DIARY AUGUST 1943
Aug 1st
Usual services. Mr Caucherson -an African spoke
Aug 2nd
My relief arrived. RAF dance at New England .I met a lot of ex - patients, had a grand time
Aug 3rd
OCU meeting Mr Herbert spoke of China
Aug 7th
Picnic at Lumley 8 of us. Will took us in his car. Finished duty altogether. Went to Kennedy's for tea. Pa Birch is down from up country as Mrs Birch is in hospital at Hill Station
Aug 9th
Busy day sewing etc. John Summers farewell do at Loin and Palm
Aug 10th
Walked to town am shopping. Packing in pm Walk to gun turret early evening ,sewing later
Aug 11th
Went to see Mrs Birch -Hill Street Hospital. Chop later at Kennedy's. gave Mrs K a leather bag, babies a towel. Very pleasant evening
Aug 14th
Heard we were standing by -24 hours Had a ride in a Bren gun carrier
Aug 15th
In bed all day, tummy palaver
Aug 16th
Finished packing, Jack came up in the evening and roped over our trunks. 6 airmails arrived
Aug 17th
Up at 6pm. Packing valise. Kit gone at last. Party at Wlls in the evening and ride to Lumley in the rain
Aug 18th
Sewing all day jack came up in the evening, gave Win and I a tie pin, elephant palm. Last goodbye
Aug 19th
Up at 6.30. Goodbyes. Embarked 8.15 Leslie, Will, Srgt Joe saw us off. In cabin with May Grant and Mollie Green a Dutch ship
Aug 21st
First boat drill. A crowd came on board from 51st. tea dance daily. Sat in lounge reading. Bed early
Aug 22nd
Up early .Service by RAF padre 10.00am Throwing pennies to Africans as more came on board. Boat drill at 4.30pm
Aug 23rd
Sewing and ironing am. Boat drill 9.45am. Walked round decks. Drink in lounge. Shown African silver by an Officer
Aug 24th
Sailed today at 1.pm rushed up from chop to see last of Freetown. Feeling not too good by evening, bed early
Aug 25th
Usual boat drill. Feeling sea sick all day, down to all meals. Bed in afternoon. Sitting on deck later. Brains Trust in evening
Aug 26th
Weather still warm. Boat drill. Usual day, drink in lounge am bed afternoon, tea dance, evening RAF show which was quite good. Firing practices
Aug 27th
Boat drill, windy day watched flying fish and porpoises. Went down to baggage room am. Appointment to see hairdresser for 2pm tomorrow. Into home uniform. Tea dance
Aug 28th
Sea rougher, missed breakfast. Up for boat drill. Hairdresser at 2,(7/6) Reading and sleeping most of day
Aug 29th
Service at 10am. Sea calmer, sun shining, writing letters and reading. Pianoforte recital by naval steward
Aug 30th
Sewing and reading. Rumours of Gibraltar, clocks forward 2hours
Aug 31st
Saw Gibraltar 8am and sunrise. Invited to drinks by R.N. officers, did not go. Display of ? depth charges. Aircraft about -wonderful sight
Usual services. Mr Caucherson -an African spoke
Aug 2nd
My relief arrived. RAF dance at New England .I met a lot of ex - patients, had a grand time
Aug 3rd
OCU meeting Mr Herbert spoke of China
Aug 7th
Picnic at Lumley 8 of us. Will took us in his car. Finished duty altogether. Went to Kennedy's for tea. Pa Birch is down from up country as Mrs Birch is in hospital at Hill Station
Aug 9th
Busy day sewing etc. John Summers farewell do at Loin and Palm
Aug 10th
Walked to town am shopping. Packing in pm Walk to gun turret early evening ,sewing later
Aug 11th
Went to see Mrs Birch -Hill Street Hospital. Chop later at Kennedy's. gave Mrs K a leather bag, babies a towel. Very pleasant evening
Aug 14th
Heard we were standing by -24 hours Had a ride in a Bren gun carrier
Aug 15th
In bed all day, tummy palaver
Aug 16th
Finished packing, Jack came up in the evening and roped over our trunks. 6 airmails arrived
Aug 17th
Up at 6pm. Packing valise. Kit gone at last. Party at Wlls in the evening and ride to Lumley in the rain
Aug 18th
Sewing all day jack came up in the evening, gave Win and I a tie pin, elephant palm. Last goodbye
Aug 19th
Up at 6.30. Goodbyes. Embarked 8.15 Leslie, Will, Srgt Joe saw us off. In cabin with May Grant and Mollie Green a Dutch ship
Aug 21st
First boat drill. A crowd came on board from 51st. tea dance daily. Sat in lounge reading. Bed early
Aug 22nd
Up early .Service by RAF padre 10.00am Throwing pennies to Africans as more came on board. Boat drill at 4.30pm
Aug 23rd
Sewing and ironing am. Boat drill 9.45am. Walked round decks. Drink in lounge. Shown African silver by an Officer
Aug 24th
Sailed today at 1.pm rushed up from chop to see last of Freetown. Feeling not too good by evening, bed early
Aug 25th
Usual boat drill. Feeling sea sick all day, down to all meals. Bed in afternoon. Sitting on deck later. Brains Trust in evening
Aug 26th
Weather still warm. Boat drill. Usual day, drink in lounge am bed afternoon, tea dance, evening RAF show which was quite good. Firing practices
Aug 27th
Boat drill, windy day watched flying fish and porpoises. Went down to baggage room am. Appointment to see hairdresser for 2pm tomorrow. Into home uniform. Tea dance
Aug 28th
Sea rougher, missed breakfast. Up for boat drill. Hairdresser at 2,(7/6) Reading and sleeping most of day
Aug 29th
Service at 10am. Sea calmer, sun shining, writing letters and reading. Pianoforte recital by naval steward
Aug 30th
Sewing and reading. Rumours of Gibraltar, clocks forward 2hours
Aug 31st
Saw Gibraltar 8am and sunrise. Invited to drinks by R.N. officers, did not go. Display of ? depth charges. Aircraft about -wonderful sight