Diary of Leonard Doolan Fitzgerald, 1940-1941 - Part 4

Tuesday 17^th Dec
Meet Warspite 
Valiant & Illustrious, & 13 [[knots?]],
we are now  far speeding up Adriatic
to bombard Bolinia, the plan 
of attack is as follows, Sydney
Orion, & Ajax steaming right
us looking for surface craft
York, Glouster going in opposite
direction, planes off Illustrious
& R. A.F. from Greece are going
too drop flares & bomb, Warspite
Valiant are going to "shell"
with 15" guns, & destroyers are
going to proceed to screen
for battleships, zero hour
midnight.
Wed. 18^th Dec.
bombardment very successful
all ships & planes _^are safe, the "Daps"

must f have been asleep, there is
a buzz that there is another
bombardment somewhere tonight.
Thursday 19^th.
We are proceeding to Malta for
a complete refit.
Monday 23^rd
Arrived in Malta this morning
its raining cats & dogs.
Tuesday 24^th
We moved too dry dock
today.
Wed. 25^th_;
Xmas day, had a nice
dinner ashore, & got pissed
had a great time, dinner
included pork chops, chips potatoes 

cauliflower & gravy, followed up by
chicken broth, & Xmas pudding
& cake.
Friday 27^th.
Arrived back on board

after 48 hours, leave, had
a great time only missed
Mum, bought some "gear" too
take home.
Sunday. 29^th
Had an air raid no
bombs dropped.
Monday. 30^th
H_^Had another air raid
today lasted ¾ hour, no
planes brought down.

Wed 1^st January
Slept all night
as I was tired, didnt even
wake at 12 o'clock, too welcome
the new year, I wonder what this
year has in store fore me, have
certainly given the I ties hell
last year, I think I will be
home shortly, barring draft

or something like that.
Wednesday 8^th Jan.
Left Malta
today, after having our rudder
repaired, & the boiler super heater
tubes lifted, the tr tretel throttles
in the engine room were also
tuned up, & new corkisne
was placed in various places
were it needed doing, the ship 

was also painted & looks a damn
sight better, while we were in
dock the Aus destroyer Stuart
was nearing the end of her refit,
she looks a new ship, the funells
are now the same height, today
the Ilex & another destroyer
came into oil, later the cruisers
Southampton, Manchester also
came in. While we were in
dock, we heard that the
Perth had arrived in Alex
so everyone expects a shift
of station, & are secertly
hoping too go home, there
is only a handfull of the
"old gang" on here now, &
I suppose there will be even
less by the time, we are
"swinging round the buoy."
We are now proceeding too Alex. 

Jan 9^th
Today we received the news
we have been waiting for so long.
that we are returning too Aussie,
the boys went mad. First we
& the Stuart are returning
too Alex & then carring on
to Aussie when we reach
the Indian oce_^an are intend
too have a look for the raider.
It would be nice if we
could strike her, well heres
hoping.
Jan 10^th.
Arrived in Alex 2100
we are oiling & storing ship. 

Saturday 11th Jan.
We left today
at 1600 H.M.S. Medway, gave us
three cheers & their p band
played "Theres a track winding 
back." they also send the
following message, "Au Revoir
& best of luck. We shall be
very lonely without our
glamour girl."
Reply
Very many thanks, We shall
miss our fat sister & the
movies.
We are now day 28K.^s. for
Port Said.

Sunday, 12^th. Jan.
We entered
canal at 0315 this morning
we are being escorted by bombers
10.15. We had to anchor in one
of the lakes owing too a
duststorm. We were under way
again at 1600. We are just about
at Port Said now, were we are
too oil, time now 1850. Arrived
at 1910, oiled, & left at 2130
doing 28 knots too catch up
with a convoy of 10 hugh liners
full of Italian prisoners, who
are being taken too internment
camps in India, we are
escorting them too Mombassa
on the African coast. 

Monday 13^th.
Picked them up
& they look real well steaming
along, the "Empress of Canada"
is one, "Orion" is another "Orcadis"
"Viceroy of India" are also
in the bunch, (an enemy sub.comms
dream.)
Wednesday 15^th.
We took the
"Empress of Canada" into Aden
to oil we also filled up our
schees, the weather is 'foul'.
Thursday 16^th.
We left Aden
at 0815 this morning, we
expect too pick up rest
of convoy some time
tonight. Mombassa is on

the east coast of Africa. We
expect too arrive at the Seashell
Islds. on 20^th we we will fuel
& proceed for Fremantle.
Tomorrow night. 18^th. we are
going too bombard on Italian
port were there are a number
ofo merchant ships.

Tuesday 21^st. Jan.
Action stations
sounded off at 1720, & the ship,
went in, it was just dark by
the time we arrived, they
were no ships in the harbour
so we left with out firing a
shot.
Thursday, 22.^nd. Jan.
Action
stations were sounded again
today at noon as smoke was
seen on the horizon, we thought
it might be a raider, how
ever it turned out to be
a British cargo steamer
she had two guns on
the stern which were ready
& manned, I guess they were
relieved too see our white

ensign. we now are proceeding
too Sey-chelles & with a bit
we will get there in the morning.
Friday 25^th.
Arrived Sey-shelles
at 9-30 am. & started to fuel.
about noon a wireless message
was received from a ship
saying she was being shelled.
by a raider. Another message
was picked up at 2 o'clock
which gave the ships longitude
but no latitude. We finished
fueling at 3pm. & were just
leaving when a wireless message
came stating, too cancell all
previous messages, the last
one was though too have
been sent by the raider.
by 3.30 pm. we are doing

30 knots, some say we will get
her, but I don't think so, as
she has a good start, & no
raider is he likely too be a
slow ship, The Canberra is
also closing in with us, also
two "C" class cruisers.
Saturday 26^th. Jan.
We have
reduced too 25 knots, & the
plane leaves the ship twice
daily, we are still searching.
Monday 28^th.
Such a failure
we are now back at Sey-chelles
& are fueling, we leave for
Fremantle at 1400 today.
Wed. 30^th.
Still at sea expect
too arrived at Fremantle on,

the 4.^th. While at Sey-chelles got a stuffed
turtle for 2/-
xxx 3 Feb.
Are having heavy weather
& a 100 mile gale is blowing & we are
shipping plenty of "greenies" by
the engin room we are doing 8 knots
but by T.S. we are only doing
4. We are now trying too
make for shelter along the
coast, this will delay our
arrival in Freemantle a
day or two. may be we will
be in by 5^th. or 6^th.

Laurie Fitzgerald
PRO5500