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[font="Verdana"]The first thing Arthur thought when we woke up was… this is a helluva hangover old boy. Wonder how many and of what I imbibed to get like this? The next thing he thought was, I’m a bit wet, and I seem to be bobbing up and down. For a while he considered this , to the exclusion of anything else. Then he opened his eyes. The cause of his wetness was not, how shall we put it, a personal accident brought on by one too many, no, it was the fact that he was floating in the sea. Strangely, he was floating, not in his swimming togs, nor with a bit of totty alongside, but alone, in his uniform, and wearing a lifejacket…….
Well, what’s a chap to do he pondered. How and why did I get here?

As he drifted, both in and out of sleep and in and out of the gentle wave tops his befuddled brain began to jigsaw things together. …….[/font]

So you say it has nothing to do with considering the fact that the sun is always over the yardarm somewhere in the world ??? [8D]

Perhaps a stylized -uups, sorry, In this thread I should probably say stylised- painted sun over a yardarm of a certain vessel with very big guns then ???

Come on, tell us !!!

Hartwig

[font="Verdana"]I’m not Arthur….. I’m Harry. Who the **** is Arthur.

Over to his left he saw fins in the water……. Fins… FINS. He blinked, they moved, they turned. They were coming towards him. FINS…. SHARKS. Suddenly his mind was very clear indeed, and indeed his life began to flash before him rapidly. His childhood at the family country seat, his time at prep then later Rugby School. Hah, he’d actually made it through that without getting kicked out like his esteemed Grandfather! There had been one or two close shaves mind you, but the Matron had been most helpful – in so many ways!

His commission in the Queen’s Yeomanry. His pulling a few strings, dodging a few postings and his, how shall we put it, his inveigling himself into the GHQ Staff, and finally the plum posting – a staff job in Singers… made for life he was. The round of cocktail parties, the young things all hanging on his every word. The dusky beauties. A servant or three to do his every command. He’d just made some useful contacts with a few gentlemen in the ‘import/export’ business who were very keen to discuss his role in checking of goods in and out of the military warehouses…..

He blinked again…. The fins were getting mighty close. Was this the end for the Flashman line? Bitten off in his prime?[/font]

Somewhere in his deep subconscious Flashy recalled a fact. One of those many, many things that would certainly come in useful someday, but which to him had been irrelevant and had meant most of his schooling had been a blur. The fact in question was that sharks always flipped over to attack, their fin disappearing as they turned those fearsome teeth to rip their prey apart. This one didn’t, it just kept coming towards him – and he felt a soft bump before it veered off to his side, circled and came in to bump him again. Then it veered off incredibly fast, turned and hurled itself out of the air. A b****y Dolphin or Porpoise or whatever!


And wait a minute, over beyond the leaping fish, the dark outline of land..
‘Well Flashy, my lad, time to get a shift on here’ he remarked, to himself mainly, but also to the fish.

One thing Flashman was not neglectful of was his fitness. He was a good swimmer and a strong athlete. This had nothing to do with his day job as he would say, but was of prime importance for his night-time manoeuvres, especially when called upon to exit via a window and make a sudden dash for it.

Every stroke brought him closer to the shoreline, though what shoreline, and who was there to greet him was as yet anybody’s guess.

Flashman returns!! Hip, hip, hooray!!!

I’m not Arthur….. I’m Harry. Who the **** is Arthur

Well, at least you got that part right. But you still got some 'splaining to do -- Flashman was in the Army, not the RN, and his latest and last biographical entry (Flashman on the March) mentions Manila and the Solomon Islands but no posting to Singapore. Be aware -- when you're writing about Flashman, you're running with big dogs indeed.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

I’m not Arthur….. I’m Harry. Who the **** is Arthur

Well, at least you got that part right. But you still got some 'splaining to do -- Flashman was in the Army, not the RN, and his latest and last biographical entry (Flashman on the March) mentions Manila and the Solomon Islands but no posting to Singapore. Be aware -- when you're writing about Flashman, you're running with big dogs indeed.

Maybe he is called Arthur after all ?

