Homeward Bound Part 2 By Maurice Smith

Episode 2 of Homeward Bound

10.30pm - Sleeping on deck tonight as it’s getting pretty hot and sticky down below.

12^th Day – The real heat is with us now. It was 90^o in the shade at noon. Our position at that time was between Mecca and Sudan but not in sight of either. A rumour is spreading on board that Typhus has broken out in Bombay and that we will not be docking there. Officially though we are stilling calling there.

13^th Day – The sun came up like thunder again today and the upper decks are crowded with its worshipers. Our noon position was 107 miles east of Massawa. We should clear the Red Sea tonight and pass Aden in the morning. Several more hands of “500” have been added to the hundreds which the four of us have played together since leaving Millom.

10.15pm and the 13^th day has ended on a black note, or rather a Red one! I thought I’d have a few bob on the Black before retiring but a run of 14 Reds put paid to this foolish idea. To hell with Roulette!

14^th Day – Aden went by at 10am. We definitely are going in to Bombay.

15^th Day – We have entered the Arabian Sea. It’s still hot and the ocean is a real blue again after the dirty look of the Red Sea. A quiet day.

16^th Day – Up watching a superb sunrise. There is a fair amount of cloud and, as the sun comes up behind it, little red chinks of light appear. They look like the lights of a little hillside town at night. Now, as the sun climbs towards more broken clouds, we discern a rough map of the English Channel area with Southampton and Cherbourg Peninsula clearly defined. The sky is flecked with little orange flecks of cloud. It really is a lovely sight.

1pm - Our noon position was midway between Aden and Bombay. The day’s run was the worst so far – 401 miles. Our clocks have gone forward one hour on each of the past two nights and a further hour tonight, putting us 5½ hours ahead of G.M.T.

9.30pm - Introduced to a new method of losing money called the “Farmyard.” My friend Harry is a farmer and I accompanied him to the Wheel with various animals thereon such as elephant, emu, dog, rabbit etc. Harry is “well built” so his nickname is  ”Jumbo”. He followed his namesake and won on the night. I was more divided in my loyalties and lost as usual.

17^th Day -  1.15pm we have just had an address by the O.C. Troops concerning shore leave in Bombay. To sum up – it’s ok by him but the last word rests with the shore authorities. We were 378 miles from Bombay at noon and should arrive there by 10am tomorrow morning.

9.30pm - Harry has come back from backing “Jumbo” again. Won 15/- (shillings) this time. Who said omens don’t count?

Bombay Harbour

18^th Day – We are up on the forward sun-deck watching Bombay come into view. The harbour is quite picturesque but it doesn’t have the land-locked beauty of Sydney Harbour.

10am  - Four little tugs have us in tow. They seem no bigger than good sized launches and make a noise like a steam train crossing a bridge. The waterfront looks modern with hotels and blocks of flats. Two signs catch the eye. One says “Gateway to India” and the other “Welcome to India but Mum’s the Word.”

11.15am -  Some Red Cross ladies have come on board and are giving us information about Bombay. We are allowed ashore after lunch but leave passes expire by 8pm. Little time for anything but shopping and a drink or two.

1.30pm  - Ashore in heavy blue uniforms. We are melting in 90^o in the shade and this is supposed to be early Winter!

Bombay 1945

5pm -  We are taking a rest after shopping. It’s hard work here, bargains galore if you can get the vendors down to the “right” price. All done amongst a swirling storm of humanity. I don’t think I would feel safe after dark. One hawker claimed to have polished Cliff’s shoes and made out he would pitch a stone at Cliff if he didn’t give him some Annas. He finally settled for two cigarettes. What contrasts there are. Modern emporiums near tumbledown shacks, streamlinedPackards brushing past creaking open carts, well dressed men and women walking past crippled and dishevelled beggars on the streets.

6.15pm - We are having a mixed grill and a few beers at the Wayside Inn. The

Wayside Inn Bombay

meat is a bit spicy for me but Harry and Des seemed to enjoy it. I bought an evening paper to find that General George S Patton – “Old Blood and Guts” has been badly injured in a car accident at Mannerheim. There’s still plenty of action going on in Java and Indo-China and a Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Moscow is taking place. 

8.40pm -  Back on board. Exhausted from haggling with little worthwhile to show for it.

10.15pm -  A few of our Old 66 Wireless Course in Canada have come on board. They’ve been out here for two years now and like us are looking forward to the prospect of sighting Australian shores.

HMS Howe Suez Canal 1944

19^th Day–At 11am this morning tugs took us away from the dock, but we are anchored again, down the Harbour and a watership is alongside.

2pm  - It is a clear, hot afternoon. There is a fair amount of shipping around. King George 5^th’s newest sister ship the “HMS Howe” pulled in this morning. She has covers over her 14” turrets but looks a tough customer, even so.

7.30pm - An ideal tropical night but our ear drums are being assaulted by a musical shamble. Our classical broadcast hour is giving us Beethoven. A concert party is rehearsing for Christmas and singing carols, one gramophone is giving out a Spike Jones number and another gramophone is blaring forth with the hit song “Rum and Coca-Cola”.

20^th Day–The pilot has come aboard and we’re getting ready to push off on the 4,000 miles to Fremantle.

2.15pm -  Up on sundeck with topee and sunglasses purchased in Bombay.

21^st Day – A clear and hot day with a smooth sea. As the sun gains ascendancy, it becomes very fierce indeed. The day’s run has been 438 miles – the best for the voyage so far.

6.30pm - A full moon is coming up. It looks very beautiful.

7.15pm - We read an Aldis (lamp) message from a passing ship. The message reads “British Justice – Columba to Point Sudan.” Evidently the Athlone Castle wished them a Merry Christmas or something of the sort, as “British Justice replied, “Thanks same to you – pleasant voyage – good night.” Nice, courteous ways ship signallers have.

22^nd Day – Staying out of the sun this morning. Wonder of wonders, I won a few quid at Roulette.

4.30pm - Back to the Animal Wheel again. Lost a few Bob, but finished the day well in front. At noon, we were 60 miles past the southern tip of Ceylon and should be crossing the Line tomorrow.

23^rd Day – The ghost of the ancient mariner seems to be pervading the scene. We are due to cross the Line early this afternoon. It is dead calm. It is December 22^nd. The Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer Solstice in the South. The sea is like a vast mirror reflecting the rays of the fiercely burning sun. Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink!

10.30am - All India Radio is giving the news that “Blood and Guts” Patton has died from the injuries received in the car crash. The fickle Hand of Fate – at it again!

1.30pm - We have just crossed the Equator at about 83^o East. Our day’s run was only 406 miles.

5.50pm - All up on deck watching a magnificent sunset, the kind usually seen only in paintings. Even the sea has changed to golden brown.

10pm - Have played a few more hands of “500” tonight. Must turn in now.