Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 84
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 84]
from Quay at 3.45 PM. As soon as we were outside I opened confidential packet which proved to be Handbook of the Turkish Army. Maps proved to be of Gallipoli. We had previously imagined we were to disembark on this peninsula and it now looks as if our ideas were correct. Several ships moved out before us, and the orders for all ships are to rendezvous at Mudros Bay on South Side of Lemnos Island. A second horse belonging to BAC, died this morning.
Friday 9th April
A beautiful morning – very smooths ea and everybody in general very happy. Quite a delightful change from sandy and dirty Mena. The 7th Battery completed fuzing of Shell. B.A.C. now busy on their Shell. Two guns of 7th Battery taken down during the day and thoroughly cleaned. Plenty of Mena sand removed. Others will be done tomorrow. S.A.A distributed to Units. Pistol Ammunition to Officers. Inspection with Capt at 10.30 AM. Boat generally very comfortable. Passages between horse stalls very narrow thus rather hindering work of men. About sundown we passed between Rhodes and Karpathos Islands. Captain has instructions to keep clear of Asia Minor Coast. We expect to reach Mudros Bay about 4PM tomorrow and sincerely hope we shall not have long to remain their before moving off to our destination. The horses will be our first consideration.
Ships Surgeon is attending to all sick, fortunately very few and minor cases.
Saturday 10th April
Another very beautiful day. Temperature quite mild. We were told to expect cold weather. When I got up this morning we were abrEast the island of Skyros. At 1 o'clock boat stations were sounded and checking of rolls proved everybody in their place
Inspected ship at 10.30 AM with Captain. Very satisfactory. Arrived off Mudros Bay at 4.30PM, entered at 5 PM with troops dressing ship.
Torpedo boats were guarding entrance to Bay. A boom is stretched right across the entrance, excepting a narrow way in for ships in the middle of boom. Many man o wars and Transports inside. As we anchored for the night just inside the boom we were unable to distinguish ships, excepting perhaps the 5 funnelled Russian Man O War "Askold".
We expect to move in early tomorrow morning, and I presume other Transports will also be coming from Alexandria. We are all sincerely hoping we shall not stay long here, but get off to our field of operations wherever it May be. B.A.C. completed storing of 18pr shells in wagons and Gd. Wagons. Small arm ammunition also issued to all ranks.