Item 01: J. E. Morrison diary, 13 October 1917-29 October 1918 - Page 94
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[Page 94]
June 1918
Marseilles
June 2nd 1918
Sunday. Embarked 200 naval blue jackets for Egypt. Heard from the officers of the P. Jap. destroyers who rescued those of the Leasowe Castle that the Captain, 2 wireless operators 3 crew & about 94 troops drowned including 17 officers & that she sunk in two hours. Total lost 97 out of about 2400 crew & troops.
June 3
(Mon) (Kings Birthday) 6 am Shifted from No. 3 wharf to No. 2. bouy & comm. loading cargo of ammunation & war requirements for the French troops at Egypt.
June 4
Embarked some more British naval officers & blue jackets. French military officers & troops. Motor lorries field kitchens & Red Cross vans. Terrible explosion here at Marseilles. Some unknown objects struck some of the mines. Windows of dwelling houses & ships broken. The Indarra shook fore & aft. Hydroplanes & observation baloons sent out to the entrance.
Since the above written it appears that a large munition factory 35 miles from Marseilles blew up & everything within a radius of 2000 yards was destroyed.