R. E. Jones Wartime diary: View pages

Arrived Col. ((Colombo)) 8.00am. The people we left in HK had arrived Mon per HMS A/c “Smiter”.

Sent message ashore by Van & Tapo ((spelling?))  to G.

Received instructions & landing cards for tomorrow.

Went onshore 9am & contacted G 10.20 Womens Services Hosp. Sat on front for while & then to Galle Face Hotel. Did some shopping Cagills Green shoes & came on board again 3pm. Sent note onshore by R.C.

((Jones likely went shopping at the Cargills Department store, still standing in Colombo today:

"Millers" by Mystìc at the English language Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons.

))

Underway 7.30am. “Khedive” arrived. Boat drill.

Clock retarded 1 hr. This makes 2 ½ since Manilla.

Felt extremely downhearted today.

N.Westerly course. Clock back another hr. 3 ½ .

Gave Smalley G’s message.

Beautiful sunset.

Lovely day, smooth sea. Movies, “Forever & day”. Clock back ½ hr. (2 ½ since Col) Run.357.

Drizzly & overcast until 11pm then fine.

Measured for clothing to be issued at P. Said. 17 – 40 – 34. 

New moon. Clock ½ hr back

Lovely all day, cooler evening. Shirts being worn once more.

Socotra abeam 6pm. Beautiful sunset, sea like a mirror.

Rec. £3.

Fine day. Breeze died until evening.

Reduced speed. Days run 319.

Clock ½ hr back (3 ½ )

Hot & dry.

Arrived Aden 11am. Took on F.W. New buildings & a breakwater since 1939. 4 s/m there “Sea Scout”, “Supreme”, “Thracian” & “Tireless”. Left at 5pm.

Perim light showing 10.30pm.

Hot.

Course NW by W. 0900.

Cig ration cards issued.

Porpoises.

A little cooler.

Same course & speed.

Landing passes issued. 

Lovely day.

30 cigs 1 box vestas & shaving cream issued.

Much cooler pm.

Entered Gulf of Suez 8.30pm. R & W light 7 secs. int.

Posted letter to Marj.

Arrived Port Suez 8am. To Adabiya Dock where NAAFI did us very well. To clothing depot at Ataka Docks for clothing.

Note with Consul for G.

Donald Etch & Susette O’Dell, Trevor & Howard gave shows.

Cable to Marj.

Fine, dry.

Passengers finished clothing routine by 6pm. We are now ready to proceed.

Fine.

Weighed & proceed into Canal 9.15am. Wreck 144th.Kilm. of bombed ship. 97 kil. N. end Bitter Lakes. Kantars 5.15pm. Port Said 8.30pm & fueled.

1 qt. beer per head 1/2d. Drank mine to G.

Underway at 9.30am for home.

Fine.

Boat drill 4.30pm.

Clocks back 1hr.

Quiet day.

Women & children med. insp. re interrogation forms.

Calm, warm.

Med. insp. of male civilians carried out.

Run 18th-19th 390. Rain squall 5pm. Malta abeam 9pm.

Calm, warm.

Cap Bon & Blanco. Bizerts abeam 10am. Phillipville abeam 7pm. Much shipping all day.

Full moon.

Lovely day. Sea haze shut down visibility somewhat.

3/- cig issue. 4d per pkt 10s.

Clocks back 1hr. We are now on GMT.