May 11, 1915

Right in track of commerce saw many boats sighted today, passed “Twelve Apostles” a group of islands, this morning. Weather warm. Some more dead horses. Some thieves on board. I am minus hat, cap, and towels. Some cases of measles on board. May be quarantined at Port Said. One bad case before reaching Colombo but kept secret. Health of troops generally good, but some bad coughs among them. I spend much time in the bow of the boat getting the breeze and watching porpoises and flying fish disporting themselves. Sight an occasional Arab Scow with a peculiar long sail. Had some practice traversing and map making. Made protractor by cutting out illustration of one in manual and pasting a half on each side of strip of cardboard.

May 10, 1915

4 am passed Aden, lights in distance. Some hours later passed Perim Island, fortified barren looking blotched with arid mountainous country to right. In afternoon passed British Patrol sloop. After sundown saw Arabian city of Mocha some miles away. Had sun shining on its brown walls. Looked very interesting.

May 9, 1915

Was awake very early. Must have “smelt” the land. Sighted mainland of Arabia. Red Sea tomorrow. Church parade in uniform. Drummer, cornet and organ “Lusitania” wireless re loss of Lusitania. 

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(The passenger liner Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat on May 7. 1 198 of the over 1900 crew and passengers on board perished.Debate raged as to whether it was a legitimate target. The huge number of civilian casualties was a shock.)

May 7, 1915

Paid 10/-. Passed Island of Scotia - rocky,  hilly and barren in appearance.

(probably Socotra, part of an archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean off  the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula.)

May 5, 1015

Money refunded to messes that was levied by storekeeper. "Paying for your own food."

May 2, 1915

Left with Wiltshire at 6am. Passed lighthouse on Island S of India that night. Steaming only 10 1/2 knots on Japanese coal. Poor quality.

May1, 1915

Excitement to get war news. Arrived Colombo daylight. Coaling all day. Bought coins, silk kerchiefs. Posted mail, no leave. Many broke it.