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RAF Sergeant
Thomas Barker, BEM
World War Two Diary
1941 to 1943
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introduced and transcribed by Lawrence M. Barker
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content: Lawrence M, Barker © 2004
editing: my-malta.com © 2004
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Website designed for '800x600'
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WAR TIME MALTA DIARY
1941-1943
(Abridged Version)
RAF Sgt.Thomas Barker *529747*
828 Squadron, Hal-Far
transcribed from the original Diaries
by Lawrence M Barker BA(Hons), MCIWEM
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Part Seven
Nov. - Dec. 1942
1 Nov
After a day of doing nothing I, & the Entertainments Committee organized
Tombola in the Mess. It was a helluva success - we succeeded in starting
our Entertain 5 Fund.
2 Nov
Went to Birzi to collect my pay - I guess I'll get it up at Luqa in
future. The Beauforts are due back this week & then WORK again. I
do wish I could get some mail from Margo. Went to the Black Market.
3 Nov
Nothing much doing about here today - Jerry played around for a few
games. I went to the Black Market for something to eat. Ran Tombola
for the Mess again - not bad.
4 Nov
Isanes(?) etc today, but apart from that - nothing - went out in the
afternoon to Sliema & saw a horrible picture. Paid a visit to the
Qormi Black Market & caned him.
5 Nov
At last there's a glimmer of hope for the Island - Western Desert!
I don't think anything could have been so rejuvenating. Well, my little
Beaufort show starts again tomorrow.
6 Nov
Back to old routine again. We moved the office to Safi Strip. 16 Beauforts
& about 30 Beaus landed during the afternoon. Bags of work getting
them ready for a 4 am. tomorrow.
7 Nov
Talk of activity - I've never seen it done with such a load of enthusiasm
- I guess the news from Libya etc is the answer to Malta's prayer
- Relief is well within sight.
8 Nov
Well after a 30 hr stretch of duty I'm feeling a shade tired - nevertheless
we've got 23 Beauforts lined up for the Itis - there's never been
such a glut of A/C on the 'drome.
9 Nov
Ran tombola last night but I must confess I'm getting browned off
with it. What a hell of mess the new Eng. Officer gave us today -
upset the whole organization until S/Ldr E. stepped in.
10 Nov
It certainly appears as though the Itis are on the run now from all
the different gen we're getting. The Albacores & Wimpeys had a crack
at a cruiser force & scored hits. We're still standing by for a really
big bang at the Iti's Battle Fleet.
11 Nov
Duty today but somehow it doesn't seem irksome when a decent job of
work is being done - the weather broke during the night - the Sqdn
went out on Mine-laying but bad weather beat'em.
12 Nov
After working all night I had the job of salvaging kit from 'O' -
crashed on the edge of the quarry. Still I had the afternoon off &
went to the Coliseum pictures - The news continues good.
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"12-November, Notice: Owing to the shortage of meat and in order temporarily to conserve the food supplies on the island, it has become necessary to make a very slight reduction in the quantity of food issued in Victory Kitchens until the winter potatoe crop is available."
Malta Diary of a War, 1940-1945
by Michael Galea, 1992
publ: Publishers Enterpr. Group (PEG) Ltd
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13 Nov
& Friday! The Sqdn are still standing by, but the Iti fleet only went
from one port to another, Naples to be exact. Ran Tombola again but
somehow I think W.O. S is turning it into a racket.
14 Nov
Nothing doing for the Sqdn yet. The Beau's (227) are doing well intercepting
JU 52s going from Sicily to Bizerta. The weather is beginning to break
now.
15 Nov
Its here! just as I expected the Detacht. is going back to Hal-Far
& as quickly as ever too. 39 Sqdn is certainly being dropped in the
cart. A dozen Albacores are coming in from the desert.
16 Nov
What a horrible mess - rain & rain & RAIN - everywhere's swimming
- the 1st party went back this morning & I'm taking the remainder
tomorrow - old Chiefie Jones seems lost now. I went to the Coliseum
this afternoon.
17 Nov
What a helluva job - up bag & hammock once again - never thought I
had so much stuff hanging around. The Albacores haven't arrived yet
so I settled myself in my new billet - right on the sea front - a
place called 'Sheepshead' - with Ging Taylor.
18 Nov
What a change in the food - more than I've eaten for weeks & weeks.
