AWM52 1/11/18/4 - Headquarters London Victory March Contingent, 1946, part 3, Naval log - Part 6

101
Sunday 5 May. AT SEA
Sky partly overcast with
occasional rain squalls. Smooth
calm sea.
0930. Division and Church
Parade. The procedure was similar to
that detailed for last SUNDAY. The Captain
appeared, and during the inspection
commented favourably on the drill &
turn out of the Contingent. Chap JAMES
conducted the service, and Rev J O
WERE Chaplain RAN gave the address.
1000. Course was altered 45° to starboard
to avoid rain squalls during church
parade. As it was, the concluding
portion of the service was marred
by a slight drizzle. The Official War
Photographer took very complete photographs
both moving & still, of the service. He
was hampered in his initial efforts by
the conglomeration of personnel on the
quarterdeck, but was successful when
he moved his sphere of operations
to X deck, and the top of "A" 8" gun
turret. 1020.
1020. Church parade broken off & all
personnel stood down for the day
1025 Altered course back to 265°
1200 Course 265° Speed 14 Knots Wind

NNE Force 2 Visibility G ^c/₇ Sea & Swell
22 Barometer 1020.3 (rising) Temperature

74.8 Latitude 30° 17' S Longitude 41° 49' E
Distance run since 041200 - 345 miles.
It has now been established
that a berth is available in CAPE TOWN,
and we will not have to swing
in the stream as was previously 

102 [*?*] 103
thought possible.
Addresses of members of Contingent
having a place to stay in
CAPE TOWN were collected. Also the
number who would require
overnight leave should it be
granted. This was done with a
view to sending off a signal
requesting accomodation for the night
for the personnel. Practically everyone
in the contingent requested overnight
leave. As yet, nothing definite has
been decided or promulgated on
the subject of leave, or on the
question of how much training will
be done whilst in CAPE TOWN.
Deck 1430 Deck cricket was
played as usual. Today's games resulted
in a  win for Wardroom 71 defeating

No 1 RAAF 34, and Wallabies 39 defeating

No 2 RAAF 12.
Two quiz sessions were held
in at 1430 & 1700. Lt Comd FAULKNER
appealed for more questions, as he
barely had enough to last him for ^till
the end of the first round.
2000. The usual Sunday night
concert was held in the torpedo
space. Gen EATHER, the Captain, &
HCol SAGE attended. The contingent
made up for last Saunday's lapse
by producing quite a number
of talented performers This included
3 members of the Women's services, two
of whom sang, and one played
the piano. Their efforts were deservedly
popular. Community singing was much
^appreciated and there did not appear to
be that slight atmosphere of restraint
that was [[?]] noticed in the last
concert. 

105
Monday 6 May. AT SEA
Perfect day with practically
[[no/calm?]] sea. Best day for rifle exercises
since coming aboard.
0845. Officer's conference. Maj GLUTH
[[?po?y]] on Wednesday. All webbing
to be reblancoed before Wednesday
in preparation for CAPE TOWN.
The M O to deliver a V D lecture
at a time to be notified
pre arrival.
0900. Parade and the thorough inspection
of rifles. Rifles appear to be
[[standing/holding?]] up to the voyage ie
exposure to the sea air, very
well. 0915 - 1015. Rifles exercises.
Owing to the universally calm
day this was done with [[great/most?]]
success thus far. At the end of
the hour all pls were exhibiting
gratifying efficiency. 1015 - 1030
Lecturettes. 1045 - 10115. Cleaning and
stowing of arms
1200. Course 251° Speed 14 Knots Wind SW force
Visibility G ^c/₇ Sea Smooth Swell Short
[[low?]] Barometer 1017.0 Temp 73°
Distance run since 051200 - 300 miles
Latitude 31° 02' S Longitude 41° 49' E
1500 - 1600. PT and organised games.
[[1600?]] Deck hockey competition

commenced. All aspirants have
now played enough of the games
to put the Contingent on a
more or less equal footing
with the Navy. All portions of
the contingent are represented.
Todays game resulted in a 

