NOVEMBER 2ND 1944 GIBRALTAR

NOVEMBER 4TH 1944 MALTA

NOVEMBER 11TH 1944 ALEXANDRIA (EGYPT)

NOVEMBER 14TH 1944 MILOS (AEGEAN SEA)

  DECEMBER 2ND 1944 PORT SAID (EGYPT)

 DECEMBER 4TH 1944 PORT SUEZ (EGYPT)

 DECEMBER 12TH 1944 COLOMBO (SRI LANKA)

 DECEMBER 15TH 1944 TRINCOMALEE (CEYLON)  

JANUARY 4TH 1945     ARRIVED AT FREEMANTLE HAD A NICE RUN ASHORE

 JANUARY 9TH 1945  LEFT FREEMANTLE FOR SAMARTRA & PALEMBONG

 JANUARY 18TH 1945     CROSSING THE LINE

 JANUARY 24TH 1945 PALEMBANG (INDONESIA)

 FEBUARY 4TH 1945 FREEMANTLE (AUSTRALIA)

FEBRUARY 5TH 1945   LEFT FOR SYDNEY

 FEBRUARY 11TH 1945   ARRIVED AT SYDNEY

FEBRUARY 28TH 1945    LEFT AUSTRALIA

 MARCH 7TH 1945         ADMIRALTY ISLANDS

 MARCH 11TH 1945 MANUS   (PAPUA NEW GUINEA)

 MARCH 16TH 1945     TWO LETTERS FROM HOME AND PHOTOS OF RONNIES WEDDING

 MARCH 17TH 1945    LEFT ADMIRALTY ISLANDS FOR JAP ISLANDS. 21 BATTLESHIPS,  47 CARRIERS, 75 CRUISERS, OVER 100 DISTROYERS, WELL OVER 1000 SHIPS AND SMALL CRAFT, ON INVASION 1500

 MARCH 18TH 1945     STILL ON WAY TO OPERATIONS

 MARCH 19TH 1945    ATTACKED SAKISHMA ISLANDS BY CARRIER PLANES.  EVERYTHING SUCCESSFUL

 MARCH 21ST 1945    LEFT ULITHI FOR OPERATIONS AGAINST SAKISHMA OR FORMOSIA

 MARCH 30TH 1945    INVADED ISLANDS BY CARRIER PLANES   TWO CRASHED IN MID AIR IN FLAMES ON ISLAND AND IN SEA

 MARCH 31ST 1945    ATTACKED BY DIVE BOMBERS.  ONE CARRIER DAMAGED.  TWO DESTROYERS DAMAGED. 40 MEN ON INDEFATIGABLE

 APRIL 3RD 1945   LEAVING OPERATIONS TO OIL.  EVERYTHING SUCCESSFUL.  

 APRIL 17TH 1945   MET OILERS FOR OILING UP AGAIN

 APRIL18TH 1945    STILL OILING AND MAIL BROUGHT ON BOARD FROM DESTROYER

 APRIL 19TH 1945    MADE ANOTHER STRIKE AT JAPAN AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO LEYTE

 APRIL 20TH 1945    TWO LETTERS FROM WIFE ONE FROM VIOLET

 MARCH 23RD 1945 ULITHI (SW OF GUAM)

 APRIL 23RD 1945 LEYTE

 MAY 1ST 1945        LEFT LEYTE TO ATTACKED SASKISHMA.  WE HEARD HITLER IS DEAD " I HOPE SO"

