Barbara Anslow's diary: View pages

Got sunburnt on Flight Deck, when we had a display of AA fire, straight, orange flashes streaking into a puff put in the sky by one of the 5 inch guns.

Paravanes (one on each side of the ship) were let down, like great blue fish.

Intriguing little transports 'Clarkat' moving about the ship.  Moving decks which go up from hangar to flight deck.  Enormous steps we have to climb over every secton of 'downstairs'.  Bathroom queue reminiscent of Stanley.

We are supposed to sight Singapore tomorrow.

In evening our ship picked up an SOS and answered it, thought they had it, turned on the searchlights and discovered it was a junk - and not the ship that was in trouble.

Anchored Singapore about half past 12. Passed a convoy of small naval craft convoying a large 3-funnelled transport. In harbour were many naval ships, including the aircraft carrier 'Trumpeter' which is a sister ship to us, and the flagship 'Nelson'.  We stayed for about 3 hours.  We left about 4pm.  The little islands around are bristling with trees and bushes sprouting  thick and green out of the sea.
 
Dance on Flight Deck at night.  The deck was  lit up, the band came up on the lift; 2 very nice singers, and we learned some of the latest (to us) songs.  Flags were arrayed on the ropes round the band group.  The officers looked very nice, some in black, some in white, and lovely smart cummerbunds.  The MC kept saying 'Come along, ladies and gentlemen' because most of the seamen were very bashful.

The Captain looked like a film version of a bandit chief, in white silky shirt which billowed in the breeze, black cummerbund and trousers.  He made a little speech, said this was probably a unique occasion.  Clifton gave a turn which went down very well.  ((Clifton and friend Eric MacNider often appeared on Stanley stage together))

Wind getting up.

Got talking to a ginger-haired steward.  I think they are overworked with us being on board.  He says we're the third lot of passengers they've carried, they carried 100 evacuee children from Canada back to UK. ((Clifton anxious that Mabel 'won't wait for him')) We prayed that she would.

Wakey Wakey earlier this morning.  We had stopped at Sabang, on the northern tip of Sumatra. Water looked very deep - we were anchored quite close to land, and took on about 100 Marines who had only been there ten days ago from Penang. Low lying hills, luxuriant in trees, could see absolutely no sign of habitation at all. Stayed about a couple of hours.

Pitching and rolling rather upsetting.

The ginger steward said Empress of Australia had dumped her passengers in Madras.

Too bothered by weather and rocking to write yeserday. Couldn't eat dinner.

Film 'Gentleman Jim' in evening.

Rough again.

Out on deck early to see hazy coastline of Ceylon, lots of small catamarans bobbing up and down. The harbour choc-a-block with ships.  We're anchored rather far out.

Clifton got one of officers to signal Block House re 'Empress of Australia', to find it is due here tonight or tomorrow - but whether or not the original passengers from HK (including Mum and Mabel) have been dumped elsewhere we don't know.

At 2pm we were standing by. Fyffe ((believed to be David Robert Fyffe Canadian, repatriated from Stanley in 1943 though wife Dorothy (British) and baby daughter stayed in camp)), turned up on board.

We went ashore in landing barge, thence into Red Cross buses, taken to Echelon Barracks, to a sort of marquee and sat down in comfortable chairs drinking tea or lemonade and eating biscuits.  Red Cross workers, very smart in uniform, were buzzing round doing all they could.  There were magazines, books etc.  Red, white and blue bunting draped the ceilings.  There was a corner roped off, made like a toyshop for the kids, and they had a wonderful time. ((This was probably the creche mentioned in link with IWM))

At different venues in Echelon, we received toilet things, underclothes, shoes, secondhand summer dress and skirt and blouse.   We had HOT BATHS (with bath salts) and some folk had hairsets and face massage!  Everything was taken care of.  ((Heaps of released pow's around, looking pale and ill, hair in tufts.  We found we people had a name, RAPWI, I think it stands for Returned Allied Prisoners of War and Internees.))
 
((There were no billets for us at Echelon, we were siphoned off to various places to sleep.)) Olive and I learned that a Mr & Mrs Best had invited us to stay with them.  ((We had met the Bests in 1938 as they travelled on the 'Kaisar-I-Hind' to Ceylon when we were aboard on our way to Hong Kong.)) She and I were put in a bus driven by an Indian, with among others the Mills family, the Buddens, Mr Megarry, Mr. J. Pennefather-Evans (Commissioner of Police, HK), and a Wren who was in charge of us.