Did the old run up to Hal-Far. Old Taff Jones is still chasing around
in small circles - what a do! A/C 'W' landed at Luqa last night engine
seized & I've clicked for the job - might just as well stayed there.
19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 Nov
Took four blokes with me on 'W' at Luqa & got cracking - I certainly
had something to tell to old Rosson & Co about the Hal-Far grub &
different things about messing - still Luqa is about the (only) station
doing anything towards the war-effort from this Island - everything
possible of an Air Force is done there - never a dull moment - at
last a Convoy got in unmolested, I guess the Island was just about
at the end of its tether with regard to food - The Welshman & Manxman
& Uraelus took blokes off to M.E. That so & so **** of an A.T.O. Mouritz
will have to be watching his step if he tries any of his funny business
with me - I'm no P.O.
Said cheerio to the boys at Luqa once again
- wish I could stay there, It's funny how one becomes attached to
a place - I guess that having so many 'hoppos' there had a lot to
do with it. Finished the installation in 25 hrs - a record! for an
Albacore. Took the afternoon off - to square up again.
24 Nov
Back into harness again - doing absolutely nothing as is usual with
this N.A.S. - hell knows when & where the new kites are coming. Terrific
storm in the evening - nearly washed the Island away. Wrote to Margo.
25 Nov
Had an uneventful nights duty - plenty of Liberators came in to do
bombing from here. Went to Valetta pictures & then to Hamrun to get
some snaps. Turned in early.
26 - 27 - 28 Nov
Nothing much doing in this outfit. 821 Sqdn Ground crews turned up
- we're expecting their kites anytime. Had a night out at the C&P.O's.
29 Nov
Duty today & I daresay these 821 kites are still liable to come. Crikey!
I had a head after last night. Force 'K' is here again same force
- different ships - Uraelus, Arethusa & Dido among them.
30 Nov
Yes! I was duty last night. Had a Swordfish out on search at 0230
& then damn me, if, after being told differently, those kites didn't
lob in - 12 of them. Tired as hell, but after a bathe in the 'drink'
I felt OK.
1 Dec
This other Sqdn have soon started disorganizing us - but then they'll
shortly be up to strength in which case - I wonder what will become
of us. Like old times tonight with Wimpeys - Albacores - Subs & 'K'
force after one Iti Convoy - poor devils.
2 Dec
Did the Navy & F.A.A. get weaving last night?? spitchered a complete
convoy. Just one kite damaged. Terrible rainy weather today but managed
to get ready for the big do tonight - another big Iti convoy going
to try its hand at making Tripoli - poor devils.
3 Dec
Yet again - 3 definite ships by the 828 & 821 boys - lord knows what
'K' force & the subs & Wimpeys did. We lost one kite S/Lts Taylor
& Guy. If we keep this up for long he'll [Jerry'll] be absolutely finished in
Africa before Xmas.
4 Dec
A hell of a successful strike again last night - those poor Iti sailors
must be near the point of mutiny these days. A couple of fighter sweep
over the Island today - I was duty tonight - but was 'stood down'
early.
5 Dec
Went for a swim this morning a bit chilly but it was goodo. Played
footer for the Mess v Main Sect. won 4-0 - a bit winded, but nevertheless
managed to score one. Went & had a night out at C&P.O's.
6 Dec
What a surprise! Scribes tell me that I've been awarded the B.E.M.
I thought that my life during the Malta Battle had been all washed
up & forgotten - but there - I can detect Haynes & Whitfields' touch
there - I wonder if Margo knows.
7 Dec
These A/C that we've been given by 821 are a load of tripe - talk
about work - I've never been so busy. I'm still all aches & pains
from the match on Saturday. I reckon Maund & Lushmore are off soon.
8 Dec
Received a signal from the A.O.C. (Park) with congrats. Did hafna
work today & ended up with a night duty in atrocious weather. The
826 Albacores did not arrive.
9 Dec
A terrific gale all day - the sea, breaking up against the wall outside
is one continual hiss & roar. I went to the Flicks in Valletta & saw
'First of the Few' quite good - managed to get my ribbon.
10 Dec
Terrible weather today, & of course, I would have to get caught out
in it - engine change again. There's not been much of note today;
but that terrific sea running at Birzi sure gets me.
11 Dec
At last, 6 more Albacores arrived, well, 5 did & one went down in
the 'drink' about 50 miles away; not much hope for the crew in this
gale: Jerry is getting his Air Force into Sicily again - I wonder??
