Laurence Dudley Chambers - WW1 ServiceIndex LU=17Jul05 Compiled by: Dawn Chambers
No. 56745 29th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Regiment B Company
HM Troopship s.s. "Ruahine"
WW1 Photo Diary
1916 Aug Enlistment
1917 May 30 To Taiherenikau, Wairarapa
1917 Jun 11 To wear a stripe
1917 Jun 20 Wearing "shorts"
1917 Jun 28 To Featherston
1917 Jul 14 Swabbed for Germs & off to Isolation Camp Tauherenikau
1917 Jul 22 Back to Featherston
1917 Aug 06 Magnitude 6 Earthquake near Dannevirke - to Trentham
1917 Aug 07 Tauherenikau Tent Inspection (photo)
1917 Aug 13 Preparation for Embarkation begins
1917 Aug 15 Embarkation Day (photos)
1917 Aug .. Life on board the s.s. Ruahine
1917 Aug 27 Vaccination (photos)
1917 Aug 30 Photography commences
1917 Sep 02 First Aid Field Bandages issued
1917 Sep 03 Crossed the equator
1917 Sep 04 Photographic Darkroom and Gun Practice
1917 Sep 05 Wireless message received
1917 Sep 06 Passage through the Panama Canal
1917 Sep 08 Departure from Christobel Harbour
1917 Sep 09 Takes turn as Ships Orderly Seargeant
1917 Sep 10 Still too hot for photography
1917 Sep 11 Passed a lighthouse
1917 Sep 13 Rumour of German Raider at large
1917 Sep 15 Bermuda Island (British Naval Base) sighted
1917 Sep 18 Arrival at Halifax Harbour
1917 Sep 20 Granted leave 9pm till midnight
1917 Sep 21 Getting coal on board
1917 Sep 27 Ports ordered closed
1917 Sep 29 Maori death on board
1917 Sep 30 Departure from Halifax
1917 Oct 01 American & Canadian boats leave the convoy
1917 Oct 10 Off Ailsa Craig Island west of Ayrshire, Scotland
1917 Oct 12 Voyage end
1917 Oct 12 By train to Sling Camp
August 1916 to May 1917 Enlistment
It was in August 1916 when I wrote to Head Office Bank of New Zealand
asking if I might enlist when I came of age. On the 8th Febry I again
wrote asking that I might join the 29th reinforcements going into camp
on 1st May and that I might have two weeks off, prior to the above
mentioned date. As the answer was very indefinate the manager on the
14th Feby sent me to see if I could enlist but being under age there
was no hope so had to wait.
After having enlisted and passed as medically fit I waited until 3rd
of May when I again applied to Head Office and was granted extended
leave ten days prior to going into camp on the 30th May with the 30th
Reinforcements. As it happened the voluntary enlistments were closed
for the 30ths and my leave pass was for the 25th June 17. I very soon
got this altered to the 30th May as I was on good terms with Captain
Roberts in charge of Masterton Defence Department.
1917 May 30 To Taiherenikau, Wairarapa
At Devonshire House on the eve of my departure I was given a send off
& first thing I did was to miss the early train in the morning, so
arrived at Eltham about 1pm on Saturday. The ten days holiday had
finished before they had began and on the 30th May found myself off to
Camp. Our first experience was a night at Palmerston north in the
drill shed, when everyone hopped the fence and of course sleep was
hardly thought of.
We were up early next morning and by midday found ourselves in
Trentham. Before the day was finished we were all in Platoon & in huts
with our uniforms rifles & equipment generally. We spent another day
in Trentham doing almost nothing but on 2nd of June were on the train
early & off to Taiherenikau. We landed in Featherston Camp & a three
mile march in "Bill's big boots" brought us to our new home. We soon
found ourselves settled down in "Indian" tents (square ones).
The weather was glorious with frosty mornings and Sunday passed in our
new home cleaning buttons and making ourselves acquainted with the
surroundings. On Monday we started off with drill and by the time a
week was passed we were most of us getting "fed up with slow march and
turning among the stones on the parade grounds. A day or two more and
the weather began to break so that the drill soon cut up the parade
grounds and it was then that we started & cleared stones in another
paddock about a mile and a half from camp. Some days we had lectures
in the tents on care & cleaning of Arms musketry trigger pressing and
sighting with eye-discs. We were now on musketry out of doors and had
hidden objects to pick up & judge their respecting distances.
