He took us to Smutz's home on a very high point of land, drove us through the grounds and pointed out an area to us where a clearing was being made in the forest on the estate to afford a better view of the nearby mountains.  

About 7 p.m. Mr. Chapman returned us to the docks.  Our automobile was saluted as it passed through the gates, and we were taken right to the bottom of the gangway of our ship.  Such dignitaries we suddenly became.  

Later that same evening we walked out again to a Jewish canteen for yet another free meal.  It was almost impossible to buy a meal in Cape Town, the citizens were so generous.

We met a couple of South African sailors and with them went on to another place named Garlicks where there were more free eats and a dance.  We left the dance about 10:30, bought a sack of oranges [120], f r three shillings, and then took a handsome cab [horse & buggy], back to

our ship for the night.  A perfect day.

I had an unusual experience while in Cape Town.  An airman without a hat in public could in those days be placed on a charge by the Military Police.  I was about to go ashore and could not find my hat.  It had been pinched by someone for whatever reason.  I wasn't going to miss a

day ashore.  Someone said that the main thing was for your head to be covered.  It is all very vague now, but I do recall that a mate fashioned my air force blue scarf into a sort of headgear.  I

left the ship with this on and I was not questioned.  As soon as one was inside any establishment it was okay to remove your hat [in my case a scarf], and tuck it inside the belt of your jacket.  I got away with it.

The day came when we were to be transferred to the Johan van Olden Barneveldt.  It was about 500 yds. away and could be easily seen from the ship we were on.  I will not forget this transfer.  

We were paraded in full kit and expected we would simply march over and on to the Barneveldt.  We were kept waiting and waiting and wondered why the delay.  There was a hugegate, I suppose for security, that was between us and the Barneveldt.  It was locked.  No one seemed to have a key, nor did it appear to us that anyone had been sent to get, or find the required key.  After "falling in" the order to "Forward March" was given and we were marched the LONG way around out of the docks and up the road and in by another entrance.  An hour and one half later we arrived at the Johan van Olden Barneveldt.  Maybe they wanted to give us some exercise. 

JOHAN VAN OLDENBARNEVELDT / LAKONIA 1929

was built by Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Maatschappij, Amsterdam for the Nederland Line in 1929. She was a 19,787 gross ton ship, length overall 609.2ft x beam 74.8ft, two funnels, two masts, twin screw and a speed of 19 knots. There was accommodation for 338-1st, 281-2nd and

64-3rd class passengers. Launched on 3/8/1929 for Nederland Line, she was chartered to Holland America Line in 1939 and carried out one round voyage from Amsterdam (dep 30/8/1939) to New York, carrying 634-1st class passengers. From 1940 - 1945 she was used as an Allied

troopship and after the war was refitted as a one class vessel.

  One often saw humorous scenes during such movements of troops.  One draft marched past us, led by an Army officer carrying a tennis racquet; another a bag of golf clubs. One of the ships we were passing en route to the Barneveldt had all of the men off of it and standing on the dock.  They were protesting the conditions on the ship.  Looked like another mutiny in the making.  Shades of Durban, and the Empire Woodlark. 

By 5 p.m. our ship cast off,  pulled away from the wharf and we were on our way to India. There were eleven ships in our convoy, but more were to "pick us up" off of Durban. We had an army C.O. for a change on this ship, and things were very, very, bullshitty.  We were put on "E" Deck, well below the waterline.  We slept in hammocks.  We ate at mess tables

below, 20 to a table. Breakfast at 7 a.m. - lunch 12 noon and evening meal 5 p.m.  We took turns at being mess orderlies for our own table;  two chaps for each meal one day at a time.  So one's turn didn't come around that often. The officers mess [naturally, fewer of them], was quite different to ours.  Fancy glass doors and about 150 huge fans at different angles to keep the poor chaps cool.