12 Dec
Orderly Sgt - Bomb-hole filling party & Duty Night Flying - quite
a crowded evening I had sorting the flap out. After all the excitement
everything rolled by just as usual. The weather once more is simply
terrible - two more ships come in.
13 Dec
Took the day off & among other things had a swim during the morning
with Taylor - brrr! was it cold? Went to Valletta & Sliema for something
to do in the afternoon.
14 Dec
Just another hum-drum day on the 'drome until Jerry treated us to
a spot of high flying aerobatics - our salt water P.Os don't like
Jerry at all. Discretion always, but windiness never, that's my motto
here.
15 Dec
Had a diptheria injection today to find out who is liable to get it.
A few more months of war & we'll all be like pin cushions. Not much
doing today.
16 Dec
After a day of comparative inactivity I wended my way to the C&P.O's
- had some beer too - first for ages. Jerry is certainly getting it
in the neck now.
17 Dec
Duty today & plenty of panic again for nothing. There was a chance
that Iti Cruisers were about but no joy. I sent a kite out to look
for a Wimpey crew who'd lobbed down in the drink.
18 Dec
After being up practically all night I took the day off - went swimming
in the morning & went to Valletta to send some cables & money (10)
to Marg. Jerry is doing fighter sweeps over here now.
19 Dec
Well, well, Lofty Marshall & Charlie Dalton & Jock Gorman are away
at last. They're lucky devils, most probably will be on leave for
Xmas - I went with Sutton to the C&P.O's - quite enjoyable.
20 Dec
Duty today & its very shirroci today too - our kites did about 15
hours A.S.R.S. [aerial search & rescue service] & found one dinghy of 826 Sqdn. the bloke had been
in the drink for 9 days - The Sqdn is very quiet these days - expectant?
21 Dec
Day off today - walked down from Camp in a blinding rainstorm & felt
so 'choca' that I crashed it down until 2.30. Crikey! another shower
going home today - all A/F's Roll on! the sq'dn' will be a skeleton *(?).
22 Dec
Terrific bad weather - rain & wind & the sea nearly flooding the road
at times - I went to the pictures in the evening to pass the night
away - The Sqdn sank two more ships - nice work.
23 Dec
Duty again today & signs of a big flap to; but the weather - its atrocious.
I've got 9 Albacores on my hands now; somebody is holding back somewhere.
24 Dec
After a fairly negative duty last night I had the day off. Ended up
at the C&P.O's with Hirst. Boy! did we get sozzled. There's not much
I remember very clearly.
25 Dec
What a day! the only Xmas within memory when I couldn't eat my Xmas
dinner & I had two or three go's at it too. The Naval Officers at
Hal-Far fixed us in the morning - I still don't know how I came back
- I had a Xmas day swim.
26 Dec
Feel better after about 12 hours in bed. Had a really good meal to
start the day with. Plenty of work on the 'drome with all these maneouvres.
I was duty but was stood down early. Went to the pictures to see 'Saboteurs'.
"A 'spitchered ' Fairey Swordfish from 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm."
Lawrence Barker
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27 Dec
Lofty Baxter, Robbie & myself went on a 'run' to Valletta & Sliema
we ended up in the C&P.O's. Plenty of excitement with our kites these
days.
28 Dec
Not much doing today - a rather dull day but then Xmas left its mark
on everybody. I'd like to get some mail through.
29 Dec
Well, the Sq'dn did it again last night - Chalky White blew a 6000
tonner out of the water. I'm duty tonight. Sent the kites off on an
armed search at 5.0 pm but they found nothing. Terrible weather.
30 Dec
Had the day off but stayed in bed after last nights caper. After having
a cold bath & clean up I felt fresh enough to step around to the C&P.O's
to play whist - I didn't win anything though.
31 Dec
Plenty of work today, but we waded through it O.K. The Sq'dn' went
on a strike last night & Chalky White got another hit, but Simpson
& Jess are missing in 'Q' & four of 821's are adrift too. Everybody
is keyed up for the big party tonight.
* * * * * *
Well! I certainly never anticipated keeping this diary for so long
- I guess its become a habit now - I wonder how long I'll have to
go before I say - 'Spitcher'! Malta?
Note:
Some names appear as "S", denoting a 'blanked out' identity; a gesture on the part of the author intended to avoid embarrassment to the persons being referred to and/or their living relatives.
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