AWM52 1/11/18/4 - Headquarters London Victory March Contingent, 1946, part 3, Naval log - Part 8

141
Sunday 12 May AT SEA.
Fine clear day with heavy
swell.
Church parade and divisions
cancelled owing to swell. Church
services were held during the day.
Rest day for all ranks of the
contingent.
1200 Course 312° Speed 14 Knots. Wind
SSE Force 4 Sea & Swell 34
Visibility 7 Barometer 1023.4
Distance run since 090900 - 342 miles
Latitude 29° 47' S Longitude 14° 01' S.
2000 Usual Sunday night concert
held in the torpedo space. Again
members of the Contingent incl
members of Womens Services did
their fair show. The improvement
in standard of the artist's performance
over it's predecessors was very
noticeable. Not only were was there
more variety in the acts, which
were much improved by humorous
and variety sketches, but there
seemed to have been more
time and trouble taken in
preparation. If the improvement
continues the performances should
approximate to first class
standards in the next few
weeks. 

143
Monday 13 May. AT SEA.
Fine clear day with extremely
hot sun when it appeared. Swell
still heavy.
0845 Officer's Conference in Orderly Room.
As the ships ^company adopted tropical rig as
from to day it was decided to 
investigate the possibility of AMF component
wearing shorts. This will be limited
by the number of personnel who
have shorts etc actually in their
possession and not in steel trunks.
Naval & RAAF components went into
shorts today.
A number of personnel have been
leaving their bedding on the 4" gun
deck where they have been sleeping.
This is contrary to naval regulations
and all ranks are to be warned
that it just not [[allowed?]] in the
future. In addition Ships authorities
report that smoking rules previously
laid down are not being observed.
All ranks to be warned that Naval
Officers & Petty Officers will take action
^[[on?]] offenders if necessary.
More attention to be shown in
the future to correcting [[multiple?]]
individual faults during rifle exercises.
All ranks are to be complimented
on the on parade on the standard
of marching and drill, on the morning
of arrival in CAPE TOWN.
Until a decision is made with
reference to shorts, dress in the
morning will be as previously
promulgated. Dress in the afternoon 

145
to be optional
Anyone who wishes may hand
valuables to Maj GLUTH for safe keeping.
0900 Parade with good SD's and
hats. After promulgation of information
brought up at the morning conference,
[[these?]] were returned. AMF personnel
[[then?]] handed over to the sShip for
the day for the day.
These duties were mainly
connected with getting the ship ready
for the tropics. Awnings were rigged
on each side of the upper deck &
a canvas swimming pool appeared
on the quarterdeck. As yet it has
no water in it. Two more
pools will be rigged further
for'd, in the waist. In addition
lighting fixtures were overhauled
in preparation for lighting up the
ship on Victory Day.
1200 Course 324° Speed 14 Knots Wind
SE Force 4 Visibility G ^c/₇ Barometer
1016.1 Sea & Swell 335 miles 21.
Distance run since 121200 - 335 miles.
Latitude 25° 18' S Longitude 10° 14' E.
[[1600?]] The second round of the ^officers deck
hockey tennis competition started. Deck
cricket was played, but no competition
[[?tes]].
1700 The final round ^session of the first
round of the Quiz competition took
place. The KORDIES had a "replay"
of their match against the OIKS &
TOIKS. The KORDIES protested in
the first match that the OIKS & TOIKS

147
questions had been much harder
than theirs. This time the OIKs &
TOIKS won 8 - 6.
1945 Dirithy Dox came on the 

air. This time the queries &
answers had a distinct CAPE
TOWN flavouring.
Maj Gen EATHER was ordered
to bed with an attack of bronchial
flu.
The Ships Canteen has solved
the problem of quite a number
of people by announcing they will
take South African silver in exchange
for articles solved. Previously there
did not appear to be any way
of getting rid of it without making
a dead loss
[[?]]
R Kingsford Smith

R Peck 15/5

149
Tuesday 14 May. AT SEA.
0120 Sighted Portugese sailing vessel
VOZBODOUN under steam.
0845 Fine clear day with occasional
patches of cloud. Very hot sun &
calm sea
0845 Officer's Conference in orderly
room. The following matters were
brought up:

(1) Descriptive pamplets on about

LONDON will be issued by  this

morning, so that all ranks may

familiarise themselves with their contents

before the end of the voyage. They

are specially printed for Dominion

and Allied troops on  leave visiting

LONDON & contain very useful

information about places of amusement,

entertainment, etc.

(2) The ship has no space

available to stow in safety the

food parcels bought by quite a 

number of people in CAPETOWN &

at the Ship's Canteen.  They will have

to be returned in either lockers or

kitbags [[?]].

(3) Quite a number of stretchers,

and matress covers belonging to

the Contingent have been discarded

by their owners. All ranks are to

be warned that these will be

taken off the Ship with them, and it

is not expected that any others will

be supplied for the stay in

ENGLAND.

(4) 3 Autograph books containing

the autographs of the whole contingent 

150 151

are being raffled by the Canteen,

the proceeds to be donated to the

Orphans Home on arrival in

ENGLAND.  Tickets cost 6^d each

and will it will be drawn a

few days before the completion

of the voyage. Books will be

passed round and autographed

by each platoon in turn.

0900.  Parade, inspection, and

administration of palaudine.