 MAY 3RD 1945       MORE STRIKES TODAY.  2 CARRIERS HIT, 

 MAY 4TH 1945       STRIKE OK TODAY OUR BOMBARDMENT SUCCESSFUL

 MAY 5TH 1945        ON OUR WAY TO OILING

 MAY 6TH 1945        MET OILERS TODAY, WROTE LETTER TO WIFE

 MAY 7TH 1945      OPERATIONS, BAD WEATHER.  TWO CARRIERS HIT BY DIVE BOMBERS.  ONE HIT INDEFATIGABLE MANY WOUNDED

 MAY 8TH 1945    MORE STRIKES.  ATTACKED BY 14 DIVE BOMBERS.  WAR WITH GERMANY FINISHED.  WHAT A GOD SEND

 MAY 9TH 1945     BACK TO OILING AREA, DESTROYERS CAME ALONG SIDE WITH OUR MAIL AND FURTHER ORDERS

 MAY10TH 1945    SASKISHMA GROUP MAYAKS ISHIGO

 MAY 11TH 1945    OILING AND PREPARING FOR MORE ATTACKS.  NOW ON WAY FOR ATTACKS

 MAY 12TH 1945     MADE MORE STRIKES AGAINST BARRACKS, AIR FIELDS AND PLANES DAMAGED

 MAY 13TH 1945     STILL MAKING STRIKES ON JAP AIR FIELDS.  ON ONE OF OUR CARRIERS 56 KILLED AND WOUNDED.  CARRIER REPAIRED AT SEA

 MAY 14TH 1945    BACK TO OILING AGAIN

 MAY 15TH 1945     ON WAY NOW FOR MORE OPERATIONS AGAINST JAP ISLANDS.  RECEIVED TWO LETTERS FROM WIFE

 MAY 16TH 1945      STILL MAKING STRIKES.  DAMAGED JAP BARRACKS, POWER STATIONS.  TWO JAP BOMBERS CRASHED ON INDEFATIGABLE

 MAY 17TH 1945     MADE MORE ATTACKS TODAY.  ONE OUR FIGHTERS RETURNING CRASHED ON VIC ( HMS VICTORIOUS )

 MAY 18TH 1945   MET OILERS, WE WERE TOLD TODAY THAT WE ARE EXPECTING TO GO TO SYDNEY AFTER TWO MORE STRIKES.  ONE MORE LETTER WROTE TO WIFE

