Diary of Denis Patrick (alias Rupert Bert Patrick), 1941-1945 - Part 12

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 1941 
Spent the morning over the quill &
ink. Floundering hopelessly among such
absurd subjects as - theory of wireless
& what makes a gymbol ring gymol
no body seems to know
Colin wrote with his usual “whoopee”
style he says he wont be finished his
course until December, I expect to
be in action before then - So as far
as our ever being together again seems
remote indeed.
Did some flying in the clouds today -
we climbed about three thousand
feet through dense masses of alto
cumulus clouds but did not come
to the top, or through them, so
turned back - the visibility in them
was nil - McKechnie is as they say
a ‘great guy’, does anything for me
he takes a real interest in my moves
also - I feel sorry for some of these
boys who have to stay behind &
instruct rookies all the time – they
are always left behind however in the
overseas draft - they will probably
live a lot longer however. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 1941
Today is really a red letter day - as
I did my "Wings test" today - it was
all very sudden & over in a hour.
the weather was "Hell" blowing like nothing
on earth plus violent convection currents.
however I put up a satisfactory show
scoring 79% on the deal plus the
15% which I got for instrument flying
my standard is well above the 'average'
which I have been trying so hard to
evade -
The Test was executed by squad
leader Peadie - quite a decent cove
with a twinkle in his eye - during
the business I think McKechnie was
more nervous than I was - I had
to do a single engine landing, precautionary
landing - steep turn - medium
turn, gliding turn & a circuit & bunk
I suppose I am a qualified pilot now
although I feel anythng but qualified
when I fly with good men like

McKechnie & Maclean. - Thus passes
another day - Had macaroni for
tea & got a belly ache as a result
dont think I shall eat here any more
Wrote home to Mum by the clipp's
Did some more swatt - exams start
Tuesday - woe is me.
goodnight

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 1941
Did a wind speed & direction test
today the wind was blowing the
usual macleod gale & it wasn't
hard to find its direction etc.
Had a letter from one Esmay
Elerington, I met the lass on Saturday
night, she told me in the letter that
after I left her she went to bed with
a "funny feeling" in her heart.
which now she knows was love.
the whole Id idea is highly ridiculous
never the less quite flattering & amusing
I suppose I should see the girl again

and tell her she is my hearts desire
if you'd be mine etc. -
The Yankee clipper leaves for Sydney
tomorrow. I wouldn't mind being on
it, by the look of the show at

present I think it will be many moons

hence before. we go under the old

bridge again

I can hardly wait until next

week to get these exams over & then

whoopee am I going to break out in

a rash. 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 1941

Nothing particularly spectacular happened

today, however every day has its purpose

Had my first instruction in Lorenze

Blind Landing - Compas (Radio) approach

& Direction finding & Homing, plus the

"3z" approach system, each is an ingenious

system - which should prove a great help

when I want later on to find myself after

getting lost in some channel fog. - By

use of these beam approaches - air navigation

is considerably less difficult & more safe.

Hand drawn diagram - see original

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 1941

Considerable precipitation today flying scrubber

ceiling about 300' - neither concerns me
very much as it was link day again.
I have about twenty four hours link time
now & it seems more like twenty four
years - in the box of horrors.

Received letter from Unc Les today
he wishes me to spend two weeks of

my three day final leave over at
Vancouver - the idea would suit me admirably
if only I could get the time off - of course there
is the doe problem which involves fifty or
sixty dollars. and apart from that due, promised
a day with Col so I cant see how it
can be arranged. ( as yet. ) still the Lord
often provides so who knows?
Uncle Les complimented me on my
letters which was extremely flattering
he also remembered that Mother
wrote good poetry and had quite a
litterary gift.

Consulted my Link trainer Instructor
and he tells me to make probings into
the matter of leave (special)
Ill be a good to tryer trier even if I
do miss. 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 1941

Another day of complete relaxation? in
bed & other places - The temperature
being about zero, the cold really intense

well intense is hardly the word. - it
was as cold as hell. It can also be
as hot as hell. but not today - The
internal heating system in the country
is really a feature inside, one would
swear one was spending Summer in Suva.
while outside winter at the South pole.
I read an article featuring America's
"great" part in the war: the chief
worry apparantly was - will America
be at the feast when they - the mislad
British carve up the duck after the
war -will America after the "sacrifice"
she is making, be forgotten- I thought
the whole idea rather absurd and not
a little bloody - She who is feeding

on other mens misfortune - However
that doesn't make the weather any

warmer. -
Retired to the (immortal strains
of Wilfe Carter (Alberta's own singing
cowboy - "Why should I be sorry for
you now" - & that is the name of

the song also the first second & third
to twenty fourth verse. - He wrote it himself

 the sentiment is quite touching. - 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 1941

