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Continued...
March 18 A dull day. Convoy split up and we took up position at rear of convoy. Assumed that we are going to Durban and not Capetown. Disappointed.
March 19 Rather windy day. Wrote letters to mum and Clare. Started one for Ken. Swatted a spot of maths and wireless.
March 20 Lazy day. Windy and cold. Mac did not get up until 2.30 p m. Sea is now a little rough. I guess we must be near The Cape. Had Morse practice as usual. Read in the afternoon.
March 21 Part of convoy left us again. Started winding a field coil for a drill that Charlie is repairing. Had permission from the C.E. to take Captain Ward down the engine room. Changed our course and went east. Saw a cruiser with searchlight on at night. Hope that raiders are not about. Not feeling too good today as I have a headache. Finished letter to Ken. Nice view of signal flags.
March 22 Very warm today. Nothing of importance to enter. I listened to the wireless in the evening. Good to hear that Berlin is being bombed.
March 23 Very hot and little to report.
March 24 Went down to Charlie's cabin at night.
March 25 Took Captain Ward down to engine room. Poor Mac was rather upset at the 2/6d tip.
March 26 Reckon we will be in tomorrow. Ironed all my tropical kit in readiness for shore leave.
March 27 Docked and allowed ashore at 4 p.m. Received 1 pound in pay in South African money. I went ashore with the third wireless operator and the first thing we did was to have a swell feed at The Royal Hotel. Chicken and peas and heaps of cheese and fruit. Bill was 12/-. A swell day and gosh what beautiful girls there are here. The Playhouse seemed to be an open-air cinema. The film was ‘’That Man Reuter’’ and very good too. Returned to boat at midnight.
March 28 Left boat for camp at Clarewood about 8 miles from Durban. Fine food and lovely scenery from train. We arrived at Carewood at 1 p m and are able to go to Durban by train, paid sixpence,. Return at 3 p m.. Went to a dance at Harcourt Road and had an enjoyable time. Bill Bowler got drunk and I carried him by fireman's lift from the train to the camp. In at midnight. Went bathing in the sea in afternoon and saw a rescue affected by a lifesaver. A jolly good day.
March 29 Went out at 1.30 p m. with Joanah. Went round shops and beach. Later went to dance in town hall. This place was packed and dancing was impossible. Criticised dances all evening. Had a good supper of eggs, bacon, milk and tons of fruit.
March 30 Out of camp at 1.30 p.m. Bathed and strolled around native quarter. Bought ivory for mum and Clare for 2-2/6d. Went to a fellow's flat on the Brier for the night. Marvellous scents of trees and marvellous flat. This South African was a socialist and a textile traveller. Promised a run out to Sabigani on Tuesday.
March 31 A fellow shot himself in the next tent but one. I arrived to find him gasping his last breath. An awful night. Left camp at 2.20 p.m. and had another night ashore with Joanah. Came back by rickshaw. Had a meeting in the morning as we marched off the boat twice and refused to come back. Hell of a stir. We dashed past M.P.s on the gangway and called the rest of the lads to come off. We were off for a couple of hours but were finally coached to go on again.
April 1 Bugs in blankets, Lice and horrible grit in the food. This is a hell of a boat. Men are on the edge of mutiny again. Sailed today. How sorry I am to leave ‘The City of London’ ship. On guard today in the stern of the ship.
April 2 Rotten food but officers are making a vain effort to improve things.
April 3 Sunbathed most of the day. This is encouraged on the boat.
April 4 Temperature 95 degrees. Sunbathed all day. Sea calm.
April 5 Took on ships orderly duties. Hot. Nothing to report. Had wireless on deck today.
April 6 Saw a flying fish. Very hot. It gets hotter every day.
April 7 Very cloudy. Man jumped overboard from another boat.
April 8 Slept on deck and was drenched last night when we ran into a squall. I lost my shoe in the mad rush for cover. Cloudy today.
April 9 Much warmer today but inclined to be showery at night.
April10 Cross the equator today. Rather muggy and hot. The sea is very calm. A beautiful moon at night.
April 11 The sea is dead calm. I think you might see 40 ft below the surface of the water. Saw lots of flying fish today. Good Friday.
April 12 Boxing bouts in the afternoon. Fine and warm today. 6’’ guns had a short practice today. I wonder what Clare is doing tonight. I’d love to be able to take her for a walk. The north star is visible tonight for the first time in months.
April 13 Very hot. Saw some flying fish. Entered the Gulf of Aden.
April14 Ditto.
April15 Super hot today. Lovely moon. Expect to go into the Red Sea tomorrow.
April 16 Entered the Red Sea at 8 a.m. What a glorious view of French Somaliland and Arabia. The sun set as we passed through The Straits leaving Perim Island on the starboard bow.
April 17 Calm day. Passed several islands. Went sick with a mild attack of tonsillitis. Feel very ill.
April 19 Ken’s birthday. Passed a lighthouse on lone rock. Expect to be in tomorrow.
April 20 Entered Gulf of Suez. Saw Mount Sinai on our starboard side. Very cold. Anchored at 4.30 p.m. Expect to go through the canal tonight. I’m on guard, worst luck. A really marvellous Arabian night with the purple sky meeting the water. Entered Suez Canal at 6.30 a.m. Lovely voyage through some panoramic scenes all day. Saw praying arabs in red fez, palms and ships sunk in canal. Lovely oasis on the side of the canal. Camels I viewed for the first time. Arrived at Said at 4 p.m., ‘’Land of the Moon and Stars’’. Very cold today. Saw memorial in memory of the Defenders of the Canal (1914—1918).
April 22 Went off boat at 12 p.m. and got on train for base. Train did not leave Port Said until 4 p.m. Arrived at Gahza at 2 a.m.
April 23 Marched 9 miles to Mina camp. Arrived at 5 a.m. What a march. No food when we arrived. Up at 11 a.m. for breakfast. Erected tents all day.
April 24 A spot of drill today. Bought oranges etc.
April 25 Rifle drill today. Very hot and dusty. Letter today from mum. Paid and went into Cairo at night. Had a days leave in Cairo. Visited The Blue Mosque Palace, Hygene Museum. Took pictures from top of mosque secretly from the inside of my hat. Spent all my cash.
April27 Little to report. Wrote to mum and Clare.
April 28 Rear party came with wagons and my guitar. Did route march.
April 29 Worked on lorries. Very hot. Fed up.
April 30 Fed up with red tape. Worked today.

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