Lewis war diary, August 1917-March 1919 / James Ray Lewis - Page 27
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 27]
I am mess orderly this week as we take it in turns. And this is what it is to do the simple little job. Get up before 6 A,M, and go and wait half an hour in a queue for your bread, at 7 oclock go and get a weighty dixie with tea in the bottom & porridge in the top from the cookhouse; and mind you don't fall head first down the steps with it as the ship rolls. Then go to the table and ladle it out to a thankless mob, who curse you more or less all the time, for being slow and for not giving them enough; in fact if you feel like roaring someone up, give it to the mess orderly at mealtime over any old thing. After breakfast its clean up, wash up, scrub the table, wash the floor, polish the dixies and cutlery till they shame the mirrors, for at 10 oclock the Colonel does his rounds and woe betide one if a knife is dull from being breathed on even. Sometimes it is a grumpy old beggar who is out to find faults, and roar one up still more.
On the night of the 10th of November we passed between two islands some of the Societies I suppose. We have concerts on board and though the ship can boast no Caruso's; still they amuse and please.