Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916, Part 2 of 16

Conflict:

First World War, 1914–18

Part of Quest:

Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916

Subject:

Documents and letters

Status:

Finalised

Accession number:

RCDIG0000862

Difficulty:

November
4th.
Fine day with heavy swell.
5th.
R.M.S. Osterley homeward bound passed
on our starboard side at 6.20 p.m. Weather
fine & warm. The position of transports when
all assembled on Tuesday 3rd of November.

| Cruiser Sydney
| Geelong. | Saldana. | Benalla.

Total number of troops aboard 30,000, including
20,000 Australians, 10,000 New Zealanders.
6th.
Fell in with hammocks for airings Semaphore
& Musketry instructions during the day. Slept on
upper deck

November
7th
Weather very hot slept on upper deck.
8th. Very hot & showery day.
9th Early on Sunday morning the
Minotaur & Sydney left our convoy at full
speed, the Minotaur did not go out of sight,
& soon returned & took up her old position.
The Sydney pouring out large columns of
smoke soon disappeared. ~~XXXXXXXX~~
9th.
Detailed for guard. At 3 p m. Colonel Braund
read a message to us saying, the cruiser
"Sydney" had been in an engagement with
the German Cruiser "Emden", with result,
the Emden was beached, & her crew taken
prisoners. The action took place off "Cocus
Island". The "Emden" passed ahead of our
convoy on the night of the 7th. 8th. There
was continuous cheering after the good news.
10th.
Weather hot & showery, Blankets got wet
whilst asleep, soon found dry ones for tonight.
11th.
Through some machinery out of order we
dropped behind several miles. At 4.30 p.m.
we got back to our position. New boots
were drawn & marked.
12th.
At 1.15 p.m. the "Empress of Russia" going

November.
East passed on our port side. I am very
seedy. A scorcher of a day.
13th.
At 5.30 a.m. we passed the equator. Neptune
put in an appearence at 2.30 p.m. most of
the officers were introduced to him. At 7 a.m. all
the New Zealand ships, & 3 Australian ships
went ahead of us, apparently to get coal &
water at Colombo. At night only columns of
smoke could be seen ahead. Weather hot & showery.
14th.
Very hot day.
15th.
At 3.30 am. the "Empress of Russia" &
Cruiser "Sydney" passed us. The Empress of
Russia had on board the prisoners from the
Emden. Sighted land early in the morning.
At 12.30 p.m. we dropped anchor outside Colombo
Harbour. The Russian Cruiser Askwold (with 5
funnels) came out of Colombo Harbour &
anchored off to keep a look out.
16th.
Several ships from our convoy went into
the harbour for water & coal. No one allowed
ashore, much disappointment. Detailed to
scrub upper deck. The air was perfumed by
plant life from shore. I gave a native 2
letters to post.

November
17th.
The skipper of a tug that came alongside
said there was a plague on shore. We left
Colombo at midday. Several ships remained
behind for supplies. Weather hot & windy.
18th.
Detailed for pioneers fatigue.
19th.
Got A. Edwards to relieve me of pioneers
fatigue. Average mileage, 250 per day. Hot day
20th.
The 10 troopships and a Japanese Cruiser
joined our convoy, (They were left behind at
Colombo) later, they went ahead of us.
The cruiser "Hampshire" is one of our
new escort from Colombo. Scorcher of a day.
21st.
The "Benalla" ran into the stern of the
"Shropshire", very slight damage done. News
was read to us, that the "Goeben & Breslau"
(German battleships) had been in an
engagement with & slightly damaged a Russian
Cruiser.
22nd.
The cruiser "Hampshire" sent one of her
boats to the "Orvieto". (our flagship) Very hot.
23rd.
Did fatigue duty in the potato store during
the morning. Full marching order & kit
inspection during the afternoon Passed the

November.
Island of Socotra on the port side
24th.
Detailed for storemans fatigue. Had a very
good time, plenty of extras for our Mess tonight.
25th.
Detailed for guard, post of duty, over
starboard lifebuoy, astern, 4.30 p.m. arrived
at Aden. The ships that went ahead on the
21st, were anchored here, also numerous other
troopships with Indian troops aboard. A
welcome breeze blew during the night.
26th.
Left Aden at 6 a.m. no one went ashore
The New Zealand troopships went ahead of
us. The Japanese Cruiser remained at Aden.
4.15 p.m. passed "Island of Perim" & entered
the Red Sea. Very hot day.
27th.
Did pioneer duty for A. Edwards, he
was very sick
28th.
Did pioneer duty for A. Edwards. The
Colonel read a message to us, saying we were
going to Cairo, Egypt. There was much
discontent as everyone expected to go to
France.
29th.
Did pioneer duty for A Edwards. At

