Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, November 1916 - January 1917 - Part 3

and the Corporal and  LCpl
will loose their stripes if they 
come up before the head
again.
Sunday 10/12/16
I have received for work done
a mess orderly the sum of
6/- payment for work done from
1/12/16 to 8/12/16 K Holme
I have received the sum of 6/-
in payment for work done
as mess orderly from Friday
1/12/16 to Friday 8/11/6
Ahaum
I have been a little late in
collecting money for my mess
orderlies this week and have
still two shillings to collect.
I here two I have taken out of my
own pay for the present.
Last night was very close but not
as hot as I expected it would
be while crossing the line
The line I believe was crossed
last night or this morning so
in about 7 or 8 days we ought
to be in winter weather,
To day has been very close though
and muggy though I dont think
the temperature has been much
above 85^o or 90^o degrees, if it
has reached that
The perp perspiration pours
out of one at every movement
and most of the men when
they are off duty and can
keep out of the sun go about
in shorts and shoes, no more
After church parade Clements to
and I were going to Communion
but some mistake was made
 

in the time, for when we arrived
the service was just coming
to an end.
About 11 a.m. while on the prom
promenade deck waiting
for the canteen to open
The Kent, which who had been
signalling to a Steamer
passing us an Starboard and
I suppose received no reply,
because suddenly went about
and started towards the
vessel at a fair rate. As she
turned a cloud of smoke
or steam burst from her
side, some think she fired
a shot but I do not agree with
them. I'm sure we should of have
heard it if she had. She went
up close to hre the steamer
which had now hauled to
and after satifsying herself
that there was nothing suspicious
signalled to her and then
turned and resumed her place.
The stranger resumed her voyage
and was soon hull down. She
was too far away to make out
her nationality thouh she
hauled up her flag when the
cruiser started after her
Our table has a name for
growling an It came about
in this way.
The Mess deck sergeant comes
round to enquire if there are
any complaints. He is a Scotchman
and cant it takes him
a long while to see when his
leg is being pulled.
Knowing this several of the
men always have complaints
 

of some sort to make. At first
he used to get very wild, but
he gradually tumbled that we
were pulling his leg. He comes
up quite affectionately to now
to enquire how the Growlers
are fareing.
Holme (the Sailor) nearly chocked
himself today with a biscuit.
He saved himself by throwing
himself on the ground, which
dislodged the biscuit, but it was
a close go.
It is going to be very close again
tonight.
Crew taking bets that we
shall be off this boat by
Sunday 24/12/16. I am inclined
to agree with them I believe
we will be in England for
Xmas yet.
A great deal of gambling goes
on onboard, although all
games it is forbidden.
The games played being
poker, bridge, a game called

Darts & a game called Housey.
Housey is the only lawful
game. You here and see a
great deal of this on pay day
and for two or three days
following. Then it goes off
a little till next pay day.
Monday 11/12/16
To day had been very muggy,
though the breeze, when there
was any was cool.
perspiration pours out of you
whether you move or keep
still.
Took a couple of squads for
instruction in Morse Code
 

a bit of a diversion
from the usual routine.
The French lesson was unually
unusually interesting and
a good percentage are getting
along fairly well.
I slept under the awning last
night as it looked like
rain and & I slung my hammock
to a wire rope attached to a
derrick. Unfortunately several
others had ropes of their hammocks
tied to this also and what with
their xxx moving and jerking
the rope and the vibration of
the ship which was very pronce
pronounced I did not sleep till
late. About 4 a.m. I awoke
to the sounds of battle and
found two firemen having
a stouch up. It was furious
but not fast as the decks
where slippery with rain and
the men kept slipping.
After about 10 minutes they
stopped, but I believe they
had been going for some time
before I awoke.
No ships passed today.
Rumoured that the Ardanus
has been sunk.
Also that we will be calling
at Serre Laone I hope instead
of Daka and will arrive
there tomorrow.
Have attended the little evening
services fairly regularly and
this evening while there he
announced that we should
have our photos taken in
three seperate groups.
The S.A. Pioneers, and 22/16 were
taken this evening. The 22/11
 

are having theirs taken
in a seperate group to morrow
evening as there are so many
of them. The three remaining
units will have theirs taken
the evening after.
It is interesting to note the
number of men who attend
these meetings have grown
from 6 to nearly 200.
Southern ^Cross is still to beseen
fairly high in the sky at
xx 5 am. Lucas & I practice signalling
every Tuesday evening and
we are getting fairly smart now.
A water spout was sighted to
day by one of our men
unluckily I did not see it.
Tuesday 12/12/16
Slept under the awning last
night as it looked a bit
like rain. Awoke at 10 p.m.
to the cracking and flapping
of canvas to find a strong
head wind blowing and all
appearances of turning into
a storm. A few munt minutes
later we were ordered below
and soon afterwards the
crew were hard at work taking
in the awnings. After all these
preparations the wind dropped &
a few flashes of lightning &
about an hours rain and it was
all over. When next I awoke it
was to hear a voice calling
"sweepers turn out'. At first when
When the sound first penetrated
through my dreams, it seemed
far away and of no connection
to my me. It suddenly dawned
on me however that I was
 

