The Calm Before the Storm
10 November 1944 [...] Our last voyage was
like the previous ones in every way, with no excitement of any
kind; the first three days were miserable, with the ship rolling 35
to 40 degrees continually; but everything got back to rights, and
we then had a week of hot weather.
[...] We now have a piano on the boat, so there's a
sing-song every night in the mess; we also have a movie projector
for the men, which [we] use three or four times on each crossing;
we have even reached the point of exchanging films right at sea,
from one boat to another. [...]
17 December 1944 [...] No change for
Christmas, which we will be spending elsewhere than in the last few
years; we'll be having our celebration on the 21st, so that
everyone can recover before our departure. It will be in keeping
with naval customs; the youngest seaman on board will become
captain for a few hours, the second youngest will become the first
lieutenant; then there's the captain's round by the temporary
captain, with our commanding officer acting as coxswain etc.; as
for me, I am inheriting, for the occasion, the position of
quartermaster on the bridge to present arms. Obviously, we exchange
uniforms for this occasion. I am saving for you a portrait of me as
a seaman. Everything winds up with a round for everyone, at our
expense, in the Mess.
Stanislas Dery, Naval
Officer, HMCS St. Thomas
Stanislas Dery Collection, Quebec Naval Museum
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