nautical Magazine
of Glasgow, from 1993 to 2003. He has also prepared several audio books. To contact Ian, please visit his website: www.ianmmalcolm.co.uk

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