The Other Side of Hell

The Author has written this story in his own unique way - unique because it is a story about the love and hell raising of the men with courage, who fought against incredible odds and won. These were the men of the Merchant Navy. It is a story of life at sea (which was hell) and, above all, life on shore in every port of call during World War ll. There were tears, laughter and one hell of a lot of loving going on during those dreaded war years. During his years in the Merchant Navy while serving on petrol tankers, the most dangerous ships afloat, the author tells it all - warts and all. After reading this book, the reader may think that the only things the Merchant Seamen did was to get pissed and visit the ladies of the night, but be assured, that their time in port was very short compared to the very long and dangerous days and nights spent on the cruel seas, transporting much needed equipment and petrol for the war effort - which now allows you to read this book in peace and freedom. Let the Good Times Roll !

This book is a true story, written in a manner which makes the readers feel that they are in the book with me; in my exploits around the world. The book is written as it happened with no punches pulled, warts and all. The story begins at my young age of ten in the great depression of the thirties to the forties, when my sisters and I had to line up at the cake shop for stale cakes and then scavenge through the market garbage tips for enough food to survive on. It takes the reader through my service in the Royal Navy Cadets at the age of twelve then into the Welsh Home Guard at the age of fourteen. England was under threat of being invaded by the Germans and my home town of Swansea was being bombed every night. At fifteen I tried to join the British Merchant Navy but was told I was too young. I then tried to join the Norwegian Maritime Service which requested a letter and signature from my Father giving his authority and my proof of age. I wrote a note and forged my Father's signature. I was on a Norwegian tanker the very next day. The war was raging now, and ships were being sunk faster than they could be built and there was the loss of hundreds of Merchant Seamen and at fifteen I was right in the middle of it all. The story takes you to many ports such as, America, Iran, Iraq, Durban, Cape Town, India, Lorenco Marques, Italy, Alexandria ( it was while I was in Alexandria that I got word that my older brother Ted had been killed in North Africa) and many more ports around the world. -There had been many nights spent in the lockups in some of these ports. The days and nights at sea were hell on high water, the short times ashore on leave, well, there were tears, laughter and one hell of a lot of loving going on. One must read the book to get the full impact of my exploits - it's a page turner. "To hell with the expense, give the cat another canary and let the good times roll" Red Morgan

Red Morgan was born into a poor working class family in Swansea, South Wales in 1925. He Father drank away most of the money he earned, leaving his Mother with barely enough money to feed and clothe their family of five - two girls and three boys - Red's youngest brother being a cripple from infancy. World War Two was raging in Europe. Red was too young to be called up for the forces but old enough to be drafted into the coal mines which was the next call up. To avoid going down the mines Red applied for a job with the Norwegian Merchant Marines at the age of 15 years. Looking so young, they asked Red to bring back a written authority from his Father allowing him to sail on their ships. Red wrote the authority and forged his Father's signature and got a job on one of the biggest tankers afloat at the time, carrying high- octane petrol - one of the most dreaded ships to sail on during the war. During his years in the Merchant Marines he lost his Father, Mother, eldest brother and youngest brother. At war's end he paid off ship in Sydney and started his new life in Australia. Red worked on Australia's Warragamba Dam and still resides in the township of Warragamba.