Diary of Edward Lloyd Fleming, October 1945- March 1957 - Par 1

3/- 

Aus 430651
P/O Fleming E.L.
Auspo London

294 Warrigal Rd,
Burwood G13
Victoria. 

1.10.45 (Mon). We had breakfast and went down
to parade. Nothing in particular happened except a
stand-by warning so I made enquiries at Southdown
about my coupons but there was no gen & they said to
call again later. Bill rang up Winchester and the
scarf transaction was finalized, cost 37/6. We
collected mail and I stayed in the room till dinner
time, doing some reading. We got some of our final
clearance done at 1400 & I'm on baggage party. I
sent cables home then Bill & I went down the street
to Southdown - still no word so I left Billy's address -
& to get some wire. I also used my sweet coupons.

At 1730 I had a watch parade and bought a £3 job.
Will get it once we're aboard the ship. I had a beautiful
tea and in the evening did my ironing and packed
We bound Bill's trunk up with wire we bought and
then did mine. Also used the wire to get a bit of shape
into our hats. The navy had two corvettes all lit up
out to sea tonight & the crews on the beach were very
drunk. On the fourth floor Met. was a big two-up
school & the money was flowing very freely. I managed
to cadge 7 coupons from Ken Butler today.
2.10.45 (Tues) After breakfast I took Bill, who was
waiting in the watch queue, a cup of tea & then
waited about for loading operations to start. The 

rotten sods didn't load their own gear at the met. so we
mugs copped the job at both ends. Rather heavy work and
the poor rly. people are in a  bit of a panic after the big rail
crash a couple of days ago. I washed up then went to
lunch. Sat out in the promenade on the deck chairs for
a while then came to the cinema for final clearance. They
had things all messed up so I just sat & read & finally we
got done. Mess bill was 13/- I was going to a C.O's parade
but the chaps said it wasn't worth it. Collected my
photos from Boot's and had tea. Spent the evening in the
room & wrote & read. Slept a little too.
3.10.45. (Wed). I was called at 0230 and dressed & took my
kit downstairs then helped load the trucks. We rode up to the
station on the back of a truck & set the luggage out in rows
so the chaps could find it easily. Then we entrained & I got
a 1st class compartment with 4 other fellows. We got a
good deal of sleep & they brought around pies & sandwiches
early. We saw the train crash at Bourne End & Lord, it was
a shambles. We stopped at Rugby and I stretched my
legs, & at Crewe & finally reached Liverpool about 1330.
We were taken to our dock in lorries & after a brief wait
were allowed on "Stirling Castle. She is a modern vessel But
in no way comparable in size to the 'Amsterdam'. The wharf
labourers here are on strike so the R.A.F. also have to load the
luggage in daytime & our own N.C.O's at night. On board 

is a large number of Netherlands soldiers & airmen (wearing
Aussie uniforms) & naval types. Also a few civvies &
New Zealanders. We had a meal on arrival in a most
palatial saloon then spent the afternoon getting to know the
ship & watching loading operations. The tea queue was
colossal so I waited till about 2000hrs & got a wizard
meal. Then I watched the loading with Bill for a while

& got off to bed. (In my "cabin" are 343 other bods!).
4.10.45 (Thurs) I was up a little after 0700 and after washing
I noticed we had started to pull out. It was a very tricky
business for the tugs which had to push or pull us thru

three very narrow openings before we reached the big
dock whose gates kept the water at a constant level in the

docks. There we tied up again to wait for the tide to come
in up to our level, about 5 ft, and meantime 3 other
ships including "Monarch of Bermuda" came in too.
At 1030 we were towed out into the Mersey and they began
slowly moving downstream. Breakfast, scheduled for
0830 & taking place at 0930 was a shambles & cat-calling
the A.O.C. who was conducting his final inspection seemed
to have little effect. By the time New Brighton was

disappearing it was dinner time & another queue. We eat
the same grub as the troops while those lucky enough to
be in the saloon are feeding 1st class. We spent a lot of
time waiting to drop the pilot and were stopped fast near 

one of the sea-forts. Eventually got under way & had our
first boat-drill at 1400 while a Barracuda did a "shout-up"

