From Dartmouth to the Dardanelles,a midshipman's log,edited by his mother.

TROM DARTMOUTH
^^DARDANELLES

Walter Clinton Jackson Library

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Special Collections & Rare Books

World War I Pamphlet Collection

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2010 with funding from

Lyrasis IVIembers and Sloan Foundation

http://www.archive.org/details/fromdartmouthtodOOunse

FROM DARTMOUTH
TO THE DARDANELLES

SOLDIERS' TALES OF THE
GREAT WAR

Each volume cr. 8vo, cloth.
3J. 6d. net.

I. WITH MY REGIMENT. By "Pla-
toon Commander."

II. DIXMUDE. The Epic of the French
Marines. Oct. - Nov. 1914. By
Charles le Goffic. Illustrated

III. IN THE FIELD (1914-15). The

Impressions ot an Oflicer of Light
Cavalry.

IV. UNCENSORED LETTERS FROM

THE DARDANELLES. Notes of
a French Army Doctor. lUustrated

V. PRISONER OF WAR. By Andre

Warnod. lilusirated

VI. -CONTEMPTIBLE." By "Casu-

alty."

VII. ON THE ANZAC TRAIL. By
" Anzac."

VIII. IN GERMAN HANDS. By Charles
Hennebois.

London: •WILLL'^M HEINEMANN
21 Bedford Street, W.C.

FROM DARTMOUTH
TO THE DARDANELLES

A MIDSHIPMAN'S LOG

EDITED BY

HIS MOTHER

LONDON

WILLIAM HEINEMANN

First Published June 191 6.

Neiv Impressions July, September, October 19 16.

Lonaon : fVilliam Heinemann, 19 16,

FOREWORD

The responsibility for the publication of this book
lies with me^ and with me alone. I trust that that
great " S^ilent Service^'' one of whose finest tradi-
tions is to " do " and not to " talk^'' will see in it
no indiscretion.

To state that these pages make no claim to
literary merit seems almost superfluous^ since they
are simply a boys story of ten months of the Great
War as he saw it. In deference to the said
tradition the names of officers and ships concerned
have been suppressed — those of the midshipmen
mentioned are all fictitious.

The story has been compiled from a narrative
written by my son during a short spell of sick leave
in December 191 5. Considering that all his
diaries were lost when his ship was sunk., it may
at least be considered a not inconsiderable feat of

vi FOREWORD

memory. Originally it zvas intended only for
-private circulation^ hut many who have read it
have urged me to put it into print ; ana I have
decided to do so in the hope that their prediction
that it would prove of interest to the public may
be justified.

In so far as was practicable.^ I have tried to teh
the story in my sons own words ; but it may
possibly be argued that at tim,es words and phrases
are such as would not normally be used by a hoy
of barely sixteen. To that charge I can only reply
that in the main even tire words are his own.,
and I have faithfully reproduced his ideas ana
opinions.

Those who have come in contact with the boys
who left us as children^ and returned to us dowered
by their tremendous experiences with knowledge
and insight so far in advance of their years., will
find nothing incongruous in reflections commonly
foreign to such extreme youth. It is one of the
logical results of the fiery crucible of IVar.

Let it he reme^nbered that these boys have looked
Death in the face — not once onh\ but many times ;

FOREWORD vii

and that^ like our soldiers in the trenches — who no
longer say of their ^^-pals " '^ He is deady" but only
** He has gone west " — they have learned to see in
the Great Deliverer not a horror^ not an end, but
a mighty and glorious Angela setting on the brows
of their comrades the crown of immortality ; and so
when the call comes they, like Sir Richard
Grenville of old, " with a ^oyful spirit dieT

What would be unnatural is that their stupen-
dous initiation could leave thetn only the careless
children of a few months back.

The mobilisation of the Dartmouth Cadets came
with a shock oj rather horrified surprise to a certain
section of the public, who could not imagine that
boys so young could be of any practical utility in the
grim business of War. There was, indeed, after
the tragic loss of so many of them in the Cressy,
the Aboukir, and the Hogue, an outburst of
protest in Parliament and the Press. In the first
shock of grief and dismay at the sacrifice of such
young lives, it was perhaps not unnatural ; but it
argued a limited vision. Did those who agitated
^or these Cadets to be removed from the post of

viii FOREWORD

danger forget^ or did they never realise^ that on
every battle-ship there is a large number of boys^
sons of the working classes^ whose service is
indispensable ?

It seemed to me that if my son was too young to
be exposed -to such danger^ the principle must apply
equally to the son of my cook^ or my butcher^ or my
gardener^ whose boys were no less precious to them
than mine was to me.

In the great band of Brothers who are fighting
^or their country and for the triumph of Right and
lustice there can be no class distinction of values.
Those who belong to the so-called ^^ privileged
classes ^^ can lay claim only to the privilege of being
leaders — first in the field and foremost at the post
of danger. It is the only possible justification of
their existence; and at the post of danger they have
found their claim to priority hotly and gloriously con-
tested by the splendid heroes of the rank and file.

Presumably the Navy took our boys because they
were needed^ and no one to-day will feel inclined to
deny that those Dartmouth Cadets have abundantly
proved their worth.

FOREWORD ix

For the rest^ ij there be any merit in this record^
the credit lies with the hoy who provided the
material from which it has been written : for any
feebleness^ inadequacy^ or indiscretion the blame
must fall on that imperfect chronicler —

His, Mother

A 2

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I Dartmouth College . . . . i

II MaNCEUVRES . . . . .12

III The Beginning of the " Real Thing " 24

IV We Join our Ship .... 34
V Alarums and Excursions ... 49

VI We Leave Home Waters ... 65

VII From Egypt to Mombasa ... 88

VIII The Bombardment of Dar-es-Salaam . 118

IX Ordered to the Dardanelles . .130

X In Action ...... 140

XI The Sinking of the Ship . . . 152

XII Home ....... 165

XI

CHAPTER I

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

My first term at Dartmouth commenced on
the 7 th of May 19 14 — previously I had, of
course, been through the regulation two years
at Osborne College in the Isle of Wight.

Most of my term-mates came down from
London by the special cadet train, and I should
have greatly preferred to have travelled with
them, but my home was so far away that I had
to do the journey in solitary state, and when I
arrived at Kingswear Station at 9.30 on that
beautiful spring evening, 1 found myself a
belated last comer.

A servant had been sent to meet me, and
when he had collected my luggage we embarked
on the Otter^ one of the steamboats belonging
to the College, which was lying alongside the

2 FROM DARTMOUTH

pontoon. The passage of the river Dart only
took a few minutes, and we landed at Sandquay,
where are situated the engineering shops, in
which no small proportion of my brief time
at Dartmouth was destined to be spent.
Compared with the collection of low, one-
storied, bungalow-like buildings which comprise
the Osborne premises, the College, standing
high upon a hill above the river, appeared to
me a very imposing structure, and pleasantly
suggestive of a distinct advance towards the
goal of my ambitions — a goal destined to be
reached s6 swiftly, and by such unexpected
paths, as 1 at that moment little dreamed of.

A long flight of stone steps leads up through
the grounds from the workshops, and after
climbing these I found myself in the big
entrance-hall of the College, where I was met
by a warrant officer, who took me to his office,
and, after filing my health certificate, showed
me the way to the vast mess-room where the
five hundred or so of cadets in residence have
all their meals. Here I had supper, consisting

TO THE DARDANELLES 3

of cold meat and bread-and-cheese ; and when
I had finished, the gunner took me to my
dormitory, pointed out my sea-chest and bed,
and then left me to turn in.

By this time it was about 10.30, my mess-
mates were all asleep, and the long room was
only dimly illuminated by the " dead lights "
which are kept burning all night, as no matches
or candles are allowed. Removing my boots,
I tiptoed round the chests adjoining mine to
see by the nameplates who my immediate
neighbours might be, and then, folding up my
clothes in regulation fashion, I jumped into bed
and was soon fast asleep.

At 6 o'clock next morning we were all
awakened by the reveille, and trooped down in
a body to the bath-rooms for the cold plunge
with which, unless excused by doctor's orders,
every cadet must begin the day. Then, having
been informed by the senior cadets who were
placed in authority over us that if we were
not dressed in one and a half minutes the
consequences would be unpleasant, we threw

4 FROM DARTMOUTH

on as many clothes as possible, and ran out of
the dormitory surreptitiously carrying boots,
ties and collars, and finished dressing in the
gun-room. Then we waited about, greeted
friends, and exchanged reminiscences of the
past " leave " until summoned to breakfast
at 7.30.

This meal was served in the mess-room in
which 1 had had my supper the night before,
and we all scrambled and fought our way up
some stairs to a gallery where were situated the
four long tables reserved for the use of the
junior term.

Breakfast over, the cadet captains (who
correspond to the monitors of our public
schools) showed us over the College grounds,
and drew our attention to the various rules,
regulations, and notices posted up at different
points. We also paid a visit to the canteen,
where may be purchased ices, bung, sweets, and
similar delicacies dear to all schoolboys. As a
more detailed description of my first day would
not be particularly interesting, I will just describe

TO THE DARDANELLES 5

one in mid-term as fairly typical of the College
routine.

At 6 o'clock, roused by the reveille, we
scurry to the bath-room, take the prescribed
cold plunge, and then dress. Hot cocoa and
ship's biscuit are served in the mess-room and
followed by an hour's study. At 7.30 "fall
in " in the long corridor called the " covered
way," which leads from the dormitories to the
mess-room. All the other terms having gone
in to breakfast, our particular batch of cadets is
called to " attention." Then comes the order :
*' Right turn ! Double march ! " — and helter-
skelter, as fast as we can lay foot to the ground,
we rush along the hundred yards of corridor
to the mess-room door and fight our way
through that narrow opening. Woe betide the
unfortunate who falls in the melee ! He will
get trampled on by all behind, and when finally
he is able to rise to his feet, dazed and bruised,
after the rush has gone by, he will be assisted on
his way by the unsympathetic toes of the cadet
captain's boots. Moral : Keep your footing !

6 FROM DARTMOUTH

After a brief grace we fall to and devour
porridge with brown sugar and fresh, creamy,
Devon milk, rolls and butter, supplemented by
kippers, bacon and eggs, or some similar fare.

As no grace is said after breakfast, each cadet
is at liberty to leave as soon as he has finished,
and to repair to his own gun-room until the
bugle sounds for divisions at 9 o'clock. At
the call we all " fall in " by terms in the big
hall which is called the quarter-deck. The
Lieutenant of each term then inspects his cadets
a! id reports to the Commander that they are
" correct," after which the Commander in his
turn reports the whole six terms to the Captain.
Then the Chaplain comes in, the Commander
calls all present to "attention," and gives the
order " Off caps." The Padre gives out the
number of some familiar hymn, and, after a few
verses have been sung, he reads some short
prayers.

Then caps are replaced, and, in obedience
to the word of command, the respective terms
in order of seniority march off to the studies.

TO THE DARDANELLES 7

Let it be supposed that my term has to go
to the engineering works at Sandquay on this
particular morning.

Procedure is as follows : " Divisions " over,
we fall in on a path outside the College and the
Engineer Lieutenant marches us down to the
workshops. Dismissed from marching order
we go into the lobby and shift into overalls,
after which we repair in batches to the various
shops. Here we construct and fit together
parts of the many different types of marine
engines ; dealing in the process with such
work as the casting, forging, and turning of
steel and brass.

After two hours of this practical work we
shift out of our overalls, resume our uniform
jackets and caps, and go to one of the lecture-
rooms where, for the remaining hour an
engineer officer instructs us in the theory
of motors, and turbines, and various other
engineering technicalities. Then we are again
fallen in outside the shops and marched up
to the College, where we have a '* break " of

8 FROM DARTMOUTH

a quarter of an hour in which to collect the
books required for the succeeding hour of
ordinary school work.

One o'clock finds us once more assembled
in the covered way to double along to the
mess-room for lunch.

After this meal every one must stay in his
place until grace is said, when each term rises
in order of seniority and doubles out of the
mess-room to the different gun-rooms.

It may be here noted that everything at
Dartmouth is done at the " double," i. e. at
a run. Strolling around with your hands in
your pockets after the fashion of most public
schools is of course not allowed in an establish-
ment where naval discipline prevails.

After half an hour allowed for digestion
we collect our books and go to the studies
for another two hours' work.

At 4 o'clock we are mustered again for
" quarters " as at " divisions " in the morning,
and when dismissed double away to shift into
flannels for recreation.

TO THE DARDANELLES 9

The choice of play and exercise is very
varied, but no one is allowed to " loaf."
Everv cadet must do what is called a " log,"
and the manner in which he has spent his
recreation time is duly entered against his
name each day. The '* log " in question
may consist of a game of cricket, a two-mile
^row on the river, two hours' practice at the
nets followed by the swimming of sixty yards
in the baths, or a set of tennis or fives.

Any cadet who cannot swim must learn
without delay. The bath, eight feet deep at
one end and three feet at the other, is thirty
yards long. It is opened at 6 p.m., and there
is always a large attendance. A spring board
for diving is provided, as well as various ropes
suspended six feet above the water by means
of which the more agile spirits swing them-
selves along, as monkeys swing from tree to
tree.

All exercise is purposely strenuous, for the
four years' preparation is a test of physical as
much as of mental strength, and every year

lo FROM DARTMOUTH

some boys are " chucked," to their bitter dis-
appointment, because they cannot attain to the
standard of physical fitness indispensable for
the work they, as naval officers, would be
expected to perform. Defective eyesight is
one of the commonest causes of rejection, for
it is obvious that full, normal vision is essential
for the Navy.

On the river there is the choice of two kinds
of boat — five-oared gigs and skifFs. A long
and muddy creek, known as Mill Creek,
branches off from the river just above the
College. Great trees overhang its banks on
either side and, if one cares to risk disobedience
to orders, a very pleasant way of passing an
afternoon is to tie up one's boat in the shade
and settle down with a book and some smuggled
cigarettes. But it is well to remember that the
tide here is very treacherous. Once I saw three
cadets marooned on a mud-bank quite forty
yards from the water's edge.

At 6.30 every one must be within the Col-
lege buildings, and by a quarter to 7 all cadets

TO THE DARDANELLES ii

must have shifted into proper uniform and be
ready for tea.

At 7.30 there is "prep.," which lasts till
8.30, when the "cease fire" bugle sounds.
Then the band plays on the quarter-deck, and
there is dancing till 9, after which tvtr/ one
" falls in " for five minutes' prayer. Then the
terms double away to their dormitories. At
9.30 the Commander goes "rounds," and every
one must be in bed. As soon as he has passed
lights are put out and the day is over.

CHAPTER II

MANOEUVRES

This summer term of 19 14, destined surely
to be the most momentous in the whole history
of the College, nevertheless pursued its normal
course until July 18, on which date began the
great test mobilisation of the " Fleet in being,"
to which we had all been eagerly looking
forward for some weeks.

It is, perhaps, too soon to speculate on the
influence which this most opportune concentra-
tion of sea power brought to bear on the course
of the War. Was it due to foresight ? Was
it a deliberate warning to trespassers not to
tread on Great Britain's toes } Or was it just
a gorgeous piece of luck ^ Who shall say ?
Certainly not a mere " snottie " ! Anyway, it

is a matter of history that after manoeuvres the

12

THE DARDANELLES 13

Fleet was not demobilised, with the result that
the swift, murderous assault on our open sea-
coast towns which, judging by the light of sub-
sequent events, was even then in preparation,
was happily averted.

The cadets were all sent to Portsmouth, from
where they embarked on the various ships to
which they had been respectively appointed.
As a description of my personal experiences I
think 1 will insert here the copy of a letter
I wrote to my mother on my return to the
College, omitting only some personal details of
no interest to the public.

"Dartmouth College, Devon : July 25, 19 14.

" Darling Mother —

" Thanks so much for your letter and

enclosures Now to describe the

mobilisation. It was the finest thing I've ever
seen ! I did enjoy myself. When we were
just coming into Gosport in the train, we saw
an airship and two aeroplanes above us. We
went on board the tank-ship Provider^ which

14 FROM DARTMOUTH

took us to our respective ships. While we
were waiting to start we saw flights of aero-
planes like birds chasing each other through
the air, and a big airship was slowly hovering
about low down on the horizon. The harbour
was teeming with dashing little launches rushing
about commanded by * snotties ' ! Outside the
sight was wonderful. Simply miles of stately
battle-ships, and swarms of little torpedo
craft. As we steamed out the Astra Torres^ a
huge airship, hovered over us. Just as we
got abreast the line they fired a salute of
I 2 -pounders to the King. It was lovely seeing
the little white spurts of smoke from the sides
of the huge ships. We went alongside the
Irresistible^ and soon afterwards saw the
Formidable signalling to us a message from my
ship — the Lord Nelson.

" Almost directly afterwards her launch
steamed alongside towing a boat for our
luggage. There were no ' snotties ' on board
my ship and we had to take their duty, and
were treated iust like midshipmen. It was

TO THE DARDANELLES 15

absolutely ripping ! When we got on board
we went down to the gun-room flat and deposited
our bags and ' macks.' Then we went up
on deck and a Petty Officer showed us the 9-2
and 12 inch turrets, and how they worked.
Then we set to and started to explore the ship.
Then came supper of sardines and bread-and-
butter and ginger-beer in the gun-room.

*' Then we went on deck and looked at
everything and climbed up to the searchlight
platforms till the searchlight display began.
That was splendid. The beams seemed to
pierce everywhere. They described arcs and
circles in the sky and swept up and down, and
round and round, and from right forward to
right aft. This went on for about an hour, and
then we turned into our hammocks. At first
1 couldn't get into mine, but when I had
succeeded, and as soon as I had kicked the foot
out as the hammock was too short for me, i
found that it was more comfortable than a
bed. The only thing that kept me awake was
the ship's company ' sing-song,' but I did not

1 6 FROM DARTMOUTH

mind as it was all very lovely and novel, and
they sang such topping sea-songs.