second in command of the
sweepers so would have to
turn out. Having to come below
had spoilt my good intentions
of turning out extra early
and having a shower before
going on duty. One thing about
being a sweeper is that after
roll call at 9.30 a.m. you are allowed
to ret rest till 10.30. a.m.
Saw Ron to speak to just for
a few minutes. He seemed to
think we should arrive in
Serra Leone 2 a m tomorrow.
Two incidents I did not mention
yesterday. A locust came on board
& fell down a fellows Shirt.
Also we overtook the Marathon
and two fellows signalled
across by samaphore.
The man on the Marathon
wished to know it Father Neptune
had come on board the
Argyllshire. Which he had not.
No Parade this afternoon
on account of a boxing
tournament. I did not see
the boxing but I believe it
was nothing very grand.
I read xxx up  I.T.  most of the
afternoon.
Sighted smoke of a steamer
about 3 p.m. but it was too far
off to see any more.
22/11 had its concert this evening
It went off very well
indeed, which was more than
I expected.
Also 22/11 had its photo taken
this evening up on the boat
deck at the evening service.
The Kent is leading us now
 

as we have no chart of the
coast between Serra Leone &
Daka.
Wednesday 13/2/16
Awoke this morning just x before
revalle and found lights ahead.
Thought they were lights of
a town, but on looking again
after I had had my shower I
found they were lights of
a steamer, evidently bound
on an opposite course to us
as we soon dropped her out
of sight on our port quarters.
While on 9 am. parade several
dak objects were sighted, which
on closer observation turned
out to be native boats with
a queer sail shaped like
this.
Hand drawn diagram - see original.
These boats each contained
about 6 niggers and
though not more than 15 or
16 feet in length, were out of
sight of land when we first
saw them. About the same
time a sver Steamer bound in
the samer direction as we were
^was also sighted on our Port.
A few minutes later land
could just bes seen through
the haze. As we approached
we could gradually make
out houses on the hills and
also an steamer which appeared
to be moored just off the point.
I forgot to mention that we
changed our course from a
Nor Westerly to a North Easterly
direction and the land when
it appeared was dead ahead.
Starting from the point, by
which the steamer appeared
 

to be moored it gradually
faded away in a South Easterly
direction But to the Nor West
no land could be seen and
it was only when we were very
close in trees gradually began
to appear above the water
and soon afterwards we could
make out the low coast line.
Having no chart of the harbour we
had to follow the Kent's course
very closely. On rounding the
points we found that the steamer
was not anchored, but stuck
bows first on a reef running
out from the point. On rounding
this point we turned into a deep
inlet or estury. Evidently there
was a big sand bar across the
mouth of this as the water was
much greener and the waves 

though small were inclined to
break. We steamed slowly over this
and as the port gradually
opened up to view we could
see innumerable ships of all
sizes and description and three
cruisers two of which we soon
made out to be French.
As we steamed slowly in a small
tug came puffing up, She had
several soldiers on board and
was evidently a patrol boat.
We then passed a troopship
(A11) which was the  Ascanus , the
one that was rumoured to have
been sunk several days ago.
As we passed one of the fellows sigh
signalled. Rotten hole, been here
thirteen days. In port 3 a.m.
The Kent steamed round the
bows of the French cruiser
 

and dropped anchor, then the
Boonah anchored, next the
Marathon. We steamed out and
anchored on the port side of
the Boonah. On counting the
ships in the harbour I made
out twenty two and on closer
view most of them turned out
to be transports. A large steamer
on our port side turned but to
be the Port Melbourne. 22/11
was boat guard to this boat at
Fremantle a week or so before
we set sail. Two steamers painted
a greenish color are reported
to be filled with New Zealanders.
I have not been able to
estimate the no of troopships
yet but beleive there are
11 or more. The third cruiser
I at first took to be an Italian
as she flew the the Italian flag
but I must have made a mistake
as she is now flying the white
ensign and is reported to be
the Highflyer; which sank the
German auxilary cruiser
Kiser Whilem der Grosse. She
looks a trim little boat, but is
very small. Anchored not far
from her is a fine ^two funnelled liner
painted gray. She is said to
be the Orveito, an auxiliary
cruiser. The shore is supposed
to be of evil repute but it is
like a picture post card to
txx look at. The cocoanut
palms grow right down to
the waters edge almost and
behind them very high hills
rise up. These are covered with
very pretty green vegetation.
 

I noticed two little inlet
that were absolute pictures
and reminded mee very
much of ^the descriptions of coral
islands. The water The water
in these ^the water was calm and the
beach instead of being white was
golden, behind this again rose
xxx the land rose slightly and
was covered with cocoanut
palms with a few other trees
scattered amongst them. The greens
of these palms and trees are
magnificent &
There has been a great deal
of signalling carried on
between the troops of the
different ships ever since
we arrived in port.
The town is only small
but contains some very
large buildings, has as far as
can be seen no wharves of
any size, all coal an cargo
being brought ought out by
lighters. And yet to all appear
appearance there is deep
water quite close to shore as
several large ships are anchored
quite close in. There is a large
camp up in the hills the ten
the white bell tents showing
up very clearly. A little
further to the right on top
of a low hill you can just
make out a ^large fort with one
or two guns peeping out.
There have been several native
boats round the harbour
during the afternoon and
several canoes shaped like this
Hand drawn diagram - see original
but they