of the vessel. The swy schools were in full swing
all afternoon and I spent my time reading & sleeping in
the officer's smoke room. Rather meagre tea and once
again I got in some reading. Had a cold water shave &
Heaven knows when hot water is to come on. We are waited on
by Dutch soldiers, most of whom have only 2-3 mths army
service & are off for 4 yrs in Far East. As we left the card
room a Dutch soldier & an Aussie had a cornet & accordion
in operation and I heard a few Dutch tunes, including
an inimitable rendering of "Sarai Marais". Did my
little bit of writing then hit the hay. The ship is all lit
up & it's a real pleasure to be on board. They are putting

clocks back an hour, presumably to D.S.T. & we're supposed
to be off Scilly's by midnight.
5.10.45 (Fri). I dressed shortly after I'd woken and found it
was 0610! but the morning was beautifully fresh and I
walked about the deck till the water came on at 0630. The
sun rose as a huge red ball & disappeared behind
cloud. The calmness of yesterday continued but the
breeze freshened thru' out the day. It seemed a long time
till breakfast, but I made up for it by having 4 eggs.

The Dutch boys are doing a wizard job & a naval fella
was telling us they have all been underground for the 

last 5 years. I walked about & read a little then they had
boat stations, after which I queued up for about two
hours at the ship's shop & got some sweets etc. I had
dinner and spent most of the afternoon reading. I

saw a lot of Spanish & French fishing craft we passed
near & also several large cargo vessels heading west &
South-west. Also we saw four sailing ships. I had a
wash before tea which was very good, and they
have now put table cloths out. By tea time the old ship
had quite a motion up but it's riding very nicely even
so. I read a bit then went to the cinema but it was
stuffy & noisy & a very Yank film so I left to come to
the ante-room. We are supposed to be off C. Finisterre
this evening & past the Bay of Biscay.
6.10.45 (Sat). Ken Butler said a wave broke right over the
boat in a squall last night about 0300 & he got quite wet in
E4. I was up in good time & had a shower. C. Finisterre  was
visible on our port this morning. I had breakfast and
came up on deck. Sat around all morning. There was a
skylark out with us & the sea was like a millpond all the
day. We had to fill in leave application forms for when we
get home. Several ships passed us or we passed them & it's
so much more reassuring to see other vessels & know you're
on the main lanes. Read [[Olde's]] sending & one was the
Empire Rival' From dinner we all sit at the same table 

for all meals in future & we have an excellent Dutch lad
looking after us. Meals also tho' plain are plenty. The
afternoon was hot - there wasn't a cloud in the sky all

day - so a lot of lads came out in khaki but they're banned
wearing it in future. I had a wash and tea then collected
my watch. Much excitement when a land mass
appeared & this was the islands off Lisbon. Saw the marine
lights at work & also passed some fishing [[smacks?]] all
lit up. We're standing in very close to the coast now.
The night was mild & positively hot in the ante-room but
it was worth sticking on account of the soft drinks! We
passed a large school of porpoises early in the morning
and the sea is a vivid blue. At night there is quite a lot
of phosphorous. There was a voluntary P.T. class for'wd today.
7.10.45. (Sun). [At about 2200 there was the glare of the
lights of a large city to port and using the polar
star as a guide, we turned some 20° to port. We are
very close to the coast which is a string of lights.].

Last night's city was Lisbon and this morning on waking
we were steaming a little south of east. I had a wash and
spent the morning in the sun reading, until land was
sighted ahead on the Spanish (Portuguese) side. We passed
several ships and the "Monarch of Bermuda" was on the
horizon. She later pulled in at Gibraltar. As morning advanced
we could make out the African coastline also very mountainous 

