on active service
Monday 14th May 1945
Early in the day we sight Pantalleria and pass close enough to see the terraced fields airstrip and some bomb damage.
From then on we follow the coast and in the evening get a good view of Bizenta. The sea is just like a mill pond. We see several ships and a submarine.
Pantelleria is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediteraanean Sea, 62 miles southwest of Sicily and 37 miles east of the Tunisian coast.
Sunday 13th May 1945
At about 4pm both screws come into action again and we are off at a good speed again. The sea is calm again in sunshine. I go to a service in the morning. It is packed and quite enjoyable.
Saturday 12th May 1945
It is wet and raining and the ship is becoming uncomfortable and tough I don’t feel well I eat highly. About 8pm we are invited to see the engines and at that moment there is a heavy engine knock and the port engine is stopped and so our speed is reduced to about seven knots.
Friday 11th May 1945
We leave Port Said at 8.30am with the promise of a straight run home. Will we make it by my birthday? The news mentions the Burma Star. In the evening we get mixed up with some destroyers who are towing something. We do a complete turn and stop and then proceed. Speed sixteen and a half knots.
Thursday 10th May 1945
We take on a large number of passengers. See the movie “Cover Girl” in the cinema.
Cover Girl is a 1944 American Technicolor musical film starring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. The film tells the story of a chorus girl given a chance at stardom when she is offered an opportunity to be a highly paid cover girl. The film was directed by Charles Vidor and was one of the most popular musicals of the war years.
Tuesday 8th May 1945
It’s Victory Day today. Thank goodness the first part is over. I can’t raise any enthusiasm for celebrations. Thanksgivings, yes, so I attend the service, I listen to the speeches of Churchill and the King.
It’s getting boring and the flies are as bad as ever.
Monday 7th May 1945
I’m up at five thirty this morning and see Ismailia. Spend the rest of the time until 11am watching Egypt for the last time (?) We have reached Port Said in eight days less three hours which is very good. Shore leave doubtful. they still load dhows to sinking point.
Saurday 6th May 1945
I got up early this morning so that I should see Ras Jensa but somehow missed it but saw Ras Corel and Zafarana. We reached Suez in the evening. Saw many old haunts. The cold breeze persists. We start through the canal at midnight.
Saturday 5th May 1945
The wind has mercifully changed to a strong headwind and it’s cooler than we have had so far. The news continues terrific. The Germans are falling to pieces. Perhaps we won’t have to go in convoy after Gibraltar and no blackout.
Friday 4th May 1945
The Red Sea according to form, a following wind but in the evening it relented and conditions have really been pleasant. Saw a cinema show, not so bad and it relieves the monotony. Clocks back another thirty minutes.