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[Page 89]
On looking round I find that this Ship's Company is formed up from every ship in the Austrailian Navy and all Shore Establishments. Some who have been in quiet billets for about 12 Months or 2 Years and it must say that it comes very hard to some of them who have forgot all about ship life in the Navy. This included a friend of mine Charley Chaplin by name and by nature. I might mention hear that there is Ocean's of room for improvement in the Ship's Company Menu, as it is a long time between 4 PM and 7 AM next day, while keeping a stif [shift ?] 12 to 4 in the meantime or the 4 to 8 on a half pint of cocoa, going for your life. Another mishap the Telamotor gear went wrong this being mishap No.7. We are carrying Mail and a draft of men for the China Station.
Friday 15th.
Divisions, Church, Sceening Party ashore. About 3.30 PM a fire broke out in the C. Boiler Room, the cause not known at present but the whole Stokehole was alight and it was impossible to get down. The foreward Bulk head was red hot in no time and it was almost impossible to get into B Boiler Room, we had to play two fire mains on the Bulk head to cool it down, but all the electric wire was burnt. We then pump out the bilges and I then went down into C Boiler Room where I opened the Hand-easing gear and released the Steam from the Boilers 1 & 2. We then drew fires in both Boilers and pumped the Boilers to W.W. and shut off all connections. We lit up 4 Boilers in A Boiler Room and stood by to run the Ship ashore in case we could not get the fire under control, as it was very dangerous being in close proximity to the magazine, and many were ready to jump over the side at the first sound of explosion. I must say that the Capt. and Eng. Com'd. and all Engineer's Officers present were very cool and were doing very good work and being the first to go in the danger zone.