Diary of Denis Patrick (alias Rupert Bert Patrick), 1941-1945 - Part 7

SATURDAY, MARCH 22
21/6/43.
Here is the brief account of one
of the best leaves I have so far spent in
England
The good news of our leave came through
and we duly set out on our various
courses bearing a very valuable 14 days
pass to where we will in the British
Isles.
I decided to skip London this
time as I had previously spent many
leaves there and accommodation was
difficult since the steady influx
of American & Canadian troops had
begun.
My first stop however was London
after spending the night in the
Aberdonian Express.- Thousands of
people surged through the streets,
mostly troops, all eagerly seeking what
ever fun London had to sell, never
mind the price - These people live
for today, and to hell with tomorrow
It doesnt bare thinking about anyway
After a cup of tea at the Boomerang
Club I travelled on to Bournemouth
the scene of my first home in
Bournemouth England - Bournemouth
had been a pretty, peaceful little
seaside place their - It was
still peaceful to now but

SUNDAY, MARCH 23
the Jerry Tip & Run raiders had played
the devil with the town and many
of the most important buildings were
just crumpled heaps of twisted girders
& fallen masonry - The Hotel where I had
been billetted had one side blown out
fifeteen pilot officers lost their lives - the
war ended for them ^ended before they had begun
fighting it - I can never cease to admire the
plucky way the English carry on inspite of bombs
& rationing and ques - ques for buses ques for
food ques for theatres but the seldom 
complain
From here I went to Boscombe where
I saw an old friend Edna Thatcher who
insisted ^that I stay a few days - well I was
badly in need of a drop of real sunshine
and Boscome looked the place to get it
so there I stopped and just lazed in the
sun for four days - at nights, we went
out usually th to friends of hers or to
a theatre - I liked the the fresh air down
there but the company bored me at times
so I moved back to London after receiving
a couple of telegrams from Colin arranging
to meet me in London on 22/6 - He would
be on leave too -
Back at Australia House I sat down
and thought where to now. Then I
remembered Thelma, whom I had spent
a lot of time with at Bournemouth

MONDAY, MARCH 24
eighteen months before - she, I remembered
was nursing at Greys Hospital now - so
I got busy on the telephone and found
that she had moved to Guys Annex
The Wildernesse seal Kent - So I did
a spot of phoning to Kent and spoke
to the lady herself - 'My God, the
[[?]] she cried when she heard my
voice - So I caught the train that
very hour to Kent, taking my bags
with me - seven Oaks was my
station after a pleasant run on
a sunny afternoon - Thelma had
booked a room for me at one
of the village pubs at seal which
is about two miles from seven
Oaks - Thelma was nursing of
course but came down to see
me as soon as she could - It was
just alike a breath of spring to
see her pretty blue eyes and
fair golden hair again - she put
her arms around me and kissed
me just like a very fond sister
and then I realised what a fool
I had been to leave of writing
to her as I did a couple of months
after leaving Bournemouth.
TUESDAY, MARCH 25
There is something unexplanably beautiful
about a woman who is not sophisticated
and yet is proud - who is honest but not
simple - and she has all these and many
other admirable qualities.
In her spare time, all of which I occupied
we hiked through the oak forrests, hand
in hand - for the first time since I came
to England I was able to put the war & 
flying completely behind only because
I was so happy in this lovely part of
England - The lines quickly vanished from
about my eyes - Lines which made me
look years older than I really was - I
was beginning to feel my old care free
self again - We hiked to Knowle
House; a great wondering Tudor House
surrounded by a massive stone wall.
History reveals a great battle fought in
Knowle park - I dont know who fought
it or why but it happened in 1400
We also visited Tonbridge & Seven Oaks both
very ancient towns with tradition
literally oozing out of the chimneys
We went one evening to something Manor,
a road house where one can enjoy
a very pleasant dinner & dance - thelma
is a very dainty dancer and can
avoid my big feet with amazing
skill, so I like dancing & dining with
her.
 

E
eighteen
wen
before
Ale Danmet
was neersing at go
Hospital new
buly o
tt telephen and found
that she had mened to
yo anxed
tt wildernesse seal rent
So I did
spote
than
to beet and spoke
to the taty bersel
my god
ahe csied when she heard r
Lane- so I cought the train that
bawe to kelt, taking my
Esqr
with me
Oako
s ny
station after a pleasant aun a
a sunng afterson
Telia bed
backed a
for me
its at sent whil
of the village
twwo mile for
so ae
Oaks - Tlelma was lussing
cousse but came down to set
as seen as she could. It was
just lk
breath of spaig
he petts blue tayes and
golden bel again
she put
thes about ascund b and passed
we just like a very find rest
and eben&
realised what a fool
had deeen
leave of writen
to be as I did a couple of wulh
after leaven samensuth
 

