Family Memories War

Autumn in Malta

Sat 22 September

Groups 19/20 in demobilization camp.

Mon 24 September

Only eight of us now remain.

Note: usual walks, tennis, swimming, letters etc. mixed in, volunteer job helping with Tote, selling tickets, bookies, runner etc. at Mara races. Payment to us for this volunteer job.

Tues 16 Oct

Notice of move from St. George’s Barracks down to Valetta Office to be in flats opposite the Castille. Quarters in the Castille itself.

Fri 19 Oct

Kit etc. collected together for tomorrows move.

Sat 20 Oct

Started move at 7.30 am on all day. No place for us in the Castille. Slip up in arrangements. Parked ourselves in the Conference Room. Moved boxes, tables, chairs etc. etc. up flights of stairs nearly all day.

Sun 21 Oct

Completed the office move. Ourselves allocated to the top floor of the Castille.

Mon 32 Oct

Settled in for usual Pay Office work and routine.

Wed 24 Oct

Chess came into our off duty games, one with D Foden lasting 3 hours.

Thurs 25 Oct

Watched the “Durnottar Castle” leave harbour with group 21 on board.

Wed 31 Oct

Stores pm for issue of shirts with collars and ties which we now are allowed to wear.

Thurs 1 Nov

Able to go down through Lascari’s Ditch and into tunnels the War time HQ where important control rooms were located.

Mon 5 Nov

Battleship “Nelson” in harbour. Visited Rabat and saw the very ancient catacombs.

Sat 10 Nov

Command Hall, a hypnotist being the main attraction with his demonstrations on members selected from the audience.

Tues 13 Nov

Counting Poppy Day Collection. The Pay Office on orders and in conjunction with the Governor had a duty of paying members of the Navy who had entered port. Unfortunately I was never selected for this experience.

Mon 19 Nov

Round Senglea looking at dockyard bomb damage. Cruiser “Ajax” in dry dock.

Thurs 22 Nov

To Rabat and a wedding reception of one of our Sergeants to Miss Vasollo a Maltese lady. Reception held at a hotel in Rabat, not much of a place. Toilets were shocking, outside across the courtyard, swimming with filth. Reception in an upstairs room where bride and bridegroom sat at one end on a raise dais. Guests filed around to shake hands with them. Music and drinks served.

Sun 25 Nov

Round dockyards pm. Bomb damage, Senglea, Cospicua, and Viltororsia.