Wednesday, June 16th 1915

We arrive at Port Said 1.30 am, and we go on shore before breakfast and have a better opinion of the place than the last time we were there five years ago.  It looked cleaner and the shops improved.

There is a splendid beach and bathing houses are quite numerous and a long stone pier runs about one mile out; in the centre is a monument of the Engineer that cut the Suez Canal.  We leave again at 12 midday and see sharks just outside the harbour.

P.S.:  While we are in harbour the arab boys dive under our ship for money and several boats come alongside playing banjos, violins, guitars and mandolins and the passengers throw them money.  We also have a conjurer come on board and do some wonderful tricks.  I took out a chicken from my inside breast coat pocket!

After leaving this port the weather becomes much cooler and drops from 95 degrees to 80 degrees in very few hours.  The following day dropping to 75 degrees and many becoming sick with fever myself included.  Freddie and Marian also very unwell owing to the sudden change of temperature.

Tuesday, June 15th 1915

Arrive at Suez about 500 troops, officers and nurses disembark for Cairo, which is about 6 hours train ride through the desert.  We arrive at 6.30 am and leave again at 12 noon and enter the Suez Canal and see all the British and Indian troops on the banks both sides of us.  See their trenches and wire entanglements which run down to the water's edge.  We shouted to the troops and they to us telling us the different regiments to which they belong and they enquired the name of our ship and we cheered and cheered again as we passed our gallant troops.  We saw the spot where the Turks and Germans tried to cross the Suez and were so utterly defeated.

The heat is most terrible, much worse than the Red Sea.  We felt as though we were being baked or roasted alive.  The heat from the sandy desert and the glaring white sand, how sorry we felt for our troops who had to endure this terrible heat for an indefinite period.  They shouted to us that they had no money and no fags, but money is of no use in a desert and so we left them with only our sympathy.

Monday, June 14th 1915

Two acrobats, man & wife, Mr & Mrs Riskett, give a performance and the programmes sold and takings given to the widow Mrs Norton - about £10-0-0.  The passengers subscribed £150.  The troops give a farewell concert as most of them are disembarking at Suez in the morning.  I form one of a quartette and very successful.  Good sea running, ship steady.  Run 360 miles, temp 92 degrees.

Saturday, June 12th 1915

One of the passengers, Quartermaster Sergt Norton was found dead in his bunk in the morning.  His wife and 4 little children were on board.  He was buried at sea about 10.30 am.  This cast a gloom over the ship.  Strong wind blowing, sea smooth, run 333 miles, temp 94 degrees.

Friday, June 11th 1915

Arrive at Aden 6.00 am.  Only myself, Sergt Maj. Clark go on shore and we met two sergeants of his Corps (Royal Engineers) and had a walk around with them.  Only 2 or 3 general stores in the place, no other shops it is in fact a most terrible place, desolate, barren and all rock, not a blade of grass to be seen anywhere.  The heat is intense, it is in fact the hottest place I have ever been in as a dry heat.  It is only the camels that seen to be at home.  What is now turned into reservoirs having been cemented is said to have been made by the Queen of Sheba and is one of the seven wonders of the earth and the only place of interest to see in Aden.  It comes under the Indian Government.  Aden is a terrible place in every respect, it has not one redeeming feature.  Left again at 2 o'clock the same day and enter the Red Sea the same evening.

Thursday, June 10th 1915

Sea smooth run 362 miles since yesterday.  Temperature 95 degrees.

Australian troops hold their sports on board followed in the evening by a concert.  Saw 2 whales.

Sunday, June 6th 1915

We leave Bombay 4.15 pm.  Temp in Cabin  102 degrees.