Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 265
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[Page 265]
surrounded by dear inquisitive old ladies who wanted to know all about it; and even a more accomplished liar would have found it difficult to satisfy their thirst for information. For in those days hero worship was a popular cult and a real live naval action something new. The wounded were brought ashore in lighters with awnings spread, and were quickly wafted to hospital in motor cars. Then the worn out ship's company adjourned to their chosen hostelries, where they traded lies for beer.
Colombo harbour is not large, and there was not room for all the ships inside the breakwater. The Australian division lay outside, while the more fortunate New Zealanders came right in. The result was that, owing to the difficulties of boat-work, the Australians were unable to land, and the profanity in the troopships was horrible. One could quite sympathise with the feelings of men who had been cooped up for weeks and now looked for the first time upon the East. Still the landing of thirty thousand would have been a tax even on Colombo.
The convoy stayed two days in Colombo to take in coal and water, and then quietly put to sea bound for Suez. The Sydney remained coaling and cleaning and disinfecting and mending her wounds and getting the guns in order. The ship was invaded by visitors who came on board on any pretext. One lady who ran an orphans' home came on board to beg for her black children, and was so persistent and impervious to threats