1917 Jun 11 To Wear a Stripe
On the evening of June the 11th I found that I was to wear a stripe.
Two other fellows of our hut also found stripes waiting for them and
another Pte Wall was made Corporal.
1917 June 20 Wearing "shorts"
On the 20th of June we voted in favour of wearing "Shorts" and on the
following morning the Governor came to inspect the Camp and see how
the Routine drill was carried out. Our officers were as one might
say "getting one on to A Coy" as they had been wearing "Shorts" in the
afternoon for some time, but when inspected in the morning had their
"longs" on. The shorts are fine and look very much better, [I can
tell you] than the "longs".
On Saturday afternoon (our half holiday) we were inoculated & had
forty eight hours off so as to recover from the [results] effects.
Many of us played football after we were done and on Sunday I think if
I did not put my left arm above my head I would not have known
anything had happened. Some of the fellows in other tents seemed to
be pretty ill though and most of us hardly moved out as it was a wet
miserable day.
Tuesday morning found five men of our no 5 Platoon shining buttons and
gear ready to go on guard at 10 am for the following twenty four
hours. In the evening the Corporal was nearly caught warming his feet
on the "Beat" in my place while I had some coffee. The officer from
Head Quarters came down to inspect but as luck had it we got out of
the "Scraps" and finished up next morning without any "Blasts".
1918 Jun 28 To Featherston
On Thursday 28th June orders came out that the Canteen was out of
bounds but shortly afterwards found we were off to Featherston
in the morning.
Before I go I must say that our no 1 tent mates under Pte Cripps were
a fine lot. Cripps was in a team of five who won the shooting for New
Zealand at Trentham not many years ago. Pte Volzke won the NZ axmens
cup one year & through a bit of bad luck just missed the championship
for the world. He & his brother hold a worlds record for sawing a two
foot log. Old uncle "Tom" was nearly on the age limit and a fine
chap. B Coy held the record for marching, easily. They used to come
home the mile and a half at a hundred and forty to the minute which is
going some to be sure.
In Featherston we find ourselves in huts. There is a fair amount of
leave to be got & weekend to Masterton and Wellington. The next afternoon
we were off on final leave. Leave was given us so that we could go to
Masterton the night before, so as to be able to catch an early train and
get right through to Taranaki on Friday night. I stayed in Eltham over
the weekend and landed home on Monday by Buss. The next evening four of
us had a "send off" at Oaonui when the Opunake people gave me a wristlet
watch.
1917 Jul 14 Swabbed for Germs and off to Isolation Camp Tauherenikau
Final leave was all too short & I found myself in Camp at about 4.45
on Tuesday the 14th July 1917. Hardly had we entered camp when we
found orders awaiting us that we were to sail on the following
Thursday. Of course our Company hardly knew how to take it as many
expected one or two more days off to say final goodbye. Having
been swabbed we soon had tea and were in our old huts again. Wednesday
we were as busy as could be getting ready for embarkation, giving in
rifles etc and receiving Seakits. This done I was just off to the
Discharge Stores to send home the rest of my civilian clothes, when a
Corporal told me to report at the Hospital. A long sheet of paper
said that my swab was doubtful and that I was suspected of carrying
germs. This meant I had to pack up and bundle my stuff into the
Ambulance to go for a holiday to Isolation Camp Tauherenikau.
My first night was on the boards but got straw next day. We were on a
good win getting up at about 8.30am or 9 shaving sometimes and
generally doing nothing.
After a couple of days we had four more patients who had not done a
days' drill. We played football most of the time and even in the
moonlight.
1917 Jul 22 Back to Featherston
After a week we were all returned to Featherston. I was then
on Baggage Guard and back in B29 again but of course had a new
lot of men from Wellington & Wairarapa. I was not quite a stranger
though as I was still with the same old NCOs. Our men who were
not a patch on the old lot turned up very well after their final
leave.
1917 Aug 6 Magnitude 6 Earthquake near Dannevirke - to Trentham
It was the 6th Aug 17 the morning of the earthquake when they
returned and on Wednesday we packed up to find ourselves off to
Trentham. Friday we sent a Guard to take charge of the Transport
92 (Ruahine) and on Sunday one of them went mad and jumped overboard.
