FRANK S. TAYLOR FAMILY AND ROYAL NAVY HISTORY.NET

H.M.S. SCARAB

FRED (KIWI) LEMBERG

6 June 1943 – 13 May 1944

Able Seaman

Royal New Zealand Navy

Service No 3486 

This page is dedicated to the Memory of Able Seaman Frederick (Kiwi) John Eastwood Lemberg

Royal New Zealand Navy. 

May his name live forever more and be remembered with affection and honour.

4 February 1920 to 4 February 2015

Our Condolences to his daughter Jeni, her partner Gary Cox, grand-daughter Sarah and brother Bill on the passing of Fred.

            From: Jeni Lemberg

            Dear Russ

I thought you would like to know that Fred passed away peacefully yesterday morning. He made his 95^th birthday as he wished,

but his “bucket was full” in his own words. He remained the gentle, kind man with the twinkly smile right to the end.

His Achilles ship pendant will go down to his shipmate, Jim France in Timaru. The two of them had a wonderful catch up here in Nelson

last November with Murray Rowe, another Stoker from the Achilles. We also visited Jim at his farm in Fairlie in early January, when

we took Fred down to see his beloved Mt Cook where he climbed earlier in his life.

           He will leave an enormous gap in our lives but we have been so blessed to have had such a magical last 10 years with Fred down here in

            Nelson. Our thoughts to you both, and please think of Fred as we celebrate his life on Saturday 7^th February at 10.30am at the Nelson

Cathedral. There will be an “up spirits” in our prayers at 11am.

The photo below was taken in November with Murray and Jim at 11am and I think says it all about Fred “Kiwi” Lemberg.

My kindest regards

Jeni Lemberg

Frederick (Kiwi) John Eastwood Lemberg  (November 2014)

            From: Bill Lemberg

            Dear Russell

            I never had the occasion of meeting but brother Fred spoke often of you regarding his life on the HMS Scarab.

            I presume you have heard of his passing and I take the opportunity of thanking you for giving him so much pleasure over the years in sifting    information both far and near about your own Dad and life on “Scarab” during the ship’s service in the Med.

            With kindest regards and thoughts of many happy memories.

            Bill Lemberg

Ex Royal Navy Men’s Association

Kiwi’s Certificate of Service

In the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy

Russell, I had the pleasure of serving with Buck Taylor on the good ship Scarab from 1943 to 44.

Look forward to hearing from you – Kiwi

(Email 22.04.10)

“I remember the rating who spoke with a “Yankee” twang. We were in the seaman’s mess together and if I remember rightly he had an ear for music, what with saucepan lids and instruments picked up ashore in Sicily we managed a bit of music on the mess deck. Water polo filled in any spare time, at which he was a great player. Of course we would gather at the ‘Fleet Club’ when watch ashore in ‘Alex’  to join in playing ‘Tombola’ and consuming our issue of ”Stella” beer, after which, depending on one’s stability, carry on to a Cafe or have an early night at the ‘Fleet Club’ annex. Taking a ‘Gary’ back to ship late at night was not well advised as we were dressed in white tropical rig and travelling through narrow streets. The wogs liked tipping ‘sludge’ etc on the ‘matloes’ sitting in the ‘Gary’.”

Fred (Kiwi) Lemberg and Russ Taylor

at Kiwi’s home in Nelson, New Zealand 2010

(H.M.S. Scarab Model in background)

December 9th 2011 Reunion in Nelson

Note: Painting of H.M.S. Scarab at rear and Kiwi’s model of H.M.S. Scarab in front

(Click to enlarge)

Hi Russ, many thanks for your wonderful Christmas greetings

and congratulations on becoming an uncle.

We send you a belated Merry Christmas and our best wishes for 2012!

With all our love, Fred, Jeni , Gary and Sarah

(L-R) Sarah (granddaughter) Jeni (daughter) Fred and Gary)

Kiwi was born on the 4^th of February 1920 in Pahiatua, Wairarapa, (Palmerston North,) New Zealand. He was an engineer by trade and seaman gunner and bosun’s yeoman on Scarab. He attended to the canvas repair work etc. His first posting was on the Depot Destroyer HMS Hecla. She was torpedoed in the Med by U Boat 515. He was picked up by the 1916 vintage destroyer HMS Venomous which had served in the Middle East during WW I.

