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JOURNAL
APRIL 5TH (Easter Day): Now been here alone 4 months. No sign of relief. Only about a cupful of paraffin left and one or two candles. Have to lie in darkness almost all of the time. Chocolate finished and tobacco almost (half a pinch left). What a change from last Easter... what I wouldn’t give to be living ... again to be with you my dearest. But if it were not for having you to think about as I lie in the dark and cannot..., life would be intolerable. I wonder what you are doing ... but I trust in god absolutely ... oh that fatal day 9 months ago! Why did I ever leave you!
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APRIL 13TH, 1931: Finished my last pipe of baccy today. There is now precious little left to live for. Now only have light for meals which consist of porridge just warmed up for breakfast and ? and marg and pemmican for other two. In consequence the house had got very cold and is covered with hoar frost up to the roof...... ?? Hardly any paraffin left of candles
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20TH APRIL, 1931:Only one candle left, hardly any paraffin. Lie in dark all day, designing the ideal cruiser and the ideal meal. Left foot swelling up, hope it isn’t scurvy.
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APRIL 26TH, 1931: Just 6 months since we left base and started living on sledge rations. Been here alone 20 weeks. Everything running out. Using last candle. Very little paraffin left, what I shall do for drinking water I don’t know. Only 2 more biscuits for 4 days. I officially run out of food but have reserve thank god, of pemmican and marg. Smoking tea.
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MAY 1ST, 1931: No sign of relief. Shall have to think of walking soon if I can get out. Buscuits finished and candles. Now burning ski wax for light, but it makes mostly smoke. Have no sugar as the last tin is outside. Food has officially run out, but still have a fair amount of essentials, though lemon juice is running low.
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MAY 6TH, 1931: Yesterday was the greatest day of my life. After Monday, I kept on wondering what it was that May 5th should be famous for. I could not think of anybody’s birthday or any event so I decided it must be that the relief was going to arrive.
Yesterday (5th May), the primus gave its last gasp as I melted water for the morning meal. I am lying in my bag after this so called meal of a bit of pemmican and margarine and had just decided that I should have to start to walk back on June 1st if I could get out, when suddenly there was an appalling noise like a bus going by, followed by a confused yelling. I nearly jumped out of my skin – was it the house falling in at last? A second later, I realised the truth it was somebody, a human voice calling down the ventilator. It was a wonderful moment. I could not think what to say. I yelled back some stuttering remarks “horray” they shouted “are you alright?” yes, thank god “I am perfectly fit” “thank god” they said. It was Gino and Freddie and they were as tremulous as I was... |
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