Diary of Wing Commander Edward Lloyd Fleming, January 1944- January 1945 - Part 5

MARCH, 1944
Thursday 9
I had breakfast & a bush walk. The
thick mist had cleared & the wind 
was very cold but the cloud was
higher & a bit of sun. Nothing of 
particular interest around at all 
today. Clocks on an hour.
SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN - A MERRITT
Friday 10
I had a shave & went to breakfast & spent the
morning either on deck or at Casino. I had
a super dinner (but not enough of it) & spent
the afternoon reading & playing patience. We
found a tanker tonight & it was very close to
us. We had a Catalina  escort part of this
morning It is still bitterly cold but we are
heading E-S.E. so should land soon. There
were a few gulls about today. I had tea at 1
sitting in 1 mess & doubled at 2 sitting in 
2 mess. I did some darning & had a
shower & then got to bed. Clocks on another
hour tonight.

MARCH, 1944
Saturday 11
There was a submarine c 20 miles off at 2400 &
we went flat out all night. A Liberator gave 
the warning . I had a shave & shower & then went
on deck. I read & played cars all the
morning. I had dinner - a grand one too - & then
went up. I had tea & then went to Casino. I
learnt a new card game then came back
they are putting the clocks on 1½ hrs tonight
I packed up a bit then came to bed.

Sunday 12

We were still in fog early this morning but

when it broke after breakfast we could see

some of the Irish coast with a couple of villages.

We passed a huge rock in the Clyde & there

were a couple of Spitfires dashing around. We
saw a fleet of trawlies at work & passed two

submarines & a corvette & several other ships

The glimpses we caught of Scotland excelled 
the highest expectation. The snow on the hills, the

green, ordered fields, the uniform, grey slate

houses & the ruggedness of the country were

very noticeable.  The pictures you see of the

place are not exaggerated at all! We crossed

the boom & anchored off  Greenock & the unloading 

by lighter started, We had expected to go off

early but will be last now & are staying the 
night here.

 

 

MARCH, 1944
Monday 13
They started unloading RAF very early &

after tidying up, we boarded the ferry 
King Edward VI at 4.15 & bade farewell to

our recent floating home. We got to the 

wharf at Greenock & waited there for a
while then went ashore to the Rly station we

left luggage there & went to the Transit

camp in Hood St for dinner. we
remained there all day & had tea too. I

played cards & talked .  It was a great old

rambling joint, terribly ancient & 4

storeys high. We got away at last &

came to the station & entrained in an

LMS car & what a car!  dining room

with 2 to a seat ! We left at 2025 &

the first stop was at Edinburgh were

we stretched our legs. Then we moved 
off once more & all settled down to  
sleep - I slept on the floor & slept well.

Tuesday 14

I got up c. 0700 & then had a wash & sat &
waited for breakfast then we had some

pies & bread. We stopped for a moment

at Doncaster & then came on thro' Tuxford,

Welwyn, Newark etc as far as Canterbury.

We saw numerous kites about & the Crystal

Palace. Also  our first barrage balloons,  The

bomb damage in town has been very well
hidden but there are a lot nasty scars.

We came down to Brighton where we detrained

& marched thro' town to the Hotel Metropole.

It is a huge building facing the sea - & of course

we are on the top storey. We had tea & got a

bit of stuff then took a walk thro the
town.  We came back & had supper then I

had a bath & went to bed.  Jack Lindsay

& Chips Carpenter are in with me in a 

room for 7.

 

 

MARCH, 1944

Wednesday 15

We had our first Air Raid but it was only

an alert. London was raided with incendiary

some of the chaps were very drunk but we slept

thro' it all. I had breakfast & we went on

parade then marched down thro' town to

Princes Hall where we had a pep talk. Then

we marched back to town & had a browse

thro' the place & came back to lunch. I sent a

cable home & then went on parade. We had

our FFI & got our $ changed.  I came back
& had tea & then went out with Jack & Ken

to the pictures to see Captain Courageous.

There was an Alert while we were there but

nobody worries till the local call goes. I saw

a Mosquito & a Lysander & Typhoon.  The

beach front is rather attractive & has been

super.  We can see a bit of the white Cliffs.
We had a look about the building then I had
 a shave & bath & got off to bed.

