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Diary Of Voyage Home
by
Pte. Alfred Raymond Mason 466698
My
Voyage Home
Sunday 29-9-46
I got aboard the boat at Bombay at about 5 P.M. and it is called “Arundel
Castle” and we got our Berthing Card and it’s a.5. two decks below
the one we got on.
Monday 30-9-46
We left Bombay at 11 A.M. this morning and saw the sights I had longed for
and that was seeing the “Gateway of India from the back end of a ship.”
Tuesday 1-10-46
Am getting use to the boat now and finding my way around and I have been watching
the service women on the upper deck and seen some grand sights and at night
I saw a film called “Arsenic and old lace”.
Wednesday 2-10-46
On mess-orderly today with a mate of mine and we fetch the food for the table
and the food on board is very good, saw the woman again.
Thursday 3-10-46
Land sighted at dawn and we docked at Aden at 10-30 A.M. and picked up some
R.A.F. personnel to be took to Port Said we docked alongside the “Strathmore” and
she is bound for Sidney Australia, with plenty of women aboard and we spoke
to some and we said that they will be sorry going abroad and they said that’s
what you think and the “Strathmore” left in the afternoon and we
left later on.
Friday 4-10-46
We are now in the Red Sea and it’s very hot and the sea is calm and we
are getting a bottle of lemonade free each day till we reach Port Suez and
we had a concert at night given by the lads and it was quite good.
Saturday 5-10-46
Still in the Red Sea and have seen one or two Merchant Ships but no land and
it’s very hot. Seen some welcome sights by the service women upstairs. Saw a film at night
called “Blithe Spirit”
Sunday 6-10-46
Still in Red Sea but hope to be at Port Suez sometime today. Still very hot
and we have seen quite a of desert land all day. We arrived at Port Suez about
7.30 P.M. several boats in the bay.
Monday 7-10-46
Still anchored at Port Suez the railway alongside the canal. Seen plenty of
troops on the banks several cracks made by chaps on board, arrived at Port
Said at 9-10 P.M.
Tuesday 8-10-46
Still at Port Said bought some Turkish Delight off one of small boats round
the ship. Left Port Said about 8-45 A.M. passed one or two troopships, also
Submarine, aircraft barrier, three corvets (Corvettes) and plenty of merchant
ships. My mate took several photo’s. Am now in the Mediterranean Sea.
Saw a film called The Wicked Lady. Not so hot now.
Wednesday 9-10-46
Cold this morning and not very hot all day. no sight of land. Sea very blue
and glittering because of sun shining on it. Cold at night, still slept on
deck.
Thursday 10-10-46
Very cold this morning till sun came up. Warm but windy in afternoon so lay
on deck under a lifeboat. Went to dance at night saw “Malta” at
3-30 in afternoon. Saw Pantelleria at 9-30 P.M.
Friday 11-10-46
On Mess Orderly. See North Africa coastline most of the day. Sea very rough
rain in afternoon. Sea sick at night slept below deck.
Saturday 12-10-46
Sea calm this morning. See coast of Spain. Finished Mess Orderly. Sun warm
all day. Went to ships concert (Quite good) saw Gibraltar at 10 P.M.
Sunday 13-10-46
Saw Lisbon at 5 P.M. Ship rocking very much at night not sick. Went to pictures
saw “Conflict”, Humphry Bograt (Humphrey Bogart)
Monday 15-10-46
See land till 9 A.M. in Bay of Biscay. Sun shining not very warm.
Tuesday.
Cold in morning see Isle of Wight at 11-50 A.M., saw “Queen Elizabeth” and
Queen Mary in dock.
Docked at just after 4 P.M. several troops went ashore just after 5 P.M.
S.S. Arundel Castle
S.S. Arundel Castle