f inexplanatly beautifu

wo is not sophisbcate
ad
and yet is pand who is bst but not
is all bes all dee and vary
in

sev
do be spare time, all at which I ascup
we heked thong
the oct forrest, land
nd to the first th
since I came
to England I was apte to put she was &
sgust completely behind only because
in this lovely part of
I was so happy
Enaland. The llenes quiskly vauished foom
absut us
aes- lins which made in
last years telsk than I really wasI
but
I old case foll
was begin
Gaed to snsule
aell again.
tauke, a great wan dem
a receed Iud Heuse
we wall
curounded by
Keelley sweals a great battle fought
ll pask I don't know who fough
it a
but it happined in 1440
we also wited sordge a swen tell
an went towns with traditi

sying out of the chareys
literally
we went are svning to methig wnt
a road hanse whel are can
dine o dance - Tl
a very
pragan
is a daunty dances and ian
avsid
beet with emaging
stall, so Dlk Idaiang & duing with
le
 

lite all
good things I bad
have of
Pled had ay
prospects
defe a a chance
raligi the
uld a aedth
givl ils wer
Iupetition
very tee
e inspte
from a naval. ommands
wr yeou
who had preman
sought she faw
band and bad been dlayed in
mosth because,
awee
Set otin
Ta London again
who bad arranged a bit of leaw
was in the thoo's of a molent
canance with an duck nusse
Am Buske He told be thatI
ale would ldve
she married him
to oe
her roman catholn
Iwbel ale was e
religton
devoit and then
al would
he many let a year ofte the i
This was
pietty safe propral
be said as he didn't think both
we we
conditions would
did the usual
things in sout
and hen hlma ere up
gardans
and we vesited kew

to Slawes
went boatins
fond and dingring
we look
n
mptt tens
par
sucharo- Colin
had decided to come up for
 

a few days to pla
woll and a
t cl of
the country
this tix class pass even
case
succeeded in talking the tickes inspect
00 difference

And sow
first apertion of ton
is completed Dolg sick we fipter
months of advity &a
me a great deel to be than
have come
forms
te
many lave also found watey of
and ev
prson sa
efaied fom mentar
Letarls of
opeationnl fli
to since secuety
will not peomit
ech descripls
however I line no doubt that I shall
be gble to write are day a
rough yume of the
from i
e

logt the well times
satiadion whe we were inactive
th well perado of stanching
Standing
of represdted the Greatest
eme sor of oes
urto
we were would a fleeling, saget
of wait
madin
long
nos
mament bo starkecontal
fo the
ed- Tle 2
not be and
any stand
t Was
nost of an
contember
wish oca requeilly
wish as a place whre ples was
 

rife and also the since of may fare
travels I
pdites aweng
the sute Hbridies to a place called
The reloedes are brrsen
Berbecula
untaindes relayd sparcely inlabled
destruen man&
we
a car a
speak garle tle
ongusell sames
at
6 of the sase deeelly
seligius and of magu intelliguct
suc they anly met off the reclady

we went to deleerd
Hebrule
The declandies are a susporsing
oder sece - I b arclitectue is
I have seen
qual to any thy
he would she people are fay with
bu ses and
pleastnt cap
lswast of cousse this are aute sibe

boaded thi counts
+d
betore they rifer
ss the duv
nowever I fond then at best ct
but disinclied to enconey
isers- the averant sun
the administeation of the eslad
Iy lave little to gluble about
when ae coder the let of ale
ampd cties - s livei
cloths o food te
and roods at
obtanable in any quartties – Palt of the
goods are stipped yoou england awes
 

sayglants andve is eight alngude Il
ae 1o yos wide and
city. TShe
good lit. The ancrift are of e
all
est oty lighte
s wobs spelfired
eter pitiedses tll of whih belong
smadon th Cela
an 14 a usa
vey good for thy
between the1
seme to be a mablet b wilh sad
othe- most agree than
tit de
telanters sne led t plases
returnd frm exland preparled
ldyb
dor a depate
from the squadder with usy indicd
in that we were to return to
austalio to
the les
the w pds sd this
informately was not with nouge
des of appreval a disipposal
I das rathe sen to go tone
she felks again but the thought
ill in
aadit
s
yautcnditidednt
al foutlerdie I did a
Pele clom of a
i beauliful
& intelliged wsof office
fr
anstuther
the Pot Pwe
send
and ande again I was

ringing the wedding bills
clst fite had efrt these great
in abstacle up on my
spl
 

shor
with d
inhap
I ae godly
we
cas first meae
aeull cupti t
tuste
week
spent
and
2t allgitien
fin da
I spent a
will call and vel staith
sheot
his hand good by
l
i dould wen desed
neset w