 MAY 19TH 1945    HAD TROUBLE WITH FIRE ON CARRIER IMPLACABLE.  38 PLANES DAMAGED AND PLANE LIFT

  MAY 20TH 1945    OILING SHIP. CARRIER AND DESTROYER RAMMED EACH OTHER WITH BAD WEATHER, DESTROYER RETURNED TO BASE

 MAY 21ST 1945    WROTE LETTER TO WIFE. GETTING READY FOR FURTHER OPERATIONS AGAINST ISLANDS OF JAPAN

 MAY 22ND 1945     ON  WAY NOW TO OPERATIONS.  BAD WEATHER

 MAY 23RD 1945     SUCCESSFUL BOMBING BY AIR CRAFT

  MAY 24TH 1945     OPERATIONS DONE WELL.  NEWS RECEIVED ON NEWS THAT FAR EAST FLEET STAY OUT HERE UNTIL THE END

  MAY 25TH 1945     LEFT OPERATIONS FOR GUAM

 MAY27TH 1945      EXPECTING TO ARRIVE AT GUAM TOMORROW

 MAY 28TH 1945    ARRIVE AT GUAM, GOOD WELCOME.  SPEECH BY ADMIRAL NIMITZ

 MAY 29TH 1945  BEEN ASHORE TODAY EVERYTHING WAS FREE.  TINS OF BEER, SWEETS.  A GOOD SHOW AND HAD A TRIP AROUND ISLAND

 MAY 30TH 1945   LEFT GUAM FOR SYDNEY.  PRACTICE SHOOTS ON WAY LEAVING GUAM

 MAY 31ST 1945   STILL ON WAY TO SYDNEY.  WROTE TWO LETTERS

 JUNE 2ND 1945    WE OILED AT SEA TODA, AND ARE NOW PASSING PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

 JUNE 5TH 1945    ARRIVED AT SYDNEY.  WROTE HOME

 JUNE 8TH 1945    EXPECTING TO ARRIVE SYDNEY 

 JUNE 9TH 1945    WROTE HOME

 JUNE 12TH 1945   GOING ON FOUR DAYS LEAVE.  WROTE TWO LETTERS HOME

 JUNE 16TH 1945   CAME BACK OFF LEAVE.  HAD A NICE TIME AT MR & MRS SURS.   MADE VERY WELCOME.   WROTE LETTER HOME

 JUNE 17TH 1945    RECIEVED FIRST LETTERS FROM WIFE FOR QUIET A WHILE

 JUNE 18TH 1945     SENT WIFE  A COSTUME AND JUMPER

 JUNE 19TH 1945     HAD A BAD TRAP WITH MY HAND, HAD TWO STITCHES IN IT THIS MORNING.  WROTE LETTERS HOME

 JUNE 23RD 1945     WROTE LETTER HOME

 JUNE 26TH 1945      LEFT SYDNEY FOR SHOOT

 JUNE 27TH 1945     CAME BACK IN SHOOTS OK.  WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

 JUNE 28TH 1945     LEFT SYDNEY FOR OPERATIONS

 JULY 1ST 1945      WROTE LETTER HOME

 JULY 2ND 1945     WE HAVE NOW DONE OVER SEVENTY THOUSAND MILES SINCE WE LEFT U K.  THAT IS OVER TWICE ROUND THE WORLD. IT IS JUST OVER 25 THOUSAND MILES ROUND THE WORLD

  JULY 4TH 1945     ARRIVED MANUS

 JULY 5TH 1945     BROKE BIG TOE.  WROTE LETTER HOME

 JULY 6TH 1945     LEFT MANUS FOR FURTHER OPERATIONS, TOKYO

 JULY 7TH 1945     HAVING SHOOTS ON WAY " GOOD" SHOT ALL TARGETS DOWN

 JULY 8TH 1945     STILL ON WAY. WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

 JULY 9TH 1945     TWO PIECES OF BONE BROKE OFF BIG TOE BONE

 JULY 10TH 1945     CAPTAIN GAVE SPEECH ON FUTURE OPERATIONS MEETS THE YANK 38 FORCE

 JULY 11TH 1945      STILL ON WAY TO OPERATIONS, AGAINST TOKYO. I HOPE WE GIVE THEM HELL. WROTE ANOTHER TO WIFE AND SON

 JULY 12TH 1945     WROTE TWO LETTERS HOME

 JULY 14TH 1945     STILL ON WAY TO OPERATIONS. TODAY WE OILED WHILE ON WAY TROUBLE WITH OIL PIPES CRACKING

  JULY 15TH 1945     FINISHED OILING, NOW PUTTING ON SPEED TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME. I,VE JUST FINISHED WRITING TO WIFE. GOD BLESS HER 

 JULY 17TH 1945      WROTE LETTER TO WIFE AND ONE TO MOTHER

 JULY 21ST 1945     WROTE TWO LETTERS HOME.  FINISHED OILING NOW ON WAY TO MORE STRIKES

 JULY 22ND 1945     STILL ON WAY NOW TO JAPAN AGAIN, WE WERE ABLE TO GET A FEW MORE THINGS FROM A CARGO SHIP FOOD STUFF WHICH WE BADLY NEEDED

 JULY 23RD 1945     LEAVING OILING FOR FURTHER STRIKES.  WROTE LETTER HOME

 JULY 24TH 1945     STRIKES WITH AIR CRAFT AND BOMBARDMENT OK. HIT JAP CARRIER WITH BOMBS,AIR BASES, HANGERS, FIGHTERS AND BOMBERS SHOT DOWN

 JULY 25TH 1945      MORE STRIKES LOTS OF DAMAGE DONE. WE LOST 8 PLANES THIS GOES FOR THE YANK FORCE AS WELL WE ALL BELONG TO 38TH STRIKE FORCE LOST EIGHT AIR CRAFT

 JULY  26TH 1945     WHILE ON WAY BACK TO OIL WE HAD QUIET A BIT OF TROUBLE WITH JAP TORPEDO BOMBERS, BUT WE  GOT THEM DOWN OK.THERE WERE QUIET A NUMBER OF SUICIDE DIVE BOMBERS AS WELL. STARTED OILING AND ARMOURING

