大象传媒

Monday August 12th
I was going to do a bit of washing today, but there was no hot water. All tap water runs from 6 am to 9 am in the morning and then it is turned off because of the shortage
For dinner, we had tomato soup, cold chicken, peach Melba and an orange which was given to Pam and a banana which was given to Julia, they are not old enough to come down to 7pm supper. There is a posh supper at 8pm.
I have begun to read the "Golden Magnet", a gardening prize from Daisy May, my headmistress of Seager House School, Hayling Island. My parents moved me from there as it was too near Portsmouth docks. That was why I went to Jersey Channel Islands, to lodge with the Le Sueur family and go to Jersey College for girls. Apart from 5 Le Sueurs, my Grandmother and my cousin also lived there. We had a lovely time.
Tuesday August 13th
Gosh! It hasn't half been hot today, I wore my blue and white spotted play-suit.
Another lovely supper, roast fowl, but it would have been perfect if I could have picked up the bone and eaten it quickly. We marched around the deck after supper.
I am sleeping with one sheet and a curtain across the open doorway
Wednesday August 15th
At noon today we saw the shores of Africa. At 2 pm we landed at Freetown in Sierra Leone. Going into harbour was the best view I ever saw, palm trees, small bays with golden sands, off the point was a wrecked sailing ship.
When the boat stopped lots of natives in their little canoes dived for pennies, and others sold fruit, monkeys and scarves. We were not allowed to go ashore!
I had a bathe with Jean at 5 in the afternoon, I was ducked at least 11 times as I came up I was pushed down again.
At 7pm I got ready for the dance, I wore my white dress with pale pink smocking Grandma in London had given me with my white shoes. The dance started at 9-15 and ended with Boomps-a- Daisy at 11-30. My feet are aching "Goodnight"
Grandma鈥檚 exit from Jersey
Friday August 16th
I got up at 7am and washed 10 handkerchiefs and 2 pairs of pants.
We have left Freetown, which is called "The White Man's Grave", because the place is so beautiful but has so many fevers. Freetown is a very mountainous place. There is a waterfall. We left at 2pm. They have quite cool weather but with a warm breeze. We occupied ourselves by doing a jig saw.
The boats with us are the Stratheard, 3 funnels, the Andes, which is a troop ship it is 4000 tons heavier than the Stratheden, it is run entirely on electricity. The Andes has one funnel. Also a Polish boat the biggest one built in Poland. 3, funnels. Two other boats are the Empress of Britain, which is carrying troops, 3 funnels and the Orion, 3 funnels. The Orion had to turn back after leaving Liverpool, engine trouble of some sort.

Saturday August 17th
I had a bathe at 10-30,with the usual ducking!
The Andes who was travelling along side had to circle around, as a man had fallen overboard, the destroyer helped and the man overboard was saved.
The climate is cool but sticky on the whole it is very pleasant. We have to advance the clocks tonight, 30 minutes, for this week. I had chicken raw figs and cream for supper tonight.

Sunday August 18th
At 7-15 this morning, we passed the equator, actually I didn't know until 10.
I went to church and sat with Julia, Jean and Sally. I did my last bit of washing.
I went to the pictures, to see Deanna Durban's "First Love," I had seen before, it was very good.
It doesn't seem as though we had passed the equator, as it quite cold. I think, in about a week's time, we will be in Cape Town. No bathing today as I ran out of time. I am about to read the "Holy Terror" one of Julia's books.
For supper I had fish, chicken, roast potatoes, cauliflower (with a maggot in it) ice cream with cherries and walnuts. The orange and grapes I gave the orange and half the grapes to Julia and ate the other half with my morning orange juice
Goodnight

Monday August 19th
Today has been a grand day. In the morning, I did my ironing. Ate tons of lunch, the waiter thought Jean and I would never stop. He ended up slipping and sent Jean's curry and rice flying.
I had a bathe with Jean at 4pm and tried a double dive, which was not very successful. Michael, Peter, Julia, Bobby Moorhead, Mrs. Moorhead, Sally, another boy and myself played sevens, then we played Old Maid. A lot of cheating went on while Michael was under the table picking up matches, so we made him Old Maid!
For supper I had duck and green peas for supper Jean found half a yard of string in her roll which sent us into fits of laughter, the rest of the table hadn't arrived. Peter, Michael, Jean and myself went to Sally's cabin but ended up by kicking the boys out.
The cruiser tried gun firing today, the Stratheden was towing the target.
Good night

Tuesday August 20th
We had another gun firing practice today and the cruiser's shots were very good.
When Pam rang me, I was cleaning my teeth, (note, from memory, the switchboard got fed up putting through the telephone calls , so they threatened to charge us!)
No lights, were to be shown, no smoking on deck at night, a small chink of light was reported by another ship, they discovered it was my cabin, the steward forgot to put down one layer of shutter. There were lots of layers to black out the porthole.
Jean, Sally, Julia and myself read quite a lot today. Jean and I went for a bathe, there were not many people in, as the weather was rather cold, Sally has ear ache, the same ear that she had a mastoid in, now she is a bit deaf in the good ear.
We should reach Cape Town by Saturday. "Good night."