steadilly grown
the Eopen
f abs -leve we lave
+an
tean
ap so fo
ca
i a
uncalled a
to en
£0 ae
t of t
will so it sgan, & ega
reay
on
lought a mcel gold broch
an waskenge wll bad been
very good to me dn
my stay
S. and then camethe say
sially put on boy
12/10/33 lelen we f
the oween vary whld
aboard
about
e
lying at grenack nar
glosabe
we sailed that night. The day
bettful ship
of couse is
sped along at a stirely thirty nts
menall lad boote out
the s oat
the allaitie but an
again
spiedws on defense and after
we days sailiryg we shol its
 

hew yort baibu
no
ofthe
returning
o
passent
coldies and awnan she expenseed
waten
find youself
os e remembe
The farous statue of piberty enlanced
by the
b
wall strut buldings with this t
sidden in the elsids and the
usual tlousand &
little Eego
fames boy about thi mrig
work
a foilorn mothy
frass
lastling
Amex
bulled
bend ws w
to tll annsment
onil
t
a
is
tew pensies
dowe wch to the sand hade
moae
we an abarted and were taken
abooud af
fwhich seept
last nive for the stead
lan and evertually deposited as
at an avexen
stated
Te spe
called but slocu
the seglt
an and were then
will have
we sindife
seven dollar
allawause
h
us along
a pueary
belt ack sumpties &
day
was
0
wat to rew york and rensued
 

t two eeps
ther
Pspert the first week
beg least
clottes & have
weals,
lsin which we
teen demed in
gand we
noxt of the sights Emper
wisited
state
ildis
lockifelle cantes – wail
street Boadway it. we stayed
at two as the different sotely
site
best been
the s
tan i
seringten aveve
h stilla was
a tht
he dend ne in ided
buildey will
enclosed suee
dct & d pet
et the time
bit
tie
nght life t now youk is shit
t boss & right clubs s
soled.
all night rolldy seems to
tat about sleep things just a
a
we wet tthe stait
clt The marsle the cub
ware we
few atter
parl wglt chls all of which
ie slolkingly eplie
tls was ne
wet a nos w
good to us and took us out to
3
os reates
doeo
in wlll part Rot and
s wl nd 2d s
ridess lat & s
to bad sevese
 

the lacks were
lapp da
Lne Covilly wilh
thooighy
the att of lving well indoted
snbust of a
they line
& trs- ty were as intested in
us as we is them. I spent nos
the tiue draw
boats &
aresplanes for the Kiddie
a gans
se as mck fin a
which 9
it did 1them-
Dib I I nade a few dallars or
a dollar encenge
the ard
than last days we made io
and
cach whch calue my miel
alwast py
o on
sene
salde
Ethally e wer edto e
to let re and fom the we
wase taken in buces to a me
side clay
an boarded the Pack
n 114 the lustine io an cleve
teward ton carse a pilenge
bost - she is sillged to be thit
year ald and by the

shall which odge for
& laugle I wolldet be supes
a pairings are
mostly mechant
mavy posoil reture
ai
a
mine


aways suspipe
repusentatives of
 

and es on
e
we anded
in cony sonds
from
new york down the
ssten deapped the book in san
and after a week
in
where we stayed
a pootle five digs awaiting
the page of a vey vlent
in bost ease whch bed tooke
sut in the cambean see- we
didn't see sch of cubs but
that whed we aid see didnt
lak exciting The bales all
were sightly exteried sterts a perts
resublis payanss
they lad
wend
I sagat aet
compliion llet
law o
s/1 left buba
differet coue
and cauld tho
the cabean
days and
see I lend
and were thankful
again at &a
daid (the only sand
sighted betwee Cubi & pansnea
was it
th ast res of a
we were aseaved aclos, at clo
City - Colon is a
blig
clnea tt s
sworred will de
m
the oustes and side walks preped
with filt infact
we i selting
about sola worth remembern
 

an w
every cafe and night sht was fill
who sesusl in
nd
poostt gant wtitilca
a tame donees
d
sand
down beare you kull
of ou
ata
0w
stort paints and say
same
ae quite tdik
of them,
a spanit oo
afaid
wasn't inpred very m
s desdectides in thy
nte
capes were sey led to te best
wide wong
an boad by 2 an
Is ded
to get the wiell of the place slt
ofX
esteits
The knon
cauee was a sy
of great interest we couldet self
but remember the guat biste
which aaends this iestabl
picle of aque
ad the
s who and of
lunded f reat duing its contru
realime
The land we passed though was
h belivery
tyt tespecal
tll aure
asgetat
task about
The tap though
i one audgedt
eight tters guar
a cit
sit

