Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917 (Vol. 1) - Part 7

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Comfortable. All the afternoon
was devoted mainly to slumber
anticipating a busy week I wrote
letters because there was a chance
we might call in at Aden and
theres sure to be a post closing
if we do. If not we wont call
in anywhere until we reach
our port of disembarkation Port
Tufit just beyond Suez I somehow
[*Zewt*]
don't like the thought of Remaining
long in Egypt its too handy to
Palestine and Mesopotamia. I would
much prefer to get a glimpse of
England by rather London before
going into the first line. Our
ex MHR friend Hampson gave
another lecture tonight and had
a rather large audience listening
with rapt attention. I continued my
letter writing and made great progress
After that we had a conference
 

61
of officers to lay down pillars for
the completion of pre disembarkation
work. I'm not looking forward to
disembarkation with Too kindly an
eye but if will have to be done
3/12/17. The Co. predicted a very
busy week for us and when
my batman woke me exactly
at 6 I wondered just whether
the day should it be Friday because
I felt more like sleeping on
Than commencing on an extensive
weeks' work. There is Certainly
plenty to do including a 
pay of £1 per man and the
Second Washing parade for
the trip. It will the about
the last the last one for it
all goes well tomorrow week
will disembark and then
more guessing as to what will
 

62
immediately happen to us. We
started off the day with our
Musketry course a day being
allotted to each reft. and our
day was today. We have a
curious plan to get rid of
live ammunition. A triangular
shaped frame is towed some
distance behind the ship and
used as a target Occasionally
a box thrown overboard and
as the shots striking the water
can be clearly seen its rather
a good target. Anything of
practical nature the troops Seem
to enjoy. Its' a work of art to
draw the target on board again
some 60 have to be 
employed. During the afternoon
I discovered the next hottest
spot on the boat. I decided the
first last Saturday When I
 

83
had to stand in the Cooks Galley
and witness the distribution of
the food. The second is in the
baggage hold where I stood for
half an hour supervising the
distribution of Kit bags everyone
else was stripped of the waist
but I remained with full
rig out on.  I might mention
that the particular hold is
about 2 inches from the Ship's
boilers. We indulged in a
game of rugby with medicine
balls being ultimately obliged
to desist thro the two of them
going overboard which was
unfortunate as we have only
One left now
4/12/17 I haven't experienced
Many Nights as distasteful as last
night. The Chief officer warned us
 

64
that it would rain but we decided
to chance it and sleep out nevertheless.
I woke up just at 1 AM
to find the rain beating on my
face I just pulled the clothes over
my head and and went off to
sleep again. The next thing that
occurred or what I was Conscious
of anyway was at 2.10 I found
that a Gale had commenced to
blow with some fury and rudely
disturbed the bed clothes this
time the rain was attacking
my feet every body else I noted
had departed except two so I
though it was time for me to
go in when they left. I went
To sleep again but not for long
and that state of affairs remained
until it was time to get up
I don't like admitting it but
I wasn't long sep before I realised
 

65
that my career as a sailor would
have to start all over again because
the rough sea quite threw me off
my balance Ive told noone
and I wouldnt miss a meal
for something after the record
ld so far established. We had
some fair amount of work to get
thro and I didnt want to be a
hospital patient as a matter of
foll I was going strong at 7.
oclock checking nominal rolls
pay books &c. which I finished
well within time at 11.30.
This afternoon I decided to devote
To a mild form of Recreation to
cost the Reading of "Literary Lapses"
to the men. Orders were issued
during the afternoon placing a
restriction on the free use of
lights striking matches &c Speculation
was Rife as to the Cause
 

Ticket "Melbourne Athenaeum"~ see original
 

66
of the disturbance which was found
to be nothing less than our
proximity to the trading gound
of Africian dhows. It appears
that they  lultwak the habit of
taking pot shots at lighted vessels
and as they carry us lights themselves
it is impossible to reply with
interest. During first watch
tomorrow we will sight the
African coast and then well be
in sight of land until we
disembark in Egypt. On account
of lighting Regulations no Concert
can be held tonight So it gives
me a chance of Keeping my
diary up to date.  Others are
mostly indulging in Cards or
endeavouring to locate the
Southern Cross.
5/12/17. Owing to Squally Weather
 

67
we decided not to sleep on deck
consequently the officers were not
amongst the first to see land.
About 5 the officer on the Bridge
reported that the Island of Abd-al
Furi could be seen ahead and
to the right This Island is one of
several between Sokotra and the
Mainland and practically bare of
Vegetation. It consists of two precipitous 
hills joined together by a low
lying stretch of land and easily
recognised by those familiar with
it We couldnt see Sokotra but
later on rising out of the mist
could be seen Cape Guardafui
our first glimpse of Africa with
the aid of field glasses it could
be deserved as a comparatively
low lying hill with stretches of
sand on either side banked
by rocky hills on either side. It
 

68
looked desolate and one could
easily imagine it being the home
of Cannibals. As a matter of fact
it is inhabited by Somalis under
Italian protection. The further
we got along the Coast the more
the vegetation increased until we
could make out a small Village
close to be waters edge with cultivation
in rear We were then 12 to 14
miles off the shore. Further along
some dhows (Sailing vessels) were
seen close inshore apparently
fishing vessels and their another
village with a two storied building
in the Centre from its design
apparently a Mosque or temple
An Italian Gun boat was riding
at anchor protecting the nations
interests undoubtedly. The Captain
purposely Kept in close to shore
to create some interest amongst