1943
1 Jan
- & so the new year started for me - just as I thought too - drunk!
What a party! & did we let that New Year in? I ended up at the C&P.O's
& what a journey it was too, the private bus I hi-jacked bashed a
private car & pushed a 'gharri' off the road - still, my bottles of
beer were saved. What a surprise, all the kites we lost yesterday
turned up - they'd all landed at Bone in Tunisia [Cap Bon] - good show. - I
started the year with a night duty.
2 Jan
Managed to pick myself a cold to start the New Year with. Played Footer
for the Mess v N.A.S. & we won 2-1 - quite a surprise since we'd heard
such a lot of their team. After the match I went swimming - cold??
3 Jan
More P.O's made up; I suppose it won't be long before they're sent
home on a course - still leaving the old faithfuls behind to carry
on the good work. Gee the weather is cold.
4 Jan
Not so good weather these days - not much happening either except
that the R.A.F. are certainly putting the hours in.
5 Jan
Panic stations to get A/C OK & then the usual thing - no flying. Cosham
& I went to Valletta at the last minute to see the Command Parade
show. Wasn't too bad.
6 Jan
Plenty of work again, but coped eventually - was duty again, but nothing
happened with my Sqdn. 821 lost a kite over Sicily mine-laying. Finished
up the day with a barney with Lt. Clarke - aha.
7 Jan
Had the day off but the weather was too cold for my usual swim - I
went down to Valletta & then saw 'Rookies' at Sliema. There's more
talk of mail kicking about -
8 Jan
Apparently I've had a letter stolen from the Mess - it was seen there
last night but it's since gone astray. More P.O's made up in the Sq'dn'.
They'll be home soon.
9 - 14 Jan
Everything over this period has been rather vague & disjointed to
me especially after having just been discharged from S.S.Q. after
a rough time with Tonsilitis & Vincents (Baines was the bloke I caught
the Vincents off I know). The old temperature was up for three days
at about 103 - shakey do! While I was in Margo's parcels turned up
intact. Its pretty bad the way some of the lads received their parcels
with cakes & stuff inside over a year old. Maund & Dawon (AG) went
adrift while I was in dock too. Bad luck on Maund, he should have
finished long ago. I succeeded in my bluff & wangled myself on Sat.
Ghajn Tuffieha party. I'm afraid 828 Sq'dn' don't run this child all
the time. The weather has been quite cold just lately & Margo's roll-neck
has arrived at the right moment.
15 Jan
The old throat isn't too comfortable today - Doc Glennie has fixed
me up for a week at the Rest Camp, Ghajn Tuffieha from tomorrow.
16 - 21 Jan
Well, I decided to do absolutely nothing while on my sick leave, &
I didn't either. I never even took writing paper & pen with me & as
a result I didn't even write to Margo. Still, I feel better after
it - the country about that end of the Island certainly is beautiful.
I hope my roll of film comes out O.K. I had, what must be, the laziest
week ever in my life - just doing absolutely nothing.
22 Jan
Back to work again - hell, I'm really browned off with this Sqdn nowadays
- there's not the faintest show of interest left in it - I'm O.S. [Orderly Sgt.]
tomorrow.
23 Jan
Did O.S. today, & its quite a tame affair these days. The old throat
felt a bit sore today so I nipped into the S.SQ for a gargle - Packed
up at midnight.
|
"Last night RAF fighter-bombers from Malta continued their offensive with appreciable successes.
"Early this morning Malta receives with unbounded enthusiasm the news of the capture of Tripoli by the British Eighth Army."
'MALTA Diary of a War; 1940-1945'
Michael Galea (PEG Ltd, 1992)
|
24 Jan
Took the day off after yesterday's caper - lovely weather so I really
got cracking on my billet. Clean as a new pin these days. Had a HOT
shower this afternoon. Crikey! even Taff had a day off too.
25 Jan
Started on an Engine change today - was so choca that I put overalls
on & got stuck in with the lads on it, Mauritz has gone to M.E. Sir
C.Portal came around the station today.
26 Jan
Terrible weather today - rainy & cold, but nevertheless I made some
progress with my engine change. Taff has decided to call off my night-Flying
temporarily.
27 Jan
There are some very queer rumours floating around the Island these
days, no doubt due, in most part to the big Churchill - Roosevelt
meeting at Casablanca - I bet the Itis are trembling just now - We
lost 'W'.
28 - 29 - 30 - 31 Jan
Except for plenty of work there hasn't been much to write about. Jerry
has been active with his fighter sweeps & the Welshman has been in.
5051 Works Sqdn is here building up the 'drome again. Rumour has it
that there are going to be runways long enough to take heavy bombers
on Hal-Far. I can't see much more for the F.A.A. to do now from Malta.
1 Feb
Lovely weather again. The Sq'dn' is training now - there's not much
doing for us now that Tripoli has fallen. I wonder whether we'll stay
here long. The 'dromes are certainly undergoing a drastic reformation.
