Diary of Denis Patrick (alias Rupert Bert Patrick), 1941-1945 - Part 10

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2020.22.223
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

ran sowo on mnway more MsnC cnciamo EcoromcnirIn RECEIVED TELEGRAM JONETORDERTE m wrome Office of Orgia Wart Time lodged Neer 5 EN 11 20am MCAAULL Remarke L10 E O PabriOR mocoa Anetoa 12 Warf Mont. A Nother Rupert Daley Iris sar yoa Ilfeboat safe landing love. Nother 11 220
POSTAL PRECEPTS A Pityou owe hell addiew o tho top of erery letter you depetch Toe bor No. when woing to the bdde o sor t tor i cone of the cordeore A Atx the postage T Fully prepay the pon S Pox caty is the day
K crit or wruc nius o fortce oure onu Me n RECLIVED TELEGRAM JONCTOR bay a B3 to t h s o Caneate to Colow Ofice of Orga Worde dwm Time lodged No. Pyrmont. MCAV Remacke L.A.C. Patriok LEAto hotee eraon. Wishing you a happy st of Luok lots of tore Vonn.
POSTAL PRECEPTS A Porgou onn bl addres at the lop of onry letter you despatch ddres to the Pirate Box No when furiting to the holder of o t Parete Bor Scinca W Loore a pece of as lees (t in aboro t odde for stamgs and A Atte the pastege stamp in the upper sighe fand corner of the cordope F Fully prepey the podege S Pax catty in the dey
Curtioan as you se ts letter What time ovr you on truest Dit m clenk ep to letter besp feasmur on us Clent upaps lasse Could you in the red Cluffort chey sere you sevry to asfonlifiboat Disympret on Doune ledgonget my were th Caily Demken we look two lasid and then stord bhoves: se lish Te It was a wonderful it it lat Ieledausppi and I frened eyes on the one d believed to be Cepton usteg to
Hhe ad ha fulle bora given the rple came to luk over flus the sulter tb for as cost t s soune nent me to fut tm till dea The as cats fll to es the tmple came to mep. g the Le ean te for be a iss pime A M ta awa N0 come euur Dlen moning next lift from the lanes in anetlyst; Or when the suif on alopny sauds Spreads i slack crean will gust land For come when tea aon the lown In that nus day whe pease os born
ma on saen t ame from fitfull steles at most engodly him with that quee stomnach that are does Fueliyg in i wle are is about yet I should m to be resued a about to all the I dai as on aprel that the is the day we are actually beng dear old sss & b seng cove god this b Wa lft ns btkation Sept at 1100 hos in doubte deck suves- I rang ttle just before I left and in boke wall she said Ifarly I could see you new daly_ sn little I thought the same to, bu it was este, ws & the kos is lt to itnt. At the sloms by soald made a lon speac & wited Came as a safe return, we felt indened to sae bs sate I saw restle, dus Repet, Au on the bill Duny & 1 Ihe bat waited for hans a still they writed faithfully to the ad. I could bed an the faio but th heighs and wre as one at 1000 los it weight tt ancos & donly put to see I losked byg I hopefully at the old funbe shors we all did 1000 of us, &d maguis we all ardeed secuty will we see the againt I wad
today is enploud the bost esty the all the fool question in the world ay actures followed telling us what wl must do what we must not do the best dull which canets of bells and we ble all addy to a Ds de aeo b on leving thi i all das to is not dan lob & put a I still He tot in b teed the we nove sells yong w ad we go up to on resplctive bot st and so t bit were waiting after pelo oft e in senered pnod yself intimed with atte e Sie D R we are or well be a mestlle ana The see is ct Tthe rails Ead, as f s at yo with glastly pan aies with his ext spent the rest of the day daung out sediansly wa te a little up a noxt ye the se thi respect as I staldt lie a trouble on the boat in this respect. the ships black out systen denes we