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Arriving in Sierra Leone October 1943

Arriving at Freetown, Sierra Leone October 1943. Sunday 31st October 1943 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. Large numbers of canoes fill the harbour, some mere dug-outs but others quite decent boats. At 16.30 the launch arrives to take us ashore and our kit is unloaded by small boys. We no sooner set foot ashore than scores of boys and girls mob us selling bananas. The first one tastes good. After a long wait a lorry appears to take us to a place called Hastings where the Air Station is, its commissioned name being H.M.S. Spurwing. .....after an hour’s travel we turn down a side track, past a cemetery and pull up against a bungalow which is the Regulatory Office of H.M.S. Spurwing. We have arrived at the end of our journey. There a

Exploring Sidney, Australia in 1945

I've noticed on the Internet that 26th January is Australia Day. So, best wishes today to readers in Australia.  This is an extract from my dad's diary that describes some of his experiences in Australia in 1945 while en-route to join his unit involved in the war in the Pacific. On the morning of the 9th April 1945  we arrived at Sydney, largest city in Australia and second largest in the British Empire. Before entering the great harbour the sea was very choppy but once inside became calm and we moved alongside without incident. The main impression I now recall is the first view of the magnificent bridge across the harbour. About the middle of the afternoon we disembarked and travelled to a Naval Air Station a few miles outside the city which was to be our home for the next few weeks. We settled down and that same night caught the electric train back into the city. Our first call was an eating house (American style with little alcoves for couples) where we made

Update for January 2016

Welcome back to my blog and all good wishes for 2016. It's been a while since I checked the Amazon reviews for I Think I Prefer the Tinned Variety: The Diary of a Petty Officer in the Fleet Air Arm during World War II.  I've been delighted to see these reviews posted by readers who've enjoyed the book. Many thanks to all readers and reviewers. If you would like to read some of our other titles please check out Spurwing Ebooks .