Extracts from Nicol’s Diaries, 1938 &1939.

Telephone Numbers

Auntie Hetty Greenock 1387
Maggie Peden Liverpool North 673

January 1938

4 Tues Arrived Liverpool on Adda. Dismbarking had accident. Went to Maggie’s. Went to Mrs Askey and Mrs Clay at night with Maggie.

5 Wed Running about for Marconi all day. No dinner. Doctors at night then played Lexicon with Martha. Turned in 12.

6 Thur Went to Dr. Didn’t need stitch. Went to Marconi with report with Martha. Got leave. Train at 2.25 for Greenock. Arrived about 9.15 pm. Chips for supper.

7 Fri Bed till 2pm. In house all day. Kings at night J.S. Chips. Bike in big mess. John working with it.

.....

18 Tues Got word report Liverpool Thursday 10am. Out with Bridges in morning. Went back afternoon. Going to Auntie Lizzie & Auntie Hetty but too wet and stayed at Bridges. Went to Auntie Lizzie at night. Going to Aunty Hetty but didn’t manage.

19 Wed Went to Aunty Jeannie’s in morning. Left Greenock 12.30am. Arrived Liverpool 7.30pm. Martha met me. Maggie out. Went bed early. Wt 9st 5lb.

20 Thur Reported Marconi. Reported to Cunard S/S Bantria (2402). Signed on. Went with Maggie at night for taxis and to Miss Terneys.

21 Fri Up 6am. Reported 7am. Left for coal. Back Netherfield 11am. Walked down town afternoon. Emma down on return. Got Chromonica. Went pictures with Maggie. Forum. Captain Courageous. Slept Netherfield Road.

22 Sat Reported ship 11.30am. Changed docks 12am. Left docks 2pm bound Glasgow. Rough weather on way up. Seasick.

.....

27 Thur Went Auntie Jeannie. Aunt Hessie later. She going out to tea. Saw Mildred up road. Stayed in night. Originally going Uncle Sam. Wet. Going Auntie Hessie for tea Friday.

28 Fri Wet all day. Stayed in. Too wet go Auntie Hessie or Auntie Lizzie or Uncle Sam. No word sailing.

.....

February 1938

3 Thur Arrived Liverpool 00.30. Got home about 10.30. Went to Marconi. After dinner went to pantomime in Empire, "Babes in Wood". Not bad. Stayed in talking to Martha at night.

4 Fri Went to Marconi in morning. Got paid. Matinee in Scale after dinner. Went to variety show with Maggie & Martha after tea in Shakespeare. Very good.

5 Sat Reported ship about 10.00. Sailed about 13.00 bound Gibraltar.

.....

December 1938

1 Thur Got recvr from Mason and hauled it to pieces. Got speaker. Sent letters to Aunt Hettie, Lizzie, Maggie & Martha, home, J.S., Bridges, Jean & Agnes, Peggy McKechnie.

2 Fri .

3 Sat .

4 Sun .

5 Mon .

6 Tues .

7 Wed .

8 Thur .

9 Fri Left New York bnd Trieste 0020 GMT. Bit choppy outside but all OK. Some fog, too.

10 Sat .

.....

March 1939

1 Wed Went ashore for films morning. At dentist afternoon. Had dental operation. Felt terrible. Came back, turned in. No tea. Had an orange or two later.

2 Thur Danny brought my breakfast in bed. A couple of boiled eggs. Get up about 11.30am. Had little dinner. Went ashore with 2nd mate afternoon pictures, "Beachcomber" & something else, with Charles Fuggles. Had some tea ashore.

3 Fri Sailed 11am ships time (1600 GMT) bnd San Pedro de Macores. Not bad but cold. Got little cold in my gums.

4 Sat Not bad day. Warmer. Run 207 miles. Foggy at night and sea came up.

5 Sun Foggy all thru night and rolling in heavy swell. Not much sleep with whistle blowing. No position DR run 209 miles. Sea moderate later. Wrote letter JB.

6 Mon Arrived Norfolk Va. (Sewall's Point) about 6.30am (app 11.00 GMT). P.C. to W. Union. Had stroll ashore, bought some sweets. Got snap ship. Federal inspector aboard. Got notice for not having batteries charged. Sailed for S. Pedro 12.00 noon (17.30 GMT).

.....

April 1939

24 Mon Went to labour exchange morning. Filed claim. In at school, nothing doing. Went JS to BB cinema. Sonya Henie in "My Lucky Star". Very good.

25 Tues At school morning. Going to Auntie Jeannie’s afternoon. Not in. Went Auntie Minnie, Auntie Jeannie there. Didn’t wait for tea. Had dumpling at home. Auntie Chrissie up. Signed at exchange 11 am.

26 Wed Over at Auntie Jeannie’s morning. Had dinner there. Snowing heavily. At school afternoon. Nothing much doing. Saw J.S. at night. At Empire. Tommy Morgan. Pretty awful.

27 Thur At school morning and afternoon. Nothing much doing. Went Auntie Minnie’s at night. Working Hornby. Signed at exchange 11 am.

.....

August 1939

13 Sun Church morning. Uncle Jim & Aunt Jeannie there. Came back with us. Out walk at night round Tower Hill & Lyle Hill. Lovely night.

14 Mon Uncle Jim over 8.30. Had breakfast and back to Bellville St. Out walk to Aunt Hessie’s then to Wallace St. Playing darts. Out walk afternoon up cemetary. Mr Hobden signed paper night. Went stroll later round Lyle Road.

