Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 44
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[Page 44]
which were by then some distance in rear, moved ahead again, but the "Geelong" is still a long way in rear. As one of my Battery Commanders is on the "Geelong" I will doubtless hear full details later.
Tomorrow afternoon the ship is to have a series of sports events. Tonight the boxing events were concluded. We had a group of electric lights and the men were arranged around as in an amphitheatre. Major Hughes was Referee. Jopp and Clowes judges, and McClennan time keeper. All seemed to thoroughly enjoy the evening, but I can see no fun or pleasure in boxing.
While these events were in progress we afterwards ascertained that a private message had been sent through from "Shropshire" stating that she was to draw out of line at 8 o'clock for a burial. We do not know who has died, officer or man, but it is doubtless an artilleryman. Night terribly hot. Captain assures us we shall only have a couple of days hot weather to face and then the weather will gradually pass through cool to cold. We are now in proper Convoy formation, all ships being together. As I write several officers have come into the smoke room, all in pyjamas for our 9.30 drink of cold lime juice. It is very acceptable these nights. We have now had a lime juice issue daily since nearing Colombo. Most of us sleep out on the deck at night.
Saturday 28th November
Another terribly trying day. Temperature in horse deck up to 100o. If this is Red Sea winter I can duly appreciate the fact that it was not our misfortune to come on this journey with horses during the Summer Season. Rather an "off" day. Ordinary routine work and drill during the morning. Sports in the afternoon. Just before men's midday meal a series of tug of war contests took place, the units providing teams being Head Quarters, battery (2 teams) B.A.C. and D.A.C. (the AAM.C for some inexplicable reason held out of all sports). The D.A.C. team proved to be winner with the Head Quarters team "runner up". During the afternoon sports of all kinds were held - Potato race, Alarm & Obstacle races, Rooster in the ring, Sling the monkey, etc, also the finals of the tugs of war, and a special match between Officers and Sergeants. I was anchor man for the officers. We won, much to the disgust of the Sergeants. At night the men had a very good concert. While at dinner at night Capt McGee of