This company of ours one day at Tauherenikau refused to obey an order
so down came the Camp Commandant who was immediately counted out.
1917 Aug 13 Preparation for Embarkation begins
Monday the 13th August 1917 our rifles were handed in and Tuesday Sea
kits issued.
1917 Aug 15 Embarkation Day
Wednesday Reveille 4am. We were buzzing round cleaning up, burning
our straw, packing up ready to parade at 8am. At 9 the Trentham
band played us out from the station and at 10.30 we were on the
wharf at Wellington. I met dad almost immediately & we kept together
as far as was allowed. Dad gave me a parcel & found another awaiting
me on board so was well off. A very short time before we left the
wharf (about 1.30 pm) to go out into the stream the crowd were
allowed on the wharf so I took a snap or two but did not see Dad again.
He must have been there among the crowd as this book was put aboard
and I received it after about four days out.
At 6pm we started on our voyage with fine weather & a beautiful calm
sea. Our Company was lucky to get bunks on the promenade deck
starboard side as we sailed east. Some of the Companys are down
below in hammocks. Four of us Corporals are in a third class cabbin
which is not bad but gets very warm. Three of us are only twenty &
two to the day while the fourth is as good as a father having been in
the navy for nine years.
Life on board the s.s. Ruahine
Reveille each morning is at 6.30 followed by breakfast at 8am the
second sitting, as the Company sleeping below have theirs first.
Roll call is at 9.30 followed by gargle and very often physical drill.
Beyond this there is usually very little to do except when on fatigue.
On some afternoons we have drill but very often do nothing. Competitions
of all kinds are going on with all sorts of games. Sweepstakes on the
number of knots each day are held and every night there is a concert so
time does not lagg at all.
The canteen sells a good many things which are much appreciated by
the boys. The prices are very reasonable and cigarettes are twopence
per packet. (Three castles) Books and games have been distributed
also YMCA paper and envelopes. Some of the lifeboats after the first
day were swung out and we were all told off for certain boats.
On the stern is a six inch gun which with a few rifles means a slight
protection. The rifles are for musketry & for practice in shooting.
The testing device is a very clever one. The man shoots at a tiny
target about eight inches from the muzzle. A rod inside a tube is put
inside the barrel of the rifle & instead of the striker exploding the
cartridge it hits the end of the rod which flys forward hitting the
target. The target has two bullseyes marked on it: one a certain
distance above the other. The man aims at the top bull and the
striker rod hits the lower one.
Through sickness two of our holds have been fumigated & the smell
together with a couple of breezy days found many heads over the side
including my own. After this came lovely fine weather and by the 25th
August many were having salt showers night & morning. On the 26th Aug
17 (Sunday) at midnight a funeral was quietly held as a Maori had died
of C. S. M.
1917 Aug 27 Vaccination
On the 27th August we were vaccinated but the dose being very light
there were very few sore arms. We were then coming into warmer
weather so the sailors were making up wire ropes for the awnings.
We were then coming among the pretty flying fish which live in the
warmer climates. Many of our men were sleeping on deck but now and
again some were shifted by tropical showers which came up very suddenly.
1917 Aug 30 Photography commences
On 30th Aug 17 I started a little photography to pass away the time
using the chiropodists room for darkroom & for working, it having
been fitted up for washing.
1917 Sep 2 First Aid Field Bandages issued
On 2nd Septr we were issued with First Aid field Bandages sewn up
neatly in khaki bags and our "dead meat" tickets.
1917 Sep 3 Crossed the Equator
On the 3rd we crossed the equator at 8pm but held no celebrations as
an officer in a previous reinforcement was accidentally killed. Each
night now we found ourselves ploughing through a phosphorous ocean
having a beautiful silver wake away behind. During our voyage we have
gained about twenty minutes a day but we must not forget that Antipodes
day followed our first Thursday out making the two Thursdays in one week.
1917 Sep 4 Photographic Darkroom and Gun Practice
Our darkroom is grand as we cover the ports with round pieces of
roofing material enabling us to work day or night. Some of the little
snaps are fairly good but by the 4th Sep found that the water had
become too warm thus spoiling a film which to start with was a good
one. Our gun fired three rounds for practice today at boxes thrown
over. Here and there we watched seagulls which the officers soon
frightened away if they came too close with rifles.