To his left what looked like a mangrove swamp, to his right the white sands stretched out before him, behind him the jungle. Flashy sat and collected his thoughts.
He’d been on a ship, the AK Tagbilaran, out of Singapore. It was taking ‘essential personnel’ out - and Flashy had appointed himself the most essential personnel he could think of. All clear for most of the journey then all hell broke loose. Jap warships blasting away at the ship, and very probably specifically at Flashy. He’d been over by the port side, looking for a life raft just in case he needed to jump ship when a shell must have exploded and hurled him into the water.
So, where was he?
Back in Malaya? – possibly
On the shore of Sumatra? – possibly
On the shore of Borneo? – possibly
Up **** creek without a paddle – definitely!
And to think, only seven days ago the world was his oyster. (Flashy liked to use other people’s clichés, it saved his brain from having to waste time on idle thoughts). Then the yellow peril began the shooting – and boy did they begin it!

Singers airfields devastated, landings and capture of Khota Bharu and Kuantan. On Sarawak the oil ports of Miri, Brunei and latterly Kuching – though apparently after fierce resistance at the latter. The north and south of Luzon invaded and the great American airbase at Clark Field obliterated. They even have attacked Hong Kong the cheek of it! Over in the American backyard reports were scant but a sneak attack by their Carriers had devastated the fleet at anchor at Pearl.

Of course they were stupid, a small nation like them could not possibly hold off the power of the Allies, but just at the moment they did seem to be, as the Americans would say ‘calling all the shots’. More specifically, Flashy wanted very much to see the end of the war, with the Allies triumphant – because that would mean Flashy had survived it!

‘So Flashy my old son… got to look after number one, can’t sit around here all day, there’s fun to be had, opportunities to exploit, and above all a nice quiet spot to bed down… but as of now its time to take a walk!’

Grabbing a sturdy piece of driftwood to use as an improvised walking stick Flashman hobbles off along the beach.

The somewhat restored Flashman, grandson of the famous Brigadier-General Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC KCB KCIE (5 May 1822 – 1915) trudges off along the beach, whistling to himself.

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

I’m not Arthur….. I’m Harry. Who the **** is Arthur

Well, at least you got that part right. But you still got some 'splaining to do -- Flashman was in the Army, not the RN, and his latest and last biographical entry (Flashman on the March) mentions Manila and the Solomon Islands but no posting to Singapore. Be aware -- when you're writing about Flashman, you're running with big dogs indeed.

I do believe sir you are writing with regard to the famous Brigadier-General Sir Harry Paget Flashman VC KCB KCIE (5 May 1822 – 1915) who is, of course the grandfather of the current hero of this tale. Of course given the theories of parallel universes you could also be referring to one Sebastian Flashman who memoirs of a similar conflict on an alternative planet can be read here:

The sun never sets

Cheers, the sun is definitely over the yardarm here now.

Roger

Flashy stretched and yawned, adjusting his position on the deck chair and gazing out to sea. By his right side, on a rattan table, a cocktail, by his left Lavanya, a dark haired Sumatran of significant beauty, and willing and able to fetch and carry as Flashy required. He'd offered her a job within five minutes of encountering her in Palembang on his arrival. A few Guilden a week was well worth the fee for her close attention.

Well a week since his stroll on the beach and his encounter with the dolphins - apparently they aren't fish at all but mammals.... funny old world. According to the locals they were probably attracted to the dead fish in the water after the explosion, and their 'bumping' Flashy was them saying goodbye and thanks for the fish.

So, a busy week. Arriving at the jungle it turned out to be a screen for a road, a short walk along there and lo and behold, the Hubrecht Plantation. Sadly the Planter himself was away in Palembang but his wife was most welcoming of the gallant soldier. Indeed perhaps a little too welcoming as, upon Daan Hubrecht’s return he had promptly been offered an immediate ride to Palembang, passing by Djambi on a dusty and bumpy road.

