Family Memories War

DIARY EXTRACTS On the way

Thursday 9 November 1944

On the way, starting at 5.20 am. Passed Alsai Crag a magnificent rock, straight up out of the sea. Shape of a triangle to a great height. Then down St. Georges Channel opposite Belfast. Sea rough, snow on mountains of Ireland. Picked up more ships for the convoy in St. George’s channel. Passed the Isle of Man and then off N. Wales coast 6.30pm. Some sea sick, myself escaped. Ship rolled at times but sea much less rough. Hints to avoid sea sickness, eat plenty of bread, fresh air, not much to drink. Concert in afternoon. Good for what it was. Singers, comedian, trumpet player, sailors dressed as Wrens. Ship shudder from its engines, horrible continual noise from ventilating fans. Strange to be part of a convoy such as we have only formerly seen on pictures.

Joke: Anybody seen Chalky? Chalky who Chalky White who comes from Dover and has a brother “Cliff”.

Friday 10 November 1944

Sailed past Scilly Isles about 4.00 pm Sea slight but with a big swell. Small birds flying alongside. Saw a Sunderland flying boat in the morning. The “Capetown Castle” in front of us and a sister ship “Highland Princess” opposite. Temperature up 8 degrees since yesterday. Sweets and tobacco today. Issue us a pear each. Some cigars available. Pipe tobacco issued to Navy but not to Army troops, but could buy it from those who did not want it. Warmer and clear. Ships look like black monsters. Foam as ship cuts through waves reflecting diamond sparkles. Many with headaches and dizzy feelings of sorts. Many Navy men out on a 2 ½ year draft.

Saturday 11 November 1944

Open sea all day, warm sunshine and calm sea. Felt rather unsteady. Small birds still with us. They say we covered 249 miles in 24 hours. “Tombola” played at certain times. Sat on ‘D’ deck in sunshine in afternoon. Gun and fire practise by crew. Now three days at sea.

Sunday 12 November 1944

Beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. Saw a lighthouse in the distance, possibly Cape St. Vincent. Small birds still with us. Same ships and escort still with us all steadily gliding along. Not dark until 6.45 pm. Free meals, beautiful weather, cheap cigarettes, comfortable beds, but horrible ventilation fans and smell of diesel oil.

Monday 13 November 1944

Change of course now due east. One ship dropped off for Lisbon. Another cloudless day with brilliant sunshine. One or two birds still with us. Packed away pullover and gloves. Library Book “The Case of the Missing Nursemaid” by Philip Macdonald. A lance-corporal, a regular soldier batman to G.O.C. Malta, travelling out to join his boss who had flown out five weeks ago. Cases of theft cropping up. Questions of altering clocks. Oranges for tea. Bugle sounds Reveille at 6.30 am but no-one take any notice. Breakfast 7.30 - 8.00, dinner 12.00, supper 6.00 pm. Sea still calm. Sighted land in dim distance at about 4.00 pm, the North African Coast. The sea journey might be out into the Atlantic and then back to avoid possible mines off-shore, and other ways for attack.

Tuesday 14 November 1944

Passed through Straights of Gibraltar about 3.00 am. Did not see the Rock. Convoy in single file through the narrows. Reformed off the coast of Morocco visible in the distance and the Atlas mountains. Gun practice in morning ante-aircraft and firing at a smoke target in the sea. Due to disembark on Friday. Mediterranean Sea like a lake much less rough than the Atlantic. Late afternoon quite close to N. African shore past Algiers. Navy changed into white tops i.e. white coverings to hats and white singlets. Hot sunshine today. Listened to 6.00 pm news. Slow progress on nearly all fronts.

Wednesday 15 November 1944

Sailed past Tunis and Bizierta close to coast. Could see hills and houses plainly. Sea less calm with the ship rolling a bit. Cool at night very hot by day. Reformed into single file. Talked to Maltese. They had been on a course in England and had visited many towns and works. Fifteen weeks in England visiting G. Heath Ltd, Austin and Morris Lucas’s etc.

Thursday 16^th November 1944

Passed close to the island – Pantellaris. Very rugged, many houses, white blobs and visible from a great distance, handed in safety lights, life belts, emergency rations. Rifles with drawn from armoury. Beautiful day, cool wind. Wrote letters. More activity on board. Airman’s empty rubber dingy floated past.