tee will a let of deglight wite a lateel lal in the mas in da tll because the cabess the eglt are awiteled on lavery the in is quite antifactory adI hav It eo plants as I have now defullt woned to sself that I can sust willar treakfast entl is the fanoute pastine pound con lads the an e t be the late bs has a dinc I reasine gures seet a a nothers tng our the aten me it was just to sop the gus fo saty & to make me thy would still w we lall ag one cary s a worll craft the HA. C andtoalis of the wth a ane as in si t Fidelae i we a set well pd it tuelly wet to bed and seced m land good solid sould be in auckland tuo
ans duke ye depy heads what this Dapy t ld yo sis qie tos ad a tell sides llife is real agae At 1000 boo we settled at auchlend the send ut if the nll cland it as capitel t to be wuilt it heve ad left the slip in mee the people we Co pitable the teen seeld with austabon a me ailors, they preced every cafe & pub in the n late a banad ship leted of cl from that slep the Buse Roteh wt in the guerl disone i dentt mu gog he cleed thrt woats this das auckland is not a beautiful city but quik ibillst reduraque in a retling of bell lesking wends whch sould almost be called nentars sal of the wl attenolds of the rasi was ship and ore a pedale was ser to lave seld th nich at bay to a puet tie - she ase of every dent a teue is man & caeg a hasd to prrese te puld le it wistmall sto all I can do to will it at alose donk it net cae gits from a beal office who go quik a pleasent en wed to the boat at 12 oclock tend & beay a little nor of a vey by a mchergeg wold in i sece of wor igt not se prpl who dare is t est e so the fanse spel clarly wnted to are the man brd & thi he was in his glass case by and stallly the in mcorsest oatridge quill dead the day peeed quite setfully&in ng a petty officer ated us to a little pid at coe frieds place and full fiire- cay wlat a right the filk timed sut to be fom lates distueal shave every body was an astst of some sot The new wrl all fomsee great sports and didnt aae to ms tes s t sou wll wfy but siled us you i disippean will the only cligible gil with one lets qi foueldI will the war a dening hs with tul braw aps & a disconing swil - she bed b lonly sades we sept pacefully through all the din a sew at fawe we troke up the happy party& afte ery effectionte fareth in met bot ii d I chall neve foget thre bave aps ae fell for me goodes than why the made same to be an that I would be tl all a wane whil was stte for caweall & pase so fonwell to sep ate lause of mett & losttibl
tea wss stopped tday mary 27 came on boast they have a different touseds of people floked to us at blemotha eallent ty cash clamsng to get a best lost it te bt at lets ent prwelled ated vr meet improsd y i is fo in the setes gou whic to be is very unpossulal though will it consptet bell & ttk pob sought every bedy seed to go the whole Log on the gro9 & pat & gettr to be allow donglll amed with his wses be a great esfull of sake & a few getter five inhquide whih the prseded a st off in in datin well the fle cust wisled with iust a stfb pked the half epty entinquiate out of the sothole which saned the al sth ths to do- in the weentine the duks sensed a talle in the liquest- fiall we got the out I nosshed if the jins I wilt to bed vry late as d pootibites sell it all is land in sight and da still dodging w will wekable we attaugh the C0 mght ne lengl in calin ble I should bave bee den oering I explained whon preced tht ws an aut. I felt very last wen be losked as if he doubted by word - te see was as ial is a wilk ford Hough s si d tan his feelings t en miker te matently ill thought as the stallt for it upon we The Pine Pobeet stecks cnly wlon she cas keep up sh is a smallist waft on an

