Thursday November 5 1915
Was pretty crook today with a
sore throat and pains in the chest. I
was sick and D. Orderly too, so put my name on the sick list but when the
doctor examined me he exempt me from duty for the rest of the day. My temp went 99 degrees and I didnt care what
became of me. The mail boat, Osterley
passed us this evening and we all gave the passengers hearty cheers and as she
passed each troopship we could hear that she got the same all along the
line. We are all going to sleep on the
horse boxes tonight. There has been boards put along to stop us roaling off
when we are asleep.
The R.M.S. Osterley - a short time later, this vessel would also be used as a troopship.
[Courtesy of Shipspotting.com]
Thursday 5th November
Beautiful morning. A good deal of trouble during
night due to faulty station keeping of ships ahead. Gun drill, lectures and
physical training going on. About 11 AM the "Minatour" came back from
her position at the head of Convoy, passed down the lines severely criticising
ships which were not keeping station, and returned up the line to her place
again. As she passed us our troops fell in on their Parade Stations and we gave
the salute. During the afternoon number of Horse casualties in Convoy were
transmitted to "Orvieto". Fortunately we have so far lost none from
Albany. The following are the losses. Pera 1, Katuna 4, Hymettus 3, Anglo
Egyptian 5, Medic 1, Port Lincoln 5, Karoo 9, Clan MacCorquedale 7, Marere 9,
Shropshire 1. Total 45 . weather very warm today. Our position at noon. 24° 6’
South, 106° 55’ East. All awnings spread much to the satisfaction of all ranks.
At 5 PM the "Osterly" showed up on the Horizon astern. She attempted
to cross our line but the "Melbourne" ordered her off. She came up
abreast our line just after we had finished dinner. Our men gave her cheers,
and they were very heartily responded to
by the ship. The rigging was full of Blue Jackets evidently on their way to
join their ships. She looked very fine steaming past us.
I should have referred to the appearance of the
"Minatour" as she passed us today. She was ploughing along at about
20 knots with her sailors manning the decks. They and the officers were all
dressed in white and with the various signal flags flying she looked a pretty
sight.
As I write 8 bells has just sounded and the Lookout
in the bow has called ‘All’s well". A big crowd of gunners is singing all
sorts of songs on the forward deck. They have just finished ‘Absent". I
feel inclined in consequence never to sing it again. Major
Hughes still confined to his bed and our veterinary Officer too is not well
today. Influenza appears to be going round the ship.
HMS Minotaur steaming between the ships of the First Convoy, November 1914.
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