Todd war diary, 3 August 1914-29 February 1916 / Arthur Todd - Page 29
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[Page 29]
heard the news the gist of which has been given on the preceding pages. The ship was doing twenty knots and still increasing her speed and with the wind it was difficult to stand on deck. A great stern wave higher than the quarter deck rose up behind the ship and followed us, due to the action of the propellers revolving at such high speed. This wave always looked as if it were going to fall on board, but it never did.
The absence of vibration was wonderful considering the speed at which we were moving, and for with the exception of a slight quiver now and then there was nothing to be felt. Our West Port Coal (W.3.) had a thorough try out that day, and lived up to its reputation as the next best thing to Welsh.
I found all hands pleased and cheery, and the absence of fevers and sore heads at breakfast was nothing short of magical. Ennui had departed and ill humour was forgotten at the prospect of seeing and doing something worth while at last. By common consent talking was permitted at breakfast, and some, be it said in all seriousness, even bandied jests. No one seemed to view the approaching action with any forebodings. One bald headed officer was so excited that he sent for the barber to have his hair cut. We tried to cheer the Padre up by exhorting him to eat a large breakfast as it was his last on earth, and the surgeons playfully discussed their procedure when so and so was hit. The wounds invented & the treatments prescribed were all very horrible; but no one was dismayed and it was easily the cheeriest breakfast at which I ever assisted.
After breakfast decks were swept and the guns examined and ammunition hoists examined, and the ordinary routine of the ship went on.
Divisions were sounded off and all fell in. When prayers had been read, after which the Commander made a little speech to the men instructing them how to proceed if we were "done in" to use Navy slang.
This was just after nine and soon afterwards the few sparse coconut trees of Cocos came in sight.