大象传媒

In 1941, Joyce Henderson met David Phin, who was an Engineer in the Merchant Navy.
This is part of David鈥檚 story, written for Joyce.

EXTRACTS FROM DAVID PHIN鈥橲 DIARY JULY 5 -- SEPT. 9 1941

S.S BOTHNIA VOYAGE NO;- 59.
HULL to BATHURST ( West Africa) and return to LIVERPOOL.

JULY
Monday 7th.
Due to sail today 4.30pm. Sea Watches start 12 noon. Great activity to get everything finished and ready for 4.30pm. Stores to be stowed away, oil tanks to be filled, etc. Boiler coupled up and steam ready for 4.15pm.
Down river for testing Compass, and DG gear. Life-lights issued. These fasten onto Life-jackets and show up a swimmer at night time.
Life boats swung over ship鈥檚 side, ready for a quick drop into the water, if necessary.

Tuesday 8th.
Convoy attacked by German aircraft about 4 am. No damage to convoy.

Wednesday 9th.
Arrived Methil 12.37am. Skipper ashore for Orders. Brought back Mail and papers. 1 letter from home.

Thursday 10th.
Left Methil. Radio Officer posted our letters and sent telegrams. Sailed 6.05 pm.

Friday 11th.
Convoy again attacked by German aircraft. No damage to any ship. Through the Pentland Firth5.30pm

Sunday 13th.
Arrived Oban. Received bundle of letters and Joyce鈥檚 photograph.

Tuesday 15th.
Ran into fog today. Nearly had an accident; just missed hitting another ship. Joined 2 other convoys,-- lovely old mix-up as ships sorted themselves out.

Thursday 11th.
One of the R.A.F Coastal command planes crashed to day. Crew were saved. Escorting ships depth-charged for a submarine today.

Friday 18th.
Convoy destroyed German aircraft which attacked us ,today. Unfortunately, 1 ship damaged and 4 were killed.

Monday 21st. ( 14 days from Hull)
Weather warmer now. Convoy rearranging today. Our ship now in centre, instead of on outside of Convoy.

Wednesday 23rd.
You said you had a pet cockroach in your room in hospital,鈥� I can replace it with many to spare! Submarine reported in vicinity today.
Life-jackets handy!

Sunday 27th.
Solar-topees issued today. All Officers into white suits. We all look neat and cool.

Tuesday 29th. ( 14days from Oban)
Very warm, 114 F in Engine room. Ships News reports a raid on London on Sunday night. Hope you are alright.

Thursday 31st
Too many escorting ships for my fancy. Navy don鈥檛 supply more than necessary unless there is a good reason. In Dakar region so suppose this is reason for extra convoy escort.

Saturday 31st.
Arrived at Bathurst. This place has nothing in it but mosquitoes and fever, a few huts, dusty roads, and heat, night and day. Won鈥檛 record any more until we leave here.

---------------------------------------------

AUGUST

Monday 18th.
Left Bathurst today. Glad to get away from mosquitoes, flys and other flying pests. Also now able to sleep without using mosquito netting.

Tuesday 19th.
Joined convoy from Freetown. Received orders from Destroyer N.O.H 84 to proceed to Liverpool. Message sent on board by means of ropes stretched from ship to ship.
Wednesday 20th.
Cover of I P piston needs to be removed tomorrow, as joint is blowing. D.G. Cable around ship is broken and needs repair before we reach home waters.

Thursday 21st.
Stopped at 7 am . and repaired joint on IP cable. Were under way again by 9 am. And picked up the convoy. Strong breeze and heavy sea. Thankfully much cooler.

Sunday 24th.
Submarines reported ahead of us, so alter course to try to miss them

Monday 25th.
Must have evaded the subs. as we are still afloat, proceeding at breath-taking speed of 5 陆 knots per hour!

Tuesday 26th.
Fed the Royal Navy today. Transferred Rice, Nuts, and Potatoes to a Sloop.

Wednesday 27th.
An enemy aircraft seen tonight. Did not attack convoy, but was probably only spotting for the Subs. that will be waiting for us further up.

Thursday 28th.
British light and heavy cruisers sighted this morning.

Friday 29th.
One of our escort vessels left us today, to go to the aid of a ship which had been torpedoed. Returned to guard us at night.
Must be fairly near land, there are quite a few birds around.

Saturday 30th..
Ship beginning to roll a little.as we are near the Bay of Bicay.

Sunday 31st.
All white suits safely tucked away ready for the Laundry, when we dock. Everyone in to blue now.

SEPTEMBER.

Wednesday 3rd.
Weather very bad, rain, strong winds ,sea very rough.
Picked up one Corvette as additional escort.

Thursday 4th.
3 more escort ships and 1 rescue ship arrived today.
Enemy aircraft in vicinity at 12 noon. Bit of excitement about 7.45 pm. An aircraft flew out of the fog, right above the convoy. Every ship including the Destroyer, opened fire on it. Fortunately nobody hit it, as it was one of ours. Due to bad visibility nobody could make out the markings on her. Still 鈥� if ours can do this鈥攕o can the Germans!

Friday 5th.
Changed course today. Destroyers depth-charging for a Sub. About 6pm. We are going through minefields tonight.( those across the Bristol Channel) Paravanes to be put out at 7 pm. So hope there are no loose mines floating around to knock against us. Paravanes won鈥檛 work, so we proceed without them. Here鈥檚 hoping!

Saturday 7th.
Still on top of the water. Due in Liverpool tomorrow. Quite a few mines seen today, floating by the ship, but they are harmless, so we are told by the Admiralty. Still hope we don鈥檛 hit them!

Sunday7th. ( 20 days from Bathurst)
Docked at 1.30 pm. and very glad to be back. Letters today. First full night鈥檚 sleep sine leaving Hull.

Tuesday 9th.
Paid off this afternoon. Home to Glasgow by train.
Must see about Ration Book, etc. One must eat, even when on Leave!

Notes. David Phin was 3rd. Engineer on the鈥淏OTHNIA鈥�

DG 鈥� De-Gauzing -----A cable that ran around the outside of a ship, to repel mines by it鈥檚 magnetic field.

David and Joyce were married on June 17th. 1944.

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