AWM52 1/11/18/4 - Headquarters London Victory March Contingent, 1946, part 3, Naval log - Part 9

161
Thursday 16 May AT SEA.
Fine, clear, very tropical day with
[[no?]] sea.
0845. Officer's conference. The following
information promulgated:
(1) Rifles armouries ^PT & lecturettes for
days training
(2) AMF Officer's dress for evening wear
whilst in the tropics will be KD
trousers, KD shirts & ties or Safari Jackets.
RAAF wear the same, and RAN No
10 ring White mess undress.
(3) Pilfering of Q Mtce Maintenance stocks
is occuring at an alarming rate.
All ranks are ^to be warned of the
seriousness of such losses and must
report the presence of any items
illegally in the possession of anyone
on board.
(4) Mail for posting at FREETOWN closes
2000hrs on 20 May 46. Letter notes
are as follows:-
(a) Airmail - 3d per ½ ounce - 3d
for each additional ounce.
(b) Ordinary - no stamps required.
(5) It is advisable not to send parcels
as they may be delayed in FREETOWN
some time awaiting shipment. It
is probable that AIRMAIL will be
awaiting when the ship arrives.
(65) Owing to cases of chicken pox
on board, no leave will be
possible in FREETOWN. Previously
it was considered likely that
ship's boats would be able
to take a certain number of
personnel ashore for a few hours.

163
0900. Parade & inspection 0915 - 100015.
PT. This was difficult to begin with 
as the deck was being washed
down with water & lime. 1015 - 1100
Lecturettes & mass production of
felt beasts
1130. Signal received from the
Naval Liaison Officer, LONDON.
containing the following information:
30 May 46 - Arrive PORTSMOUTH
31 May 46 - Disembark 0800 hrs and
move by special train
to LONDON
8 Jun 46 - Victory March through LONDON
1 Jul 46 - Depart PORTSMOUTH
21 Aug - 46 ETA MELBOURNE
Authorities requested details of
plans for Victualling Contingent while
disembarked, and amount of
refrigeration required. It was
also advised that the Ship will
not visit other countries on the
return journey. This effectively
squashes rumours the very
consistent rumours that the
Contingent would be returning
via AMERICA
1200 Course 324^o Speed 13 Knots Wind SSE
Force 3 Visibility c/7  Sea & Swell 21

Barometer 1016.5 Temp 76  Distance run

since [[151200?]] 312 mls. Latitude 11° 44' S Long 00° 14' W

1315 and 1715. Tombola abreast the

crane.

1700 Quiz

2000 "Yokel Boy" and Newsreel shown

on quarterdeck and in torpedo

space.

165

Friday 17 May. AT SEA

Fine clear, very hot & muggy day.

Moderate sea.

0845 Officer's conference in orderly

room.  Off Pl commanders are required

to get information as to how many

men have visited; have lived in; were

born in; have friends & relatives ^in; in

ENGLAND.  This is for incorporation in

the press statement being prepared.

0900. Parade with rifles and inspection.

0925. At the request of the sShip

rifles were returned, and all ranks

were detailed for ship's duties.

0930. Brig MOTEN held a conference

attended by senior representatives of

all services, in the Captain's Day

Cabin. The object was to discuss the

question of leave and coping with

invitations in ENGLAND. Brig MOTEN

brought forward the following points:

(1) Leave - Major problems in LONDON

The march is the primary object

of the visit followed by certain

official engagements, such as a visit

to the cCenotaph, HM visit, etc.

The GOC's policy is to grant the

maximum leave possible consistent with

official obligations.

To get maximum results &

greatest benefit to every member of

the Contingent - leave can not be

a hapahazard affair but will

require to be conse systematically

organized.

The Coronation Contingent in

1937 found it necessary to employ

167

typists from Australia House to handle

correspondence associated with

public & private entertainment invitations,

and although private entertainment may

now be restricted on account of

the grim food situation in England,

[[I?]] still think the weight of invitations

will be heavy.

Two important things.

(a) Want Contingent to see as

much of England as possible

and not spend all their spare

time in the streets of London

(b) Want the people of England to

see as much of as possible of

the Contingent

(2) Invitations

(a) Where reasonably possible

every invitation will be accepted.

Someone will attend.

(b) Every advice of honorary

membership to Clubs, Associations

and the like will be immediately

followed by a personal call by

one or more members of the

Contingent who will be

detailed for this purpose.

(c) All invitations acknowledged

in writing or by phone.

(d) Letter of thanks sent by ^from the

Contingent by after each visit.

(e) Personal invitations and

special places of interest for

individual members will be

met wherever possible.

 

169

(3) Periods of Training, Leave

Up to 8 June - no overnight

leave. Work in forenoon - early

start - finish at noon - and then

leave if no commitments.

(4) After the March.

Our movements are uncertain,

but present intention maximum

leave for all ranks.

But this leave will require

some intense organization and

unselfish work by the officers

particularly if every member is to

get the maximum benefit of our

visit.

It is proposed to ask for

clerical assistance to handle

correspondence, etc, under possibly

an ATS Officer with a social

bump fully developed, a good

knowledge of England, and with

some organizing ability.

This staff will require

good guidance from us, and

I propose that we have an

entertainment committee representing

all three services, say three from

each, RAN, AMF & RAAF and three

from Women's Services.  This may

sound a big committee, but all

the personnel will not be available

at all times.  It will be sufficient

if at each least one from each

of these groups is available for

say an hour each morning to handle

the invitations.

