The Yules in Sierra Leone
Bob and Anne Yule spent time in Sierra Leone in the 1930's. This page has been created by Donald Yule and Esther Lyons to mark that period.
Mum & Dad married in September 1936 when Dad was on home leave from his job as a mining engineer with the Sierra Leone Development Co. Large deposits of haematite had been discovered at Marampa in 1927 and the first cargo of the ore destined for the Lanarkshire Iron & Steel industry reached Scotland in 1933. Dad worked as a surveyor at Marampa with his younger brother Alex as the accountant. We have, in the family collection, many photographs of this operation which would be of interest to anyone researching the topic. We are happy to email copies. Click here to send Donald an email.
In October 1936, Dad returned to West Africa taking his bride with him. This was quite an adventure for someone who had never left UK before and very much "life on the frontier" in the 1930's. Mum kept a diary, extracts from which we will publish here for the first time. Please use the links below to navigate through the entries.
At sea - Mum was not a good sailor!
Thursday 8.10.36
At 12 noon we had done 236 miles,opposite Bristol Channel.
We had tea about 7.30 and then a bath. The morning was spent walking around & writing & reading. After lunch we lay down & had afternoon tea in the cabin. We had a walk round before dinner, when I came down I felt groggy & went to bed minus dinner. We both slept well.
Sunday 11.10.36
I am feeling OK now & had breakfast in the Dining Saloon. We have been finishing our mail ready to post.
We did 320 miles up to 12 noon today.
We got books & spent the afternoon reading. About 6 o'clock I began to dress for dinner.
The dinner was OK. We walked round after and then read some mags. We saw one boat today. A water spout was seen about 5 o'clock.
Landfall Madeira
Monday 12.10.36
Bob saw Santo Porto this morning at 7.30 on the starboard bow. We passed it about 11 o'clock. The morning was spent reading and watching the islands. Just abreast Santo Porto we sighted Madeira and abreast NE Madeira we passed the Abboso [Sister ship of Elder Dempster Lines also on the West Africa run.] She is high out of the water and was dipping her nose into the swell. We gave the usual signals 3&1.
Lunch was early 12 o'clock. About 2 o'clock we landed at Funchal. Madeira is truly picturesque. The sun was shining beautifully when we landed. The diving boys came out in their boats & made a great fuss. They are terribly funny but really they are good divers. When we did get off the boat i.e. the Aba down a ladder into a small boat it was 2 o'clock. We got a car as soon as possible & went right up to the Monument du Pax, the Funchal War Memorial.
The run up was marvellous! We climbed 3,200 ft into the heavens. We had a wonderful view of the bay and the town. The island seems all to be cultivated, bananas, melons and pumpkins are growing outside. The houses too are interesting. There are several houses which the guide called "English Private Houses".
The children are big and throw flowers for pennies. It seems the lower class is a bit down trodden.
The streets are all laid with very small stones which are exceedingly slippery. here is a railway which goes straight up the island to the monument. It is possible to come down in a sledge. The run down the hill ws very interesting too, vegetation is everywhere.
We bought two chairs, a table & tray which are very nice. There are funny vehicles driven by two oxen and some by mules. Cars are quite numerous.
We had tea in the open while native women tried to sell us flowers. After tea we did some shopping and then went back to the ship. When we got back, the ship looked like a market place. Goods were strewn everywhere. The work is really wonderful. Bob brought me a bracelet and together we bought a table cloth - a beauty. [It was indeed and the "Madeira tablecloth" remained a prized possession to be brought out and laid with great care on special occasions.]|Back to top|
Arrival
Saturday 17.10.36
Had breakfast and then did our final packing ready to leave. Sea is very calm. Wrote to Cathie [Cathie Shearer a school friend] and sent it home. We did 318 miles until 12 noon. Bob had a sleep as he had a slight headache. Sighted the hills at Freetown 2.30 and dropped anchor in the harbour at 5.34 pm.
Dr Watson and Mr Munro came on board to meet us. We spent the night with Mr Holland, Barclays Bank manager. He made us very welcome.
Sunday 18.10.36
We were awakened with a cup of tea at 6.30 and rose soon afterwards. Had breakfast about 7.45. We proceeded to Freetown to meet the others at the City Hotel. From there we went by car to Kissy where we joined the launch. Left 8.50 reached Pepel 10.0 o'clock. Had rain on the way up. Were nicely received by Dr Pringle and given lunch before leaving by train at 1.15 pm. The run up was really uneventful but quite interesting this time because it was all new. One little kid gave us bananas which were very nice.
We were met by Mr Buchanan who gave us tea and dinner. I have met several of the men. Mr & Mrs Williams are very nice and have done their best to make me feel at home.
We did some unpacking and went to bed.
The crickets make a dreadful noise. There were a great many spark flies. We both slept well.
