Item 02: John Duncan McRae diary, 11 December 1916-9 February 1917 - Page 23

[Page 23]

good-bye to Miss Bailey, & a very pathetic one it was (!!) The report turned out to be untrue and we did not sail as expected.

Some to the boys abroad are used to foul-house talk & a favourite expres favourite expression of theirs when they hear any unexpected burst of noise is "another egg cracked".

Dec. 23. Our Battn. had its turn as ship-guard to-day, and so Alan & I were on duty for 24 hours & could not leave the ship during that time. Alan was guard on the guard-room & cells. We had 9 prisoners but they were behaving fairly well & were given a fair amount of freedom. Battle, above-mentioned, was in the guard room & organised a 'band' among the prisoners much to the amusement of all. My post was at the officer's mess & was very quiet especially during the night shifts. However I had one change to the monotony, for at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon the 'Fall out, guard' was passed along & I just arrived at the scene of action in time to see one of our men, half-drunk, fighting with a Cape Policeman & another chap & I had to get this chap to the cells, and he didn't want to