Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1919 (Vol. 7) - Part 6

For at 3 after taking on a cargo
of frozen meat, we headed for home
straight down he Canal. No waves of
pity or sympathy passed thro' us as
we saw Port Said fading in the distance
we had seen quite enough of that part
of Egypt. It was interesting  going thro'
the Canal even tho' it was monstrous
and the pace was slow we passed
the railway bridge at Cantara at 7
and thence on it because too dark
to distinguish much. Those on board
who had spent months at Ismailia
and Ferrys Post remained awake
to take of their sojourn there even
tho' were unable to see the places    
of interest.
9/4/19 as soon as we reached the
terminus of the Canal and Suez
which those of us who had travelled
to Egypt by the "Port Sydney" remembered
well, the Pilot was relieved of his
duties and we moved on Port
Tewfik was only a short distance
off when  I reached the main deck
At 7 but soon we became more 
interested in the bare and barren
land on either side of us  and as
morning progressed engines could
be heard  on all sides as to where     
 

51
Mt Sinai was and where the
Israelites had crossed over to the
Promised Land. The nursing staff
are the chief offenders why they
should be of a more enquiring turn
of mind than the men I dont know
It was not within my province to
enlighten them however. The passage
down the Red Sea is very interesting
and it will take us all of 4 days
but games and a good library
of books will keep us busy. Just
as we were [[?]] the lighthouse
on the last of the Islands at
the entrance to the Gulf of Suez could
be seen and now we are in the
Red Sea.
10/4/19. We notice as we proceed on
our way how vern near the Tropics
we are. Naturally the Red Sea enclosed
on both sides by a [[?]] [[?]]
would be tropical by nature but
two or three days should see us
stearing thro' the Straits into the
open sea. No land could be seen
on either side to [[?]]
in the days run we passed a
submerged rock carefully protected
by a Lighthouse and, what we did
notice was the varying colour of
 

52 
the water in the vicinity which looked
quite picturesque. Theer was nothing
but endless wash of water and as
we proceeded on deck with our
bedding to sleep the moon was
causing the waves to assume all
sorts of fantastic shapes.
11/4/9 Still water on all sides and
still a [[?]] atmosphere but we
are gradually throwing convention
to the winds and dressing to suit
the climate the oriental loin cloth
has not yet appeared however
some things have happened to
disfurb the monotony. A large
shoal of  flying fish was seen
early in the morning evidence of the
Tropics and our first tho' none
managed to fall on eick as the
sea novelists would have us believe
does happen. Our boat is a very
indolent one the engineers blame
the coal but all she averages is
275 miles per day on the "Czanka"
we could get 330 with ease Still
we are on the way home and that's
something. We should be but of the
Red Sea by Sunday morning and
there a. 2000 mile run to Colombo
is before us. Let us hope there is
 

53
no timid staff in command there
otherwise no leave. Quite an
interesting sight was The Southern
Cross wohech could just be picked
up on the horizon by means of a
telescope something we  we can call
our own at least.
12/4/19. We passed a very indolent
day tho' the "powers that be" made
an attempt to make us realise
we were still under Martial Law
Those returned for Medical and
surgical reasons had to parade
at 3 first for inspection so it turned
out tho' we had vague fears it
may be a drafting [[?]], fit for 
duty or otherwise. Then at 330
a wild rush for tea for the "fit
for duty or otherwise" had been
disturbed at their afternoon's
Seista and at 4 We had Boat
drill not the wild rush for places
we used to have on the Port
Sydneu for the submarine menace
has now declined somewhat and
moreover the O.C. is not an Alderson
Evidence that we were approaching
the Straits was at hand. In the 
large number of passing vessels
 

54
we saw fully ten. The morrow
should see us well clear of Hell,s
Gates and then in the distance Colombo.
13/4/19 I was sleeping on deck in my
favorite spot and at 6 30 precisely
was sufficiently wide awake to take
notice of land sighted on our Starboard
bow. It hapened to be one
of the Hammish Isles barren cliffs
merely but picturesque enough to
us who had not seen land for
three or four days. We were passing
between the two largest islands at
the time and just then no less than
4 large steamers hove in sight all on
their way ho mewards. Just as
Midday was approaching we observed
land on both sides and so on until
the Straits were passed it gradually
narrowed. Perim which seemed
quite an ideal spot to live on
judging  by the mainland on
either side is right in the cente
almost of the Straits. We cleared
them about 3 and had an excellent
opportunity of viewing thro the
glasses the picturesque little
harbour nestling at the foot of
 