Monday 19.10.36
I was wakened with the bugle at 6 o'clock, then Cole[James S Cole, Dad's head "houseboy"] came with tea. We rose at 7 o'clock and had breakfast at 8.
Bob went to work at 9.30. I did the rest of the unpacking and tidied up generally. Mrs. Williams [We have a St Helens, Lancs, address for Mr & Mrs Williams]came in a wee while.
The house is looking not too bad. We got mats today and a box for powder from a man. We had tea in the WIlliams' house, which was very nice.
This morning the boy killed a small snake in the garden.
Spot [the white and black camp dog who features on a number of photgraphs]has come back again and seems quite friendly.
Settling in
Tuesday 20.10.36
To-day has been very hot. I went to the Club about 10 o'clock and had tea. Mr. & Mrs. Stilwell were there. They are very nice. Mr. B. gave us the car and we went to Lunsar where I got some material for curtains. Mrs. Solomon had us upstairs & gave us orangeade & biscuits. The folks all came out to see "The white missus". I did some sewing & then went out with Bob. AFter tea we went to tennis. In the evening we went to the Club for dinner.
Wednesday 21.10.36
Bob went out at 6.30 am this morning. He was back for breakfast at 8.30. I have finished four curtains. I sewed & finished the mail. Bob went to tennis this morning. We dined in the house alone. I like it better that way. We went to bed early 8.45 pm.
Important news comes to Marampa
Thursday 10.12.36
I went along to the club this morning. While I was in, the new Dr. came in. Bob has a cold this morning. At tea time he came home early and went to bed. Temp. 100.2. Dr C. came in, but did not seem worried about Bob. Mr O. looked in at night. He told us that the King had abdicated.
Dad's condition got serious
Monday 14.12.36
This morning Bob got up but had to come back to bed at once. We sent for the Dr, & after some consultation he advised that Bob should go to Freetown. Maybe there is mothing wrong we can only hope for the best.
I shall go down too only I'm not looking forward to it one bit. It will be horrid without Bob.
Tuesday 15.12.36
We left Marampa this morning at 10.10 arriving Pepel 1.50. Mr Cook gave us a cup of tea. We then proceed by launch to Freetown. A taxi conveyed us to the Hospital. It was dreadful leaving Bob last night,only he is much better for which I am very thankful. The Stilwells have been very kind and made me very welcome. During the night there was great revellry among the natives - [celebration of the end of]Ramadan.
Wednesday 16.12.36
I had a cup of tea at 8 o'clock, got up , dressed & had breakfast at 9 o'clock. James Cole has gone to Marampa. I went out for a walk this morning and met the Dr. We had a short run round. After lunch I had a rest & went up to the Nursing Home at 3.15. Bob feels much better, but is fed-up already being in the Home - no wonder. Mr R. came here today.
Sunday 20.12.36
Just after breakfast Bob phoned to say that he was getting out. I went up at once to get him. We spent a very nice day together - visited Lumley beach which is very nice. We wished we had had bathing costumes. Dinner was very nice. We went to bed early as usual. Stilwell's parrot is funny.
|Back to top|
Mum and Dad returned to Marampa where they spent Christmas and New Year without incident. Before they left Freetown they bought a camphor chest which remains in the family. By now Dad had done several tours of duty in Sierra Leone and was having serious problems with malaria, which is pretty obvious now on reading Mum's diary. The treatment at that time was heavy doses of quinine. This kept the malaria at bay but it was not realised then that this treatment had drawbacks. The end effect for Dad was Blackwater Fever, a disease which my reference works tell me is still not completely understood and which, in those days, was often fatal.
Dad was lucky to avoid that of course, being invalided back to UK where, perhaps as he wasn't taking any more quinine, he recovered. Britain had started to re-arm and there was plenty of work for a good surveyor as the government began the construction of armament factories. Dad spent the war with Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co. on various Government building projects. He contributed to D-Day by working on the Mulberry Harbour caissons and ended the War back in the mining business at the open cast coal sites in South Yorkshire. Mum, of course, had the job of bringing up the publishers of this page.
With the exception of two short visits to the Irish Republic, Mum and Dad never left UK again. The ravages of malaria and its treatment must have left their mark as Dad was old before his time and, for someone from a family noted for longevity, who had been very fit, dying at 75 has to be seen as premature. Mum died in December 2002 and her ashes lie with Bob's in Cheshire, that lovely English county which had become their home. The piper's lament which echoed round the wet, winter woods of Walton at Mum's funeral was as good a way as you will ever find of saying farewell to both Anne & Bob.
Finding this diary was a great surprise to us and we hope you have enjoyed reading this brief glimpse into a vanished world.|Back to top|
More about Donald Yule
More about Bob & Anne
Donald's quiz team diary
Send E-Mail to: donyule@the-pres.org.uk
Copyright © 2003 Donald Yule. All Rights Reserved