At sea on an eleven week sail to East Africa
Immediately on leaving Devonport the Commanding Officer, Major Charlesworth, required a shorthand clerk and typist for himself and the Adjutant, and through the good recommendation of our Draft Officer I was selected. I acted also as Orderly Room Corporal with Sgt Snow, of ours, as Orderly Room Sgt. On a long voyage – ours comprised 11 weeks – this appointment proved a great privilege to me, as, with Sgt Snow, a most interesting companion, we were allowed the exclusive use of the Orderly Room, situated on the upper deck adjacent to the Officer’s quarters. We worked there, slept there, and, rare privilege, kept our kit there, instead of being herded, like cattle, with the rest of the 2000 troops on the lower decks, where the atmosphere and general conditions were horrible especially at night-time when hammocks were slung in every available inch of space. Meals were good (from an Army standpoint) and plentiful, but for the first day or two they were mostly left untouched owing to sea-sickness. I was pleased to find that as formerly, the sea produced no ill effect on me, even when it was rough or choppy and my health and physical condition were splendid throughout the voyage.
The air ship left us in the Channel, and we formed a tempting bait for the U boats with our line of seven transports (Medic, Persic, Athenic, Kyarrah, Coronia, Hobart, Baranbah), Torpedo boat No.37, H.M.S Minerva, H.M.S Africa etc. For the first 10 days we sailed almost due West in order to avoid the regular trade route – and the submarines. A guard of 30 men were continuously looking seaward in search of submarines. During the first week Sgt Snow and I worked all waking hours in the Orderly Room but afterwards about 2 hours daily sufficed for our work, the rest of the day being spent in deck chairs, writing, smoking, watching the officers, or chatting with the Marconi operators whose office adjoined ours. After passing the Tropic of Cancer the heat became oppressive and awnings were erected over all the open decks as protection from the sun for the men spent all day sitting, standing or walking on the decks.
Concerts and Boxing contests were arranged to relieve the monotony. I took a prominent part in the former – singing, accompanying, and preparing programmes – but not in the latter which however were very enjoyable. Card playing never ceased – crown-and-anchor, pontoon, banker, and “house”, being the most popular – and big sums of money changed hands. One man who ran a crown and anchor board won £180 on the voyage out. He got none of mine! All lights were out after sunset, when smoking was strictly prohibited. Life-belts were worn, or carried day and night: during the day they were generally used as cushions – hard ones ‘tis true – as no sitting accommodation was provided above-deck.
The “Alarm” was frequently sounded when everyone on-board assembled at the respective life-boat stations, wearing life-belts properly fixed. Letters were handed in for censoring prior to our arrival at Freetown (West Coast Africa). The temperature now rose uncomfortably high, and a minimum of clothing was worn: the hose-pipes and salt-water shower baths became popular and were in constant use. We changed from khaki to drill clothes and fancied ourselves, I doubt not, in our new “shorts”.
WW1 Diary in East Africa 