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1941
24th July
Still pegging along on 1 screw with quarter deck very low in water. Hopes brighten
when joined by 2 destroyers and Sunderland Flying boat. Contact with 2 submarines,
but content to hold N. African coast (Morocco – I believe held by Vichy French at
that time.)

25th July
Mess decks sorted. Still pulling hard and feeling more safe but the questions were
whether the propeller hold out and would the bulkheads give in. Tug standing by.
Another submarine contact. Met by Ark Royal’s (Aircraft carrier) swordfish and 5
motor launches. Between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. 7 contacts with submarines, believed
sunk one. Arrive Gibraltar at mid-night and ran aground twice.

26th July
Shore leave 4.30 to 10.30, entertained by some army chaps, 10 minutes adrift in
returning aboard which was a serious crime. Reg. P.O. about to charge us when
Master at Arms came on board, enquired what was the matter and kindly let us go.

Message from C. in C. Gibraltar (Admiral Somerville) who classed our little
adventure as nothing short of a miracle that we arrived back. Bulkheads only just
held out.

Until 13th Sept
DRY DOCK – SHIP BEING PATCHED UP
Soon after arriving at Gibraltar I had a surprise visitor. I think it was the day after we
arrived. I was assisting at the shore signal station when I heard someone enquiring for
‘Coder R’ I turned round to face my brother Tom whom I had not seen since shortly
after the outbreak of the war (Sept. 39) On enlisting he also had chosen the Royal
Navy and been placed in D.E.M.S. (Defensively Equipped Merchant Shipping) i.e.
Merchant Ships were fitted with Anti-aircraft guns and R.N. personnel manned these
guns. Tom’s ship was a small ammunition supply vessel stationed out in the harbour,
he came ashore by rowing boat. Tom was aware of my being on the Manchester and
of the trouble of the previous days. We met regularly during the next 6 weeks.

13th Sept.
Left Gibraltar for America 7.00 p.m. in company with Firedrake, a destroyer, which
also had been damaged and patched up, and escorted by Heythrop
14th Sept.
Submarine contact 10 p.m.

16th Sept.
Heythrop parted company

20th Sept.
Parted company with Firedrake at 9.00 p.m.

21st Sept.
Met aircraft carrier Wasp. American

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