2 - 3 - 4 - 5 Feb
I'm getting very lax with this diary just lately, but then, in comparison
with the events of last year, this one is very tame, from my point
of view anyway. Lt Lashmore is back at the Sq'dn' helm now in place
of Lt Clarke. A crowd of new Aircrews are with us now. Its amazing
how we see them come & go & we go on forever. Went to Valletta today
& saw the R.W.K's entertaining the Malta Brass Hats.
|
Thursday, 4 February:
"It is officially reported that the enemy in 1942 has dropped 12,300 tons of bombs on Malta, mainly on airfields, Naval Bases, and Harbour installations."
Friday, 5 February:
"Sig Mussolini has dismissed his Foreign Minister, Count Ciano."
'MALTA Diary of a War; 1940-1945'
Michael Galea (PEG Ltd, 1992)
|
6 Feb
Something slipped up today - apparently a big noise was expected,
Churchill very likely, but after waiting over an hour in the rain he never turned up. The weather was really lousy today.
7 - 8 - 9 -10 - 11 Feb
I suppose I may as well keep this up - just for something to. After
about a six week ban on all amusements, bars etc, the effort was lifted.
Apparently the Government think that the different diseases which
were ravaging the Island, are now under control -
I never realized what was meant by a disease ridden place until this
sample of the world. Infantile paralysis, Typhoid & Typhus - Tetanus
- Diptheria - Scabies & Blood poisioning & hosts of other deadly means
of becoming deceased. The Island has been in practically as big a
panic owing to disease, as during the Blitzes last year. I did a Mining
Strike on my Duty night; they went to Trapani & encountered quite
a lot of 'Flack'. This new crowd are a good shower of blokes though.
A Convoy came in from the East yesterday & two more tankers this morning
making six in all, but I'm afraid that offensive gear formed the biggest
portion of the Convoy. Well, the old 'Welshman' won't run the Med.
gauntlet again - 'U' boats pranged her near Tobruk. I went to the
C&P.O's club last night for a change.
12 - 13 - 14 - 15 Feb
I guess I may just as well write up this diary collectively as to
make a daily record of the usual happenings. Well, I had quite a pleasant
surprise to know that Blakeley was aboard the Convoy that came in
- he's with 826 Sqdn & they came from Misourata near Tripoli. He's
choca enough now. I went down to see him at the Dockyard where he
is billeted. Had quite a pleasant chat. Their A/C came here on the
15th on their way to Bone. Owing to Jerry advancing against the 1st
Army however its going to be a shakey 'do' whether or not they can
make the trip now. I'm duty tonight so I guess if they go at all it
will be my luck to have to see them off. I don't envy them anyway.
They're missing all the 'big eats' now that they've got over the novelty
of being in Malta. I spent the night at the C&P.O's with Chats Harris
& luckily we managed to get hold of some Malta dishwater. Subbie Dalton
left for Gib last night; with Hutchings. I've got some brand new guys
on with me tonight, from Blighty - I'm rather sorry for them in a
way especially if its an all night effort, - we here are well seasoned
now. Still, we can't go on for ever living on bully & biscuits - the
Medical Authorities are flapping now about the food affecting the
eyesight.
16 - 17 - 18 Feb
Nothing happened on my Duty night - I had to taxy an airplane all
the way back from the 'drome because the pilot didn't turn up. After
a morning in bed I had a shower & then went to Valletta to have a
'shifti' round, but I came back early. The weather is as rough & shirocci
as hell especially today - at the moment the sea outside my door seems
liable to come pounding in, I've never seen it so rough - no wonder
everybody has been stood down tonight - only fools would fly tonight.
This 826 crowd seem likely to stay here for quite a while yet if Jerry
continues advancing to Bone - apparently the ground crews have gone.
19 - 20 Feb
What terrific weather - the real 'shiroc' this time - visibilty nil
- with a hell of a gale, & rough sea! phew, I thought I'd seen some
rough sea in my time, but none ever so rough as this. The very ground
trembles as the 20' waves crash home against the rocks outside my
billet - its been on for about four days now. I don't think it will
last much longer though. No air activity at all, & 826 Sqdn are still
here. We've stopped working on their kites though until the day comes
when they can go away. I got myself fixed up with a new battledress today. I guess I'll be content with a look at the flicks tonight.
21 - 22 Feb
The weather has decided to change at last; quite sunny again. Talk
about activity up on the dispersals; tons of it - 826 kites are going
to Bone at last which speaks well for the situation there. Crikey, on coming back from the C&P.O's I find more activity than that in
the Bay - A big Convoy in & a petrol tanker moored up right outside
my billet.
23 - 24 - 25 Feb
Plenty of A/S patrols for the Sq'dn' - I clicked for duty the night
826 kites pushed off. I asked a pilot to remember me to Blakeley.
Didn't do much on my day off - the tanker pushed off in the afternoon.
