Friday 31^st December 1943.

Had party at Carmelia Ct. Wheatman’s, Jim Graham, Gretel, Pen, Lottie, and myself.  Finished up at O.C., R.A.S.C. mess.  Lottie & I walked all the way home and didn’t remember it!  Poor old Pen passed out in the mess!  Stayed the night (what was left of it) at Lottie’s flat.

Saturday 1^st January 1944.

Very quiet day.  Most civilians still on holiday.  Stayed in camp & early to bed.

Sunday 2^nd January 1944.

S.S.M. Nuttall posted to El Jiya at the BSD.  What a relief!  Visited Yankee Bky at Tel Aviv.

Monday 3^rd January 1944.   No entry.

Tuesday 4^th January 1944.  No entry.

Wednesday 5^th January 1944.  No entry.

Thursday 6^th January 1944.  No entry.

Friday 7^th January 1944.  No entry.

Saturday 8^th January 1944.  No entry.

Sunday 9^th January 1944.

Lt. Page arrived.  Stayed in camp & had an early night.

Monday 10^th January 1944.

Lt. White departed for 33 F.B.  Atmosphere clearer already!  Went with Lottie to Wheatman’s for dinner.  Did not get to bed until 03.00.

Tuesday 11^th January 1944.

Visited Affulch with Page.  Contract there expired.  Wrote to mother.  Major D phoned from GHQ re ovens at Hadera!  Told him we didn’t need new ones.  Bed at 9.30 p.m.  Very tired.

Wednesday 12^th January 1944.

Col Hall cancelled his inspection.  Capt Sterrard, SIS, inspecting accounts, etc.  Catering Advisor trade testing cooks.  Capt Hunt came tom see me.  Knew him in Beirut.  Invited to his mess tomorrow.  Had dinner with Lottie at her flat.  We went on to Carmelia Ct. & joined Page.  Sergt Smith, Cpls Morkillie & Green were there from Beirut.

Thursday 13^th January 1944.

Padre visited the camp.  Started to rain like hell again.  Capt. Perkins arrived for the evening.  Page, Perkins & I went to Carmelia Ct. met Lottie, Greta, Graham etc.  Quite a boozy party.  Got to bed about 01.00 hrs.

Friday 14^th January 1944.

Frightful storm.  Camp flooded.  Lunched with Pen on board the “Saad”.  Shocking tragedy this afternoon.  Pte. Bunn collapsed & died in two minutes.  Leaves a wife & two kiddies.  No previous record of illness.  Dined with Lottie at her flat.  Grand meal, bless her.  Stayed the night in comfort.

Saturday 15^th January 1944.

No rain today.  Extremely cold.  Pte Bunn buried in Haifa today.  Managed to get wreathe in time.  New establishment came through.  Not to be implemented yet!  We had a unit dance this evening.  Quite enjoyed myself.  Band very good.

Sunday 16^th January 1944.

Bloody cold.  Very quiet day in office.  Padre held a service in afternoon.  Collected Lottie in evening & went O.C., R.A.S.C. mess for an informal “do”.  Not very exciting.  Stayed night at Lottie’s.

Monday 17^th January 1944.

Left Haifa at 07.30 with Page to visit detachments.  Good car.  Arrived Rafah at 12.00 hrs.  Called at El Jiya on way to Jerusalem.  Conversion set arrived.  Arrived J at 18.00 hrs.  Stayed night at St. Julian’s.  Sing song with some Yanks & ENSA blokes.

Tuesday 18^th January 1944.

Saw Major Thorne in morning.  I left for Sarafel at 10.00.  Had lunch in O.C., R.A.S.C. mess.  Game of snooker.  Called at Hadra on return journey.  Arrived Haifa 18.00.  Stayed in office & went to bed early.

Wednesday 19^th January 1944.

Started to pour again.  D.D.M.S. inspected Pott’s bakery.  All O.K.  Said he would help us re drainage there.  Sumps all very bad & overflowing.  Went to pictures in evening with Lottie.  Saw “Commandos Strike at Dawn”.  All about invasion of Norway.  Extremely good.  Stayed night at Lottie’s.