" We turned out in the morning and had a
bath and dressed, and had a topping breakfast,
and then went on deck. We had to officer
parties of seamen at ' divisions.' I was in
charge of the ship's boys. After that we had
church, which was on the men's mess-deck. I
sat just opposite the galley whence emerged
an odour of varied foods cooking, and I was so
far away from the Padre that 1 never heard a
word and nearly went to sleep. After church
we shifted from our best clothes and started
exploring again. We looked in the engine-
room and went up a mast, etc. Then we had
lunch. After lunch we went all round the
Fleet in a little steam launch, and as the Lord
Nelson was flagship of the 2nd Fleet we
conveyed instructions to a lot of ships. When
we came back we had tea, and then went on
deck and ragged about for some time. Hav-
ing had supper we went on deck and got into
conversation with a sporting Lieutenant, who

TO THE DARDANELLES 17

told us all sorts of things about the Navy.
While he was talking to us the * liberty ' men
came off from the shore, and one bandsman
was so drunk he fell in the sea trying to get
out of the boat. Then we turned in and I fell
asleep almost at once. Next morning we got
up early and watched them weighing anchor.
Then we saw the ist Fleet slowly get under
way. When they had all passed we got under
way and steamed down Spithead at the head of
our line. When we got near the royal yacht,
ship was lined and we fell in on the after turret
to cheer the King. That was grand ! To see
the stately ships steam by and hear their ship's
companies cheering for their King !

" Then we went below and shifted into
flannels and put on our overalls and had to get
down into the engine-room and boiler-room to
be shown round. In the upper part of the
boiler-room the temperature was about 110°
Fahrenheit, I should think ! The rails of the
steps were so hot that they blistered my hands.
Then the ist Fleet fought us in a sham fight

1 8 FROM DARTMOUTH

out in mid-channel, and there was a beastly
row when each ship started firing her 1 2-
pounders.

"In the middle of it the ist Fleet Destroyer
flotilla dashed up to within 400 yards, intending
to torpedo us, and we fired our 12-pounders
as fast as we could load them. The flotilla
then turned round and steamed away as fast as
they could. I think we were supposed to
have beaten them off^. At 4 o'clock the battle
ended and our Fleet remained at sea all that
night. We arrived at Portland at 8 in the
morning, and after breakfast we disembarked
and returned to the College by train. I must
stop now as it is time for prayers. Fuller
details in the leave. Best love from

"P.S. My shirts haven't come yet, I've just
looked."

That '' leave " never came. How little we
dreamed at the time of the mobilisation that

TO THE DARDANELLES 19

we were so near to the "real thing " ! But I
must not anticipate.

On the 25th July, three days after the
events just recorded, the examinations began.

The diplomatic struggle in Europe result-
ing from Austria's note to Serbia formed the
chief topic of discussion in the College, but no
particular excitement prevailed until Tuesday
the 28th of July, when we learned that
Austria had declared war on Serbia, and
Russia had ordered a partial mobilisation of her
army.

That afternoon when we were all fallen in
at " quarters," and after the terms had been
reported by their officers to the Commander,
and were awaiting the customary dismissal, the
Captain came on to the quarter-deck, and,
going up to the Commander, said a few words
to him in an undertone. The Commander
saluted, and, turning to the ranks, gave the
order, " Cadets, 'shun ! "

Every one sprang to " attention," all eyes

20 FROM DARTMOUTH

fixed upon the Captain. He said ; " I have just
received this telegram from the Admiralty."
Then in a clear, ringing voice he read the dis-
patch, which, to the best of my recollection, ran
as follows —

" In the event of war, prepare to mobilise at
a moment's notice."

After a short pause during which a universal
murmur of excitement rippled through the
ranks, he continued :

"If I receive the order to mobilise the College,
all cadets will be recalled immediately whatever
they may be doing. You will proceed at once
to your dormitories, where you will pack your
chests, and move them out of the dormitories
to the nearest pathway, and stand by to load
them on the carts and wagons which will convey
them down to the pier. You will then fall in
in terms on the quarter-deck to draw your pay.
I will have lists of the ships to which cadets are
appointed posted up in the gun-rooms as soon
as they are made out. The Hawke and Drake
terms will go to Portsmouth ; the Grenville

TO THE DARDANELLES 21

and Blakes to Chatham, and the Exmouth
and St. Vincents with the ships' company to
Devonport. The Chatham batch will leave the
College first, followed by the Portsmouth
batch. Those going to Devonport will leave
last. A year ago I promised the Admiralty
to clear the College of all cadets and active
service ratings in eight hours. I trust to you
to make this promise good."

Then with a word to the Commander he left
the quarter-deck.

The Commander turned to the ranks and
gave the order " Stand at ease," and then to
the officer of the sixth term he said : " Carry
on, please."

On the way to the dormitories and while
shifting wild speculation was rife. Very little
cricket was played that afternoon. Groups of
excited cadets collected about the playgrounds
and discussed in all their bearings the two
absorbing questions — '* M^ould England declare
war ^ Should we be mobilised ^. "

Luckily for our education only two more

22 FROM DARTMOUTH

exams, remained to be done, since we were far
too excited to give them much attention. What
after all were examinations compared with the
possibility of such tremendous adventures as
had suddenly loomed up on our horizon !

At this time, as the reader will no doubt
remember, portentous events followed each
other in such quick succession that more
excitement was crammed into a single day
than into any ordinary week or even month.
On the Wednesday morning when we
assembled in the gun-room a rush was made
for the notice board, on which had been posted
the list of ships to which in the event of war
we had been appointed. These were eagerly
scanned, and excitement rose to fever pitch.
To see one's name in print as appointed to a
real definite ship seemed to bring it all so much
nearer : to materialise what up till then had
seemed more like some wild and exciting
dream of adventure than a sober fact.

However, by Thursday morning no order to
mobilise had been received and hope died down

TO THE DARDANELLES 23

again, and by Friday, after the manner of the
fox in the fable, we were all consoling one
another for the unattainable by such remarks
as : " After all, it will be much better fun to go
on leave next Tuesday than to fight any beastly
Germans."

CHAPTER 111

THE BEGINNING OF THE " REAL THING

"Mobilise!" On Saturday the ist of
August, the Captain, standing at the main
entrance to the College, opened the fateful
telegram which contained only that one mo-
mentous word. It had come at last ! Our
dreams were realised : it was war ! But —
did one of us 1 wonder even dimly imagine
the stern and terrible business that war
would be ?

The news reached me as 1 was leaning

against the balcony of the gymnasium talking

to a friend after a bout at the punch-ball.

A dishevelled fifth-termer burst through the

swing doors and shouted at the top of his

voice " Mobilise ! "

At first all were incredulous. Murmurs of

24

THE DARDANELLES 25

** Only a scare " — " I dont think ! " etc., etc.,
rose on all sides ; but, after the messenger
had kicked two or three junior cadets through
the door with emphatic injunctions to "get
a move on quick " — the rest of us were con-
vinced, and we hurled ourselves out of the
building and away to the College.

Already an excited crowd was surging through
the grounds : some with mouths still full from
the canteen, others clutching cricket-pads and
bats, and yet others but half-dressed, with hair
still dripping from the swimming bath.

Masters and officers on motor bikes and
" push " bikes were careering over the sur-
rounding country to recall the cadets who had
gone out on leave, and to commandeer every
kind of vehicle capable of carrying the big
sea-chests down to the river.

In gun-room and dormitory clothes, books,
and boots were thrown pell-mell into these
same chests, which, when crammed to their
utmost capacity, were closed with a series of
bangs which rang out like the sound of pistol

26 FROM DARTMOUTH

shots. Perspiring cadets, with uniform thrown
on anyhow, dragged and pushed them through
doors and passages with sublime disregard of
the damage to both.

Once outside willing hands loaded them
into every conceivable vehicle, from motor
lorries to brewers' drays, and these conveyed
them post haste to the pier, where they were
loaded on the steamer Mew, and ferried across
the river to Kingswear Station.

For two hours the work of transportation
went on, and then all cadets turned to and
strapped together such games, gear, and books
as were to be sent home.

At 5.30 every one fell in on the quarter-
deck, and as each received his pay went off
to the mess-room to get something to eat
before setting out on the train journey. After
this we all repaired to the gunner's office to
telegraph to our homes that we were ordered
away on active' service. My wire was as
follows : " General mobilisation. Embarked
H.M.S.' ,' Chatham. Will write at once "—

/

TO THE DARDANELLES 27

and when received was a terrible shock to
my poor mother, who had not had the faintest
idea that we " first termers " would in any
eventuality be sent to sea.

I belonged to the first, or Blake, term, which
it will be remembered was due to go to
Chatham, and consequently ours was the first
batch to leave.

At 6.30 we "fell in" in two ranks outside
the College, and our messmates gave us a
parting cheer as we marched ofF down to
Dartmouth. Here we had a sort of triumphal
progress through crowds of cheering townsfolk
to the quay. Embarked on the M^ew we were
quickly ferried across to the station, where a
long train was in waiting. Ten of us, who
had been appointed to the same ship, secured
two carriages adjoining one another, and then
scrambled hurriedly to the bookstalls for news-
papers, magazines, and cigarettes. These
secured, we took our seats and shortly after-
wards the train drew out of the station, and
our long journey had begun.

28 FROM DARTMOUTH

Thus it was that, three weeks before my
fifteenth birthday, I went to war !

The journey to Chatham was likely to be long
and tedious. After all the excitement of the last
few hours a reaction soon set in and we longed
for sleep, so we settled ourselves as best we
might on the floor, on the seats, and even on
the racks.

At first I shared a seat with another cadet,
sitting feet to feet and resting our backs
against the windows ; but this position did not
prove very conducive to slumber, and at
I o'clock I changed places with the boy in
the rack. This was little better, for I found
it awfully narrow, and whenever I raised my
head even an inch or two, bump it went against
the ceiling of the carriage.

At 2 a.m. I changed round again and
tried the floor, where I managed to get an
hour and a half's broken sleep till 3.30, when
we arrived at Chatham.

Three- thirty a.m. is a horrid hour, chilly and
shivery even on an August night. The train

TO THE DARDANELLES 29

drew up at a place where the lines ran along
the road close to the Royal Naval Barracks.

Yawning, and trying to rub the sleepiness
out of our eyes, we proceeded to drag our
cRests out of the luggage vans and pile them
on the road, while the officer in charge of us
went to find out what arrangements had been
made for getting us to our ships.

In about twenty minutes he returned
with another officer and informed us that
none of the ships in question were then
at Chatham, and we would have to stay at
the barracks until further instructions were
received.

For the moment enthusiasm had vanished.

We were tired and hungry, and, after the

perfection of clockwork routine to which we

had been accustomed, this ''war" seemed a

muddlesome business. However, there was

no good grousing. We left our chests in

the road and proceeded to the barracks, where

we were provided with hammocks and told to

spread them in the gymnasium. This done,

B 2

30 FROM DARTMOUTH

we took ofF our boots, coats, and trousers and
were soon fast asleep.

Of course, things looked a bit brighter in
the morning — they always do. We were called
at 7.30, told to dress and wash in the washing-
place just outside the gym., and to lash up
our hammocks and stow them away, after
which we would be shown the way to the
officers' mess.

Lashing up the hammocks was a job that
took some time to accomplish, since it was
one in which none of us was particularly pro-
ficient, and, moreover, there was no place to
sling them. I eventually managed mine by
lashing the head to the wall bars while I got
a friend to hold the foot, which done, I per-
formed the same office for him, and then we
went to the officers' mess for breakfast. It
was Sunday, so in the forenoon we went to
service in the Naval Chapel. Here we had
to listen to a most lugubrious sermon from a
parson who seemed under the impression that
we should all be at the bottom of the sea

TO THE DARDANELLES 31

within six months, and had better prepare
ourselves accordingly ! Of the note, Duke et
decorum est 'pro patria mori, which, however
hackneyed, cannot fail to bring courage to
those setting out to battle, there was not
the faintest echo, so the whole thing was in
no wise calculated to raise our spirits.

This depressing episode ended, we fell in
outside the barracks and were marched off to
lunch. *

We spent the afternoon exploring the
vicinity, and I, with two friends, climbed up
to the roof of a sort of tower, where we
indulged in forbidden but soothing cigarettes.

That night we again slept in the gym., and
next morning we were considerably annoyed
to find that we should not be allowed to take
our chests to sea. We were given canvas
kit-bags, into which we had to cram as many
necessaries as they would hold ; but they cer-
tainly seemed, and eventually proved to be,
most inadequate provision for a naval cam-
paign of indefinite length, conducted in climatic

32 FROM DARTMOUTH

conditions varying from tropical to semi-
arctic.

The rest of that day was uneventful and
rather boring. We wrote letters home and
indulged in more surreptitious smoking : the
latter with somewhat disastrous results, for one
of our num.ber having rashlv embarked on a
pipe, was speedily overtaken by rebellion from
within, and further, our Lieutenant, having
detected us in this breach of Naval Regula-
tions, threatened us with the direst penalties
if we did not mend our ways.

Bright and early next morning (Tuesday the
4th of August) we were informed that half our
number were to proceed to Devonport to join
our ships ; so at 9 o'clock we marched down
to the station to set out on yet another long
and weary train-journey. We had to change
at Paddington, and arrived at Devonport
at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, considerably
bucked up by the thought that at last we
should be in real war-ships, and, as genuine,
though very junior, officers of His Majesty's

TO THE DARDANELLES 33

Navy, be privileged to play our small part in
what, even then, we dimly realised would be
the greatest war in the history of our nation.
From the station we marched through the
town and embarked on an Admiralty tug,
which took us to the various ships to which
we had been appointed. Our batch was the
last to reach its destination, but eventually the
tug drew alongside the gangway of H.M.S.
" " and was secured there by ropes.

CHAPTER IV

WE JOIN OUR SHIP

There are grey old Admirals in our land
Who never have stood vt^here now you stand :
Here on your feet, in His Majesty's fleet,
With a real live enemy close at hand !

Punch : Sept. 1914.

Hastily we scrambled aboard, in the excite-
ment of the moment nearly forgetting to salute
the quarter-deck. Fortunately all recollected
that ceremony in time, with the exception only
of one, who was promptly dropped on by the
Commander — much to his confusion and
dismay.

In obedience to the order of the cadet
captain in charge we " fell in " on the quarter-
deck while the Commander went below to
report to the Captain. As we were awaiting

34

THE DARDANELLES 35

further instructions the first Lieutenant, who
was also the Torpedo Lieutenant (commonly
known in naval slang as " Torps "), came up
and spoke to us. He told us he would
probably have to look after us, and said he
hoped we should like the life on board. We
all thought he seemed to be a very nice officer
— an opinion we found no occasion to change,
and we were all sincerely sorry when, three
months later, he had the misfortune to fall into
the hands of the enemy.

The Commander then reappeared and told
us to go down to the Captain's cabin. We
ran down the gangway he had just come up,
and our cadet captain knocked at the door of
the after cabin. A voice said " Come in " —
and Carey entered, leaving us standing outside.
In a few seconds he returned and beckoned to
us to follow him. We did so, and came to
*' attention " facing the Captain, who was seated
at a knee-hole writing desk.

He was a small man of middle-age, inclining
to stoutness, clean shaven, slightly bald, with

36 FROM DARTMOUTH

deep-set eyes, which appeared dark in the
shadow of heavy overhanging eyebrows.

He eyed us keenly until we were all as-
sembled, and then, leaning forward towards us,
he rapped sharply on his desk with a ruler, and
said in a deep bass voice —

" Young gentlemen, it is war-time, and you
have been sent to sea as officers in His
Majesty's Navy ! "

He then continued, so far as I can remember,
to express the hope that we might worthily up-
hold the traditions of a great service. Further
he informed us that all our letters would be
strictly censored ; that our relatives and friends
would only be able to write to us " Care of the
General Post Office, London " ; and that on no
account must we write them one single word
indicative of the whereabouts or work of the
ship ; for, under the Official Secrets Act, any
infringement of this rule rendered us liable in
the words of the Articles of War to " T)eath —
or some such other punishment hereinafter
mentioned ! "

TO THE DARDANELLES 37

Then having asked our names, and chosen
the two seniors — Carey, the cadet captain, and
Baker — to be signal midshipman and his own
messenger respectively, he curtly dismissed us.
The almost complete severance from all home
ties which the above prohibition implied came
as a rather unforeseen blow. We knew how
anxiously our people would be awaiting news
of our doings ; and to be able to tell them
practically nothing seemed a hard condition.
We went away feeling very small and rather
crestfallen, and I am afraid we thought our
new Captain rather unnecessarily stern and
severe, though it was not long before we recog-
nised the absolute necessity for such restric-
tions. It must be remembered that at that
time we were only raw inexperienced boys and
most of us barely fifteen years old. Later on,

when we had worked under Captain 's

command — above all, when we came to know
of the letters he, in spite of his many and
onerous duties, had found time to write to our
mothers — letters so kindly in their sympathy

38 FROM DARTMOUTH

and understanding, so generous in their recog-
nition of our efforts to do our duty — we ap-
praised him at his true worth ; and when he,
together with so many of our ship's company,
gave up his life for England in that disaster in
which our ship was lost, those of us who sur-
vived mourned the loss of a true friend, and
carry in our hearts for all time the honoured
memory of " a very gallant gentleman."

When we once more found ourselves on
deck, we were met by a petty officer, who
escorted us down the ward-room hatch, and
showed us the gun-room, which was then
being stripped of all light woodwork which
might catch fire or splinter in an action, and
having the bulkheads shored up with heavy
pieces of timber.

We placed our overcoats in a corner, and
then went up on deck for a look round.

We were anchored in the centre of the
Hamoaze, and the tide being at flood, our bow
pointed down the harbour to Plymouth Sound.

