Date |
Sgt David S. Gray's Notes, May-June 1942 |
| May 20 |
3 PM. Left Glendale [California] in 1942 [by train] |
| May 25 |
Arrived at Ft. Dix. [New Jersey] |
| June 3 [added later] |
Left Ft. Dix N.J. at 5:45 P.M. and boarded a ferry to cross the river in New York. We had to stand or sit on the floor with full equipment and by the strong smell it must have been a cattle ferry. |
| June 4 |
Boarded the Queen Elizabeth at 3:15 A.M. Pulled out of the berth at 11:00 A.M. Saw the Normandie or U.SS. Lafayette on her side in the birth. Cloudy morning but could see Statue of Liberty O.K. Two destroyers one on each side of us and a Navy blimp above us. |
| June 5 |
Got us up at 6:00 A.M. ate sandwiches that were made at Ft. Dix. Had boat drill this morning which amounts to nothing but a confused mass of pushing + waiting kids. Have to keep life jacket on at all times and use it for a pillow at night. So many fellows have used it that its filthy. This boat is big haven't been able to cover it entirely yet. Destroyers still with us. |
| June 6 |
Third day out. weather is cloudy and misty The destroyers left today - so we're traveling alone. We move pretty fast. fastest speed we make is at sunrise + sunset. We constantly zig-zag. 7 mins one direction then 7 mins. in another. They figure it takes 10 mins or so for a sub to get a bead on us + prepare to fire and by then we've changed course. Haven't eaten today in fact most of us haven't Not sea sick. just terrible food. |
| June 7 |
Fourth day. really bad weather today. Wind blows so hard can't stand up against it on deck. Haven't eaten today chow is lousy. had a bottle of Royal Crown and box of cookies. Still traveling alone. Haven't sighted anything yet. Had a start when they opened up the guns for practice this morning. Our acting C.O. is the most chicken shit man I've ever met. walked into our stateroom and took $15 from the kids playing pokar. |
| June 8 |
Fifth day out of New York. Pretty good weather today. Chow is worse today so don't even bother to go + see what they've got. just buy box of cookies and let it go at that. What gets me is that the U.S. govt is paying for food like that. Boat drill every day. Some of the kids are worried about subs. I think we are traveling to fast for a sub. But I do think of Air attack in another day when we are in range. Most incompetent officers possible |
| June 9 |
Sixth day out. welcome sight early this morning was a Lockheed Hudson of the RAF Coastal Command. We've been traveling North last 2 or 3 days. last night lasted only about 15 mins and wasn't dark then. A short Sunderland saluted us this afternoon big 4 eng. job. Also little sub chasers are coming out to meet us we've got 6 with us 3 on each side. Sighted land at 1:00 P.M. Docked at Gurroch Scotland at 3:30 P.M. Stayed nite on boat |
| June 10 |
The Lockheed Hudson really met us day before yesterday + all day yesterday had a convoy of Spitfires with us till we dropped anchor in the river. Very pretty country. Quite trip. Got off the boat at 10:00 A.M. barges to shore then on the train feels good to get away from stinking boat. Boy we're starved. arrived in Goxhill Eng. at 11:30 P.M. light as day to. whole town turned out for us about 50 people. |
| June 11 |
First day in England unpacking. quite a job work detail as usual living in tents pouring rain + cold. mud everywhere |
| June 12 |
Still raining hard some pretty good meals better than the boat anyway figuring out the English money 4:00 PM. tea and cake best meal of the day |
| June 13 |
lying around waiting for planes usual work details. first air raid warning just sirens nothing happened had a gas drill. secruity lecture by Limey Leftenant. |
| June 14 |
Went into Goxhill to a dance what a farce Worst looking old bags you could imagine went to the pub = public house Most all houses made of brick and lot of thatch roofs. hi hedges around most every yard and funny tiled chimneys. |
| June 15 |
Waiting for planes. cold and raining. using Ma Gray's sleeveless sweater. British planes over all the time. Bombers going over on raids at nite. Air raid on Hull. A.A. shrapnell fall around us. |
| June 16 |
waiting and pulling work detail. been to town of Grimsby - pretty crapy went to a dance music lousy lots of women but to many prostitutes. |
| June 17 |
Signed payroll 2 air raid warnings during the night but no trouble |
| June 18 |
Got paid $5 dollars went to Grimsby to the dance at the {Gaiety} slept in a so called Service club. |
| June 19 |
Still on pass Rich and I went to {Clathoppes} met a couple of babes who took us home met the family + had supper took em to a nice dance at the Cafe` Dansant went home with em and slept in their brothers bed. He is in the Merchant Navy Bed felt good pillow and sheets |
| June 20 |
Back in camp pretty near broke Have written a letter to the folks or Ruth or the gang or all 3 pretty near every day. |
| June 21 |
Unloaded supplies and equipment Waiting for a PX to be opened Air raid last night no bombs but plenty of A.A. shrapnel. |
| June 22 |
Expecting to get some mail. 2 air raids but no bombs. |
| June 23 |
Went to Thorton Abbey this noon Its an old monastery over 800 yrs, old took from 1100 to 1300 to build it. |
| June 24 |
Went to town with Rich + Bill got feeling pretty good + went to a dance. full of girls caught last train back at 9:45 P.M. |
| June 25 |
Hanging around + waiting. turned out a couple of letters. Our brilliant Officers decided we didn't need to wear gas masks to chow any more. I bet that decision took a lot of thought and consideration |
| June 26 |
changed our outfit A.P.O. number to 873 notified every body by mail of the change. Air raid over Hull + here, spoiled couple hrs. of sleep |
| June 27 |
Went to Hull and the place is a mess met nice people thou + got lined up to buy a bike. They are hard to find |
| June 28 |
Got my bike he wanted 6 pounds I gave him 4 1/2 cash and he shut up. Heard 31st lost 2 airacobras but shot down three Germans Another Air Raid with plenty of shrapnel but no bombs close. |
| June 29 |
American cigarettes 2 bars of candy + razor blades. English cigarettes like corn silk. |
| June 30 |
Been in Hull quite a few times. Worse bombed city in England. level blocks everywhere |
WWII Notebook Journal of Sgt. David S. Gray