Gangodawila Diary Extracts

These are some unedited extracts from my diaries covering my first few days at RAF Gangodawila in Ceylon at the end of 1954. Some of the language, for example my use of the word 'native', is not how I would write these days. However, that was how the language was used in 1954 and I knew no better then. I have left my words as I originally wrote them but there was then, and is now, absolutely no racist connotation.

Chaos reigned in the section and one of the watch-workers had nearly been struck as the lightning jumped across the room

Wednesday 15th December 1954. Well today was the first day at my new station. It was cloudy all day with only very occasional glimpses of the sun. As a result it didn't get really hot. I got up at about 6.45am but didn't go to breakfast. We first went to CDO (Central Drafting Office) just after 7.30. Here I learned that I am posted to Central Signals Section while Tombstone Gaunt and Mick Harley are going down on the airfield. We spent the morning 'arriving'; that is, getting signatures on our arrival forms. I went over to my section and had an interview with the Signals Officer - Flight Lieutenant Gibbs. He told me I shall probably be going to the receiving station seven miles from Colombo. There are only 19 people there at present!! Work finishes here at 1300hrs so this afternoon I went for a ride out of camp on a hired bike. This evening half a dozen of us went to the Astra Cinema and saw 'Them'..

Thursday 16th December 1954. I had intended getting up at 6.30 this morning to go to breakfast but I didn't wake up until 6.50 so I didn't bother about breakfast and had a few minutes longer in bed. The day's work started at 8.00 when we went into the cinema for a talk by the Station Warrant Officer. He told us a lot of general information about the camp and its officers, etc. I spent another hour or so finishing my 'arriving' and then, at about 1115 when I had got all the signatures I could today, I went down to my section to see what was going on. There I was told to start 'clearing'! I am to go to the receiving station at Gangodawila tomorrow. I don't know whether to look forward to it or not because there doesn't seem to be much entertainment. However, I shall soon know. I just lazed around this afternoon and watched some of the other chaps playing Solo. This evening we went into the NAAFI for an hour or so.

Friday 17th December 1955. I had quite a rush this morning but as it turned out I needn't have bothered. Last night I was all alone in the long Transit Billet because the others had moved into their permanent billet. While trying to get to sleep and listening to the many jungle night sounds, I had felt rather lonely and miserable but I was OK again this morning. We new arrivals had to go to Pay Accounts at 7.00 am but we were kept hanging around until 8.15. I was paid 110 Rupees (£7 13s 0d). Then I handed in my bedding, got my Clearance Chit and finally signed the bike back in. I was told to be ready to leave at 0930 but I eventually left at 1215. The van driver called at a couple of places in Colombo to collect stores and we arrived at Gango at 1345. I had a meal as soon as I arrived and a jolly good meal it was. It was served by natives and the table was laid for us. I spent the afternoon unpacking my kit and generally laying about.

Saturday 18th December 1954. I got up at about 0630 after having a cup of tea in bed brought by the native House Boy. I then had breakfast and went into the section about 0715. The Senior Technician in charge gave me some gen about the equipment. It sounds complicated to start with. I then did a bit of relay cleaning and setting. It got very hot today by my standards and I felt most uncomfortable and lazy. In fact, I spent practically all afternoon and evening on my bed.

Sunday 19th December 1954. This afternoon I did 20 minutes sun bathing. It was extremely hot. I got a slight tan in such a short time. From 1630 until 1800 I watched our football team playing a team of locals. We won 3-0. I took some photos. A crowd of native boys wanted their photos taken so I obliged.

Monday 20th December 1954. This morning in the section I helped another Junior Technician doing a weekly check on the VF equipment - the stuff which sorts out the teleprinter tones. I then did a daily inspection all on my own on three T1131s. Isn't it wonderful - me a fitter doing a mechanic's job! After dinner I had myself treated by the local barber who comes here once a week. He is very efficient and takes a pride in his job. I had a haircut and a shampoo and it cost me about 1s 8d. We had a slight diversion this morning when a three-ton lorry ploughed through eight aerial feeders. They were all in use at the time. This evening the billet was transformed into a cinema. A 16mm projector is used and we normally get two shows a week. It lasted about an hour and a half and I enjoyed it. It was much cooler today and we had several rain showers.

Tuesday 21st December 1954. The senior technician in charge of the section went to Negombo today so we were left to look after ourselves. There was very little to do and time seemed to drag. I learned how to tune an AR88 - not that there is much to it - and then spent the biggest part of the morning listening to the second Test Match from Australia. At the end of the day Australia need 169 to win with two days and eight wickets left. Today was a relatively cool day with quite a lot of rain at times.

