Diary of Denis Patrick (alias Rupert Bert Patrick), 1941-1945 - Part 3

Those people who withstood the disaster
of Dunkirk, the fury of Goerings Blitz
& the shattering blows of the battle
of the Atlantic.
He will go to tell you that we
are fighting mad — that our
people have a government that
is governing with orders & not with
weak kneed suggestions — That
we Australians are a people who,
while somewhat inexperienced
an uncertain as to what war
on our own soil means — are
never the less ready for anything and
will trade punches giving odds if
needs be until we rock the enemy
back on his heels
Australia is the last bastion
between the West Coast of America
& the Japanese — If Australia goes
the Americas are wide open — It
is said that the Japanese will
by pass Australia & that they can
be met & routed in India — I say
to you that the saving of Australia
is the saving of Americas west
coast. If you believe to the
con contrary then you delude
yourself — Be assured of the
character calibre of our national character

The war may seem the end of much that
we have slowly and painfully built
in our 150 years of exitence — But even
though all of it go there will always
be Australians fighting on Australian
soil until the turning point be reached
and we will advance over blackened
ruins over fire swept cities, accross
scorched plains until we drive the
enemy into the sea
Friday 27-3-42-
As I write this addition
every thing seems warm and bright — England
seems to be suffering no lack of coal.
consequently the fire flickers brightly just
as it did back home in the winter, but
alas it takes more than the glimmer
of a coal fire to span those thousands
of miles of land & sea back to the
land that bore me the greatest land man
ever trod
Somewhere tonight at home and in
England sweethearts wives & mothers are
sorrowing the loss of their own — two
planes went west into the sea last
night — apparently the collided burst into
flames and fell into the water — the
crews were Australians & Englishmen 

Official circles didnt, seem to be alarmed
but were greatly distressed over the loss
of another two aircraft — this makes
the fourth crew to vanish since I
arrived five weeks ago several other
crews have got out with only injuries
Pat Little ran into a Hurricane while
taking off to-day — half the front rudder
& elevator was knocked off but
he got back without any further mishaps.
 — The hurricane was badly
damaged, but the pilot, got out O.K —
I do aeriel exercises / now with
my crew who consist of Joe Mc Iver,
who is a Canadian and is my Observer.
Joe is I should say not brilliant but
a good trier we have done several
photographic exercises and some practise
bombing together — Then there is
Leo Clahessy No I wireless operator &
air gunner — Leo is an Aussie — with
the wireless game pretty well sewn up
He is a Western Australian with the
sands of the desert still in his
pants — Also we have Reg Darnell
who also is an Aussie he is the
2nd wop. & the rear gunner — Reg
is also a good man with a keen
eye and he also has the wireless
game sewn up. — .
Lastly comes the pilot — thats me

me is a trier and an Aussie, which
alone covers a multitude of sins — As
a crew we work pretty well the boys
do anything I ask them willingly and
eventually when we all have had
a little more experience I think we
will be just as good a crew as any
other —
The jolly old Hudson is a very nice
aircraft — she is good to fly has an
excellent range all modern conveniences
such as auto matic Pilot — I.F.F.
Anti Surface Vessel locator. Bendix Wireless
auto matic dinghy release — cooling & heating
applyances etc etc. but they are no fools
toy treat them carelessly and it finish
no second chances. —
Mail has been coming fairly regularly
from home some has been no more than
six weeks in voyage — Ever letter now
expresses the state of things back home
with the Japs hammering at our very
coasts, I say thank God for Australia
and America with whose aid I
believe we shall eventually scorch
the very back sides of the Japanese
I seems incredible to imagine our
country, our Australia creeping with
stinking skulking yellow faced straw hatted
bare footed ric shaw pulling animals like
those we face this very hour.