1917 Sep 5 Wireless Message received
On the 5th we were cleaning up the ship & wishing or hoping for leave
at Panama. We received a wireless message to say Lenz [??] had been
captured. This was the first news we have received since we left.
In the evening we carried lights.
1917 Sep 6 Passage through the Panama Canal
We were all up early on the 6th Sep 17 to find that we were lying in
wait near two or three Islands which were not very distinct on account
of the rain and mist. There was lightning every now and again too. At
6.15am we began to move slowly blowing the siren at short intervals.
At 8am we are again waiting near more Islands on our Port side & a
couple of vessels away ahead of us on the horizon. We watched one
of them gradually coming towards us. As we waited we noticed two or
three whales or blackfish spouting in the distance. Next we saw a good
many large brown moths flying about the ship. They were about six or
seven inches across the wings as one or two were caught, but only
delapidated ones. A few little grey birds were flying about too. The
approaching boat worked by blacks circled round us & went directly back
to harbour. We moved on slowly for a while when at 9.30 a launch
brought men to inspect us. At 9.45 we steamed on again passing some
very pretty islands covered with beautiful green vegetation. On one of
the main islands was a good sized town. Far in the distance we saw
land as the fog & rain had cleared up very quickly but it was not very
bright. Almost ahead of us were two islands connected by a railway & a
third stood a little out to sea. This one was just a rock & possibly
used for signalling etc.
The two islands are covered with very pretty trees but one has a large
crain [??] near the top of it which gives it the suspicion of being a
fort. Behind these in the distance is Panama. Here and there we
noticed seagulls & pelicans on bits of wood and bouys & next a long
wall the water behind which seemed higher so must have been a dam.
[special note at bottom of page: "It is not a dam but merely a wharf or
breakwater."]
Our pilot put men aboard just as we came into the entrance of the Canal
which seemed about two hundred yards across. Next we saw a huge
structure upon which stood twelve ... crains. A little further on was
Coal Hauling machinery dredges pontoons covered with machinery graders
also huge black sheds all along the waters edge for some distance.
Having passed these we now see a large wireless station which may be
seen for miles the steel construction masts for the receiving wires are
a great height. Further on we passed the very pretty vegetation which
grows almost to the waters edge and among it in an old water course
were four old dredges sunk in the mud. Just a little back we saw a mule
& a couple of real cow boys among the palms. We passed here and there
nigger settlements until we came near the first lock called Miraflores
where an old nigger in a boat sang out to us "All right you kill the
Kaiser".
We passed another dredge and soon saw the large arrow - on the centre
of the wharf between the locks - which points the side to take. At
10.15 we are alongside and a crew of blacks put aboard. On the wharf
are concrete pillars for electric mules which tow the vessels from lock
to lock. The first doors of steel closed behind us so up came the water
lifting us about 28 feet. Another lifted us to the level of the
Miraflores lake through which we sailed at a fair pace. We were then
fifty [eighty crossed out] five feet above sea level. As we passed
each set of locks our fellows exchanged badges coins etc while the
american soldiers some on leave, & some carelessly carrying rifles side
arms & belts ... tobacco etc. The sidearms were not fixed, but the
rifles loaded. When a new sentry is put on the old one gives over the
ammunition. We sailed on through this pretty lake surrounded with
pretty vegetation palms and native settlements. In one place were some
large buildings some of which were factories. One by the sound must
have been a sawmill. At 2pm we were at the second lock called Pedro
Miguel.
This is a single lock which raised us thirty feet which is the high
level eighty five [one hundred and fifteen crossed out] feet above the
Pacific Ocean. From here we sail through the Culebro. Cut nine
miles long the construction of which meant the moving of 90,000,000
cubic yards of earth. The bottom is 300 feet across so of course we
had to go slowly here. On each side were small native villages & in
places the natives were working shifting metal by machinery and
sluicing. We passed very close to some natives & two kiddies held up
some sheets of brown paper upon which in big letters was KILL THE
KAISER.
At 2.30 we passed a liner called Guatemala and shortly afterwards
another called Armbamba. Next was a large bridge of steel on which was
painted in white DANGER 44,000 VOLTS. Near hear too were a couple of
skyscraper crains which might lift a vessel from the water. Next was
the Panama Gaol after which we saw huge dredges working. Each has a
kind of bucket shovel fastened to a long shaft. I took a snap of one
of these but will try & describe it as the photo may be too small to be
of any use. The shaft with bucket attached goes down to the bottom and
as far as I can make out must be dragged along the ground. After being
hauled up the detachable bottom is removed dropping the material into a
punt.
