Thursday

9 Jul 1942

Joined MV. Tuscan Star bound for B.A. Argentina. Bofoe team already on board.

Wrote to Lily. Have got a fine cabin on boat deck.

Friday

10 Jul 1942

Moved into the Mersey

Saturday

11 Jul 1942

Sailed in Convoy at 9 AM. Watch started 4 on 4 off dawn to dusk.

Sunday

18 Jul 1942

Aircraft sighted. Identified as a Liberator. Later the same sight (Approx 11.30 PM) 2 ships sunk by torpedoes lane ahead of us, same column, from which 39 survivors were saved, and the leader of the starboard column, from which there would not be many survivors, as she carried ammunitions. All we could see of the later ship, on turning out on deck, was a huge pall of smoke where she had been.

Friday

23 Jul 1942

3.30 PM. Left convoy. Two or three hours later sighted lifeboat with 23 persons aboard. Picked them up. Turned out to be survivors of the SS. Shaftesbury, sunk 12 days earlier. All transferred to convoy escort which had come over to investigate; Empty lifeboat used as target by Bofoe and 4” guns. Eight more lifeboats adrift somewhere but nothing further sighted.

Saturday

8 Aug 1942

Arrived at Beunos Aires and moored alongside by 3 PM. Some Passengers disembarked straight away. Anti-sabotage watch commenced. 6 on 12 off. My first watch at 6 PM – 12 midnight.

 A week or so in B.A. 2 nights at La Plata, 1 night at Montevideo, Uruguay (saw what remains of the Graf Spee) then 2 or 3 days at sea on our way to Santos, Brazil.  While at sea, Brazil declared war on the Axis. Drew 200 milreis and bought presents and more stores.

Thursday

27 Aug 1942

Sailed from Santos for Freetown, B.W.A. Total No of hours Anti Sabotage watch 110 hours. Passengers on board for England. Mostly volunteers for H.M. Forces. Two babies. one 3 the other 2 yrs.

Sunday

6 Sep 1942

21 hours. Ship struck by 2 torpedoes and at once began to list to Starboard. One torpedo in the engine room and one aft. No 3 lifeboat damaged by explosion, but No’s 1 – 2 – 4 away alright.

The ship sank in approx 10 mins, and after she had disappeared the U boat surfaced, approached our lifeboat (No 4) and asked for nationality, name of ship and also for the captain or Chief Eng. Neither of whom were in our boat.

After talking to the 2 other life boats, the U boat returned to No 4 boat, sent over bread and milk for the 2 children, told us he had his duty to do, wished us luck, and disappeared in the darkness (He also said he had picked up our 2nd Radio Officer.)

When our lifeboat cleared the ship we had on board 43 persons, including the women and 2 babies, the third officer in charge. Were taking water, and the rudder was broken, so 10 of the passengers were transferred to another lifeboat. We turned over all the women and the two babies.

The sea anchor was put out and we kept head on to the sea till day break.

Monday

7 Sep 1942

Raised the sail at daybreak and set a course N.E. The 3 boats soon being separated. Rudder made a fixed, being a big improvement on the steering oar.

Tuesday

8 Sep 1942

Water issued dawn & dusk, beaker per man. Pemmican, Biscuits, Horlicks and chocolate. At meal times in variety. Cigs 2 per day.

Following wind and sea. It is estimated that with continuation of fair weather, land, which at the nearest point, is approx 250 miles away should be sighted by Friday or Saturday.

Wednesday

9 Sep 1942

Still a following sea and wind.

Thursday

10 Sep 1942

Sea and wind still with us. The makeshift rudder keeps needing attention, but it is doing good service. We keep having showers of rain. Cigs have been cut to 1 per day.

All the time we have been adrift, bailing has been carried on in watches; the officers taking the pump and we others using the hand bailer. Two A.B’s a Q M and the 3rd Officer attend to the steering.

Friday

11 Sep 1942

Everyone looking for a sight of land.