106 107
win for the Naval Contingent 2
over the Dynamoes 1; Artisans
defeated No 2 P1 2 - 0; Army Officers

defeated Gun Room 3 - 1.
1830. Clocks retarded 1 hr. Now
on CAPE TOWN time.
The Officers Deck Tennis
Competition has now entered the
second round. Contingent Officers
are more than holding their
own with the Ship's Officers
A very entetaining screed
has been issued by the Ship
for the guidance of Womens [[?]] Services
in under standing naval terms
and customs. It parodies naval
expressions, and sets out to
deliberately make fun of them.
Not only the female, but the
male element of [[?]] the contingent
are grateful to the Navy for the
trouble they have gone too to
elucidate hithertoo confusing
terms & expressions.
"The Adventure of the Western Star",
a radio play, was presented over
the Ships SRE System at 2000 hrs.
The play is an adaption of the
novel by Agatha Christie, done
by a [[?]] a [[?]] of the Ship's ^member of ships company
officers. A mixed Ship & Contingent
Cast, including women, presented
the play. All ranks were delighted
by the excellence of the presentation
which in places, reached professional
standards. S/Sjt KNIGHT was the
^star. It is hoped that more
of these plays will be
forthcoming, because this type
of entertainment not only solves
the lack of space problem, but requires
less preparation than a normal
play of or vaudeville act, where
parts have to be learnt by heart.

109
Tuesday 7 May.
Fine cIear day with calm sea.
0845. Officers conference. Nothing yet
decided on the question of leave or
drill in CAPE TOWN as yet. Details
of final mailing times promulgated
Airmail letters to Australia cost 3^d
per ounce and 3^d for each additional
ounce. 3^d stamps are available at
5 for 1/-. Airmail posted in Australia
prior to 30 Apr is expected to be
avaible in CAPE TOWN. EFM telegrams
can be sent from the ship or from
civil post offices in CAPE TOWN at
a cost of 2/6 for three phrases. Shorts
are only to be worn for sport, or
when ordered.
0900. Parade and inspection. On
the request of the Ships authorities all
ranks were put on ships duties
for the day despite the calm sea &
good weather. Duties were mainly
connected with getting the ship
shipshape for CAPE TOWN.
1200 Course 245° G Speed 12 K Wind
NW Force 2 Visibility ^G/₈ barometer
1020.0 Distance run since 061200 -
339 miles latitude 33° 14' S Longitude
35° 53' E.
1330 Naval Instructional films shown
in the ward room - Contingent
officers were invited to be
present. The films were highly
instructive entertaining as well as
being instructive. It opened some the
eyes of some of the officers who
had been inclined to judge conditions 

111
in the Navy as shown on this
voyage.
A signal was received

offering the following hospitality whilst in
CAPE TOWN by the South African Women's
Auxiliary Service and Australian and
New Zealand Society.
(a) Officer's dance on 9 May 46
(b) Ratings and OR's dance 9 May & 10 May.
(c) Motor drivers for 100 men each
afternoon
Further details will be communicated
on arrival
1600. In the first round of the
Deck Hockey ^Cricket Competition Petty Officers 127
defeated Army Officers 94
1700. In the afternoon's quiz session
ORACLES defeated TOG's (Three Old Girls)
8 - 6. The latter team consisted of
three senior ^women members of the Contingent,
and the previous three ratings from

the Ships Coy.
1830. Clocks retarded 1 hr.

