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Passage To Egypt 1941 (chapter 1 of 2)
Edward Beaumont Franklin

This is a diary account written during a sea voyage from Scotland to Egypt. The passage was to transport soldiers to the Western Desert to fight the German army during the Second World War. Groups of these soldiers — including the author — were later to become known as 'Desert rats'. The trip was a long one, as the ship had to go all the way around Africa and up the other side because the Germans were in the Mediterranean Sea.

Feb 5 After travelling through last night and arriving at the port of embarkation early this morning from the train straight onto the small boat which took us out into the Clyde. to be boarded onto a large boat. What a boat! We are on the mess deck, all the lads together and as yet I have found no place to sleep. There is about two and a half yards per man. One has to literally weave in and out of the hammocks to get to the hatchway. It’s a fact that everyone would be lost if we were sunk. The food is very good indeed, roast beef for dinner and heaps of fish for tea. Washing up is done by ourselves and food is drawn for each table independently. These conditions can be compared with the Altmark prison ship.
Feb 6 Last night we were called from bed to unload a supply boat. We spent one hour on this job, from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. Slept on the floor as there seem to be no room for hammocks. The place was packed like sardines. After getting mixed up on a wrong parade we were put on guard. The dinner was rotten today as someone had been twisting the cook out of rations. A display or two, an aircraft carrier, seaplane, and submarine came into view today. I believe this is a large convoy going to 40 ships. We had boat drill on boat ne9A. Things seem just one big muddle. We have christened this The Alkmark. I go on guard at 5 p.m. and tea is coming up. I think we sail tonight. Anyway I sincerely hope so. Perhaps last view of Blighty.
Feb 7 Last night we were lucky enough to have our post abandoned hence a complete night sleep. We had boat drill again today and for the rest of the day did little but read below. McGregor Pearce has informed me that he is going to get into the engine room. I am going to try tomorrow as there is just two electricians short. A day of little happening. Dinner was fairly good, beef and sago pudding.
Feb 8 Uneventful day except for the fact that we at last stowed away the aft derricks and took on two lifeboats, the old ones being smashed in. We had pay today, 10/-. Lifeboat drill at 6.30 p.m. Dinner was pretty good, roast chicken and tapioca. I think and incidentally hope that we sail tonight. I saw Captain Ward about going down the engine room as an electrician. I don’t know how I shall fare but I am looking forward to a shift. We opened up the portholes today and I wrote to mum. The weather was inclement. Rain and a spot of wind.
Feb 9 Last night we weighed anchor at 10.30 p.m. On waking up this morning we were in sight of The Mull of Kintyre and on the port side Iceland was in sight. Rachline Island was left astern at 11 p.m. and the last sight of land was a glimpse of The Mull of Oe and Rimms Point. I could just see Malin Head (Ireland) 20.30 am Course 25 W of North, speed 6 knots. 75% of the fellows are sick. A heavy sea is running. The place is full of corpses. Course at 6.00 p.m. seems to be N.W. Hizzy and Les are very ill. I feel rather sick. Almost too ill to make up this diary. A heavy sea is running. Everyone is very ill indeed. Course is W. from tonight. I have a terrible headache and again I feel too sick to make up my diary.
Feb 11 Last night we heard a terrific bump I thought it was a depth charge. Seas today are very heavy, nearly impossible to write. Our stern is dipping into the sea. Saw an empty boat go past today. Pots and pans are shaking all over the place. We have waves going over the ship. Most fellows are sick and very ill. I suffer from a severe headache. I can well imagine sailing in the days of the mast and sail. Our course is N.W. by W. and speed about 4 -5 knots. H.M.S. Birmingham, a big cruiser keeps coming very near, she rides very well but we are several thousand tons short. We carry ballast in the form of 2000 tons of sand. Very dark tonight such a contrast to last night which was moon light and very beautiful. We stayed on the stern last night and sung to the tune of a ukulele till 9.30 p.m.