HMS Hecla supply and depot ship

(Fred’s Account)

Reference from “A Hard Fought Ship: The Story of HMS Venomous”

Please refer to http://www.holywellhousepublishing.co.uk/lemberg.html

Fred (Kiwi) Lemberg then went on to serve on the river gunboat HMS Scarab.

H.M.S. Scarab

HMS Scarab was with Combined Operations attached to the Navy and Army and was involved with anti-aircraft defense and inshore bombardment duties. With her shallow draft she was first in to a lot of these actions.

Scarab had quite a few near misses which caused leaks on one occasion heading back to Valetta Harbour, Malta. Scarab was given the naval salute by HMS Nelson and others as steam poured off from the steam injectors due to leakage in the hull.

H.M.S. Nelson: Valetta Harbour, Malta

(Nelson Class)

16 inch Battleship

The sailors on the other ships lined their decks and gave them a naval “Hurrah!” and salute. Pipes and whistles were the order of the day. Scarab tied up alongside the oil tanker Ohio. It is one of Kiwi’s fondest memories.

Kiwi has very happy and fond memories of Scarab. His good mates were Blondie, Buck, Lofty, Taffy and Jock. Scarab’s crew was issued a “rum” every day. Kiwi had the honour of presenting a little clock to Lieutenant Cameron when he left Scarab on his return to New Zealand. Lieutenant Cameron was very well liked and respected by the crew. 

One of Kiwi’s duties was manning the 6-inch gun. He was a “Layer”. The Layer’s job was controlling the movement of the 6-inch gun vertically for range. Kiwi would get the signal and the range for firing. The “Trainer” controlled the movement of the 6-inch gun from left to right. “A” gun (where Kiwi was manning) was for’ard and “B” gun aft. During the inshore bombardments gun crews wore earmuffs and flash-gear. On occasion there would be misfires - i.e. the gun didn’t work. Projectiles weighed approx. 56 pounds. The cordite was 2 to 3 feet long with the full charge wrapped in a silk bag. When the projectiles were fired you could actually see the projectile leave the barrel of the gun. The 3 inch High Angle guns that “Buck” served on were used against approaching aircraft at a distance and the oerlikons at close range.

Kiwi, also confirmed Scarab was armed with 2 six-inch guns, 1 three-inch gun, and 8 twenty-millimetre oerlikon anti-aircraft defence guns. The oerlikon cannon anti-aircraft gun rounds were 23 mm in diameter and 9 inches long. There were 60 rounds before you would have to change a barrel. The gunner would be strapped into a harness and aiming and firing the weapon were manual operations. There were no mechanical or electronic aids. Scarab had a 100 mm round magnetic cable around her hull because of the threat from mines.

In addition as Bos’n Yoeman Kiwi was responsible for rope splicing and canvas work. This included the preparation for burial of any casualties that occurred. For this one received an extra tot of rum and half a crown in his pay packet.

HMS Scarab was originally built for 48 crew. In 1943 there was a crew complement of 70 to which was included all the extra armaments that needed to be carried including food provisions. On many occasions the crew would sleep on the upper decks. Scarab had a flat bottom due to her having been built as a river gunboat and was not comfortable at sea. In a heavy swell she bucked instead of rolling and took a lot of water on-board. It was necessary to make sure the hatches were closed securely.

Kiwi remembers Scarab’s adoptive town of Sudbury, Suffolk very well. Receiving the parcels sent by the town was a real morale booster. At that time there was severe rationing happening in England. Items received were cakes, pipe tobacco, tins of biscuits with the names of the Sudbury families that baked the biscuits. When the mail bags came in (when Scarab docked) you could always count on Sudbury as there was always a parcel waiting.

After the Sicilian campaign Scarab returned to Alexandria then carried on to Port Said and anchored in the Bitter Lakes in the Suez Canal. Leave was given to half of the ship's company at a time for ten days stay at a rest camp in Palestine which meant an all night trip across the ''Sinai" desert by rail, ten glorious days in Netanya amidst orange groves etc. The camp there was run by Italian prisoners of war. “Great cooks” says Kiwi!

Fred served 12 months on Scarab then went on to join HMS Achilles in the Pacific. After the war Kiwi returned to New Zealand and visited his old skipper Ewan Cameron’s mother in Riccarton, Christchurch to pay his respects, as Ewan had lost his life while returning to New Zealand for leave.

