We Arrive In Bombay

They sat in comfortable chairs, about four or five to a table.  Eight sisters [nurses] on the boat ate with the officers.

It was strange that on this otherwise bullshitty ship, when pay parade came around we just went up to a table, told them who we were and signed for our pay.  No saluting.  Quite a contrast from the R.A.F- run-ship where we were paraded and upon the calling of your name you,

SHOUTED, SIR! STOFER, 801! SIR!, and did a quick left right, left right, up to the desk, came to attention, saluted, gave your name again, stood to attention - pay counted out, picked up pay, saluted, gave a smart right turn and marched off, heading for the canteen where just about anything could be purchased, such as all of the rationed items on the home front.

Another contrast.  On the other ships I had been on, we all had our muster stations, in other words the life boat we were to go to in case of alarm.  There was a set time for these alarm tests and so we would saunter in that direction and be ready when the alarm and ship's whistle

blew frantically.  It was easy to be in place at the right time.  However on this army run ship there was absolutely no warning and it could even be at night when you were well and truly tuckedaway in your hammock.  It was quite a scamper I can tell you to get there in a prescribed time, or

else get hell for it.  

One day on the ship we had the most efficient F.F.I. [free from infection], that I have ever had since being in the R.A.F.  We were all lined up on the deck and given a real going over.  It wasn't a very pleasant day. The breeze was quite strong and cool whipping across the deck, and

the closer one got to the Medical Examiner the less clothes one had on.  It was a mass production sort of thing and when naked and shivering and finally in front of a doctor - there were several of them of course - the routine went something like this - "Stand straight!"  - some personal handling took place.

  "Cough! - Again!" - "Turn around!" -  "Bend over!" - more personal handling andprodding in private areas. "Cough again!" - "On your way!" It was nice to scamper away and get back into the warmth of one's clothes.

One day about 20 of us were picked to peel spuds in the galley from 6:30 in the morning until about 11:30.  It sure was hot.  We sat in our shorts, stripped to the waist, and bare feet in slippers.  The temperature was up to 110 at times.  We peeled one and a half tons of potatoes a day.  To make the time fly we had contests to see who could peel the most spuds in a minute.  

We could do from 8 to 13 in a minute.  I think some peel must have been left on at times.  Some guys just made four slices of the spud and ended up with a square one.  We would have lunch there, and then more spud peeling from 1:30 until 3:30.  We had breakfast and lunch in the galley and the same food as the officers.  Tender steaks, fried potatoes and lovely puddings - so very much different from what we had at the mess tables.  

INDIA

On Monday, Oct. 12/42 at 10:30 in the morning we crossed the equator for the second time on this trip out from the UK. We had another pay parade and got some shillings which wetook to the exchange office for Rupees.  For 21 shillings or 21 bob as the slang goes we received 14 Rupees or "chips".

On the 17th our ship dropped anchor in Bombay harbour.