Gee! did I pick up a packet of the 'Dog'? - I was up practically all
night being sick etc - the quack gave me 24 hours E.D. today, but
I couldn't take much advantage of it with Ginger on day off too -
Cunningham didn't come.
26 - 27 - 28 Feb
So Margo is in the N.F.S at last - I bet she'd be proud of it if I
were home - flashing off her uniform at me in all probability. Cunningham
did come after all, more gold braid than I'd seen for a long time.
I had quite a drop of beer with Ian Cribbens & Co before they went
home - Duty tonight.
House of Commons, 3rd March, 1943
Excerpt from the speech by A.V.Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty, presenting the Royal Navy Estimates:
"The gallant island of Malta has been sustained and relieved. Since the beginning of 1942 our operations for that purpose, including the reinforcement of the Royal Air Force in the island, cost us the loss of three cruisers, nine destroyers and two aircraft carriers, in addition to merchant ships. In view of the great history of the contribution by Malta, the Royal Navy were very glad to render that service. With the help on two occasions of a United States carrier, our aircraft carriers carried altogether 744 fighters for Malta."
'MALTA, The Triumphant Years; 1940-1943'
George Hogan (publ. Robert Hale, 1978)
|
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 Mar
I've never seen the equal of this weather before, for the time of
the year - its wonderful - I went swimming after my duty. Things are
a bit straight now that the sprog P.O.'s have gone. Lt Gregory & Appleton
are now C.O. & S.P. it appears as though this new runway project is
urgent - about 2000 troops are now here working on pens, etc.
I guess something is going to happen very soon - to cap the issue
we're doing dummy deck-landings I wonder? I'm duty again tonight.
5 Mar
Had the day off today; what terrible weather as compared with yesterday
- gale & shiroc together. Played for the Sq'dn' against Benghaisa
A.A. [battery] won 3-0 - Gee I feel stiff.
6 - 7 Mar
A big convoy came in this morning - I wonder what is really going
to happen on this Island? Went to the C&P.O.'s - lousy! What a lousy
letter I sent to Marg - I guess an apology was called for there -
she's OK!
8 - 9 Mar
Did a fairly uneventful duty & afterwards had the day off. Went up
to the Band Club, Tarxien. It seems as though some of 821 kites are
going over to Tripoli after all. Blytheman is going to take charge
of them. There are strong rumours of our Sqdn moving shortly too -
I wonder?
10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 Mar
Except for routine matter, nothing out of the ordinary happened until
the 12th - I was duty for the strike on the W. of Sicily - Appleton
& Gregory failed to return - a bit of a mystery too, considering that
it was an ASV(M) kites. Tommy Barr in B got a hit on a 10000 tonner.
I had a horrible cold during the night too. The Sq'dn' made another
strike on the 13th too, pranged two ships, but we lost Richards in
Q. He was a decent guy - he went & followed his fish right into the
ship. I played footer this afternoon against Command Salvage, won
3-1.
15 - 16 - 17 - 18 Mar
Frazer took over temporary Sq'dn' Command, but it doesn't really matter
these days who does it - no-one seems to be interested in the welfare
of the Sq'dn' - not like the old days of Haynes - Willie & Co - I
have heard that Willie went for a 'burton' in 841 Sq'dn' - hard lines
that. I did an Ord. Sgt & Duty night together but nothing much occured.
I managed to get my spot of taxying in, as usual. A 'trooper' & four
'merchant packets' came in, & what's more thay had a spot of bombing
& etc to contend with on the way. Sutton got a bit of a shock over
his draft - if its carried out? Crossby's relief is here now, so he'll
be leaving us shortly I should think - who knows? my turn some time.
19 - 20 - 21 - 22 Mar
More ships arrived at the Island - I wonder when the big 'do' is going
to start, & whether I'll be here for it. Somehow or other I think that we'll be leaving shortly - everything is pointing that way. Did a duty again & the kites went out on an armed search but no luck.
On Sunday I played for the Sqdn v Tal Handeck [tal-Handaq], we won 4-1 but I got laid out for ten minutes. Nothing much doing today, & Ging, Ali &
myself went swatting with Mouritz.
23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 Mar
Bad luck again - Frazer & Barbour went out in 'F' & disappeared. Suspected
shot down over or near Sicily. That makes Russell Jones C.O. I was duty again - proper Jonah I must be. Nothing much doing & the weather still is very 'shirocci'. We played the Sgts Mess & won 2-1 - a hell of a game - I got crocked.
28 - 29 - 30 - 31 Mar
Duty on Sunday, all the officers were as drunk as hell, but luckily
the Sqdn stood down - the weather turned out to be terrible. Quite
a nice day for my day off - I paid a visit to Valletta just to have
a look around. I saw the troopers in the Harbour - the Devons, Dorsets,
& Hampshires are leaving on them. Tom Collinson went from Luqa to
Castel Benito by air today. - Sent Marg £10.
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