Diary Entries of C.Clegg India Command

A few entries by L/Cpl Colin Clegg 7613844 from Sheffield. REME 6/B Wkshop India Command.

April 12th 1942: Arrived Liverpool. Wondering what is in store for us. Saw Ma, Lucy, Muriel from the train. How long will it be before I see them again?

April 13th 1942: Went abroad Monday after leaving No:1 Transit Camp. "Duchess of Bedford"

April 14th 1942: Pulled out of Liverpool 9am. Laid out in the Mersey all night.

April 15th 1942: Set sail 11.15am. Calm. Sunny. Last sighted land 21.15hrs. Looking forward to the day when I shall see it again.

August 8th 1942: Arrive Bombay. Gateway to India.

August 9th 1942: Set foot in India.

January 30th 1944: Lahore. Watched a cricket match, to pass the time on a little better.

January 31st 1944: Moved my kit down to the YMCA.

February 1st 1944: Passing the time on very pleasantly.

February 2nd 1944: Waiting for a telegram, concerning leave.

February 3rd 1944: Wtite home, Ern(my brother) at one table, me at the other.

February 4th 1944: "No telegram". All these good things have to come to an end. Said "cheerio" to Ern, waved to him until the train took me out of sight. "We'll meet again".

February 6th 1944: Still travelling arrive Calcutta 13.20 hr.

February 7th 1944: Back to work. Taking it easy.

February 8th 1944: Recieve telegram which I should have got in Lahore telling me leave was granted till the 12th of Feb.

September 27 1945: Surprise surprise. Boarded "Duchess of Bedford" The last I saw of her was at Durban over three years ago.

September 30th 1945: Set sail waved good bye to "Gateway of India". What relief.

October 5th 1945: Passed Aden to sail up Red Sea. Very hot.

October 8th 1945: Entering Suez Canal. Only time I've felt like a sailor. Land on both sides. Unbelievable.

October 10th 1945: Entered Med.

October 16th 1945: Arrived Liverpool.

November 1st 1945: Arrived Nottingham for demob. Tommy White Next bloke in front of me getting kitted out for Civvy Street. Joined together 6 years ago.

November 5th 1945: "Home at Last ". End of an Era.

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