Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 10
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[Page 10]
and that we were to go in and torpedo the lot. It sounded easy but not even a fool would anchor his fleet in waters where enemies were known to be without protection in the form of mines.
One stoker put his head up above through the hatch and Yelled Yus I'd ruddy well cheer if I was in a blinkin' great bus like that forty miles away.
So it was with lowered temperature as to the fleet that we sped on and soon the lights of Rabaul began to show up.
It was all very well this war business but it took getting used to and to be plunged straight from the ease of pubs of & clubs and Hooray parties into the maelstrom of war as they say in the daily papers was disconcerting at any rate to the fresh caught landlubber. About 8.30 with all lights out we arrived off the harbour and the Sydney drawing too much water to ride over possible mines - for which we thanked the Almighty - kept station outside while the destroyers slipped in to investigate.
Nerves were now highly strung as we expected any minute to hear the explosion of a torpedo