The exam is so horribly close now
that it doesn't matter any-way - the
cold which I did so much wingeing
about yesterday was well founded
as the Rockies are covered with
snow today - The little grizzly bear
is in his element, although I cant
see his point of view - Did a few
more blind approaches in the link
trainer - they should be very handy
to land by in Englands Pea soup fog.
Speaking of cold again I wore three
destinct sweaters & still shivered -
Received a letter from Stella Calla.
she tells me the boys are scarce
in aussie now. - that would concern
Stella for more than the war. - Stella
was always a good sport liked the
things I liked but she never had
the finesse of a lady - Rather
too much of a Tom boy - never the less
a good scout. -
Epe Expecting mail from home
tomorrow -
Met a man from Alaska, I asked
him what they did up there in the

Summer. - He said the fished & made
whoopee - So I said & what do they do
in Winter to which he replied - we
dont fish. - 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 1941

Well Patrick today was probably the
biggest ever. probably I lost more mental
energy today than ever in my life. - hence
the exams. Had bad luck in navigation
which I wanted so badly to crack a good.
work, however its  no use crying over spilt
milk I got 78% for plotting & havent
heard the results of the rest as yet.
The armament was lengthy and intense
I am expecting at least 80% for that
however, maybe more - I said maybe.
The boys are still pouring over books
but I think I've had enough for one day

probably a lifetime
Asked Bouff for leave after the exam
he said "possibly" - that sounds encouraging.
unless the chest Sleeping sickness plague
is cured I won't be allowed out of the
state - heres to hoping
Last but not least the cold has
somewhat abated and the grizzly bear
is once more unhappy. - poor grizzle.
Although a boat has been in from home
for about two weeks - I have had no mail.
probably it is still in a state of rest
at Ottawa - Have now ceased to
bother about exams - as it were "I care
no. longer being all unblest. for I am

sick of time" & work (words by Teniyson
in conjunction with me. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 1941

Spent the day with my shirt out
don't think I could stand much
more of this else I should very soon
be a case of severe ding-bats.
The armament paper was tough
but the airmanship comparatively
easy tt dont know how I did but
providing everything goes OK I should
do alright
The wireless theory was a bit
of a bludge, as it should be
We didn't have time during this course
to learn everything and we depended
on the wireless section to give us
a fair go - they arose to the occasion
admirably and gave us fifteen questions
and told us the paper would be set
out of ten of the questions
My chances of going to General
Recconaisance School have been
knocked on the head I am afraid
as I only got 80% for navigation

however I will be quite happy
to go where they send me. Providing
its not back to the middle East
or some equally foul place
north Scotland seems to be a
favourite place for Australians

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 1941

and thats that, the last of work
forever. - we did the Oral Exams today
I never dreamed that such difficult
questions could be concocted however
everything went as the Doctor ordered
I found that my marks were
85% for armament (written) 88% for
armament oral 92% for wireless
theory 98% for morse sending &

receiving - only - airmanship to
go now & were will know where
we stand - I am quite pleased with
my results to date they are not
brilliant but I at least feel that
they reflect the hard work I undeniably
have put in at this school.
We had a vote today for popularity
regarding who should receive commissions
The Chief Ground Instructor says the
votes count quite a lot, but I
shouldn't think they would make
a great deal of difference - still
the idea is extremely democratic
and I must say I commend they
method they use in this country
to determine as to who should. be
the lucky ones. – I have a liberated
feeling now with everything over
Wings only to be pinned on now
& I will have realized a great
ambition 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 1941

Cleared up some of the odd jobs
today Don Parkinson Alex Wales & Carl
Mugel & I took a crate & flew over the
camera obscura - this obscura is a weird
arrangement which reflects onto a sheet
of white paper the accuracy of your
tracking - as the plane flies over you can
see exactly how far from the target
a bomb would fall at rightangles to
track my best effort out of two was
39 yds which is not a very big error
from 4000' one lad had 9 yd error
but the majority were anything from
50 up to 300 yds -

We then went onto the range & did
a bit of firing with the jolly old
Browning gun - they have a very lethal
oppe appearance & the shooting gave us
an idea what it would be like in front
of a Spitfire with twelve of them going
plus a canon or two
The day finished rather uneventfully
and I commenced a series of letters
the due of which has long since
passed. 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 1941

Although our flying was done they hounded
us out of bed thismorning at nine oclock
& told us to be at the flights at 9.10
we eventually got there a 10.10 and
proceeded to sit on our respective bottoms
for varying lengths of time
Eventually I got a ship & went to
Waterton lakes - These lakes are one

of Canadas most beautiful play grounds
situated in the Rockies right among
some of her loftiest peaks - The
ceiling was to low to fly over the
peaks so we went in an opening which

we knew and the scenery was really

magnificent - these great snowy peaks

& the blue lakes beneath & the quaint

little town of Waterton right in the
heart of the mountains - I have been
there by car so the place had
added interest as I recognised some
of the old sights.
I dont suppose I shall ever see all these
sights again - beautiful and all as they
are give me Aussie - "The wide
brown land for me."
Two of the instructors from this station
who left here recently - are now reported
killed one in action the other training
A life isn't much in the forces 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 1941