& hazy. The nearer however, the clearer & we passed quite
close to the N. African side. On the Portuguese hills was a lot
of very violent rock distortion visible and the Atlas Mts
rose in ever ascending peaks into the hazy distance. A 
couple of kites passed overhead, and there was quite an
excitement when we nearly ran down a very wide
native boat & had to make quite a violent alteration
in course to avoid it. All the while porpoises & sharks were
disporting themselves & putting on some good shows! A
pretty white town & grey-stone lighthouse was visible on
the Spanish side and the two land masses got closer
& closer till we passed a large crag. on the African
side and on neighbouring eminences we could see
stone watch-towers & further away the white town of
Ceuta with its walled mosque on the hill hard by.
Presently we could discern Gibraltar on the Port side but
only saw it, like a crouching lion, at a distance. From
then on the coastline receded both sides and we were
in the Mediterranean Sea. It was just as blue as it
should be and the sky cloudless all day again. The
Spanish hills remained visible for a long while with
the sunlight shining on them & a slight haze so it looked
like an earthly fairyland. We passed very close to a
heavily laden Liberty Ship "Hall. J. Kelly." At sunset the
African coast was visible & the sun went down a 

huge fiery ball and left behind the tenderest pink, merging
into the deep blue of the east. Several ships were near us
at night & on the horizon the odd marine light flashed.
I had a yarn with some of the chaps on deck then came
below to read and write, we are now allowed to wear
tropical dress. [We passed "Samaria" tonight. They
8.10.45 (Mon). flashed WHAT SHIP. We replied & they came
back THIS IS. Soft music on deck too & longing for Margaret ]
When we rose, there was a magnificent coastline of

mountains on the African side as far as eye could see.
We were given our position as between Oran and Algiers.
I got into drabs & spent a lazy morning on the boat
deck reading & sleeping. The coastline fell away & we could
see white houses occasionally as smoke in the hills. The
mountains inland were colossal. Tannoy announced
we'd pass Algiers at 1245 local time & we watched it
approach.  Quite a surprise however when we started to
pull up & turn in and the huge flat-like buildings
became clearer & the gold domed mosque on the hill.
We were stopping to drop a F/Sgt. who'd got appendicitis
& only reported sick this morning. Instead of stopping

well off-shore, we pulled right in close. Affording us
a wonderful opportunity of seeing the town closely.
Algiers does not deceive you in that it is all visible
being built up the side of a hill & along the lowlands on the 

side. The shopping centre is facing the sea & in front of it
is a promenade  then the docks so they've dome away with
a dirty dock area. Behind the shops however, on the hill
is a conglomeration of tiny white hovels, the native
and criminal section. It is in contrast to the shops,
most of them about 6 storied with Spanish style
verandahs or arches. Trams (coupled in threes) &
buses seemed to be frequent along the promenade,
which slightly resembled Brighton. To the east was
a huge modern building, flying the tricolour, which
looked like a hospital or govt. structure. There were
marked eastern tendencies in design and all was
whitewashed or cream. In the harbour were five

sunken ships and we were besieged by Arab barterers
who were looking for soap (apparently short here) in
exchange for bottles of brandy & cognac. The lads were
letting soap down on ropes or throwing it & xx some
even gave away shirts etc. for the grog & business was
lively!! These Arabs all seem to row their dinghys
facing forward & we met some quite a long way
off shore. Some steered their motor boat by sticking
an oar over the side & another was giving of a great
exhaust flame which was burning it hull!! The
hill seemed to be well wooded & well populated
but the docks not very busy. The chap went off 

in a sling box on a sling & was put into a little boat at
the side. An English R.A.F. M.O. came out to accompany

him. Cameras (supposed to be surrendered) were
very much in evidence again! We pulled out about
1700 and saw the remainder of the coastline of the bay.
[hand drawn sketch - see original document]
9.10.45. (Tues). We were still in sight of the coast and also
a large, barren island caused quite a lot of speculation.
On it all we could see was a tiny village. I lay on the boat

deck with Bill and I noticed the prevalence of sand on the

N. African land. We passed "Samaria" again and later
the "NIEUW HOLLAND" packed with troops and "CARITAS !", a

french trader. Noticed a bit of cultivation around
Bizerta. Places passed and times were:- 1037 Fratelli Rocks
1200 - Bizerta; 1230 - Cani Rocks; 1500 - Cape Bon; 1800 -
Pantellaria; 2400 Malta. Cape Bon is a great headland
with very distorted rock strata & is at the east side of
a huge bay. There is quite a big island at the centre of the 

