Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 27
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[Page 27]
Monday 2nd November
Fresh breeze and confused sea with rain squalls during day. At 6AM all ships reasonably in station. "Benalla" caused a good deal of trouble during the night due to excessive alterations of speed. "Melbourne" called up "Benalla", "Afric" and "Hororata" during last evening, directing them to keep better station. Units at work during day at physical drill, gun drill, lectures and exercising of horses. All horses are now exercised daily. Read a message from "Shropshire" to "Afric" apologising for getting out of line, and explaining they did so because they had to throw a horse overboard and evidently wanted it to be clear of propellers of succeeding ships.
Orders re throwing boxes overboard apparently ignored by leading ships of 3rd Division.. Many boxes and other refuse have passed us during the day. Hatch covers removed with a resultant improvement of air condition in lower decks. Inspection at 11 AM proved ship to be well kept.
Lt Clowes and Jenkinson with influenza. Both improving.
Tuesday 3rd November
I am informed this is Cup Day. I suppose we will receive a wireless telling of result as we yesterday received wireless stating that Great Britain had declared war on Turkey. We received wireless today stating that British Cruise "Hermes" had been sunk in the Strait of Dover by a German submarine. All units working well. Today special fatigues, cleaning out and disinfecting all horse stalls, also eyes, nose, decks and health of Horses. Strong breeze with heavy confused sea. Ship pitching a good deal. A couple of the officers and some of the men ill. I have experienced not the slightest sensation of sea sickness since leaving Brisbane. Quite a pleasant change for me.
At 3 PM traces of smoke from "Medic" and "Ascanius" with their escorts were noticed. The escorts were the Japanese ship "Ibuki" and the "Philomel". At 4 PM the "Ascanius" had taken up her place in convoy, and at 4.30n the "Medic" was also in station. The Japanese ship has moved to starboard of the Fleet, the "Melbourne" taken up a position astern, the "Philomel" has apparently returned to Australia, the "Sydney" is on the port beam and the "Minatour" is leading the Convoy. During the evening I tried to raise the "Medic" which is carrying the 8th Battery and Ammunition Column details, but I could not raise her.
I called up the "Katuna" and ascertained that all Artillery horses were in good condition.
During the night the "Benalla" and "Afric" caused great difficulty in Station keeping, so much so that during the middle watch our Division dropped astern of the New Zealand ships. Mr Faulkner, the second officer, who was on watch,