Family History 1.143

Gaze History

NSG Memoir

NSG Diary of world trip 1956 continued

Saturday 24 March  “….Tried to arrange a free church service – had a conference with the Anglican and Lutheran parsons and Rod Gillanders who has been pressing me to do something.  I was anxious not to have a meeting that could be regarded as a counter-attraction to the Anglican service.  I found the Anglican (Enson his name from St Heliers) very co-operative and has agreed to let us have alternate Sundays at 10 am with his own. He is High Church and I thought his attitude very decent.  Said he could not lead our services as his church would not allow it but gave us his Good Friday service that he had already announced and the Lutheran minister – a fine fellow – is to lead it and Rod Gillanders to speak.  It should work out quite happily and is much better than dividing the Protestant people.

“We got into conversation with another honeymoon couple on our deck although they are older.  He is a Pole and was captured by the Germans in the Warsaw uprising in 1944 – later released by the Americans – served with them in Italy for a couple of years – rejected the offer by the Polish Government to return and joined the British Army – several years in England and then went to Australia – his wife an American took a visit to Australia where she met him and got married although she is of Polish descent.  She comes from New Jersey and her telephone number is Bigelow----.  The husband speaks excellent English although up till 1944 did not know any.  I lent them my Europa Touring and they are most interested, as well as being interesting people….”

 

Monday 26 March  “….Still hot – temperature in dining room at breakfast was 88.  Ship is very quiet as everybody is more or less somnolent except me who is busy typing as usual.  Mary is writing letters but that is a very restful job!”

 

Tuesday 27 March (describing the arrival at Singapore)  “….We were told over the ship’s intercom that the ship would stay in the stream all night but that we could go ashore by launch.  There was absolutely no attempt to control the crowd trying to get off onto the boats.  It was Auckland all over again.  We stayed in a packed sweating mass for over an hour and then clambered down a long row of ship’s steps into a launch.  It was a relief to get into the fresh air.  No officers to control and no attempt to get the people to form into a queue.  The Germans don’t seem to be able to do anything that is out of the usual routine or else are not interested…..”

 

Wednesday 28 March  (in Singapore) “….(at) the Post Office we dismissed our driver and I got the biggest fright of my life.  I had my pocket picked but lost only a few dollars as it turned out.  I put my hand in my pocket and it was empty.  First awful thought: my pocket book with all its money and travellers cheques was gone. We spent a miserable couple of hours at Cooks who were most obliging (their office is air conditioned and beautifully cool) sending cables to London and Auckland to stop payment on the cheques.  We were due back at the ship by 4 so did not have much time or inclination nor did we think we had much money for serious shopping, so after a look at Raffles Square and the shops there we taxied back to the ship which had berthed during the morning, but the wharf was about 2 miles from the main street.  Later that evening I was looking through Mary’s bag for my passport and there was my wallet safe and sound.  How it got there we don’t know but I must have given it to her to mind sometime during the morning drive.  Was my face red especially when I had to explain to the other passengers who had been commiserating with us about our loss. However time is a great healer!….”