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14th April 1943 - this is indeed a great day. Rose 3.30am. Breakfast 4.15. Left Guards room for water loo in lorry. Arrived to find BOAC Ensign waiting for us. Terrific size - Armstrong Siddelay. Taxied along runway then a roar fronm engines and wer're off.

Made a perfect landing at Robertsport - lots of yanks herebut it seems very desolate. Took off again very smoothly and ran into mist on approaching a range of mountains. Fell asleep but was awakened by a terrific bump. Raining heavily and Kite tossing and bumping all over the place.

Landed at Takaradi. A marvellous drome and from the air it loojks like a geometrical problem. Straight roads and regular billets. Another good take off and a quiet run over the sea and along the coast to Lagos.

What a difference to freetown. Race course, cricket field, clean streets beautifully laid out with long water front on one side of the river and docks and wharves on the other. The town itself is on an island approached from Apapa by a long bridge. Made one circuit then came in over the river. He touched down on the very edge of the runway and with a rush of scenery past the window and slight jolt of the brakes applied and the squeal of axles we arrived at our destination. 1100 miles in 10 hours.

Usual questions at office. Taken to billet in lorry. Long bungalow with verandah all round. Rooms of 14. Lockers for each man and camp beds with sheets and pillows. All the billets are built on the side of the creek and lagos looks good on the other side of the river with its red roofs and white buildings. Chop is served in a lovely clean dining room and boys wait on. What a change from Jui queues.

Next morning got the gen on the station from the orderly room and had conference with CO. Had a look round where the slip is going to be also offices but there seems little we can do at the moment.

Sat afternoon went into Lagos. Crossed river in native canoe with Joseph. The marina or river front is lovely with grassy bank on one side and a mixed type of architechture on the other. Grey stone and white washed buildings of banks, offices and private residences. The town is a mixture of Europe and africa with many big buildings. Tooka taxi to George V Canteen. A lovely place just like a holiday resort. Passed race course and cricket pitch on teh way also the European tennis club and a large swimming pool. TYhis end of town is mostly European houses with lovely gardens and i saw one with English roses. All the gardens are simply alive with flowers.

Street hawkers in profusion - sitting by the roadside each with small stall containing everything under the sun. Justlike an English corner shop. Boys hawking native goods pester one to buy slippers, knives, handbags etc. Traders from up country, Hausas, sit by the road with leather and skin work (much cheaper than Freetown). All these men wear long white gowns and a fez. Most of them have little black beards.

Sunday had a nice service in the Naafi. The alter was beautifully decorated with bowls of little white flowers and greenery. Sunday is a day off here so we went into Lagos for tea and then into Tinuba Church at night. Native preacher very good. Singing loud but not frightfully melodious. Very nice Church and quite enjoyed it.

Spent the week getting two hurricane cases for stores department and erecting them and installing furniture.

Cinema in the hanger on Wednesday night - good sreen but lousy sound.

Spent sta afternoon walking round the old town and there is the same dirt and squalor as in freetown. Communal taps at street corners with mother swashing kids. Every other house has a stall of some kind at the door. Goats wander about picking up garbage. Tea in the King Geaorge and to the Rex a pukka open air cinema.

Palm Sunday - received my first Palm Cross. Went to Sunday School and met Dr Sago leadrer of the Bible class also his brother the SS Superintendant. In the evening Dr Sago took us to the Ctahedral at 6 o'clock - lovely place but not completed owing to the war. C of E but very nice - grand choir and organist. On to Tinuba at 7 o'clock to the Methodist service.

Special services all Easter week. Went to communion on Thursday night. Taken by Rev Waterworth - gosh what a crowd! Communion is taken at the rail and the stewards at each side examine quarterly tickets and marshall people down each side alternitavely. Bill Massie and i are invited to partake. Mr Roberts principal of Methodist Boys High School and took us to chop. He has lovely digs overlooling the river and did we enjoy being waited on and eating a pukka meal in a house.

Service in Naafi on Good Friday. Worked Sat. Sunday Service as usual. Spoke to Bible class at tinuba and went to Church at night - simply packed - Church all decorated with flags. Morning Service - Communion had been crowded out 2.75 hours.

Met Mr Green fresh from up country. Mrs Waterworth and three female teachers from MBHS. Monday went and played tennis at School house - gosh was it good eevn if the rackets were baskets. Tennis not very good but very enjoyable.

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