high
I sare
te sode wto has failed to make
 

fer she left Colon
the stit
er
dik acecity losks
a much nide impresrive place th
lights wre already by
giving
& place a byy oust appeaance
te anl st
a couple of hour
is secily
stea
the
it into
acific mescotd a also
the
he well geall
headin
Te the Tpen
hame I theng
ad b

t wten
better spied too 101 as
making

again
morning we
tat see Hadin
way an
welle
south wett. Hengands of swallde
camped on ou shep that right
pposastly this was thi saihw
the reather went
flight
at nighty the blackdto, are doaw
sont tate are caled, the ship
becames
very hat and sudty
ind so these is rothing to do,
& pro
the nights
except nt
particularly
agtarstend
went
F Fgund 20d2y
that
brosably spend
fou loy
tenty thse & see o
If sette
barge of
sp
amont
seape
sac
ty conden of a
 

5
Ihane read about right tooks in
ado saily
the last twent
and am
you wading though
A 1234 with the bope of quaknli
some selater
ream of intellege
within my long since act
mind
gestedays new mentioned the
weeting
conselt Chuchell
change to cleck this intended thy
to defeat & take back eey
said
et of lod ppan bed aguired
will 1914- incled
ill chise
p ampied tents w
sconed
quite an admsable but op
intentimpl
at least another
bing years of was
I see
self ploddly beneward with
is long beald and an acostment
woddn gs & glass eyes
&
all this is However sas
have apprentied myself to advent
tauel this was wlould
amtile
least realse saw
save me from the aredg
the co

tork
He willant not atter phymat
and yn
putty
at the best
you
itihl st
 

9:4
and so to nergestand again
It was almost like walking on sacred
be back in KJ I cldnt
od
help but smembe my pems vst
wee going and

to be so esng then
all seed
hope
anly teaevrytle
so fell of
was new
ean
altice
many
mer could
2 Bocat
these few days
sot wils Bill
Spit

wes
other

it was thei

but the
will
tose laughy
back
get
in peffaty
who
hap
a
the pecoue
serd and
t
the

7
in odd
t best & the finest

it first and sub
ao
have
les right to
who
ta
paldage dodd on
I want always
but I suppoit
9d
were
as bad as well
Wellington maythy
ie. The peope are a dospitall
as ever
gooddo
ausse
he dont I tone
in
nn glalard
 

and its people
wa
spent tus
so
day a
peopes place- the
sort saw Dick & mysel
eatkeny aloy
the sead called ut cone

ad d at
& presed on
chat
the wharf the kushere
punrchens
sut the suote
aon get wide w
sine mort
days of arean did we landed
melouse for ner year
t was a raving Plet day
and saly bad my lettest and
weotlen
indeecar
pali
tuchled down
melting pt
for
get bckage and
as I
lesty for
acound Bile
2 put to stay
rast of the
wdge full but I reguaged to
ito same woth elten
a us
bouse in
man
street meltee lesked but
and
endly I decided to
aud t
weekend and avait
stay
the app d wat
of seems
self
tinet
hean
ant
last
in years
co
and I sat alshe and neseable
put rabod
in a nilboun
was sterested in
ro boof
cand by was tpad
 

m
at lest in
dispesato dwent to
a wasae dance or new yar ad
well I couldnt see an
wwell
bod bcked t
ele
tasked
net a
ne
but beatte than
the nest
engaaed the
p conersety
she spent the ener
with me
different plaser in
amagedt
a we wal degeg
traid &
p
one I cant samber t
sone After a very lat week sid I
went to Tiaemans bend and inspected
austonless not anaraft factory tee
I Bealifots &
punchen
they
ette afe
sue nets
see
ebigge
pack of bludges than the
takerwen as caled- afte
seems all there was to be
left in desqust
I cavalt
the thain that suam
leted a
side
and so t
wte
ave seip sailed unded
the bridge wea
the we
before
was tas much to
and visualeye how &
n
would came som
Homsa
we I was
t
entl o gst af if i
 

bad been yesterday-
soling end
changed ablost we
conet i
ea the beeww
othe
langers a seronge te bask
just the say
mingled with

p
that someth
separted fom
puit
sure
I like the favilias sight
still glade
of

wth tco w
admrte & the unknow
in

srely this was the
trauels and I muddenty felt tobly
cond
with my nss trunks I leaped aboout
trap which
sourt
from
same platter & at the same tem
and
snd las waiting
at the s s audged at the
was see ead aren.
up in
absre the laked
by as tee
ane iser- like we a same
wed lave togthe
mm was
se innted & lates
surprise
a Eerythiy looke
si ethat poor old Pus
"a
had gou
tlays lad chan

in
mex D
thet

te salles
and
ledge
doo had got more & were out of