We who in all our history have reigned
in an continent so remote from the
battle fronts of the world — We were
lulled into an atmosphere of glorious
content, why shouldnt we be. — not so
glorious was our content though
that we failed to rush our
volunteers to Englands aid three times
in one ^half century — I cannot help but
think that England who is only "England"
because of her Empire, who ceaselesly
responded when she, was in trouble
has failed us in our first move — 
apparently Englands own security is
paramount, so much so in fact that
she has put the glass to the blinded
eye — The English as a race are
one eyed with vision as narrow
as their struts — The place fairly stinks
with formality and tradition and
these two alone to a free man are
a curse — In my short stay here
I have met some extremely nice
people and to these my words do
not pertain but also I have met
some bores with screeching college
accents but neither quality nor brains

3-4-42
The course here has become
quite an interesting feature in my
training as a prospective asset to His
Majesty — We have done some long
sea trips — extensive aeriel photography
practise bombing reconnaissance patrols
and all sorts of exciting adventures,
which to the pre-war ventureless existence
of one unknown unit in humanity is
as it were a bit of a break.
The weather in England seems to be
a succession of warm & cold fronts
which as is their custom bring endles
days of rain & drizzle — After being
in England three months one is inclined
to wonder why all the Englishmen
(in England) x don't pack up
and go to the sun kissed dunes &
valleys of Gods own chosen land — hallowed
be its name. —
Mail from home has been
a bit rare lately and I long to
get some real red hot news of
the folks at home — Colin keeps in
more or less constant touch he
apparently is at some place called
or near Bambury Cross. — He tells
me that social life there is
more or less up to standard
I should think that if it wasn't

Col wouldn't bother staying there
any-way — amongst other attractions
he says he is sporting a W.A.F
I wonder why???
I had quite a pleasant evening
last night at the home of some
W.A.F. officers who also seem to
be a bit partial to australias
gift to womanhood.
x Spring is definitely in the air now
the land is just a carpet of green like
Sydney after Summer rains. The weather has
been abnormally good and one ceases to
wonder why Englishmen live in England.
This Spring madness has exactly taken
possession of me yet — but next week when
we hit the hot spots in London for
seven glorious days, why there is now
saying what may happen to mans ego
Edna my south English girl friend
will be in London she also will
be on leave so I will have plenty of
company — according to her ardent letters
she can scarcely await for my arrival
well I don't think I will be disappointing
the girl — As I write this entry I
am sitting in the crew room which
faces onto a multitude of aircraft
which have their engines pulsating

with energy — a word on the crew room wouldn't
go amiss — It is large with a lino covering on
the floor, large windows face the runaways and the
morning sun — Hanging from the ceiling and a poking
from wire frames on the [[?]] walls are models
of British German & Italian air craft. The are
ingeniously endowed with little lights which indicate
the position of the armament of these air craft.
Down the middle of the room is a large Book tray
with innumerable little cubicles, each labled
labeled — and as I sit here I can see at least fifty
such cubicles — to quote a few — I can see — 'warships
at a glance" Sillouettes of British & foreign war-ships
"Famous cuttings from famous speeches" "meteorology"
and a million more.
Sgt Ferguson one of our Canadian boys has had
a few unlucky breakes but still can tell the tail
first he got lost in the fog & had to land in a
small paddock in lousy weather. Then his hydraulic
system failed and he had to land with no under
carri^age. doing only slight damage — Then while
out over the sea both his engine conked and down
he went into the drink — well he is one of the few
who have ever got out safely into the dinghy
with all his crew — They all got very wet and
a few bumps on the nose etc — but that was
all — The air sea rescue picked them up in
a launch. — This week has been a very expensive
one for losses several have crashed — Worst
of all poor old Carl Wiegel whom we called
The Spy' has had it. Carl was one ace

of a bloke —  quite and determined Also Jack Richie
who trained with me at Narrandera cracked up on
Hurricanes — Frank Cassels rumor also has it, has
also piled up - when I think of theses boys

scarcely out of their twenties going one after the

other it certainly cuts me up. —

6/5/42 Now that I have returned from seven

days leave in London I doubt if I feel

physically mended - by one's physique when

all is said & done is scarcely a matter worth

pondering upon — The leave was quite

eventful I stayed at the Green Park Hotel,

in Half Moon Street with old Brian Fitzgerald

we saw the sights including Dirty Dick's

Rotten House, Buckingham Palace and 

other noteable spots.

