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29th October 1943

We sighted Pantellaria early this morning but were not abeam of it until 1030. It presented a strange sight after seeing, only recently, the newsreel pictures of its tremendous bombardment. The island’s highest point is 2,750 ft. above sea level. It rises from the base in a volcanic mound & descends gradually to the sea again on the west. We were close enough to see the town of Pantellaria quite plainly on the NW coast. We imagined the tremendous bombing of this place that took place when this ship was outward bound. Remembering the films, it was easy to make out through the glasses the mountain track where the scared inhabitants came out of their dug-outs. A Church, with its steeple still intact, was silhouetted on the heights above the town.

It has rained this afternoon & is generally overcast.

We reached Cape Bon at about 1600. Here once again, history was made. Some of the bloodiest fighting of the Tunisian campaign took place here (refer Tatler 22nd May, 1943 for pictures). It was into this peninsula — the C. Bon peninsula — that the Axis were driven & finally whacked. A naval engagement took place just where we are now.