[Page 15]
MARCH 1915
8 Monday
H.M.S. Lord Nelson came in this morning. She was in action yesterday in Dardanelles & got a shot below water line. Several other warships came in & went out. Read Kipling’s Jungle book.
Tent amb[ulance] division went on shore from 3rd Field Amb[ulance] under Major Butler.
[indecipherable]
9 Tuesday
A Messageries liner came in early & anchored amongst the warships near the entrance.
All troops on Malda landed & had route march for 6 miles. Troops from other ships landed, 3rd. Brigade. Returning we all climbed up a rope ladder to ship. When on shore visited Telanea [?] & another village, Varos.
10 Wednesday
Cold misty day, 200 landing, as there was a strong south wind, too rough for boats.
Queen Elizabeth in the Bay.
11 Thursday
Bright sunny day. Landed at [indecipherable] Point, & walked 9 miles, saw north & east boundaries of Island, Mt. Athos, Thrasos, Samothraki [also spelt Samothrace] (all snow capped), Imbros & both sides of Dardanelles. Saw larks, molehills, & myosotis (forget-me-not) marguerites, & crater of old volcano (cultivated). Met Med[ical] Off[icer] of Marines who landed last week at the Dardanelles & got cut up – lost 40 out of 250.
12 Friday
Landed on West of Bay & marched 8 miles. Wild thyme, magenta ranunculus. Passed through very old village of Sapi. “Ef Karisto” = “Thank you”. “Kali mari” = “good day”. Re-embarked at Portianos pier, 42 big ships in the bay, including 26 transports, 1 of which is the Franconia, Cunarder 18,000 tons. 5 transports one French. Some French warships and a Russian. Oil tank, Colliers, Queen Elizabeth, Indefatigable, Triumph, Sudan (Red Cross) etc
13 Saturday
Rowed an oar to H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, 8 & 15” [inch] guns etc. and boarded Aenne Rickmers, which was torpedoed at 2 a.m. in Gulf of Smyrna 2 nights ago. Big hole in starboard bow. Captain Gaskell, Captain Weldon & Lieut[enant] Paul also “Ginger” Chief engineer still on board. McWhae, Prior, Conrick, Carlile & Ford with me. All very pleased to see me.
I rowed 6 miles.
Swiftsure & Euryalus & Dublin & other ships here.
14 Sunday
Rowed to Annie Rickmers 2 miles – only Gaskell aboard examined result of explosion.