Diary of Garth Edward Sommerville Clabburn - 1942-1944 - Part 21

Conflict:

Second World War, 1939–45

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Awaiting approval

Accession number:

AWM2019.22.277

Difficulty:

For a diving attack on a ship by A/C
these weapons would prove a very
dangerous thing to the A/C. All out 20mm.
& ^.303 ACK/ACK guns tried to
shoot down the parachutes & the
firing was accurate - but I do
not think any number of direct
hits would cause the chute to fold
up. Later on they put up a great
silk box-kite astern & David &

I blazed away with a couple of

20 M.M. cannons & enjoyed ourselves .
The days are now cloudy & cool

& we are not so happy as we

would be were we in the hot sun.

This winter weather will not agree
with me now after so many months
of warmth & dryness .
Yesterday Vic Hicky wrote a
long letter to the Righetti's & I

am to deliver it. I also know a
little of his future plans "but must
commit them to memory .
This day I have written to Mr &
Mrs Klat & a couple of days

ago dashed off notes to Billy &

Margaret Payne. On board we have
all the time there is - 24 hrs every
day, in which to do all those things

you have been wanting to do for so
long; but because of our absolute

laziness we never get around

to them. I had intended running

through this diary & adding little

things here & there in the margins

- things that I did not know at
the time of entry . This I will do
a little of right now.

(*June 3rd*) Exactly two years ago today that

I was sailing out of Sydney

Harbour on my way to N.Z. &

thence to Canada. Oh! What
a glorious, full, thrilling, interesting
educational & busy 720 days .
I regret not one moment & whoever
it is I should thank -

"Arthangu!"
Today many great albertross
have been wheeling around

the ship and putting on the

finest exhibition of real flying

any man could wish to sea. Their

wing span is anything up to 9 ft.

& it is very rarely a wing is

moved. A perfect glide at high

speed is maintained hour after hour

with the port or starboard wing tip

within 1/2 in of the waves 50%

of the time. The Captain has been

telling me how he used to "fish"

them as he says in his picturesque

accent. This afternoon two great

whales came within 50 yds of the

ship - the closest I have ever seen

a large whale. We are now

only about 4 days sail from

Freemantle where we will pick

up further orders. Perhaps a plane

will turn up with these during

the day after tomorrow - the Skipper

(Cptn Jorgansen) says that one

usually comes out to meet him.

Today has been very overcaste

with occassional heavy rain

squalls. Our sunbathing must

now be over, but should the sky

clear I think the sun will still be warm

enough for a quick bask at midday.

In your dig ship!!!

49 Elizabeth Bay Rd

Elizabeth Bay

Sydney.

26^th November 1941

NO 2 O.T.U. MILDURA 1944.

[[?]] [[?]]
[[?]] [[Ludlow?]]
[[?]] R.K.Cowan
W H Kelly R.C. Carroll
David F K Downes [[?]]
[[?]] Stuart [[?]]
J G MacKenzie [[?]]
Reg Hartridge [[?]]
[[?]] C M Callender
Ross [[C]] Williams Beary Moody
[[?]] [[?]]
[[?]] R Crawford
[[?]]
[[?]] [[?]]
Leigh Bowes [[?]]
G.H.White Brian [[?]]
A W Morrison J "Gremlin" Harrison
EB Tainton

Dec. 1960. L.O. J & R's A/C £12 Paid to A.M.P.

= Air Language. =

Gremlins:- Little devils wot make the works to break.

Prang To break an aircraft.

George. A mechanical pilot used by bomber pilots.

Stooge. To fly any place without being shot at.

Panzy: Job which has few hazards.

The Boss. i.e. the C.O. of a squadron.

Jumped. What 109's do to us if we "stooge" along

Clobber. What we do to 109's if they are below us.

Shufti. Recco A/C or things that go & have a look-see.

"Buy it" - Is to "have it" or to be bumped off.

Fizzy Water- Is a "beaut" drink of egg & brandy.

Wizard Well Fizzy Water is a "Wizard" drink.

Gaggle Is a number of A/C.

Job. Is what the gaggle goes out to do.

Deck. Is what you hit eventually when you are
clobbered.

Drink. Is the sea

Kite Is the A/C which we coaxe to fly.

Frpm "BRAKES OFF!", an Airman's anthology, by Geoffrey Park.

GARTH CLABBURN'S RUSE.

SHOT DOWN! Deep in Rommel's land! by swift attacker!

With perspiring hand, young Clabburn sweated to regain control

Whilst hurtling earthward, in a death-bound roll.

Somehow, his bullet-riddled kite flicked out.

BASHED! on its belly, with a shocking clout.

The HUN, (swept on before his guns could bear,)

Gave Clabburn time to clamber out, and clear.

Hiding beneath the wreckage's tailplane

Clab. whipped his flying clobber off again.

While his attacker made a split-air turn?

The overalls, belonging to young Garth Clabburn

Tastefully, were laid out, on the desert sand.

Well clear of aircraft,-- with his hat at hand.

Clab. snuck back quickly, underneath the kite;

Heart pounding madly . . . then, to his delight

The Jerry pilot, his expression grim,

Ground-strafed the clothing, thinking it was him.

Three times, the German circled, cannon belching lead.

Used up his ammo., to confirm Clab. dead.

Lucky; it happened in the fading light;

Clab. kept on walking; he reached "Home" last night.

Frpm "BRAKES OFF"!, an Airman's anthology, by Geoffrey Park.