E.S. "Gordon" Lacey - Diary 2

when we left again an English cruiser took the place of the American. We have been having beaut -iful weather, nice warm days with a clear sky a good breeze. Tuesday 18th Late in the afternoon we sighted a red light ship with the work Halifax paint -ed on the side. About tea time the mist

cleared and we found ourselves close in to a low lying shore. Just before dark we sighted the wreck of a fine big ship lying on the rocks with a good part of her bows and upper deck showing. By the time we came to anchor off the city of Halifax it was dark, so we all had to wait as

patiently as possible for daylight to have a look at the town. The main part of the city is built on one side of the harbour. It is a fair sized place, and looks very inviting from the boat. 19th 14 of us were taken with the idea of getting over the side for a swim, so we got our shorts on and

dived into the harbour and were swimming about when the Orderly Officer came along and caught us. We were placed under open arrest and on the 20th we were brought before the CO after a lot of talk he told us that we were severely reprimanded. About 9.30 we were told that shore leave had been granted,

and there was a scatter, everybody made for the troop deck, and began to get dressed. We were taken ashore in tugs and formed up for a march. After march -ing about the city for a bit, we were dism -issed and told to fall in again about 2-30. Everybody made off in a different direc -tion and prepared