大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Elizabeth Perez of Stockport Libraries on behalf of Mary Blood, Harry鈥檚 widow, and has been added to the site with her permission. She fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

From his call-up into the Army in January 1941 until his 鈥榙emob鈥�, Harry Blood kept a diary. It followed his early progress from Glasgow to Egypt, around the Cape of Good Hope, through the Western Desert to Sicily and Italy. Near the end of his service and his diaries, he had a chance meeting with W.A.A.F. Corporal Mary Pettit at a tram stop in Brussels. Not lacking in graphic and humourous descriptions, there came a happy ending as he and Mary married not long after, having a long and happy marriage. Only minimal editing has been done to exclude one or two brief entries which contained little of interest.

Fred Kennington
Stockport
March 2002.

鈥淥n 22nd April 1941 we embarked on the 23,000 ton P & O liner the 鈥楽trathaird鈥�. She had been in dock at Glasgow for repair. She left Glasgow next day, passing down the Clyde and dropping anchor off Gourock, after passing a large number of ships on the stocks. We had an enthusiastic send-off from Clydeside, everyone stopping what they were doing to give us a farewell wave and cheer and all the ships blew their hooters. Off we went 鈥搑ound Africa to Egypt.

It is now 25th April. We have not moved yet. The weather is glorious 鈥� I am lying on a hatch with many more and the sun is quite strong. There is a large convoy here. We sleep in hammocks which are slung over the dining table 鈥� not very hygienic 鈥� and I must say that hammocks take some getting into 鈥� at first in at one side, out at the other! We have had a skin inspection also a pay parade. Lying here in the sun with the crowd sunbathing and playing 鈥榟ousie-housie鈥� reminds me of summer holidays. But no girls here 鈥� unfortunately!
A submarine has just slid past causing a minor sensation. Other craft here include liners, acting as troopships; all sorts of cargo vessels, some Swedish and Norwegian. Many famous Clyde pleasure steamers are here, both turbine and paddle. There are hoppers, tugs, supply ships of all kinds and many types the identity of which I am doubtful. Some may be naval vessels well camouflaged. Up to now I have seen one cruiser, several destroyers and sloops, one motor torpedo boat, as well as the submarine. There was also a Red Cross motor boat. Many drifters are here in Gourock harbour and the 鈥楥ity of Nagpur鈥� has just gone past.
It is a fine scene on the river here; the town and harbour on one side; on the other, scattered grey stone houses near the water鈥檚 edge; green fields patched on the hills and a background of larger hills 鈥� grey 鈥� in the distance. The sky is clear and blue; the water a deep blue and fairly smooth. Add to all this the convoy forming up, with motor boats flitting in and out among the varied vessels; an occasional seaplane above; and hundreds of gulls gliding and uttering their weird cries 鈥� and you have one of the finest pictures I have ever seen.
I have just had my first short lesson in Arabic from Lt. Benson 鈥� very interesting!
It is now 8.15pm. A short while ago the sun was shining across the water and lighting up the grey houses of Greenock. It is now almost ready to disappear in a red glow behind the mountains, to which it gives a misty effect.
I have tried to count the ships here. There are roughly fifteen warships, three of which are capital ships or heavy cruisers. Then there are about fifty other vessels of which nearly twenty appear to be quite large liners, probably used as troopships.鈥�

As well as the diaries, Harry鈥檚 letters home to his parents were kept. They were sent regularly while he was on this voyage. Actually they say nothing for the sound reason that they were subject to censorship. What is notable is that they contain odd symbols rather like noughts and crosses and other messages relating to apparently not existent people. Searching through various papers one came to light explaining what each meant. Just how he got the key through to his parents I do not know!

鈥�26th April 1941. It is a lovely morning but with a cold wind early. I see our derrick poles are fastened down today which may indicate an early start. Nothing fresh yet. We have boat drill every day. At 5.40pm we started, sailing round several times until we took up position and set off. That was the last look at Scotland.

27th April. Well out now with the ship plunging but not rolling. The convoy seems reduced to about nine liners and six smaller vessels, the escort consisting of several destroyers, spread all round and a battleship in the rear. Heard firing - got emergency rations. The weather fine and warm.

28th April. Warm but cloudy with the sea strangely smooth. I expect roughness later. Lay in the sun in the afternoon, but there was slight rain later. There was some activity among the destroyers.

29th April. Slightly more roll this morning. Sunbathing and reading all day except for a short PT session.

30th April. Colder, with a good wind becoming stronger later and the sun not strong. PT every day now. Watched boxing on deck. A few destroyers seem to have left us.

1st-7th May. We are now in tropical kit. Very warm but breezy. I should guess we are not far off the Cape Verde Islands now. I鈥檝e already written nine letters for posting at Freetown. Sleeping on deck now 鈥搗ery pleasant 鈥� we try to get up there early to get a good position. On the last day awnings were put up as protection from the tropical sun. Saw a school of flying fish.

