A focus on family history
Thursday, 11 November 1937
At sea, nice sunny day but sea is pretty swelly.
[Being Remembrance Day, Thirza would have spent some moments in thought of her brother Percy who was killed 19 years early at Amiens, France, 24 April 1918, age 30.]
Wednesday, 10 November 1937
Dr & Mrs Montries, Bella, Reg, Flora drove me down to the boat, 25 miles from Beverly Hills, in a Pierce Arrow car – Reg bought bottle of whisky to give me a good send off. Boat [S.S. Monterey] to leave at 10. Good crowd aboard, Pat O’Brien & wife, movie star. Met Mabel & Fred [Thearle, friends from London], has she bought some lovely clothes. Had fox cape on, looking the goods. Several of the Moldavia passengers on board also. Stayed talking to Mabel until 11.30.
[Picture of the S.S. Monterey in Sydney Harbour]
Tuesday, 9 November 1937
Had a day in town, Flora living 10 miles from Los Angeles. Nice shops, had lunch in Bullocks, fine store and a very nice town. I like Los Angeles.
Monday, 8 November 1937
Went for a walk around Beverly. Took tram to Hollywood lovely streets, everything clean and new.
All tram rides are 15 c/.
Sunday, 7 November 1937
Reg cooked the breakfast then took me for a drive, got back at 1. Flora took us around Beverly Hills, showed us where all the movie stars live. Got back at 4. Only an hour away, she had to cook dinner. Have very late meals.
Saturday, 6 November 1937
Just sat around and talked, Reg got home about 4 so Flora drove us around while she did her shopping.
Friday, 5 November 1937
Went for a walk around Beverly Hills, Reg came home, very nice man. Small but good to them all.
Thursday, 4 November 1937
Left Frisco for Los Angeles 7, bus from the city. Arthur came down with us to see us off – had a lovely run of about 500 miles to Hollywood. Got there at 7. Flora & her 2 boys [Jack and William] there to meet us. Drove to her house [110 N Maple Drive, Beverly Hills], Spanish type, 2 nice boys, her husband [Reginald Goldwater] away for the night on business, Had a lovely place, 2 nice bathrooms, lots of talk then to bed.
110 North Maple Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
[Flora’s son, Jack Goldwater, was killed 7 December 1941 on board the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor during the initial surprise attack by the Japanese which thrust the US into WW2. Bella McRitchie wrote to Thirza on 6 April 1942 that her dear grandson Jack was not meant to be on duty that day but had taken a friend’s shift. She wrote that he was blown to bits by the first bomb whilst trying to radio from the turret. Unfortunately Thirza never received the letter, having passed away herself from cancer the preceding August at age 62.]
Wednesday, 3 November 1937
Bella and I went to Frisco. Had a good look about, for the last time. Had a nice lunch before we left, meals are dear in S. A. [Santa Anna?]
Tuesday, 2 November 1937
Met Jean in town, took us to the Golden Pheasant for lunch. Bought hat later for 6 – 16 then Jean drove us home, where we had afternoon tea. Said goodbye to her, will not be seeing her again.