Forgot to mention the picture I saw
last night featuring one Dorothy Lamour
she certainly has the most [[u?ply]] pair
of legs I've ever seen - the whole story
was about Hawaii and the jealous
love of man & women etc. of course
there were plenty of Tarzan men in
it - the show was in technicolor
& altogether very entertaining - I met
a girl I used to know, she asked me
to come up and see her but I wasn't
so keen at on the idea and had to
stall the dear child off.
Slept in and read more cargoes by
W W Jacobs, not his best yarn by any
means - but a standard type of his about
sailor man & their dilemmas
Wrote you letters a read more books
lounged like a true Australian - until
crepuscule bade more exciting things
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 1941 

After so much activity we feel a be
estranged with nothing to do but loaf around.
all day - however the loafing business is
a delightful practise & should be encouraged
more among budding pilots. - The chief
object of the day was trying to get myself
some leave, the resultant is not yet
without hope but very much in the
balance - Was scheduled to have an
interview with the great white chief &
his board of grey beards to day but
it didn't eventuate on account of my
not being there on time - I did however
get my teeth looked at by one the
dentist - who by all accounts is the right
man to be looking at teeth 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 1941

Crawled from my unworthy couch long after

the ninth hour. - breakfast naturally was

a thing in history - I tried to impress the

cook concerning the condition of a certain
man from down unders stomach - the

cook a highly unimpressionable sort heeded

not this aching void & sent it out into
the cold - I'm not used to having breakfast

here any way. however if they don't extend

the breakfast hours here there will be
many Australians dying of malnutrition shortly

Saw the mighty one & his protegés - they

asked me a lot of questions mostly silly to

which I gave a lot of answers also mostly
silly the idea of the thing is to listen

to each man talk and see who would sound
& look the best under a peaked hat - I chose
the opportunity for pushing my suggestion
for five days leave - much mumbling
followed & it was decided I should
get leave -I discovered later that
three planes were going to Vancouver
& there was room for me -whoopee right
in the jolly old bag says I- so providing
they don't remember. there is a medical
ban on B Columbia I'll be off in the
morning by the early plane.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 1941 

Or will I? Yes we were off by the early
plane but half way across the Rockies
the elements, the very fickle elements.
launched themselves upon us and what
with Rain, clouds & terrific bumpiness
we turned back and headed for home
fill of despair - one plane had a window
blown out and the pilot got himself lost
& landed at Sethbridge -to find out where
he was - The weather over the mountains
is looking worse now & wet. reports
state a front moving in from the sea
& it looks as if my trip to Vancouver

is definitely in the balance - the master
minds of the force have now remembered
about the medical ban on Brittish
Columbia and have cancelled my leave
they sent a cable to command making
special request on my behalf but I
doubt if the weather will improve for
several days now.
Finished up by going to the pictures
at night and seeing - "She knows the answers"

I've no doubt she did too. - Also a short
featuring those "Super men who fly America's
Super planes" dive bombers and all that
Yanks dont know much about war in my
opinion. they never have had any practise
in the art. They etc seldom get past a lot
of brilliant speaches 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 1941

Today was just another day spent
wisely however mostly in sleep - after
our efforts in the past few months this
break comes as an angel of mercy
and we certainly are lapping it up 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 1941

Getting my things ready for the Big
parade - I raked great quantities of clothes
& boots & books & things out of m locker
& proceeded to arrange them in orderly
fashion. - had a CO's inspection at four
oclock & then we were given leave till
Monday noon - So we put on our glad
rags & Stan Sidney Bill Martin, & John Sullivan
& I hitch hiked the 105 miles to Calgary
in 90 minutes - which is good going - we
knew some girls who took us out in their
car. I drove & they made love or tried
too I wasn't so keen however & took
then home early (about four oclock.) We
spent the night at the Wales Hotel - Stan
& I slept in the same bed - neither of
us had pyjamas 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 1941

Arose a little late and we proceeded
to the home of the Bishop of Calgary - the
Bish himself was not there but his
daughter was which was somewhat
comforting from there we go progressed
to the house of Lt Colonel Plant. who
was also a doctor & quite a good scout
we had dinner there, the had a lovely
home very modern with servants etc.
his daughter was a sweet young thing
and we had quite a good time there
later we went to the theatre with these
good people & returned to the home of
Major Farquason - an sat up till

 four oclock - his wife an extremely
atractive lady taught music and sang
& played beautifully which was quite in 
my alley - so we had some solo's and
duets. The commented on the quality
of my voice which was quite flattering
They are a charming familly - generous
and effectionate, they love Australians all
The host is an Englishman with an
excellent sense of humor - we went to
be tired & weary after two heavy nights
I shared a bed with Stan - this time
we both had pyjamas 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 1941

Progressed around the happy circle
to dinner, afternoon tea, supper, & what
not - there seems to be a bit of rivalry
as to where we shall sleep & where we
shall eat etc. I don't mind being fought
over - Joy Farquason played the Harp.
most beautifully. They are a very talented
family - We were sorry to leave these

lovely people at ten oclock to catch our
Greyhound back home - they came down
in their cars to see us off  - The Farquasons
are coming down to our wings parade
next Wed - which is very nice of them
considdering it is such a distance
got home at one thirty & fell into
bed a wiser & a happier man