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.
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.
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 15
The undermentioned persons are warned to stand by for embarkation for AUSTRALIA, CANADA and the U.S.A.
Name of ship and date, times and places of embarkation will be published in the Press immediately these are available.
U.S.A.:—
Mrs M. Sheppard.
Canada:—
Mrs M. Braga,
Mother St. Benoit,
Sister Ste Gertrude,
Miss L. Eichenbaum,
Miss D. W. Woo,
Mrs M. Reynolds,
Mr and Mrs C. Pearson-Grant,
Miss F. M. Snuggs,
Mr and Mrs G. T. Bailey,
Hot.
Course NW by W. 0900.
Cig ration cards issued.
Porpoises.
REPATRIATION NOTICE No. 16
All persons registered for early repatriation should continue to stand by.
As accommodation becomes available the names of those for embarkation and details of vessels and times of sailing will be published in the Press.
Accommodation is uncertain, but it is hoped that those whose names have appeared in the Press may be able to leave.
REPATRIATION OFFICE
11th October, 1945.
Published on p.4 of SCMP for 13 Oct 1945.
A little cooler.
Same course & speed.
Landing passes issued.
REPATRIATION NOTICE NO. 17
H.M.S. "ARBITER"
(FOR AUSTRALIA ONLY)
The undermentioned are the passengers for the above vessel:
Mr L. G. J. Batten,
Miss N. Dillon,
Mrs E. Chung,
Mrs Ching & family,
Mr W. G. Fitzgibbon,
Mr J. A. Kennard,
Miss F. Leong,
Miss L. Lee,
Miss M. Matheson,
Mr & Mrs J. A. R. May,
Mrs S. A. Pike,
Mr & Mrs M. Stanley,
Mrs U. Sing,
Miss A. R. Sing,
Mrs E. Starchenko,
Mr V. L. Veriga,
Mrs V. Veriga,
Bridge again. Was vaccinated.
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.
REPATRIATION NOTICE NO. 18.
UNITED KINGDOM
It is expected that H.M.S. “Empire Lagan” will be leaving the Colony for the United Kingdom on Wednesday next, 17th October.
There will be accommodation for a few women and children and up to fifty men.
Those listed for early repatriation to the United Kingdom should stand by in readiness.
Lists for those for embarkation will be published on Monday evening, 15th October.
REPATRIATION OFFICE
13th October, 1945.
Published on p.4 of the SCMP for 15 Oct 1945.
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.
Fine, dry.
Passengers finished clothing routine by 6pm. We are now ready to proceed.
REPATRIATION NOTICE NO. 19.
S/S EMPIRE LAGAN
The undermentioned persons are requested to stand by in readiness to sail by the s/s "Empire Lagan” which will be leaving for the United Kingdom on Friday (19 th) or Saturday (20th) inst.:-—
Maher, S. A., Spr.
Morrison, R., Cpl.
McMaster, W. D., Pte.
Voronoff, P., Mrs.
Langston, A. G., Pte.
Johnson, G. E. L., Sgt.
Johnson, M., Mrs.
Lee, J., Mr.
Komorsky, Z., Mrs.
Houston, W., Cpl.
Humphrey, S. E. M., Mrs.
Humphrey, E. G. K., Sgt.
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.
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.
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.
Underway at 9.30am for home.
Fine.
Boat drill 4.30pm.
Clocks back 1hr.
((The letter is dated Tuesday, October 18th, 1945, which is when the first part was written. The later part was written a few days later on the 23rd.))
HMCS Prince Rupert