Printed telegram form - see original document.
Office of Origin.      Words.    Time lodged.
Pyrmont                     18            11 20am
Printed form L A C Patrick
Awatea 12 Wharf Pyrmont 

Mother Rupert Daisy Iris saw you lifeboat safe landing love

Printed form - see original document.

 


Printed telegram form - see original document.
RECEIVED TELEGRAM
Office of Origin    Words      Time Lodged
Pyrmont.                 19               2 20pm
To L.A.C. Patrick
Awatea Pyrmont
Wishing you a happy voyage and best
of luck lots of love
“Vonn. 2 24pmsb
 

 


POSTAL PRECEPTS.

Printed form - see original document.
 

 

MONDAY, JUNE 9 1941

Questionnaire -: (Answer yes or no.
Did you get Doug’s letter?
What time were you on board?
Did you climb up to Captains bridge?

  "     "       focus mirror on us?
Climb up a rope ladder?
Could you see the red chiffon h'chief?
Were you waving to us from the lifeboat?

Did you pick out Vonne?

Did you get my wire after sailing?
Do you know we took two taxi's
and then stood 6 hours?

We had to laugh at your auties someone
said you qualified for the 300 -
It was a wonderful sight at the last
I shall never forget it and I focussed
my eyes on the one I believed to be you -
Rupert was very kind  [[Wmi?]] he felt your going very much. I was composed.
 

 

TUESDAY, JUNE 10 1941

xxx xxx

The red brown earth its
gentle bosom gives the 

purple canes to suck x

In the chalice of [[?]] [[?]] filled &
over flows the [[nutlers?]]
Augan [[heinticus?]] cup
                "

from oceans vast the wind

has borne moist rain
to feed the ech fill the cup
The red earth's gentle bosom
gives the purple canes
to suck.
Lu wite springs the Teiu suckle
weans weaned the sun the lowest faint
from her on its [[pai?]]
 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11  1941

AIR MAIL - PALESTINE 

Palestine 1941 - DAVID McNICOLL 
Printed poem - see original document.

Not come again? When morning mist
lifts from the lanes in amethyst,
Or when the surf on sloping sands
Spreads its sleek cream with gentle hands
Nor come when tea is on the lawn
In that new day when peace is born?
 

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 1941
 

Selection of printed poems - see original document.
 

164th day    FRIDAY, JUNE 13    201 to come     1941
Arose from my fitful slumbers at
a most ungodly hour with that queer
feeling in my stomach that one does
get I should imagine when one is about to 
to be married. Or about to enter the
dentists chair. Or an operating theatre - This
is the day, we are actually leaving dear old
Aussie & her sunny coves God bless her sunny

names -
We left No 2 Embarkation Depot at 11.00hrs

in double decker buses - I rand Mother just
before I left and in broken voice she said
"If only I could see you now darling" - Dear little

mum I thought the same too, but it was
too late for wishes, war & time knows no
 sentiment - At the wharves Sir Donald
Cameron made a long speech & wished
us a safe return, we felt inclined to
share his sentiments - 

Later I saw Mother, Iris. Rupert, Aunt
Daisy & Penn standing on the hill.
the boat waited for hours & still they

waited faithfully to the end - I could hardly
see their faces but their thoughts and mine
were as one. - At 1500 hrs we weighed the
anchor. & slowly put to sea. - I looked longingly

& hopefully at the old familiar shore.
We all did 1200 of us, & I imagine we all

wondered secretly will we see them

again? I wonder.
 

 

165th day  SATURDAY, JUNE 14   200 to come   1941

Today we explored the boat. asking the
seamen all the fool questions in the world
Many lectures followed telling us what
we must do & what we must not do.

Then boat drill which concists  of bells
ringing and sirens blowing all adding to one
another melody - on leaving this we
all dash to our cabins like rats down

a hole & put on our Mae  Westers, &
wait while the boats are being lowered.
then we more bells gongs & whistles

and we go up to our respective boat station

and do a bit more waiting - after. prolonged
periods of time we are dismissed
I find myself interned with none other than 
than Bert Meyers. Ian Richards &: Don Parkinson

we are or will be a merry quartette -
The sea is choppy and many airman
are draped over the rails. each as you
pass him looks at you with with 'ghastly pang,
& curses with his eye' -
Spent the rest of the day lounging
about judiciously avoiding work.
I have a little up on most of the boys
in this respect. so I shouldn't have any
trouble on the boat in this respect.
 