Bay. After this Cape, we didn't see mainland again till
Daimetta on Fri. morning. We got to Pantellaria at ETA

and it is quite a big island with a pier at the west end
and hundreds of tiny white houses dotted over it's S. side
cliffs with most terrific distortion in their rock strata
rise sheer out of the sea & behind the town (a very
straggling affair, the high mountain was crowned
with cloud. In the evening I read in the smoke room
till the Bingo players more or less drove me out with
smoke & noise. I had a stroll on deck & then read some
more & came to bed.
10.10.45(Wed). I was up early and went below to have a
bath. Hot salt water, but better than nothing. After
breakfast I lounged around until boat stations, which
takes place now daily at 1015 then I went up to the boat-deck
with Bill & we watched the crew practising lowering
the boats. It was a bit too cloudy to sunbathe so I wrote
a letter then had dinner. Quite a bit to do in the afternoon
First of all I had to visit the dentist who put a temporary
filling in my tooth then I collected ₤10 pay. Spent the
rest of the time lying in the sun on the boat deck or else
writing a letter we passed quite a few ships today
but no sign of land. I had a wash & went to tea & was
rather disappointed in the manners of the boys. There
was a beautiful sunset this evening. The tiny cloudlets 

were tinged with red & appeared as if painted on the
tenderest olive-green sky. In the centre of it all was the
huge golden globe. Just after the sun had set, even
while there was still a glow of red in the sky, the moon
came up silvery & a fine, thin crescent casting a
silver shimmer across the water and a silver edge
to the clouds. I had no joy in finding a seat in any of
the lounges so settled down to write & read in our
"cabin". I went to the pictures where they showed "orchestra
wives" & it was O.K.
11.11.45. (Thurs) After breakfast I went to the officers lounge
and wrote then we had boat drill. I then went up to F deck
and sat with Bill in the sun. They gave us eggs for
breakfast & I dont think they were too good & that coupled
with the rather violent motion of the boat, made me feel a
bit squeamish and I missed dinner. Just lay on F
deck all the afternoon. Had tea and in the evening
read awhile, yarned with Bill then hit the hay.
12.11.45 (Friday) When I left our "cabin" we were picking up
the pilot with Port Said in the distance. To the east the sun
rose brilliantly & made the town almost glisten We entered the
canal breakwater and there were hundreds of feluccas there
(or dhows) & Big crowds of Arabs going to "work" in [[invasion]]
craft. Saw the burnt out KAMSIA and then pulled up by the
oiling station. At once crowds of Gyppo traders besieged us & 

business started. I bought 2 handbags for 30/- & one for 20/-
a bag for 40/-, a cushion for 35/- and a fez for 2/6 & a
wallet & cigarette case 5/- the pair. There was shouting &
bartering all the day but whenever the boongs got fresh the
boys put the fire hose on them or threatened to drop
wood into their boats. Bartering was good fun and
some of the wogs had quite a sense of humour. Saw a
white bod. get off the boat & a boong started to follow
The white began to run & the native did too & presently
stopped & took off his shoes, then went on again. There
were many arguments between traders and much
gesticulating. The native police seem very corrupt &
accept bribes left & right, in fact they insist on
them. An elderly wog specialized in swimming
under the boat & stayed below for 2½ min one time.
As night came on, hurricane lights were used in
order to continue trading. The 'Samaria'  with the
cricket team aboard pulled in & they appear to be
terribly overcrowded. The wogs were beginning to be very
uppish by now & so the boys fooled them by holding
on to their baskets & lines. At 2000 Ken Butler quite innocently
suggested going to town so we climbed down the
back rope ladder & got a launch to town. Saw the main
street & they have tables & chairs set out on the paths &
drive on the wrong side. The merchants all invite 

you into their particular shop & hundreds of natives act as
wandering vendors so you're pestered all the way. The
other two had a drink and decided to see what was to
be seen in town & heard of the "exhibish". So we met 3
more fellas & the 6 of us took a taxi, little realizing it was
to native town. Well once we were there, though I urged them
to return, they all wanted to see it thru & we got out of
the taxi, not paying him so he'd wait, & were led by
a dusky swine up stinking back lanes with thousands
of boongs lounging around & prostitutes calling to
us. Then we were brought to a well lit place with
a lot of native & half native women & ushered in.
Ken & I knew we had really got to a [[chevine]] and
didn't feel as if we'd ever see Aussie again, We were
taken to a room & the mistress lined us up along one
side & her girls on the other & paired us off. When she
was finally convinced it was not intercourse we
desired but an "exhibish", she un-paired us and
took up a collection which we very meekly paid.
The girls then stripped & performed the most revolting
motions imagineable. When it was over, one of them
grabbed Ken's hand & invited him upstairs. However 
we beat a retreat, our taxi waited and we got out of
boong-town into Port Said. My Lad, I think I know
everything now! There was absolutely nothing to do in 

