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MAY 1936

18 MONDAY

The wind has now freshened considerably and our speed
is 11 knots. As we are now only about 1500 miles from
"England" all shore going clothes are being brought out
and brushed in readiness. The ship is now beginning to
look very smart but there is still a great deal more
painting to be done before we reach our port where we
are to receive our orders which, with this wind could be
reached in another seven days.

19 TUESDAY

We are now all counting the days to when we will arrive in
England as the food is getting worse and worse each
day and it will soon be that vile that we will be
unable to eat it. We now have plenty of company as there
are two sailing ships and a steamer within a few miles
of us and we have not yet been able to get any reply
to the signals which the 2nd mate has been sending out
at short intervals. Our speed is now only 3 knots.

20 WEDNESDAY

It appears as though our complaints about the food have
been heard by the cook, as another of the pigs was killed
today, so we should now have fresh meat for a few
days, this will be the second time we have had fresh
meat in three and a half months. The sailing ships and
the steamer have now disappeared and we were unable
to find out what ships they were. The wind has now
dropped right away and at the rate we are now going
it will be many days before we reach port. The painting
is now being hurried along at great speed but it is
doubtful whether we will complete it in time.

MAY 1936

18 MONDAY

The wind has now freshened considerably and our speed
is 11 knots. As we are now only about 1500 miles from
"England" all shore going clothes are being brought out
and brushed in readiness. The ship is now beginning to
look very smart but there is still a great deal more
painting to be done before we reach our port where we
are to receive our orders which, with this wind could be
reached in another seven days.

19 TUESDAY

We are now all counting the days to when we will arrive in
England as the food is getting worse and worse each
day and it will soon be that vile that we will be
unable to eat it. We now have plenty of company as there
are two sailing ships and a steamer within a few miles
of us and we have not yet been able to get any reply
to the signals which the 2nd mate has been sending out
at short intervals. Our speed is now only 3 knots.

20 WEDNESDAY

It appears as though our complaints about the food have
been heard by the cook, as another of the pigs was killed
today, so we should now have fresh meat for a few
days, this will be the second time we have had fresh
meat in three and a half months. The sailing ships and
the steamer have now disappeared and we were unable
to find out what ships they were. The wind has now
dropped right away and at the rate we are now going
it will be many days before we reach port. The painting
is now being hurried along at great speed but it is
doubtful whether we will complete it in time.