Diary for Roy Rowe, 1915-1916 - Part 2

JANUARY  1915

Red Sea 
8 FRIDAY
Physical drill taken by
M. Stewart this morning. We
passed 3 or four tramp
steamers (1 oil carrier with
funnel Aft.) Signaling to
boat ahead tonight but
could not pick up each others
signals.

1915 JANUARY

Red Sea
9 SATURDAY
There has been a very strong
wind blowing since midnight.
The tarpaulins overhead were
taken down this morning we
shipped a few seas forhead
& passed a few boats again
today.

JANUARY  1915

Red Sea 
10 SUNDAY
I am Sergt of the Guard
tonight. Morning Service at
10.15 a.m. on promenade deck
Song service at 7.15.
Sergt of the Ship's guard from
6 P.M. until 6 P.M. tomorrow
We have been steaming about
3 miles from the high rocky
coastline Passed Lighthouse
built on rock that is
just on the water line
1915 JANUARY
Red Sea
11 MONDAY
On guard until 6 P.M.
today. We have been
steaming along about
3 miles from the Shore
which is very rugged.
The high rocks are visible
another mile or so farther
inland. Anchored at
Suez at 10 P.M. Natives are were
out around the boat as usual
selling goods first thing next
morning.

JANUARY 1915
Suez
12 TUESDAY
We are anchored close to Cruiser
at Suez. Entered the canal
after taking searchlight & pilot
aboard, at 12.30. Indian soldiers
from the 26^th Punjabis, 142^nd
Baluchistani, 33^rd Punjabis
4^th Gols, - Pathans - Bathalko
Regiments were doing trenching
etc along the canal for a few
miles. One oasis, quite close,
was beautifully green. We
passed through the first
large lake & by 4 or 5
signal stations before
dark & by several more
camps before "lights out"
Several of us enjoyed ourselves
on the crane spar by singing
all songs & a few hymns.
1915 JANUARY

Port Said
13 WEDNESDAY
About 1 a.m. we passed the
W.A Engineer but nearly all of
us were asleep. Anchored
in Port Said at 2.30 a.m. &
navvies began coaling. They
work very fast & just look
like "Ants." (they are supposed to
be the fastest in the world)
Had physical drill on Promenade
deck at 7 a.m. We were
told at 7.30 that the mail
was to close at once so I
posted letters to Mother &
Ethel, they were not finished.
Mail did not close until 10.
Granted leave at 11 am until 4.
Had dinner (4 p) at Eastern Exchange
Hotel (Bonza). Posted set of
P.C.s of Egypt & Suez to Mother &
views of Egypt to Ethel. Two hydroplaines
two Torpedo boots, 1 French & 1 British
Battleship in harbour. Left at 5.30 P.M.

JANUARY  1915
Alexandria
14 THURSDAY
Anchored in Alexandria harbour.
There are dozens of schooner
lying idle & over 12 German
prize steamers. The port
appears to do a great deal
of shipping there are very
fine cranes for & facilities for
coaling purposes. Large 2
funnel French mail boat
left this afternoon with
about 12 aeroplanes on board
R.A.M.C. Tommies came on
board
1915 JANUARY
Alexandria
I5 FRIDAY
Men warned against visiting
native quarter. All who want
leave were allowed off until
6 P.M. Gar, Allan & myself visited
the 2 Catacombs & Pompee - (75' high 5" wide)
monument, Museum & the Sailors &
Soldiers Institute (where Y.M.C.A.
quarters are) & met a Mrs. Lawrence
Dawson, went through different
gardens & saw nearly all the statues
I was very much surprised at
the size of the harbour & the
amount of shipping & the numbers
of fine large buildings occuppied by
the Europeans particularly the Stock
Enchange (Bourse). I saw very few
English people but a lot of French
people who were very willing to give
any information. Had an exciting
run to find the harbour at 5-15 P.M.
American battleship "Tennessee" anchored
in front of us at noon. Posted Pkts. P.C.s.
of Alexandria & Cairo & surroundings
to Mother.

JANUARY 1915.
Alexandria
16 SATURDAY
Granted leave from 10 a.m until 6 P.M.
Went to the Stock Enchange,
& saw the cotton sales. I had
dinner at the Soldiers & Sailors
Institute. Posted Packet of P.C.'s
to Vera, Ethel & Mr Ross.
The American Battleship (Tennessee)
left here (Sunday Morning 17^th)
Received orders to prepare
for disembarkation so we
all packed our kits. Gar, Allan
& I went in the St. Marks
English Church
1915  JANUARY
17 SUNDAY
No church service at all
today. The ship went along
side the wharf at 7 a.m.
& we began to unload at
10 a.m. I relieved the Sergt.
of our guard at 9.30 a.m.
& stayed on until 6 P.M. Had
to arrest a drunk on the Gangway
at 5 o'clock The mail closed
on the ship at 11 a.m. & I was not
able to write a line as the guard
was changed so often. Today
has been nothing like Sunday
The unloading has been going on
all day.

