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Location
Liverpool - Purley - On Leave
Age
17 Years

2nd July 1940

The morning was spent signing off ship’s articles, paying out duties to customs officials, collecting risk money and feeling very hungry. The first thing in the afternoon, Mr Salway and I went to the offices, and after about two hours of messing about, collected our money, and cleared off home. Never was I more surprised than when I heard the magic words spoken in a Lancashire accent “Awright, you can buzz off home now”. I had expected to have to stay there.

I was issued with a free voucher for my fare, and told to catch the 5.25pm train. It was then 4pm. I rushed back to the ship, collected my things and flew back again, only to see the train go out, as I was waiting for my luggage. The next train  was not until 12.10am., so I went to the pictures for 6 hours, and then had to sit in the train for an hour before she moved. The carriage was packed with soldiers and sailors. Half of them were drunk. After 7 hours, we arrived at Euston. From there I was soon home, arriving at about 8.45am.