Item 01: Robert Joseph Stewart diary, 25 September-9 December 1914 - Page 42

[Page 42]

13/11/14

The candidate was captured by King Nep's minions & taken before his Doctor, (Maj. Gordon), who medically examined them. They then forced cand. to swallow a dough pill as big as a plum. He was then lathered by 2 men, with paint brushes and soft soap, shaved with a large wooden razor & tipped back into the swimming bath & ducked. Afterwards certificates of the initiation were issued a charge of 1/- being made.

Saturday 14/11/14

Some of the ship's cooks went on strike this morning because they'd been ducked when Xing the line as a result the Sargents' Mess had very poor breakfast. About 9.30 had a terrific storm of rain which cleared and cool atmosphere.