TO THE DARDANELLES 39

Various war-ships were dotted about, some,
like us, in mid-channel, some alongside the
wharfs. To port the town of Devonport
could be seen through a mist of masts and
ropes. To starboard wooded banks, clothed
with the dense foliage of midsummer, rose
steeply from the water. The hulls of several
ancient battle-ships, dating from the time of
Nelson, and some from even farther back,
were moored close to the shore. Three old
four-funnelled cruisers, painted black with
yellow upper works in the fashion of war-ships
towards the close of the Victorian Era, con-
trasted oddly with the sombre grey outline of
the more modern ships preparing for action.

At 7.30 we had dinner in the ward-room,
as the gun-room was not yet ready for occu-
pation, and at 9 o'clock we turned in.

Next morning after breakfast the chief
petty officer, who had shown us the gun-room
the night before, took us round the ship,
naming each flat and pointing out the various
stores, etc.

40 FROM DARTMOUTH

By lunch-time the gun-room was ready for
us, and, that meal over, we " fell in " on the
quarter-deck and the Commander appointed us
to our several duties. Carey and Baker
having already received their appointments
from the Captain as afore-mentioned, Jones,
the next senior, was now told ofF to the
Torpedo Lieutenant as his messenger. Browne
became the Gunnery Lieutenant's A.D.C.,
and McAlister the Commander's " doggie."
Wenton was " Tanky," i. e. the navigator's
assistant, and Barton, Fane, Cunninghame, and
myself were appointed watch-keepers.

As we were not expected to take up our
duties until the following morning, we spent
the rest of that afternoon watching the cutting
away of such portions of the fore-bridge as
were not absolutely indispensable for purposes
of navigation, the removal of the forward
searchlights to the shelter deck, and the
pitching — literally pitching — of the ward-room
and gun-room furniture into lighters alongside.
This, I may mention, was performed without

TO THE DARDANELLES 41

the slightest consideration for damage to the
articles in question, for time pressed and every
minute was of greater value than much fine
furniture ! It was War.

On the next morning (Thursday) we en-
tered upon our respective duties, and I took
my first " dog-watch."

In the forenoon the Gunnery Lieutenant had
us ail assembled in the gun-room and informed
us that we should all be in the fore trans-
mitting station (hereafter called the Fore T.S.)
for action ; that is, all except Carey, who
would be in attendance on the Captain. Then
he told us our different jobs and showed us
how to work the various instruments for
controlling the guns, after which he showed us
the way down to the Fore T.S., and, having
placed us in position before our instruments,
gave us a trial run of ranges, deflections, and
the various controls under which the guns
could be operated in the event of the primary
control position being shot away or the
communications cut.

42 FROM DARTMOUTH

Then came lunch, followed by another two
hours' practice in the Fore T.S., and after tea
more of the same instruction.

At 5 a.m. on Friday we got under way
to proceed into dry dock. At about ten
yards from the mouth of the dock both
engines were stopped, and our first and second
cutters lowered. The ends of wire hawsers
were then conveyed by the cutters from
capstans, dotted at intervals round the dock,
to the ship, where they were made fast inboard.
These capstans had already been manned by
parties of seamen attached to the dockyard,
who were commanded by warrant officers.
They stood by to back up the wire as soon
as we gave the signal for the capstans to
heave round, and in this manner the great
ship was hauled into the dry dock. This
seemed a ticklish business to the uninitiated,
it being essential to get the ship exactly central
in the dock, but the Captain controlled opera-
tions by signalling from the forebridge, and
in due time it was accomplished. The ship

TO THE DARDANELLES 43

floated motionless in the centre, the great
caisson was hauled into place, sunk and
locked, and the powerful centrifugal pumps
began to drain the *water away.

After these two hours of hard work we
went to breakfast with hearty appetites.

On looking out of a scuttle a little later
I saw that the water had already dropped
some six feet and the ship was resting on
the bottom with about four feet of her sides
visible below the usual water-line. As she
had been lying up in Milford Haven for a
year before the outbreak of war, she was
in a filthy state, and her sides wer£ thickly
coated with that long ribbon-like seaweed
often seen thrown up in masses on the shore
after a storm. Already the dockyard men
were placing large pieces of timber between the
ship's sides and the sides of the dock, wedging
them tightly so that she would remain upright
when all the water had been pumped out.

At 9 o'clock we had to go to "divisions."
Each of the watch-keepers had a division, and

44 FROM DARTMOUTH

the messengers accompanied their officers on
the rounds of their different departments.
" Divisions " over, a lecture on first-aid was
given by the Fleet-surgeen and occupied us
until lunch-time.

By 2 o'clock three-quarters of the water
was out of the dock, and those of us who were
not on duty went over the brow (i.e. the gang-
way) and down into the basin to explore and
have a look at the bottom of the ship.

A dry dock is constructed with two galleries
at the top built into the stone-work, and is
reached by a flight of steps usually standing
back about twenty feet from the edge.

Below these galleries comes a series of ledges,
each one about three feet high and two feet
deep, leading down to the bottom, which is *
about ten yards in width. On the centre of
the dock are a number of wooden blocks, each
about two feet high and four feet broad, and
distant about three feet one from the other ;
on these the keel of the ship rests. A gutter
just below the ledges drains off any water that

TO THE DARDANELLES 45

may leak In. One end of the dock is rounded
off in a semi-circle, the other narrows into a
neck where an iron caisson, or hollow water
gate, locks the entrance and keeps the water out.
When this gate is to be moved, the water is
pumped out -of its interior, and it then rises to
the surface and is hauled out of the way by
ropes. Near this gate are two big, square holes,
by means of which the dock is reflooded when
the ship is ready to go out again. Parties of
seamen on rafts were already at work scraping
away the weed from the ship's sides, and others
were painting the cleared spaces with red lead
to prevent rust.

The next day was Sunday, but as ^^e had no
padre on board there was no church parade,
and since it was war-time, and we'd got to join
our Fleet, which had sailed the night before, as
quickly as possible, the work of scraping and
painting was continued without intermission.

During the afternoon we inspected a new
light cruiser which was in process of construction
in an adjoining dock.

46 FROM DARTMOUTH

At 2 o'clock the following day, the work
being finished, the water was let in. It came
rushing through the square opening in a solid
green mass, to fall with a dull roar into the
rapidly filling dock. Two hours later the ship's
keel gradually lifted, and as she rose higher and
higher the timber props floated free, grinding
and jostling each other in a manner somewhat
reminiscent of a Canadian lumber river. Then
the caisson was pumped dry and towed out
of the way, and by 4.30 we commenced to
warp out and went alongside a neighbouring
wharf, to which by 6.30 we were safely
secured by ropes. I remember that H.M.S,

" ," England's latest Dreadnought, which

had just been launched, was lying in the basin,
being fitted with engines, guns, etc. With her
two enormous oval funnels standing out against
a group of workshops and towering high above
them, her huge turret guns which still lay along
the wharf amid a litter of smaller guns, search-
lights, and armoured plates, she made an
impressive picture of Britain's sea power.

TO THE DARDANELLES 47

A new navigator and two Royal Naval Reserve
lieutenants joined that night, and their arrival
completed our full complement of officers.

It was 6 in the evening when finally our
warps were cast off, and, running alongside, we
coaled for half-an-hour, in that time taking in
seventy tons, and then proceeded to sea with
coal still stacked high on our decks. Through
Plymouth Harbour the ship slid like a grey
ghost — all dead-lights down, and in total
darkness save for the occasional flashes from
the shaded arc-lamp which replied to the
challenges of the torpedo-boat patrol and boom
vessels.

Once outside we met the Channel swell, and
the ship, burying her nose in a huge roller,
lifted a ton of green swirling water on to the
fo'c'sle, where it broke into creaming cascades at
the foot of the fore-turret, smothering the guns
in white foam and rushing aft on either side,
until, thrown back from the closed battery
doors, it sluiced overboard with a baffled roar.

All hands turned to and stowed the coal in

48 FROM DARTMOUTH

the bunkers, after which the decks were washed
down with hoses and we went below for much-
needed baths.

Then came dinner, after which we went to
night-defence stations.

CHAPTER V

ALARUMS AND EXCURSIONS

As we turned out next morning the white
cliffs of Portland loomed faintly through the
mist ahead, and when we were within half a
mile of the Shambles lightship the seven other
ships of the fourth battle squadron of the 3rd
Fleet, to which we also belonged, hove in sight.

We joined up in station as the third ship of
the first division, and the whole squadron
proceeded out to sea in single line.

When we were about two miles out the
Admiral signalled from his flagship : '* Form
divisions in line ahead. Columns disposed to
port."

So the leading ship of the second division
drew out of line followed by her consorts, and
crept slowly upon our port quarter till the two

49

so FROM DARTMOUTH

lines were steaming parallel at a distance of five
cables.

At 4 o'clock we arrived ofF Cherbourg,
and a signal was received ordering the second
division to turn sixteen points and proceed
down Channel to take up their patrolling
positions, while the first four ships went up
Channel to theirs.

Thus we formed an unbroken line from the
Straits of Dover to the mouth of the Channel,
each ship steaming slowly in a circle of five
miles radius, and keeping always within sight of
the next ship on either side.

That evening a beautiful August half-moon
shone down on the heaving waters and the sky
was studded with stars. The great arc of the
Milky Way hung above us, and on the horizon
the lighthouses of Cherbourg and the Channel
Islands flashed their intermittent rays, at one
moment throwing everything into high relief,
and at the next passing on like great fingers of
light across the sea before they faded to total
eclipse.

TO THE DARDANELLES 51

Next day excitement ran high, for a rumour
reached us that the great German liner, Vater-
land^ was going to try and rush the Channel
under escort of five cruisers ; but she never
came ; and after five days' patrolling the whole
fleet reassembled, and forming divisions in line
ahead, steamed into Portland, arriving there in
the evening.

We started coaling at 6 o'clock the following
morning and finished just before breakfast.

In the afternoon when I was on watch the
officer of the watch sent me away in the picket

boat with dispatches to H.M.S, " ." It

was the first time I had been in command of
one of these steamboats, so, thinking discretion
the better part of valour, I didn't try to steer
her alongside, but just took the wheel in the
open and let my cox'un do the rest.

The whole of our squadron weighed anchor
next day and put to sea for sub-calibre firing
just outside the harbour. Sub-calibre firing is
done by shipping a small gun (which fires
a shell filled with salt) inside the bore of the-

52 FROM DARTMOUTH

big turret and battery guns. This necessitates

the training and laying of the big guns to fire

the small guns inside them, and gives practice

to the gun layers and trainers without wasting

the large shells and charges, which cost a

considerable amount of money. We spent the

whole of that morning in the Fore T.S. working

out the ranges and deflections received by

telephone from the control position, and passing

these through to the gunners to set the sights

by. After lunch it was assumed that the

control position was shot away and the guns

went into local control. This means that the

officer of each group of guns, and of each

turret, fires at his own discretion, and corrects

the range and deflection after watching through

his glasses the fall of the shells. When the

Fore T.S. stafli^ receives the order to go to local

control, or can get no reply from the main

control which is presumably damaged, they

pass through the telephones to the guns the

message " local control." Then they hurry up

the hatch from the Fore T.S. to the ammu-

TO THE DARDANELLES S3

nition passages above, their range clocks slung
round their necks, and are hoisted up the
ammunition hoist to the particular group of
guns to which they have been stationed in the
event of this emergency.

Firing practice over we returned to harbour
and anchored, and the following afternoon
those of us who were not on duty were allowed
to go ashore on three hours' leave.

Next morning the squadron received a signal
ordering all ships to complete with coal imme-
diately, and to proceed to sea without delay.
By 4 o'clock all had weighed and left harbour,
forming into line in sequence of fleet numbers
as they cleared the boom.

That night we steamed at full speed to an
unknown destination. Everything quivered
and shook with the pounding of the engines
and the throbbing of the screws, as we ploughed
our way through the dark waters, following
the little white patch where our next ahead's
shaded stern lamp lit up her creaming wake
with a dim radiance for about a square yard.

c

54 FROM DARTMOUTH

The next morning we were up betimes, to
find the whole squadron just entering Plymouth
Harbour.

As soon as we were anchored we filled up
with coal again, and the collier had hardly
shoved off when up came a tug crowded with
marines in landing kit, and laden with entrench-
ing tools, barbed wire, ammunition, rifles, field
guns, and all the varied paraphernalia of a land
campaign.

No sooner had we got this party, con-
sisting of 400 men with their oflicers and
equipment, safely on board, and stowed all
their gear away in the batteries, than a provi-
sion ship came alongside and was quickly
secured fore and aft. The stump derricks
were swung outboard, and soon the deck was
littered with biscuit barrels, sugar casks, cases
of bully beef, etc., etc. — not forgetting the
inevitable jam. Willing hands rolled and
carried all this stuff to hastily rigged derricks
and davits, whence it was lowered down
hatches, and thrown through skylights to men

TO THE DARDANELLES 55

below, who caught each case as it came, and
passed it on to others, who stowed it all away
in the gun-room, the ward-room flat, the
Captain's cabin, and in fact anywhere and
everywhere that space was to be found. Even
so it was impossible to cope immediately with
the steady stream which poured on deck from
the capacious hold of the store-ship, although
officers worked side by side with the men,
issuing orders at the same time. Finally,
when at last the store-ship was empty and had
shoved oiF, and we weighed anchor and put to
sea with the remainder of the fleet, our decks
were still piled high with cases, and the work
of stowing them away went on until 9 o'clock
that night. There was no time for dinner,
and while still working we ate ship's biscuit
from a barrel that had been accidentally broken
open.

Once everything was safely bestowed below,
we all went to night-defence stations.

The whole fleet was proceeding at top speed,
leaving a gleaming phosphorescent track in its

56 FROM DARTMOUTH

wake. Great clouds of luminous spray were
fiung aft from the fo'c'sle head as our ship
buried her nose in the waves. The decks
throbbed and rang to the stamping, pounding
clang of the engines, and the stern quivered
and shook with the throb, throb, thrash of the
racing screws.

All next day we dashed up the English
Channel, and early the following morning
passed up the Straits of Dover.

A little before noon on the succeeding day,
the 22nd of August, we passed the United
States cruiser Carolina returning from Antwerp
with citizens . of the States, flying from the
oncoming Huns, and at 8 o'clock we dropped
anchor in Ostend outer roads. ♦

Half an hour later a Belgian steamer, a big
two-funnelled, cross-channel boat, came along-
side. Our party of marines, with their officers
and equipment, were transferred to her, and
she shoved off for the shore.

In the inner roads were lying at this time
a squadron of battle-ships from the 2nd Fleet,

TO THE DARDANELLES 57

an aeroplane base ship, and a flotilla of
destroyers. This squadron weighed anchor
next morning and proceeded to sea, and shortly
afterwards we weighed and moved into the
inner roads. An airship was sighted at about
1 1 o'clock low down on the horizon, and
our anti-aerial firing party fell in with loaded
rifles on the quarter-deck, and the anti-aerial
three-pounder was manned.

Tense excitement prevailed for about half-
an-hour, while the imagined Zeppelin grew
gradually larger and larger, and nearer and
nearer ; but it turned out to be our own
Astra Torres^ so the firing party dismissed and
the ordinary routine was carried on, while the
airship flew above us, and came to rest in a
field to the left of Ostend.

In the afternoon an aeroplane, flying no flag,
appeared over the town, and was promptly
fired at.

Subsequently it transpired that this, too, was
one of our own, though I cannot imagine why
she carried no distinguishing mark, and her

58 FROM DARTMOUTH

celebrated pilot was reported to have used
some very strong language about the marines
who had forced him to a hasty and undignified
descent. It was his own fault, anyway — and,
luckily, neither machine nor airman sustained
any serious damage.

Later on one of our destroyers came along-
side for provisions and oil, and remained
alongside all that night.

Next morning a flotilla of enemy submarines
and destroyers appeared upon the horizon.
All our ships got ready to weigh, and our
destroyers and light cruisers went out post
haste to drive them off. The enemy squadron
at once turned tail and fled ! All of us mid-
shipmen and cadets, who were not on duty,
climbed up to the foretop with telescopes, and
watched the pursuit, but only a few shots were
exchanged, and neither side sustained any
damage. The enemy made all haste in the
direction of Heligoland, and our flotilla returned
after a fruitless chase.

On that afternoon I remember that 1 wit-

TO THE DARDANELLES 59

nessed, from the quarter-deck, a sad accident.
Our picket boat had gone out with those of
the other ships to sweep for any mines that
might have been laid. In the evening the boat
returned, and came alongside the port side
amidships. There was a heavy sea running,
and, as a wave lifted the boat, a reel of wire
hawser used for mine sweeping, which had
been placed in the bows, got caught in the net
shelf, and was left ' fixed there as the boat
descended into the trough of the sea. Next
time she rose one of the bowmen got his leg
caught under the reel, and it broke just above
the ankle. He fell to the deck, but before he
could be snatched out of danger, the sharp
edge of the reel again caught his leg three
inches above the break and half severed it, and
the next time the boat rose it caught him
again in the same place, and cut his leg right
through.

A stretcher was lowered over the side and
the injured man was carried quickly and care-
fully down to the sick bay, where it was found

6o FROM DARTMOUTH

on examination that the limb was so mangled
that it was necessary to amputate it just above
the knee. Poor chap ! that was the end of
his war-service. It was a tragic and sickening
thing to witness, but it was no one's fault.
In fact, the court of inquiry subsequently held
brought in a verdict of " accidental injury,"
and absolved all concerned from any blame
in the matter.

The following afternoon we took on board
a detachment of 800 marines with their equip-
ment, and shortly afterwards weighed anchor
and steamed out of Ostend roads.

When we went to night-defence stations at
8 o'clock that night there were marines all
over the place — sleeping on the deck, and in
the battery, and, in fact, anywhere there was
room to lie down. We came across two
sergeants who had been drill-instructors at
Osborne College when we were there, and
had a yarn with them over old times.

About 9 o'clock rapid firing was heard on
our starboard bow.