Of course, upon arrival at Palembang he had made an immediate enquiry at the local garrison for an update of the conflict, and begged that they appraise his superiors of his survival. Now he was sitting waiting (he hoped for quite a while) for his superior’s response.
They were likely a bit busy he thought. Malaya had been cut in two at Georgetown and currently it would seem the Japs were attempting to wrest Mersing from the Aussies who were dug in there. Elsewhere there were rumours of carriers off Mersing, off Balikpapan and of a large battlefleet near Kuching. It looked to Flashy that he was probably well out of the Singer mess, and any thought of return to there at present seemed ill advised. Indeed he counted himself as one of the lucky ones, apparently quite a few ships moving stuff in and out of Singapore had been lost, including a cruiser and several destroyers. The prime killers seems to by jap bombers – Betties they were called – which had a phenomenal range and carried deadly torpedoes. The Dutch were indifferent to his presence, seemingly torn between the desire to ship out every last drop of oil to maintain the profits of the companies, and the sense that they may need to destroy their oilfields if, as seemed likely, that was what the Japs were after.

Hang on Flashy….. a thought suddenly springing up in his indolent brain – if they are on their way here, then this is one place Flashy doesn’t want to be…… time to make plans!

Absolute classic Roger

Flashy strolled casually down towards his deckchair. Life was pretty good all told. Mind you, a rum old Christmas day for sure! Lavanya was off visiting her family for a day or two, the few British forces that were to be seen around Palembang seemed to be less than full of the festive spirit, and as for those Johnny Dutch - what a bunch of killjoys they were turning out to be! Proper puritans one and all, a visit to church and then back home to sit indoors and read 'the good book'!

No word from Singers on what he should do, and no opportunity as yet to act on his own initiative. He gathered that the Japs were now in control of Singkawang, and had landed at Balipapan and Tarakan also. It was a pretty certain fate for any shipping plying their trade between any of the islands and Singapore that it would be their final voyage. On the other hand four days of heavy fighting at Mersing had seen the little yellow men beaten back time and time again, and their ships stood offshore a pretty target for our flyboys! Shame the b****ers couldn't apparently hit a barn door from the inside! Slightly more concerning was the rumour that Kendari had been taken... Flashy had studied the maps intently enough with regard to his own personal retreat route to know that Jap bombers from there would soon seal off any escape to the south. Still he felt fairly confident that until Mersing went there was little else could happen, and of course Singers would be an impregnable fortress. Maybe he just needed to sit around until the Royal Navy and the Yanks appeared to blow the insolent little men away? Mind you, according to the 'scoreboard' he'd been shown at Dutch HQ the tally of 142 to 9 ships sunk suggested that things were not yet swinging in the favour of the allies! Still only 3 weeks into the war, give it a month or so and it would be a different matter.

Still he felt fairly confident that until Mersing went there was little else could happen, and of course Singers would be an impregnable fortress. Maybe he just needed to sit around until the Royal Navy and the Yanks appeared to blow the insolent little men away? Mind you, according to the 'scoreboard' he'd been shown at Dutch HQ the tally of 142 to 9 ships sunk suggested that things were not yet swinging in the favour of the allies! Still only 3 weeks into the war, give it a month or so and it would be a different matter.

I do believe our boy is in for a bit of shock . . . [:D]

Flashy surveyed what was left of his beach side house, wondering just how much of his favourite deckchair had survived the direct hit by the bombardment. He reflected upon the fact that had he been at home he’d have been somewhere under that lot too… luckily Lavanya had stayed a few days at the family, leaving him at a loose end…. And he was busy finding what he could do with a loose end and a Dutch Oil Manager’s wife (husband away supervising the olifields dontcha know) when all hell had cut loose. Half the Jap navy seemed to have arrived to obliterate Palembang and had treated Flashy’s billet as being the most significant strategic target on the island so it seemed. Then at first light swarms of enemy bombers had appeared and also given the place a ‘once over’.

So, he pondered, where’s safe now - because this place most decidedly is not! The Japs are not going to waste their time with all this kerfuffle and just sail away…. Somewhere just over the horizon was a load of boats with nasty little men with sharp swords…. And Flashy was somewhat attached to his head and wanted to keep it that way.

