17th November 1914

Tuesday November 17 1914 - A22

A lighter came along side today with cases of fruit and peanuts, coconuts and also chocolates which we had run short of.  Some of our officers went back to shore in her and came back tonight.  We up anchored and moved off in line about 7:30 tonight.  The search lights from the cruisers are playing on the fleet as we go out.  We are having a boxing contest tonight.  One of our cracks, Tommy Robinson is meeting one of the ships firemen, Kelly.  It is one of the best plimerys I have seen, they are both very good and besides that we had about a dozen other goes.  We had a fare time.  I am on top deck picquet and had to shift from the open deck it began to rain through the night and so I got a bit wet. 

The H.M.S. Yarmouth and Hampshire at anchor in Colombo Harbour, November 1914.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - C02535]

17 ̎  7-45pm

Left

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 7th Battery]

The A8 Argyllshire and Empress of Asia at anchor in Colombo Harbour, November 1914.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - C02536]

Tuesday 17th November

Units at work as usual. Lieut Urquhart Ross and Clowes and Capt McLennan went ashore in launch. I asked them to get me a few photo frames of Eastern design, for my family photos in my cabin, but they brought me back Common English frames. Launch brought off a big supply of cocoanuts, oranges and bananas. Cingalese returned to shore. Sent letter to "Orvieto" by Capt Matson, who had called in a launch to deliver veterinary requirements. Second and Third Divisions of Convoy together with New Zealand ships left Port at 10 AM. The "Hampshire" escorted them. We left at 7PM escorted by the "Ibuki". We are now formed into two divisions of which the second is led by our ship. We expect to overtake the main convoy in about 36 hours. Beautifully cool today. Horse decks have much benefited. All horses so far well. Search lights from forts playing round harbour tonight and shipping illuminated makes a pretty sight. Quite a number of fishing boats out around the fleet. Another stage of our long journey entered upon.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]