 JULY 27TH 1945     WE HAVE GOT QUIET A FEW 14 " SHELLS ON TODAY READY TO SHAKE THEM ON SUNDAY, WE HAVE NOW STARTED ON OUR WAY TO WHAT WE CALL THE STRIKING POINT. JUST OFF JAP COAST

 JULY 28TH 1945     RECIEVED ONE LETTER FROM WIFE YESTERDAY DATED 4TH, LOST EIGHT PLANES THE OTHER DAY.  TWO DESTROYERS CRASHED TOGETHER IN BAD WEATHER.

 JULY 29TH 1945    WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

 JULY 31ST 1945     BACK TO OILING AREA, WE ARE WAITING NOW TO CARRY ON WITH OUR NEXT OPERATION. WE HAVE DONE 69 THOUSAND MILES TODAY SINCE LEAVING UK.

 AUGUST 1ST 1945     WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME.  OPERATIONS HELD UP WITH TYPHOON.

 AUGUST 2ND 1945     WEATHER STILL VERY BAD.  JUST LOST ANOTHER PILOT

 AUGUST 7TH 1945     ON WAY TO MORE STRIKES TO NEW OPERATIONS

 AUGUST 8TH 1945     SHIPPING & AIR BASES, POWER HOUSES DAMAGED, LOST 11 AIR CRAFT ,SHOT DOWN 17 ENEMY

 AUGUST 9TH 1945     STRIKES THE SAME AS YESTERDAY PLENTY OF SHIPPING DAMAGE AND STRUCK YAMATO.  1 DESTROYER SUNK 1 DAMAGED 1 SET ON FIRE. 48 PLANES DESTROYED MATUISHUIO  NAGATA

 AUGUST 10TH 1945     ON WAY TO MEET BOMBING STRIKES THAT DAY. NEWS FLASH, JAPS OFFER PEACE TERMS 21.35.  WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

  AUGUST 11TH 1945     OILING WITH YANKY OILERS.  NO MAIL EXPECTED. MEETING WITH YANKY FLEET. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE HAVE TO STAY WHERE WE ARE, AND TAKE OVER JAP PORTS

 AUGUST 12TH 1945     STILL WAITING FOR JAP PEACE TERMS TO BE CONFIRMED

 AUGUST 13TH 1945     ANOTHER STRIKE DAY AGAINST TOKYO.  NO REPLY FROM JAPS YET

 AUGUST 14TH 1945     STILL WAITING FOR JAP REPLY AND HAD ANOTHER OILER ALONG SIDE

 AUGUST 15TH 1945     MORE STRIKES AGAINST JAPS THIS MORNING NEWS RECIEVED JAPS PACK IN GOOD OK TIME COMING THROUGH 11" O CLOCK.  AT 11: 20 WE WERE ATTACKED BY JAP BOMBERS.  ALL SHOT DOWN .

 AUGUST 16TH 1945     WE ARE NOW WAITING TO TAKE OVER TOKYO

 AUGUST 17TH 1945     STILL STEAMING AROUND WAITING TO GO IN

 AUGUST 19TH 1945     WE ARE  4700 MILES FROM OUR BASE SYDNEY

 AUGUST 21ST 1945     WROTE HOME

 AUGUST 23RD 1945     WAITING FURTHER ORDERS  WROTE HOME

 AUGUST 25TH 1945     TYPHOON HELD UP GOING IN TODAY WROTE HOME

 AUGUST 26TH 1945     TYHPOON STILL HELD UP GOING IN TODAY

 AUGUST 27TH 1945     TWO JAP OFFICERS COME ON BOARD SOUTH WEST OF TOKYO BAY ( SAGAMI ).  RECEIVED E,F,M, FOR BIRTHDAY WROTE HOME