“In my many interviews with Kiwi Lemberg he always made himself available to assist me. I personally found him to be one of those rare patriotic New Zealanders who call a spade a spade. I had the pleasure of meeting him in his later years. I would like to have met him all those many years ago. I can see why my Father and Kiwi were friends.” (Russ Taylor 2011)

Fred kept a diary during the war. It provides an interesting and intense personalised view of his experiences. (See Below)

Kiwi Lemberg’s Story 1943 – 1944

We will start this story in ‘Old England’, Christmas 1942. I had just had two weeks survivors’ leave. Mine had been spent on a farm managed by my never met Godparent who had married a Derbyshire farmer. Mrs Joyce lived at “Townend Farm” Rostan, near Ashbourne and had returned to school teaching as she had done during the First World War in N.Z. It was my pleasure to attend school with her to tell her pupils about life in New Zealand and the Royal Navy. The majority of the pupils were evacuees from London.

I returned to Devonport Barracks at Plymouth, met up with the other eight or so Kiwi’s who had returned also and decided (as Japan had entered the conflict) to ask for a draft to the Pacific fleet. Conditions in the Barracks were far from comfortable, if that could be the description. We later found ourselves bound for HMS Assegai (shore base) in South Africa, having just before Xmas returned from six months in Simonstown dry dock, so I was well acquainted with the area.

Setting sail from Glasgow in convoy and taking passage on the Winchester Castle we called into Cape Town and then carried on up to Aden and finally Alexandria to a transit camp in the desert at Sidi Bishr. Given the duty of harbour defence, on a Greek claque outside the boom of Alex harbour. After several weeks of harbour defence this followed.

1943
June
Sun	6^th	I was eventually drafted with Able Seaman Ernie Thomas to Scarab sitting in dry dock in Alex dockyard . We both walked aboard an empty ship except for the Quarter Master on the gangway, who informed us the ship’s company were down in the dockyard playing water polo. So we went off and joined them, a great crew. I found that the skipper was a New Zealander, Lieutenant Ewan Cameron, RNZVR. from Christchurch.
Mon	7^th	Out of dry dock and tied up alongside HMS Resourse, Depot Ship. Given the job postman
Wed	9^th	Left for Port Said and arrived 12.30 Thurs Noon, then through Suez Canal to Tewfik
Sat	12^th	In the Red Sea taking part in operations in Gulf of Aqaba. Weather hot and plenty of sand. Gun drill - Layer for’ard 6-inch gun
Sun	13^th	Maneuvers in the Red Sea, gun drill etc. Until June 26.
Sun	27^th	Departed from Tewfik early morning, through Suez Canal to Port Said, Left Port Said at sunset and arrived at Alexandria early afternoon.

Ernest ‘Blondie’ Thomas

(Kiwi’s Best mate)

Like all of the ship’s company your Dad (Buck) was a great chap, being a “Kiwi” I returned to NZ but if I had returned to England would have more than likely met up again. I returned to England in 1980 and looked up Ern Thomas’s family. Ern “Blondie” had passed away.

Afternoon leave in Port Tewfik

Kiwi Lemberg (with Beard). Buck Taylor is front row second from the right.

Suez 1943

Centre Back row L to R: ‘Buck’ Taylor

Front row L to R: ‘Kiwi’ Lemberg 1st left

Photos from Fred’s album

(Click to enlarge)