11.20 AM  Aircraft sighted. Flares lighted but we were not spotted.

11.30 AM  Land sighted at last. By the time we approached the land, it was too dark to risk a landing through the surf so lay off till day break.

Saturday

12 Sep 1942

Dawn. No wind. Had to lower the sails and take to the oars, to pull into the land. Two teams for rowing, 1 hr. on, 1 hr off.

After rowing 3 hrs, sighted native canoes who escorted us through the rocks and surf, finally beaching the lifeboat at 1.30 PM without incident. Bill, an AB. to who we owed a lot, for the sailing of the lifeboat, and also the 3rd officer, collapsed under the heat and reaction but soon recovered.

The natives informed us that we were at the village of NIFFOO, in Liberia, and did the very best for us, as far as was in there power. Fruit, nuts and a meal of rice and goat was provided for us, the goat being specially killed for us. We were all accommodated at the village guest house for the night, and had the best sleep since being torpedoed.

Sunday

13 Sep 1942

A government official is expected this morning.

On his arrival we were all assembled in the village council hut, where the 3rd officer informed us we would have to walk to another village 12 miles to the south, where we should be able to obtain conveyance to Monrovia and then to Freetown.

Left Niffoo 12 12;30PM and arrived at Sasstown by 5 PM. with 1/2 hr stop at a village half way. The walk tired everyone. We had two rivers to cross by canoe, pools to wade through, a soft sandy beach to walk on, and heavy showers of rain at frequent intervals.

At the halt made halfway, we saw our first white man since landing. He was a missionary and told us he would be in Sasstown soon after us, and would see that we all had a cup of tea, something that the natives can’t supply us with, and which we are all longing for.

On arrival at Sasstown, we were accommodated at the house of one of the Elder Dempsters Agents. Most of us having a bed to sleep in, and clothes loaned while our own wet things dried. Cigs were given to us all at the rate of 14 per man, and after a meal of rice and corned beef, we turned in, for what proved a good sleep.

Monday

14 Sep 1942

Everyone having a cup of tea at 4.30 A.

The tea and sugar being sent over by the missionary Sunday night as promised. After breakfast of rice and meat the 3rd Officer informed us that we should have to walk back to Niffoo, and from there, on to a U.S, camp where we should be taken by air to Monrovia or Freetown. The only alternative was to wait at Sasstown for a week or a fortnight while a boat was sent round for us. No one felt like doing that, so a start was made back to Niffoo at 12 noon.

Arrived back at Niffoo at 4 PM. Wet through and dead tired. A U.S. Army Sergeant and Corporal waiting there for us, with tinned emergency rations, from which we made quite a good meal. We have to leave here at day break, so as to arrive at the camp in daylight.

Tuesday

15 Sep 1942

Set off from Niffoo at 6.30 AM. Had showery weather till noon, and then the sun came up.

Five or six rivers crossed by canoe, and the usual soft sandy beach to march over.

Arrived at the camp by 4.30 PM. after covering about 25 miles. Our legs were one big ache. In 3 days we have travelled about 50 miles. The night was spent under canvass. A seaplane was just about to leave, and had room for 1 passenger. A junior engineer took the place.

Wednesday

16 Sep 1942

The seaplane came back again during the morning with stores for the camp. No cigs. though. Took 6 survivors back with him and left word that he would not be back for 2 days as the plane needed an overhaul.

Our 3rd Officer was one of the 6 to go in the plane, to try and make some arrangements for us remainder to be picked up. Senior 2nd Engineer left in charge.

A ship sighted in the Bay. By her actions, she looks as though she may be looking for us survivors.

Thursday

17 Sep 1942

Ship still in bay. Junior 2nd Eng. And the US. Army Officer trying to contact it by canoe. Later, word brought by canoe, that we are to go over the surf by canoe, and will then be picked up by lifeboat, and transferred to the ship. Everything went off fine, except for 1 canoe being over turned by the surf. The two soldiers escaped with a soaking.

