Thursday 1^st April

After B’fast stroll on deck sea getting’ a bit rough – read, wrote and Xword ‘til lunch time – Finished ‘The 1000^th Chase’ by G Delmot – now on ‘The Knight on Wheels’ Ian Hay again.  Slept and read after lunch.  Bath and Chess with Bill Dugdale before dinner – after dinner races – Our horse won.  Bill and I also had 3 winners – shared the tote ticket – Won £1 net – walk on deck at 10 pm shades of return from Zoute without the essential thing – bed at 10.30.                     

Friday 2^nd April

After b’fast finished a Knight on Wheels and took out ‘Queen Anne Boleyn’ – good.  Played patience most of the morning.  After lunch read and slept ‘til 4.45 – bath – round guns and stroll round deck before dinner.  After dinner 2 games of chess, 2 of draughts and 1 backgammon – bed at 10.30 and after reading got off to sleep about midnight.     

Saturday 3 April

Walk on deck after b’fast and then played patience until 11 am when I was asked to play 21 – started with 5/5 and when the lunch time bugle was sounded at 1 ocl had 36/9 – won 31/4^d – v lucky numerous 5 and unders, 21s etc.  After lunch a little deck curling with Bill, Tony Martin and Shuerham.  Sleep from 3 – 4.30 and then a good hot bath – before dinner chess and draughts with Bill.   After dinner had long chat with Curtis who commanded a Coy at Tilbury (?) in the Essex (HD) Bn – nice chap.

Sunday 4 April

Up in the lounge from 12 – 4 this am – Clocks put on an hour at 12 ocl.  Up at 8 am and had to shave after b’fast as I missed the water.  Played patience most of morning and made a few notes etc.  After lunch chat with Sgts re the various tips they had written out.  Sleep from 3 – 4.30 – hot bath – packed and had dinner at 7.  After dinner walk on deck and then looked in at the concert – another walk – bed at 12 ocl – Saw the, or rather a N of Ireland lighthouse at about 9.30 pm.

Remainder of Diary written from memory 1993!

Monday 5 April (1943)

Docked Gourock during night up early and left Nea Hellas on pinnace – towering Queen Mary painted grey at anchor – someone on pinnace called out that Customs had not cleared us – nearly lynched!  I had several 1000 State Express 3 5s in suitcase – phoned Colchester 2116 from station – Mother could not believe it was me – told me he was in North Africa!  Asked to speak to Eileen – said not here haven’t you heard in WRAF for a month at Gloucester!  Caught train about 5 pm from Liverpool St – dining car met Uncle Ernest in carriage asked about John a POW – tears m’ eyes told me they had heard he was put on submarine (?) which our ships sank and had been drowned – met by Father at North Station collected crate each oranges and lemons and boxes of dates – back 5 Oxford Road about 6.30 pm and v happy telephone conversation with Eileen who could not believe it – moving to Stradishall near Long Melford tomorrow – arranged to meet soonest possible.

End of diary.