Item 01: Fred Hamilton-Kenny letter diary, 29 August-19 October 1914 - Page 51
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[Page 51]
Friday 18th Sept - Yesty aft Captain Moore – Patterson & self went for a stroll on the beach - Well laid out place - No butcher's shop to be seen - They live on the stuff & food is vey - scarce since the war broke out - We then 'blew in' (very common expression) on the Berrima & met men & drank - The bar trade on the Berrima is a huge one - We also were on the Sumatra & Madang – the prizes - & then blew in on the Protector & had more drinks & 'buz' then off to S.S. Upolu - I'm the medico that gets around & sees things thanks to being on the 'Robert D - Lee' - I all but got a week end patrolling on the Sumatra - I wanted to go badly but as I'm MO to 3 ships (Upolu AE2 Protector) I couldn't be spared =
All our men & officers are doing jobs somewhere & I've my name down for any odd job anywhere or anyhow - That's the way to see what's doing & you don't lose anything even if you don't go - You mop up all that's possible -
Its hot & close to-day - What I'll jot down is the 'Buz' First of all a few facts however - In this harbor lie the Montcalm – not much good as a first class fighter – the Protector – no damned use at all – the Encounter? ditto – AE2 – the Destroyers - [indecipherable] Yarra & Warrego - Yarra has her shaft buckled -
If - If - the German cruisers – Scharnhorst & Gneisenau only knew it now's their chance & their only chance - As a matter of fact the Germans expect us to be attacked -