Wednesday August 21st.
It was much colder today, so I am trying to finish off my pink knitted jumper. We have been playing a number of card games. I bought Daddy a pack of cards in a leather case, for Mummy, I got an ivory broach of walking elephants. I am going to read now.

Thursday August 22nd
I have nearly finished knitting my pink jumper.
Jean and I wanted to see "Bandwagon" but we were too young. I had seen it before in Jersey anyway.
The sea is quite rough today, my hair-band blew over board!
I did some ballet steps in my cabin and got on quite well. I wrote to Mum and Dad today.

Friday August 23rd
No swimming for the last few days as the sea is too rough.
A notice was put up saying we were we were arriving in Cape Town at Sam on Sunday morning, but we are arriving later as the grey Polish boat got left 13 miles behind last night, also the Stratheard's engine has gone phut, because they wouldn't put her into dry dock in London, so she is waiting until she gets to India.
Jean and I went to the pictures and saw "Bandwagon" it was very good.
Mrs. Moorhead has offered to take John, Peter, Michael, Bobby, Julia, Jean and myself ashore in Cape Town.
I am going to sew up my jumper tonight. "Goodnight"

Saturday August24th.
I have finished my jumper! Jean and I saw "Bandwagon" again with a bit of wangling. There is not much happening. "Goodnight"

Sunday August 25th
We stopped at Cape Town at 10 o'clock in the morning, I had two letters from Mum and Dad and a letter from Uncle Emile saying if he could get his docks pass, he would meet me at the gangway.
At 12 o'clock uncle Emile was there, I had never seen Pop's brother before he looked just like Daddy. He had a hat over his right hand, hiding the hook. He had been shooting game from a moving train when he dropped his gun. The shot took off his hand and went through his shoulder.
First we had lunch at Emile's hotel, which was very nice, the hotel had a very good view of the sea. That was where Emile saw our convoy come in.
Then we went for a long drive right along the sides of mountains, passing the Twelve Apostles, the name of the mountain. We had tea and took some snaps. Unfortunately I had to be back by 5pm. Emile said he would come down tomorrow, which will be grand.
I came back to the boat 5pm
Monday August 26th
At 9am Emile tried to get a dock's pass but didn't get to the boat until 1 lam.
We went to a big place and had tea to rest Emile's legs.
Then we bought some peanuts for the squirrels in the park, but they weren't there. We went to the museum and saw rock that contained gold and diamonds, it was a very nice little place.
We had lunch, I had chicken and cream and ice cream and fruit, so did Emile.
Then Emile went to a bone man, which only took quarter of an hour.
Then we went by bus halfway up Table Mountain and saw the view of the town, we did not go up the aerial railway because of the high winds.
Then we went to a small zoo where we saw snakes, birds, monkeys, a sheep with 6 legs and some other animals.
By-the-way before the zoo we had tea at a marvellous place, with a roof like the sky. Then Emile took me to a shop where he bought me a powder compact for when I grow up. It was a lovely blue and black flower one. (I still have it). He also bought me postcards of Cape Town. Then we had supper at Emile's hotel
We saw Review of 1940, or some title like that. It had a lot of dancing and was very good.
I came back to the boat at 11pm, there was no black-out.
I said good-bye to Uncle Emile and thanked him for every thing, I felt that I had known him for ages.
Tuesday August 27th
We were not allowed on shore after 1 l-30am and not many people did go ashore. The Stratheden moved out of the harbour at about 2pm and anchored in Table Bay. I could see Emile's hotel, Lyon's Head, Signal Hill and the big Table Mountain.

Wednesday 28th August
The convoy, which we left behind just after Liverpool has just arrived. We cannot go ashore. I think we will be leaving on Sunday "Goodnight"
I went for a bathe at 8-15 p.m. and saw a film "Good Girls in Paris" which was very funny.

Thursday August 29th
All the other ships have left us, they are going to Mombassa and we are waiting for the
Orion to return from Liverpool, she is catching us up. I washed my hair this morning and
did the mile with Mrs. Moorhead to get it dry.
I am reading " Terror on Tip Toe" I think it will be good. "Goodnight"

Friday August 30th
At 6am we sailed back into harbour. I did not go ashore. Have discovered an old friend called Joy Rossiter is on board, someone just mentioned her name, I haven't met her yet. Today I did a spot of sunbathing.