8th May. Very hot but with a very calm sea. We鈥檝e seen more flying fish. During last night the 鈥楧ominion Monarch鈥� ran into one of the other vessels apparently smashing the bridge of the latter.

9th May. Awoke this morning to see the outline of hills in the distance. Later in the morning we reached Freetown. My first impression is quite favourable. On the right are high hills, covered to the top with verdure, trees of various striking shades of green. Hundreds of ships are in the fine harbour, notably small yachts with triangular sails. Unlike the ocean on which we have sailed so far, the water in the harbour gives the impression of a peculiar shade of green. There is a large jellyfish drifting along with the tide. Almost as soon as we dropped anchor, two natives came alongside selling fruit, but their canoe was overturned by the wash from an oil vessel, which was also coming alongside. However, in less than half an hour, our vessel was surrounded by many canoes, each loaded with fruit. The crew of our ship produced baskets, which we let down the ship鈥檚 side on the ends of ropes. The natives insisted on cash before delivery 鈥� they would not send any fruit up before the money was sent down. The Negroes on the auxiliary vessel were scrambling for coins and others in canoes were diving for anything from 1/- (5p) upwards.
Freetown, itself, doesn鈥檛 seem very large and is scattered over a large steep slope. From this distance it looks a clean and pleasant town, which is far from consistent with its reputation. It certainly makes a fine scene but, unfortunately, we are not being allowed ashore here. Lt. Benson gave us a talk on Egypt. Next day, 10th May, was warm again but with a pleasant breeze. There was a concert on deck in the afternoon.

11th May. Up to now I鈥檝e had six bananas, one coconut, and six limes from the canoes. The limes and a large part of the coconut went back into the sea. I have started buying tinned fruit for tea. The sky here, blue with silvery clouds or, at sunrise and sunset when they are red-tinted, is sometimes rather lovely, but I can鈥檛 deny it is sometimes like that in England. Today I saw what I can only describe as a double decker motor boat.

12th May. Bought a dozen bananas. I鈥檝e had to return to the library, unfinished as yet, 鈥楬eart of Midlothian鈥�. This afternoon we had rain, only the second shower we鈥檝e seen on the voyage. It was very heavy, as I believe is usual in these parts. I have just been up on the deck to watch a beautiful sunset 鈥� and had an interesting conversation as well. It was one of the finest sunsets I鈥檝e ever seen. In it there was red, green, gold, light grey and many other shades.

13th May. Started PT under a new instructor, it being harder to dodge the unpopular bits!

14th May. Left Freetown about 8am, headed west at first but now seem to be going almost SE. Some rain this morning. We could actually see it approaching us like a mist. Fairly rough during the night.

15th May. Good wind, sea rather choppy, with a big swell. Some rain in the afternoon.

16th May. PT now every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Ted Gaymer and I wash up and draw the minerals every Thursday according to arrangements. I met Ted at Aldershot where he was on the same draft as I was. My first encounter with him was during the second four weeks of training. We had to learn how to collect and issue stores. That meant we had to learn to carry heavy loads. I was going to pick up this great sack of flour when Ted stopped me. 鈥楴ever pick it up on your own, get somebody else to help you!鈥� Words of wisdom as Ted, a Norfolk man, had done that sort of thing in civilian life. Slightly rough but bright today. Pay parade and skin inspection. We have a lecture every day besides occasional Arabic lessons. Read 鈥楾he further adventures of Capt. Cuttle鈥�.

17th May. I believe that we crossed the Equator yesterday. It would be very hot here but, luckily, there is still a strong wind.

18th May. Cool. Concert in the evening. Reading 鈥楳adonna of the Sleeping Cars鈥�.

19th May. Cool with very strong wind. Changed into battledress. Dark even earlier than usual.

20th May. Still cold and windy. Today鈥檚 daily lecture given by Major Wingfield on 鈥楽upply in the Field鈥�. He makes it very interesting. Had Arabic today as well. I noted a few of the words we were told; - 鈥榓nna鈥�, me; 鈥榠nta鈥�, you; 鈥榠sma鈥�, listen; 鈥榮aakam鈥�, what time is it? 鈥榝arsha鈥�, beg. Once we got there, we learnt a few more 鈥� which Lt. Benson hadn鈥檛 told us! Given that this book is not for the sight of an elderly aunt who understands Egyptian, then the one that always had the most effect was 鈥榠mshi鈥�. Anybody begging was soon removed by that sharp word!

21st May. Cold and windy, later somewhat warmer. Reading P.C.Wren鈥檚 鈥榃ages of Virtue鈥�. Saw some gulls so presumably not far from the coast.

22nd May. Company runner today.

23rd May. Cold at first, warmer later. Some mist. I鈥檓 sleeping downstairs tonight for a change.