Feb 12 Last night was a rough night. A gale of 70 mph was blowing. We change our course this morning to S.W. My compass is incorrect due to the degaussing apparatus. The sea calmed down slightly today . No sun yet. Speed about the same. I bought some health salts to cure sickness . There are plenty of fellows very ill, I feel slightly better but still have a terrific headache. Gosh I wished I had some mail from home and Clare.
Feb 13 Very cold day today. Course seems to be W. again. Little to enter in diary. Shall be mighty glad to reach warm weather. We had a hailstorm today. Destroyers have apparently turned back. We had 12 plus 4 cruisers, these are still with us.
Feb 14 Little to report . Very cold. Stayed below most of the day and read ‘’City of Beautiful Nonsense’’. Pay today 1 pound. Turned south at night. Sick fellows nearly on their feet. Sea slightly calmer. One or two gulls fly with us, I think they are Petrels. Heard today that some officer was giving lessons in swahili, central African. The Rodney or Nelson came some way with us. What a ship!
Feb 15 I was on guard last night . Got chewed up for having dirty buttons and was on all night. Had a chance to post letters. Today little to report. Course still South. Still cold.
Feb 16 Nothing to report. Cold day. Read most of the day “Told by an Idiot’’. Still light at 10 p.m. There was a beautiful sunrise this morning at 10.15 p.m. An aircraft carrier came into the convoy. Saw planes which were Swordfish take off and land. Snapped (took photograph) H.M.S. Birmingham at 1.00 p.m.
Feb 18 A practice at the A.A. (anti-airgun) guns took place. A really warm day. Worked out our position as Lat 43 degrees Long 45 degrees. Read most of the day. Canteen queue gets longer every day. What an organisation! Calculated that we will be in Freetown in 5 days time. Nothing much happened today. The crew took down pulleys and blocks off the derricks (landing device). Opened the hatch covers. Rather a cool day with plenty of cloud. Dancer band played music on the deck. Misty at night. Informed today that I was to take up duties as Electrician. Was shown about the boat by engineer. Today was glorious, hot and so lovely. A great red sunset at night. Concert on ships poop deck. Wrote another letter to Clare. Felt more pleased with life today. The weather is getting me in the way that I do not want to live in the cold anymore.
Feb 21 Started work! Noticed that people from Sergeant Major upwards have respect for anyone out of battle dress — addressed as ‘Sir’ on more than one occasion which added to the more amusing side of the job. Chief job seems to be repairing fans. A mild day with plenty of cloud. Finished work at 3.30 p.m I’m not sure that we are to be paid for the job hence the early finish.
Feb 23 Worked in the morning. A really hot day.
Feb 24 Very hot today. Went to first cabin at night. It is rumoured that flying fish and sharks are to be seen.
Feb 25 Nothing much to report. Heard that raider had sunk 14 ships off the Azores. At cabin again at night. Went down to engine room.
Feb 26 Very hot today. Saw flying fish and sharks today.
Feb 27 Very hot. Little to report. Visited Tom’s cabin at night.
Feb 28 Man fell overboard and was picked up by the cruiser Birmingham.
March 1 Worked hard today. At Tom’s cabin at night. Very hot.
March 2 Sighted land and anchored in harbour at noon. Wallas (natives) in little boats about half a foot wide came alongside with fruit. Twisters of course. Passed close to a big cruiser. Witnessed a short comic scene when competition was keen amongst native boats and one capsized. The occupants clung to the back end of the boat to drift with the current back stream. Picked up later by navel craft. Tasted mangos, watermelon and limes. Also ate bananas, oranges and coconuts, the milk from these is certainly very good. Among the events on the day was a native diving for silver from the side of his small and narrow boat. Noticed the natives did not go to the assistance of comrades overboard. A shirt is worth at least a dozen bananas and these fellows wear anything, one having a red and white football socks, a soldier's hat and a pair of football boots. Towards the end of the night prices were very low. Two niggers had a fight with an oar for a customer on deck. Rather an eventful day.
