24 Sep 1943, W J Carrie's wartime diary
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Well the Canadians got away yesterday - a horrid wet day and all their hand luggage lay on the jetty for an hour or more in heavy rain so it would be sodden. I'll only have 2 rattan baskets and my attache case when I go on board - ALL the rest will go in the hold. I have the camphor wood box with your fur coat etc; my big leather suitcase and my dirty linen bag with blankets. The ship now called the Teia Maru is the old Messagerie Maritime "Aramis" (or Felix Roussell) - with squat square funnels - latest additions to the M.M. fleet - they are said to be nice boats. The other day the Italians scuttled the Conte Verde at Shanghai - a pity but necessary.
Gillespie (Jack Coopers successor in I.C.I.) may send you a message telling you how I am; he hopes to get by air to London from India and not have to go to America first. Mrs Fairburn may write too - she was Constance Bonnell - and was Secretary to the Helena May - do you remember her? She's a very decent sort - has been in the same room as Dora and Margery.
We are expecting news now of our departure - someone will surely come in today or tomorrow. We want our allowance for Sept. too - I am penniless! But we keep smiling! A.M.L. B.