166th day    SUNDAY, JUNE 15       199 to come  1941
The ships black out system denies us of
quite a lot of daylight - we lie in until
quite a latish hour in the mornings

because the cabin remains dark until

the lights are switched on - however the 

lying in is quite satisfactory and I have

no complaints as I have now definitely

proved to myself that I can exist without

breakfast.
Gambling is the favourite pastime
among the ground crew. lads  - the air crew
usually drink beer  - the latter being less
fatal - 
A bunch of machine gunners did some
shooting over the stern at nothing in particular
it was just to stop the guns from becoming
rusty & to make sure they would still work
We have only one convoy ship one worthy
craft the H.M.A.S.Australia -
And so we dip through the south seas
on our way to the big adventure.
& no doubt well find it
Finally went to bed and dreamed
of land, good solid "terra firmament" We

should be in Auckland tomorrow
 

 

167th day     MONDAY, JUNE 16    198 to come     1941
Arise ye sleepy heads what's this I spy but 

land. Yes sir green trees too. and on both 

sides life is real again.
At 1200 hrs we berthed at Auckland the 

capital city of the north island. its all
south to me but one has to be sociable
We got leave and left the ship en masse
the people were very hospitable
The town reeled with Australian Airmen &
sailors, they possessed every cafe & pub in the
town - Later a Canadian ship berthed & a crew
of sailors from that ship the Prince Robert assisted
in the general disorder;- No doubt much grog has
slaked thirsty throats this day. -
Auckland is not a beautiful city but quite
picturesque in a setting of green hills - strange

bald looking mounds which could almost be
called mountains - some of these were
strongholds of the Maori war chiefs - and
one in particular was known to have held the
English at bay for a great time - The names
of every street & town is Maori & consequently
very hard to pronounce - The favourite drink
here it Wiatauatie its al I can do to 

pronounce it let alone drink it.

Met some girls from a local office who gave

us quite a pleasant evening - returned to the 
boat at 12 'oclock. tired % weary having seen
a little more of a very big & ever-changing world

168th day    TUESDAY, JUNE 17    197 to come 1941
Jim Bert & I went in search of more sights
today - met some people who drove us around

in their car. we saw the famous museum I 
particularly wanted to see the moa bird & there
he was in his glass case big and stately
like an oversized ostridge - quite dead of course

The day passed quite eventfully & in the 
evening a petty officer asked us to a "little"

party at some friends place - so we turned
up in full force - boy what a night the
folk turned out to be from lates theatrical
show. every body was an artist of some sort.
The men were all from some amer N.Z. ship.
they were great sports and didn't seem to mind
us "going to town" with wifey. - Bert vanished

with the only eligible girl - Jim disappeared
with one lads girl friend & I amused myself
with the Hostess a charming lass with pretty
brown eyes & a disarming smile - She had two
lovely kiddies who slept peacefully through
all the din & row
At four we broke up the happy party &
after very affectionate farewells we went back to to our ship.
 

 

169th day   WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18   196 to come  1941

Leave was stopped today - many N.Z. airmen
came on board - they have a different uniform
to us - grey colour - thousands of people flocked 
on to the wharf. mothers sisters & sweethearts
mostly each clamouring to get a last look at
their boys.
We put out late and farewelled
Auckland very much impressed by her war effort
which seems to be 100% the Labor government

is very unpopular though with its
conscription bill. & taxation policy.
Tonight every body seemed to go the whole 
hog on the grog. & just as I was getting to bed

Allan Dougall arrived with his cronies bearing
a great handful of stake & a four
gallon fire extinguisher which the proceeded
to set off in our cabin well the floor just
swished with acid & stuff I poped the
half  empty extinguisher out of the window
porthole which seemed the only sensible thing 

to do 0 in the meantime the drunks
danced a hulla. in the liquid - finally
we got them out & mopped up the juice
I went to bed very late soundly recommending
prohibition
 

170th day    THURSDAY, JUNE 19  195 to come   1941
Still at sea no land in sight. and I am
still dodging work with remarkable success
although the C.O. caught me lounging in my
cabin when I should have been doing

training - I explained when pressed that I
was sea sick I felt very hurt when he
looked as if he doubted my word. - the
sea was as calm as a milk pond though
& I can understand his feelings. - The very 
thought of work now makes me violently ill
so they shouldn't force it on me.
The Prince Robert sticks closely when she 
can keep up - she is a smallish craft an
armed merchantman 
 

 






 

 

 

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