Photostat copies of letters from Charles Albert Barnes to his mother, 1914 - Part 2

send will be just to say we are all OK. Will

post this & it will be probably kept for a

week or so but I think I"ll get it away.
The Run 237 Knots

With very best love to all

Your affec Son

Charlie

Am sending a note to Mr. Piercy to

say Eric is getting on well.

SS Ascanius 15^th Nov 14
Dear Mum,

The mail closed last night & was collected
on arrival at Colombo today.

AWe came in sight of the Island early in the 

morning & passed several points that I remembered

About midday or just before, we passed the Mt.

Lavinia and I saw the Hotel where I was first

introduced to curried prawns. Well we  

reached Colombo & dropped anchor outside the

harbour at 1.35 pm. I know the time because

with the glasses one could read the town clock.

No leave is to be granted so I'm afraid we will

have a slow time here.

Colombo appears to have made progress  They

have now a big artificial harbour & the place

[*over
100*]

is full of ships  The Harbour is crowded & w 

there are dozens of ships anchored outside 

One recognized the place at once  Just wouldnt

I like to get ashore  However there's no hope  Its

a case of So near & yet so far  The Galle Face

Hotel is in my memory  It has been much changed

& the Bristol & the G.O.H have apparently been

rebuilt.  The place looks beautifully green.

Heaps of Catamarans are round us but are

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forbidden to come alongside. Inside the

harbour you can see a number of Men of war

amongst them one xxxxxxx The latter late

in the afternoon came out of the harbour &

anchored outside our fleet  She is somewhat

old but very noticeable as she has five funnels

As she came out She dressed ship for us &

going by we all dipped flags  This was of course

done by the xxxxxxx & they cheered us very

heartily as they steamed past to take up their

position. The Sydney is inside the harbour &

& we hear that the Captain of the Emden is

going to be taken to England in the Orvieto.

There are also 7 or 8 British warships here so that

one feels that we are being looked after  Some of

them look very formidable. The "Ibuki" our

friend from Fremantle is also here.

In the afternoon several officers came

aboard from the other ships. Dave Rogers

came from the "Medic" & several Australians

whom I met in Africa came along too. We were

not allow permitted to leave our ship.

Monday 16^th

Well theres not much to say today  We

3

have been lying outside watching several of

the fleet go in for water & coal  Unfortunately

we dont want either. This afternoon Brockman

& Annear of our Regiment came over from the
Medic & gave us news of the others over there  Several
others too came aboard from other ships.
It must be rather an imposing sight for the
Colombo people seeing so many troopships
anchored outside. There is a good deal of
trade apparently as a number of steamers
have come in & out during the day.
17^th
We took on a few stores & left at 11.20 a.m.
accompanied by several warships. Our 
friend the xxxxxxx was left behind, Strickland
& Jackson are moping somewhat at not being
able to get ashore.
We are now going on at a bit better speed
& I wish that the slower boats could be left
to come on after but am afraid theres no
chance of that
Tuesday 17^th Wednesday 18^th
Nothing of moment to to report today
except that our Colonel is getting beastly
energetic making us work hard. Thats a
good thing as we are all getting soft & the

4
men need shining up. Run to noon 248 Knots
Thursday 19^th
Beautiful weather still & nothing to write about
Oh Id better tell you On Thursday morning
before leaving two native boats came off & the

fellows on board were diving for 3^d & 6^d pieces
They are very clever & we enjoyed it They all
sing one song Ta ra ra boom de ay & know
no other Its a musical treat
The run was 242 Knots. The Ibuki is up with
us again & 4 or 5 British boats that we have seen.
Friday 20^th
This afternoon we left the main part of
the fleet & with 9 others went on ahead I
believe Col. Hobbs is on the boat now just
ahead The Shropshire so must try & get in
touch with him. Run 254
Saturday 21^st
Most exciting day of my life. I slept on deck
& about 2 a.m. woke up. Couldnt sleep so had
a yarn with the officer on guard & then
toddled off again to bye bye Woke again
at just before 4.25 a.m. (I found out the time
after) - to my surprise saw the Shropshire
right up against us It looked as if a collision
could not be avoided & sure enough it wasn't

