Thomas James Richards, Diary No. 1, 26 August - 18 November 1914 - Part 8

Friday.   Nov. 13^th
To-day has been a
full day’s holiday to celebrate 
the crossing of the "line, 'Equator”.
There has been much horse
play and many injuries have
occured. In the morning the
fore part of the ship were at

it and in the afternoon the
aft end was the scene of
the strife and turmoil.
I was on guard, but, 

nevertheless prepared myself
for the ordeal but when
they called for me I warned 
them that I would ^not go without 
a struggle. I fought 
them for 15 minutes and
knocked them about like
skittles on the wet decks, so
heavy did I kick that I 
felt very sorry afterwards

however they got me into
the tank alright. I wanted
some exercise and this

opportunity suited me splendidly.
The 10 New Zealand transports

came up through our
line this morning and
have gone on at full speed
for Colombo to get supplies.
The band has been 
playing until dark each evening 
lately and it is a great
relief to hear some harmony
To-night they played
”Rendezvous “ this is the
most stirring piece of music
ever I listened to it seems
to cast a spell over me.
It seems so weird, Eastern
like and gets right down
to my very boots. I heard
it played first in S. Africa.

It is surprising how fellows
mistake Bill and I. A chap
named Naughton claimed
acquaintances with me yester-

day he is one of the bakers
Charters Towers. We
shook hands and he asked
where my brother was now,
that represented the new 
rock-drill firm at Cloncurry
he met him there.
This happens to have been my-

self  but he could not see it.
Another fellow Bosward

told me that he met me in
Brisbane first when he was
playing with the N.S.W. 
schoolboys. I was never 
there at this time, so
evidently it was Bill he
met. I did not
attempt to enlighten him.
 

 Our mess orderlies get them-

selves into some lovely agu
arguments, it is rare fum fun
when “Sully’ gets properly going
which they often do.
The whole of the transports
are showing a number of bright

lights to-night and look quite
brilliant after the past days of
darkness.
To-day is Friday and the
13th of the month; many persons will
take the passing over into the Northern
Hemisphere on such a day to be a
rather bad omen. But I rather

like Fridays myself, and have started
on some of my best ventures on this
day.
 

Saturday.    Nov 14^th
Our cause has been altered
considerable to the West.
I was on guard from 4. to 8 both
yesterday afternoon and this morning
The dawn was strikingly interesting
The moon rose fitfully about 4.30.
and struggled with the clamymy 
gray clouds to get a look at the
orb which to which she is slave
attendent and slave. The moons
desire was achieved at intervals
of short duration only; Then the
sun came along and split the
water line from the sky with
a thin streak of golden hue, 
which looked like the oncoming rush
of a bush fire in low dry country
The glare glow grew brighter and
dispelled any attempt on the moons 
part to look down upon us.
The bright lights of our fleet of

transports which shone pleasantly all
night through, after having been extinguished

for the past five days, were now
compelled to give way to the majestic
oncoming of the firey globe of daylight.
All the gay colours died out of the sky
giving place to a silvery ray of sufused difused
light that cast a shine of along
the ocean by way of warning us
of his infinite power. while away
to the North & South white
iceberg like clouds slowly diminished
and disappeared.
I was doing duty on the stern of the
ship near the 4.7 gun. as follows
a copy from the post board :-
Guns projectile 40lbs.
N^o 28. Post. Poop deck.
1 Your tour of duty will be for 4 hours
but you will not leave your post
until the relief guard comes.
2 You will prevent all troops from
entering the door marked "Steering
Gear" except the ships crew and the
 

guns crew
3. You will prevent anyone except
the guns crew from interfering
with the gun.
4. If you see a fire which you are
unable to put out at once, you
will go quickly and quietly to the
ships officer of the watch on the
navigation bridge and tell him
where it is and the extent of it.
5. When you hear the "stand fast"
sound be ready to heave the
lifebuoy overboard.
6. You will prevent any troops
going up on the docking bridge
7. You will prevent all troops other
than Hospital attendants, ships crew
and gun crew from entering
this enclxxxosure.
8. You will allow no smoking on the
deck until the "Charge" is sounded,
and will stop all smoking when
"Lights Out" is sounded
 9. You will not talk to anyone
except in the performance of your
duty.
There are 15 of these laws typewritten
and hung up at the post.
(Signed)
D M. King Lieutenant
Ships Adjutant.
T.S.S. "Euripidies".
14/11/14.
Mail day- Hunter Broad Hynes Neilson
Moran, Board Bill Richard. Miller

The sunsets we have had
lately are truly phenomenal, they have
driven my mind all over the world
with their simoles from the
Rockey Mountains to Niagara
to Italy and Switzerland to
the Pyrenees over to South
Africa and back to Western
Queensland.
 