TO THE DARDANELLES 6i

1 was then stationed at my searchlight on
the port side just abaft the bridge, and I ran
up the short gangway and across to the for-
ward end of the shelter-deck to see what was
happening. At first it sounded like big guns
over the horizon, and I thought we had run
into an action ; but when I got on the bridge
1 saw that it was the flagship that had fired,
and was now turning four points to starboard
to give the other ships a clear range. Our
helm was now put to port, and we swung off
in the wake of the flagship.

Then I heard the captain give the order
to switch on No. i searchlight, which was in
charge of Cunninghame, our junior cadet. This
light was just forward of mine, and I nipped
back in a hurry in case mine should switch
on. No. I failed to pick up the object the
flagship had fired at — which, by the lights it
was showing, should by rights have been a
fishing-smack — and his beam was very badly
focussed. I knew my beam was all right, as
I had tested it when preparing for night

C 2

62 FROM DARTMOUTH

defence, and, as I had trained on the lights
in question as soon as I had seen them, when
the captain ordered me to switch on, my beam
revealed the object at once. It proved to be
two German destroyers : one showing the
lights usually shown by a fishing-smack, the
other showing no lights at all ! Now the othei*'
searchlights quickly focussed on the enemy,
and one of our 12-pounders fired two shots
in swift succession. A few seconds later I
saw two flashes in the beam of the searchlights
where the shells struck the water close to their
objective, and two white columns of water were
flung high into the air. Then came a blind-
ing flash, followed immediately by the sound
of an explosion : a blast of hot air, smelling
strongly of cordite, caught me unprepared and
threw me off my balance. The six-inch gun
immediately below me had fired without any
warning. I never saw the fall of that shell
although, as soon as I had recovered myself,
I watched the enemy ships carefully. Only
a minute later one of them fired a torpedo

TO THE DARDANELLES 63

at us. For some way we could follow the
track of bubbles in the gleam of the search-
lights— then it passed out of the light, and
there came a moment of breathless suspense.
Had they got us ? No ! the brute passed
harmlessly between us and the flagship. -

Then our aftermost six-inch gun fired, but
this time I was prepared, and, bracing myself
against the blast, watched eagerly for the fall of
the shot. It pitched some hundred yards from
the torpedo-boats — ricochetted like a stone —
hit the second of them right amidships and
exploded : and the enemy craft simply vanished
from the face of the waters ! A jolly lucky
shot ! The other destroyer evidently thought
so anyway, for, extinguishing her lights on the
moment, she dashed away at full speed and
was lost to sight in the darkness.

Presumably pursuit was useless, for shortly
afterwards we extinguished our searchlights
and proceeded on our way without encounter-
ing any more excitement.

The next day, which we spent at sea, was

64 FROM DARTMOUTH

quite uneventful, and on the following even-
ing we entered Spithead.

Here, with the last rays of the setting sun
illuminating their pale grey 'hulls, lay the whole
of the 2nd Fleet at anchor off Portsmouth.
We had parted company with the two last
ships o£ our division just outside, they having
gone on to Portland and Plymouth respec-
tively, and we entered Portsmouth in the wake
of the flagship, lining ship and dipping our
ensign as we passed the old Victory^ and shortly
afterwards dropping anchor in the harbour.

That night we disembarked all the marines.

CHAPTER VI

WE LEAVE HOME WATERS

Nobly, nobly Cape Saint Vincent to the north-west died

away ;
Sunset ran, one glorious blood-red, reeking into Cadiz Bay ;
Bluish 'mid the burning water, full in face Trafalgar lay ;
In the dimmest north-east distance, dawned Gibraltar

grand and gray ;
"Here and here did England help me, — how can I help

England ? — say."

R. Browning.

Next day we took on 400 tons of coal, and
in the evening weighed and proceeded to
Portland, where we arrived next morning.

That evening the whole of the 2nd Fleet
arrived and anchored, and on the following
morning the second division of our squadron
went out again for sub-calibre firing, the first
division remaining at anchor. In the evening

65

66 FROM DARTMOUTH

the Padre came on board to join. The second
division returned to harbour at 4 o'clock,
and at about 7 p.m. we received a signal
ordering all ships in harbour to raise steam
for fifteen knots and proceed to sea as soon
as they were ready.

On our ship the hoisting in of all boats
was commenced at once. The picket boat
came in without a hitch, but, when the pinnace
was hoisted clear of the water the after leg
of the slings parted and she had to be lowered
back. As we were in a hurry the Commander
then took control of operations, and had a
3|-inch wire hawser rove three times round
the stern of the boat, and then made fast to
the ring at the head of the slings. When she
was once more lifted clear of the water her
stern was heard to crack, but we were already
delaying the fleet and no time could be spared
to lower her down again and readjust the
hawser, so, though the stern continued to crack
and give, and finally crushed in like an egg-
shell, the boat was hoisted and lowered into

TO THE DARDANELLES 67

the crutches, and we proceeded to sea with the
others.

This incident was pure bad luck and not
due to faulty seamanship — had the pinnace
been a new boat the stern would easily have
withstood the strain, but she was nearly twenty
years old and her planks were weakened by age.

On the next day the whole fleet did big gun
practice in the Channel. Down in the Fore
T.S. the sound was considerably deadened,
but the violent vibrations and the increase of
air pressure following on each discharge had
a most jarring and unpleasant effect on the
ear-drums. The ships did not fire all together,
but each in succession had a " run " of one
hour. When we had finished our "run" all
of us midshipmen and cadets went on deck
to watch the firing of the flagship of our
division, which was just ahead of us. Although
the actual cordite charge is practically smoke-
less, the silk bag in which the sticks of
explosive are encased gives off a dense light-
brown smoke, which often hides the whole

68 FROM DARTMOUTH

turret from view, and the flash of the explo-
sion, even in daylight, causes a vivid glare
almost like lightning. The gases do not burst
into flame until they have passed some ten
feet from the muzzle and come in contact with
the oxygen in the atmosphere, when they flare
up in a fraction of a second. Occasionally a
gun will blow a huge smoke ring which,
gyrating rapidly, ascends to a considerable
height, gradually expanding until it is dis-
persed by the air. This phenomenon was
very noticeable later on in the Dardanelles.

The following day we did fleet tactics (pro-
nounced *' Tatties ") ofF the Isle of Wight.
These consist of manoeuvres executed in
columns. Each successive evolution is sig-
nalled by the flagship and is performed as
soon as the whole fleet has repeated the signal
and the flagship has hauled down the flags
indicating the same. Throughout each opera-
tion the ships must keep within a specified
number of cables' lengths of each other.

That evening found us off Beachy Head,

TO THE DARDANELLES 69

and having finished tactics we headed for
Portland, proceeding in divisions in line ahead,
columns disposed abeam to starboard. We
dropped anchor in Portland the following
day. Then the colliers came alongside and
the whole fleet coaled.

As we had not yet done our second run of
sub-calibre firing we left harbour next morning,
and spent the day at sea for purposes of same.
During our absence the whole personnel of the
2nd Fleet and the remaining division of our
squadron went for a route march.

At 4 o'clock we returned to harbour,
anchored, and took in coal until our bunkers
were filled to 97 per cent. Next morning our
division landed its ships' companies for a
route march at the Camber. The men fell in
in marching kit under their respective officers,
and according to the seniority of their ships in
the Fleet. (Seniority of ships is determined by
the seniority of their commanding officers.)
When all were present, and had been duly
reported to the officer in command, the band of

70 FROM DARTMOUTH

the flagship led off with a lively march tune,
closely followed by her ship's company. Then
the other ships' companies followed in succes-
sion, and soon the whole 1500 men were
proceeding along the white dusty road from
Portland to Weymouth. Presently an order to
" March at ease ! " and " Carry on smoking ! " was
passed down the line, and the men produced
their pipes, lit up, and were soon laughing,
chattering, and singing as they marched, keeping,
however, always in correct sections of four.
On entering Weymouth the order " 'Shun !
Out pipes ! " was given, and the whole column
swung along in absolute silence, broken only by
an occasional order, and the tramp, tramp, tramp
of the heavy marching boots on the dusty road.

We marched through the town to the pier,
where we embarked on penny steamboats,
commandeered for the purpose, which conveyed
us back to the Fleet in Portland.

On the following day special steamers were
run to Weymouth for the convenience of those
who wished to go ashore ; and, our leave-book

TO THE DARDANELLES 71

having been signed, all of us junior officers
who were not on duty forthwith donned our
best clothes and embarked for the beach. On
arrival the first thing we did was to storm the
well-known establishment of IVTessrs. Gieve,
Matthews, and Seagrove, Naval Outfitters
(better known perhaps as just " Gieves's " ), and
there order tin uniform cases, as already those
silly kit-bags had proved most inadequate, as
well as highly destructive to clothes. Not
much chance of a swanky crease down your
best trousers if you have to keep them in a kit-
bag ! You'll get the creases all right — plenty
of them, but they won't be in the right place.
The Navy is particular about these things, and
does not allow slackness in detail even in war-
time. It's the same in the Army — our men's
anxiety to wash and shave whenever possible
has been a source of some astonishment to our
Allies ; but somehow cleanliness and neatness
seem to be an essential part of a Briton's make-
up— the outward and visible sign of a heart for
any fate.

72 FROM DARTMOUTH

When we had finished our business at Gieves's
we went round the town ; looked in at cinema
shows, bought many small necessaries we
needed, and devoured eggs, cakes, and cups of
chocolate at various confectioners'. Leave was
up at 8 o'clock and wc re-embarked on the
steamer. Several of the seamen had imbibed
more strong drink than they could carry, and
three marines had a free fight on deck sur-
rounded by sympathetic friends. One of the
combatants on being " downed " violated
Queensberry rules by kicking his opponents in
the stomach, whereupon the victims of this out-
rage determined to throw him in the " ditch."
( " Ditch " or " pond " is naval slang for the
sea.)

This resolution was heartily applauded by
the audience, and would undoubtedly have
been put into execution had not the steamer
just at this juncture run alongside their ship.
Still fighting they disappeared up the gang-
way. Five minutes later we drew alongside
our own ship, and, having reported ourselves

TO THE DARDANELLES 73

to the officer of the watch, we went down to
dinner.

Two more days were spent in harbour, and
several of the uniform cases arrived, but as yet
no sign of mine. On the evening of the second
day we weighed anchor and proceeded to Devon-
port, arriving there next morning. By this
time our damaged pinnace had been sufficiently
patched up for a short journey, and it was
hoisted out and towed ashore carrying a demand
for another.

We then coaled.

The light cruiser " ," which we had previ-
ously seen in dry dock, being now completed,
was lying alongside one of the wharves, looking
very workmanlike in her fresh grey paint.

Presently our new pinnace arrived, and as
soon as she was hoisted in-board we went to
sea again.

Sunset on the following evening found us
off Falmouth, where we sighted five old two-
funnelled cruisers. We stopped and waited
while the flagship sent her steamboat to the

74 FROM DARTMOUTH

cruiser's flagship for dispatches, and then we
relieved them on the Lizard patrol.

Soon the cruisers were on the horizon steam-
ing towards Devonport, and, spreading out from
the rest of our division, we took the second
billet from Land's End, and patrolled up and
down all that night. From time to time we
caught a glimpse of the loom of the Lizard
light, and on this we kept station, being unable
to see any of our consorts.

Our present duty was to stop any ships
proceeding up Channel and to examine their
papers and cargo. Any ships containing con-
traband of war of whatever description were
promptly escorted into Falmouth Harbour and
handed over to the port authorities, who de-
tained or confiscated them according to the
requirements of the case. Fane, one of our
midshipmen, was one of the boarding ofBcers,
and very quaint and warlike he looked ! He
was quite a little chap, and was armed with
a huge cutlass and a revolver nearly as big as
himself !

TO THE DARDANELLES 75

On the next day we stopped several tramps
and cargo-boats, but discovered nothing sus-
picious. Two days later, however, the board-
ing officers were summoned at 4 a.m. and
disappeared on deck armed to the teeth, and at
6, when the rest of us were just turning out,
they came clattering down the hatchway with
the news that we had caught a big Dutch
liner called the Gehria^ and that she had 400
German reservists on board.

As soon as we were dressed we dashed up on
deck to have a look at her. She was a large
ship with two yellow funnels, with a light blue
band round each, and must have displaced quite
20,000 tons. She was lying about a mile away
on our starboard quarter. We put a prize
crew on board and proudly escorted her Into
Falmouth, where we handed her over to the
port authorities.

After this we coaled, and the same evening
put to sea. Just as we were clearing the
harbour a torpedo-boat signalled us asking to
come alongside, and stating that she had on

76 FROM DARTMOUTH ,

board a subaltern of marines for us. We
stopped both engines, and a few seconds later
the torpedo-boat lay-to about a hundred yards
off. The second cutter was lowered and pulled
across to her and returned shortly afterwards
with the marine officer. Then the cutter
was hoisted to the davits, the ship got under
way again and we went to night-defence
stations.

When we were about two miles clear of the
harbour we sighted on our starboard quarter
the lights of a steamer which was rapidly
overhauling us.

We challenged twice according to code, and
then signalled her to stop. She returned no
reply, but continued on her course. As by
this time she had passed us and was some way
ahead, the Captain gave the order to fire a
i2-pounder blank cartridge. The first gun
misfired and the crew moved away to the
second and loaded it, leaving the cartridge that
had misfired in the other gun in case it should
go off later. Sure enough, just as the second

TO THE DARDANELLES 77

gun fired, the first went off on its own, and
the two together produced a row almost like
a turret-gun firing. This, however, only made
the suspect increase her speed, so our Captain
rang down to the engine-room " Full speed
ahead ! " and we again gave chase. But she
had the legs of us. As we did not overhaul
her the Captain ordered another blank to be
fired, and telephoned the engine-room to get
every possible ounce of speed out of our old
ship. The third blank failed to stop the run-
away and a shell was then fired across her bows,
but j/z7/ she did not stop, and since she was
now out of range we were reluctantly compelled
to abandon the chase.

At this time all we midshipmen and cadets
were not doing night watches, and at 10
o'clock we had turned in as usual, but at
11.30 we were awakened by Browne, who told
us all to get on deck at once as Night Action
had been sounded off half-an-hour before,
and he wanted to know why on earth we
hadn't turned out at 1 1 when the sentry had

78 FROM DARTMOUTH

called him. As a matter of fact the sentry
had only awakened half of us, and those had
gone up on deck leaving the rest still sleeping
in blissful ignorance of the summons. How-
ever we were all feeling very tired, and after
consulting among ourselves decided that we
were not going up on deck for anyhdy^znd,
as they had managed without us for half-an-
hour, they could jolly well manage without us
for the remainder of the watch ! With which
incipient mutiny we turned over and went to
sleep again. But not for long f In a very few
minutes the Gunnery Lieutenant appeared on
the scene, and brusquely rousing us up told
us to dress at once, fall in on the quarter-
deck, and wait there till he came. A few
minutes after we were fallen in he came aft
through the battery and asked us what the
devil we meant by not turning out when
Browne told us to, and went on to give us a
proper dressing down, ending with the dis-
quieting remark that he would probably have
to report us to the Commander. Then tell-

TO THE DARDANELLES 79

ing us we were to keep the whole of the
middle watch as a punishment, he sent us off
to our searchlights.

We were all somewhat nervous as to what
might be the consequence of our silly little
show of independence, but it is to be pre-
sumed that " Guns," in consideration of our
youth and inexperience, kept the matter to
himself. Anyway we heard no more about it,
and having duly kept the middle watch, went
back to our interrupted slumbers — a thoroughly
chastened quintette. In the light of a fuller
knowledge of the strictness of naval discipline I
know we were jolly lucky to get ofF so lightly.

The following day was spent at sea, and,
save for the stopping of an occasional tramp
or small sailing vessel, passed without incident ;
but the next evening we sighted a large
German four-masted barque and gave chase
at once, and we were just drawing within
signalling distance of her when we received a
wireless miCssage ordering us to proceed at once
to Gibraltar.

8o FROM DARTMOUTH

Reluctantly abandoning the chase of our

prize we signalled to H.M.S. " -," which

was patrolling on our starboard side, to capture
her, after which we went south full speed
ahead for Gib.

I know I should here give dates, but since

all my diaries lie with the good ship " " at

^he bottom of the sea, and I am reconstructing
this narrative from memory, I find it a little
difficult to be certain of actual dates. How-
ever, it would be on, or about, the 9th of
September, or thereabouts, when we were
ordered abroad.

Great excitement prevailed in the gun-room,
as this was our first trip out of home waters.

The dreaded Bay of Biscay belied its sinister
reputation, for we had a very calm passage,
and two days later sighted Cape St. Vincent.
Here we saw several whales frolicking about
and blowing quite close to the ship. We
passed so near to the Cape that we could
distinguish the figures ot the lighthouse
keepers on the roof of their house.

TO THE DARDANELLES 8i

In the afternoon we sighted the smoke of
several steamers right ahead of us, and pre-
pared forthwith to go to action stations in
case they should prove to be hostile war-ships.
However, on closer inspection, they turned
out to be a convoy of our own troops from
India, bound for Southampton.

The following noon we entered the Straits,
and soon afterwards turned into the Bay of
Gibraltar. Warping through the narrow
entrance by means of wire hawsers, we arrived
in the outer basin, where we were secured
head and stern alongside one of the coaling
wharves.

The sun was sinking, and the town was
already grey in the shadow, but the summit
of the famous Rock was flooded with rosy
light.

On the afternoon of the next day the captain
of marines kindly volunteered to take us to
a good shop he knew of where we could buy
some white-duck suits, which we were likely
to need in the near future.

82 FROM DARTMOUTH

Arrived at the shop in question, the
proprietor thereof informed us, with much
shrugging of shoulders, waving of hands, and
similar gesticulations expressive of regret, that
he had no ducks in stock, but that at another
shop a little farther on we might be able to
obtain them. The owner of the place indi-
cated could only produce some very badly
cut civilian duck suits, and asked exorbitant
prices for the same. With these we had to
make shift, and after much bargaining each of
us managed to procure two pairs of trousers
and three coats for the sum of £^.

