14 Dec 1941, Sheridan's diary of the hostilities
Primary tabs
Just a week ago today I saw the golfers enjoying their round of golf, or sitting on the verandah enjoying their cocktails. Now the grass is cut up by numerous lorries and the green in front of the Clubhouse is marred by the unsightly hump of 15 Aldershot ovens.
The weather could not have been better, it is warm and sunny all day and nice and cool at night.
We can hear the 9.2 guns from Stanley, Mt. Davis and Collinson. ((There weren't any 9.2-inch guns at Collinson Battery. Perhaps they heard guns of Bokhara Battery at Cape D'Aguilar.)) Also the AA guns when the Japs come over on their bombing raids. So far we have escaped. Normally we could be playing hockey, tennis or football or even in the sea for a swim, as it is still warm enough for it.
The gun boats have moved out of Deepwater Bay although HMS Cicala comes in and anchors at night.
All the yachts and boats in Deepwater Bay have been sunk including our little Snipe class boat. It is sad as we have had some great times sailing in it.
During the night there was a hell of an explosion. It shook the Clubhouse and some of the windows facing the beach were shattered. It happened about 2a.m., I got up to investigate. One of the patrolling sentries told me that some of the mines on the beach had gone off with a mighty blast.