Sunday  Nov. 15th.
We were ordered out of bed  at
4 o'clock this morning to see the
"Sydney"  steam past and at the
same time we were instructed to
stand at "attention" and not to
cheer. However, we did not 
not see anything of the Sydney
and lolled about watching the
sunrise. But as the rain
disturbed my rest and drove
me, as well as a hundred other 
down stairs to a restless night.
We saw two lighthouses
flashing in the distance and
then land loom up which
evidently is portion of Celagon Ceylon
We have been following the
rugged blue outline of this encounter
our country for many hours and
intermingling with the fishing
fleets of Katarmaran  some being

paddled along on the outriggers
side by large xxx paddles, or 
under the influence of a oblong sail
rigged on two poles fixed close
together at the bottom, and perhaps
8 or 10 ft apart at the top; the
boats are extremely narrow,
and the two pole stays are
tied to either the outrigger or
the boat itself. It is a very
crude looking sight but fairly
easy to handle, I should imagine.
The sun has not shone to-day
as far, and we are steaming past
Mount Yavenia  Hotel, of whose
lemon squash and majestic, or
rather lavish accommodation I very
much enjoyed in 1908.
It is a wonderful sight to see
the Harbour at Colombo with so
many vessels within its breakwaters
including several warships
We are at anchor ontide with 20 others.
Cinnamon Pettah
 

 Monday Nov. 16th.
We are at anchor just.
outside of Columbo. It is a fine
sight at night time to see the
number of bright lights that
surround us. These are coloured
beacon lights shining from the
breakwater and shore. Then
there must be 20 vessels inside
the Harbour while another 30
are anchored outside.
The 10 New Zealanders were
in the Harbour and many
small parties were allowed
to go ashore.
There was a craft composed
of 6 planks laced together without
ends near our side this
morning, the three natives were
a source of much interest
to our fellows, and as they dived
in after money and got it 

so quickly and easily the boys
gasped on in amazement
doubly so in fact when they
learnt that the water is infested
with sharks.
Our fellows are rather indignant
at not going ashore but I
think the authorisia are wise
as there would be so much
stealing at the native stores
and generally bad and childish 
behaviour that trouble of
a more or less serious nature
would be certain to arise.
There is a event being
held on our well deck atmongst
the rather old and puded
programme /admitting that
good songs never jade/ There
was an item from the bag
pipers which was well received
it was weird and stiring
enough but everybody agreed
that as was ever the same air.
 (Colombo.)
Tuesday   Nov. 17^th
We went into the Harbour
this morning at 8 a.m. there
has been little items of interest
going on about us all day; as
we are taking in water the
natives make both interest &
amusement, there are a number
of diving boys about and doing a
fair amount of business.
They are also sending up cigarettes
cocoanuts &c.
The rumour that some of us are
going to Eggpt & some to
India is in full blast to-day
I feel terrible  slapy this afternoon
so much to that I cannot
read for fear of going asleep
I slept splendidly last night
too. It must be in the air of
the East, as it is so usual to
have the an afternoon nap.
 

Tea from bread butter & jam
did not occupy many minutes
as the mess room is terribly
hot and sweaty.
The "Omrah" passed us.
outward bound, at 6 o'clock
the "stand at attention" was
sounded and the fellows stood
up after a little bullying.
This is the 3^rd or 4th. time
to-day that we have had to
get the "attention"  & stand well
back from the rails and
the fellows were right fed
up with it; many of the
"Omrah" troops were at attention
but when a section of them
cheered our troops (broke the
hard rule of discipline and
cheered in return. Nothing
has been said, but surely the
officers will punish us in some
way or other. Personally it
seems to be quite right
to stand at "attention" when
a war ship or one of our
own transport pass by as
this is a solemn business
we are all on and tho
quiet ceremony seems more
fitting to the occassion.
But I did think it damnably
hard when a middling
sized steamer, the SS Montass
"Mombossa" steamed into the
harbour from Africa with
a numoer of well dressed mix
& women wave their handkerchiefs
and mildly but whole heartedly
cheered and when poor Jack
Davidson waved his hatr he
had his name taken by a
policeman; None of us were
at "attention"  and it brought
tears to my eyes to see the favourest
good- wishes of the women &
children going unacknowledged.
 

Wednesday  Nov. 18th.
We left Colombo last
night about 8 o'clock. The band
played a fine programme of
music. It was most
delightful sleeping on deck
until 4 a.m. where it commenced 
to rain, we stuck it until
the water ran along underneath
the blankets then it was
compulsary to gather the bed
up and go downstairs.
It was after 5 o'clock then so
it was no use going to bed
again. I had a salt shower
and washed off in a bucket
of fresh water.
We took fresh water in at
Ceylon only I tried to obtain a
guide book to the Red Sea &
Meditterrain  but without success.
 

Convict Ship
"Euripidies"
"In consequence of the exorbitant
prices charged at the
Dry Canteen Every man
is requested to Boycott
the aforesaid establishment
Of cause scabs who
wish to go back on their
fellow men are welcome
to do so."
The fellows are indeed dissatisfied
at the number of regulations that
have to be observed and which
look so useless and childish.
But I really do not find
much to complain about other
than that we should be
encouraged with our baths &
washing cloths then we are. If
a man washes his shirt he
 

had better stay and keep his
eye on it, for fear an order
is suddenly issued to the
effect that all cloths must
not be hung about the deck
then the military police take them
down and they will probably
turn up in the scrand bag
on Thursdays.
The sunset to-night was
one of the richest natural
colour effects I have seen
for years a real molten
gold as rich and as fascinating
as the precious metal itself
being turned from the huge
crucible at the Mint. Only
this sunset had the advantage
 of a striking purple  xxxxxx
border which made a siting
seldom seem, and which
I doubt could be seen in
other than equatorial climes.
 The band is playing again
to-night and the fellows dancing
around the well deck in a
surprisingly orderly style.
I borrowed a small by
good Atlas to-day which
has given me an idea of
our route right along to
England. I would love
to know more of the
biblical history of the Red
tea &c. so that I may
one day see the actual point
of interest.
There were shoals of flying fish
skirting the oily light reflecting
waters  Some fellows said
they were gamboling & having a
great time. I began to
wonder if nature was really so
obliging as to provide special
facilities for the amusement of