We then proceeded to the barracks, where
after some delay we managed to secure fairly
cheap sun helmets.

It being now only just 3 o'clock we de-
cided to ring up the ship from the dockyard
gate, and ask for leave for the rest of the
afternoon.

After trying for half-an-hour to get on, and
then to drive the nature of our request into
the thick head of the signalman at the other

TO THE DARDANELLES 83

end of the 'phone, we thought it would be
best to return to the ship to obtain the re-
quired permission. On the way, however,
we were lucky enough to meet our Captain,
who asked if we had managed to get our white
suits, and on our replying in the affirmative
he inquired what we intended doing with
ourselves for the rest of the afternoon. We
told him that we were on our way back to
the ship to ask the Commander for leave,
whereupon he at once told us we might have
leave until 7, and having advised us to try
a bathe in Rosia Bay, he passed on.

Joyfully returning to the town, we hired
three of the funny little cabriolets, which are
practically the only public vehicles to be had,
and drove off to the bathing-place.

Rosia Bay is a small inlet with very deep
water, and is surrounded by walls to keep out
sharks. It is reached by a long spiral staircase
which winds round an old tower and through
an ancient stone archway. A broad stone
promenade runs round the bay, and at the

84 FROM DARTMOUTH

extreme end of this, on the left-hand side, are
situated the gentlemen's dressing-rooms. Here
an old Spaniard, locally known as '' Jose,"
hires out towels and bathing-dresses. Several
wooden rafts are moored in the bay for the
convenience of bathers, and there are also two
or three spring-boards as well as a water-chute.
The water is cold, even in September ; but the
sun was so hot that we were able to lie on the
stone and bask in its rays until we got warm
again and were ready for another plunge.
After an hour's swimming we split up into
parties of twos and threes and returned to the
town for tea. Fruit hawkers dogged our steps,
and but little persuasion was required to induce
us to buy the delicious grapes, pears, and
peaches they pressed upon our notice. After
tea we walked through the town and bought
curios at the quaint little native stalls and
shops.

That night forty boys from the Naval
Barracks joined the ship, and, there being
nowhere else for them to sleep, they were told

TO THE DARDANELLES 85

to sling their hammocks in the gun-room flat,
while we, its rightful occupants, were ordered
to go up above to the ward-room flat and the
Captain's lobby. At first we were mightily
indignant at thus being turned out of our
sleeping quarters, but later on, when we got
into the Tropics, we saw that we had the
advantage, for it was ever so much cooler up
there, and we were correspondingly thankful.
After dinner we went over the brow on to the
wharf, and thence on to the sea-wall, which
was hidden from the ship by a high brick
parapet, which ran along behind the coaling
sheds, and here we settled down to smoke and
fish. Presently two sentries came along. On
seeing us they stopped and palavered together
for some minutes. Then one of them advanced
towards us and shouted out, " Halt ! Who
goes there ? " Considering that we were all
quietly sitting down, this seemed remarkably
silly ; but I suppose he was a raw recruit, and.
just brought out the regular challenge which
he had learned by heart, and never thought of

D

86 FROM DARTMOUTH

varying it to suit the occasion ! However, we
informed him that we were naval officers and
not German spies, and he retired seemingly
much relieved in his mind.

Leave was given again on the following
afternoon, and after another bathe in Rosia Bay
we had a look at the surrounding country, went
a little way up the Rock, returned to ,the* town
for tea, and so on board again at 7.

Early next morning we bathed from the
ship's side, and, after breakfast, coaled ; and
that afternoon we warped out.

After rounding Europa Point our course was
set parallel to the African coast ; and then we
steamed away, our wake crimsoned by the rays
of the setting sun.

The morning found us still in sight of land,
but gradually it faded away on our starboard
bow until, on the following morning, the coast-
line had vanished and we steamed along on a
glassy sea and beneath a cloudless sky. I
remember I had the forenoon watch, and from
my post on the bridge I could see the flying

TO THE DARDANELLES 87

fish leaping away on either side as our ship
forged her way through the deep blue waters,
and a shark appeared on our port bow,
swimming lazily alongside, his dorsal fin every
now and then breaking the surface into tiny
ripples. The water was so clear that every
detail of his long, wicked-looking body was
distinctly visible.

That evening^ we sighted Cape Blanco, and
shortly after dark passed between the lights of
Cape Bon and the southern point of Sicily.

CHAPTER VII

FROM EGYPT TO MOMBASA

At 2 a.m. on the following morning we
stopped both engines just outside Valetta
Harbour ; the guard-boat came alongside and
gave us instructions to proceed to Port Said,
and there, after an uneventful voyage, we
duly arrived three days later.

Entering the harbour at sunrise, and passing
between the long breakwaters which run out
into the sea to mark the dredged channel, we
anchored close to the eastern shore. Then
lighters, filled with coal and manned by natives,
came alongside and were secured four to each
side of the ship. Presently gang-planks were
placed between the inboard lighters and the
deck, and the natives filled little baskets with
coal, balanced them on their heads, ran up the

THE DARDANELLES 89

gang-planks and tipped the coal into the
bunkers. It was our first experience of Eastern
methods — frankly we thought them rather
finicky ! However they got the coaling finished
by 2 o'clock and we asked the Commander for
leave to go ashore. This, however, he firmly
refused, and made us draw a section of the
ship instead, which seemed adding insult to
injury !

Note by Mother : Half-a-score of wild
middies on the loose at Port Said of all places I
What a wise commander !

In the evening we weighed anchor and, taking
on a pilot, proceeded through the Canal. Great
expanses of open water, broken occasionally by
long sand-spits, stretched away on either side.
The banks of the Canal are raised some six feet
above the water level and are about twenty feet
wide. On our starboard, or the Egyptian side,
ran a caravan road overshadowed by plane and
palm trees, and we saw several camels being
driven along by Arabs in picturesque flowing

90 FROM DARTMOUTH

garments. Presently the sun dipped below the
horizon and turned the wide expanse of water
to the colour of blood. Gradually this faded
away and slowly disappeared, and only a
beautiful rosy glow was left in the sky
above us.

Little signal stations connected with each
other by telephone are placed every mile or so
along the Canal, and at each of these it has been
widened to allow of two ships passing each
other, but in order to do this it is necessary
for one of the ships to tie up to the bank.
We, being on special duty, were allowed to go
straight through, and any craft we encoun-
tered was obliged to tie up and make way for us.

At this time we had taken to sleeping on
deck because of the heat, and in the middle of
that night I woke up just as we were passing
three Indian troopships which were tied up to
the eastern bank of the Canal.

A gorgeous full moon was shining down
on the desert, silvering the sand, and making
everything almost as clear as in daylight.

TO THE DARDANELLES 91

There was no sound to break the silence save
the gentle lippety-lap of our wash against the
banks. I got up and leant over the shelter
deck watching the desert as we slipped by.
I used to imagine somehow that the desert was
flat, but of course it isn't !

Every now and then we would pass a tall
palm tree showing up in deep relief against the
rolling sand-hills, and sometimes a sleeping
Arab and his camel. Presently we passed into
the Bitter Lakes, when all around us stretched
placid water, the channel being marked out
with red and green lights dwindling away in
dim perspective to the horizon. Towards dawn
a little chill, sighing breeze sprang up, and I
returned to my slumbers. .

Next morning, as we drew near Suez, the
view was glorious. Mile on mile of billowing
sand, golden now in the fierce rays of the sun,
stretched away on either side, the banks being
clothed with sparse vegetation.

Soon after breakfast we passed out of the
Canal and into Suez Bay, where a large convoy

92 FROM DARTMOUTH

lay at anchor waiting to proceed to Port
Said.

That evening found us far down the Gulf of
Suez, and Mount Sinai appeared on our star-
board beam. Next day we were in the Red
Sea, where we found it appallingly hot. Every
morning we used to bathe in a canvas bath
which was rigged up on the quarter-deck and
filled with sea-water. We had our first
experience of that most objectionable thing
called "prickly heat" here, and did not like
it at all !

Three days later we received a wireless
message saying that it was believed that the
Koenigsbergy a German raiding cruiser, v/as
coaling in Jidda, a port in Arabia, on the banks
of the Red Sea. At the time that we received
this message, Jidda bore about six points on
our starboard bow, so setting our course
straight for it, we arrived off this little harbour
about 4 p.m. It is the port for Mecca, and is
very difficult to navigate owing to its many
shifting sandbanks.

TO THE DARDANELLES 93

By 1; o'clock, having worked our way In as
far as it was advisable to go, we lowered our
pinnace, which, under the command of one
of our lieutenants who was accompanied by
a subaltern of marines, proceeded into the
harbour. All eyes were eagerly fixed on the
one steamer visible In the harbour, but even
the most sanguine among us could see that it
was not a war-ship of any description. However,
we all hoped for some definite news from the
British Consul as to the whereabouts of the
German cruiser. But we were doomed to
disappointment, for soon after dark the pinnace
returned, and the Lieutenant reported that the
said Consul — a rather sly Arab — denied that
the German ship had been there. The Lieu-
tenant had also interviewed the port autho-
rities, but they could — or would — give no news,
and he had examined the solitary steamer,
which proved to be a British cargo-boat which
had come In the day before. So we hoisted
the pinnace, weighed anchor, and proceeded

on our way, horribly disappointed and rather

D 2

94 FROM DARTMOUTH

disheartened. We felt it was high time that
something other than mere voyaging, however
pleasant, should come our way.

Two days later we sighted H.M.S. " ,"

and shortly after passing Perim Island we
went through the " Gates of Hell " in her
company.

The narrow straits bearing this sulphurous
nickname, and properly called the Straits of
Bab-el-Mandeb, are situated at the end of the
Red Sea and at the entrance to the Gulf of Aden.

When we got clear into the gulf we sighted
a steamer and our consort went in chase of it,
leaving us to continue our course for Aden,
which we reached at 5 o'clock.

Here we had to anchor by the bows and
moor our stern to a buoy, but by the time we
had lowered the cutter, which was to take the
wire hawser to the buoy in question, our
stern had swung round and was nearly half a
mile away from it, and the crew could not pull
against the long length of sagging wire behind
them.

TO THE DARDANELLES 95

The picket boat was lowered as quickly as
possible and took the cutter in tow, but by this
time our stern had nearly drifted aground.
Rapid orders were passea from the bridge to
the quarter-deck, and at last we saw one of the
cutter's crew leap on to the buoy and shackle
the hawser to the ring. Then the after capstan
began to heave round, and slowly the wire rose
out of the water and tautened. Very gradually
the stern began to swing back ; but it was a long,
slow job, as much care was needed to prevent
the hawser from parting. By 9 o'clock, how-
ever, everything was secured, the ship lay
peacefully on the still waters of the harbour,
and we all went down to dinner.

We were up early next morning for our first
good look at Aden. What an arid place !
Great mountains tower above the town to a
height of several thousand feet. Not a leaf,
not a tree to be seen — no crap of vegetation,
no glimpse of green save only a small patch of
some kind of grass, just opposite the landing
stage. Truly the place is suitably immortalised

96 FROM DARTMOUTH

In the name of that famous pipe-tune, " The
Barren Rocks of Aden I "

In the afternoon we went ashore to have a
look at the town. The streets are very dusty
and camels provide practically the only means
of transport. The houses are mostly built of
stone quarried out of the mountains behind,
and in the native quarter the architecture is
somewhat after the pagoda style. We returned
to the ship to find natives already busy coaling
her, and that night, as the wind was blowing
the right way to carry the coal-dust over the
bow, we thought we might safely sleep on the
quarter-deck.

Coaling went on all night and the wind must
have shifted, for, when I woke in the morning,
the first thing I saw was my next-door neigh-
bour with a face like a sweep's ! He looked
most awfully funny, and I started roaring with
laughter at him before suddenly realising that
I was myself in a similar plight ! So, indeed,
were we all. You never saw such a disre-
putable, dirty-looking lot of ruffians in your

TO THE DARDANELLES 97

life ! Hair, hands, faces and clothes simply
smothered in coal-dust ; and amid much
.mutual chafF and laughter we went below to
wash.

That afternoon we v/eighed anchor and
sailed for Bombay, arrived there about a week
later, and dropped anchor in the early morning
while it was still dark ; and coaling by native
labour began again at once.

Daylight revealed • a huge convoy of over
sixty ships assembled in the harbour and
shepherded by one of our battle-ships.

In the afternoon native merchants came
aboard bringing deck-chairs, mosquito-jiets and
other less useful things for sale. By the advice
of the surgeons we all supplied ourselves with
mosquito-nets, and many of us also bought
deck-chairs and mats.

That evening the whole of the convoy
mentioned above got under wiy, and we,

together with H.M.S. " ," formed their

escort. After a voyage of little more than a
week we sighted H.M.S. " ," who took

98 FROM DARTMOUTH

our place, while we, separating from the main
body, took half the convoy down towards
Tanga. One of the troopships was very
slow and could only do about seven-and-
a-half knots, which delayed the convoy a
lot.

Four days later we crossed the Equator,
and here the time-honoured ceremony « of
" crossing the line " took place. All who have
not been over the line before, officers and men
alike, have to be ducked and submitted to
various other indignities before they can be
considered " freemen " of the Sea King's
domain.

On the previous night officers and men
impersonating Neptune and his Court had
paraded the ship with an impromptu band,
and in the morning a huge canvas bath was
rigged up on the fo'c'sle, with a rude throne
for Neptune at one end. After lunch the
fun began. The bears were already splashing
about in the bath ready to duck the neophytes
when Neptune and his staff had finished with

TO THE DARDANELLES 99

them. One of our lieutenants was the first
victim. The Sea King, gorgeously arrayed in
red and yellow bunting, with a cardboard
crown set on his hempen wig, asks each in
turn if he has ever crossed the line before,
but no sooner does the unfortunate open his
mouth to reply, than a large brush dripping
with whitewash is slapped in his face ! He is
then liberally whitewashed all over by Nep-
tune's merry men and tipped over backwards
into the bath.

Here the bears seize upon him and pass
him along to the other end, each one ducking
him as he goes, after which his ordeal is
finished, and he can watch his messmates being
served in the same way.

Our Gunnery Lieutenant at first hid, but he
was soon routed out and carried, kicking and
struggling, before the tribunal. He had
reason to regret his attempt to shirk, for by
this time the whitewash had run out, so he
was treated to a plastering of black paint,
sand, and water instead ; and, further, given a

loo FROM DARTMOUTH

spoonful of " medicine " made up of mustard,
pepper, salt, oil, and sea-water all mixed
together, after which he was duly tipped
backwards into the bath !

Maybe sober-minded people ivill think all this
very silly — childish — almost improper in view of
the serious business on which they were engaged.
But let it be remembered that^ in the words of
Kipling : " The Navy is very old and very wiseT
She cherishes her traditions^ and knows well that
the observance of an old ceremony in which officers
and men take part without distinction of class tends
to foster that immortal spirit of comradeship which
is one of the most valuable assets of the service^
and by no means the least important secret of our
sea-power. For the rest^ time enough to think of
War when the call to " action " has been sounded
off. They work best who know how to play.

The ,. performance lasted until 4 o'clock,
when we all went below, changed, and had
tea.

TO THE DARDANELLES loi

We had now been at sea for a little over a
fortnight, and fresh water was getting very
scarce. By order of the Commander all
washing of clothes had already been forbidden ;
but on the next day the rain came. It was
practically the first since we left Bombay, and
it rained m a truly tropical manner, coming
down literally in sheets.

All officers who were not on duty turned up
on the quarter-deck in a state of nature, with
large bundles of dirty clothes under their arms,
which they promptly set to work to scrub and
wash. Our quarter-deck awning was spread,
and soon quite a lot of water collected in it.
When I had finished washing my clothes it
occurred to me that the awning would be a
good place for an impromptu bath. I had
just finished and surrendered my place to
Wenton when the Commander came through
the battery dodr, and was considerably annoyed
at finding the awning being put to this use,
and he promptly gave orders that no one else
should bathe there.

I02 FROM DARTMOUTH

The welcome downpour lasted for a little
over an hour, and was greatly appreciated.

On the following day our starboard condenser
developed several leaky tubes, and for that
day we had to draw out of line to port and
paddle along with only one engine while it was
repaired. Unfortunately, no sooner was this
completed than the other condenser gave out,
and we had to haul out of line again on the
Other side^ with only our starboard engine
working. This left us with only two days'
boiler, and three days' drinking-water, and we
were still a good four days from Tanga, so we

sent out a wireless message to H.M.S. " ,"

a cruiser which we knew was in the vicinity, to
com.e and relieve us.

As the Captain had to go over on business
to the s.s. Karmala, one of the convoy, we
were lowering a cutter to take him there when
the forward falls parted and the boat promptly
swung down perpendicularly, hurling the crew
out. All but one of the men managed to grab
hold of the life-lines and haul themselves into

TO THE DARDANELLES 103

safety ; but for the one in question the life-
buoys were immediately let go, and the other
cutter in charge of the navigator was hastily
lowered. However, after all, the' man had
managed to grab one of the bottom lines, and
clambered up the side pf the ship, safe and
sound ; but it took us a long time to recover
all our life-buoys !

Next morning the cruiser to which we had
wired appeared on the horizon in answer to our
summons, and steamed towards us. She lay to
about half-a-mile away, and our Captain, with
the captain of marines, went away in a boat to
the Karmala^ to confer with her captain and the
captain of the cruiser. They returned about
11.30 a.m., and that evening we got under way
and proceeded to Mombasa, which was two
days' voyage distant, the convoy being left in
charge of the cruiser.