March 3 Spent most of the day trading with the wogs in their boats. A fire started on shore on the vegetation on the hills, being put out at 10 p.m. The fireman who jumped overboard come on board again . He is really mad and we have to put four men to guard him. Missed my breakfast this morning. Birds from the land are like crows with a swallow tail. Weather a little cloudy but very hot. The ship’s boat went to shore today taking a few ships officers.
March 4 Most of the day spent trading. Worked as usual. Nothing important to report.
March 5 Spent most of the day with wireless operator solving induction trouble on wireless. Started to work on magneto off ships motor boat.
March 6 Finished magnetos and fixed some on boat. Strange enough it was a success. The trouble was softening of shellac on the armature. I was given a chance to go ashore from the ship. Started from the ship at 1.45 p.m. and soon was roaming around Freetown. I was on my own but I visited the native markets and places of interest. The women all seem to have a huge basket on their heads. I tried to get some starch and had much fun. I bought two bracelets and a pair of white shorts and endeavoured to get some photos of the place. I got some postcards at thrupence each. One was most colourful, the scene was the native market seen from a mound. About a 1,000 native women dressed in the brightest colours were selling all sorts of stuff. Each sat by their stalls with piles of different sorts of herbs including ginger and a sort of crystal substance to darken the eyes. One or two natives bothered me and I had to resort to a few adjectives before I was not pestered. I had a drink of beer (it was so hot) in a bar called “The Tipparary Bar’’. I noticed an awful smell some of the black women had. I must have looked a bit rough in white overalls, sandshoes with no laces and a toupee. I had to change a note and now have a considerable amount of West African cash. Bananas were about a foot long and very nice. I felt a little strange at first but soon I was confident. I expected a friend to accompany me but it was 6 p.m. before I met Tom. I saw three white women and 6 white men, resident in Freetown. I caught the motor boat at 6.15 p m and with us was the captain and several of our officers. The journey back to the ship took 1 hour and on return went down to the Chief Engineer's cabin to celebrate with the Chief Engineer and Tom the success of the magneto. Mac had been in the interior of the country and had brought back a drum and an idol for me as something native and original. We ended the night by having a war dance and turned in at about 4 p m A very interesting day indeed.
March 7 The madman was taken ashore in a straight jacket and handcuffed. He did look wild. I did a spot of sunbathing. Worked on fans most of the day. Trade with the wogs was allowed after a two day ban but few came and most have no fruit at all left. An early night tonight for a change. Made the best of a scene of two boats outside the porthole, but I’m afraid it’s not too good.
March 8 Two men jumped overboard. I at once reported that one man was dangerous as he spoke german and had been taking position of the ship with me and had pinched my map. A signal was at once sent ashore saying that these men were dangerous. Spent a few hours with the wireless operator in his cabin.
March 9 I had a row with the L.A.D. (Light Aid Detachment) after finding that Les had been moaning about my job and me not doing guard. Cloudy today. There was a good shower of rain. Crossed the line (equator) today at about 4 p m. Down at Charlie's cabin tonight.
March 11 Much cooler today. Little to report.
March 12 Spent most of the day practising on buzzer (Morse Code). Tried to take the news but the Morse Code is too fast yet.
March 13 Wound a fan armature. Practised Morse Code with Jones. Saw a school of dolphins 3 to 5 feet long. Young ones were jumping underneath their parents. Looked to be attached in some way. Soldering iron set overall on fire. Chief Engineer burnt his hand. We happened to be away.
March 14 Little to report except that I saw the chief about the fire. He said don’t worry.
March 15 Little to report. Slept last night near funnel, very cool.
March 16 Slept near funnel again, very cool. Did not do too much work. Read about wireless and had a little practice on Morse Code.
March 17 Slept in Contactor House. Spent afternoon reading Practical Wireless. Little to report. Cloudy and rather cool.

Continued in next chapter (entered as 2 chapters)

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