24th May. Very glad I did! About 3.30am Wally Statter came down, having been almost swept off the deck! According to him, we pulled up just in time to avoid what he believes was a lightship. After that time, I just dozed fitfully. We heard several thuds, apparently the waves hitting the sides of the ship, and there was a trickle of water through some of the portholes. At about 5.30am an even louder bump and water poured in one porthole. Several of the chaps, who were sleeping on the floor or tables, got themselves and their bedding wet through while I had most of my clothes wet.
This morning it was still quite rough when, after 8am, we came in sight of land. As we approached, I first made out a range of mountains. When nearer, I picked out the well-known Table Mountain situated at the north end of the range with its sheer grey face and its peak surmounted by what looks like from the sea to be a tiny white building. It makes a fine background for the large collection of cream-coloured houses with red roofs with, in the foreground, the tall, light grey buildings, the business premises and the fine places on the front. This is Cape Town.
We reached the smooth surface of the harbour and docked at 8.50am. Many newspapers were brought on board, ladies sold us chocolates through the portholes, and some kind citizens were giving, literally, hundreds of oranges to us. Ted Gaymer and I had twenty between us. Cape Town appears to me to be a bright and clean-looking town. As a background for part of it is the strange shape of the Lion Mountain. It has a long patch of trees on the neck which forms the mane while the head is a large knob of rock devoid of vegetation.
We left Cape Town at 11.30am that day after a stay of less than three hours. We were not allowed to go ashore as the call at Cape Town was apparently only to allow some V.I.P. off. This afternoon we have this terrific swell again and a lot of chaps are looking bad. In the late afternoon Fred Harvey and I started sharp walking round 鈥楥鈥� deck, later trying to cure others by getting them to do likewise. The sea is really mountainous and it is great to see it dash against the ship, rebound, sending up clouds of spray, then settle down in seething, swirling creamy whirlpools with their light blue tints.

25th May. Perhaps even rougher than before and at times we heel over at a remarkable angle. The wind catching the crest of the waves causes the spray to be sent high above us into the air. I enjoy watching this vast grey wilderness with its milky white crests of foam and the feel of spray on my face. Today I saw many people fall down and one unfortunate Lascar sat down and, together with his mop and bucket, slid right across the deck.

26th May. Had a good sleep for the first time since my return to the hammock. Still rough at sea and many plates have been broken. A beautiful sunrise and a fine sunset.

27th May. A beautiful sunrise again 鈥� glorious red tints at first 鈥� than a magnificent golden hue. The coast came in sight early. We turned in towards Durban before 10am, but had to wait some time for the pilot. The coastline here consists of two ranges of low hills, the town being built on the slopes of the smaller one. We entered the harbour and went to a wooden quay near, which is a petrol refinery, where we took supplies on board. Behind the refinery, is a thickly wooded hill studded with occasional houses and, on the other side, between us and the main part of the town, is a long peninsular, also well wooded. Behind that, the town extends for miles, both up the inlet and along the seafront past the harbour. It is now evening and the display of lights along the shore and on the ships is grand to see after so many months of black-out.

28th May. This morning we moved across to the main quayside and in the afternoon had shore leave for the first time 鈥� just over five weeks from going aboard. We had a walk around and, in the evening, spent our money at a fair. We also got a free ride in a car. It is almost winter here now, but it is quite warm and the flowers and vegetation are plentiful and dense. One quarter of the town is a very fashionable seaside resort with fine hotels.

29th May. A route march this morning and leave in the afternoon, then the City Hall in the evening. A newspaper in Durban says there has just been the worst storm in over sixty years in the Cape of Good Hope area 鈥� yes, we had noticed it!

30th May. We had shore leave this afternoon so I walked round with Ted Gaymer. Many of the chaps are talking of the marvellous reception given to us by the residents of Durban. Their generosity seems to be unlimited.
The great highlight of Durban was 鈥楾he Lady in White鈥�, whom we saw and heard. Durban was a port of call for most or all troopships making their way round the Cape en route to the Middle East and Far East. The 鈥榃hite Lady鈥� met every troopship as it arrived, singing a welcome to them with her wonderful voice. She was an opera singer, Peria Siedle Gibson, always dressed in white. For five years her greeting of 鈥榗oo-ee鈥� was first heard, as the ship rounded the mole, which stretched out a mile into the bay. Then she sang all the favourite songs all along the mole right up to the quayside, where the ships docked. She continued singing until the ships tied up, finishing with 鈥楲and of Hope and Glory鈥�, which everyone joined in. Peria Gibson died in 1972 and a monument stands in Durban in her memory. 鈥楾he White Lady鈥� was an unforgettable sight and a truly remarkable woman.

31st May. We moved off this morning much to our disappointment and anchored in the bay. In the late afternoon the convoy steamed out to sea once more with us looking back at Durban with regret at leaving.

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