State Library of NSW
[Page 11]
Orders – To convoy troops to Bougainville – to try & capture the Buka a small German boat – then to return to Rabaul & do whatever we are told – 'God Save the King'.In the aftn I paced the deck with Fitzgerald & he told me we must coal at Cairns – This gives me a chance for my letters & a wire – We are 13 Knots – turn screws & I'm writing this – off Byron Bay – We have a Gramophone to which my share is £1 & we have some 50 records – The officers are a quieter crowd than the Submarine & we have no torrent of filth & marine language that distinguished! some members of that crowd – I'm glad of that – I'm easily senior of all in the wardroom – Cheerful jolly chaps – 6 English – 2 Australian – Fitzgerald has his meals in his own compartment – Fitz is Irish & I fancy an egoist – He knows Maylord & Garde well – Tell Mab to send the girls a card at Xmas – She had a good time with them – I'm reading 'Germany & the next war' Bernhardi – Bar my own stock of literature I doubt if there's any on board the Fantome– These men are not readers nor thinkers – just plain doers – They didn't even read the Sydney & Emden stunt.
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