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[Page 23]
Sunday 15th Aug. 1915
Attended Holy Communion.
Sent further letter to Mab: also New Testament (registered). Sent further P C's to all.
Struck camp at 4 p.m. & warned to be in readiness to march off at 11 p.m. Carter, Keating & myself paid a final visit to Cairo.
Monday 16th Aug. 1915
Entrained at Zeitoun at 1-30 am for Alexandria. Arrived latter place about 6 am. Embarked at once on S/S "Saturnia". Met Arthur Gray on board. Had a long chat with him about home etc. Left Alexandria about 7 pm.
The "Saturnia" is the dirtiest most stinking ship I have met in my experience. Packed like sardines aboard (3500 troops about) the atmosphere in the mess decks below where we are supposed to sleep, is foetid & suffocating. The lavatories & latrines are unapproachable, human excrement & an indescribable mass of filth in the shape of decomposed meat, bread, straw & other refuse floats around in rank pools of urine & putrid water. Little fresh water is available & the food is disheartening both in quality & quantity. I have heard frequent complaints of bugs & lice & body vermin & I am not surprised. The ship is a disease breeder & thank God our journey upon it will be short.
I sleep on deck where one has an opportunity of breathing the pure ozone.
Tuesday 17th Aug. 1915
Life belt parade at 3 pm. Quite a parody of a show in itself. I can imagine the state of affairs on the sound of an alarm. Hell would then be let loose & mad riot reign supreme. There are two battalions & several "details" aboard. Life belts are short & the boats are not "efficient" by any means. Inoculated for Cholera 4 pm..