5
I stood by on deck & heard a man from the other
boat yell out Man overboard Throw down
a life belt Well someone did that. I watched
the two boats come together sort of crunch &
then thought it time to go down to see what the 
men were doing Went to my cabin & got my life-belt 

& a hat on also revolver & just heard the boats
come together again Went down to the troop deck
& on the way the Collision alarm was sounded
The men were getting on their belts & at once sat
down at their tables. While waiting for hear 
orders I had a yarn with some of them & others
were playing draughts or cards & dominos.
The other officers of the Companies with mine came
along & we had a few little songs just to
while away the time & then we had the order to
get up on deck  It was a grand sight  Our
fellows just got up from their seats & walked
up on to the Coal deck Colliers to their places no fuss or
worry at all. Our boat had a hole some
20 feet long ^& from 3 to 6 inches wide torn in her bows but fortunately
it was well above water line. We also had one
of our boats carried away by the Shropshire
when she bumped the second time.

6
One couldn't help laughing at seeing the
nurses turning out in their nighties, They
however soon had Kimonos but still looked
somewhat strange with hair sort of down &
wearing life belts. Well we stood to our
stations while the ships officers made a
careful inspection & found that no damage
or or very little had been done below water
The "Hampshire" (cruiser) came up straight
away from the darkness & stood by & her

Commander sarcastically said " We My
[*After finding
nothing serious*]
complements to the officer on duty Never in my

30 years experience has when ships have
been in line ahead have I seen one ship
run into the one ahead of it." Our skipper
is very much broken up over it & of course the
Officer who was on duty One can hardly
imagine how he managed it but we
hear that his version is that he ordered the
man at the wheel "Hard a starboard" while

the man says his order was "Hard a port" In
the former case we would have been quite safe
Am afraid however that the the officer on
duty will be damned so far as the his
career is concerned. The matter will probably
be considered by a Naval Court on arrival at Aden.

7
Well it was an escape but one cannot help
admiring the way our fellows took it They were
down below & didn't know what was happening
For all they knew it was a serious disaster.
Goodness knows it sounded like it.
We have not heard what damage the Shropshire
suffered but I dont think much as she is up in
her place & shows no signs from of damage

from here. I dont think there's any more to say
about the collision tho its hard to think that
two boats could come together in mid ocean.
Run to noon 269 Knots.
Sunday 22^nd
The Bishop preached a very fine sermon
today & amongst other things of course brought

in the collision business. He has made 
good on board & now all think a great deal
of him. The men appreciate him & theres no
doubt he has done a tremendous lot of good
Oh, yesterday we had some more sports
principally boxing I have a heavy weight
man He has had one fight on board but the
gentleman opposing him did not last two
rounds. Am hoping to have a match with
the S A. champion next Saturday.
The Run was 300 Knots.

8

Monday 23^rd

This morning we passed  Socotra at

about 20 miles distance. It looks through

powerful glasses to be a somewhat dreary

place There are some very high mountains

reaching above the clouds.

We are hoping to be in Aden on Wednesday

morning but no communication will shore

Its rotten. I want badly to go & see those

tanks which have been supplying the

place with water for many thousands 

of years (thats good Babs) The mail is

to close on board tomorrow evening.

Today we opened the Lady Barrow

cases  Every man had ½ lbs tobacco &

there were 20 pip pipes (rotten ones) & 10 tobacco

pouches & 4 (good)^for each Company ^It was

rather amusing to see Strickland & self

drawing to see which user had the pipes

& pouches. Of course it turned out that a

number of them went to non smokers.

Run 292 Knots. Latitude 13.11.IV Long 53.20E

Tuesday 24^th

We have been sailing on a glassy sea all

day & can just distinguish land on the 

9

starboard side  Saw a little fishing boat early

this morning & this evening could just make out the

smoke of a steamer. Nothing exciting tho. The mail

closes tonight so I'll finish for the present

Cannot write to all but I know this will go round

I have a few little souvenir gadgets to send

but afraid there will be no chance from Aden

so will have to send them on later.

My best love to all & if I dont get another

mail before Christmas then I'll wish you

& everyone Happy Christmases & New Years

& all those things. What about a pudding?

Piercy is quite convalescent.

Strickland & Jackson are in good form &

send their best wishes.

Again love,

Yr affec Son

Charlie