Colin came in to see me — he was looking

fine after a bit of a rest up we had a 

couple of days together. He was running

an dance for the Sear Sergeants Mess

possibly with an ulterior motive — we

revived old times and exchanged a 

lot of dope — Col expects to go

East with his Wellington very soon.

Ran into quite a lot of old boys, in

London. — Doc. Mackay, flying Defiants

whose watch I bought long ago (it never

went. Went out to Bert Mullis's place

again, they were very nice to me & gave

me quite a happy evening. I stayed the

night - we sang a couple of songs around

the old goanna and went to bed early.

Leave expired today at eight o'clock

I turned up late as usual - the adjutant

took a very poor view of my unpunctual

arrival and told me off — The squadron

233 to which I am now attached is not

here but at Gibraltar so I will have to

stay here a few weeks on Thorney Isl.

until they have a plane ready for

me to fly down with my crew to

Gibraltar - The station here is a relic

of pre-war ref R.A.F. ocullence - The

Officers Mess is like a first class London

pub, situated among shady trees &

lawns like a poche country club. - I

have a room to myself with all mod

cons - hot & cold water etc reading light

writing table book case Jerry & all.

I dont expect to do any flying to speak of here

I heard in London that my old cabin mate

Boos Peacock of Lake Cargelligo had gone for

a buster. Boos was flying Hurricanes on the

Isle of [[?]].

11-5-41?2

After a few hectic days in London a few

days on the quiet certainly will not go amiss

I am Duty Officer today this is a terrifically

important job that why I am writing this

belated edition in the middle of my Duties
Life I think will hang a bit heavily on

my shoulders here — I have every hopes

of flying to Gibraltar eventually — when heaven

duly knows but in the mean time they

expect us to just sit and think but sometimes
we just sit.—

The weather down here has been unusually

good — brilliant infact — Yesterday we went

by bus to Chichester - Chichester is a quite

little quaint old town in Hampshire, probably

millions of years old — I paused in my travels

to look at an ancient old church - built by

the Romans - Its stained & blackened old

walls and arches seemed to be pervaded by

the mystery of time — It is strange how one

suddenly becomes enthralled by something

of great age — and one begins to wonder

what tales those old stones could tell —

I must go back to Chichester -

Edna sent me a cake, very sweet of her,

made by her own dainty hand, with it

came a letter telling me of her devotion

& love etc for me — terribly flattering of course

but not a little un-nerving — One simply 

cant marry all these very charming

and ardent maidens — It reminds me of the song

about the ten pretty girls

Speaking of matrimony Col & I both firmly

real resolved to remain bachelors for at least

another forty years - We have decided that

married life would be a bit of an encumbrance

consequently an evil to keep clear of. — It cuts

me up to think of a charming girl like Pat

marrying a dope like Noel Stacey, not that

I am jealous as I should never have married 

her. (I would never have enough money. - But

Stacey is a misfit to my society, and he being

a misfit will bar Pat from our circle — But that

is just fate and as they say in Spain we

can't be worried.

I have been up for a few trips here —  the 
Barrage Balloons to pretty formidable at Portsmouth —