July
Thu	1^st	Weighed anchor at 6.30 a.m. bound for Benghazi following rugged coastline
Sun	4^th	Arrived early morning. Harbour strewn with sunken ships. Left at 8pm bound for Tripoli.
Tue	6^th	Arrived Tripoli at noon, departed for Malta at 5 pm.
Wed	7^th	Arrived Malta 4.30pm.
Thu	8^th	Departed Valletta, Malta at 1.30.pm. Anchored outside boom.
Fri	9^th	Lower deck cleared for skipper’s announcement. Invasion of Sicily. Weighed anchor at noon. Joined convoy later midst storm, high seas and gale force winds. Sicily sighted at 9 pm. Rescuing survivors from crashed gliders. Closed up on for’ard 6-inch and commenced bombarding coast at 3.30am. Air raids throughout the day, intense at times. Near miss developed a leak in fore store. Commando picked up, buried him at sea that evening.
Sun	11^th	Returned off patrol, air raid in progress, two ships hit.
Mon	12^th	Air raid at dawn, one ship hit. Had to be sunk by us as it carried ammunition. Proceeded on E-boat patrol off Avola Bay. Attacked by torpedo planes frequently
Tue	13^th	Back at anchorage, several raids during the day, fresh convoy arrived. E-boat patrol during the night. Planes attacked several times in middle watch. Gliders and troop carrying transports - overhead.
Wed	14^th	Escorted convoy into Syracuse and returned to anchorage
Thu	15^th	Filled with water, hard to get, plenty of dobying to be done
Fri	16^th	Leak in fore store, bailing out, plates leaking through near misses.
Sat	17^th	Alongside of HMS Delhi for oil. Swam ashore - plenty of citrus fruit and grapes. Patrol again in evening.
Sun	18^th	Another night over, patrol getting monotonous, still have interception with bombers; full moon makes us an easy target. Alongside freighter for water. Patrol as usual. Attacked twice.
Mon	19^th	Anchored and ready for another day’s work, swam ashore, grapes and lemons in plenty but not ripe.
Tue	20^th	Anchored near inshore. Place a hive of industry, continuous stream of mechanical units being landed, prisoners in plenty unloading supplies.
Wed	21^st	Embarking prisoners onto freighters, patrol as usual
Thu	22^nd	Tied up alongside tanker in Syracuse, oiled and watered, patrolled alone. Cockchafer having boiler clean. Submarine warning.
Fri	23^rd	Back at anchorage in Avola Bay
Photos from Fred’s album (Click to enlarge)
Sat	24^th	Patrol, heavy raid on shore, tanker hit
Sun	25^th	Quiet night in comparison with the last
Mon	26^th	Not out on patrol, coal for galley stove, (air) raid in early hours of morning.
Tue	27^th	Stocked with compound rations, food supply low
Wed	28^th	Oiled in Syracuse, patrol
Thu	29^th	Sailed up to Augusta. Bombarding shore batteries tonight north of Catania, hoping for the best…? Turned out a success, set what seemed to be an ammunition dump ablaze. Sat in a turret sucking at a tin of condensed milk watching fire works. Anchored in cove near Augusta
Fri	30^th	Proceeded into Augusta at 6am
Sat	31^st	Remaining at anchor for several days, boiler cleaned

August
Mon	2^nd	Ship maintenance, busy as Bosun’s Yoeman, rope and canvas work. Water sports.
Thu	5^th	Completed boiler clean, patrol
Fri	6^th	Anchored for night in Avola Bay with convoy
Sat	7^th	Under way first thing in morning, arrived Malta 2.30pm.Tied up along side of ‘Ohio”- sunken oil tanker. Afternoon shore leave in Valletta.
Mon	9^th	Left for Sicily in evening.
Tue	10^th	Augusta early morning, raider over in evening
Wed	11^th	Quiet in harbour. Will not be so quiet tonight, bombarding retreating Jerry columns on coast road past Messina. Expecting opposition, hoping for the best.
Thu	12^th	Little opposition, entered Catania early morning, ashore for several hours in afternoon. Place in ruins. Wine plentiful. Bombarding tonight.
Fri	13^th	Returned to Catania. Fresh water. Excessive drinking, many sore heads from vino
Sat	14^th	Patrol tonight, bombarding coastline,, caught in heavy shell fire from shore batteries
Sun	15^th	Bombarded coast line at dawn, returned to Augusta for fuel, returned to Catania
Mon	16^th	Tied up alongside Cockchafer. Italians surrendered
Tue	17^th	Church service ashore, attended with ‘Blondie’ Thomas. Watered, fuelled and topped up galley coal
Sat	21^st	Left Catania for Malta
Sun	22^nd	Arrived Malta early morning, sailed through Grand Fleet in Valletta harbour, great sight. Leave ashore, café in “The Gut”, patriotic parcel onboard. Ship under repairs. Steak and kidney pud at Café. Beer rationed
Sun	29^th	Underground church service in dockyard
Mon	30^th	Left for Sicily in evening.
Tue	31^st	Arrived Augusta at noon. Operation coming off shortly

