Wilfred (Pip) Hill's Diary 1940/1941 - Extract 5 On Board the Windsor Castle (part 2)

Wilfred Hill was known to his family and friends as Pip (from the children’s cartoon ‘Pip, Squeak and Wilfred’). He was born in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1922 but moved south with his parents and elder brother, Harry, at the age of 10. A few days after his 18th birthday he volunteered for the RAF. His diary begins the day he enlisted (4th Sept 1940) and covers the training period in England, the long and hazardous sea voyage to the Middle East and his first few weeks in Iraq.

These diary extracts were transcribed and submitted by Anne Hill, Wilfred’s widow, and Margaret Hill, his daughter. Editing has been kept to a minimum. Notes enclosed in square brackets are their added comments or queries.

Sunday 24 Aug1941
Stan on guard yesterday and today. On watch nothing special, windy and a bit cold.
At 00.00hrs we crossed the equator. Stan on guard in vestibule of first class lounge. Met him and gave him some chocolate. Breakfast, filled up diary. Went on deck, met Freddy and two of his pals. Went to the service which finished about 11.30am. On watch nothing special. Dinner. Came back to cabin and washed socks, vest and towel. Laid on my bed till tea. Tea, after which I went up on deck to the canteen and bought some oranges, sweets, pencil and chocolate. Sat on the after well-deck rail and talked with Stan and Ron till it was time to go to supper. Had supper and sat listening to someone playing the piano. Came back and lay on my bunk talking until lights out.

Monday 25 Aug
Nothing special on watch. This morning King Neptune held court. After breakfast Stan and I went on deck and found somewhere to stand. The band was there and played tunes to get things started. The SWO and an Officer came out and supervised the drawing of the lottery. At 10.00hrs Neptune arrived with his court. Names of victims were called and sentenced (all guilty except the padre who was accused of ‘teaching Freetown natives to swear at the price of two dozen bananas’). Fun was fast and furious. Officers, nurses, ECOs, erks, swaddies were all handed over to the court physician and barber and mermen who ducked them. All those who would not come were dragged in by the court bodyguards. It all finished in a tear-up and somebody played the King [National Anthem] to stop it. It was good fun. I then went on watch. Saw a turtle and some strange animal with brown upper side and silver-white underside. Dinner. No lemonade issue. Came back to cabin. Washed vest and shirt. Did this diary, 3.30pm. Read till tea, after which I went on deck with a pipe and listened to the spelling bee. Officers 12, ORs 13. Came down to cabin and later went to supper with R and S. Came back and lay on my bed until I felt sleepy and went to sleep.

Thursday 28 Aug
Up late. Breakfast. Cabin cleaning. Went on deck with pad to write to Jo and Bunny but did not get round to it. Talked with Spike and some blokes until dinner. At 2.30pm went on deck to listen to SWO and S.Adj shooting the line about Cape Town. Stopped and listened to a lecture by Rev Sup Siddons on Lawrence and the Arabs. Very interesting. Tea. Spent all evening repairing my watch. Made it go. Listened to news about Iran. On watch felt cold. Must wear more tomorrow night. A bit more light.

Tuesday 2 Sept
Only eight ships in our part of convoy. Pay day I hope. Worst night yet, bad swell, got very bad at night. Cleaned up cabin. While doing this I saw land dead ahead. Went on deck. Watched ship go right in only to turn and go out again. Only Britannic got in before dinner. Can see waves breaking on breakwater. We can’t get over the bar, the sea too rough. Can see town houses, hotel etc very clearly. At times we were very near town. Pilot came aboard. When we came up after dinner we had tugs taking us into the docks. From 6.00pm we were allowed out into the town. I was rather late getting my pass and it was about 6.40pm before I got ashore. Bill Harvey, Nobby and Stan were with me. I did not enjoy this night. They all got drunk. Back about 11.40pm.

Wednesday 3 Sept
Stan still not back. Bought a paper after breakfast and read it. Came down to cabin at 11.30am. Dinner. After dinner cleaned up as there is a bit of gen going about that the A-L may get out at 6.00pm. M-Z are out today from 1.00pm. Slept till tea. Messed about. We are not going out. Went to kip early.

Thursday 4 Sept
Stan in bed when I awoke this morning. He returned at 1.45 this morning. Cleaned up before dinner as we are all out today from 13.00hrs. Left ship alone. Stan is under ‘open arrest’. Mooched about town, bought a watch. At 3.00pm went into Plaza, saw ‘Billy the Kid’, Rob Taylor. Not bad. Came out saw Ron and Hughes. Went into the Stage Door Café and had a mixed grill, 2/6. Came out, messed about, bought some fags and had a milkshake. Reserved some seats at Alhambra for ‘Strawberry Blonde’. Messed about until 8.00pm. Saw picture, enjoyed it very much. Returned to ship. Stan was out during the evening.

Friday 5 Sept
Up late, missed breakfast, cleaned up. Went on deck, rinsed down and cleaned up. During the morning we moved across the dock for oil. Passes. Got Stan’s pass. Had to wait until gangplanks were put up. First I sent off a telegram to mother then I bought some souvenirs of Cape Town. Went into the park and walked round the art galleries and the museum. Returned to town and had tea. Same as yesterday but 3d more. Went to pictures saw ‘Model Wife’. Not too good. Came out, met Hadley. We went for a bus ride and saw a skating rink so we went in. Got cheesed off. Walked about awhile and went back to ship.

Saturday 6 Sept
When I awoke at 7.55am we were at anchor outside the harbour. We had left dock at 7.00am and we lifted anchor about 11.00am. There are nine ships and the Carnarvon Castle, a merchant crusier. Stirling Castle, Strathallan, Britannic, Niger, S------ [illegible], Orcades, Highland Monarch, Andes and Themis. Slept all afternoon. Went on deck after tea and watched the mountains, in the fast failing light, disappear. I felt a little sad. Some day I will return. Returned to routine on watch.

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