113
Wednesday 8 May. AT SEA
Fine clear day c and calm,
smooth, day sea.
Day given up completely to
preparation for arrival in CAPE TOWN
the following day.
0900. Parade and, inspection, and
short period of rifle exercises.
0930. All ranks mustered in the
torpedo space for talk by Lt CLARK
MO who spent 3 years in CAPE TOWN.
He pointed out the extent of the
various racial distinctions, and warned
against accepting everybody as pro
BRITISH, and in particular pro AUSTRALIAN,
[[insomuch?]] was not the case. The
government of SOUTH AFRICA only held
its position by a slender margin,
and the element represented by the
opposition were in most cases openly
hostile. He warned the troops about
entering District 6, the native quarter,
as many people in the past after
being outnumbered, by had lost their
lives. In conclusion, he pointed out
the dangers of drinking local spirits,
which he said were very "sudden".
There was unlimited quantities of
good beer, he said.
At the conclusion of Lt CLARK's
talk, the MO said a few words
about VD.
1000. All ranks were paid on
the upper deck.
1030. Cleaned rifles and returned
them to armoury.
1100 Officer's conference in orderly 

115
room. Representatives of RAN & RAAF
attended. The following programme
for leave and training in CAPETOWN
was ada promulgated:
Thursday
0845 Dress Ship

0900. Arrive CAPETOWN.

0915 - 1100. Drill on Wharf.
1100 Return rifles.

1115. Change currency.
1200 Leave parade on wharf
At conclusion of leave parade
leave until 090820 hrs.
Friday.
0830. Leave concludes
0900 Check parade
0915 - 1100. Drill on wharf
1100 Return rifles
1130 Leave parade, and leave
until 100830 hrs.
Dress for drill - "Off the peg" SD,
boots, gaiters, rifl hats, rifles and
side arms. Dress for leave -
Good SD, hats, boots or shoes, web

belts. Officers to wear Sam Browne
belts on leave & SD for drill.
Out of the 100 personnel for
bus drives the contingent has been
alloted 25, and the Ships Company
75. This will be subdivided amongst
[[the/all?]] three services over the two days.
1145. All The Captain spoke to all
on board over the warning
telephone. He impressed on all
ranks the necessity far good behaviour
whilst in CAPETOWN, not only because
of past incidents, but because of
the peculiar & special nature of this 

117
particular mission. He [[posited?]] also
said that only a limited amount of
fresh food was avaible for the
rest of the voyage, and only one
meal of fresh food a day would be
issued until after arrival at the
first port on leaving ENGLAND. This
was necessary because of the no
fresh food was to be taken aboard
in ENGLAND. The quantity, he said,
would remain the same. Lt CLARK
[[?]] talked for a few minutes at the
conclusion of the Captain's words
1200 hrs. Course 268 ° Speed 13 Knots.
Wind WXN SForce 3 visibility G^c/₇
Swell & Sea 22 Barometer 1015.5

Distance run since 071200 - 268 miles
Latitude 34 ° 36 ' S Longitude 22 ° 47 ' E.
1430 hrs. Parade to draw SD's
and hats.
1530 Inspection by platoons to ens
[[in?]] good SD, to ensure every thing
is complete and ready for leave in

CAPE TOWN.
1600 Deck games were played
as usual.
Land in sight all day. 

119
Thursday 9 May. AT SEA - CAPE TOWN.
Overcast day, with quiet sea, and
tending towards rain.
0845. Contingent commenced dressing
ship positions on starboard side.
Ship steamed through the breakwater &
berthed at J Dock DUNCAN Dock
CAPETOWN at approximately 0900 hrs.
Ship's band played "Sarie Marais" as
a gesture to SOUTH AFRICA. CAPE TOWN
was shrouded in mist, and there
was only a handful of people there
to welcome the Contingent. No one of
any official prominence was present.
0915 Port Medical Officer and Naval
representatives came aboard, with
some press reporters and photographers.
0945 Contingent went ashore and
commenced drilling by services in the
ample space available in the
immediate docks area. The drill
was of a much higher standard
than first that after first coming
ashore at FREMANTLE. This can be
attributed to the cold bracing weather.
and a smoother trip. Although the
contingent did not march as a whole,
all informed observers agreed that
the ^individual standard was high, and
augured well for ENGLAND. There
were several light showers during
the drill period.
1100  Broken off to return rifles and
have sterling exchanged for South
African Currency.
1145 Maj Gen EATHER and Capt SHOWERS
left the sShip for SIMONSTOWN and lunch