Up on a high bank are a good many soldiers in houses which in this part
of the world seem to be all raised up off the ground for protection
against insects & snakes I suppose. Barrocks they may be called. One
soldier said that along the canal were twelve thousand soldiers
artillery aviation etc. Next we came to the artificial lakes with
remains of trees still standing with their dead limbs above the water.
Before us was another wireless station just after the same stile with
its high steel pinacles. A few minutes and down came the rain again.
We passed the Gatun locks at about 5.30pm to 7pm when we found
ourselves lowered eighty five feet in three locks to the sea level, the
sea still being seven miles away. By eight pm we were in Christobal
harbour. We passed the Makoig [??] exchanging greetings as we came
alongside a coaling wharf. The huge amount of machinery is an eye
opener. A part of the harbour about four hundred yards long & a hundred
yards wide is surrounded by a wharf of concrete built of large concrete
pillars. Between the pillars is a wall the top of which is just above
the water to stop the coal when dropped in front spreading out into the
harbour. Also when coal is dropped in the water runs away over the
wall. On the centre of this concrete wharf is a steel platform carrying
two sets of rails for electric trucks which carry about five ton of
coal each.
There are dozens of these trucks so the construction must be immencily
strong. On the inner side of this structure run more rails which carry
a steel bridge right accross the hundred yards of coal. Think of this
bridge accross all this distance running by a few wheels on rails with
goodness knows what machinery upon it. The bridge first of all carries
two sets of rails for the electric trucks. The coal is hauled high
into the air by a large shovel which seems to be almost human in its
movements. It comes down open fills with coal as it closes & is lifted
to a great height when with one swing inwards the jaws are opened
dropping the coal into a shute from whence it is dropped into the
trucks. Next is the coal from the trucks to the ship. Another set of
rails on the outer side of the wharf carries heavy machinery. The coal
is dropped by removing a side of the truck, into a shute which
gradually drops it on to a large belt. This belt carries the coal high
up into the machine when another belt coming out over the ship having a
shute attached which reaches the hold, drops the coal into the holds.
This steel shute hanging from the end of the belt looks like an ...
truck. To fill up the odd corners on the other side of the ship a
couple of barges were brought round. From their masts hung machines
consisting of an endless set of buckets in a case. From the top of
this reaches a shute (trunklike) into corners not yet filled. This is
moved about as the niggers feed it by shoveling the coal down
underneath it.
Some of the men from the Mokoia had a bit of a march but we were not
allowed off at all. We had a Guard on the wharf all the time. It was
rather amusing to watch the American sentry who lounged about with a
satisfied smile on his face while our fellows tramped up and down the
wharf with nearly all their clothes off & still perspiring heavily.
Many niggers traded views postcards coins etc. One or two American
girls came & threw us fruit and small things. Our boys threw back odds
& ends so I threw a print of our four Corporals with my address upon
the back. Went up to the crows nest but could not see very far. The
town seemed to be some distance away behind palms & trees which were
very pretty. In the evening we steamed out into the harbour to wait
unil the morning. It was a lovely morning when we passed with five
other transports and a cruiser, out to sea making a northward course.
1917 Sep 8 Departure from Christobel Harbour
It was the 8th Sep that we began to realise that we were in a sea where
danger might be very close, for we were hardly out of sight of land
when we started zigzagging & continually changing position. All the
vessels seem to be painted grey in this part of the world. The
Christobal harbour is artificial made of heavy rubble & concrete
blocks heaped up. At night we have all lights out and no smoking is
allowed after sunset. We saw one or two other vessels at different
times. The atlantic ocean seems to be a different blue compared with
the Pacific but we still see flying fish and at night watch the
phosphorous in the water.
1917 Sep 9 Takes turn as Ships Orderly Sergeant
Sunday morning I was Ships Orderly Sergeant but there is very little to
do on board.
