Diary No.1 of Rupert Major Downes, 2 February - 10 March 1915 - Part 4

Run 2 37 
Saturday 20.2.15 
Train lost 2^nd horse. 
Pay day - ₤1 all round. 
Started racing for Colombo 
at 9.15 when Mashobra 
about 2 miles & Clan McCorquodale 
1 mile ahead & Hessen nearly 
out of sight on horizon 
to W. of us. Passed Clan 
almost at once & Mashobra 
by midday. 
No fiddles on for 2nd day 
since Melbourne. 
Run 255. Everyone agog 
at the idea of possibly 
putting our feet on land 
tomorrow.

Sunday 21.2.15 
Ceylon in sight at daylight 
& Mashobra on horizon 
astern. Beautiful day 
& the land c̄ palms & 
native houses looked most 
enticing. Ran across 
many catamarans which 
caused much interest to 
those who had not seen 
them before. Had church 
parade which no one 
paid very much attention 
to - sermon 18 minutes. 
Passed Galle at about 
10 a.m. & got good view 
of old Dutch fort & 
other large buildings

there. P. & O. Nyamya passed 
us but the superior look 
of one her officers so 
riled the skipper - helped  
on by her getting dead 
in front of us that 
putting on pace c̄ the 
engines at 84 revolutions 
we easily beat her. Much 
excitement caused by 
the sight of some females 
on her decks & glasses 
brought into great 
requisition. After 
stopping & being boarded 
by pilot entered Colombo 
harbor at 3.39 p.m. & 
anchored close to entrance

the Mashobra following 
at 4.11, Clan 80 minutes 
after us & Hessen about dusk. 
Heard that no war news of  
importance. Doctor came 
off after a good wait 
& told ordered us that we would to 
work in quarantine as 
the last lot of Australians 
had rioted. Embarkation 
staff officer & chief of  
police followed. Went 
off c̄ Farmer & Gibbs 
later & took rickshaw 
to R.A.M.C. hospital by  
boy's mistake & then to 
Colombo hospital where  
after some ¾ hours wait

saw a nigger resident to find 
that a blood test I wanted  
done could not be carried 
out except by R.A.M.C. 
chap named Meredith 
who was in the hills: only 
7 of R.A.M.C. detachment 
left in Colombo - 26 usual. 
No warships in harbor & 
heard that Beagle - the 
only one in this part 
of world was up Persian 
Gulf. Very much enjoyed  
seeing Colombo again & 
finding that I remembered 
a little Tamil & my way 
about. Came back to  
G.O.H & met rest of

our mess & had dinner there. 
Had seen Mrs Tatham in a 
car s̄ her seeing me but 
on enquiry from Cingalee 
porter at G.O.H. he found her 
out by knowing who  
her sister was. Got  
her on the telephone & after 
much trouble through 
not understanding the 
thing arranged to go 
out later to the place 
she was staying at -  
Waldocks. Strolled to P.O. 
c̄ Jock after dinner to  
send a cable to you & 
found that had to 
sign surname & send

2 words - owing to censorship. 
Then rickshawed to Galle 
Face & saw some officers 
of 10^th L.H. in most 
funny uniforms c̄ field 
glasses on. Was rung up 
by Waldocks to know if 
I was coming & was 
just getting into a rick.  
when a man came in 
his car & drove me out 
arriving at about 10.30 
& I'd never have found 
my way at all s̄ him. 
Met Lady & Miss Jenkins 
& the Waldocks & other 
military people whom 
I could not see as it was

dark. Had a pleasant ½ 
hour's talk & was informed 
that the Dresden was 
waiting for us about here 
somewhere. Driven back 
to Galle Face by same man 
& then ricked back to  
G.O.H. , met rest of crowd 
there & back to ship by 
12 a.m. police boat 
Men not granted leave. 
Run 287 
W Monday 22.2.15 
Went onto shore in launch 
c̄ brigade train who were 
marching thro' town at 
9.30. Did some shopping 
bought cigars at Millers

which I was very proud of 
finding as it had been 
Rebuilt since I last saw 
it - over 8 years ago. Sent a 
box of Spotted Dogs to  
Father. Wrote to you from 
G.O.H. & telephoned Mrs Tatham; 
the I met Major O'Brien. 
Returned to ship & went 
off again c̄ my men, 
signal troop & some of 
train in launch & 2 boats 
towed at 3 pm. The coxes 
of the 2 boats were lascars 
off the ship who knew 
nothing about steering 
& so were in a fair way to 
capsize boats: had to stop

& put men off launch in 
to steer. I took charge of  
the party & marched them 
through Colombo, past P.O. 
allong the Galle Face & 
past the hotel; Teddie White 
looking like a cooks tourist 
in all whites a wee French 
moustache came up to see us 
on the way  & we passed  
to Bullant whom we 
saluted for diplomacy 
sake. Very pleasant so 
far but after we had 
passed the Galle Face & 
went S. it got very got 
& the signal troop who 
were leading made a very