of a passy dose trowned by 53
what lookgd like the Certrebf
naval actviny the home of the
adminishator. we wer sobn outie
the fult of Tues and taking it for
Grabted that We would g br take
guardatir sould be in the ticmit
Bome nue on Tuesdax
14419. We had one of the Quefest lane
on record today nothing but sea
oned sides two ships and no
Rospoises and the wind which was
farle strong io the morning died
dowd later and we got the bempt
of the Afternoon Sun. (Ameehngwas
held to orfanise a sports meeting
and it was fixed for Friday If
were possible to thave water event
the conditions would be tdeal.
baster is coming on no all too
soon for this is easter week and
we were ad now or, less anxious
to be home for the nupor lveut.
15//15 just do we were delocanning
the rorison for a fresh aspect of
afried land Axt pardafir the
Captain announced that he had yeen
our last of the sai continent
 

A057
 

as owing to the Revalence of
monsoons if was madesapfe to
follow the usual course. befween
Abal Kur and the Mannland and
we were stuting the forthern Court
of Jocobia wichad Syas a reen
disappintment as we had hoped
tget a view of te lorious surrset over
mardafin as the Se dessed wt
the heart of Aprica. Oh Well ns more
sight opland Mnfil, we re cut
Cloubo which should be nex
Monday at the earvest. + dont know
how the Captein Could have Auficiated
monssons as the dea has radualle
approacany a stak afflead calug
ferhass it is tre callh before the Yorm
16/4/16 Hill no shr and the sea
calm as a bull-pored perhapstileer
than we ever san it befre and
tobe mwvelled at how beae bell
but yo the Ldvan Decan. Hteag
hvebless an excellent opportunity
of selig the many Shoals offlying
wish as the bont. dishirbed their
Middan secot, Mot after much
we bionessed anote curous and
tickresty des slan. A Shool of
some hundred soross wos
saddenly in rprd of us and a
 

wend sight it was as with perkes
teson allmost they bynot theh secre
in undan and coppned todo.
so for several hundred Yards she
sed was smook as glass ao that
the Hesplan was ufder cdeal conditions
17/4/191 We are Graduide letteng
back to the Main roun to Colonity
again and to evidence the fagt
passed two starers on mew ronewail
Yourncr quite a break in an
otherwise an tenished Carcer. We
hadd Sports fathering this Afternoon
Quike an interesting affan and the
larke you leck tends itself to
Anyti March a habe. Adigger
Who followed the Carcer of a Bryndier
bather succestulle in a Compektion
& the Most Orifficial Character
reifed some avensemen tnyng
to the sait by appearing in the aldon
for Afernton Yea. The wind which
made rife tearable thry to Rea, Ser
he ask prachially leagd
really yt segms t be etting ratter
each day but te nights ae tort
and we sas hell
 

A5
 

18/4/19 Ford Fridan at last and how.
We should all like to have been
homefor the holidanI. We just pent
the usual day tho fue Mintat
least is north recording atwddan
precisely the Ir has direct overhead
for some of us suchashterf
saffans will not happen for many
along dan. It was pay day for the
nex aswell and thouse which
had lawn dormant for some weeks
broke bith in all its, fem Thange
that at soon as one has whoule
to burn it takee little persuasion
to seadly the necessart watch. We
Well Repch Colonrts Son Tuesday
morning early Ihope I shall be
Fuenching My thirst with yew stigs
Yen soace plaza at Kandyy be
nightfulls
the
12/4/19. For Easter Sahurdan it was the
quetst of days athouit we should
H holiday making to some order but
our luergies are somewhat Reshicked
on, the boat and nodne cleckd to
to
chib to the pp of the Me
show that me exhiberance of yout)
 

was still on the upgrade. Most 0
ofus were writing home eftery
as the mail closes on Moyday Mo
of course and Aushalian letters will
betaken on with us and posted at
Fremanke. We had a very good lecte
bour Elucation Officer pfterdinner
on the Growt of Curlisation the
second of a series and on Monda
a Court Markal witl be held todecide
wheter the accused used, bad tanpuage
or was merel preaching asermon
on an Listric (Occasion
Toppg. We werent able to remain
on teek blissfilly asleep jute to
long this morring as a earle
cherch service was to be held
but somenow one doesn't mud
that as rout as he can slip into
the bath. At wniddan ahead in
the distance could be discemed
alow frink of land evedently me
Island of Mnicon enedwan bhen
The raccative and Maldive poups.
a closer inspection levealed a very
preff view of land studded with
pavus a widiled conhast to what
We had last left clearing the Shaiks
of Babclarander and so Bysical of
Cerlon. We passed Guike Plose and