Saturday August 31st
Those who went ashore had to be back by 11-30, so I didn't think it worth ringing Uncle Emile up, much as I would have liked to.
Juliet, Sally, Jean and I did a bit of fishing using a bent safety pin and a bit of meat and caught nothing. But a man put a few hooks onto our bit of string and he caught 2 fishes for us. We gave them to someone else to use as bait.
We left the harbour at 2pm with the Orion and Normande and the Polish ship "Goodnight"

Sunday September 1st
It has been quite rough. Each day now we do a bit of ballroom dancing in the afternoons, it was most awkward with the boat rolling. It has been quite cold too.
I have started to read "And Then a Boy" it is very funny. "Goodnight"

Monday September 2nd
I walked the mile, which is 7 times round the deck, with Mrs. Moorhead after breakfast.
Jean and I went to the pictures and saw "Inspector Hornley on Holiday" it was very creepy and funny. For supper I had hors-d'oeuvres, turkey, sausage and potatoes. Then ice cream with raspberries in it and a lemon jelly and an apple.
The sea is rough and the weather sticky.
Goodnight

Tuesday September 3rd
Well, the war has lasted one year from today.
Our cruiser named "Cornwall" left us today, circling around to say "Goodbye" Today we are in the charge of an Australian, a very big thing, it is a passenger ship only with more guns.
I have heard that in 10 day's time, we will arrive in Bombay, which is a very nice thought
I have learnt how to play Pontoon, it is rather a long game.
I have got a lovely sore throat, so I have asked the stewardess for some hot lemon
Goodnight

Wednesday September 4th
I packed my dressing case, this afternoon (I remember this case Green leather with solid silver fitted brushes and comb set CP) We didn't do much today.
I went to bed with a hot lemon and a scarf round my neck and sucking a jube
Goodnight

Thursday September 5th
I did a spot of washing and ironing and packed my trunk (We always travelled with large black tin trunks, holidays and back and forth to boarding school. The railways took charge of collecting and delivering them CP)
Julia, Jean, Sally and myself have been invited to Molly's birthday party' she is going to be thirteen. Jean and Julia bought her a purse and Sally and I bought her a broach.
A week tomorrow, we will arrive in Bombay.
Goodnight

Friday September 6th
There were 11 of us at Molly's party. We had a big cake, hats, small drums and masks.
After 5 o'clock tea (which Jean and I don't have) we played a game called Bingo' which is like Housie Housie.
Goodnight

Saturday September 7th
Julia, Sally, Jean and myself went to the pictures and saw "Golden Boy", it was good but sad. We were also given a plate of chips, which had pepper on, nobody liked them, so Jean and I ate them up.
Goodnight

Sunday September 8th
I went in for a bathe, the temperature was 74 degrees, so it was quite nice. Pam was
pushed in and landed against the steps, she scraped her ribs and cut her foot.
London has had a very bad time, about 400 lives were lost by the estuary of the Thames River (this was the London blitz CP)
Goodnight

Monday September 9th
Everyone is fed up with life! I went to the pictures and saw "Lone Wolfs Daughter" which was very good. The ship's crew are giving a concert tonight, but I am not going.
I went for a bathe, before breakfast, this morning, it was very nice. I also went for one at 10am.
Goodnight

Tuesday September 10th
I have been told that there are 64 cases of measles on board.
It has been very hot and sticky on board today. I went to the flicks and saw Lone Wolfs Daughter again.
Joy was pushed into the swimming pool with all her clothes on! I thought I might go for a bathe tomorrow morning.
Goodnight

Wednesday September 11th
It has been very sticky today. Jean and I got round the lounge steward today and he gave us some chips (yum-yum)
Jean is going to awaken me tomorrow at 7am so we can go for a bathe.
I have had 2 bathes today, the temp: of the pool is 84%
Goodnight

Thursday September 12th
I had a bath before supper. For supper I had grapefruit, fowl, peas, potatoes, a savoury which was a prune with bacon round it and liver with bacon round it, everyone laughed
but it was very nice. Then I had an ice cream and took an apple and an orange away with
me.
I did my last bit of washing and ironing today.
Jean and I went for a bathe this morning before breakfast, the salty water was luke warm. I think we arrive in Bombay on Sunday. Goodnight

Friday September 13th
I went to the pictures and saw "Destry Rides Again", it was a cow-boy film, but I thought
it was too long.
It was fresher today

Saturday September 14th
I have done all my packing and my trunk is roped up, and I have had my last bath. I saw "Destry Rides Again" I have got all my money out of the Purser's office, about 拢1 - 12 shillings will go on
tipping
I think we will arrive in Bombay about 3am, tomorrow morning

Sunday September 15th
We arrived in Bombay harbour at 10-30
See also Grandma's exit (1) and "A child of the Raj"

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.