 AUGUST 28TH 1945     STILL IN JAP BAY TUSI YAMA MOUNTAIN SAGAMI BAY.  SHORTYS BIRTHDAY.  WROTE HOME

 AUGUST 29TH 1945     HUNDREDS OF AIR CRAFT CARRIER TROOP PLANES TAKING  PRISIONERS OF WAR BACK HOME.  190 SHIPS IN BAY

 AUGUST 30TH 1945     MOVED IN TO TOKYO HARBOUR, WROTE TWO LETTERS HOME

 AUGUST  31ST 1945     PROVISION  SHIP ALONG SIDE IN TOKYO HARBOUR " OR TIDO" CITY OF DIEPPE. WROTE LETTER HOME.  RECIEVED BACK MONEY 45 POUND.  RECIEVED TWO E.F.M. FROM BOTH MOTHERS

 SEPTEMBER 1ST 1945   PROVISIONING SHIP.  FEW PRISIONERS OF WAR ON BOARD, AND THEY COULDN'T REALISE THAT THEY WERE FREE,  THEY TOLD ME, IT WAS LIKE A DREAM, THEY WERE TAKEN OVER THREE YEARS AGO.

 SEPTEMBER 2ND 1945   STILL PROVISIONING SHIP WHILE OFFICIAL PAPERS WERE BEING SIGNED.  HUNDREDS OF BOMBERS AND FIGHTER AIR CRAFT, WERE FLYING ROUND, THE SKY WERE BLACK.  WROTE TWO LETTERS HOME.  SURRENDER DOCUMENTS SIGNED; NIMITZ SIGNED FOR UNITED STATES, FRAZER FOR BRITAIN, BLAMEY FOR AUSTRALIA, DEREYANKO FOR RUSSIA, YUNG CHANG FOR CHINA

 SEPTEMBER 3RD 1945   15OO THREE AIR CRAFT CARRIERS GOING OUT OF BAY TAKING PRISIONERS OF WAR OUT OF TOKYO BAY BACK HOME.  THEY ALL CHEERED AND WE DID CHEER THEM HEARTILY. IT WAS GRAND TO SEE THEM

 SEPTEMBER 4TH 1945   NOTHING MUCH TO SAY TODAY EXCEPT, A FEW RELIEVES HAVE COME ON BOARD FROM U K FOR RELIEVING MEN UP 22 GROUP.  SAT DOWN TO WRITE LETTER, BUT I FEEL SO IN THE DUMPS TO FINISH IT

 SEPTEMBER 5TH 1945   THINGS JUST ABOUT THE SAME, PLENTY OF AIRCRAFT AROUND, A FEW DESTROYERS BEEN ALONG SIDE FOR ORDERS

 SEPTEMBER 6TH 1945   RECEIVED LETTER FROM WIFE TODAY. LANDING PARTY CAME OFF, THINGS VERY QUIET ASHORE. P.O. OF OUR QUARTERS GOING ON DRAFT  TOMORROW SORRY TO SEE HIM GO

 SEPTEMBER 7TH 1945   I'VE JUST SEEN A FEW OF MY PALS OFF BACK HOME ON THE MINE LAYING CRUISER ARIADNE.  THE DESTROYER WIZARD HAS JUST PASSED WITH PRISONERS OF WAR ON BOARD GOING HOME. IT WAS GRAND TO SEE THEM OFF

 SEPTEMBER 8TH 1945   TWO MORE SHIPS GONE OUT WITH LOTS OF CHEERING TAKING PRISONERS OF WAR BACK HOME. WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

  SEPTEMBER 9TH 1945   TOKYO IT SELF IS VERY BADLY BOMBED.  NOTHING STANDS

 SEPTEMBER 14TH 1945   HAD RACING IN SHIPS CUTTER ,BOUTS, I WAS BOWMAN, HAD A GOOD WIN IT PUT US IN THE FINAL. TWO MORE SHIPS JUST LEFT WITH PRISONERS. WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

