The diaries describe Evans’ life on board SS Atlantic and SS Chemong, where he served as a radio operator. They also describe some of the places Evans visited and his activities when on leave. Below is an extract outlining some of Evans’ experiences during a visit of the SS Atlantic to St. John’s Newfoundland in 19381.
[Feb. 1938]
‘… Used last of toothpaste last night, but should be in St. John’s this evening. …
14th [Feb.]
Left St. John yesterday, arrived in St. John (N.S.) [.] Arrived in St. John in the morning, and moved in to berth around noon to start loading wheat from the elevator. Working two spots. Went ashore in the evening & walked all over the town. The whole place is built on a ridge & half the streets have a grade of about 1 in 5. Slipped on the ice several times. Paraded all around looking for something to do. Bought a pair of moccasins for mother & a supply of toothpaste.
Found a skating rink (there are several in town!) & eventually decided to go in. Spent half an hour learning to stand up. Was towed in to the clear centre of the rink by an expert (age c.8) & his assistant (c.7) to work, & out to the side to sit down. Total cost ¼ for the skates, & ¼ to each instructor. Travelled to and from the town on the ferry…
… [14-16 Feb.]
A peculiar incident at St. John scared me. A “car” [sic] coming up one of the steep streets stopped about a foot short of a girl standing in th[e] middle of the lines while I hauled her back, but the whole thing happened in slow time, owing to the ice. It made this suspense much longer, and afterwards the car eased ahead. People gradually got going again on their way & the whole thing was quite horribly deliberate. The whole town was like that. Cars and autos creeping along, stopping dead before taking a corner, pedestrians planting each foot with great care. The only fast movers were skaters.
1 Warwickshire County Record Office reference CR3990/1
Comments
My father in law, now 92, served on SS Chemong from beginning 1946 to end of 1948 as a radio operator. He recalls it was in dry dock in South Shields UK in 1948, and didn’t get back to Canada until 1948. In 1956 when he was in Canada he saw the ship again and it had been renamed, but can’t recall the new name.
Regarding the comments about my father in law who served on SS Chemong. His name is Michael Kavanagh and was a Marco radio operator.
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