8 p.m.
I am not sure that a member of the U-boat service has the right to get married in war-time , for unless he is of exceptional mentality it must affect his outlook under certain circumstances , though I think I should have been an exception here . Then the anxiety to the woman must be enormous ; as every trip comes round a voice must cry within her , this may be the last . The contrast between the times in harbour and the trips is so violent , so shattering and clear cut . With a soldier 's wife , she merely knows that he is at the front ; with us , at 8 p.m. one may be kissing one 's wife in Bruges , and at 6 a.m. creeping with nerves on edge through the unknown dangers of the Dover Barrage -- but I have strayed from what I meant to write about -- my first command and her crew . The quarters in this class are immensely superior to the U.C.-boats . Here I have a little cabin to myself , with a knee-hole table in it . My First Lieutenant , the Navigator and the Engineer have bunks in a room together , and then we have a small officers ' mess .