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[Page 24]
of course everyone was anxious to get ashore, but we had no luck, though the New Zealanders went for a march there but they wanted it for they did not get ashore in Albany, though of course a lot of our Battalions didn't either. They have a fine big breakwater at Colombo, we picked up a 5 funnelled Russian cruiser here the "Askold" the one the Emden" was supposed to have sunk, we got a few cocoanuts & bananas here but they were to dear, so we did not get many of them. We left Colombo the next day & early on the morning of the 19th right close to us on the port side there was a collision, the "Shropshire" ran into the "Ascanius" but luckily no damage of any importance was done though a few chaps were
knocked overboard, but I think they were rescued by a warship, which was pretty close at the time.
7 days were occupied in the run from Colombo to Aden, approaching Aden from the sea, we sailed fairly close under some bare & rocky cliffs, the water here looks very deep & is alive with shark's, they have a powerful wireless station here perched away up on a tall & rocky peak that must be a couple of thousand feet high, the town itself looks a very miserable affair, as indeed it is for it is one of the hottest places on earth nothing but sand & rock to be seen here, looking back as the fleet came swing in was a very fine sight, & one that I shall remember for some time.