Some were dropped at Kent House, we were taken to the Bests' house, Mrs. B came out to receive us. ((Although the Bests are asked just for Olive and I, we airily took with us our best friend Nan Grady, who was happily welcomed too.)) They gave us a lovely bedroom, they are so very very kind, and have 3 other lodgers. We want to stay here for a while – it's all so grand – and I hope we never forget to thank God for it.

8.30am.  Slept beautifully, delicious breakfast of bacon and egg and porridge.
 
10.30pm.   Mabel and Clifton are married!

Olive, Nan and I went to town to try to find whereabouts of everyone, and met Dr. and Mrs. Valentine (from Smiter) who said Clifton was on board 'Empress of Australia' in the harbour.  Later, I saw Mabel and Clifton on the other side of the road, swinging along as if walking on air, arms entwined.  We rushed over to them.  'Hey, we're married!' Mabel announced -  they had been married this morning, in cabin on ship, by Father Green, the padre who was in Shamshuipo; Clifton in shorts and shirt,  Mabel in shorts and blouse, with wedding ring made in camp out of a ten cent coin.

Mabel has jumped ship, and as Mrs. C. T. Large, will travel with Clifton, who was in an absolute daze, I don't think he even realised we were there.   They went in to Echelon Barracks and I haven't seen them since, though I met Mrs Greenwood who said she saw Mabel after the Red Cross had fitted her out and she looked fine.  I'm terribly happy for them, I'm sure they were made for each other ((They had over 60 years together.  Clifton died in 2006, Mabel is now 93.))
 
Olive and I, Nan Grady and Van (H. Vanthall), Elliott (Mr. M. E. Purves) and a few others hired a rowing boat to take us out to the Empress. We weren't allowed on board at first as none of us had any passes.  Eventually, Mr. W. J. Carrie - an HK official at the gangway - arranged things.  Mum appeared, so smart in a newish dress, she is fatter.

Some of our pows from Japan are on board, others got off at Manila to go to Rest Camp there. News that Arthur (Alsey) is alive and well, and sent his regards.  Topper (S. Brown, Olive's fiance) died of dysentery in Japan in 1944. About 3,000 on board.

I'm trying to get berth on Empress in Mabel's place.

Am aboard the Empress!

Up at crack of dawn (to find officials who would give me Mabel's berth); set off Jawattea Road, a lorry stopped and Indian driver offered me a lift and dropped me at 'Slave Island'.  Saw very few Europeans, but Indians were helpful.  Found 'Sub-Area HQ, junction of Parsons Road and Malay Street'; a Col. Johnston proved helpful, and said OK.

Another lorry gave me a lift to Echelon Barracks.  Busloads of internees from E. of Australia coming in (to get their clothing); met up with Mum, and Olive and Nan, and also the Bests.  We lost Mum for hours - even broadcast for her - she eventually re-appeared, having had to go elsewhere to get her glasses fixed.

Colombo is lovely.  The town is busy, the traffic alarming; their rickshaws are higher than Hong Kong's.  Petrol and whisky are rationed, and clothing is going to be.  Mrs Best told us the services are still mobilised, but gradually being demobbed.  The place is teeming with WRNS and FANY, in plain but very snappy uniforms, cute hats.  Loads of Europeans cycle all over the place, which seems very clean. Straight roads and many avenues.  Houses nearly all bungalows, with big grounds; beautiful big open spaces, gorgeous flowers and trees and lake.  They only had one air raid – Whitsun 1942.

I left Echelon in a taxi at 3pm to pick up my belongings from Bests, then take me to Melbourne Jetty (but taxi not allowed into Naval area, so transferred to a rickshaw as a long hot walk to the jetty.)  W. Kinlock (Police) also waiting on jetty and some Nursing Sisters I knew, all for the Empress. We were taken by launch to the Empress.

((I was delighted with Mabel's berth, a top bunk with porthole beside it.  There were about 7 of us in the cabin which was reported to have been part of the accommodation the King and Queen had occupied on their pre-war trip to Canada.)) All the other passengers were ex Stanley.

((Diary very sketchy, having such a good time on ship: film shows, dances, bridge - and new boyfriend. Called briefly at Aden))

Shocked to learn that Norman Hellevick died on board a few days out of Hong Kong ((a Dutch diabetic from Stanley, he was 15 years old.))

Radio news said the p.o.ws liberated who arrived in the s.s. Corfu at Southampton were giving a roaring welcome and taken into camp, given roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and are going to their homes today.   600 more are arriving at Liverpool, so impatient for it to be us.