town except drink & so we started back. We foolishly
decided to come up by the gangway and were
nabbed by the Aussie W/C. lots of the chaps got on
by the back ladder and so escaped detection. We had
our names taken but I don't know what will happen
to us. Wrote & then got off to bed. Some of the fellas
came back terribly drunk.
13.11.45. (Sat). When I got up we had just pulled out from
Port Said and we proceeded down the canal. There was
a bit of grass on the stbd side & a railway line, 2 roads,
a fresh water pipeline & canal also but on the left, once
we'd passed the salt pans, just dirty sand. A train
flashed past & a nigger was running along the [[[?]]
& all the while there were a lot of army & private cars.
using the road and dhows laden with stones or
gravel in the canal. Several of these dhows were steered by
youngsters while the old people pulled on the shore on a 
rope attached to the mast, thus supplementing the sails.
Before we'd gone far we pulled into the side to let 5 ships
past - "FORT CHAMBLY" "CLAN MACBRAYNE" "E. ADDISON'  Liberty ship &
"MALOJA". On the right, whilst waiting, we saw our first
camels and also watched the kites swooping on food in the
water & actually eating it on the glide. We sailed past
quite a large camp on the right left which was built
around a native village. At this village was the crossing for 

the f camel trains & also the Palestinian Rly terminus. We saw
El Bellah air gunnery school at a distance and the camp

had a sort of club. on the canal they called the [[?]] Lido
& there were several types in swimming. The fresh water canal

branched off to the R. and its track could be followed for
miles by a line of trees. The L. side remained very sandy
& desolate. As we progressed, camps became more frequent
and presently the canal widened as we passed the very
elaborate rest camp at Ishmalia. The chaps were yachting
or swimming and the place was like an exclusive resort.
King Farouk's yacht was there too. The canal swung out
of the lake and passed the huge Aussie memorial for the
last war built of white granite & standing proud in the
desert sunshine. As we pressed on I noticed we were
creating no mean tidal wave owing to the ship's
displacement of water & a native dhow got caught in
a whirlpool produced by it & had a spot of bother. In
a short while we entered another very big lake and the
"SOBODSKI", Polish, was anchored & while we were at tea, the
"ORION" passed way over by the shore of this lake be the

Italian cruiser battle ships :LITTORIO and VITTORIA VENITO' & their

 crews are interned on the shore beyond. The sun went
down in a blaze of red behind the Syrian hills and we look
like staying in this lake all night as there is a lot of
traffic coming thru the other way. An amusing thing 

is the way almost every [[?]] we pass yells "You're
going the wrong way" to us & I don't think many realize
we're repats! There are two natives in a dinghy which
has been hauled up the side & they row the ropes ashore
when necessary. The W/C's rather forward son came up
to them & calmly asked "Hey, where are you going to
sleep tonight." As darkness fell, hundreds of lights went
up on shore & the 'Samaria' is right along side &
several other vessels are nearby. Where the land gets water
it appears very fruitful but on the L. hand, un-irrigated
bank, there is just a xxxxxxx treeless waste. The day was very
hot & really desert-like. We passed quite a lot of wreckage on
the banks, the result of a land magnetic mine. At night
the lads got one of the Gyps who came in the rope-boat to
dance & it was quite interesting altho' very sensual. The
fellas asked him to sing but he refused so some got a

blanket & tossed him & threatened to throw him overboard
but he stuck to his guns. The ship was very brightly lit &
as it was so hot there were many swy games going
and fellas reading on deck. Also the boys were allowed to
sleep on deck (officially) for the first time.
14.10.45 (Sun) I was woken by considerable vibration when
the ship started at 0500 & got up then went back to bed
for a while. Got up again at 0630 and we were passing
more magnetic mine wreckage. The first light of the sun