Wednesday 22nd December 1954. Our senior technician had a slight panic today because Flt Lt Gibbs, the signals officer, visited us for the day. He is the chap who interviewed me when I first went to the Signals Centre. He is a jolly decent chap. We had a pay parade at 1115 this morning. We had to wear uniform and berets which caused quite a stir because pay parades are usually informal affairs here as far as I can gather. I got 70 Rupees (£5 5s Sterling at 13.3 Rupees to the pound). I now have over 180 Rupees - all last week's pay is practically untouched. There is very little to spend it on.

Thursday 23rd December 1954. I reported sick this morning with frequent bad headaches - more as a skive than anything else. I did find out one thing. The MO at RAF Colpetty suggested taking salt tablets as this often cures headaches, stomach disorders, etc when one first arrives in this country. This afternoon I went to Colombo with Don Taylor and another chap. We went by taxi and I paid. It was extremely hot but I didn't feel really uncomfortable. We went round various book and photographic shops and I priced a Weston exposure meter - it came to £11 5s which is 17 shillings dearer than in the UK. When we'd finished our wanderings we walked as far as RAF Colpetty and got a taxi from there.

Friday 24th December 1954. Today was another very hot day. This morning I stopped in the billet and wrote some letters. There are plenty of people I could write to and I have plenty of time but I never seem to get down to it. Today was the first day of the Christmas Grant. This afternoon I went out with some of the others onto some open ground behind the camp and had game of cricket. There were only five of us but we had a good time. However, I think I stopped in the sun too long (about 2 hours) because tonight my shoulders are burnt and painful. This evening there was a social evening in the club and guests were invited. We all put on fancy dress. I concocted something out of a pair of pyjamas. We went around the village singing carols - fancy dress and all. It was all rather ridiculous but very good fun.

Saturday 25th December 1954. Today was a strange day - my first Xmas away from home. The Signals Officer, Flt Lt Gibbs, came for the day and he served at dinner along with the flight sergeant and senior technician at 1315. It was a grand meal with large portions of chicken each. I think someone had been over-zealous with the brandy in the brandy sauce. After dinner we were entertained for a short while by dancing done by the villagers. This evening I listened to the round the world programme and the Queen's speech from London on the BBC General Overseas Service.

Tuesday 28th December 1954. Today was the last day of the Xmas Grant. This afternoon I went down to Colombo in the Army van. I had a look around the shops and cashed some British Postal Orders for another chap. I didn't know you could do that. I stopped in the billet again this evening reading some of the periodicals which came by sea mail today. I should be getting a letter any day now!

Wednesday 29th December 1954. We started work again today - if you can call it work. The senior technician went to Negombo for the day so we were left all on our own. Don Taylor - another Junior Technician - and I continued the job we started before Christmas ie sorting out the stock of valves and making a list of them. My shoulders are peeling today after the burning I gave them last Friday. I can start all over again tomorrow. This evening we're having a rare old thunderstorm with torrential rain.

Thursday 30th December 1954. This afternoon I went to Colombo with a couple of other chaps. We went down in the Army van so it did not cost us anything. It was very hot and all the wandering around made us quite tired. After much thought I blued in 150 rupees on a Weston exposure meter. We had a couple of ice cream sodas in a café and then walked to a picture house about a mile and a half away. We had to hang around about half an hour before the booking office opened. It was pleasantly cool inside and I enjoyed the picture which was Marilyn Munroe in 'River of No Return.' It was in Cinemascope. We came back with five others in the RAF van which was waiting outside the cinema.

Friday 31st December 1954. After my first fortnight at Gangodawila I think I can say I have settled down. However, I don't want to stay two and a half years on this camp so my first 'wonder' for next year is 'will I get posted to Singapore as I would like to?' My second, in relation to the letter I sent off a few days ago re a short story writing course - 'will I get anything published'. As to the day's happenings - nothing unusual happened until just as I was writing this bit about the thunderstorm outside. One of our aerials and some of the feeders were struck and practically all the fuses in the place were blown. Chaos reigned in the section and one of the watch-workers had nearly been struck as the lightning jumped across the room and just missed his head. After about an hour and a half things are working but we're using the emergency VHF to Negombo as the landlines are not working. And so, that was a lively end to 1954 although everything is peaceful outside now.