R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages

Overcast & stronger wind.

Posted my letter to Gwen.

Rec. £2-0-0. My first shopping = 1 tube toothpaste & 3 Pkts Biscuits 4/6.

My thoughts with G all day.

Passed Corregidor 7.20am andered [and entered?] Manila 9.30am.

Over 150 vessels of all sorts anchored, several sunk inshore. Much aircraft about. Most harbours traffic done by landing barges. Buildings onshore look intact  although there are signs of fire on some.

Conference held onshore.

Proceeded alongside 7.30pm.

Rained.

Many units got off.

Rec. R.C. message from Marj May 45 which tells me she is at home.

Alongside all night.

Back to anchorage 7am. Adml Frazer asked for instructions re movements.

R.C. people on board.

Found out for sure that Marj is at home.

Life will become a bore at this rate.

R.C. towel (women only) & can of fruit juice issued.

Some people went up to better accommodation.

“Manganui” arrived.

Shifted messes to F11. 180.

Face towel & comb from R.C.

Oiler alongside 11.30am-1.30pm.

R.C. reps on board with mail.

Secured to wreck inside b.water 5.30pm.

Pictures, “Hit the Ice”

1st meal in new mess.

Sweat rash getting bothersome.

Wish this was last Sunday.

People for Aust. registered their names.

Rec. R.C. towel, toothbrush & paste & pr. shoes.

Arranged job with Woods the Baggage Master.

Rained.

Taking in Galley cash.[?]

Passed lousy night. Gwen ever with me.

People for S.A. registered.

Took in f.w.

1Pkt.Camel issued

Cooler on upper deck, overcast.

Posted A/m to Marj.

Yarn with J. Howell, discover where G lives in Southampton. ((Possibly Mr J S Howell))

NCOs from Camp onshore embarked.

M.O. inspection. Unfit due to b-b. [beri-beri?]

Rained nearly all day.

Went alongside No.7 Wharf & embarked about 1,000 troops ex PoWs from Formosa.

Mail closed 4pm.

From No.7 to anchorage 8am.

Overcast.

Dreamt of G last night.

Embarked oil & water.

Sat on B dk. for an hour 7-8pm with my thoughts of G.

All available space on Prom Dk & Rooms occupied, crowded out with people. It is impossible to be alone anywhere.

Underway for “The next Port of Call” 7.20am. US M/swpr. ahead.

Overcast, slight sea, cooler.

Several malaria cases to Hosp. today.

Clock back 1hr. midn’t.

Fine all day, slight swell. SW wind, nil sighted.

M/s still ahead. She turned back at 9.00pm.

Drizzle SW wind. Same course all day. Cooler.

Wrote to M & G, much thought as usual.

Only 600 left at Stanley according to News Broadcast.

To movies, “Major & Minor”, Ginger Rogers.

Full Moon.

Fine, occasional squalls. A/c to S, 9.00am. Sea calm.

Lists & baggage ready for Aust. passengers dis-embarking.

Much though [sic – thought?] re--- as usual, wish it was two weeks ago.

Osprey light abeam 7.43. Anchored in roads at S. entrance to harbour 10.45am.

Nothing doing whatever. Why did I leave you G pal-o-mine.

Fine, SW wind.

“Empress” boat arrived 2pm.

Passengers for Aust. checked up by Aust. Govt. Rep.

Fine, warm.

More checking up of passengers for Aust. Some had Med. inspection.

Everyone more or less fed up hanging around here. I do almost nothing but think of G.

A/C Smiter called for 1 hour.

Cooler.

Passengers for Aust. disembarked 11am.

Underway 4pm after Lady Louis Mountbatten had given us a speech & we had embarked 400 Naval ratings.

£2 issued.

Lovely day, calm.

Minesweeper warned re floating mine 0900.

A/c to Westw’d 5pm.

Cloudless day.

Sabang & Achin Head abeam 7.00am. ((The north-west tip of Indonesia. Today Achin is written Aceh.))

Issued with 4 pr. socks, 1 towel, singlet & shorts & 1pr. Rubber shoes.

Speed reduced due to boiler trouble.

Went to movies pm.

Fine, sea slight. SW wind. Vessel about 10,000  8mls  Stab. beam.

As for yesterday. Nil sighted. Noon distance 321 mls. 3 Pkts Camel issued & some odds & ends of clothing.