He could head out to one of the many little boats still plying their trade between here and Singapore – though this might be out of the frying pan into the fire. He could head north – that way was India…. But it was a long journey, over treacherous terrain, and he felt that by the time he got anywhere the Nips would be there ahead of him, settled in and ready to welcome any handsome young Englishman……. He could go south, some place called Teloetbetoeng, or west to Benkolen. Trouble was he was on an island – albeit a big one, so eventually he needed to get off the island. Flying wasn’t a good idea – most planes that took off came down again rather fast, helped by the Zeros that seemed to zip about the sky endlessly now. Last boat he as on got sunk…. But at least in a boat you could always jump out if things got hairy……

Ok, he headed off down the road towards HQ, time to borrow a typewriter and cut himself some orders….. maybe also see if he could borrow some togs to wear….. he surely wasn’t going to try and pack a suitcase of what was inside the ruined house!

He could head out to one of the many little boats still plying their trade between here and Singapore – though this might be out of the frying pan into the fire. He could head north – that way was India…. But it was a long journey, over treacherous terrain, and he felt that by the time he got anywhere the Nips would be there ahead of him, settled in and ready to welcome any handsome young Englishman……. He could go south, some place called Teloetbetoeng, or west to Benkolen. Trouble was he was on an island – albeit a big one, so eventually he needed to get off the island.

Heave away,
My bully, bully boys,
We are bound for--
Australia!

-- 19th century sea chanty

Flashman was sure there was a nautical term for what he was traveling in, yes, he'd heard it few times in the less salubrious areas of Singapore docks - 'a ******* rust bucket'. Well so far so good, it had not sunk yet, and every hour there was a greater amount of sea between him and the land, and a bigger area of sea to be hidden in should the Japs decide to mont a special 'kill Flashy' expedition.

It was true however, there is nothing like a sea cruise to calm the frazzled nerves..... and this was nothing like a sea cruise (shades of Flanagan and Allen there me boyo). Still you had to give it to Captain Marx, like most other Yanks he didn't spare the expense. Every bit of deck fixing mounted some form of gun, and the crew were deployed round the upperworks looking menacing enough. There were even a couple of guns (5 inch and 3 inch in Flashy wasn't mistaken)though how useful they'd be given the ship's sides were armoured to the same degree as a tin can was a matter of debate.

The AK Floridian ploughed on through a gentle swell, clouds overcast threatening rain.

So, fresh orders from 'Singers' in an envelope, Flashy had borrowed a truck that some local had left parked with the keys in, and set off along the main road to Teloetbetoeng. Once at the place he'd sought the senior commander and waved his 'sealed orders' in his face. The signature on the envelope was passable imitation of Percival's - he'd used it often enough at the docks and on many of his unofficial requisitions to know it was pretty damn good. The fact the man he was talking to was a Dutchy, and rather concerned with his own growing problems meant that there was little argument, but a simple suggestion to get down to the harbour, find himself a ship and 'de zode weg en liet me met mijn werk verdergaan'. Well Flashy was only too happy to abide by the military injunction, though as he attempted said 'weg het sodding' he did catch comments that two days previously landings had begun at Palembang, and that the gallant defence had crumpled in two days. So, as far as Flashy could work out that gave him about a week to maak me schaars before they little men were going to arrive in Telotbetoeng and make life unpleasant again. Mersing had fallen but that aside it did seem that the enemy was pausing to draw breath - maybe they'd decided enough was enough and even now they were composing a polite note saying sorry for the mistake and could they all just go home again and be friends.

Captain Marx was less than forthcoming when it came to some simple questions, like 'Where are we going?' The most he would say was an update on time of arrival. Flashy assumed the was suspected of being a very well made up Japanese spy or that the good Captain was just a paranoid and power crazed tinpot god. He was a bit miffed though, I mean how was a fellow to make plans, to prepare a good cover story when the recipients of the cover story might be any colour of the rainbow, and either some top brass or some stupid natives?

Latest update was they were about three days out from their destination. This was of no great help to Flashy as he'd not done much back at school on navigation and all that tosh.

