May 1942
May 1
Noticed the colder weather during the night when I awoke a few times. Spent quite a bit of time on deck again. During the afternoon a destroyer dropped three depth charges and a transport fired two shells from what appeared to be a six-inch gun. Bombers can be seen circling convoy occasionally. The carrier sent two planes up to hunt the sub. Report mail will be picked up tomorrow at Halilfax. I've written several letters tonight. I'm wondering if Billee will come to New York.
May 2
Arrived at Halifax this morning at 7:30 a.m. Rocky cliffs on both sides of the straits. Gulf of St. Lawrence lies ahead. Nova Scotia looks cold and bleak but peaceful. Guns are emplaced atop cliffs at entrance to harbor. Also, submarine net. Two tankers sunk in harbor. My mail was censored quite a bit. The company moved to better quarters aft at night.
May 3
Convoy left Halifax at 8:30 a.m. after refueling and taking on water. Went to 7:00 Mass and communion in the library. I'll try to attend Mass every morning hereafter. During the afternoon a destroyer dropped six depth charges, marking the second "attack" so far. The vibration from the bombs is remarkable. Three more charges were dropped at 9:00 p.m. while Rabbitt, Solow, Gee and I were playing cards. Weather cold. Time was pushed up one hour today
May 4
Sea is getting rough although it isn't felt until the convoy changes course. Fog has settled and is "pea soup." Unable too see any other part of the convoy. Bulletin says, "Cleveland leading A.L. after winning 12 straight. Dodgers running away with N.L."
Weather mild.
May 5
Mass for the third straight day. During lunch, seven depth charges were dropped. Men take it as a matter of routine now. Passed a fishing schooner which led me to believe we are near the coast of Newfoundland.
Met some quartermasters who have been in the army only six weeks!
Fog continues to be thick.
Company had manual of arms on deck today. Seemed silly to me. Wrote letters to Marty and Bill and the family. Learned the mail wasn't picked up at Halifax.
May 6
Big news today was the rumor the Aquitania had been sunk!
Fog continued with intermittent rain.
Played bridge at night with Solow, Rabbitt and Quentin. Orchestra from 135th Regiment band played and sounded O.K. -- but good!
Went to Mass again.
Forgot to mention before -- "Cap," police dog of "G" Co. is aboard and quartered over us. Could write a good story about him.
Time went ahead one hour for the second time.
May 7
Fog lifted but rain fell from cloudy sky. Dreary all day. Haven't seen the sun in four days. Saw schools of porpoises this afternoon.
Put my watch up another hour today!
Speed of ships said to be 12 knots. Sea swells are rocking boat all day.
Counted 11 ships in convoy: 10 destroyers, an air craft carrier, cruisers and battleship. The latter prepared to launch plane at 4:00 p.m. but I didn't stay on deck to see it.
Another bridge game tonight.
Guard duty for me tomorrow!!
May 8
Routine day until I went on guard at 10:00 p.m. It was an eerie feeling to be alone on "A" Deck forward for four hours. Saw a sky full of stars for the first time. It was cold! The convoy looked like black bugs on the water. Complete blackness.
Man put in brig for K.O.ing British sailor who said U.S. was coming over to get glory again. Lt. Nelson put man in brig for striking cigarette lighter. Ship is equipped with forty 50mm guns, I'm told.
Corregidor has fallen!!!
Britain takes over Madagascar!!!
The ship's cat had four kittens!!! Good luck.
May 9
Battleship, two destroyers and part of convoy went to Iceland during the night. Report says we'll be in Belfast on Monday morning. Expect air raids tomorrow.
Three depth bombs dropped at 12:50 p.m. and nine more at 6:15!! This makes sixth attack of trip by subs.
Listened to lecture on Ireland at night and it looks like we're in for a rough time during our stay.
"H" Company will man the 50s tomorrow.
Had frankfurters and beans for dinner -- hurray!
English pound is worth $4.04.
Saw a few gulls in a.m!
May 10
Mother's Day --
Beans bad. Even catsup couldn't kill the taste.
Claim two more sub attacks during night making nine in all.
R.A.F. bomber picked up convoy in afternoon!!
Gen. Daley said to have flown over in Clipper and will meet us in Belfast tomorrow. Brig. Gen. Collins in charge here.
We will be billeted in Bally Mena -- 20 miles from Belfast!
Marion from 2nd Platoon operated on for appendicitis. Will not be with us.
Mass and communion for Mom.
May 11
Land sighted at 6:00 a.m. Passed shores of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Mass and communion for Billee!
Anchored in harbor several miles from Belfast. Reported five-hour air raid on Belfast last night which indicates M.I. leaked out. Ireland looks beautiful from harbor. I can see why Mrs. Doyle wanted to come back once more. Patch-quilt scenery all around us.
Another sub attack at 2:00 a.m. today. Woke everybody up.
Rumor has us going to Scotland instead of Belfast. Can see ship sunk in harbor we now occupy.
Co. H on guard. I'm with officers' quarters.
May 12
On guard from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 when ship pulled anchor at 4:30 and steamed out of harbor at 4:45 accompanied by two destroyers. Rest of convoy stayed at Belfast. Report says Belfast was so badly damaged Aquitania cannot be docked. Our destination said to be Glasgow. Three R.A.F. planes joined us at 7:30.
Anchored in Firth of Clyde 3 miles from Glasgow at 9:15. Loch Lomond said to be nearby. What we can see of Scotland from here is beautiful. I wish I had a camera!! Seaside resort on our left is Dunoon, on our right is Greenock.
Battalion boarded tender at 8:00 p.m. Sunset will be at 10:00 p.m.!!! Daylight ends at 11:30 p.m.!!!
May 13
Slept on table in salon, awakened at 3:00 a.m. by several depth charges. Tender was full speed zig-zagging.
Had Class "C" rations for breakfast. My first taste of rations.
Scenic beauty left me breathless when daylight came. Passed Ballynage, Brook Hall, Boomhall, Crook, Clooney, St. Columba and finally docked in Londonderry. Heard Weber and Peck were nearby! Was transported by bus to Bally Castle, about 50 miles away. Passed Coleraine where other troops are stationed.
May 20
First entry in a week!
At last -- mail! Three letters from Billee (bless her heart) and one from Gert. I should answer the latter as soon as possible.
There is so much, and yet so little to write about our life here. We have been on two afternoon marches that were honeys! Our guns are here and that means gun drill. Looks like our marches will be four days a week. One of our marches took us to the top of Fairhead Mountain, the northernmost point in Ireland.The people here are as gracious as people could be in their own silent way. The women are extremely muscular, probably because vehicular traffic consists mainly of bicycles. The cars here are a little bigger than our Austins. Still everyone appears to be very hospitable.
We haven't been paid since the first of April. Consequently, everybody is low on funds. I borrowed 8 shillings, fourpence from Johnny Quentin today for a cable to Ray but the Post Office was closed. I'll try again tomorrow.
The C.O. said tonight we would soon have an overnight march that would take us to the Giant' Causeway -- one of the Seven Wonders of the World.