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Age
20 Years

23rd May 1943

I received four messages from Madras today (code) concerning a cyclone, whose centre is reported to be abt. 15 1/2 degrees N and 73 degrees East.

Receptn. was difficult, as atmospherics are very bad in this region. We cannot hear Colombo radio, as there is a “dead” spot around here, due to the various ores in the hills.

We found ourselves 26 miles South of our estimated position at 1 pm. We were thus unable to get right into the harbour tonight, but were lucky enough to anchor just outside.

No. 1 told me this evening of how the “Veta” (hospital ship) was only about 5 miles away when the “Hermes” (aircraft carrier) was bombed & sunk, south of Trincomalee. He had two photographs, taken by their doctor, of the survivors as they were in the water. There were a number of other ships sunk or damaged, & so they picked some of their survivors up, too. There were about 20 deaths on the operating table that day!! Some fellows swam the 10 miles odd to shore. They on the Veta sent a boat off to pick one fellow up who was at his last gasp. He covered 9 miles, & yet was a poor swimmer & had never done more than 100 yds!!

… One nasty incident occurred when some Aussie’s picked a Jap out of the water (after his plane had been shot down by a Wellington) & stuck his head through the trap door in their float until he drowned.