November
10.15 a.m. one of the ships crew was buried at
sea. The Colonel read the burial service &
our Bn. band played the Dead March. Very dull.
30th.
Did pioneer duty for A Edwards. All
ships went in single line ahead. Windy & Cool.
1st. December.
At 2 p.m. anchored off Suez. The
whole convoy of New Zealand, & Australian
troopships were assembled here, with numerous
more with Indian & English troops aboard.
During the afternoon the New Zealand troopships
entered the Suez Canal.
2nd.
18 troopships from India arrived this
morning with Indian troops aboard. The names
of some of the ships are :- "City of Exeter" with
Enniskilling Dragoons aboard, "Malda" English
troops, "Arankola" Sikhs, "Braemar Castle"
English troops. "Galeka" Punjabis. "City of
Birmingham" "Devanha", "Dunelvin Castle" &
Urlana with British troops aboard, remainder
of ships anchored too far off to be distinguished.
We actually had two eggs for b'fast not
eatable ones, the first seen on board. During
the afternoon several Indian troopships
passed us to go through the Suez Canal.
Great cheers went up from all boats as

December
they passed. Detailed for storemans fatigue.
3rd.
Detailed for ammunition guard, & equipped
with ammunition. My post astern on the Port
side. 10 Troopships arrived this morning with
Indian troops aboard escorted by a converted
merchantman. At 8.30 a.m, amidst much
cheering from approx 70 ships, we entered the
Suez Canal. About 3 miles up the Canal a
Bn of East Lancashire's were camped on the
Asiatic side. A few miles further on we passed
Artillery & Machine gun troops. 11 a.m. we
passed a Punjabis Bn, & a Camel & Mule
unit. 3.15 p.m passed Ishmaelia. 5 p.m.
passed a large camp of Royal Engineers, 10.30
p.m. arrived at Port Said. Our ship took in
300 tons of coal. Weather cooler
4th.
9.30 a.m left Port Said amidst great cheers
from the battleship Swiftsure, & two French
Cruisers, & three Torpedo boats, also a large
number of troopships. Our Bn band played
the Marsellaise whilst passing the French
Men-o-war. Weather cold.
5th.
One of our men got 90 days for striking a
L/Cpl. 1.15 a.m. arrived at Alexandria. The
New Zealand troops are disembarking. We

December
were inoculated against Typhoid. Weather Showery.
6th.
During the day several of our troopships
arrived at Alexandria. Two of our boys were
caught going down the anchor chain to a
small boat to get ashore. They were placed in
the guard room. Everyone's anxious to get
ashore. It has been a glorious day.
7th.
12.30 p.m. we tied up alongside the wharf
Detailed to unload ships stores. The native police
amused us by sloging the natives to keep them
off the wharf. We were told we disembark
tomorrow.
8th.
11.15 a.m. left Alexandria by train, arrived
at Cairo 4.45 p.m. We had a fine meal of Cocoa,
Bread & Cheese on arrival at Cairo Station.
8.40 p.m. left Cairo by tram to our camp
12 miles away. After marching about 1½ miles
from the tram we halted & bivouaced at 10 p.m.
A very cold night with showers.
9th.
Very early bird this morning, without
blanket could not sleep. As soon as daylight
broke I walked up to the large Pyramid & had
a look around. Six of us hired a guide for the
afternoon to show us over the Pyramids &
Temple. He could speak very good English

December
& appeared a decent fellow. During the
afternoon we met the guide, he took us to
the Sphinx & explained it was the ancient
Egyptians God. Close by the Sphinx was the
Kings Temple. The king his family & priests
were the only people to worship here. The
Temple is built of Alabaster & Granite. Some
of the slabs weigh tons. The dimensions of
one slab is 23 ft x 7 ft x 5 ft, its supposed to
have been the roof of a high priests tomb.
The next place we visited was the largest
Pyramid. We went inside by way of a very
small passage, just enough room for two
persons to pass. The guide took a lighted
candle ahead of the party. I pitied those
at the rear of party as the roof being so
low we had to crawl. We had to take our
boots off to get a grip to climb one long &
very steep passage, here we came to the Queen's
Chamber, built of solid granite. The Queen
Cheops was buried in the wall of the chamber
4,000 B.C. Higher up the passage we came to
the Kings Chamber, here he was buried. The
guide told us it took 30,000 slaves 30 years,
to build the Pyramid, he then took us back
to the entrance where we left him. We all
started to climb the Pyramid which is 470ft
high, 3 of us got to the top, the others turned

December.
back giddy. It was a glorious view from the top
Cairo & the old City of Memphis (where it once
stood) could be seen, also the Nile & Quarries where
the granite was got to build the Pyramids. The
Alabaster was taken from the Assouan over 500
miles away.
10th.
Detailed for Pioneers fatigue. Got leave from 2
till 10 p.m. On our way to Cairo we saw a native
wedding. A passenger explained the ceremony to
us. I posted several letters & cards, & had a good time.
11th
Detailed for quarter guard, did sentry duty
over our Bn prisoners. 21 prisoners were sent
to Cairo military prison, at 10 p.m. they returned
as the prison was full. At mid-night an Egyptian
canteen cart passing our tent dropped a tin of
biscuits, which we had the benefit of eating.
12th.
After being dismissed from quarter guard,
several of us climbed to the top of the Pyramids
Southey & self raced a camel back to camp.
13th.
10.30 a.m. Church parade for the 1st Bdge.
After our midday meal several of us set out
to visit a native village, passing the Pyramids
we met a very interesting Mahomedan, he
explained to us his religion, saying all Mahomedans
can marry four wives, providing he treats them

Last edited by:

Jacqueline Kennedy

Last edited on:

27 April 2024, 12:19 pm

Last updated: 27 April 2024