Item 01: J. E. Morrison diary, 13 October 1917-29 October 1918 - Page 56
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[Page 56]
Leasowe Castle, Caladonia. Destroyers ahead each side & stern.
10 am Made fast at transport wharf.
Noon. Comm.- discharging the troops & cargo. Found the correct number of troops in the convoy from the General to be 18,000. Called up Marseilles at night the town well laid out. Splendid street & boullivards. All street lamps extinguished yet the buisness places in full swing. Met hundreds of the Scotch troops – merry. Some creating huge disturbances. The city of Marseilles being of a very merry disposition full of French troops up the city. Practically all the lady folk in deep mourning.
Our two bands gave a concert at the Town Hall & also whilst steaming up the harbor played splendid airs alternative. On arrival we heard that two of the convey that left 3 days before us for Marseilles from Alexandria two of the ships were torpedoed off south of Sardinia & being 50 miles off the land the 2 ships were run ashore. All the artillery of the division we brought across in our convoy was aboard those ships & consequently lost. This happened on the 14th. The ships being the Warickshire & Kingstonian.