15 Tues Signed exchange. Over for Uncle Jim. Walk up Kilmacolm Road, then Ling? & down to see launch of Clan MacDonald. Dinner at Belville St. At Aunt Lizzie, Aunt Minnie afternoon. Gave Uncle boat for John. He left 4.30. Went cruise on Montrose up Loch Long.

16 Wed In morning. Out walk afternoon. Down Tower Hill. Pictures at night B.B.

17 Thur Signed & paid exchange. In all morning. Making cabinet for loudspeaker afternoon. Out night over Tower & Lyle Hill. Met Lydia at night. Had haircut.

18 Fri Got P.O. letter to report Lydd Monday. At school morning, said "cheerio". Getting things ready but walk night with Lydia. Down Gourock and out for row. Lovely night. Got snap from Lydia.

19 Sat Exchange morning for books. At Aunt Jeannie’s. Met J.S. At Aunt Lizzie’s after dinner. Got 10/- note. On Montrose for sail round Craig. Got box chocolates Ella. Lovely day, but rained at night. Very heavy. Had good day. Said cheerio Ella. Boat 1 hour late. Home about 10.45 pm.

20 Sun Went said cheerio Aunt Hettie, Aunt Minnie, Mrs. Hebden, A. Jeannie. Over for dinner A. Lizie, U. Duncan. H.B {Harry Bridges} at train. Left West at 4.7 pm. Glasgow 5.30. Dad at Glasgow.

21 Mon Arrived London 4.30 am. Walk round. Cup tea. Train for Maidstone at 7.18 am. Changed at Ashford for Lydd. Arrived Lydd 10.11 am. Nice day. Up at station. Met crowd, Mr Evans, Trippier, Grinyer, Allen & Hart. Afternoon off find digs. Mrs Fagg. Wrote letter home night.

22 Tues At radio stn 9 am. Knocked around. Saw gear, had trial. National H R O receivers. Marconi Adcock DG10 MW DF. DG12 HF DF. Digs seem ok. Walk round night.

23 Wed Day duty at stn 0900 – 0530. Lydd seems nice place. Small and quiet but ok. Weather very warm. On receiver a bit. Getting on ok.

24 Thur Day duty agn. Weather bit duller but very warm still. On receiver now more. Hrd D4DN wkg. First catch. Met Grinyer, Trippier at night.

25 Fri Got paid. Week £1-19/-. Nice day. On receivers. Another catch. Lot stuff going. Walk round night. Met Trippier.

26 Sat On 4 to midnight with Trippier. Up abt 9 am. Had walk round & haircut. On at one to relieve Allan for afternoon. Lot stuff going. Very busy. Off about 22.30. Some supper. Nice day and beautiful night. Wrote letter home and sent £1.

27 Sun Grinyer. Lot stuff going. Fairly busy. Stayed in at night, listened to wireless. Very warm day, sunny.

.....

September 1939

6 Wed On 0800 – 1600. Air raid sirens went 0710 to 0900. Lovely day. Went bike at night Rita & Norris to Dungeness Light House. Supper at Freda’s.

7 Thur On 0000 – 0800 with Tripp. Slept till 4.30. Up at R M at night with Brom & Grinyer. Walk around later. Lovely weather. Very foggy morning.

8 Fri On 0000 – 0800 with Trippier. Slept till 12.30. Had dinner, went for pay. £2.11.5. Walk round. Knocked around night Rita. Went to Freda’s. Had fish supper. Lovely weather.

.....

Here the diary stopped, and did not restart until the 1950’s.

Letters Sent and Recd

Alexandria 21.9.38

Sent. Mother, M & M, J.S.
Recd. Mother, Jean

Istanbul 2.10.38

Sent. Jean
Recd. Mother

Istanbul 17.10.38

Sent. Mother, J.S.
Recd. Nil

Gibraltar 25.10.38

Sent. Mother
Recd. Mother (4), A.Lizzie, J.B.(2), A.Jeannie

Boston 13.11.38

Sent. Mother, A.Jeannie, J.B.
Recd. Nil

Albany 1.12.38

Sent. Mother (2), Jean & Agnes, Aunts Hettie, Lizzie, M & M, J.S., Peggy MacK, HCB, JB
Recd. Mother (2), J.B. (4), M & M, HCB, Jean

Gibraltar 23.12.38

Sent. Mother
Recd. Mother, BB (2), Jean

Trieste 31.12.38

Sent. Mother (2), A.Lizzie, J.B., M & M
Recd. Mother (3), A.Lizzie, Jean, J.B. (2)

Istanbul 16.1.39

Sent. Mother, J.B.
Recd. Nil

Istanbul 1.2.39

Sent. Mother, J.S., M & M, J.B.
Recd. Mother (2), Jean, J.S., J.B.

Gibraltar 9.2.39

Sent. H.C.B., Mother, Jean, J.B., J.S.
Recd. Mother (2), Jean, H.C.B., J.B., papers home

Portland, Maine 25.2.39

Sent. Mother
Recd. Mother, John, J.B., W.Stewart

Newport News

Sent. Mother, J.B., Willie Union
Recd. Nil

San Pedro de Macoris & La Romana

Sent. Mother
Recd. Nil

Dunkirk

Sent. Mother, John & Agnes, Aunt Hettie, J.B.
Recd. Mother (4), Jean, J.B., H.B., Agnes

PC’s

Sent. Willie Brown, MacQuatts
Recd. Jean

Key to Abbreviated Names