SEPTEMBER 8th 1941

37th Day at Sea
We have now only 8 ships in Convoy and one armed merchant vessel (KANIVIN CASTLE) speed 32 knots.  One of our boys never came back, don’t blame him. One got himself married, and one engaged.

SEPTEMBER 9th 1941

38th Day at Sea
The red tape on this ship is terrible, treat us like school children.
Cape Town Government gave us three hundred cases of oranges and plenty of bananas.

SEPTEMBER 10th 1941

39th Day at Sea
The weather is getting warm.  Had gun practice today.
Been on this ship 46 days and glad to get off.

SEPTEMBER 11th 1941

40th Day at Sea
The sea is very calm.  No one likes the new Captain for he treats us like school children.  They are going to repair the ship at Bombay which will take about 24 months then take crew back to England.

SEPTEMBER 12th 1941

41st Day at Sea
The Cruiser has been prospecting with the guns otherwise all is well.

September 13th 1941

HMS Hawkins

42nd DAY AT SEA

The cruiser with us is the Hawkins and the Captains name is Hawkins

He was the captain of the Exeter which sank the German battleship GRAF.SPEE

The convoy has to take orders from him.

We have now sailed (approx) 12,000 miles.

We had to go about 5,000 mile off course.

September 14th 1941

43rd DAY AT SEA

We have only three troop ships left in the convoy with one cruiser.

Our next stop will be Bombay which will be in about six days.

September 15 1941

44th DAY AT SEA

The weather is very hot.  Another cruiser was seen open fire at our cruiser but it must have been only practice.

September 16th 1941

45th DAY AT SEA

Today was pay day £1 which came in very handy as nearly all of us was broke.

We had horse racing on deck today. 6d ticket won 3/1 on first race but soon lost again.

We have had few of our fellows taken with malaria.

You get it if the sun catches you too much.  Will be glad when we get to Bombay.

September 18th 1941

DAY 47 AT SEA

We had a lecture today about India which I am going.

We arrive in Bombay 9 am Saturday September 20th 1941.

Two more days on the water.

Had concert today, very good.