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.

September 20th 1941

Bombay 1941

49th DAY AT SEA

We will be in Bombay 10 o'clock this morning.  But only to anchor.  The Indian Ocean is smooth as glass.

Will not be able to land.

One fellow fell overboard.  We have travelled 12,406 miles.

Bombay 1941

Now anchored in Bombay.

September 21st 1941

Bombay 1941

50th DAY AT SEA

We are going to disembark off the ship Tuesday September 23rd.

First of all we are going to a rest camp.  I suppose to get used to the climate.

The food is terrible on board, have not eaten a good meal since left Cape Town.  The officers have only the best.  Chicken, ham, pork, then they ask us have we any complaints?

Bombay 1941

September 22nd 1941

Bombay 1941

Bombay 1941

51st DAY AT SEA

We go to rest camp tomorrow.  Weather very hot, all we can see of Bombay is the mountains.

Be very glad to get off this ship otherwise we will soon be all wrecks.

Three deaths in convoys while coming to India.

Our draft is divided in seven, some going to North West Frontier

I believe to be going to Lahore.

Bombay tower

September 23 1941

52 DAY AT SEA

We suppose to dock at 10.30 this morning but still waiting 12 o'clock.  Be a day when the RAF do something right.

Today makes the 59th day on this ship.  We missed tide dock 2 o'clock.  We now dock at 10 o'clock tomorrow.

We have been waiting all day with no dinner, then they gave us dog biscuits for tea.

All the boys nearly caused a riot.

Will be glad to get off this ship.

SEPTEMBER 24th 1941

Bombay 1941

53rd DAY AT SEA

We came off the ship today.

That ends our sea journey from Scotland to Bombay.

We was on the ship 60 days altogether.

We had 3 miles walk to a rest camp which I am in now

We are under canvas now and the sun is terrific.

We are allowed out from 1.00 pm to 1.30 am in the morning.

Beggar

Saw a funeral in Bombay.  Bombay is a place where I would not like to live, very dirty, beggars everywhere.

Went in taxi round Grant Street?

They had women in cages, make us feel sick.

Would not dare walk along there must be full of diseases.

Hindu wedding

Hindu wedding

Saw a lovely Hindu wedding.

Sent wife home Christmas present.

SEPTEMBER 26th 1941

Bombay 1941

Women in Bombay take children to beg with them.

Bombay 1941

OCTOBER 2nd 1941

Came to Lahore October 2nd 1941.

Left Bombay for Lahore. 2 days on train. 1,500 miles.  Slept on bare boards.  Arrive at Lahore October 2nd 1941.

Lahore 1941

Very good food.

Five miles from town.  The weather very hot. Winter starts next month and will not be sorry.

Received no mail from home yet.

The temperature today is 101F and they say that is cold! Winter starts 8 weeks.

Lahore Swimming pool

Posted to 31 Squadron. Also to fire crew.  The food here is very good.  Two fellows out of our tent have gone into hospital.  Doing plenty of swimming.

The weather is very hot and can not do much work.