Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 177
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[Page 177]
those wilds.
Not content with making our days miserable the nights were turned into Hell and night firing was carried out. A small red canvas target was dropped over the side and the ship steamed away. Then the Searchlights were switched on and after a profound scrutiny of the surrounding ocean the target was generally picked up and the guns blazed forth at it. Rangefinding at night seemed to be difficult at any rate to us on the quarter deck watching the shots fall the target seemed a pretty safe billet.
As a spectacle or a fireworks exhibition the show was quite good and the niggers liked it immensely but as shooting it was a pretty dull business.
After all this frightfulness had been disposed of it was decided by the torpedo staff that the tin fish should have a swim. The writer seeing visions of all hands over the side diving got a days leave and went ashore and inspected the pitch wells which abound in the neighbourhood and returned in time to leave for Port of Spain on October 26th.
After two days entertainment in true Trinidadian style the ship left for St Lucia which was now becoming habitable as the Canadian regiment in garrison had at last received their consignment