Balloons make me shudder when I look

at them —

16/5/42

Yesterday I bought a uni aircraft up

from Thorney Island to Stornaway. We

had quite a nice trip — Bad weather

boggled us a bit but after getting badly

lost once in a patch of low cloud and

rain we eventually found our way

via the Mull of Gallaway & Tinsee Island

up to the most northern town of the

Hebridean Islands - re 500 Squadron are

opperating Hudsons from this bleak northern

out-post -They do convoy and anti sub

work — The Hebrides are tree-les wastes

There is no proper soil on the ground but

a mossy substance called peat, this stuff

when cut into chunks and dried is used

for fuel — There being no timber on the 

island —

The inhabitants are all fishermen

and generally lost citizens, outcast from

the world - Like most isolated peoples

they are deeply religious — On Saturday

nights every body gets horribly drunk

and beats the drum but on Sunday

not a soul will turn a hand — Each

paddles off to church four times still

in a serial coma from the previous

nights drinking — There doesn't appear to be

any animal life but the place literally

seethes with sea-gulls —

Tonight we will have to go back to

Thorney by boat, train, foot, camel, etc,

the journey completing another brilliant page 

in my travels round the Globe —

17/

20/5/42

At midnight we embarked on a

small vehicle and were wizzed off to an

equally small boat: after much red tape

clicking of heels & signing papers we

were allowed aboard - The decks literally

seethed with soldiers sailors airmen

wafs & wrens not mention civilians

dogs & baggage. I had a first class ticket

and found the interior of the Ist class smoke

room lined with second class passengers - each

lying full length on the seats when I entered

each corpse opened a slumberous eye &

closed it again this for ever dismissing

me from its vision — I took a dispassionate

view of this and eventually edged my way

into a seat and having done spread my

spines — And thus we remained until four

oclock when the poured in some coal and

off we went for the Kyles of Lock Alsh — It

rained and fogged most of the time but the

skipper being a likely sort of block who

had sail^ed the route "forty years come

Micheal mas" found his way about the

islands and we berthed at the Kyles at

11.00 hrs. — more clicking of heels & gnashing

of teeth ensued and eventually we got

off together with our parachutes & boys

onto a train labelled Inverness — 

We didn't have long to wait before this

gave an agonized grunt and pulled us

of towards Inverness — The trip took us

parallel to some inlet until we climbed

up over Grampian mountains — These

were barren tree less wastes but seen

from a distance very beautiful in a 

cruel heart-broken way. — A Scotsman

sitting next to me explained that they

all belonged to wealthy lords - The 

Hills were only very lightly cultivated

In the evening we agin again saw signs

of civilisation this came in the form of

grey houses, grey walls in fact a very

grey city — We spent the night at Inverness.

I bought Lois a we tartan cap for a souvenir

next day we upped anchor and caught

the train for Edinburgh - We crossed

the famous Fourth Bridge and entered

the city - Edinburgh Castle is a remarkable

sight. Built on the top of steep

hill it overlooks the city like a giant

sentinel - It was the home of many a king & queen

Edinburgh Edinburgh is probably the best

city in the British Isles.

And so we progress across the great little

old land via London back to from whence

we had flown — I was glad to be home

although I wouldn't have missed the trip

for anything — Colin in the meantime had

been trying frantically to contact me without

success and I gathered that he thought

probably I had gone for a [[?]]  —

Back to the routine — The crew room the 

operations room (that hallowed place) and

to my parachuters (one being parachute officer

have to try and defend a mass deficiency

at a court of inquiry -

And then 28/5/42 the blow came I and

men are posted to Torpedo Bombers

and boy is my cup of sorrow full — only after

months of hard work on Hudson air craft

am I sent onto Hampdens the new Torpedo

craft and as yet untried —

4/6/42

After two or three days stooging around

the station at Leuchars which is about

sixty miles north east of Edinburgh

I have mastered the solo of the Hampden. - as

the construction of the Hampden doesnt allow any

dual training one has to be contented to open

everything and find out what happens in the air

(it usually does — I don't think I shall ever

be as happy with them as I was with the Hudsons

although the aircraft itself could probably

contribute more to ones long life.