This afternoon we are in sight of the island of Socotra, off Somaliland.

Arrived Aden about 10.45am.  Rocky, the colour of used plasticine, a few trees in evidence.  New  jetties, one with 4 submarines alongside. Lots of hawks circling around.

Mrs E. Barron disembarked as result of a cable from her husband who is stationed not far off.. what a thrill!  The Governor's wife is aboard sitting in the lounge.

Local paper has news of 'longer queues, shorter rations' at Home.

Edward Frith (a school friend at the Garrison School, Hong Kong in 1928/9) came aboard to see his sister Iris Prew who was in Stanley.

Played bridge with Tony Sanh and Mr and Mrs Rosselet.

Bridge again.  Was vaccinated.

Arrived at Suez, for Adibaya, at 10am, ship lay very far out. ((We were told we would be supplied with clothes here.))  The first 'clothing parties' went ashore soon after.

Entertainers came aboard: a crack RAF band, and 3 shows, the 'Fiddlededees' with Eileen Lawson, a Mr. Edge on piano with Suzette Odell singing, and a Shakespearean actor.

I had a cigarette!

Breakfast 6.30am, went ashore 7.00am.  We were driven in buses past docks and cranes decorated with little flags - everything was done to try and put a welcome into the arid desert scene.

There was quite a wide strip of barren-ness before the mountains which were dark, sandy-coloured, bleak, bare and ridged - as if they'd been chiselled and you could see the marks. We saw camels.

10 minutes' journey to the Clothing Centre at Adibaya. This was Kentville Camp.  German pows, wearing grey with a dark diamond patch on back of shorts and trousers, were working within camp on roads.

We were disembarked into a Rest Room - a converted hangar, with carpeted floor, tables with flag-tableclothes; shell cases with roses, and lovely cushioned chairs; and a nursery place for kids, sort of fenced off with artificial green ferns - chute, rocking horses, seesaw, swing etc.

We could buy cosmetics, and have free lovely cakes, sandwiches and drinks.
Then to another hangar where we waited in lovely chairs, and were taken in groups of twenty ((to get our clothes)).  Each given a sheet of items, which were ticked thereon as we received them.

A.T.S girls and others were in attendance at each counter.  Got large grip, small blue Red Cross bag with lovely odds and ends inside; dressing-gown, nightie, green coat, brown skirt and jumper, grey gloves and scarf, corsets ((!!)), stockings,  2 sets underwear, and lovely shoes.  ((All these items were new, whereas what we'd received in Colombo were secondhand.))

I have bad styes.

Laval executed.

Left Suez early and entered Suez Canal.  Mainly desert wastes on Arabian side, and a very good road on British side. Troops swimming in canal & sitting on embankment. They waved and yelled at us 'You're going the wrong way!' 

Was told the Turks tried to cross the Canal in 1915, only one barge got across - they carried barges on their shoulders, having carried them for miles over the desert.

Passed remains of ships sunk by Germans in war - mass of rusty twisted metal parked on  the side of the canal.  Tannoy announcer gave details: it's about  40 feet deep where we entered.  The Italians didn't bomb the canal much in this war.

In 1968 it reverts to the Egyptian Govt. but apparently we are building another canal in this part of the world.  The Pharaohs started on the canal in BC.  It now costs 8/4d per person to come through the canal.

Arrived Port Said in evening.  Some mail came on board, but none for us. Men were given different forms to fill in, reporting war casualties, details of escapes etc.

Eyes bad.

Hair curled fairly well (used pipe cleaners which I bought in Adibaya.)

Bridge.  

Lifeboat drill.  

Dance at 7.30pm.  Tony Sanh and I danced all the time, we won the spot Waltz – he a pipe and tobacco, me, eau de cologne. Then danced with Charles Rosselet.

Painted our names on our newly acquired grips.

Passed land on African coast; a mine spotted about 100 yards away, which a corvette came and exploded.

Confession.  

Then to dance with Tony etc.  Later, he, Kay and Charles Rosselet and I sat on stairs and ate rolls with meat.

Broke glasses yesterday.  

Rolled into Gibraltar early, anchored fairly close, took on mail, then off.  We had gifts of odds and ends, I got lipstick and vanishing cream.

Glasses repaired, thank God. 

Very rough after we left Gib, hence no diary then.

Concert one night, but weather dreadful and most artists too sick to appear.

Anchored off the Mersey about 7pm.  Played bridge but it couldn't be serious.
An impromptu concert.  We had turkey and cheese rolls and chocolate.