Sometimes at HMS Spurwing (Royal Navy air station at Hastings, near Freetown, Sierra Leone) there was entertainment provided by E.N.S.A but at other times they made their own entertainment. My dad wrote in his diary about preparations for a concert and despite his reservations it must have gone ahead because he had some photographs of the show.
Friday 14th April 1944
"Should have been dress rehearsal for concert at night but when we arrived at the Robangba Theatre found it occupied by a crowd of pissed up R.A.F chaps.
Great difficulty in clearing them out but finally succeeded but the whole action made us so late that we didn’t finish until 23.30.
Thursday 20th April 1944
"Again seem to have got a day or two behind.
Nothing much doing all day (as usual).
Should have been a rehearsal in afternoon. But no-one turned up. As the entertainments officer, who is compering the show, has gone up country, perhaps it will die a natural death. I hope so anyway.
But clearly the show did go on!
 |
| Norman is the tallest person on the front row. |
 |
| Another act from the Concert Party. |
 |
| Unknown "actors" from the concert. |
 |
| Two more unknown actors from the concert. |
 |
| An unknown trio from the concert party. |
