Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 39
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[Page 39]
get more than ½ a mile from our ship in over an hours rowing, so they returned, taking only 7 minutes.
The Port is a beautiful sight tonight. The town and shipping lights also all the signalling lamps at mast heads making it very gay in effect.
Tuesday 17th November
Units at work as usual. Lieut Urquhart Ross and Clowes and Capt McLennan went ashore in launch. I asked them to get me a few photo frames of Eastern design, for my family photos in my cabin, but they brought me back Common English frames. Launch brought off a big supply of cocoanuts, oranges and bananas. Cingalese returned to shore. Sent letter to "Orvieto" by Capt Matson, who had called in a launch to deliver veterinary requirements. Second and Third Divisions of Convoy together with New Zealand ships left Port at 10 AM. The "Hampshire" escorted them. We left at 7 PM escorted by the "Ibuki". We are now formed into two divisions of which the second is led by our ship. We expect to overtake the main convoy in about 36 hours. Beautifully cool today. Horse decks have much benefited. All horses so far well. Search lights from forts playing round harbour tonight and shipping illuminated makes a pretty sight. Quite a number of fishing boats out around the fleet. Another stage of our long journey entered upon.
Wednesday 18th November
When I appeared at the Bridge at 7AM this morning, India was showing up on our starboard bow. The mountains appeared very high and rugged and capped with clouds. I can at lEast say I have seen India. Spent the morning preparing ranging model. After lunch a number of the Officers had some practise on it. We have now taken up station as leader of Second portion of Third Division. It means a big relief to our Ships Officers. As I write at 8.30 PM a cluster of electric lights is burning on main deck. Some of the men are dancing to music supplied by an Accordeon, some are card playing and some reading. All are in their pyjamas for it is a close night. The sea has been as still and smooth as glass today, and the sunset this evening was particularly fine.