A week-to-view pocket diary
Although it is marked Sep/Dec '40 I can't see where those 1940 entries are... I found them!
Sep to December 1940 is at the back of the diary in the September to December part. 1941 entries are fitted into the front of the diary dates specified and ending about the diary date 24th August.
I will enter the 1941 entries in a separate post.
There is a list of thirty names headed "HMS SYVERN" listed under Rank, Name What happened to them and "safe" or "missing" or the date of their death after the 1941 entries and before the 1940 ones. eg:
Lt ARG Tilsten - wounded Suda Bay 21/5/41 - safe
L/Sea Phillips - Believed Prisoner of War - - missing
AB Anderson - Killed in Action Suda Bay - 21/5/41
The entries are written in sharp pencil in smaller writing to fit in as much as possible on the small pages. Challenging reading - I have to go to where the daylight is really good in order to read comfortably - or even to figure out at times...
In the beginning of this diary is a map of Southern Africa - South West Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Bechuanaland Protectorate and Mozambique. Before Lesotho and Swaziland became independent territories. On the map are marked with an ink-pen cross, I presume, all the places Dad had been. Inset in the top corner is a map of England to scale. Southern Africa is huge!
There is a list of letters received and answered in the front.
At the back of the diary is a list of pay - 88 pounds for the year; also a list of names and addresses with my mothers' right at the top.
There is a l-o-n-g list of "Bioscopes" seen!
That list is from September 1940 and the whole of 1941
Dad went through this diary himself at some time and marked all his mentions of "Phil" Philippa in yellow highlighter. There are lots!
Some 1940 September to December entries:
Tuesday 3 September
Sailed from Simonstown at 7:30am.
Helped scrub bridge flag deck in am.
Wednesday 4th September
At sea.
Had a lot of semaphore and flashing in am.
Thursday 5th September
Arrived Durban 0730 and went into growing dock.
Saw Paul soon after docking.
Helped cart stores from ship to lorries and proceeded to Camp at about 1600.
Went on lorries with gear to Snell Parade camp and went back to ship for lunch.
Friday 6th September
Started duties as postman and went into town in am and pm and did shopping etc.
Got leave at 1630 and went into town and had hair cut 1/6.
Met Rautenbach.
Went to see Pixie at 1 Roofgarden Mans, Overport and had dinner and spent evening.
Returned to camp at about 11pm.
Saturday 7th September
Went into town for post etc in am and did shopping for other chaps.
Got leave at about 1.30pm and went to 20th Century to see "The Housekeeper's Daughter" (Joan Bennet, Althorpe (Somebody)and John Hubbard)
Went to see Pixie and Paul for supper and evening and returned to camp about 10pm.
Tuesday 17th September
Went over to range in am and our team beat the Army by 53 points.
Had pistol shot. Scored 60/90.
Went up to Pixie's in evening and came back pretty early.
There follow details of training, inspections, swimming early in the morning, visits to Pixie and Paul and also to various cinemas. There were occasional lunches and teas with friends or family. He also babysat Gillian on occasion.
Tuesday 1st October
Total eclipse of sun 1600 Cradock. 4 mins.
Went to RNVR base for day and had lunch and played billiards at Vic club.
Called for photos. 11/6.
Visited Pixie and Paul and had supper and bath.
He had got paid "8 pounds 13/- 1 pound 8/6 missing on 30th September and "Discovered that I had lost 8 pounds" a few day later Friday 4th October. He was able to tide over by borrowing some money from Pixie and also getting an advance from UC Co of 5 pounds.
Sunday 6th October
Went ashore at 1100 and tried to hire car but no luck.
Went up to Pixies and slept pm and evening.
Took photos.
Friday 18th October
Went for all day on forced march to Umhlanga rocks and back. (24 miles)
Went ashore by taxi at 1800 and went to Pixies with racket and discovered they were moving.
Went to station with Paul and helped get Ron off.
Went to supper at Vic and thence to Metro to see "20 Mile Team" (Wallace Berry)
Sunday October 20th
Devotions and Church in am.
Went ashore at 11:30 and had lunch at Vic.
Spent pm playing table tennis with Jack and sleeping.
Went to YMCA about 2100 and got beds where we slept night 2/-
Wednesday 28th October
Messed around all day and sailed from Durban at 1600.
Saturday 2th October
Arrived Cape Town 0930 and docked at B berth.
Offloaded gear and went to Klawer Camp by lorry.
Got weekend leave from 1600 so came up to Aunt Ethel's.
Betty, Phil, Tommy, Jenny, Mr and Mrs Smuts and I went to studio dance in evening.
Had smash on High Level Road.
Picked up Paul's car in town and drove it back.
Visits, walks and drives with family and friends.
Camp duties.
Some leave.
Tuesday November 5th MY BIRTHDAY (19th)
Walked up to school with Phil in am.
Went down to Simonstown with Wallie to be measured for suits.
I went up to PWSS afterwards and had lunch with Jock and Jan.
Phil and I went into town by car in pm and she gave me lesson at Dorothy's (Dance) studio.
Picked up Betty afterwards.
Betty and I went up to Pixie for supper.
Pixie and I picked up Aunt Ethel and Phil, and with Paul, Peggy, Betty and Leslie went to Colosseum went to see "Convoy" Clive Brook, John Clemens)
All went to Pixie's afterwards and had a bit of a party.
Wednesday November 6th
Went up to Pixie for am.
Took car up at lunch time and left it there for her to fetch Aunt Joyce at 1430 from Joburg.
Paul and I went to swim at Strandfontein at about 1600.
Argument between Pixie and Phil.
Betty, Phil and I went for drive in evening around Kloof Nek, Camps Bay, Dolls House etc.
