AUGUST 6th 1941

Warwick Castle

4th Day at Sea

We have had a thick fog all day.

The weather is getting very hot.

I am on duty from 9 o'clock for 24 hours.

The fog is still THICK.

At 9.05 another ship crashes into our side (THE WARWICK CASTLE) and all the bells go everybody was to get on deck and be ready to abandon the ship.  All the rest of the convoy did not stop, so we had our lights on for 12 hours in dangerous waters, also shipping water.

AUGUST 7th 1941

Convoy

5th Day at Sea

The Warwick Castle which crashed into us was badly damaged for you could see the sleeping berths, also taking water.

The Warwick Castle was carrying 400 H.TS girls so it turned round and went back to England with two Destroyers, and left us in the middle of the ATLANTIC.

They looked at our damage, we had holes below sea level but decided to try and catch Convoy up.
 
CODE OF CONVOY

The code of the convoy is not to stop for anyone, so there we was all by ourselves.

We lost six of our life boats.

We are now trying to catch up to Convoy.  The Winsor Castle is the fastest ship in the convoy so may have a good chance.

CONVOY SPEED 13 KNOTS.

OUR SPEED 16 KNOTS

We are in dangerous waters

Sighted two whales today.

AUGUST 8th 1941

6th Day at Sea
A sea plane flew round our ship today and signal to us it was a WALRUS. 1926 and it came off one of the Cruisers in Convoy.

Everybody feeling much better now.
This is the 2nd day we have been alone and was glad when one of the destroyers dropped back for us.  No sooner than we was with destroyer a submarine was located and dropped several depth charges. The submarine had been following us all day long.  We are going full speed trying to catch Convoy up.

Another submarine spotted by sea plane.  Sea plane dropped two 500 lb bombs on it and that was the end of that sub.
I think it was a good job the Cruiser found us otherwise the Winsor Castle might not have been here.

AUGUST 9th 1941

HMS Sveia

7th Day at Sea
Lovely day at sea, only 16 ships left on convoy.
Cannot see no Cruisers of Destroyers in sight. The sea plane is still flying.  We are just passing the AZORES.
Otherwise all is well.  We have to carry our life belts everywhere we go.
No mail received yet, be glad to hear from home.
The crew are making some new rafts from barrels.

AUGUST 10th 1941

8th Day at sea
Sunday morning - only time we can tell that we have egg and bacon?
Captains wife is in Cape Town so he decided to carry on. If she had been in England would he have turned back?

AUGUST 11th 1941

HMS Windsor Castle menu

HMS Windsor Castle menu

9th Day at Sea
We believed to have sank 4 submarines.  One sub. which was under convoy.  They rammed it.  Dead bodies were seen floating in the sea.

AUGUST 12th 1941

Joe

George

10th Day at Sea
Able to wear tropic clothes for the weather is very hot.
Plenty of flying fish in the sea.
Convoy heading for Dakar.
There are five of us sleeping in one cabin, one on the floor.  There is not much air as we are on lower deck so sleep up on deck.

AUGUST 13th 1941

Taffy

11th Day at Sea
The Warwick Castle which crashed on us arrived back safe.
There was a death in one of the other ships. Buried during night.  
Nothing much to do only be about.

AUGUST 14th 1941

12th Day at Sea
We have just passed DAKAR but still in dangerous waters.  Six more destroyers and cruisers came to join convoy.
Able to post mail at FREETOWN WEST AFRICA (600 miles).  Sunderland flying boat patrolling Convoy.

AUGUST 16th 1941

George, Bill and Wally

14th day at Sea
Raining hard but lot cooler. A Cruiser sunk another submarine.  
Will soon be into Freetown.  
Plenty of fruit and chocolate we can buy on ship.