171

(5) Amenities Fund

£1000, of which £750 at

disposal of committee for transport

expenses - say £2500 each week.

Balance £250 for return of hospitality

for contingent as a whole.

Maybe two parties at Australia

House?

Pro forma for atachment to

each invitation.

Duplicate copy for Officer or NCO

i/c of each party.

Personnel no included in

specific invitation organised -

(a) General Leave in London

(b) Organized tours of London

or Country

Records on Pl basis for each

man to ensure that his

visits extend over as wide

an area as possible.

After Brig MOTEN finished his

remarks the following points were

raised:

(1) Are leave schemes still in

existence

(a) Lady Frances RYDER scheme
for Dominion Forces.

(b) Boomerang [[? C?]] Club.

(c) Lord NUFFIELD Scheme.

(2) Whether rail & bus passes could

be obtained.

(3) The question of coupons.

(4) Rationing

(5) Whether visits to EUROPE are

possible

(6) What is the extent of camp duties.

172 173

[[1100?]]. The following signal was

received from HM KING NEPTUNE

"My Herald will welcome you

in the approaches to my

Domain at 8 o'clock tonight

Friday."

The following was sent in

reply:

"We are deeply honoured

to receive your message.

Your Herald will be received with

all the pomp & ceremony

customary on this auspicious

occasion."

^1200. Speed 13 Knots Course 325° Visibility

 C c7. Sea & Swell 12 Barometer 1015.5

Wind SE Force 3 Distance travelled

since 161200 - 313 miles Longitude 07° 32' S

Latitude 03° 08' W

2000. Practically every one not on

duty positioned them only themselves

to observe the appearance of

King NEPTUNE'S Herald. There were

men on the main ^upper deck, astride

the A8" gun turret, on B deck, and

in the Bridge structure stretching

right up to the ADP; in short,

anywhere that overlooked the

fore castle where the appearance

was due to take place. Sharp

on the stroke of 8 o'clock some

powder was exploded, the

lights went on, and there in

all their glory f was HM Herald

and his offsiders, presenting

a magnificent sight in

full fancy dress. The offsiders

included mermaids, policemen,

bears, and numerous other

hangers on. HM Herald exchanged

formal greetings with the Captain

175

and time & place were settled

for tomorrow's ceremony.

HM Herald and his train then moved

off down the port side led by the

band to the quarterdeck. There they

were again met by the Captain. One of

the bears showed a great affection for

Maj Gen EATHER. The Herald presented the

summonses for those persons who

were to receive particular attention oin

the ceremony on the morrow.  Among

those so honoured were Commander

[[MORROW?]], Flt/Lt HOOK, and Nursing Sister 

WILSON. The recipients read the

damning charges against them, and

wondered what would be their

fate.

Every one was delighted by the

excellence of the costumes, the good

stage management; and the time &

trouble that must have been taken

to produce it.

177

Saturday 18 May. AT SEA.

Typical tropical day, with not a

breath of wind, a very hot sun and

[[glassy?]] sea.

0845. Officer's Conference. Dress after

0900 hrs parade will be optional. Dress

for Church Parade on Sunday will

be Shirts, trousers, KD, berets, boots, gaiters,

[[?]] belts, waist, web.  RAN & RAAF as usual.

0900 Parade, inspection, and divisions.

Long before HM King NEPTUNE was

due to come aboard, we had begun

to assemble at the [[scene?]] of operations. A

platform was constructed in the

starboard waist on the main deck. At

the end of the dais was a canvas

swimming pool; a swing seat stood

ready for his HM's victims.  Men were

crowded ionto every vantage point that

promised a good view of the ceremony.

There were some on B deck, many on

various points of the Bridge structure

stretching right up to the top, and even

some on top of the two funnels

not in use. Cameras clicked everywhere.

Sharp at one  A few minutes before ten

[[?]] the King's train began to arrive and

assemble on the platform.  It included

mermaids, bears, barbers, a dog,

policemen, and the King's two cChamberlains.

The latter two parts were traditionally

taken by the Master at Arms & the

1^st Lieut. They were dressed in a

manner very similar to a high court

judge. All the participants were dressed

for the part & it presented a very

brilliant, & charming colourful array.

179

On the stroke of ten the King &

Queen arrived, accompanied by

much pomp & ceremony. They both

looked the part. HM was [[dramatised?]]

played by the Ship's Butcher and he

wore the traditional dress. The Queen

played by Lt GREGORY looked very

glamourous indeed in a long

white dress.

When they were seated on

their thrones the investiture began.

This consisted of presenting bakelite

medalions to about a dozen people

commencing with the Captain. After

each recipient had mounted the

stage & defend ^paid due homage, the

King read out an opposite piece

of doggerel from a large scroll.

The "order" was then hung round

his or her neck, as she or he

backed respectfully away.

At the conclusion of the

investiture the most important business

the day began - the initiation.

Commencing with the people unfortunates

who had warrant served on them

they mounted the steps where their

crimes were read to them in

verse by the King's Chamberlains. They

were then handed over to the Barbers

and Bears - the latter by this time

were grunting in anticipation in

the pool.  The victim was placed

on the swinging board & the 

barbers proceeded to get to work

on him with many & various of types