On the following morning Barton and I were
fallen in on the quarter-deck, and the Captain
rated us midshipmen, which entitled us to wear
the coveted white patches, indicative of that

I04 FROM DARTMOUTH

rank, on the collars of our uniform. Up till
then we had only been rated as naval cadets,
though some of the seniors had received their
step earlier. It also entitled us to a slight —
very slight — increase in the rate of our not too
munificent pay ! On that day, too, we all
changed round duties, the messengers becoming
watch-keepers, and vice versa.

I was appointed messenger to the Gunnery
Lieutenant, who sent for me next morning and
told me that our ship was going to act as
defence ship to the harbour while she was in
Mombasa, and, since it was impossible to see
anything of the open sea from the port, it had
been decided to send three officers out to Ras
Kilmain, the lighthouse point, and that they
should camp there and set iip a range-finder
and dumaresque. They would be able to
communicate with the ship by telephone to
Kilindini, the landing-place in the harbour,
where signalmen would be posted to pass on
any messages. " Guns " said he was sending
the assistant gunnery lieutenant on this job, as

TO THE DARDANELLES 105

well as Browne, who had been his messenger
for the first three months of the cruise, and
myself. I was delighted with this information,
as it promised to be an interesting job, and
camp-life would in any case be a very pleasant
change after the long weeks we had been on
board ship. Then he told me to help him to
make a large map of the island. The plan was
that one of us should take the range and
bearing of any enemy ship that appeared,
another should plot it on the chart, which was
divided into squares, while the third telephoned
through to our ship, saying what square the
enemy vessel was in. Each square was lettered,
and one spread salvo from our ship's guns
would cover its area, so that at least one of the
shells was bound to hit.

That evening we entered Mombasa. The
approach is exceedingly difficult to navigate
owing to two large reefs which run out on
either side of the island, having only a narrow
passage of deep water, forty yards wide, lying
between them. Along this channel we advanced

io6 FROM DARTMOUTH

until we were within little more than a stone's-
throw of the lighthouse ; then, turning sharply
to port, we went along parallel with the shore
of the island, keeping so close in that we could
see every pebble on the beach. After continuing
on this course for about four hundred yards we
turned to starboard and steamed between the
mainland and the island. On both sides the
shore was fringed with palm trees right down
to the water's edge. Beautiful little bays
opened out, revealing still, deep, blue water ;
and as the channel gradually twisted to star-
board, the open sea was soon completely lost
to view.

When we had gone about a quarter of a
mile, the banks slowly receded, and we
entered the harbour, which in its widest part
is about half-a-mile across. Another large
harbour, which is about a mile wide and two
miles long, opens out further on and stretches
away inland. The channel surrounding the
island is not navigable all the way for big ships,
but small ones can quite easily go right round

TO THE DARDANELLES 107

it. Further on there are two more islands,
called respectively Port Tudor and Port
Mombasa, but H.M.'s ships rarely make use
of these ports. Port Kilindini consists only of
the Customs House, one or two railway offices,
and a large coal-shed.

The day after our arrival the three of us
who were to be stationed at the lighthouse
packed our tin cases and disembarked, taking
with us a portable range-finder, a dumaresque,
and some cooking utensils. Having piled all
the luggage on a taxi which had been hired for
us, we started for the lighthouse, which was on
the other side of the island.

At first the road, bounded on one side by a
high embankment and on the other by the
harbour, was slightly uphill, but presently we
passed into a grove of trees and then under
the Uganda railway bridge, and so along a
straight and level road bordered by palm and
various other tropical trees. Then came a
native village composed of mud huts set back
in a clearing to the left. Here a foolish

io8 FROM DARTMOUTH

ostrich, which I imagine belonged to the
natives, fled across the road in front of the
car and narrowly escaped being run over. A
little later we reached the outskirts of the town,
and after passing through it for a short distance
turned to the right, and leaving the native
barracks and the prison on our left, proceeded
along a level track raised above the surrounding
scrub, and flanked by trees wherein hundreds
of birds'-nests hung, until we came to the
hospital. Here we again -turned to the right,
and shortly afterwards we arrived at the light-
house, where we unloaded our luggage and
dismissed the taxi.

Finding that the tent in which we were to
live was still in possession of the soldiers who
had lived in it hitherto, we left a message with
the native look-out boy, requesting them to
remove themselves before nightfall, and we
went off to the town for some tea. After tea
the Lieutenant and Browne went to buy a stove
and a kettle and one or two other things we
required, while 1 walked back to the camp to

,TO THE DARDANELLES 109

look after our gear. I found the soldiers had
gone and the tent was ready for us, so I set
about moving in our things. Presently the
Gunnery Lieutenant came up to see the camping
place and to arrange with us where we should
set up the range-finder, etc. I told him the
others were shopping in the town, and we sat
down and talked until they turned up. Then
it was decided to set up our instruments on top
of the look-out house, and to carry the flexible
voice-pipe from there through the window
below to the plotting- table where the chart was.
This done " Guns " departed, and we set to
and arranged our beds and made the tent
ship-shape and habitable.

When in town Browne and the Lieutenant
had bought some shorts and some navy-blue
putties, which they thought would be much
cooler and more serviceable than duck suits ;
so during our time in camp our uniform
consisted of shorts, putties, and shirts, and of
course sun helmets, which are indispensable
in that climate. At half-past seven we cooked

no FROM DARTMOUTH

*

some eggs we had brought with us and got
our supper ready. Browne caused us much
amusement, as his only idea of cooking eggs
was to put them all into a saucepan full of
cold water and stir them vigorously until they
boiled ! However, 1 must admit that none
of us knew much about cooking, and we
conducted some fearful and wonderful experi-
ments in that line while we were in camp !
After supper we were quite jeady for bed, so
we turned in.

Next morning there was much to be done,
so we were up by 6 o'clock ; and before
breakfast we fixed up our range-finder and
dumaresque on the roof of the observation
hut and rigged up the flexible voice-pipe.
After breakfast we repitched the tent a little
further round, where the prevailing breeze
would blow through it and keep it a bit
cooler. Apparently the *' Tommies " who pre-
ceded us were a stuffy lot with no undue
craving for fresh air !

Then we contrived a pantry in the back

TO THE DARDANELLES iii

of the tent on a wooden table, and here we
installed the filter we had brought from the
ship, as well as all our plates and dishes and
the stove. Further, we engaged a native boy
as general factotum to help with our menage
and do such cooking as we could not manage
on the stove.

We also hired a bike from the ordnance
officer at the port.

When all this was accomplished a trial run
of ranges and deflections with the ship occupied
us until lunch-time.

During the day a native kept the look-out
from the watch-hut, reporting to us as soon
as anything was sighted at sea.

Next morning I was sent to the pier on
the bicycle to catch the 11.30 boat and to
go to our ship and obtain from the bo'sun
a broom and one or two other things we
needed. I caught the boat all right, lunched

on the " " after putting in a *' chit "

for the broom, etc., and returned to the shore
in the 1.30 boat.

112 FROM DARTMOUTH

The broom proved a most awkward thing
to convey by bike, and it was horribly in the
way of my knees. When I was about half-
way to the camp I got so tied up with the
beastly thing that I fell off, bike and broom
on top of me ! When I picked myself up
I found that the crank of the left pedal had
been bent in the fall. However, the machine,
though more wobbly than ever, was still rid-
able, so I finished the journey gingerly and
without further accident.

Perhaps it might be well here to describe
the camp and its surroundings more minutely.
It was pitched about two hundred yards back
from the cliffy ; and the watch-house, past
which the road ran, was about ten yards in
front of our tent. The lighthouse was situated
some three hundred yards from the cliff's edge
to our left ; and right opposite it, on a small
point running out into the sea, stood a green
beacon some fifteen feet high. Our native
boy had built his kitchen of sand-bags on the
cliffs just in front of the watch-hut.

TO THE DARDANELLES 113

The soldiers were now encamped in tents
some hundred yards away to- the right, and
immediately behind our tent was a sort of
large stone reservoir for water, with, in front
of it, the flagstaff. Rough paths connected
the beacon with the lighthouse and the
watch-hut.

On our third morning in camp we received
a telephone message from a port a long way
up the coast, saying that a hostile war-ship was
coming down in our direction. We did not
attach much importance to this information
until the following- day, when the enemy was
again reported — this time off Kismayne ; and
as the next morning she was stated to be
passing Malindi, we calculated that she ought
to be in sight by 3 p.m. Sure enough, almost
exactly at 3 I saw smoke on the horizon, and
immediately telephoned our ship.

Now we were all three eagerly watching the
smoke, and presently the stranger's masts came
into view. They certainly appeared to have
"tops," so she might well be a war-ship o£

114 FROM DARTMOUTH

some kind, and our excitement grew until a
single funnel hove in sight, whereat our spirits
drooped a little, for very few ships of war have
only one funnel. Still, as the lower parts of
her masts lifted above the horizon, they looked
at the distance so like tripods that hope rose
high again. Very slowly her hull emerged,
and in another ten minutes she was wholly
visible. Then the powerful magnifying lens of
the range-finder revealed her as unmistakably
a collier.

We telephoned the information through to
our ship, and very shortly afterwards saw our
picket boat manned by an armed crew, and with
a 3-pounder in her bows, coming at full speed
out of the harbour.

Despite the fact that she was seventeen years
old the picket was a very fast boat, and as we
watched through our telescopes we soon saw
her run alongside the collier, and several
figures in duck suits jumped out and ran up
the stranger's gangway. Then our boat shoved
off again, and they both came steaming towards

TO THE DARDANELLES 115

the harbour. Shortly afterwards the colher
hoisted the code-flag for the day, thereby
proving that she was not after all an enemy,
and she asked permission to proceed into Kilin-
dini. What a sell ! After all our excitement,
too ! But one gets accustomed to that sort of
disappointment ; and, after all, there was always
the chance that the next alarm would prove
genuine.

The collier could not be allowed into Kilin-
dini for some time, as there were already at
the moment two ships in the channel on their
way out, but as soon as the course was clear she
rounded the curve of the island and anchored in
the harbour — and that incident was ingloriously
closed.

We tried that night, I remember, to com-
municate with our ship by means of an electric
flash-lamp fixed to the top of the flagstaff, but
it was not a success, for the key was so badly
insulated that after getting many violent shocks
we had to give it up.

We had heard from the soldiers that some-

ii6 ♦FROM DARTMOUTH

where to the left of the watch-hut there was
a cave containing a deep pool of water in which
it was quite safe to bathe, so Browne and I,
being off duty, one morning went down to try
and find it. We crossed the road, and going
downhill for a bit over long g-rass and through
various stunted shrubs, came presently to a
large rectangular hole in the ground, which, by
a long slope, very slippery and covered with
loose stones, communicated with the said cave.
At the end of the slope was a very small hole,
through which we crawled on hands and knees,
and found, when our eyes had grown accus-
tomed to the darkness, that we were standing
on a little ledge of rocks. At our feet lay a
small sandy cove, which extended for some
fifty yards to the mouth of the cave, across
which stretched a reef about three feet high.
As the waves roiled in the water every now
and then poured over this reef into a large
pool, and the ledge on which we were standing
ran round the cave at a height of about three
feet above the sand.

TO THE DARDANELLES 117

We soon stripped and had a delightful bathe
in the pool.

About a quarter of a mile away we could see
a large French liner stranded on the reef. 1
don't know how long she had been there, but
there is something awfully forlorn and desolate-
looking about a wrecked vessel. Her stern
had broken away and fallen off into deep water ;
and there was a great hole in her side through
which every now and then the waves splashed,
as though purposely deriding her and mocking
at her downfall.

On the following day the whole convoy
came in from. Tanga after having disembarked
the troops. It was my morning watch, and I
saw them on the horizon just as the dawn was
breaking.

CHAPTER VllI

THE BOMBARDMENT OF DAR-ES-SALAAM'

Your troth was broken ere the trumpets blew ;

Into the fight with unclean hands you rode :
Your spurs were sullied, and the sword you drew

Bore stain of outrage done to honour's code.

And you have played your game as you began,
Witness the white flag raised . . .

And the swift stroke of traitor steel for thanks.

The world (no fool) will know where lies the blame

If England lets your pleadings go unheard ;
To grace of chivalry you've lost your claim ;

We've grown too wise to trust a Bosche's word.

O.S.
Punch: February i6, 191 6.

In all we were about three weeks at the

camp, and we spent some very happy days

there ; but the end came rather unexpectedly

118

THE DARDANELLES 119

one evening, when we suddenly received an
order from the ship to pack all our gear and
get on board by 9 the following morning.
We were a little sorry, and yet in a sense
relieved, for after all we were out to fight, not
to picnic — and we had hardly seen a shot fired
since we left home waters.

We telephoned to the port officer to have
a car ready to take us and our efFects down
to Kilindini Harbour by 8 a.m., and that night
we were busy packing up all our cooking
utensils, our range-finder, clothes, etc.

Next morning we were up early, packed
our bedding, had a good look round to see
that nothing had been forgotten, dismissed
our native servant, and then awaited the car
we had ordered.

But time went on, and there was no sign
of any car, so at 8.15 I was sent off on the
same old bike to commandeer the first taxi
I came across. Fortunately I managed to get
one just inside the town, and went back with
it as quickly as possible. We loaded up in

I20 FROM DARTMOUTH

a frantic hurry, and got down to the pier just
in time, and so on board our ship.

By noon we were clear of the harbour, and
steaming at full speed southwards.

Now we learned that we were under orders
to destroy all the shipping in the harbour of
Dar-es-Salaam, the capital of German East
Africa, which lies about twenty miles south
of Zanzibar. It appeared that the Huns in
that port had been surreptitiously supplying
food, etc. to the crew of the Koenigsbei^g^ that
German raider which had been safely bottled
up in the Rufigi river some weeks previously,
and it was designed to cut their claws by
disabling such merchant shipping as they
possessed.

That evening we dropped anchor in
Zanzibar, and started coaling by native labour.
Here we saw the masts of H.M.S. Pegasus
sticking up forlornly out of the water half-a-
mileon our port bow. They were very much
battered and smashed, for she had been sunk
by the Koenigsberg in September.

TO THE DARDANELLES 121

Early next morning we weighed anchor,
and proceeded out of the harbour in company
with HM.S. " ."

At 8 a.m. we sighted Dar-es-Salaam, and
all hands went to general quarters. Half-an-
hour later we dropped anchor in the roads out-
side Dar-es-Salaam, and when all the guns were
cleared away, and ready for instant action, we
were allowed to go on deck for a few minutes.

The town, with the Governor's house, a
handsome building, standing out prominently
on the foreshore, looked very peaceful and
harmless in the brilliant tropical sunshine. It
was rather an awful thought that we might
have to shatter and destroy those quiet-looking
houses in which lived women, and worst of
all — children. War is a ghastly thing, and it
seems so wantonly stupid.

A large white flag was hoisted at our
fore-mast. IVe meant to play a square game
anyway, and give them a fair chance. Then
we signalled to the Governor of the town to
come on board and receive our ultimatum.

122 FROM DARTMOUTH

The said ultimatum was as follows —

If our boats were allowed to go unmolested
into the harbour, there to destroy the ship-
ping in accordance with our orders, we would
not bombard the town. But — in the event
of hostile action against our expedition we
should open fire on the town without further
warning.

The Governor, in reply, said that he could
not accede to our demands without orders
from the commander-in-chief of the military
forces, and he then returned under safe con-
duct to the shore. Shortly afterwards another
boat appeared with a German military officer
in the stern-sheets. He came on board and
stated that our boats would not be molested,
but he asked us in the event of our finding
it necessary to bombard, not to fire on the
Protestant Mission House, or on the Cathedral,
as all the women and children would be
sheltered in those buildings. This looked a
bit suspicious, but of course we agreed, with-

TO THE DARDANELLES 123

out demur, not in any case to fire on those
particular buildings, an agreement which I
need hardly say was faithfully adhered to.

The German then returned to the shore,
and shortly afterwards our picket boat was
lowered. The demolition party was on board
in charge of the Commander, who was accom-
panied by the Torpedo and Engineer lieutenants,
and she proceeded towards the shore.

Unfortunately she ran aground, so the
pinnace was hoisted out and sent to take off
the officers and men, after which they pro-
ceeded into the harbour under a white flag

as agreed upon. H.M.S. '* " 's steamboat,

and a steam tug commanded by one of our
lieutenants, also went in under the white flag.

General quarters was then sounded off^, and
we all went to our action stations.

At this time all of us midshipmen, together
with the .A.P. (Assistant Paymaster), were
stationed in the Fore T.S., which was our
appointed action station, so we could see
nothing of what was happening, and were

124 FROM DARTMOUTH

dependent on the telephone for news. In
about ten minutes the officer in charge of one
of the batteries telephoned through to us that
rapid firing had broken out from the shore,
although the Germans were still flying the
white flag !

The treacherous, dishonourable devils ! ! !

Almost immediately the order came through
from the control position : " Range 4500,
deflection 3 left — both turrets load with
common — object — the Governor's house" —
followed quickly by " Commence ! " The
A.P. who worked the turret telephone gave the
order " Stand by — Fire ! " And about one
minute later we heard from the battery that the
Governor's house had been hit and totally
destroyed ! Jolly good shot ! Hurrah !

Now all guns which could be brought to bear
on the town were firing rapidly.

About noon we heard that the tug had re-
appeared in the mouth of the harbour and

was heading for H.M.S. " ." She had a

bad escape of steam from her boiler, and hid

TO THE DARDANELLES 125

signalled for assistance, reporting at the same
time several wounded on board as well as
twenty German prisoners. The bombardment
continued the whole afternoon. Down in the
Fore T.S. the heat was stifling — we were all
stripped to the waist and streaming with
perspiration.

At 4*30 we heard that the remaining
steamboats were making for the ships under
heavy fire from Maxims, pom-poms, and
rifles.

Shortly afterwards the " Cease fire " sounded,
and, hastily changing, we ran up on deck to see
what damage had been done.

The town was on fire in two places, and the

Governor's house, which had stood out so

conspicuously only a few short hours before,

was now nothing but a mass of blackened ruins.

