Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917 (Vol. 1) - Part 6

50
and we found our way back to
the boat just before midnight tho
not ueclasarit to sheip peasifulle
We couldn't espect that with those
talkabe notes shll in the viciity
25/11/10. Mm prediction Came to
horsty Cans continued thro out
the night accompaed by Crshss
chatter. Wher I was suffiricnt
awake to bade notice of things
about me I found we were envelogel
in a thick for and ass happened
to be stach ondeer of course
my bed clothes were slightly wrre
theer damp. The first thing to do
was to make almclek sheck
of the weit to see that noone
preprsed the shore to the this
and I found that not a dis
was dussure. We contemplated
etting away about midday
 

51
and so we did. No one felt
like work it was hot and
there were counter attractions in
the Shape of diving niggars. We
didn't take long clearing the
entrance to the harbour and
soon left Colombo and its
quaintness and beauty behind
us. We are sailing almost due
West said hope to pass Aden
in about 10 days another
stretch at nothing but water
but we're used to it by now
and the time will pass quite
soon enough. Aa it commenced
to rain about 2 the men were
dismissed and allowed to go below
most of the officers tho' were
engaged  at orderly room assisting
to meet out punishment to those
who overstayed their leave at
Colombo. Why some men Can't
 

52
"play  the game"  I don't know for
it one increases the difficulty of
Getting leave at the next port
of call. We were all very tired
tonight so wandered off to bed
Quite early.
29/11/7. Another tropical downpour
occurred during the night
but as I was safely escoused in
my cabin I experienced none
of its unhappy results tho' a
disconsolate figure in the shape
of Creed appearing in the doorway 
proclaimed the fact that
it had been raining and
Raining heavily. I was soon
to learn that it had been very
wise of me remaining in my
cabin for every bed was wet
thru We  dispensed with early
morning parade owing to the rain
 

53
During the morning we passed
a vessel heading for Colombo and
later on in the day a second
one over on the port side. The
usual query is "I wonder if she's
 a raider". I don't know whether
the object is to disturb the succeeding
nights sleep of the more nervous
If I hear many more such Remarks
I feel sure I'll be a ready victim
tonight thro' discovering that
the electric lights had been removed
leaving the hoop deck in darkness
the 60. had the alarm Sounded
to impress upon those responsible
for if the Seriousness of the
position. It gave us OCs units
a chance of standing before the
Unit clad only in pyjamas
the first time I've ever been
guilty of such an offence
we were able after that
 

54
to tur  in and remain undisturbed 
for the remainder of the
night
30/11/17. Our fourth Friday on
the "Po rt Sydney" and just 3
weeks sinc we left Melbourne
Time flies and we'll be at
our destination before we
know where we are. At
4 o'clock we passed the extreme
Northern Island of the Maldive
Group the last sight of land
until we sight Cape Guardifui
on Monday? It was intended
take us direct to Egypt
but we learn today that Aden
has been set down as a port of
call. We went appreciate it
as we did Colombo still its
an opportunity of stretching one
legs those of us who were fortunate.

 

55
enough to miss Orderly Gorm
The sea has been extraordinarily
Calm very little wind but the
sun was hot. We had a fairly
good run 290 miles tho' before
Colombo we were putting thro
300. We carried on with work
until 3:30 than all hands
were allowed to break off to
Witness some more boxing Contests
The men seem to appreciate that
form of sport to anything else
and I'm sure we won't have
nearly as large a crowd the
Afternoon we officers indulge
in a tug a'war with the Sergeants
The evenings as a rule are very
Quite t altho'  tonight we had a
very interesting lecture from
Garland a returned man on
trench warfare.  I decided to
sleep on deck after obtaining
 

56
on assurance from the Chef
Officer that it would not rain
1/12/17 A new month and we're
still on the sea and then  again
this is our fourth Saturday
on the "Port Sydney" . I wonder
how many more Saturdays
we'll spend on board. When
I woke up this morning I
thought just another day
like the ordinary little dreaming
that something very unusual
Yet very distressing would happen
I slept on deck and found
this morning that it had rained
quite a lot during the night and
according to Custom Continued
until well on to mid-day
It was impossible to work
so the troops had the morning
off tho' the hoop decks were cleared
 

57
to enable the floor to be  scrubbed
and doped with disinfectant.
Everyone was movnig about
during the morning with a
note of enquiry stamped on
their faces because word had gone
round that one your patients
was dying. He contracted
measles two days out of Melbourne
and pneumonia superseded
He belonged to the Railway Unit
dand was well up in years a
married man with  Three children
Just at midday he died and
as orderly officer I had to make
arrangements for his burial
rather an experience for us but
One we would have rather than not
had. Its a terribly impressive
sight and no mistake. The
body was laid out on a
plank amidships on the 
 

58
promenade deck and after the
troops had been formed up with
a firing party in front the RC
padre took his place and read
the burial service. On its
completion three volleys were
fired by the firing party and
six stallwart men from the
same unit actuary as pall bearers
threw the body overboard. All
hands were Glad when it was over
besides been distressing it was
extremely hot. We had a concert
tonight chiefly given by the band
but I employed my time perfecting
my contributions to the  Ship's
prospective paper
2/12/17. Theres's not the opportunity
of sleeping in some of us had
at home. On deck the sweepers
Commence hosing down the deck
 

59
at 6 AM and as they are a
respecters of persons one must
depart with his gear to the Cabin
and once I'm disturbed I would
prefer to be up. This morning
the Company with several others
I attended the early morning Service
(C. of E.) on the boat deck It Surprising
how hot it is that early in the
morning Quite as hot as midday
in Australia on the Ordinary Summers
day. We all went there without hats
and were glad to get shelter under
a friendly tarpaulin. Sunday is a
very lazy day no parades except
Church parade at 10 and to that
the men are allowed in shorts
tunic and bandeliers. We officers
were slacks as the unit most
becoming. I haven't taken to
shorts & putties as some have
because I think slacks and shoes
without socks are pisre