September
Wed	1^st	At anchor in Augusta.
Thu	2^nd	Air raid at noon. Invasion to take place early tomorrow
Fri	3^rd	Quiet night patrolling coastline while troops embark to mainland.
Sat	4^th	Patrol as usual
Sun	5^th	Proceeding to Catania for water, returned to Messina in the evening
Mon	6^th	Patrol in the Straits of Messina. Oiled at Augusta
Tue	7^th	Tied up alongside of Aphis in Messina. Left at midnight for another invasion of mainland
Wed	8^th	At invasion point at break of day. All barges unloaded except two. Heavy fire from shore batteries. Air raid at noon. Received several shrapnel cases onboard. Marine dead - buried at sea in evening. Bombarding shore batteries. Near misses from mobile artillery. News of Italy’s surrender - carry on
Thu	9^th	Patrolling bay throughout the night. Another landing north of our point last night near Naples. Proceeded to Messina at dusk (24hrs off)
Fri	10^th	Alongside jetty in Messina
Sat	11^th	Filled fresh water. Proceeded on patrol in afternoon
Sun	12^th	Dropped anchor near battle zone. Doctor ashore with medical supplies
Mon	13^th	Moved few miles further up coast
Tue	14^th	Relieved by Aphis, proceeded to Messina
Wed	15^th	Oiled and watered at Augusta
Thu	16^th	Returned to Messina overnight. Ashore in afternoon. Hair cut and beard trim.
Fri	17^th	Drew slops. Rest period
Tue	21^st	Aphis alongside, water scarce
Sat	25^th	Still alongside jetty in Messina. Ashore several times during the week, met Bob Cleary from Otaki. Vino sold at any quantity. Gracie Fields concert party in Messina. Mail from home. Voted for elections in N.Z
Tue	28^th	Left for Augusta in for-noon, arrived at 6.30 pm. Tied up alongside Aphis
Wed	29^th	Left for Malta at 4 pm. Heavy swell and gale blowing.
Thu	30^th	Arrived Malta forenoon. Mail from home

October
Sat	2^nd	Left Malta in forenoon bound for Tripoli. Ran into heavy seas in afternoon, progress slow
Sun	3^rd	Seas calmer. Sighted land at 6 pm, arrived Tripoli at 7pm. Anchored outside boom for night
Mon	4^th	Entered harbour in forenoon, duty cook. Ashore in afternoon, street fighting in the past. Films at NAAFI.
Tue	5^th	Left harbour at noon, bound for Benghazi. Heavy seas.
Thu	7^th	Sprung leak in fore store
Fri	8^th	Arrived Benghazi at noon. Sewing machine most of day, renew awnings on wings of bridge. Pulled out at 6.30, bound for Alex
Mon	11^th	Arrived at Alexandria 9.30 pm. Heavy stern sea running most of trip.
Tue	12^th	Run ashore in evening, visited NZ Club for half-hour. Arrived back aboard an hour adrift. Mail from home.
Thu	14^th	Sent in defect list for Bosun’s Store. (Rope, canvas, cleaning cloth, soap etc)
Thu	28^th	Still undergoing refit in Alex. Starboard watch. On 5 days leave in Cairo.

November
Thu	18^th	Refitting alongside jetty. Had six days leave at NZ Club in Alex. Met up with NZ shipmates, Bernie Nicol (Resource) Alan Curry (M.Ls.) Bob Fulton (Woolich)
Sun	21^st	Still undergoing refit. Photographs of ship’s company taken

December
Fri	17^th	New 6-inch gun replacements. Paymaster aboard
Sat	25^th	Celebrated Christmas dinner shore at YMCA (Rue Fouad) with Peter Fearon (NZD) who was leaving for home. Evening with Skipper
Sun	26^th	Christmas dinner aboard, plenty of sore heads?
Wed	29^th	Cleaning out store, new awnings and reel covers
Fri	31^st	Pay- master. Entered dry dock. Quiet News Years Eve aboard.