JANUARY  1915
Alexandria
18 MONDAY 
It is my 20^th Birthday today &
I feel as though I have just
begin to learn some thing of
life. This morning I had leave
from 10.30 a.m. until 12.30 a.m. This
afternoon I was off until 5 P.M.
I was having tea at Soldiers &
Sailors Institute when I
remembered that I was
witness at the drunks trial &
had 5 minutes to get back
to the ship arrived 10 min. late.
Unloading stopped at 4 P.M.
general leave granted
tonight until 11 o'clock & Gar
Allan & I went to Bourse, The
Picture Show & had supper at
the S.&S. Institute. It was
horrible to see the poor little
native children asleep on the
footpaths. Two were on the
path next to the St Mark Church.
Russian warship arrived here
1915 JANUARY

Alexandria
I9 TUESDAY
I had leave this morning until 12 noon
as it was thought an advance party
would have to go to Cairo but it
was not needed so I had leave
again in the afternoon from 3 till
5 o'clock & Geo Stead. E. Whitehouse
C Giffard & I went to the
Piccidilly Tea Rooms for afternoon
tea with Corpl Millington from
the city guard & he came back
to the "Kyassa" with us for Tea.
xxxx Gar, Allan, Drummond, Stead &
I went off tonight, we went for our
watches (2/6 for cleaning) then tried to
find the Cassina & finally went
to the Stylish French Cafe for
supper & had a Chocolate drink
& cakes for 5 P.T. (1/0½) Returned
to the boat at 9.30 P.M.

JANUARY  1915
Alexandria
20 WEDNESDAY
This morning Capt Clarke gave us
company drill on the wharf &
took us for a long march through
the town & around the city to the
harbour. We had dinner at 1.15 P.M
This afternoon Major Barber gave
us stretcher drill on the wharf.
Allan & Clyde went on with the
guard tonight. Those who were
off guard had leave from 6 P.M.
till 11 P.M. G Stead, Paddy Walker
Myself & several others were at
the Scotch recreation hall &
thoroughly enjoyed the homliness
of the place. Paddy & I sang
& all of us were invited down
again. It is rumoured
that we are leaving the
boat early tomorrow morning.
1915 JANUARY
Alexandria
2I THURSDAY

Ive been xxxxx xxxx xxxx

xxx xxx. xx  I am Orderly Sergt
today. Loading trucks for Mena
Camp began this morning
& finished before 12 noon.
General leave granted until
10 P.M. I arranged with Orderly
Corpl & have leave this 
afternoon & Tom. Moore- [[?]] took
my place tonight, when Gar
& I went to the Scotch Recreation
Room & had a grand time.
Gar had a good talk with Mr
Curtis & he & his wife invited
us to their home or to
write to them when when we
were going through Alexandria
& they would come to see us
off. Transport arrived
from Cyprus. Tattoo Roll
tonight & I got to bed at
Midnight

JANUARY     1915
Alexandria
22 FRIDAY.
Orderly Sergt today,
Reveille at 5.30, breakfast
at 6 a.m. & left the boat
at 7.30 a.m. Arrived in
Cairo at 1 P.M. & after
dinner we began loading
trains for Mena, had a good
rest for tea & finished loading
at 9 P.M. Arrived at Mena
about 10 P.M. had tea & were
issued with blankets.
Tattoo roll at 10.30 & I
went to bed at 12 o'clock
midnight dead tired after
a long day. Sleeping in
Marques belonging to
our General Hospital
tonight
1915 JANUARY
Mena
23 SATURDAY 
I am Orderly Sergt again.
Reveille at 7 a.m. Breakfast
at 8 a.m. At 9 a.m. we
shifted to our camping
ground close to the Battery.
I went to see A. Fletcher &
G. Manuel in the Artillery
for a few minutes. Saw
Jack McClury as he passed
with guard also L. o C. We
have erected all four bell
tents  & 4 Marques & shifted
all our equipment to stores
tent. I am feeling a bit
tired tonight.  Received
Letter from & Birthday card
from home

JANUARY 1915
Mena
24 SUNDAY
We not settled down at Mena
yet & at not. attending the
church parade today. There
were three services this morning
Gar & I went around to see
Jack McClury & we went
to see the Pyramids then had
tea at the Mena House Restaurant.
Came back to camp early with
Jack McClury & found Rankin, Dick
& Stead who Jack knew. The
food has not been up to
much yet as the cooks are
not fixed up properly.
Posted short letters to Mother
& Ethel
1915 JANUARY
Mena
25 MONDAY
We have the water laid on now
& today all our men & 2 parties
from the Infintry were erecting
the Marques for our hospital for
the patients with Veneral disease
coming in tomorrow. Also Ray & I
have been altering some ridge
poles that were borrowed for
our marques & were 4ft too
long. Breakfast - [[?]]
dry bread & tea, Dinner - Stew,
bread & tea & for Tea Bread
& dripping & tea

JANUARY 1915

Mena
26 TUESDAY
Mena Camp. Egypt.
This morning I have had two
squads erecting 2 Marques for
a Mens' mess & this afternoon
moving the cases into the
store tents for Capt Clarke
The Venereal disease patients
came along most of them
in the Ambulance waggons
& continued coming until
nightfall. Over 128 have
been admited today we
are not taking their kits
into the Pack Store, the men
have to look after their own
Gar & I are going to sleep in
our Marque in future.
Geo Stead, Paddy Walker & Capt. Stacey
went to Cairo for our pay today &
we received it tonight. Had a
change in Sergts Mess tonight
Geo Stead brought home some
marmelade jam (7lbs Tin - 16 P.T.)
1915 JANUARY
27 WEDNESDAY
Erected another Marque this
today morning for patients & this
afternoon Gar & I made our store
a bit more comfortable &
decided to set ourselves to
learn Shorthand. Alex Ray
working now in our lent
also but is not sleeping here
tonight. Gar & I had a walk
through the camp to hear
the band (Good Oh!) & bought
some pineapple & Lyles Golden
Syrup & had a good meal