Thursday 7th November
Went into town by train in am and got photos 11/-
Also paid rent etc for Aunt Ethel and made apppointment with Dr Lieberman.
Took Aunt Joyce's stuff up to Oakfield in pm and then
Phil and I went for walk to Rhodes Memorial.
Betty and Phil went to Canteen in evening and I visited Pixie.
(In code) "Confession of love Phil"
Friday 8th November
Went up to Oakfield in am and did washing.
Pixie, Phil, Paul, Elizabeth Legg, Peggy and I went for a swim at Strandfontein in pm.
Went to see Dr Lieberman at 4:30pm and he cut out wart on my hand.
Picked up Betty afterwards.
Phil and I went for drive to Constantia Nek in evening and called in at Violet's afterwards.
Saturday 9th November
Wrote letters in am and went to pay phone bill for Aunt Ethel.
Dropped in at Pixie afterwards.
Phil and I went to Scala in evening to see "Strange Cargo" (Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Ian Hunter)
Went to Mick's afterwards.
Tuesday 12th November
Wallie and I went to Simonstown in am but suits were not ready.
Went straight through to town and saw doctor.
Asked Betty to lunch and then went by myself... to Longmarket Street.
Gave Phil a driving lesson on Constantia Road in pm.
Betty had supper at Pixie's in evening and I went up afterwards.
Pot's fiance Jean was there.
Friday 15th November
Did some ironing at Pixie's in am
Went up to Varsity and had lunch with Peter.
Went into town to see doctor at 1500.
Picked up Phil at Rondebosch and then went down to Simonstown to fetch my suit.
Phil, Betty and I picked up Peter and then Bobbie Marshall at Sea Point and we all went to Plaza to see "Boom Town" (Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and others)
Dropped Bobbie and we all went to Pixie's for tea.
Saturday 16th November
Packed in am and Phil came with me to fetch Wallie.
Dropped Phil and then went on to Simonstown with our kit.
Went to Dockyard surgery and then to Klaver.
Came ashore again at 1300.
Violet came in pm.
Paul and I gave Ulick a lift to Camps Bay and then went to a dance at the Rotunda.
Enjoyed myself very much.
(In code) "Became engaged"
Sunday 17th November
Came down to Klaver by car at 0700 because I missed train.
Wrote letter to Rod in am and slept rest of day.
Monday 18th November
Went down to Dockyard surgery at 0900.
Went ashore at 1630 and Phil and I went to Violets for a while at 1800.
Phil went to bed early and Betty and I went to visit Pixie.
Tuesday 19th November
Caught 6:30 train down in am.
Went to Dockyard surgery at 0900.
Spent night aboard duty watch.
Wednesday 20th November
Went down to DYS at 0900. Raining.
Phil and I went into town in pm and she gave me dancing lesson.
Took photos to be developed at Kodak.
Brought Betty home at 1700.
Pixie, Betty, Paul and I went to Alhambra in evening to see "Holiday" (Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and others)
Phil was going to Canteen.
Friday 22nd November
Went down to DYS at 0900
Had boots and shoes resoled 13/-
Was moved down to Froggy Pond at 1500.
Phil and I went for a drive in evening via Pixie.
Sunday 24th November
Went down by car at 0630 and came back at 1000.
Betty, Phil and I went for drive to Constantia in pm and lay under the trees.
Monday 25th November
Went down with 0630 train.
Went to DYS at 0900.
Stayed aboard in evening as Duty port.
Wednesday 27th November
ELIZABETH'S 3RD BIRTHDAY (first child of [my mother's sister] Ruth and Ulick)Went down with 0630 train.
Went to DYS at 0900.
No Make and Mend.
Got sub and went ashore at 1600.
Phil and I took Betty to town Canteen
and then went for drive to Bakoven and had tea at Rendezvous tea room.
Friday 29th November
Went down with 0630 train.
Went to DYS at 0900 for last time.
Stayed aboard in evening - Duty port.
Saturday 30th November
Got paid by Navy 7 pounds 4/0.
Went ashore at 1220 and went to Aunt Ethels.
Peter Baker called in pm.
Went up to Pixies in pm for while.
Phil, Ruth and the kids and I went for a drive along Cableway drive in pm.
Betty went to Rotunda dance with Teddy Smit in evening.
Phil and I were going there but too crowded so we went to Marine.
Pixie and Paul and co went to Boy Beach and then to Bohemian.
Slept at Aunt Ethels.
Saturday 7th December
Went down with 0630 train.
Osborne and I were drafted to PW55 at 1300.
Jock gave me special leave to go to dance so I went ashore at 1600.
Phil, Violet, Alfie and I went to dance at Rotunda in evening.
Sunday 8th December
Went down by car at 2 am.
Kept watch 2:30 - 9 am.
Slept most of day.
Kept first watch in evening.
Letter to Joan.
Thursday 26th December Boxing Day
Went down to Phils at about 10 am and spent morning and afternoon.
Aunt Ethel and Phil came up to tea and then
Phil and I dropped Aunt E and then parked car near Rondebosch.
Walked a way up mountain.
Dropped Phil at Club at 2030.
Wrote to Rod.
And so, after a few more of his every-day entries, ends this year of 1940.
An eventful year.
He entered the Royal Navy full time.
He got engaged.
I feel like I have more of an appreciation of my Dad.
I feel like I understand how he could be grateful and optimistic about so many simple things.
I feel like I understand why his cars were so important to him.
I feel like I understand why drives were so important to him.
I am glad I got to read this part of this diary and share this with all of you.
Pause. Reflect. Appreciate his life.
Do let us all appreciate our own lives.
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