Sun. Nov. 2. S. S. "Diwara" ??? I thought discretion the better part of valor and kept in my bunk till after lunch. I did slide down to the port hole once and found when I tried to return to my bunk that I had quite a steep hill to climb! The said hill suddenly vanished and I was pitched into the bunk only to be pushed off the ladder by another roll. However the next roll pushed me in and I stopped there.
Hickling made a valiant sortie to the deck but returned in two mins. in a violent hurry "where's a jerry I'm going to be sick" - and he was.
About 2.0 a four funnelled cruiser came in sight of the porthole. I slid about the cabin in my effort's to dress and after several vain endeavors to stop in front of the glass long enough to put a tie on, went on deck in a great coat sans tie. There I learnt that our sterring gear had broken down and they were steering by hand, that we had signalled the cruiser to tell them so. Also that the French Cruiser had vanished ad the said four funneller - the "Diana" had taken her place. Buch is running the signalling of the ship and he said our Capt. sent the message "Steering Gear out of order - suggest putting in to Gib. for repairs." Reply I read vzi "when will you be ready to go ahead" "Now" "Go ahead" So we streaked on and caught up the rest of the convoy who were waiting for us. Swell continued all day and we rolled some. hear we are likely to be in Gib. for about 2 1/2 days.
I stuck on deck in a deck chair.