Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917 (Vol. 1) - Part 8

69
the troops for nothing seems to
interest them more than the Sight
of land Jutting out into the sea is
another very prominent headland
we sail past called Ras-a-fil-The
Mous Eliphas of the Romans. I spent
quite a large part of the morning
on the Bridge and in the adjoining
Chart Room and thats why I appear
to be well acquainted with this
Part of the world. Incidentally I
learnt that Aden which is some
miles to the East is in receipt of
a shower of rain once in 7 years
me thinks Id prefer my own
Native Gipps land. I used to imagine
the Gulf of Aden was comparatively
narrow particularly where we are
now but land can be seen from
neither side until practically up
to the Straits of Babel -Mandez. Even 
in the Centre of the Red Sear Im told
neither Africa nor Asia Can be seen
 

70
More than once I've regretted the
indifference of some of my friends
in not presenting me with a camera
I could have done with one handsomely
for many interesting Sights and
still more interesting places could
have been illustrated with the
aid of a Camera. Perhaps I shall
get one when we reach Egypt.
6/ 1/2/17. Not nearly the same interest
was manifested this morning chiefly
because. There was no land to be
seen Just past Mous Elephas
there is a large indentation in the
Coast and we cut straight across
to Perim Consequently got out of
sight of land. We hope to reach
Perim and the entrance to the
Red Sea at daybreak tomorrow
and I know what that will mean
an early awakening. Still we are
 

71
destined to see some thing unusual
most of our time is taken up
with getting papers in order
in anticipation of our disembarkation.
I have mine just about
Complete. Regulations still govern
the use of lights and the concert
we usually hold on Thursday
nights was dispensed with Instead
we turned our attention to
Censoring once again and the
restriction the Number each
man is allowed to write has
resulted in each letter written
being about 10 times the usual
length I read two letters during
the evening - I'm sorry to say
written by two members of my
own Reft - one containing 29 pages
and the other 22. After the hast
& decided to continue with my
own Correspondence but there's
 

72
no danger of my transgressing for
no limit has been placed on
the number we can write. I
decided to go to bed early partly
because I'll be on duty Tomorrow
night and partly because of
the above mentioned Awakening
7/12/17. I knew we would reach
the entrance to the Red Sea at
Daybreak but when I heard
"Reveille" I didnt even bother to
look out over the end of my
bed - I happened to be sleeping
out on the promenade deck - but
a few minutes later someone
passed a comment on a British
Cruiser we were passing so
I couldnt resist the Temptation
to look as it transpired. the
Cruiser had ordered us to Stop
and extinguish a light we had
 

73
at the stern - After this was done
the Cruiser turned and steaming
past signalled "Proceed Good Luck"
That little incident effectively
woke me up so I had an opportunity
then of seeing the rough
outline of Perim Island with
its two lights flashing one on
the headland at the entrance
and the other much higher inland
We passed this the larger Strait
between Africa and the Island
and experienced our first taste
of the Red Sea. The Strait of
Babel - Mandeb are known as
Hells Gate tho' theres really
nothing remarkable about it
Thro' the haze the coast lines of
both Africa and Arabia Could
be distinguished but it was
deceived expedient to stick to the
African Coast the other being hostile
country. Just at breakfast time

74
we passed Mokha formerly a very
flourishing port and famous for
its Coffee but now practically
deserted. Even the Chief Officer
couldn't resist the temptation of
telling us that the Turell of Coffee
was evident. The Captain told
me we would be constantly
meeting Islands and the first
we saw was the Hanish Group
more rocks and without any
Vegetation. Several vessels passed
us on their way to India
and the East each one painted
with a variety of colours To
delude submarines in the
Mediterranean. It relieves the
monotony Considerably and
of course every one is too
interested to do very much
work besides disembarkation
is the burning Question and
preparations with that end we
 

75
view proceed apace Much to
our regret we learn that there's
a possibility of our proceeding
onto England in another transport
and all Comforts have to be
either consumed or left behind
so the plum Puddings & cakes
we were holding for Xmas
day are disappearing on Sunday
my own little collection will
have to be Sacrificed at Some
Afternoon tea party perhaps
on Sunday. We have still
piles of letters to censor and
have been at it again tonight
I'll be on duty until 3.30 A.M.
so I can write and censor
until further orders.
8/12/17. Portion of my day was
spent before I sought my Virtuous
couch. I alternately went on the
 

76
bridge and thro' the hoop decks
occasionally visiting the salon
to write letters. I must admit
I did no censoring. It was a
glorious night and I didn't regret
in the least my misfortune at being
detailed for guard duty. The chief.
difficulty one experiences is moving
thro' the decks in darkness Even
Yet I'm not capable of dodging
The pitfalls in the shape of iron
stanchions ventilator Shafts
and an occasional hatch.
I turned in at 3.30 exactly and
slept like a log until my batman
woke me at 6 oclock. Ill have
to make up for time lost tonight
We have seen the last of land
for two days the Island of
Jebel Tier where there's a
revolving light. so was easily
seen last night. An odd vessel
 

77
or two we pass occasionally and
that usually occasions numerous
queries as to their identity. We spent
the morning marking identity discs
interspersed with trial pulls between
our tug o'war team and the rest
of the Reinforcement. Sports were set
down for the afternoon teams selected
from each unit engaged in some
fine tussles for the £10 prize
allotted for the Tug o'war. The
reft won two heats in magnificent
fashion but were defeated
in the semi final and obliged
to content themselves with 3rd
place. Our old Amateur Sport Wall
was responsible for most of their
success he asked as Captain and
did the job like toe veteran he is
The finals for the boxing Contests
were also decided but personally
my interest fizzled but when
the tug o'war was decided
 

78
We are travelling straight up the
Centre of the Red Sea consequently
land on either side cannot be seen
This of course is a revelation to me
I imagined the Red Sea was of
Considerable length but not wide
It takes a trip to dispel the delusion
we get at school. What strikes
me asking curious in this Region
is the infinitesimal amount of
twilight there is. Tonight at 5.30
approximately the sun went down
in the direction of Khartoum a
ball of flaming red and by 5.45
it was too dark to read on the
promenade deck. We were told
by those who have gone before the
the heat in the Red Sea in almost
unbearable. I find its certainly
hot in the sun but otherwise
remarkably Cool. What our contemplated
sojourn in the desert Sands