- Contributed by听
- Stockport Libraries
- People in story:听
- Harry Blood
- Location of story:听
- Red Sea, Port Sudan, Gulf of Suez, Port Tewfik
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2793404
- Contributed on:听
- 29 June 2004
This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Mary Blood, Harry鈥檚 widow, and has been added to the site with her permission. She fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.
From his call-up into the Army in January 1941 until his 鈥榙emob鈥, Harry Blood kept a diary. It followed his early progress from Glasgow to Egypt, around the Cape of Good Hope, through the Western Desert to Sicily and Italy. Near the end of his service and his diaries, he had a chance meeting with W.A.A.F. Corporal Mary Pettit at a tram stop in Brussels. Not lacking in graphic and humourous descriptions, there came a happy ending as he and Mary married not long after, having a long and happy marriage. Only minimal editing has been done to exclude one or two brief entries which contained little of interest.
Fred Kennington
Stockport
March 2002.
From 1st to 7th June we were at sea which was generally quite calm. The weather became hotter as we sailed north, becoming very hot indeed. One minor diversion was watching porpoises.
8th June. Very hot again and we had sight of land for a short time.
9th June. Hot, with a strong breeze. I calculated that we are now in the Gulf of Aden.
10th June. Hot again. I believe we entered the Red Sea during the night. We passed several islands today, all with a very barren appearance. We had a second lecture on map reading and passed the next day at sea.
12th June. Hot. Arrived at Port Sudan about 4pm. It is a very dry looking place, surrounded by a barren plain and backed by mountains. There are several coral reefs outside the harbour. Among the buildings I can make out are the Government House, a hotel and an open air swimming bath. Very many flies around. Leaning on the rail watching the Arabs and saw them use their prayer mats. We asked for shore leave but were only offered a route march which we didn鈥檛 take up!
13th June. Left Port Sudan about 4pm and later saw some small sharks.
14th June. Very strong wind. Apparently we are in the Gulf of Suez now with land seen sometimes on both sides. We now have our blue kitbags and some webbing equipment. In the evening we dropped anchor at Port Tewfik, at the south end of the Suez Canal.鈥
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