H.M.T. Rumba. 2 cases of provisions sent over by the yanks, as the trawler is overdue, and is running short of food and water. No fresh water allowed for toilet. Sailors gave us dry clothes and cigs. Set off for Freetown.

Friday

18 Sep 1942

Received message to stop higher up coast to pick up more survivors. 16 all told, from the Viking Star, sunk 25 Aug. They have been ashore here for 14 days and have been well treated. Another Trawler came alongside us and gave us fresh water, food and cigs.

Under way again at 6.30 PM.

Saturday

19 Sep 1942

Arrived at Freetown and moored alongside the Edinburgh Castle at 3.30 pm. All survivors taken ashore to the mission to eat and sleep. Met some of our survivors from one of the other lifeboats, and learned that one lot, including 2 soldiers, have already set off home by passenger boat.

Had my first shave for a fortnight, also a good bed to sleep in. Two soldiers have been sent up to the Wilberforce Barracks, (where Frank and I expect to go) so that accounts for all the army gunners. It does not look as if the 4 naval ratings got away from the Tuscan Star.

Sunday

20 Sep 1942

After breakfast all of us were issued with new vest, shirt, shorts, belt, topee, razor, toothbrush & paste. Later had to go down to the DEMS. office to interview the Commander, and check reports that he had already received, about the torpedoing. He told us we should be sent home in the next convoy.

Taken up to Wilberforce Bks. The first persons we saw, were Osborne and Charlie. Each of us received 1 pound pay. After lunch, issued with some Army Kit, but essentials such as shaving brush, Boot brushes, cutlery, Forage Cap and respirator, they could not issue.

Went to M.O. for inspection. Nothing to do in Barracks, and a very poor N.A.A.F.I.. We could not buy any toilet soap.

Monday

21 Sep 1942

Moved into a hut of our own. Had a run into Freetown to do some shopping. Only bought razor blades, as everything is so expensive.

Sent cable to lily. Back at Barracks, worked it to have early breakfast, and be ready to leave by 8.30 AM. Thursday, to join a ship. All survivors except Charlie who has had to enter hospital.

Tuesday

22 Sep 1942

Frank and I joined the Conakrian. The 3 Bofors gunners put on a Palm oil Tanker. The Conakrian was in the same convoy as us outward bound, and the 2 soldiers already aboard her, were embarked on the same day as Frank and I in Liverpool, travelling in the same lorry to the docks.

Special quarters aft, but since the torpedoing, outward bound of the two ships, all the gunners have been transferred to cabins on deck. We hope to have one too. We don’t fancy sleeping down below.

Wednesday

23 Sep 1942

Have managed a cabin on deck. Painted it out to-day. Another bunk to be fixed yet but should be able to sleep there by Thursday night.

Sailed for home at 3.30 PM. Approx 24 ships in convoy.

Thursday

24 Sep 1942

Sunderland Flying boat, one of Air Escort made forced landing. Escort stood by. Working watch of 4 on 4 off.

Saturday

3 Oct 1942

4 escort ships augmented this morning by 4 more.

Abreast of canary Islands yesterday.

Sunday

4 Oct 1942

6 ships left the Convoy, to proceed at a faster speed  to England. 4 escorts went with them, leaving us with 4.

Monday

5 Oct 1942

In aircraft zone from dawn this morning.

Abreast of the Azores at 7 – 8 PM.

Wednesday

7 October 1942

Started increased aircraft watch, 10 hrs daily, with a 2 hr break.

Sleep all night.

Thursday

8 Oct 1942

Hostile aircraft flag hoisted but no planes sighted.

Monday

12 Oct 1942

Sighted Nth Ireland at last. East coast ships leave Convoy during the night. Glasgow ships tomorrow morning. Another Convoy joined up with us.

Wednesday

14 Oct 1942

Liverpool at last. Moved right into Bromborough Dock. Went to the pictures in the evening and posted letters to Lily and mother.