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Tuesday 26th January, 2010-01-26
My Dear Jeremy,
I found it, I found it the little diary given to passengers on the mail boats called "Places to see and record on the mail route from South Africa to England" and which I dutifully kept. Although some of the incidents I wrote of in my last letter to you I think I will just copy what I had written then.
" Friday 11th April, 1958 Left at 5 pm.
Daddy and Auntie Abbott saw us off. Bazil came too. Accommodation very comfortable, two inter-leading cabins. Nos. 423 and 425.. Children's tea 5.30pm Dinner 6.30pm. Recognised well-known places along the coast. Early saw the Fish River Lighthouse. Passed Kleinemond c. 10pm Saw lights convinced that (was) Dad and Mother (Sadler).
Film show. Days run 133 miles. (not sure if they were nautical miles or land miles)
Saturday 12th April.
Arrived Port Elizabeth 6 a.m. Stayed overnight
Breakfast 7 am. Children delighted with playroom. Michael unsuccessful in phoning Scarrs so sent a telegram. Dancing on deck that evening. All very gay (in the old-fashioned sense.)
Telegram: La ci darem la mano. Cabin 432 Pretoria Castle M E & Fam.
(Translation: Give me thy hand my dearest a duet Michael and Mary sang together )
(NB correction it was the Pretoria Castle not the Edinburgh Castle)
Sunday 13th April.
Scarrs took us ashore to their home. Enjoyed a braaivleis in their garden. Drove us out to Skoenmakers Kop and then back along the Marine Drive. Lovely coastal views, vegetation very scrubby. A high wind blowing. Departure from harbour most exciting.
at 7 pm. Wind blew strongly all that night.
Orchestral concert.
Monday 14th April Arrived Mossel Bay at 6 a.m. and Left at 4 pm.
Lay in the shelter of Mossel bay all day while fruit was loaded from lighters. Robbie came aboard in a basket and spent a few hours with us. Climbed back on to the tug down a rope ladder. "What I do for my friends!" he remarked. Saw seals swimming round the ship. Went to the dog racing No wins.
Arrived Cape Town 6 a.m. (Passed Robben Island and Dassen Island)
Days run 191 miles Total distance 324 miles (from Durban)tt
(Spent 4 days in Cape Town as the next entry is)
Friday 18th April.
Left Cape Town 4 p.m. Passed Cape Columbine (our last glimpse of land for over 3.500 miles)
Left in mist and rain. So disappointing no pictures. Foghorn blowing Blew again during dinner but cheered shortly afterwards. Orchestral music relayed.
Ship very full. 90 children on board. Many Rhodesians and a Jewish Rabbi. Had a long conversation with his wife in ironing room.
Saturday 19th April
Captain welcomed us all at l2 noon today. Weather forecast cloudy and calm. Very chilly on deck. 170 miles W. Port Nolloth Depth 2 miles. Course NNW Michael met navigating officer. Children went to cinema show at 2 pm. Dancing. Chatted to S.R couple Mr and Mrs Mcnish. Days run 378 miles
Sunday 20th April
Captain from bridge at noon W of Walvis Bay 350 miles 19.67 knots.
Michael, CJ and Jill went to service in lst class lounge. Lady congratulated M. on their behaviour. Celia moving some distance with a caterpillar-like crawl and the help of her nose. It is getting warmer. Swimming baths opened but a little too chilly yet.
Capt. Requests our company at a cocktail party tomorrow evening.
Days run 487 miles
Monday 21st April
Noon report from bridge: 500 miles E. St Helena and 500miles W. of coast.
Speed 17.57 knots. Course NNW, Very warm, swimming bath quite deep. CJ discovered he could swim the crawl.
Michael attended Captain's cocktail party which was packed choc-a-bloc. CJ and I went to film Omar Khayan. Spent most of day on boat deck. Temp. 73 degrees.
Days run 479 miles.
Tuesday 22nd April
Noonday report from bridge. 400 miles N.of St Helena. 19.67 knots. Depth 23/4 m. Temp. 79 degrees. Course NNW Children swam all day in the pool. Very warm especially below deck. Saw ship on horizon. Captain walked round deck this morning.
