Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 176
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[Page 176]
the book in question was not aboard and the Melbourne delivered it later.
We reached Trinidad once again on the 22nd October but much to the sorrow of the social plagues in the wardroom whose gold lace like that of the Colonel in Patience [reference to Gilbert & Sullivan operetta] had a charm for the fair, we went to San Fernando on the side of the island away from the Port of Spain the capital.
Here the Gunnery lieutenant and his regiment of satellites and wingers proceeded to carry out battle practice and disturb the well earned slumbers of the Good Morning Party. With six inch guns being touched off every few minutes sleep is difficult especially when ones photographs of maiden aunts and other cabin decorations fall about ones ears.
We pottered around San Fernando for three days and everything in the ship that could make a noise was let off even the automatic pistols. The natives of course never having seen a man-o-war before in all probability, were hugely delighted and thought they were seeing the real thing. Between stunts they came round the ship in boat loads - everything that would float was chartered -, and urged the Gunnery staff to more devilish work and frightfulness by cheering and singing Tipperary which had just penetrated into