But there was no time for any feeling of

compunction or regret then^ for a few minutes

later our pinnace ran alongside with the

Commander and the coxswain lying on the

deck simply smothered in blood and barely

£ 2

126 FROM DARTMOUTH

conscious. They had both been hit no less
than eight times in various places, and had
stuck to their posts until they collapsed from
loss of blood. Three others of the crew were
wounded, though able to walk ; and there was
no sign of the demolition party and the other
three officers. The wounded were carefully
hoisted on board, and carried down to the sick
bay, and we at once put to sea.

At 2 next morning we anchored in Zanzibar
Harbour, and the wounded were transferred
to the hospital.

By this time we had learned what had taken
place while our boats were in the enemy's
harbour. They had no sooner entered the
mouth than, despite the white fiags^ a heavy fire
broke out from the shore. Nevertheless,
gallantly proceeding with their duty, they had
managed to destroy two ships, and had thefn
run alongside a large hospital ship. Three of
our officers, accompanied by the demolition
party, hadN^hardly boarded her before three
Maxims were unmasked on her deck, opening a

TO THE DARDANELLES 127

murderous fire on the boat, which was forced to
retire.

One of our party — the surgeon — managed
to fight his way back to the gangway ; and,
leaping into a small boat alongside, presented
his revolver at the heads of two natives who
were in it, and ordered them to row him back
to the pinnace. They had only pulled a few
strokes when the surgeon was hit in the head
and fell down in the bottom of the boat,
apparently dead. The natives at once turned
the boat round and in terror of their lives
rowed back to the treacherous hospital ship.

The pinnace was then forced to abandon all
hope of recovering the prisoners, and with much
difficulty fought her way out of the harbour
and back to the ships.

For his gallantry on this occasion our
Commander eventually received the V.C. The
cox'un was awarded the C.G.M., and the
lieutenant in command of the tug, who was also
wounded, received the D.S.C.

At 6 next morning we put out from

128 FROM DARTMOUTH

Zanzibar and proceeded again to Dar-es-
Salaam, where we demanded the surrender of
the prisoners, threatening in the event of a
refusal to again bombard the town. The
Germans, however, had no intention of relin-
quishing their captives, so at 9 a.m. we
commenced fire. I think I forgot to mention
that the Torpedo Lieutenant who had greeted
us boys so kindly when we first arrived on the
ship fromi Dartmouth was one of those taken
prisoner on this occasion, to our very deep
regret.

We ceased fire at 2 p.m. and put to sea for
the night in case an attempt should be made to
torpedo us. This second bombardment was
not quite so successful as the first, but it
started two more serious fires in the town — so
we had our revenge all right !

That evening it was decided that on the
following morning a party should be sent to
attack and demolish the lighthouse, which was
situated on a small island at the entrance to the
harbour. For this purpose there was detailed

TO THE DARDANELLES 129

a landing party, consisting of seamen and
marines, officered by a lieutenant and the
subaltern of marines. Browne, one of the
" snotties," was also to accompany this
expedition. However, much to the general
disappointment, the sea on the next morning
proved too rough to allow of any boats being
lowered, and we had to abandon the project
and return to Zanzibar.

CHAPTER IX

ORDERED TO THE DARDANELLES

*

We left the Cape about the i6th of Feb-
ruary 191 5. For several days previous to our
departure we were busy taking in a quan-
tity of stores suggestive of a land campaign.

These included hand-grenades, entrenching

tools, water troughs and tanks, provisions of

every description, and a whole lot of empty

biscuit-tins, the eventual usefulness of which

I, for one, failed to fathom. When finally we

weighed anchor and steamed out, having the

Vice-Admiral and his staff on board, we

encountered some very heavy weather. A stiff

south-easter had been blowing for some days

past, and off Cape Agulhas and in False Bay it

was very rough indeed; but, save for the general

discomfort which such weather always brings in

130

THE DARDANELLES 131

its train, our voyage was without accident or
incident, and a week later we dropped anchor
in Port Natal — the port of Durban.

Leave was given in the afternoon, but as half
of us had to stay on board, and as it was
improbable that we should get leave again in
this particular place, we cast lots in the gun-
room to determine who should go ashore.
Baker and I were among the lucky ones, and
we went off together and took the tram into
Durban.

We got down at the town station and walked
along the main street, looking into all the
shops. It was jolly being in such a very
European place again. The quaintest feature
of Durban seemed to us the native rickshaw-
boys, who paint their faces and wear head-
dresses of enormous many-coloured feathers,
gaudy dresses sown with beads, and huge
copper rings on their wrists and ankles.

Presently we took another tram, and were
looking out for an attractive tea-shop as we
went along, when a lady and gentleman got

132 FROM DARTMOUTH

into the tram, and the lady at once introduced
herself to us, saying that she had a son at
Osborne, so could not help being interested in
us. After a little conversation she very kindly
asked us to have tea with her. We very gladly
accepted the invitation, and a little later we all
got out of the tram and went to a hotel by the
sea. Here we had a ripping tea, and at

6 o'clock said " good-bye " to our kind hosts,
and then did some shopping in the town until

7 o'clock, when we were due to return on
board.

Next day we still remained in harbour, so
the others got their leave after all. During the
day, much to our curiosity, we took on board
three rickshaws. No one could imagine what
they could be wanted for ! Further, we
accumulated some more biscuit-boxes and some
tins of petrol.

That evening we weighed anchor and pro-
ceeded out to sea. Just at the moiith of the
harbour we were confronted by a big bar
which — as the tide was running the same way

TO THE DARDANELLES 133

as the river, i.e. ebbing — had not been there
when we came in, and consequently it took us
unawares. It was nearly dark, so the bar was
not noticed until we were almost on top of it.
The Captain yelled a warning to the first part of
the watch on deck, who were still on the fo'c'sle
securing the anchor, telling them to hang on
tight, and the next moment we dipped our bow
and shipped an enormous sea. Messengers had
been hurriedly dispatched to give orders for all
scuttles and dead-lights to be closed immedi-
ately, and for the crockery in the pantries and
messes to be secured firmly ; but some of the
scuttles could not be closed in time, and many
cabins were flooded as the sea passed aft. The
lieutenant-commander in charge of the party
on the fo'c'sle just grabbed one man in time
to prevent his being washed overboard. Four
of these huge rollers came before we were
safely out in the open sea, but no rea^
damage was done, although the owners of
the flooded cabins were mightily indignant and
disgusted.

134 FROM DARTMOUTH

We now discovered that we were under
orders to blockade the Koenigsberg^ that German
commerce raider which had been trapped in
the Rufigi river some two or three months
before, and whose crew, entrenched on the
banks, had hitherto defied capture. It was
now rumoured that in all probability troops
would try and attack her by land, and that
there would also be a landing-party of seamen
and marines from our ship. The petrol we
had taken on board would be needed for a sea-
plane which was to assist in the operations ;
but the use of those fantastic rickshaws was
still " wropped in mystery " !

During the voyage up the coast, the
Admiral had us all in turn to breakfast with
him. This was a great treat to us, for not

only was Vice-Admiral a most kindly

and genial host, but the fare at his table,
though not, perhaps, luxurious according to
shore and peace standards, was a vast
improvement on the bully beef, liquefied
margarine, and very nasty bread which was

TO THE DARDANELLES 135

all that was to be had in the gun-room.
Perhaps this sounds rather greedy, but it is
really extraordinary how awfully important
quite ordinarily nice food becomes when it is
no longer an every-day matter-of-course !

Ten days after leaving Durban we sighted
Mafia Island, and stopped for two hours to
communicate with various ships stationed there,
after which we went on to Zanzibar. Here
we stayed for twenty-four hours ; were allowed
to go ashore, and enjoyed ourselves immensely.
The following day, the ist of March, we put
to sea again, and proceeded to the mouth of
the Rufigi river, where we anchored.

For reasons, naturally not confided to junior
" snotties," we got under way again a few
hours later, and went back to Mafia Island.
Here the cutter was lowered, and Fane took
the captain of marines, who was our intelli-
gence officer, in to the beach to try and obtain
from the natives information of the Koenigsberg.
On their return we found that Fane had
managed to procure a quantity of fresh coco-

136 FROM DARTMOUTH

nuts and mangoes, which were greatly appre-
ciated in the gun-room.

A curious optical illusion, caused by heat
and the vibration of the atmosphere, was very
noticeable in these latitudes. The horizon
line seemed completely obliterated, and ships
and islands appeared as though floating in the
air.

Some days later H.M.S. " " made the

discovery that a German officer, accompanied
by ten native German infantry, were encamped
on an outlying island ; so she lowered her
cutter, and landed a party of marines on the
island in question. The Germans surrendered
after a half-hearted opposition, and the follow-
ing day the officer was sent to our ship as a
prisoner, and we took him to Zanzibar and
handed him over to the military authorities.

When we returned, the Admiral having
decided to hoist his flag in his former flagship,
he and his staff were transferred to H.M.S.

'* ." Carey, our senior mid, was appointed

to that ship, and two sub-lieutenants came

TO THE DARDANELLES 137

to us In his stead. All boats were lowered
to convey the Admiral and his party, and
a consignment of small arms, which we
had on board, was transhipped at the same
time.

A few days later we went down the coast
to Lindi, a German town, and threatened them
with a bombardment unless they surrendered
400 black and 200 white troops. They
refused to comply with our demand, and so at
2 p.m. we went to action stations and com-
menced fire.

At 6 o'clock, the town being on fire in
several places, we considered we had " strafed "
them sufficiently, and also the light was begin-
ning to fail, so we ceased the bombardment
and weighed anchor. Just at this moment
a cruiser appeared in the offing, and for some
minutes it was thought she might be a hostile
craft ; however, on being challenged in code
by searchlight, she proved by her reply to be
British, so we went back to Mafia.

Three days later we learned that we were

138 FROM DARTMOUTH

not after all to be " in at the death " of the
Koenigsberg. Bigger, far bigger work was in
store for us. We had received orders to
proceed at once to the Dardanelles.

Immense excitement prevailed in the gun-
room, for we guessed this new move predicted
action which would throw all we had hitherto
experienced into the shade — and subsequent
events more than justified our conjecture.

First we went to Zanzibar, where we arrived
in the morning. All that day was spent in dis-
embarking the extraneous ammunition, petrol,
and so on and so forth (not forgetting those
mysterious rickshaws), which we had taken on
board for the purposes of the Koenigsberg
operations. Then in the evening we weighed
anchor, and as we passed slowly out the Flag-
ship gave us a right royal send-ofF. Her
band played Tipperary — that pretty music-hall
tune which, by the curious psychology of the
British soldier, has been raised to the dignity
of a battle hymn, and then followed it up with
Auld Lang Syne, while the Admiral from

TO THE DARDANELLES 139

the stern-walk wished us " Good luck," and
waved a parting farewell ; and the old ship
steamed away on what for her, and most of
her ship's company, was to prove the last long
voyage.

CHAPTER X

IN ACTION

Two days after leaving Zanzibar we reached

Mombasa, and since no native labour was

available, and the heat was too great to allow

of our working by day, we commenced coaling

at 4 p.m., and coaled all night, taking in about

1 200 tons. Early next morning we were

under way again, and a fortnight later we

dropped anchor at Aden. We went ashore

on leave while the ship was being coaled by

native labour, and in the evening proceeded

again to sea. Next day we sighted the coast

of Somaliland, where a furious sand-storm

was raging, and a huge wall of red sand hung

above the cliffs, extending some distance over

the water. Little more than a week later we

arrived at Suez, having accomplished the

passage of the Red Sea without any incident

140

THE DARDANELLES 141

worth recording. We stayed the day at Suez,
and in the evening got under way and traversed
the Canal by night, dropping anchor at Port
Said on the following morning. Again we
went on leave while coaling was in progress,,
and next morning resumed our journey. Two
days later we received a wireless message
ordering us to put back to Port Said and
there prepare to repel an expected attack by
Turkish infantry on the Canal ; and, further,
we were instructed to make preparation to
receive the Admiral of the port, who intended
to hoist his flag in our ship. We at once set
to work to protect our bridge and tops by means
of sand-bags, hammocks, and grass ropes ; and
all the Captain's furniture was removed from the
after-cabin. Also the 12-pounders and search-
light positions were screened with thin steel
plates. However, before we sighted land all
these orders were cancelled, as, apparently, the
Turkish attack was no longer anticipated.

We now spent three days in Port Said, and
while there I distinguished (?) myself by

142 FROM DARTMOUTH

running our steam-pinnace aground ! ! It
happened in this way : I had offered to relieve
Barton in charge of the said pinnace, and
owing to imperfect knowledge of the harbour,
a very tricky one, I steered the boat firmly on
to a sand-bank which lay within a biscuit's
throw of the ship. Three native boys en-
deavoured to assist me by jumping into the
water and shoving at the boat, but they only
made matters worse. Eventually, after going
full speed astern for a good five minutes, I
got her off, and went alongside the ship. I
was greeted by the Commander with a proper
slanging, and ordered to pay the native boys,
who were clamouring for backsheesh in
reward of their fancied assistance. In my
agitation I grossly overpaid the interfering
brutes, and the Commander then told me to do
penance for my carelessness by keeping the
dog-watch. As a matter of fact it was my
dog-watch anyway; but I did not feel called
upon to tell him so !

TO THE DARDANELLES 143

On the morning of the fourth day we again
got under way for the Dardanelles, and
arrived there on the 25th of April.

We steamed round the island of Tenedos,
and took up our station at the end of a line of
some ten or more ships already anchored there.
During the voyage over I had been appointed
in charge of the picket boat, and as soon as we
had anchored my boat was lowered to take
some officers to a cruiser which was going to
take them over to the Dardanelles to have a
look at the positions we were going to attack
on the following morning. There was a con-
siderable sea running, and as soon as the slings
were slackened, and the boat began to ride to
the waves, the starboard funnel, which was
hinged to allow of its being laid flat when she
was in the crutches, and had not yet been
raised and secured, was so shaken by the
violent motion of the boat that it snapped off
close to the deck and rolled overboard. This
made steering with a head wind very difficult,
as the smoke all went into the steersman's eyes

144 FROM DARTMOUTH

instead of being carried over his head ; but 1
was not the sufferer on this occasion, as
I did not take this particular trip, being busy
on some important work in another part of
the ship, and a substitute was sent in my
place.

By this time a change had been made in
our routine, and none of us were now officers'
messengers, with the exception of Cunninghame
and Baker, who were A.D.C.s to the Captain
and the navigator respectively. The remain-
ing seven were watch-keepers, and in this
way there were two " snotties " to every watch
but one.

Soon after my boat had gone away, having
on board the Captain, Commander, captain of
marines, and officers of turrets, a collier came
alongside and we commenced coaling. My
boat being duty steamboat (known in the
vernacular as D.S.B.), 1 did not have to assist
in coaling, and as soon as she returned from

the cruiser " ," I was sent away in her

with dispatches for the Flagship. One of my

TO THE DARDANELLES 145

bowmen did not turn up when the boat's crew
was piped, and when he eventually appeared
the silly fool went and fell into the ditch !
He was soon pulled out, however, and we
started down the line. On the horizon I
could see the mouth of the Dardanelles and
one or two ships firing at intervals. As we
passed down the Fleet I noticed one ship with
half her funnel-casing blown off and another
with a bit of her stern-v/alk missing, which
showed we didn't always get it all our own
way with the Turk.

After I had delivered my dispatches I
returned to the ship and was promptly sent
away again to take the gunner to the store-
ship Fauvette to get some gunnery instruments.
By this time the sea was very big for a small
steamboat, and was almost dead on the beam.
We were rolling nearly 60° each side, and
constantly shipping seas, which poured down
the stump of the broken funnel and nearly put
the furnace out. The store-ship was a good
two miles away, and it took us nearly half-an-

146 FROM DARTMOUTH

hour to reach her. At last we got within
about twenty yards of her, and I ran my boat
down the leeside, looking for a ladder or
gangway ; seeing none, I ran under her stern
and went alongside to windward of her. Here
the seas were enormous, and as we rose on a
huge wave the gunner leaped for the ladder,
missed his footing, hung on for a second,
and then dropped into the sea between the
boat and the ship's side. We managed to
haul him out at once, but it was a bit of luck
that the boat was not carried in towards the
ship's side by a wave, as it would most certainly
have crushed, and probably killed him. Once
he was safe on board again I hailed the ship
and asked them to put out a ladder on the lee-
side, as I could see it was much too dangerous
work going alongside to windward, and I
didn't care to risk it again. Eventually the
gunner's mission was safely accomplished, fand
we returned to our own ship without further
incident.

After lunch I had to get my boat coaled

TO THE DARDANELLES 147

and watered, and at about 5 p.m. the cruiser
with our officers on board came back to her
moorings, and 1 was sent to bring them off to
our ship again. Then at 6.30. I had to take
the Torpedo Lieutenant and the gunner (T.)

over to H.M.S. " ," and to wait an hour

for them, lying off in the dark with a big sea
running. Thank goodness I am a good sailor
— don't know what it is to be sea-sick ; but
anyone less fortunate in their interior economy
would have had an uncommonly miserable
time ! As it was I was only rather cold, very
hungry, and very bored. At last they re-
embarked and I returned on board and got
my dinner, which J was much in need of.

That night we put to sea, and at 2 on
the following morning " Action " sounded —
the great landing at Gallipoli had begun. All
water-tight doors were hastily closed and all
electric light cut off.

We had to go up on deck to get to
the Fore T.S., and away to the right could
be seen the first faint streaks of dawn, and

148 FROM DARTMOUTH

the land showing very faintly against the
sky.

Down in the Fore T.S. we worked by candle-
light, eagerly awaiting the sunrise when the
great bombardment would begin.

Of that bombarament he spoke but little^ and
wrote not at all. I think he felt it too big a
thing to tackle.

