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Location
Philadelphia, USA
Age
18 Years

20th March 1942

Shore Leave Pass Philadelphia

We weren’t allowed to go ashore until this evening owing to the usual performance with the Emigration authorities, etc.! Even then the money wasn’t dished out! However, I borrowed a quarter (25c) and went to have a look at the Brit. Merch. Navy club which we were told was very good. In fact they sent someone down to tell us all about it and said that on Sunday, if we gave our names in, people would “take us in” and give us a good time.

There wasn’t a lot doing at the club, it being a weekday, so I went round to the U.S.O club! Actually I went there first to ask where the B.M.N club was and the hostess there was so nice and cordial, that I was finally persuaded to stay. It was a wonderful club, set up in an old mansion.

The rooms were huge, the floors wedged and pegged, the panelling beautifully executed and in fact everything was wonderful.

Before I knew where I was, I found myself being introduced to seemingly dozens of girls, who had their names pinned on their dresses. We went and played table tennis, and later, had dancing.

I was constantly in conversation with people, and met someone who knew Kay Stammers, Freda James and all the other big Wimbledon players! She also knew many other people in England and was due to sail there a week after war broke out! I had two invitations out, one on Sunday and one on Wednesday.