大象传媒

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Feb. 13 1947
Waiting for the lorry to take me to H.B.T.D. The lads went out on a scheem.,
lorry came at 11am and took us to H.B.T.D. 48 group went to N.Wind. and us Repats. to C.WING. Had all our documents signed then shown our tent. Didn鈥檛 take long to settle in. Had to parade at 2 p.m. which we did couldn鈥檛 find out anything most of them had been put in drafts be happs (?) we will get put in one tomorrow. In the evening went down town to the Cathy and saw Three Little Girls in blue, walked back to camp and had supper then a chat and so to bed, of course wondering what the morrow would bring.

FEB. 14
Had a fairly good nights sleep, but cold. On parade at nine was put in a draft which was (five). We were then told that 27 of us would be going on the advance party 17th of Feb. to the boat which is called Strathnaver who the lucky ones are still remains to be seen. Saw some of the boys at 10.30 we were dished out with Battle Dress. I should have said (Battle Mess) because the kit was disgracefull but it will do till we get home. Tonight after tea I went looking for the LYAP chaps couldn鈥檛 find them came back and our Sergent was waiting for me, he wanted to go down town shopping but I was broke so he lent me 10 Rps so off I went with him. We had quite a good bit of fun shopping had a supper then caught a bus back to camp and so to bed.

FEB 15
Had a pretty good nights sleep but kepted waking up as the Indians in a woy village were have a good Rum Sammy .-. Went on Mustard Parade at 9 a.m. but never received any jen. At the 2 p.m. parade we were told to put ships letter S and draft no. 1704 on our kit so up till now it looks as if it鈥檚 the Strathnaver. We were all hoping to get paid but was unlucky so it meant a night in.

FEB 16
Went on parade at 8.45 no. gen. but they collect our pay books so it looks as if we shall be getting paid tomorrow. On detail board it said the names of who will be going on the Strathraver and mine was there. I was lucky to get in the last 21 names in fact I was the 19th on the list so I think we shall be going Wednesday, so we are getting nearer. Spent the night in the canteen drinking cha and spinning yarns thus ends another day.

FEB 17th
Today parade told us we would be going for sure in the morrow at 5 in the morning we were payed at 11 0鈥檆lock I got payed at 11.30, 40Rs. I payed my debit their after 2.0鈥檆lock parade went down town and spent the lot, so I鈥檓 back where I started from, caught a bus to camp to see if there was any mail, was unlucky came back had to listen to more yarns untill they desided there mouths were tired and thus desided to go to bed P.S. Pretty boy subject normal.

FEB 18th
Told some bad news today, we arnt going untill Thursday morning now. Bags of gloom. So another day of charpoy bashing, by the looks of things. Finished up at the Cathy and saw The Shadow of a Woman not bad came back bed.

Feb. 19th
We were told going tomorrow. Spent most of the morning packing and what a load, 20 yards carrying this lot and I shall be on my knees, but am going to hang on to it if I can. More bad news, as I said Id had packed everything up, including bedding it took me nearly 2 hours. On the two o鈥檆lock parade we were told it鈥檚 cancelled again till perhaps Saturday. Are we mad, I came back and unpacked again. I鈥檓 not going to pack untill I know for sure now, nothing else to enter.

Feb. 20th
Went on parade at 7 a.m. no-one seems to know anything in the way of gen, so it looks as if we shall be here a couple more days yet. On the 2 p.m. parade we were once again told tomorrow morning now at 2 p.m. so once again we pack.. I finished packing and I don鈥檛 suppose we shall go very far from the tent tonight. Had F.F.I.

