Quiet day.
Women & children med. insp. re interrogation forms.
Quiet day.
Women & children med. insp. re interrogation forms.
Dr. Selwyn-Clarke is about to embark for a lengthy and much needed period of recuperation leave, but he's finding time to write to those who've helped him. Today he sends his thanks to J. I. Barnes:
Calm, warm.
Med. insp. of male civilians carried out.
Run 18th-19th 390. Rain squall 5pm. Malta abeam 9pm.
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.
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.
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.
Arrived Gib 8.45. Underway again 9am. Smooth swell running. Rounded C. st. Vincent 9.20am.
C. da Roca abeam 7am. Swell upsetting some. C. Finisterre abeam 8.30pm.
This clipping appeared today in a UK newspaper:
It's reported on page one of the China Mail that Father Bernard Meyer has opened a club for servicemen on the fourth floor of the King’s building, next door to the Australian Red Cross, and almost opposite the ferry. Tea, cakes, eggs, fish, steak, chips are all available at reasonable prices.
Overcast, bright intervals. Wind gale force.
SW. Mess flooded out early am due to ports on D. not being secured tight.
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.
An article on page 2 of today's South China Morning Post claims to be breaking 'the silence that has almost automatically been kept' about the trials and executions of Allied citizens, both civilian and military, during the 'dark days' of the occupation.
It's not all accurate, but there are a number of interesting points:
SW strong wind.
A/c round Holyhead. 7.30pm. Anchored 8.30pm.
Gale still in progress so we had to stay anchored. Wrote poem 'Homecoming' ((see 28th Oct)).
Dock strike still on.
Tombola in evening.
In an article noting Charles Boxer's departure for New York, which took place yesterday, the China Mail (page 2) refers to Emily Hahn's 'now sensational China To Me'. The same paper on September 20 mentioned her only as the author of a book on the Soong sisters, so her memoir must have arrived in Hong Kong some time between that date and yesterday (or probably a little earlier unless there are some very quick readers in the Colony).
At anchor all day due to bad weather. Very disappointing.
“Reina de Pacifico” & “Antenor” anchored close by.
Early morning, moved off up the Mersey, over the Bar - very muddy, and came into view of Liverpool.
Fine.
Arrived Liverpool 2pm and made fast 4pm. Welcomed by Mayor & Navy & Army Officials.
Landing routine completed by 7pm. Am already now to go.
Letter from M & Dad.
((And that's the last entry in his diary.
What a cliffhanger! How was the reunion with his wife and daughter, Marj and Rae? Did he settle back into married life, or start again with G?