The boss desires that the squadron shall have

three days leave as I being one of the early

starters on all leave propositions — set course

for Bournemouth, armed with one of this Majesties

first class free train passes & so hear I am 

at large in the old hunting ground - Bournemouth

looks prettier than ever  - it almost looks

like home - with warm sunshine & beautiful

flowers & hedges - again I sigh for

having left Thorney Island - Beggars can't 

be choosers however -

Quite a good time was had by all in Bournemouth

I saw Edna & Thelma arranging my dates

with the usual calculation necessary to keep

the peace — I believe is still nursing of course

& looks much better after a month's holiday

She is very fond of me I know and I find myself

wishing that could marry all the girls I like

as many separate lives — An unusual character

is Thelma, quiet well spoken and almost good

looking, dances delightfully and is ever such

a good listener, unlike is Edna who is more

lively and does all the talking —

Bournemouth was enjoying brilliant sunshine

and if one closed one's eyes one could easily

imagine some Sydney beach with the seagulls

shrill cry. - I was sorry indeed to leave and

have to go back to Scotland to my new station

new faces & new aircraft - when I think off

all the splendid cobbers I had in Eric, Fitz

George, Chicky John & many others all of whom

are now in distant corners of the battle

zone, how sorry I am to lose them and to

have to start again - I am writing this

lament on Dundee station while waiting

for the train to Leuchars. - Dundee has

all the appearances of a scotch city - grey

& plain but vey clean & tidy - I have

been travelling since 2.10 pm yesterday and

now have to finish of the day with a

bit of flying just to keep my hand in.

11/6/42

And so the first glorious week of

torpedo practice passes into antiquity

practise, practise, how I hate the

word it seem that there is no end

of it. This week I have spent aquainting

myself with Hampdens — Tthey, I find a quite

easy to fly and not at all viscious - I have

already been initiated into the torpedo

warfare business — we have practice

torps & runners and do runs against a

destroyer — at a place known to scotchmen

a Crail. Crail is Fleet air over station

and is, consequently full of Pukha naval

blokes what sports a fine Oxford accent but

have no money — I have been known to dine

there surrounded by gold braid & accent.

Today we went north to Wick, a north

Scotland town. From Wick we attacked

the battleship Washington in formation

and it was quite a successful affair. The

Duke of York lurked in the back ground

firing the odd salvo.- Colin apparently is

moving out of the country so I had from

him a telegram and from it text

gathered I had seen the last of Col for a

while — Time not ocean can keep two good

men apart. I know I shall see him again

soon, whether it be in this land or

another, I know not

14/6/42

Yesterday was the anniversary of my sailing

how well I remember that day, how slowly

those faces so dear vanished into the

distance, how faithfully they waited for 

the boat to sail - And how I long to 

see them again, even just for a little

while, I know how well Mum will be

thinking too of Friday 13 1941 — Strange how the

little incidents flash through ones mind, even after

twelve crowded months. — The place where I

signaled from the mast. The airman who lent

me his field glasses (now dead) He was waving

to his bride of two days, but his luck didn't 

hold and that bride is a widow. Tragedy reaches

some home, every day I suppose — but its no good

being morbid — Colin rang up from Portsmouth

he is flying to Cairo in a Wellington, tells me

he had a cable from home Daughter born

signed Dez. So I take it that Dez has returned

and the family are gradually returning

to the roost from their crusades in the 

desert. The Daughter no doubt belongs to

Bruce & Lena so I expect there will be

great rejoicing in the camp — I had a

telegram from home too. Wishing me a happy

birthday, I expect they expected the telegrams

to take at least a month to arrive hence

it was a little early - I haven't had a

letter later than February and that I received

two months ago -

In the meantime the torpedo

training goes on to schedule and this

squadron should be back in the collar

by the end of this month, I dont know

whether that will include me or xxx

not however. - Today we went

on board a ship which was

attacked by returned Torpedoes — The Hampdens

present quite a sinister appearance in

head on flight and should be quite effective

when used against a convoy or a enemy

fleet.

29/6/42.

Colin has gone east, he vanished rather

silently about two weeks ago. He promised to send

me a cable when he arrived in Cairo. I am

getting rather anxious for its arrival as I know

many have been shot down between Gibraltar

& Malta -

The days are ever so long up here, it seems

ever so strange to have broad daylight up to

twelve oclock at night - One goes to bed & rises

in daylight. If we could have long days like

these in our summer one would be able 

to surf the whole twenty four hours of day.

Eric Rutherford, my old stable mait mate came

down here for a week — He had been doing

patrols over Norway and appeared to be

having lots of excitement. We had a good week

here it was like old times to have the

old Pug decorating the billiard room

George Kramer has a black eye says

Pug, apparently the Wing Commander objected

to George philandering with his WAAF &

bashed him in consequence. Both are

good friends however — George still gets

blind drunk every second night