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Age
19 Years

1st September 1942

NB 3 years ago, Germany walked into Poland.

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When I came off watch at 4 o’clock this morning, we were just passing Abadan and could smell the oil for miles. This is the largest refinery in the world.

The banks of this river – the River Chatt all aligned almost entirely by a date palms. The only place of note is Ashai which is the marketplace near Basrah. The native huts are built of mud, but I usually of pleasing Design. European buildings are built of brick; both the brick and the mud are designed to keep the interiors cool.

On the river the usual dhows plug the weary way up or down, and strange women paddle long canoes in an effort to sell goods.

We were tied up by about 9 am but it is never wise to go assure here until evening due to the heat. In the afternoon we had a small sandstorm which hung about for the rest of the day. John and I went ashore at 5:15 to visit the British Airways hotel “Chatt-al-Arab” for a feed. It is considered to be the finest hotel in the east. Certainly there was some wonderful interior decorations, Modern steel armchairs, tables and cities, beautifully upholstered.

Outside on the grass we had dinner which unfortunately cost us 390 fils or about 7/6! 1000 fils = 1 dinah =£1.

Still, we live and learn.

On the way to the hotel, we passed the Port Trust Building, which is of a very pleasing design indeed.

After our meal, John and I wandered back to find the Port Club Pictures (Open air). We were able to go in for nothing as the show was already in progress. The film was “ Broadway Melody of 1940” and though we had both seen it before, we enjoyed seeing it again.