Well wherever it was, at least he'd be soon off this ship, it was beginning to pong a bit from all those other ranks who were crammed in like proverbial sardines in any spare space. Luckily no sighting of the enemy, apart from what some had claimed was a float plane several days ago that some 'know it all' had reckoned could have only come from a Japanese Escort carrier.

So, three days and news of the world..... what had happened back in the war? Had Percival thrown back the impudent little orientals at Singapore and was even now storming back though Malaya? Had The Andrew finally showed up and blown the Jap ships to hell and back?



Flashy pondered briefly, then gave up and went in search of his own personal 'tot' supply.

‘Major Flashman, good to see you sir, do have a seat.’
‘Sir’, Flashy sat crossed his legs and waited. LtGen Heath glanced down at a sheet on the desk. From where Flashy sat it was impossible to decipher.
‘Welcome to Perth. I trust you have somewhere to stay at present?’
‘Sir’ Flashy was determined to give as little way as possible until he saw the lie of the land.
‘So, according to Colonel Fitzpatrick, you were ordered to Palembang by General Percival. In order to do what precisely?’
‘To arrange the shipment of supplies and reinforcements to Singapore Sir.’
‘And in this were you successful?’
‘Sir, I achieved moderate success until the Japs arrived in force off Palembang, leaving us unable to send shipping anymore.’
‘So you then, ‘off your own bat’ headed to Teloetbetoeng?’
‘Sir, yes, it seemed to me another place from which I could direct reinforcements to Singapore’.
‘And were you successful?’
‘Sir I had a small problem in the shape of a Japanese carrier force scouring the straits.’
‘So, what happened then?
‘ I placed myself at the disposal of the local Dutch Commander who ordered me to make my way to my nearest HQ for reassignment.’
‘And the orders that you refer to, you have them?
‘Sir the orders to go to Palembang went down with the ship I was travelling on. The orders at Teloetbetoeng were verbal – he was rather busy.’
‘So, I fact, we have only your word for all of this?’
‘Sir, the word of an Officer and a Gentleman………’
LtGen Heath’s expression suggested he was not entirely sure of this character reference…. But let it pass.
‘Look here Major Flashman, you have been her 24 hours, you have seen the shambles that we have here. Every day the odd little ship makes it into harbour with fresh tales of narrow escapes and no real idea of what to do other than flee. My job is to organise this mess into a defence and I have to make decisions. I am keeping some personnel, those who will be essential to defending this port, and others are being transited on to HQ for them to use as they see fit. ‘
‘Sir’. Flashy wondered which category he was going to be in. That furthest away from the action suited him.
‘Well, there’s no point in sending you back where you came from, Palembang and Teloetbetoeng are gone, most of the DEI too. Java is still ours, but we can’t do anything to support it yet. Malaya is gone, but Singapore holds. There has been no movement into Burma. Looks like the enemy may be satisfied with their gains in that area. Our concern has to be Australia and getting the defences in order. Then, as the Americans arrive things will change.’
‘ Sir’. Flashy was taking in the comments all right, things were pretty messy all told. He’d got out just in time. Hmmm, must have been one of the last ships out….
‘So Major, when you get to your destination report to BGen Fraser, I am sure he will be able to use a resourceful character like you.’
‘Sir?’
‘Yes Major?’
‘Respectfully, I do not recall you telling me where I was going……’
‘Ah, yes, place called Darwin. Apparently it’s a bit jungle territory up that way. You will be at home there given your recent experiences’
‘Sir, I do think you are making an error here, I would be much more suited to organising things in Brisbane, or even at Aden…’
‘Nonsense Major, man of your undoubted talents, you’d be wasted in the rear areas….. Goodbye Major’

Much like his esteemed grandfather, out hero has the unfortunate knack of appearing to be a more valuable asset than he wants to be... [&o]

Ah, yes, place called Darwin. Apparently it’s a bit jungle territory up that way. You will be at home there given your recent experiences’

And if history is any guide, he'll at least find himself under falling Japanese bombs . . . [;)]