Item 04: Arthur John Moore diary, 1 January 1919-1 April 1919 - Page 16

[Page 16]

Sat. Feb.8.
Our deck is full up now & it was quite exciting slinging our Hammocks last night. We left the Docks just on the stroke of 10 a.m. I'm hanged if I can realise that we are going home. I keep on thinking that I shall wake up presently & find it all a dream. I don't feel a wee bit sorry at leaving Blighty. The whole country seems to be on strike. The British working man is evidently waking up & about time he did.
The scenery as we left the vicinity of Plymouth was very pretty & for a wonder the sun actually shone. The weather seemed to change immediately we dropped the Pilot, & tonight the Boat has got quite a roll on. Many of the crowd are complaining of being sick already. I felt quite tired after Tea & was very glad to hop into my Hammock. We had 5 cases of Influenza aboard yesterday, but they were sent ashore before we sailed. I'll bet they didn't "go sore". Well, I think I can safely say that I'm on my way Home now. I wonder what Lill will say when she hears that I'm coming Home at last. I feel real sorry for the poor beggars who were put ashore. They were certainly very "stiff".
There are a number of civilian passengers on the Boat, & several Ladies besides our 30 Nursing Sisters, so we have quite an interesting crowd aboard. The weather is quite fresh tonight & quite a lot of the chaps are sick already.