Thursday 16

I had a wash & went to breakfast. We went on

parade & then went for a march way down 
to Hove where we were broken off. We roamed 

thro' Hove for about 1½hrs & I bought some books

& then we came into Brighton again.  We formed

up & marched back to dinner.  We had to carry

respirators & went thro' the gas chamber.  We came

back to the hotel & I changed. At a parade they

took our height ( 5/10¼") & inner leg measurement 

(34"). We had tea & then Jack, Ken, Chips & 

I went to the Ozone & saw " Phantom of the Opera"

with Nelson Eddy.  It was in technicolour & a very 

good show. There was no air raid & we had

supper came back & I had a shave & then got

off to bed & read a while.

3, 000 TONS OF BOMBS ON STUTTGART - 1000

HEAVY BOMBERS OUT - HEAVIEST RAID OF ALL

TIME

 

 

MARCH, 1944

SEVEN

Friday 17

After breakfast we went on parade as

usual and then we received our ACF

comforts.  We had the rest of the morning

off but stayed here in camp. After

dinner I went back on parade & then

we had our photographs taken &

signed our identity cards, We knocked

off & I changed  & tidied up; I wrote

David.  I had tea & then took a stroll

down to Black Rock.  Back at the 

Metropole I wrote to Pat. We took a

look at the Southern Cross club tonight

I got my chocolate ration too. Jerry
came over & there was a local alert

but no bombs were dropped.  I had a 

shobath & went to bed.

Saturday 18

We went on parade & then had a bludge

period after which the dentist held his

inspection. I appear to have one crook tooth

we did nothing last period so Chips & I

went to town & I bought a watch strap &

ident. disc chain.  We strolled round then

came back & had a super lunch. After

parade they marched us way down to 

Black Rock where Aussies & Kiwis were

having a soccer & rugby match. We were 
only there ½hr & didn't bother to watch. The

fighters overhead were far more interesting.

We marched back & had tea at

1630. We changed & Jack & Ken & I went

to the Hippodrome.  It was a rare show

& quite interesting.  We had supper at

Harris' & then came back to the hotel. I

had a shave and a bath & then went to

bed. I read a while before turning in.

 

 

MARCH, 1944

Sunday 19

We went to a voluntary church parade at

the Norfolk Rd. Meth church.  It was at 1000

& the public service was at 1100. Chips & I

came back and we had dinner then as

soon as it was over I went for a long

walk to Stanmer Pk. & Moulscombe thro'

Preston.  There were ever so many kites

about & I counted 51 Marauders. The road

was typically English & Moulscombe by the 
Highway very beautiful.  I was back

in time for tea then I spruced up and

Jack & Ken & I went to church.  There was

hardly anyone there. It is a rather nice
building with a full organ.  I came

back & wrote a letter to Margaret. & posted

one to Pat earlier  Ferdy Earlier.  I had a

bath & a shave & then got off to bed.

The distance I walked today was almost

ten miles! We saw a Fairchild Argus today.

Monday 20

I had breakfast & we went on parade. We

went to the Princes Hall and had lectures

from the C.O. padre, P.T. instructor, gas & fire

officer & security officer. That took the whole

morning.  We had a stroll round town & 

then had dinner.  In the afternoon, first

period was a bludge then we met MIss

MacDonald of the Isles - representing Lady

Frances Ryder C.B.E. - at the Boomerang

Club about billets.  We went to town & had

a bit to eat & then came back to tea. We

went out to the Odeon & saw "The Cat & the

Canary" & " The Miracle of Morgan's Creek." It

was an excellent programme & the latter was

a terrific laugh. We had a supper at Harris

then  I had a bit more back here.  I had

a bath & a shave & then got off to bed.

 

 

MARCH, 1944

Tuesday 21

I had a wash & then breakfast & we paraded

We were marched well into Hove &

dismissed for the morning. We roamed

around & bought a lot to eat.  Saw a

very nice little NFS girl in some gardens

I had lunch  & in the afternoon we filled in

RAAF census forms then had a lecture

by the security officer. Then we had  a

look over the intelligence library. It is

a very comprehensive affair & I think
I'll spend a lot of time there. I had tea

& we stood by our beds & then after the

inspection I came to Southern Cross

with Chips & wrote a few letters -

Mr Short & Joyce Edge.  I had supper

& a bath & went to bed.

Wednesday 22

There was an air raid @ 0100 till 0200 & they

came pretty close.  We had breakfast & went

on parade.  We got laundry chits & then

marched down to Hove & put in the 

morning there.  After lunch I took some mail
to Bruce Fuller who is in bed in hosp. with

plurisy.  I went on parade & we had our

swimming test -100 yards. I got round O.K.

we came back & got a note book in

town.  Our sea kit bags came & we sorted 

stuff out. I had tea & stayed home all

evening.  There was an air raid

about 2100 but only for about 20/20

min.  I had a shave & went to bed.