Thursday 20^th January 1944.

Weather becoming impossible.  Heavy rain & wind.  Floods approaching camp at Haifa rapidly.  Back of Pott’s a foot under water.  Ct of Enquiry held on Bunn’s death.  Died of cerebral haemorrhage.  Wrote to his wife, lousy job.  Saw K**** fight but on points.  Good.

Friday 21^st January 1944.

Camp completely under water.  Potts flooded at rear & sides.  Rain still falling.  Just managed to save ovens at Potts by erecting a barricade.  Had dinner at Lottie’s flat.  Afterwards went to Carmelia Ct.  Lottie had on a new black dress.  Looked sweet.  Met Jim & Gretel.

Saturday 22^nd January 1944.

Rain stopped.  Floods receding.  Glorious sunshine at last.  Spoke to Dudley on the phone.  Expect to see him in Beirut next week.  Went to the “Behal” with Page, Knolles & Atherfold.  Quite good fun.  In bed by midnight.

Sunday 23^rd January 1944.

Glorious weather.  Visited Capt. Hunt at Pet.  Toc mess for a drink at lunchtime.  Page & I went for a long walk in afternoon.  Felt it in my legs.  Hunt & three officers came to tea.  Went to Lottie’s for dinner.  Stayed the night.  Very cold.

Monday 24^th January 1944.

Went to Mafrae with Page.  All O.K.  Lunched in O.C., R.A.S.C. mess.  Back in Haifa by 18.30.  Cleaned up in office & early to bed.  Very weary.  Reading “Vicomte de Cragalone” by Dumas.

Tuesday 25^th January 1944.

Received charming letter from Amiouni.  He is a fine fellow.  Had news that establishment to be implemented at once by “A”.  Notified that Sgts Hogg, McBain, Shephard, Smith & Cpl. Jones to be posted.  Went to pictures with Lottie.  Saw Clark Gable in “

Wednesday 26^th January 1944.

Went to Saisford to see about four new ovens there.  Lunched in the Gat Rimon Hotel in Tel Aviv.  Met Gretel and had a drink with her.  Looked up Chloe after lunch.  Found her home & asked her why she had’nt written.  Promised to see her next time I went there.  Had puncture on way home.  Arrived Haifa 18.30.  Joseph phoned coming Monday.  Splitting headache.  Early to bed.

Thursday 27^th January 1944.

Glorious weather.  Col. Geddes called to see me.  Invited me to dance at Beirut on Feb. 12^th. Page & I lunched with him at Officers Club, Haifa.  Got stockings from Lottie in afternoon.  Had dinner at her flat.  Roast York!!  Went to Orlando afterwards to see cabaret.

Friday 28^th January 1944.

Great day in my young life!  Received my majority.  New establishment through.  Tons of work ahead.  Cabled the news to angel.  Went with Page to cocktail party at 53^rd G.H.  Got a bit tight.  We took two sisters to the Piccadilly.  Quite a cheery night.  Sister’s name was Angela Overs.

Saturday 29^th January 1944.

Poor Page very ill this morning.  He certainly gets a good hangover!!  Had a coffee with Col. Hull at 11.00.  Missed seeing Lottie.  The Sergts had a dance in the mess saying farewell to McBain & Shephard.  I stayed for a time.  Then took Lottie to dinner at Carmelia.  Everyone congratulated me.  We went on to Piccadilly.  A grand eve.  Extremely merry.  Finished at Wheatmas.

Sunday 30^th January 1944.

Shocking cold this morning.  Can’t smell, taste or hear.  Weather lousy again.  Morning in office.  Slept all the afternoon.  Felt a bit better.  Busy in the office until 20.00 hrs.  Phoned Lottie.  Bed at 20.30.  Read for an hour or so.

Monday 31^st January 1944.

My cold a bit better.  Arranged for all personnel at Haifa, excepting H.Q. to proceed to Base Depot on Saturday.  Major Josephs phoned to say he would stay night at Tel Aviv.  Had dinner at Lottie’s.  Went to Carmelia for drink later.  Met Blumenthal on his way to G.H.Q.