 SEPTEMBER 15TH 1945   WENT ASHORE, NOTHING MUCH STANDING.  PEOPLE LIVING UNDER BAD CONDITIONS, BUT CONTENT

 SEPTEMBER 16TH 1945             YOKOHAMA.  HOSPITAL SHIP WENT BY US TO SYDNEY WITH PRISONERS OF WAR.  I WENT ASHORE TO SEE A FEW OF THEM BEFORE THEY WENT.  CUTTER RACING WON BY GUN ROOM, WON 4 POUND

 SEPTEMBER 17TH 1945   HMS MANMAN, QUALITY, NEPAL  MAIL ON BOARD. GUARD OF HONOUR WENT TO TOKYO  WEDDING ANNIVERSARY YOKOHAMA BAY

 SEPTEMBER 18TH 1945    SHIPS GONE OUT TODAY WITH PRISONERS OF WAR. MANMAN, QUALITY, NEPAL EXPECTING GOING IN ANOTHER ANCHORAGE TOMORROW.  WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

 SEPTEMBER 19TH 1945   MOVED INTO YOKOHAMA BAY, NICE HARBOUR. EXPECTING GOING ON OUR WAY TOMORROW FOR MANUS THEN TO SYDNEY. WROTE LETTER HOME

 SEPTEMBER 20TH 1945   STARTED ON OUR WAY TO SYDNEY AT 0900 THIS MORNING

 SEPTEMBER 21ST 1945   STILL ON WAY TO MANUS JUST PAST IWOGIMA ISLANDS

   SEPTEMBER 23RD 1945   PAST GUAM AT MIDNIGHT, INSPECTED BY ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET

 SEPTEMBER 24TH 1945   STILL ON WAY TO MANUS, DESTROYER LEFT US TODAY, WE ARE NOW ON OUR OWN. VERY BAD WEATHER. WROTE ANOTHER LETTER HOME

 SEPTEMBER 25TH 1945   ARRIVED MANUS 0,930 WENT ASHORE 13,00, HAD ONE SMALL BOTTLE BEER. MAIL COME ON BOARD 14,00 TWO LETTERS FROM WIFE

 SEPTEMBER 26TH 1945  LEFT MANUS 0600 EXPECTING TO ARRIVE SYDNEY IN FOUR DAYS TIME  WROTE LETTER HOME.  JUST PASSING NEW GUINEA & NEW BRITAIN, VERY MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY

 SEPTEMBER 27TH 1945   STILL ON WAY TO SYDNEY AND WROTE TWO LETTERS HOME

 SEPTEMBER 28TH 1945   CAPTAIN GAVE A SPEECH TELLING US THAT WE ARE GETTING SEVEN DAYS LEAVE, AND UP TO 28 GROUP IS LEAVING US AT SYDNEY, WE HAVE BEEN PAINTING SHIP FOR THE BIG OCCASION.

 SEPTEMBER 29TH 1945    WEATHER VERY BAD  WROTE LETTER HOME

 SEPTEMBER 30TH 1945   ARRIVING SYDNEY TOMORROW, SHIP LOOKING O K

 OCTOBER  1ST 1945     ARRIVED SYDNEY, GRAND WELCOME

 OCTOBER 27TH 1945  LEFT SYDNEY FOR MELBOURNE  1300

 OCTOBER 28TH 1945     STILL ON WAY TO MELBOURNE, WEATHER VERY BAD

 OCTOBER 29TH 1945   ARRIVED MELBOURNE 0900.  THOUSANDS ON THE PIER WAITING TO GIVE US THE FINEST WELCOME ANY SHIP HAS EVER KNOWN THEY WENT MAD WHEN WE GOT ALONG SIDE.  WENT ASHORE 1300

 OCTOBER 30TH 1945   PEOPLE WAITING ON THE PIER TO SEE US  AT 0400 THIS MORNING, WE WERE INVITED ALL OVER,  ALMOST EVERYTHING FREE. THEY COULDN'T DO ENOUGH FOR US   LOTS OF PHOTOS IN PAPERS EVERY DAY OF US