1944 January
Mon	3^rd	Out of dry dock, painting for store. (My caboose)
Sat	8^th	6-inch tested outside harbour. (Two rounds per gun). Ammunitioned ship yesterday, leaving for Tewfik tomorrow.
Sun	9^th	Tied to buoy in forenoon, swung compass. Left Alex at noon, bound for Port Said, AA Shoot outside boom, in company with HMS Roberts, gale and heavy swell - ship awash. Streamed log
Mon	10^th	Seas much calmer, arrived Port Said at 9.30am. Bilges in for-store flooded, (steam ejectors in use), anchored for night in Bitter Lakes in centre of canal
Tue	11^th	Weighed anchor at 5.30 am, proceeded on to Tewfik, arrived at 9am. Refuelled at noon. Gun drill tomorrow.
Jan	12^th	Weighed anchor at 6.30 am, proceeded to bombarding range, 6-inch shoot, ‘A’ gun faulty. Return harbour, arrived 10 pm.
Thu	13^th	Anchored in Tewfik - Ordinance Artificers repairing gun. Mail aboard
Fri	14^th	Up-hook at 6.30 am. Proceeded to Bitter Lakes, taking part in small craft manoeuvres tomorrow. Anchored on edge of lake for the day. Overcast and rain
Sat	15^th	Closed up at 6-inch range at 4.30 am. Started firing at 6am. Shifted anchorage at noon. Made cake.
Sun	16^th	Pipe down at 10am
Mon	17^th	Anchored in Bitter Lakes
Tue	18^th	Weather cold and overcast,
Wed	19^th	Anchored off Ismalia, Egypt. Drop in temperature – cold. 48hr leave coming shortly
Thu	20^th	Two signalmen on draft. Skipper’s rounds shortly
Fri	21^st	Mail from home. First batch on 48hr leave
Sat	22^nd	Ship alongside jetty. Ashore from 3 pm in Ismalia. Good shopping - much needed needles for sewing machine and good book shop
Sun	23^rd	Skipper’s rounds. Baked cake, great day
Mon	24^th	Second leave party left. First back on board
Tue	25^th	Started screens for wing of bridge. Beautiful day weather-wise.
Wed	26^th	Make and mend. Ismalia.
Thu	27^th	Leave party returned. Derby Allen’s relief on board
Sat	29^th	P/O Allen left for U.K. draft. My name in for casual
Mon	31^st	Renewing screens

February
Wed	2^nd	Inoculation (tab) Mail from home.
Thu	3^rd	Blondie in hospital, (tonsillitis)
Fri	4^th	Played rugger in afternoon against convalescent camp, beaten 8 - 3. Up town in evening.
Sat	5^th	Repairing winch cover
Sun	6^th	Stan Ivers’ relief on board.
Mon	7^th	Stan left for Sphinx (shore-base) Alex. Given rugger boots
Tue	8^th	Oiled alongside tanker, stove in our starboard side.
Wed	9^th	Chest giving trouble.
Thu	10^th	Repairing starboard wing of bridge
Sat	12^th	Saw Doc over chest trouble, given tabs
Sun	13^th	Spent most of day at No1 General Hospital. Have cracked rib due to rugger
Tue	15^th	Blondie returned
Wed	16^th	Underway at daybreak, arrived at Pt Said at 10am.
Thu	17^th	Ashore in evening. Met A/B Herd from Blenheim (H.M.R.T.) Caught in sand storm on way back to ship
Sat	19^th	Vaccination for small pox, breakout ashore
Sat	26^th	Port Said. Ship in dockyard, under repair. Relief for six seamen
Sun	27^th	Ashore in evening. Spaghetti on toast.
Mon	28^th	Draft left for HMS Sphinx (shore-base) in Alex. Leaving Port Said tomorrow.
Tue	29^th	Sailing cancelled.

March
Thu	2^nd	Ashore in evening.
Sat	4^th	Afternoon leave. Met New Zealanders on draft to Achilles in England.
Sun	5^th	Washed blankets. Small Pox ashore.
Sun	12^th	Returned to Bitter Lakes. Alongside jetty in Ismalia. Lovely spot. Run before breakfast in the morning. Lovely green lawns and first class shopping
Tue	14^th	First leave party left for seven days in Palestine. Swim in afternoon. Casual payment.
Sun	19^th	1st Lieutenant’s relief on board. Parcel from Berry’s
Tue	21^st	Leave party returned.
Wed	22^nd	Left for seven days leave at Netanya near Haifa, Palestine, north of Tel Aviv. Travelled by train across Sinai desert to rest camp. Visited Jerusalem for day - 6 pm curfew, plenty of oranges and nuts
Fri	31^st	Returned from rest camp.

