Monday, June 28th, 1915

Marian and myself go in town in morning and Hedley and Fred report themselves to the Dock Yard and I report myself to the Naval Ordnance Depot in the afternoon.

Sunday, June 27th, 1915

See the shores of Old England once more, arrive inside the breakwater at Plymouth safe after a most excitable voyage and escaping the German submarines.  We were escorted  across the channel by torpedo boat destroyers.  We landed at Plymouth in GWR tender at 9.30 am.  Got through the Customs at Mill Bay Docks and boys went on to inform Arch that we had arrived and would follow them in a cab as soon as possible.  So we put up at my brother's house.

Saturday, June 26th, 1915

Swell on.  Run 371 mls.  Temp 69 degrees.

Friday, June 25th, 1915

Fired 4 practice rounds from our 4' 7" gun.

Heavy swell on.  Run 362.  Temp 72 degrees.

Thursday, 24th June 1915

We leave Gibraltar at 6.00 am with our gun fitted aft.

Heavy swell on.  Run 82.  Temp 73 degrees.

Wednesday, 23 June 1915

We arrive at Gibraltar 2.00 pm along side the Dockyard to take on a 7' 5" gun in case of submarine attack.  We were not allowed to land in the dockyard, but went on shore in a hired P&O launch for which we were charged 2/- each.  This we considered to be bare face robbery and caused a good deal of discontent amongst the passengers.  We went on shore, not much to see being only a Naval-Base.  Just one main street.  Weighed ourselves.  Marian was 7 stone, myself 10 stone 3 lbs.  Had some refreshments and returned to our ship in the evening.  I met a Naval ordnance storehouse-man from Portsmouth on board with the gun and fittings by the name of Mr Constance.

Sea smooth.  Run 372. Temp 73 degrees.

Tuesday, 22nd June 1915

Smooth sea.  Temp 74 degrees.  Run 390 miles

All lifebelts were placed under our beds so as to be handy in case of submarine attack and we all had orders to try them on, and the stewards to give the passengers a demonstration.

All light out at night and ship in darkness.  Curtains closed over cabin portholes.

Monday, June 21st 1915

We all go onshore & have a run around Marseilles.  The number of widows was quite noticeable owing to the war and we saw many of our soldiers on duty.  We also saw many German prisoners at work.  The French Government employing them and paying them six pence a day.  On the new docks building there were five thousand Germans employed and also working in the docks all under escort and seemed to be working hard.  We could see these from our ship.  We sailed again at 5 pm.