Diary Entries
Nothing, Corvette tried again, same amount of success, too heavy seas. She must be running low now. Still cold and rougher, we are going south now. Subs obviously gone, thank goodness. I HOPE. Goodnight all, haven't been to lav today, so no trouble with b---- except one occasional twinge.
read moreWell, here I am in bed again and glad to get here for the night. I had a horrible fear this morning , I wanted to go to the lav but new if I did, it would pain me, and believe me it did, and so it has been all day.
read moreGood Morning. Bacon omelette and Bubble and Squeak. We gassed two Corvettes this morning in choppy seas. Not bad going, one we supplied with bread as they cannot cook in those things. In any case they only carry a third rate cook, who probably couldn't make bread. No lav yet today so I have no pains. Dreading time when I have to go. I had bubble and squeak only for breakfast and rice pudding for dinner. All soft foods for me as I am going to the Seamans Hospital in New York if I get a chance. I f they want to operate I shall say yes.
read moreIt is now 10 o'clock. I have finished in the galley till 3 o clock. Good morning but now it has turned out very rough and windy. The seas are so high we cannot see any of the other ships. We gave a Destroyer (Yankee) some gas this morning but the pipe line broke. Now our ship is covered in oil as the seas tossed the broken pipe all over the show. The Cook was satin the galley eating some fruit and custard when suddenly a sea hit us. Quite unwillingly up he jumped, plate in hand and he run to the other end of the galley.
read moreWe have just travelled fifty miles in 24 hours. At one time the whole convoy turned around and we were in the front then but now we are back to our own position. There must be something wrong but what it is I do not know. Today we did 11 miles in three hours. At this rate it will be another 14 days before we get there. Nothing else to report today except for the usual routine. Mai can you revert back to the Mai of Hillingdon and Newport, for you know Mai, even though it is all my fault, I can expect nothing else, you are different, please Mai try, for me, for us and Margo.
read moreOnce more in bunk am glad to get here. Nothing at all exciting today, not even a Corvette to gas. Just plain work and I am very tired. The pump man cut my hair this evening and is lending me his iron, so that I can iron my shirts tomorrow. I had my first comfort handed me today, a pullover, 12 times too big for me. I was looking at Margo's photo just now, how I wish I could go back to 'then'. It hurts when I think that way.
read moreWell, we are still going very slow, 4 and even 3 knots. It is the order of the Commodore's ship there is apparently something ahead somewhere. It is still bitter cold and I've just got a hell of a job to make the oil flow in the morning therefore it is over an hour sometimes before I can start cooking. There is no news today except that I have been fairly free of pain lately, thank goodness. But at my cost another way. I am not going places as I want to and always have done.
read moreIt is about time we saw a plane or planes from USA. We have speeded up to 6 knots, getting along better now. Had boat drill at 4.00. I very near got perished with this Antarctic cold. Got remainder of my equipment thanks to Bosun. Had shave and good wash. Steward, Cook and I going out at New York to see if we can get some buck skin clothes.Early to bed tonight with tea in cabin. Just Cook, Assistant Steward and I.
read moreRoll on Monday. It is my turn for a lay in then. Everything has gone well today. It is just 1 o'clock and here I am going for my afternoon nap. We have just sited an aircraft Catalina flying boat from New Foundland. So we cannot be far from Halifax. No, nothing to be pleased about, for that is the subs hunting ground. In fact they closed Halifax not long ago. The sea is like a mill pond. Later the Cook and I have been up to Steward's room, on the booze - rum. I am smoking hard twist in my pipe now, soon I shall be chewing tobacco, typically sailor.
read moreWell, I had my lay in this morning, even then I did not want to get up but had to, turn to.
Saw another plane today. I shall be about a week out in my guess as to when we shall get there. And it will mean dry dock for the ship is absolutely falling to pieces. Our fresh water tanks are leaking now into the sea. Soon we shall be reduced to our ration of fresh water.
My toe nails are hurting a lot, I do wish I had some scissors.
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