 OCTOBER 31ST 1945     DUTY ON BOARD I WAS GUIDE TO SHOW PEOPLE ROUND THE SHIP, ALMOST EVERY PARTY OF PEOPLE WHAT I SHOWN ROUND WANTED TO GET ME UP TO THEIR HOUSE

 NOVEMBER 6TH 1945    MELBOURNE VICTORIA FLINDERS ST STATION PLATFORM 8 HAD MARCH PAST. VERY BAD WEATHER RAINING ALL THE TIME

 NOVEMBER 9TH 1945    LEFT MELBOURNE 0500.   THE BOYS LEFT MANY BROKEN HEARTS BEHIND. WE WERE ALL SORRY TO LEAVE SO SOON

 NOVEMBER 10TH 1945   ARRIVED SYDNEY 1750, WENT ASHORE 1930, HAD A VERY GOOD TIME.  PEOPLE WERE ROUND US LIKE SHEEP.  NOTHING WAS TOO MUCH FOR THEM TO DO FOR US     GIRLS WENT MAD

 NOVEMBER 11TH 1945     ARMISTICE DAY   SERVICE ON QUARTER DECK

 NOVEMBER 17TH 1945.   WENT INTO GOLDEN HIND CAMP TO WAIT FOR TROOP SHIP HOME

 NOVEMBER 21ST 1945   SENT WIFE BIRTHDAY GREETINGS E.F.M.

 DECEMBER 1ST 1945     SENT MOTHER GREETINGS E.F.M.     GOT BOTH MOTHERS HANDBAG COST 8 POUND

 DECEMBER 9TH 1945    ALL LEAVE STOPPED

 DECEMBER 10TH 1945   SHIP MOVED OUT THIS MORNING AT 8 O CLOCK. LOTS OF CHILDREN AND P O W AND AMCFS  ON BOARD  THE PEOPLE OF SYDNEY GAVE US A GOOD SEND OFF

 DECEMBER 11TH 1945    WROTE LETTER HOME RUN INTO BAD WEATHER

 DECEMBER 12TH 1945   WROTE LETTER HOME

 DECEMBER 13TH 1945    WROTE LETTER HOME  EXPECTING TO ARRIVE FREEMANTLE TOMORROW

 DECEMBER 14TH 1945    ARRIVED FREEMANTLE 0930,  AUSTRALIAN POMEYS GOING OFF.  MAIL GONE ASHORE

 DECEMBER 15TH 1945     LEFT 1700 FOR FREETOWN EXPECTING TO ARRIVE AT CAPE TOWN XMAS DAY

 DECEMBER 16TH 1945     WROTE LETTER HOME

 DECEMBER 17TH 1945     WE ARE NOW PASSING THROUGH THE RED SEA. WROTE LETTER HOME

 DECEMBER 18TH 1945     VERY HOT DAY. HAD A BIT OF EXCITEMENT TODAY EIGHT BOXING MATCHES VERY GOOD.  STILL ON WAY TO CAPE TOWN

 DECEMBER 21ST 1945     WROTE TWO LETTERS HOME

 DECEMBER 22ND 1945     ARRIVED CAPE TOWN 25 DEC LEFT 26TH DEC

 DECEMBER 27TH 1945     RUN INTO BAD WEATHER

 DECEMBER 29TH 1945     WEATHER MUCH BETTER VERY HOT

 DECEMBER 30TH 1945     NEXT PORT OF CALL FREETOWN WEST AFRICA

 DECEMBER 31ST 1945     CAPTAIN GAVE A SPEECH ABOUT MERCHANT SEAMAN DROWNED AT CAPE TOWN, LEFT QUITE A FEW BEHIND.    MAN DROWNED P.O.W.

 JANUARY 1ST 1946           WEATHER VERY BAD EXPECTING TO ARRIVE FREETOWN WEDNESDAY. WE CROSSED THE LINE AT 1600 HOURS

 JANUARY 2ND 1946         LEFT FREETOWN