Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 273
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[Page 273]
Meanwhile the Sydney was nearly ready for sea, and her coat of many colours was being put on. The ship was painted light grey with an enormous white bow-wave to give the impression of speed and deceive the enemy. The funnels and hull were splashed with splotches of grey and white and black to upset the enemy range finders; though how this was supposed to work I do not know. It was said that the Tiger and our other big ships at home had light cruisers painted on their hulls in a darker grey. This was all an experiment, and one which has now been dropped as valueless, for our ships have resumed their natural appearance. Just as we were settling down to spend Christmas in harbour the ship was reported ready for sea, and we got orders to sail on Christmas Eve. The comments were up to the best Service traditions. Speculation was rife as to where we were bound, for almost up to the moment of pushing off not even the Captain knew whether we were off to the Adriaric, to England, or to the Western Ocean.