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[Page 18]
take that message will not fail me; for I certainly could never send a man into a position of great danger – however much it would be my duty to stay at my post I should always feel I was trying to save my own skin. I find signalling very difficult to grasp; the others seem to make a much better do of it.
Dec; 23
I am mess orderly – beastly job, washing up for 22 men. Breakfast – cleaning up –flag –wagging – dinner; go up on the sergeant's deck, paint all the afternoon – get hoofed round generally by sergeants and sentries; they resent having a low artist man encroaching on the sanctity of their deck – however continue painting until I am picked off. Weather glorious, sea like glass.
Dec; 24
'Christmas Eve' - no drills, though I practise signalling myself, am not satisfied with my slow progress. All mess decks decorated with paper festoons, etc., reminds me of a coloured Christmas supplement of some illustrated paper. Spend all day painting.
Dec; 25 Christmas Day
All day painting and reading . Fruit is given us as a little extra – I presume no day of any importance could be such unless there were something extra for the inner man.
Dec; 26
Usual routine – meals, drill, etc., how I hate signalling! At night I try to read the ship's signalling with