MacNamara diary, 19 August 1916-29 May 1919 / John Patrick MacNamara - Page 209
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[Page 209]
When passing through the Canal there is barely room for ships to pass so one has to pull up at certain places such as the Lake at Ismailia where there is plenty of room to allow of others passing from the opposite way.
The Canal is about 200 yds wide & a boat in the Centre going at 5 or 6 knots draws the water in towards it thus decreasing the level on the Canal banks. If the ships went too fast the water which banks up behind like a tidal wave would damage the banks considerably.
It takes about 18 hrs to go from P Said to Suez.
On first day out a chap from 2nd MG Sqdn shot himself twice in the chest. He was operated on & is recovering now. Tis said that he has had bad news from home, his mother & two sisters dying from P. Influenza.
The first day out was fairly cool but it has since warmed up but is not too hot yet.
Discipline on board is very lase & we have only one parade