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.

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.