Feb. 21st
We got up at 2 p.m. had breakfast at 2.30 p.m. took our kit over to the trucks and were suppose to move off by 3.30 instead the train was late and we didn鈥檛 start off till nearly eight. We got on the train from Devilali and so a slow boring journey to Bombay. Got on the boat strathnare about 4 p.m. and what a shambles. This boat is nearly empty on top and yet were cramed in like sardines at the bottom. Of course the Officers and married family has all the cabins. The poor old Tommy the men that won the war and did all the ? is still getting the ? Thanks you England for not a blasted thing. After a while we got settled in as good as could be expected. We had a meal at 6 p.m. the first since 2 a.m. We spent most of the night walking round the ship, sleeped on deck..

Feb. 22nd
Got up at 6 a.m. and had to make a giddy move as they were washing down, had breakfast at 7.30 oh I forgot had to Q up for a wash, another thing what could be improved on. At present Im sat watching the Chile diving for annas we should be moving off in about a half an hour. We pulled away from the Docks at 9.20 it took 20 minutes to get out, at 10 am we were seeing the last of India. Good bye India, bought 200 cigs. at 6 and odd also a tin of tobacco. Went straight up and had a cup of tea and some biscuits. This afternoon there was a picture show, it was terrible and couldn鈥檛 hear a thing. The Addes passed us about 10 p.m. way out and so to bed.

Feb. 23rd
Got up at 6 p.m. spent rather a restless night, as it was cold on deck, went down for a wash being early as I got bit yesterday, had to wait quite a while for a wash got bit again as my mate forgot to put his watch back 陆 an hour as we got up at 5.30: and the water doesn鈥檛 come on till 6.30 so I waited just as long for a wash in the long run, had a pretty good breakfast bacon & egg. Went on deck and did a little writing, came down for dinner that was also good pork roast spuds and greens. And now I鈥檓 in the guard room waiting my turn for duty it is a 24hrs guard and by the looks of things is going to be pretty boring. I wish we had a place like this to sleep bunks. Nothing else to report.

Feb. 24th
Spent a boring night in and out of bed doing guard 6-8 pm. 12 pm till 2 am. 6-8 am. 12 till two 24 hrs of the worst. After I came off I had a shower. At present I鈥檓 sat on C. Deck it鈥檚 going off a little cold now, with a little wind.

Feb. 25th
I had a pretty good nights sleep as I brought up a moszy net and an extra blanket. Got up at 6 am went down showers washed & had breakfast. Came up on deck and waited in the cha queue. Should sight land today sometime. The ship has lost speed in the last 24 hrs so I don鈥檛 think we shall see Aden till early in the morning. Had a sleep this afternoon, am now on deck ready to put the bed down.

Feb. 26th
Had a comfortable but unbroken sleep, got up at 6 p.m. looked out over the sea and saw land so I suppose we must have started to pass it about 5 am. We are now following the coast of Hadramaut, should be reaching Aden soon. It is quite a change to see a little bit of land after seeing nothing but water for days. Passed Aden at 7 am started to go through the Red Sea coast line on both sides, several small ships passed us, going the other way. Saw a number of porpoise at different times and so to bed.

Feb. 27th
Had a pretty good nights sleep, up at six, another good breakfast egg and bacon. Still bashing on, no land in sight now, passed a couple of boats today one was a royal mail going to India, theres a pretty big one in front. So it looks as if it鈥檚 a race for tugs in the next few hours will tell which goes first. It鈥檚 been blowing pretty stronge to day and the sea (Red Sea) has been a little choppy but the old boats been steady. We have just past a boat the one we鈥檝e been catching up on for the last 5 odd hours. We are only gaining a little so I guess she must be nearly as fast as us. This is all for tonight.

Feb. 28th
Last day of Month, had a broken nights sleep again but pretty good on the hole. Passsed a little land this morning for a change. It was nippy and we were glad when the sun came up. Had fish for breakfast, not bad. We have just passed a Norwegian Ship which started out 24 hrs before us. We went in the bows of the ship today but we didn鈥檛 stop there very long as it was too cold. So it seems as if we are going to get back bit by bit, we should reach Port Suez tomorrow. It is now 8.10 pm and we are yet overalling another ship all lit up, passed a few more and so bed.

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