Dog racing tonight. Days run 475 miles
Wednesday 23rd April
Noon position 500 miles E of Ascension. Temp 84 degrees. Depth 2 1/2 miles.
Children's sports. CJs team won tug-o-war. Very humid and hot especially in cabins.
Swam Days run 485 miles.
Thursday 24th April.
Crossed Equator at 2 am.
Passed outward bound mail vessel Edinburgh Castle at 6.45 pm Great excitement, sirens blowing. Crossed equator 2 am. Crossing the line ceremony at 10am. Father Neptune arrived heralded by the band. Christopher initiated a proud possessor of a fine certificate.
Children's Fancy dress. CJ as the Universe (prize). Jill as Annie Oakley, also won a prize (Dollys make-up set). Children wildly excited, party with balloons, crackers and a pink cake followed.
180 miles W of Liberia Temp 84 degrees In equatorial current Days run 495 miles.
Friday 25th April
Passed Bijouga Breakers Position at 8.30 am 120 miles from Freetown, Sierra Leone. Temp 86 Depth 600 fathoms. Porpoises, first sight of birds. Also saw 3 ships. Rained all morning after passing through a heavy thunderstorm at 4 am. Sea like a mill pond towards evening. Fancy dress party and buffet supper. Days run 472
Saturday 26th April Passed Cape Verde 5.30 a.m.
Noon pos. 80 miles from W. Coast. Warm Temp 71. Now out of equatorial current. Michael went with a party on a tour of the bridge. Spent evening with Marjorie and Stan Harris from Salisbury.
Children's Fair. CJ in charge of raffle make 50 bob after a tour of 1st class and the crews quarters. Now too cold for swimming. Days run 468
Sunday 27th April
Passed between Gomera and Teneriffe at 12.30 a.m.
Noon pos. 100 miles from coast. Fresh north easterly wind. Temp71 Depth 1 1/4 miles. Michael, Jill and I went to church in lst class. Old Kingswoodian greeted Michael This evening spent with young navigating officer, John Gambol. Sea rough wind strong, one big wave splashed through the porthole to CJs delight. Celia advancing rapidly over the floor, not quite a perfect crawl yet. Days run 442 miles
Monday 28th April.
Arrived Madeira 2.30 p.m. Left 7 p.m.
Wonderful to see land again after 10 days at sea and a rough night passed. Rowboats came out and men dived for coins. Vendors came aboard selling exquisite embroidery. I bought a blouse and a skirt for 4.10 (pounds). Now we are broke again. Many people went ashore, down the ladders, into the launches.
Now the ship really has the feeling of nose set for home Days run 457 miles
Tuesday 29th April
Noon position N of Gibraltar. 7 pm passed Lisbon 170 miles off coast. Temp 62 degrees. Foghorn went all night Days run 334 miles.
Wednesday 30th April
Passed Cape Finisterre
Entered Bay of Biscay l p.m. Slight fog. Getting colder 59 degrees. Water 57 degrees 416 miles Days run
Thursday 1st May
Passed Ushant 12 noon Passed Nab Tower
Just passed Ushant before noon and entering channel. Calm and clear, breeze cold. Had farewell dinner with Greens and Harris'. First saw light of Dorset Coast. Anchored of Spithead, a golden moon and lights on land. A perfect night and so excited.
Friday 2nd May
Anchored in Cowes Roads Due Southampton 6 a.m.
Docked 6 a.m. S'hampton. Left ship 8.45 am. Cleared customs 9.30am. Ken Henty waiting with 1937 Std 12. Arrived Fittleworth 2 p.m
I look in awe and wonder at the green fields, the blossoms and old houses. It all seems so in miniature. "
I have typed it just as is, abbreviations and all. The little record also has other interesting information about the places we passed, the wild life we would see, the sky, etc.
Hope you will feel you have taken an old-fashioned sea trip with us.
Love, Mum
A picture of the Edinburgh Castle liner at Port Elizabeth around the time this Ocean Voyage took place.
Official Postcard below:
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