0915. PT, organised games, and

inter pl tug of war contests.  The

autograph books passed round

amongst pls.

1100. All ranks stood down for

the day, in accordance with

Naval Tropical Routine of no work

in the afternoon.

→ ^1200. Course 324° Speed 14 Knots Wind

S Force 1 Visibility C/7 Sea & Swell

12 Barometer 1019.7 Temp 69° Distance

Run since 131200 - 337 miles.

Latitude 20° 50' S  Longitude 6° 41' E.

Some of the members of the

Women's Services are busy practising

for the ballet they will present

at the big Concert to be held

next Tuesday & Wednesday night. This

will be the replace the usual

Sunday night concert, and it is

expected to be the best & biggest

yet.

1600 Deck Hockey competition

continued. Naval Contingent defeated

Mongrels 1 - 0. No other contingent

team are left in the competition.

1700 Second round of the quiz

competition commenced.  All par teams

participating today were from the

ship's company

1830. Clock retarded 1hr.  Now on GMT. 

153
Wednesday 15 May. AT SEA.
Fine clear day with hot sun,

and smooth calm sea.

0845 Officer's conference. Following

information promulgated:
(1) Gen EATHER has signalled LONDON
requesting information as to accommodation
and details of disembarkation. As yet
nothing is known on this score.
(2) A conference will be held in

the near future by Brig MOTEN on

the question of leave and dealing
with invitations in LONDON. The

form to be attached to invitations

has been produced and will, plus

the relevant details as to committees

etc, be explained at the conference.
(3) Balancoeing of remainder of equipment

must be done by next Monday. This

includes shoulder straps and haversacks.
Quite a number of haversacks will
have to be left until arrival in LONDON
as they have been packed in chest
trunks. The blanco is running short,

so a redistribution and it is

impossible to get at present supplies,

so a redistribution amongst

individuals has become necessary.

0900. Parade & inspection. 0915. Rifle
exercises. These were interspersed
with signing of autograph books

which are being passed around

amongst pls.
1000. 3 Pl paraded for distribution of
felt animals, and instruction by
female women members in the
[[g??st]] art of their instruction. The men 

154
[*Suggest Bofor and Pom Pom fired HB graze fused shell which self
detroy at a given target.

RP*]

155

sat cross legged in the torpedo
space, whilst their instructors with
demonstrations, iniatiated them into
the art of manufa mass producing
felt beasts. This period was enjoyed
a great deal more by the the participators,
than their normal parade period.
It is intended to put each pl,
^RAN & RAAF components through a course
of instruction.

1040. Functioning trials for close
range weapons carried out. The
Navigator for the benefit of the contingent
translated "functioning trials" into
"firing trials", which proceedure proved
to be wise as quite a few members,
particularly of the Womens Services, were
caught by surprise at the first report.
Each of the Bofor & Pom Pom guns
were fired in turn, to b exercise both
the guns & gun crews. The Bofors fired
DA Fuze, & the Pom Poms airburst.
The Contingent as a whole showed
a great interest in the practise
& swarmed around the guns taking
photographs, asking questions, and
watching for the air or water bursts.
The reaction of members of the
Women's Services varies from the
most intrepid who created [[a moment?]]
history by actually fireding one of
the guns, to those who [[moveing?]]
moved from spot to spot looking
for the one where the noise was
least. It is doubtful whether Naval
Gunners have ever had such an

157

interested and enthusiastic audience at
a mere routine practise.
1200. Course 324° Speed 13 Wind SSE
Force 2 Visibility C7 Sea & Swell 22
Barometer 1017.0 Distance run since
141200 - 339 miles. Longitude ^Latitude 16° 08' S
Latongitude 3° 04' E. 

The for Information is being
obtained from all services and
being consolidated for a press
statement. This will give all details
likely to be required by the
press on reaching ENGLAND, and
will be kept ready to hand by
senior officers etc who are likely
to be asked for them. The information
will be mainly personal and
statistical.
It has been officially announced
that King Neptune will come
aboard next Saturday evening ^Saturday morning. The
"line" will be crossed early on
Sunday morning. HRH HM will conduct
his ceremony for uninitiates soon
after in a special pool erected
amidships on the upper deck. The
parts are being taken by experienced
"line" men & everything will be
conducted with the most rigid
pomp & strictest ceremony ^as becomes his most acquatic Majesty. No
pains are being spared to give
the cast the most elaborate of costumes.
The p canvas pool on the
quarterdeck was filled for the first
time. Unfortunately the new canvas

158 159
leaked considerably and although
it held water enough for a most
enjoyable & refreshing swim, deck
tennis & deck quoits were made
practically impossible owing to
the slippery deck.
1700 hrs. The second session of the
second round of the quiz session
was held in the torpedo space.
AMF defeadted Baby Buntings 9 - 6.
This team consisting of Sjts
HANNAFORD & HEATON, and Cpt TARRANT ^and the LATERS (Pte PARTRIDGE, Sjt CLAR,
& Cpl  O'CONNOR)
is are now the only Contingent teams
left in the competition. The Contingents
hopes are pinned on them.
1745. Dirithy Dox came on the air.
Her sessions have grown enormously
in popularity and there are very
few people in the ship who
are not "Dirithy" fans. Her identity
is now well known as Chief
Officer McClemmonsents.
2045. Tombola was played in
the Ward Room.