I had supper & met Reg Graves with whom 

I had a yarn.

GERMAN COUP D'ETAT IN HUNGARY- RED ARMY

IN RUMANIA - TERRIFIC AIR ONSLAUGHT ON

GERMANY

 

MARCH,1944

EIGHT

Thursday 23

I had breakfast & we spent the morning

back in our billets placing out our stuff

for kit inspection.  That took only a short

time but we were not inspected till the

afternoon. I read a bit & wrote home. Then

I had lunch & we stayed in our rooms till
we were inspected about 1600.  I put

my stuff away  & then had tea. I read

till 1900 then went to the tech library & 

copied up a bit of gen. about icing. I

had supper & did a bit more writing &

then got off to the room where I shaved
& had a bath & went to bed. I did all

my own washing today.  The laundry

service seems to be rather inadequate

& they won't take any article of clothing. I 

saw a Mustang today.  Still no mail

from home so it looks as if I've missed

out this time.  I saw the Senior Ed. off. today

& am taking up a correspondence course

of shorthand.  It cosy 10/- & goes on for 

a year or so.

Friday 24

I had breakfast & after parade we handed in

our old clothing for laundry & our worn out

shoes.  Then we had the morning to ourselves so

we went to town & roamed about. I bought a

book & we had a look around. After dinner we

went on parade & were broken off. We took

the bus to Rottingdean, a delightful old

English village E of Brighton. We had a 

stroll thro' it & saw some of the buildings. Ken

was a bit sick. We came back & had a snack

at YMCA then had tea.  In the evening I read

up in our room for a while & then went to the

intelligence library & read & wrote a bit then

I came back & got off to bed. There was a

raid @ 2400 yesterday but we stayed in 
bed.

 

 

MARCH,1944

Saturday 25

I had a wash & had breakfast & then
we went on parade.  We were paid

this morning & after it I went up to 

the station & then came back here &

banked my money.  I went to dinner

& then we went on Parade again &

after filling in the R.A.A.F. census form

we had the afternoon off & I came

back here & got a leave pass & then went

down to Shoreham. It is by the sea

& has a 5th century church but there

was nothing outstanding about it.

I came home to tea & then Ken & Jack & 

another chap & I went to the pictures

& saw " She's my girl" & "Happy

Land". It was quite a good show.

I came home & had a shower & shave

& went to bed.

Sunday 26

I had breakfast & then went on parade
& went along to the C of E church. It has a 

super organ. I collected my leave pass &

Ken & I set off for the day.  We went first

to Eastbourne where we took a look about

& had dinner. There was much evidence of bombs.

We went onto the barracks & rested awhile. We

caught the train again to Hastings  & had a

look about there. There was an old castle &

the crowd was rather interested in some

Aussies. We caught the train back home &

I did a spot of writing.  We had tea at Hastings.

I wrote Beth & also fined up my observations.

I read a bit & then went up & had a bath &

shave & went to bed.  It was an extra good 

day & the train cost 5/4

 

 

MARCH,1944
Monday 27

I had a wash & went to breakfast.

We had parade as usual but after it

we were marched to Preston & broken 

off. We wandered along past some
very large homes, crossed the rly line

& saw the Brighton tennis courts. We

came back & had some [[?]] [[?]]

just  near [[?]]  We had dinner & in the 

afternoon were issued with webbing

& did a night vision test. I did very

well in it. I had tea early & reported

for gun crew tomorrow & then I changed

& went to Princes with Jack. We saw

" Ruggles of Red Gap" & "Rage in Heaven"

It was a smacking show. the latter

picture being highly dramatic.  We had

supper at Harris & then came home.  There

was still no mail for me from Aussie

altho' a lot of the boys got some.

MARCH, 1944

NINE

Tuesday 28

I had breakfast but did not go on parade as

I am on gun crew. I wandered down there

by 0945 & was at Royal Albion Hotel for
two hours. We have a twin-Browning. I 
am on with Vic Fisher.  I came back & had 
dinner & wrote home & then went to the tech.

library & read & wrote all the afternoon.

I had early tea & by 1800 was back at the

gun again.  This shift was till Blackout.

It got pretty cold & we unloaded the gun

& covered it up then walked back here. I

had supper & a bite at NAAFI then

came up & had a bath & shave & went to

bed. I saw an Altemark today.  More mail

arrived but still none from home.  I only

spent 0/2 today!! - a record!