April
Tue	4^th	Returned to Alexandria. Xmas cake from home. Painted topmast
Fri	7^th	Good Friday.
Sun	9^th	Mail home, Skipper’s relief on board. Presentation of clock from ship’s company
Wed	12^th	Entered dry dock.
Fri	14^th	Out of dry dock.
Sat	22^nd	Left dockyard, tied up to buoy, testing, degauzing gear, sailing shortly.
Sun	23^rd	Swung compass, tied up alongside Aphis
Mon	24^th	Doc aboard, left harbour at noon with Aphis. Destination unknown.
Tue	25^th	Practice shoot with 6-inch
Wed	26^th	Arrived Tobruk at 2 pm. Oiled and watered, joining convoy early tomorrow
Thu	27^th	Pushed off at 2 am, joined convoy at dawn
Sun	30^th	Arrived Malta at noon, not feeling best. Mail aboard

May
Mon	1^st	Ashore in evening in vicinity of “Gut”, sore heads.
Tue	2^nd	Stores on board, relief for Chief Stoker Ward.
Fri	5^th	Several seamen reliefs on board (Pritchard etc). Ashore in evening
Mon	8^th	Mail aboard. My relief arrived!
Sat	13^th	Left ship with bottle of rum, entered Verdalla transit camp in Malta
Tue	23^rd	Still in Verdalla barracks. Detailed draft to Nile
Thu	25^th	Bought razor and brush from slops. Beer from canteen.
Mon	29^th	Kit muster

June
Thu	1^st	Buzz - draft leaving shortly, repacked kit.
Fri	2^nd	Draft to HMS Hyderabad (corvette), taking passage to Alexandria. Ashore in afternoon, left harbour at 6 pm.
Tue	6^th	Second front started, Invasion of France. Rejoined convoy.
Wed	7^th	Arrived Alex, sent to Sphinx, transit camp (Sidi Bishr). Given special duty transit section
Thu	8^th	No mail. Shaved off beard! Beer canteen in evening
Sat	10^th	Swim in Bath Club. Alex in evening.
Sat	24^th	Mail from home, touch of flu?

July
Fri	7^th	Dinner at NZ Club
Sat	15^th	Cable from home. Replied in evening. Visited dentist in forenoon - abscess under tooth, had to be extracted.
Wed	19^th	Ashore, dinner at club.
Sat	22^nd	Evening ashore, met Jack Tantram, old school mate
Wed	26^th	No news of draft. Pictures in camp cinema (Shafto’s), Deanna Durbin. Enough of camp life, bed bugs and crabs.
Sat	29^th	Rumour - draft shortly. Evening at canteen

August
Fri	4^th	On board trooper Strathaird bound for Bombay, Six of us ratings, ship full of RAF personnel off to India
Tue	8^th	Arrived Aden after trip down Red Sea. Very hot.
Sat	12^th	Stormy conditions. Rain.
Mon	14^th	Driven off upper deck by heavy rain
Wed	16^th	Left Strathaird in afternoon and boarded Dunotter Castle
Fri	18^th	Ashore in afternoon, air conditioned picture theatre, Ingrid Bergman,”For whom the Bell Tolls”. Chicken, eggs and chips for supper. Two hundred NZEF personnel aboard for trip home
Mon	21^st	Left Bombay in evening, heavy rain and hot.
Thu	24^th	Reached Colombo in forenoon. Ensa show and concert on board in evening.
Fri	25^th	Royal Marine band recital aboard, Free tea and cakes aboard from citizens of Colombo, left harbour early evening
Sat	26^th	Underway with convoy under escort HMS Nigeria and Maidstone.

September
Mon	4^th	Convoy split, proceeding alone
Sat	9^th	Nearing port of Melbourne. Comparatively calm trip down, chilly on the upper deck, albatross made appearance
Sun	10^th	Entered Port Philip. Weather freezing - donned extra jerseys. Change to be in clean port.
Mon	11^th	Ashore in forenoon. Great walk into Melbourne, visited museum and art gallery. Great sight to see trimmed lawns and clean wide streets again, tasted fresh apples again! Blisters on feet and stiff muscles, slept well
Tue	12^th	No leave granted but free issue of beer (two bottles per man) Several draft still ashore including two naval ratings. Anchored in stream in evening.
Wed	13^th	Sailed early morning. Home early next week.
Thu	14^th	Day nearer home, overcast and rough sea
Sat	16^th	Beautiful weather, calm sea. May see NZ tomorrow
Sun	17^th	Sighted land at noon. (Cape Farewell) Slight drizzle.
Mon	18^th	Entered Wellington Harbour, beautiful clear morning, great sight.

Much of Kiwi’s rest and recreational time was spent at the Alexandria Fleet Club and the YMCA located on Rue Fouad.

Alexandria Fleet Club information Souvenir

(Click to enlarge – 2^nd click enlarges more)

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HMS Scarab - WW2

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