I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety

HMS Spurwing based at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. This is a photograph of the playing fields at H.M.S. Spurwing situated at the village of Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone. In his diary, in 1943, my dad wrote: "The first object that catches the eye is the range of mountains from which Sierra Leone takes its name ( Lion Mountain ). The reference to Lion is obscure as there is no visible resemblance, but a possible explanation is that the thunder in the rainy season is like a lion’s roar." Charlie Perry and Dick Treadway, Norman Buckle Norman Buckle is the tall chap on the right; the other two are Charlie Perry and Dick Treadway but it isn't clear from his diary which is which. They are standing outside their accommodation at H.M.S. Spurwing "Mess No. 4". Mess No. 4 This blurry photo is of the interior of "Mess No 4" which was where they were accommodated. Note the mosquito nets. Bathing facilities

 In 1943 when my dad was nineteen years old he was posted to a naval air station near Freetown in Sierra Leone. He wrote in his diary: "Sighted the African coast early in the morning and at 10.10 dropped anchor in Freetown harbour. The town looks very pretty with brightly coloured houses, the outstanding objects being a church and two wireless aerials. Behind the town to the left is the coastal range of hills." If you look closely at this photograph you can just see the church and the aerials. (The aerials are rather blurred but just about visible on the left side of the photo.) Freetown Harbour, Sierra Leone In his diary he went on: "Large numbers of canoes fill the harbour, some mere dug-outs but others quite decent boats. Freetown, Sierra Leone At 16.30 the launch arrives to take us ashore and our kit is unloaded by small boys." They travelled in a lorry to a village called Hastings about 15 miles east of Freetown to the naval