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Location
At Sea
Age
17 Years

31st October 1940

BEEF

It has been discovered that the new galley boy has left the stopper – used for letting ice water run out – out for 4 days, consequently all the ice is gone, and all the meat is ruined through sea water going in the ice box.

What do you think we saw early this morning but the “BALTROVER”, the ship that was being chased by a sub. She must have been even closer than we suspected. Last night the D.G. caught fire through short circuiting against the bulwarks by reason of the water. She charged the wretched ship, and great flashes were lighting up everything. An old derrick  lashed alongside the bulwarks in the well deck was torn loose by constant heavy seas – when they do go in the well deck they go with a pretty good smack – so the mate and a sailor tried to lash it. The mate was all but washed overboard, being only “put down” on top of the hatch cover. Hit his head rather nastily. Everywhere one looks nowadays, one sees something twisted or smashed, or broken in some way or other. There is only one raft left, that is of any value. One raft between 40 men! Everybody apparently, is going to leave the ship when we pay off! Even Jock says it is too much! He either wants a transfer or else, get out!