State Library of NSW
[Page 12]
Wednesday9-12-14 Yes – It's interesting – this life under the White Ensign – a hard, simple life – I was up at 6 am – Had a cup of tea & biscuit – then a salt water tablet. There is no shower - no bath room – We've got a screen rigged up on deck & a bath inside which the men fill with salt water & in you go – All is fixed routine – Chow at 8 – Mine was some tinned whitebait – bread & black currant jam – Bread will be off & biscuit take its place until Cairns is reached – Sick parade at 8.30 – I have one man with a Temp 103.8 – ? Pneumonia – I report – on a printed form – to the Commander by 9 am – Then Quarters – Prayers – then physical drill for the men – To-day they ran from the main deck up 10 steps on to the Anchor deck – round & down – then up & round & so on – This took 15-20 minutes – then came gun drill – big! Guns & the quick firers – Of course live shells are not fired but all is gone thro – The magazines are opened & you see shells going forward & aft – The gunner stands to his gun & his orders come crisp & sharp with monotonous regularity – After ½ - ¾ hour – gun drill is over & everything goes back to its ordained place.
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