1917 Sep 10 Still too hot for photography
On Monday the 10th Sep was erected a proper crows nest at the head of
the fore mast for a lookout for submarines. Also four of our men are
placed in different parts of the ship on the lookout. Still too hot
for photography as the temperature is 89 inside & the water 85
degrees and we want it down to 60 degrees F. H.
1917 Sep 11-12 Passed a lighthouse
On Tuesday night I think we passed a lighthouse on our port side. We
are not positive but I think it was a lighthouse because after each
three minutes it came up very bright & dull again. Two o'clock in the
morning of the 12th Sep this light was still visible far behind us. We
carried lights too fore and aft which is not done except when passing
trading routes. (saw seagulls and swallows so must have been near
land.) [sideways in margin]
1917 Sep 13 Rumour of German Raider at large
On the 13th Sep the cruiser came very close to us so tried my luck with
a snapshot which I hope will be developed in a few days time. B Coy
held sports today as did the others each day. There were different
rumours then of going to a British Naval Base (Burmadoes) & that there
was a German raider at large which sunk a British vessel. Orders said
that we had to number our boots using still figures provided. The crows
nest was erected we have had four submarine watchers on all day &
night.
1917 Sep 15 Bermuda Island (British Naval Base) sighted
On September the fifteenth at 7.30am we sighted land on the horizon
which at midday we found to be Bermuda a British naval base. This
island is about forty or fifty miles long with a fine land locked
harbour. It is an American holiday resort being only about a days sail
from the mainland. Here the American cruiser Charleston left us while
the British battleship Carnaven took charge of us. This battleship is
a sister ship to the Hampshire. During the afternoon some red fish were
caught something like soldiers only with tiny black spots. A fish like
a three pound trout was caught too. In the evening we left sailing
north. Next morning was spent writing letters mail closing Tuesday -
and Church Parade.
1917 Sep 18 Arrival at Halifax Harbour
During Tuesday we passed one or two fishing smacks but the weather
being wet we played cards & ludo. At 4pm we sighted land. As we passed
in through the heads we noticed a hospital ship with her bow well up on
the rocks. The lights of the harbour were very pretty as we came in and
by 8.30pm dropped anchor in Halifax harbour. Early next morning we
found we were one of many ships transports merchant ships seven Belgian
Relief ships and soon the land all round is covered in very scrubby
forest with houses scattered about.
1917 Sep 20 Granted leave 9pm till midnight
Thursday morning we had boat drill lowered the boats & sailed round
among the other transports & vessels until midday. Some of the boats
stayed away much longer one boat going ashore to be given them tea by
some lady who was very pleased to see them. Developed a couple of films
in the afternoon but the warm water just about ended their lives. At
dusk we up anchor soon finding ourselves alongside a wharf. We four
corporals slipped down to clean buttons & boots. Luck had it we were
nearly finished when at 9pm leave was granted until midnight. Not many
minutes found us going up the road at the rate of knots.
The town with its brick and stone buildings dingy and oldfashioned is
built on an isthmus which is fairly high in the centre. Many of the
streets are cobbled but as a whole they are very poor. Two of us took
a tram car to the Exhibition. We wound in and out & round & round for
an hour part of the time with a black nigger woman educated & very well
dressed. Wished it was daylight for a snap. We were too late for the
Exhibition which they say was nothing wonderful so wound our way back.
Everywhere we noticed people foreign looking to us sitting about on
their doorsteps.
Late at night there were soldiers & sailors everywhere & young girls
running about the streets. The houses were, many of them, very pretty
with lawns in front & no fences. The land is very poor, the only
product being a few apples. Fruit is fairly cheap so before we went
back on board bought a few apples & bananas & one or two postcards. We
noticed a Church of England institute & a branch of the YMCA. Our
quartermaster bought us 23 films for a sovereign but somehow we could
not get any more. The Barber on board promised us gaslight postcards
but now we are in mid ocean he changes his mind & I have only a
little paper. We got on board in good time but next morning there were
still a good many missing.
1917 Sep 21 Getting coal on board
Friday the 21st showed us a good days work before us. On the wharf was
300 tons of coal to be carried aboard in baskets. B Company was unit
for Duty so missed the coaling which was finished by 1.30pm.
From where we were we saw a couple of battleships a training ship beside
merchant vessels. In the distance was a steamer painted light grey with
a black whale painted on her side. Another dark grey steamer was painted
white fore & aft. At the bow the dark paint resembled represented a stern
while the dark paint at the stern looked like a bow. This makes the
vessel look smaller & if going slow a submarine might think she was going
the opposite direction or look as though she were reversing. This white
fore and aft also helps to deceive the speed of the vessel.
