Item 02: Fred Hamilton-Kenny letter diary, 5 December 1914-26 February 1915 - Page 17
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[Page 17]
Friday
11-12-14. We propose to dine in state on Thursday & Saty – On those days we drink the 'King' & 'before the King' you mustn't tell a yarn or mention the name of a woman or eat the fruit before desert or not excuse yourself to the President – if late – The fine is – doubles all round the mess – Sat night – if at sea - we drink in addition sweethearts & wives –
No press news came thro on Friday so we're in the dark as to the naval scrap off the Falklands – Still we know the pleasure that will be felt in Sydney & right thro the Pacific & we well know the drinking & rejoicing in the wardrooms of the Fleet –
We are pessimistic here as to Russia – Russia has so far beaten Austria but not the Germans & if reports are true Germany has inflicted some very nasty beatings on the Russian Army – The Allies may have a very bad time in France if the Russians are defeated & German troops released from the East & sent W by rail – Our weather is fine – We are in the Coral Sea – well within the tropics & steaming direct to Rabaul. The work on the ship is dominated by 2 ideas (1st) that we are in action (2nd) that we are on fire –