1917 Sep 30 Departure from Halifax
We left Halifax on Saturday 30th Sep 17 and saw the Hospital boat still
on the rocks near the heads. We had now escort for a time but had an
auxiliary cruiser with us. We were fourteen steamers in all & travelling
east, still in calm weather, but the weather was getting much cooler.
Next morning we had full dress parade & inspection by our O.C. No church
parade. For the next seven days we did very little. There was some gun
practice. All through we kept or the Ruahine kept a central position
having a very valuable cargo aboard.
Another death occurred on the 27th Sep. A Maori strained himself at some
sports & a blood vessel burst in his head. On the 29th it was ordered
that the Ports were to be kept closed. At 4.30 ten destroyers hove in
sight. They soon came over and so made us feel more safe. It was then
that we started to use the Welsh coal and were steaming at full speed.
1917 Oct 1 American & Canadian boats leave the convoy
On the evening of the 1st Oct we watched the American & Canadian
transports & the munitions boats leave us most likely going to
Liverpool. Now there were only five of us left. NZ Ruahine and Mokoia.
Australian Miltiades Carpathia & Medic. The rest of the convoy were
Themistocles, Anchises, Victoria (aux gun), Kroonland, Anchives
Mongolian Grampion, Carmania, Themistocles, Ionican, Canada. I am not
quite sure whether these are correct. Possibly some of them are wrong.
Some of the destroyers still accompany us.
1917 Oct 10 Off Ailsa Craig Island west of Ayrshire, Scotland
Tuesday 10th Oct we were up early to find that the destroyers had left
and that the closest we had been to a submarine was that a sailing
vessel was shelled about a hundred and fifty miles behind us. At 6.30
we were off an island called Alsig Craig half way between Belfast and
Glasgow. We soon found ourselves in a channel. Each side of us were
pretty old fashioned houses & castles of stone spread over rolling
hills of green pasture. The shrubs all about set off the fine old
buildings making them look beautiful & homely. Harvesting was going
on, the crops seeming to be growing right down to the waters edge.
We passed villages here and there and a few small paddle steamers.
We wound on in and out up the firth of Clyde. Later we passed in
through a boom baracade from which may have hung a wire net to stop
submarines. This baracade is guarded by two or three small boats
carrying guns. We just got through when we carried away a bouy the
chain having caught round one of our screws. Two or three small boats
soon fixed us up and off we steamed again.
Next we passed an immense four funnel liner and a large warship
painted like a zebra. We soon entered the Caledonian Canal along which
are many towns & factories by the hundred & shipbuilding yards by the
mile. We saw an aeroplace factory passed one or two War Tanks in one
place and were very struck at the large number of girls in uniform &
some in trousers working at all kinds of work even to coal trucks and
working at the construction of ships. I think they do a good deal of
the painting at about 10d per hour.
1917 Oct 12 Voyage end
We saw a good many destroyers before our voyage ended each carrying a
good number of torpedoes. At last we came up alongside the Mokoia to
find our voyage ended on the 2nd Oct 1917. We were surrounded by
sheds so went up to the mast head to have a look round. There was town
as far as I could see spires & huge chimneys belching out smoke. The
next was news that about eight of the Old B Coy had been killed in a
train accident. The seven days previous to our arrival there were Air
Raids on London.
1917 Oct 12 By train to Sling Camp
Rations were served out & blankets given in before we left the old
Ruahine leaving by train for Sling Camp. About 9.30 we started off
in a third class carriage which is as good as NZ first class. We
travelled for fourteen hours before we arrived so saw a good deal of
the southern scenery. We were travelling on the L S W R & the G
Railways. We passed through towns of all kinds and sizes and saw
many beautiful old homesteads. We saw the Oxford Aviation school &
watch the aeroplanes which come quite close at times. Sometimes we
see a dozen or more at a time. I do not think the camp here is as good
as Featherston but the food is good. The weather is getting pretty
cold now & there is rain now and again. Everyone is sending Christmas
Cards now as the mail is closing tomorrow. I will have to pack this up
and get on with other writing.
Love to all from Lawrie
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