The epic of the Gallipoli landings will, let us
hope, one day be written by a pen worthy to
depict that immortal tale of heroism, but I doubt
if the whole truth can ever be spoken or written.
There are some things of which men cannot and
will not speak. A word, a sentence here and
there, may lift for a moment a corner of the veily
but only those who went through that inferno will
ever fully realise its horror.

Of my boys own small part in it all I know
a little — but only a very little. 'The ship was

concerned in the landing at Beach, and at

10 0 clock one morning he was sent away in hvs

TO THE DARDANELLES 149

boat to fetch the wounded from the beach in
question. Of course other midshipmen were doing
the same thing in other boats.

Batch after batch of men horribly wounded^
hideously mutilated^ were rescued under fire^ and
conveyed to the hospital ships. He spoke — brokenly
— of the terrible wounds^ the all-pervading stench
of blood rising up beneath the fierce rays of the
sun from his reeking boat; of the magnificent^
indescribable heroism and patience of men mangled^
and shattered^ and torn.

Once for a time the ship had to go away
down the straits for two miles^ and he had to read
the signals giving orders where to convey the
rescued — and so — work on. One day he was on
that duty from i o in the morning until half-past
1 at night.

''What did you do for food?"" I asked—
perhaps foolishly.

" Ohy they threw me down a lump of cheese
and a ship's biscuit^ somewhere about midday^
when I happened to be alongside.''

*' And was that all you had in all those hours P

F

150 FROM DARTMOUTH

Surely they might have seen you had at least
something to eatf''

^^Eat — " he exclaimed scornfully ^ and then
very patiently : " Dont you see, Mother, it was a
question of men's lives ! Some were bleeding to

death ; every second counted How could we

think of eating ! "

So — shamed — / held my peace^ hearing only
that " it was a question of men s lives."

And these were the hoys of whom a certain
well-meaning hut hysterical Memher of Parliament
wrote to the papers just after the sinking of the
Aboukir, the Cressy, and the Hogue. He said
it was monstrous to send such mere children to
war, and that in point of fact they were of no
use on the ships, and only a source of worry to
their superior officers I One could wish that he
had been present at Gallipoli. Some of those same
hoys won decorations which they may well wear
proudly to-day, for they won them by deeds of
magnificent fortitude and valour. Others again
gave all they had — their health and their youths
and in some cases their lives, and I think the

TO THE DARDANELLES 151

names of all those " children " are written in
letters of flame on the Roll of England's Honour
— England s Glory.

Some aays later they were once more in com-
parative security. How comparative only those
who have realised a fraction of that hell will
recognise.

The ship was guarding the French flank when
the end came — but — let it he told in his own
words.

CHAPTER XI

THE SINKING OF THE SHIP

Crash ! — Bang ! — Cr-r-r-ash ! 1 woke with
a start, and sitting up in my hammock gazed
around to see what had so suddenly roused
me. Some of the midshipmen were already
standing on the deck in their pyjamas — others,
like me, were sitting up half dazed with sleep.
A party of ship's boys crowded up the ladder
from the gun-room flat, followed by three
officers; one of these, a sub-lieutenant R.N.R.,
called out : " Keep calm, and you'll all be
saved."

Up to that moment it had never dawned
upon me that the ship was sinking, and even
then I thought it improbable until I noticed
that we were already listing to starboard-
Then I got up and walked up the hatch

152

THE DARDANELLES 153

to the quarter-deck. The ship was now
heeling about five degrees to starboard, and I
climbed up to the port side. It was nearly
pitch dark. A seaman rushing to help lower
the boats charged into me, and I turned
and swore at him.

Gradually a crowd gathered along the port
side. " Boat ahoy ! Boat ahoy 1 " they
yelled ; but, as the ship listed more and more,
and there was no sign or sound ot any
approaching vessel, the men's voices seemed
to get a bit hopeless. The Commander was
urging on a gang who were trying to get
some heavy timber overboard ; but, as we
listed further and further over, they found
it impossible to get it up on the port side
and couldn't get round to starboard, as the
capstan and the Captain's hatch and skylight
were in the way. At last they gave it up,
and going to the side joined their voices to
those of the crew, who were trying to attract
the attention of any vessel that might be in
the vicinity.

154 FROM DARTMOUTH

Inside the ship everything which was not
secured was sliding about and bringing up
against the bulkheads with a series of crashes.
Crockery was smashing — boats falling out of
their crutches — broken funnel-guys swinging
against the funnel casings. She had heeled
over to about twenty degrees, then she stopped
and remained steady for a few seconds. In
the momentary lull the voice of one of our
officers rang out steady and clear as at
"divisions " : " Keep calm, men. Be British ! "
Then the ship started to heel rapidly again,
and I felt sure there was no chance of saving
her. I turned to jump overboard. The
Commander, who was standing a few paces
away on my right, went over a second before
me. Raising my arms above my head I sprang
well out board and dived. Just before I
struck the water my face hit the side of the
ship. It was a horrid feeling sliding on my
face down the slimy side, and a second later
I splashed in with tremendous force, having
dived about thirty feet.

TO THE DARDANELLES 155

Just as I was rising to the surface again
a heavy body came down on top of me. I
fought clear and rose rather breathless and
bruised. I swam about fifty yards away, to
get clear of the suction when the ship went
down ; then, turning round and treading water,
I watched her last moments. The noise of
crashing furniture and smashing crockery was
continuous. Slowly her stern lifted until it
was dimly outlined against the deep midnight
sky. Slowly her bows slid further and further
under until, with a final lurch, she turned com-
pletely over and disappeared bottom upwards
in a mass of bubbles.

She had been our home for nearly ten
months — she was gone — vanished — in less than
four minutes.

Turning over and swimming a slow side-
stroke I made for H.M.S. Cornwallis^ which 1
could discern faintly silhouetted against the sky
about two-and-a-half miles distant. Suddenly
something touched my leg, and the thought of

the sharks we had watched from the bridge the

F 2

156 FROM DARTMOUTH

previous afternoon flashed shudderingly across
my mind — but it was only a floating potato !
Soon the shrieks of the drowning grew faint
in the distance and I swam on with three others
near me. When I had been in the water for
about twenty minutes I looked up and saw
what I thought to be* a boat. I shouted out,
" Boat ahoy ! " — and ^turning on my side swam
for some time a fast side-stroke. When at
last I rested and looked for the imagined boat,
which ought to have been quite near by now,
I discovered that I had somehow misfocussed
the Cornwallis, and so come to imagine she
was a small steamboat quite close instead of
a battle-ship a mile and a half away. How-
ever, I felt quite confident of reaching her if
only I persevered, so I continued to swim
a slow side-stroke. Soon after this my pyjama
jacket came undone, and I took it off as it
hindered me. A few minutes later I sighted
a huge spar about twenty feet long, probably
the topgallant mast or lower boom from our
ship. It must have been thrown a tremendous

TO THE DARDANELLES 157

way by the force of the explosion to be so far
down the channel. The current was very
strong, and of course that was a great help to
those who were swimming. I hung on to the
spar for a minute or two to get my breath
back a bit, and rubbed myself all over in order
to restore the circulation, as by that time I was
getting very cold. After a short rest I started
ofF again to try and reach H.M.S. Cornwallis.
Presently it seemed to me that I was not
approaching her as rapidly as before, and
almost at the same moment she switched on
her searchlights, when 1 saw by their light
that she was out of the main stream of the
current, and that to reach her I should have
to swim half a mile absolutely unaided by the
flow of the tide. L tried to get in the beam
of her searchlight, thinking she would be sure
to have some boats out and that they would
see me ; but I found I was unable to manage
this, and after about five minutes I gave up
trying. Then I turned round and looked
about for some other ship to essay and make

158 FROM DARTMOUTH

for. About a quarter of a mile behind rtie,
and slightly up stream, I saw another ship
with all her searchlights going and I deter-
mined to try and reach her. I swam towards
her, and presently saw two steamboats push
ofF from her bow and make off up stream for
the scene of the disaster, but they were too
far off to hail. Five minutes later I heard
the welcome plash of oars, and looking to
my left saw a cutter approaching with a man
in the bows sweeping the surrounding water
with a hand lantern. I yelled out, *' Boat
ahoy ! " and back came the cheering answer :
'^ All right, we're coming. Hang on ! "

A minute later the lantern flashed in my
face, a pair of strong arms grasped me by
the shoulders and hauled mc clear of the
water.

I must have fainted then, for I remember
nothing more until I became dimly conscious
as in a dream that 1 was in the stern sheets
of a boat lying alongside some other vessel.
A man's voice said, " Here's a midshipman.

TO THE DARDANELLES 159

sir," and next moment I was picked up and
set down on the deck.

Barely conscious as yet of my surroundings,
I was taken into a sort of cabin, where I was
given some neat rum. It was very fiery and
nearly choked me, but it bucked me up a bit
all the same. Then I was conducted down to
the boiler-room, where some one stripped off my
pyjama trousers (my one remammg garment),
and I sat down on a locker before the furnace
and soon got a degree of warmth back into my
body.

Presently I heard the voice of one of our
lieutenants speaking up above, and called out to
him to know how he'd come off. Then I was
helped up the gangway again and into a small
sort of saloon in the stern. Here I was given
some more rum, a very large sweater, and a pair
of blue serge trousers belonging to one of the
crew, and when I had put them on I lay down
in a bunk and immediately fell asleep. About
an hour later I woke up and found the saloon
full of officers and men.

i6o FROM DARTMOUTH

The Lieutenant to whom I had spoken in the
boiler-room was sitting at the table. He was
dressed in a jersey and a seaman's duck
trousers. Two other survivors, a marine and
an armourer, were also at the table, and across
the saloon in the bunk opposite mine lay a
gunner's mate. I asked the Lieutenant what
time our ship was struck. He said his watch
had stopped at 1*29 a.m., when he jumped into
the sea, and so he presumed we were torpedoed at
about 1*27, as the ship only took three and a half
minutes to go down. She had been struck on
the starboard side by three torpedoes fired from
a Turkish torpedo-boat, which had drifted down
the straits keeping close inshore, and thus eluded
our destroyer patrol. To give the enemy his
due it was a jolly smart piece of work.

It was now somewhere about 3*30 a.m., and,
as 1 did not feel inclined to sleep any more, they
gave me some hot cocoa and some bread-and-
cheese. I drank the former, but the bread-and-
cheese was more than I felt equal to just then.
About 6 o'clock the Lieutenant was transferred

TO THE DARDANELLES i6i

to another ship forrmedical treatment, as his
back was badly bruised by drifting wreckage ;
and half-an-hour later the rest of the survivors
were re-embarked in H.M.S. Lord Nelson s
cutter, the same that had picked us up ; and
leaving the trawler she took us to the Lord
Nelson.

When we got on board I was at once taken
down to the gun-room, where I found four
more of our *' snotties " who had also been
rescued. One more was reported as having
safely swum ashore ; but; there was no news of
the other three, and subsequently it transpired
that they had been lost.

The survivors were mostly sleeping — the
sleep of exhaustion. We had all had a pretty
tough fight for it, and I realised then how
uncommonly lucky we had been in escaping not
only alive, but for the most part uninjured.
Cunninghame had a nasty cut on his head, but
the rest of us were only suffering from minor
bruises, and of course to a certain extent from
shock.

1 62 FROM DARTMOUTH

One of the Lord Nelson s middies kindly lent
me some old uniform, and after I had dressed
I made a parcel of the clothes I had been lent
on the trawler and took them to the ship's
corporal, and asked him to see that they were
returned to their owner.

I remembered, with an odd sense of unreality,
that the last time I had been in the Lord Nelson
was at the manoeuvres the previous July !

On my way up to the deck I met three more
of our lieutenants, and we exchanged accounts
of our experiences. From them I learned that
our Commander had been saved, and was also
on board ; but there was no news of the Captain.
Some days later 1 heard that his body had been
picked up, and it was thought that he had been
killed by the falling of the pinnace when the
ship turned over just before she sank.

At 7'30 we put to sea and proceeded to Port
Mudros. On the way, and after divisions, the
lower deck was cleared, the whole ship's
company, together with the survivors from our
ship, mustered on the quarter-deck, and then

TO THE DARDANELLES 163

took place a mournful ceremony, which
poignantly brought home to us the fate we
had so narrowly escaped.

Through the battery — very softly — came the
sound of muffled drums, growing gradually
louder as the band advanced. Then appeared
a procession of seamen from our lost ship,
headed by the Lord Nelson's chaplain, and
carrying three stretchers, on each of which lay a
body covered with the Union Jack. The first
was that of our Fleet paymaster, and the other
two those of a seaman and marine respectively.
The bodies were lifted from the stretchers and
laid reverently on a platform slanting towards
the water, which had been erected on the port
side. Clearly and solemnly the chaplain recited
the beautiful Burial Service, and as he uttered
the words "we therefore commit their bodies
to the deep," the staging was tilted and the
weighted corpses slid feet foremost into the
sea. *

The service ended with three volleys fired
over the side and then the long sobbing wail

1 64 FROM DARTMOUTH

of the " Last Post " rang out across the still
waters in final farewell.

When we were dismissed we went below in
silence, awed by the solemnity of this last
committal to the deep of those with whom we
had lived and worked side by side for ten long
months.

CHAPTER XII

HOME

At 4 o'clock that afternoon the Lord Nel-
son anchored in Mudros Harbour, and shortly
afterwards we were mustered on deck and
then disembarked and taken to the store-ship
Fauvette^ where cabins were allotted to each
two of us midshipmen.

The following day two torpedo-boats came
alongside, and the Lieutenant-Commander of
the whole squadron of T.B.s based at Malta
came aboard to lunch. It was the great
ambition of each of us " snotties " to get
appointed to one of these sporting little craft ;
but we feared there was but little chance of
such a stroke of luck, as they do not, as a
rule, carry midshipmen. However, there was
no harm in hoping !

Next forenoon one of our lieutenants told
165

1 66 FROM DARTMOUTH

us that two of our number were to go to an
armoured liner which was lying in the harbour,
and suggested that we should draw lots to de-
termine which of us it should be. Browne was
away somewhere at the moment, and, as there
was no time to be lost, we had to do the
drawing without him. Baker and I seemed
to be rather lucky at lotteries, for, as once
before, we drew the winning numbers. I was
not, however, particularly elated as I was still
secretly hankering after service on a T.B.

We packed up the few articles of clothing
we had obtained from the Lord Nelson^ and,
together with the Lieutenant, who was also
going to the auxiliary cruiser, we were just
embarking in the cutter, when, as we were
about to shove off, Browne came alongside in
another boat. Hastily we drew lots again,
but the result was the same, and we went off
to our appointed ship.

When we got on board we were asked our
names, and then the Captain informed me he
had orders to take Browne instead of me ;

TO THE DARDANELLES 167

so I returned to the Fauvette and told him
he was to take my place. No sooner had I
lost this billet than, with human cussedness,
1 began to regret it. After all, " a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush," and the job
would have been quite a good one.

However, my discontent was short-lived, for
I soon found that, after all, my luck was
" in." That afternoon I was leaning over the
stanchions looking at the shipping in the
harbour, and wondering what fate might have
in store for me, when the Lieutenant-Com-
mander of the T.B.s and the Captain of the
Fauvette came along the deck and stopped
close to where I was standing, and I heard
the former say that he intended — if he could
get the Admiral's permission — to take one of
the rescued midshipmen to act as second in
command of his torpedo-boat. I pricked up
my ears at that, and, a few minutes later, when

Captain had gone below, I summoned

up all my courage (call it cheek, if you like),
and, regardless of the snub I was undoubtedly

1 68 FROM DARTMOUTH

asking for, I went boldly up to the Lieutenant-
Commander and told him 1 had overheard
what he had said, and asked him if he would
not take me if he could, as 1 was most awfully
keen to serve on a T.B.

He was frightfully kind, and did not seem
a bit annoyed or surprised, nor did he hand
me the snubbing I had invited ; but he ex-
plained that, although at the moment the job
I coveted was pleasant enough and not too
strenuous, it was likely to be a very stiff
service later on, and he asked if I really felt
I should be equal to it.

Of course 1 declared that I felt perfectly
fit and equal to anything, and would do my
level best if only I could get the billet ; so
then he said he would ask for me.

As soon as he had left me I dashed below to
tell the others of the glorious luck which might
be in store for me.

Next morning Lieutenant-Commander

came aboard again, and to my intense delight
told me I was duly appointed to his T.B. and

TO THE DARDANELLES 169

could join that afternoon ! Further, he invited
me there and then to go off with him and have
a look round the boat. I found it a very
different proposition to the big ship to which I
had been accustomed. To begin with, there
was only one tiny cabin, called by courtesy the
ward-room, in which we would live and eat and
sleep, and my new skipper warned me that
when we were at sea it would often be three
feet deep in water. However, I felt it would
require much more water than that to damp my
ardour for this new and exciting work.

Then he gave me a brief explanation of the
duty on which the T.B.s were then engaged.
That night, he said, we would in all probability
go out on patrol duty just outside the boom
until relieved at 6 the next morning. Then
we might proceed to sea and patrol the waters
surrounding the island of Lemnos. Doubtless
we should anchor in some small bay for the
night, and early next morning return to harbour,
when we should have a day off, and so on and
so forth. Twenty-four hours' patrol and then

lyo FROM DARTMOUTH

twenty-four hours' rest. Forty-eight hours' rest
was the general rule, but, as one of the T.B.s
had run aground the week before, and had had
to be sent to Malta for repairs, we were short-
handed.

Presently I returned to the Fauvette to get
what necessaries I could obtain from the steward
in charge of the stores. All he managed to
provide me with was a set of pants and vest, of
the coarsest and most horsehairy description, a
pound of yellow soap, and a pair of enormous
and most dreadfully ugly boots. However, even
these were better than nothing, and, with the
borrowed plumes in which I stood up, they had
to serve ; and, moderately thankful for small
mercies, I said " good-bye " to my former mess-
mates and went ofF to my new ship.

That night 1 slept on one of the settees
which served the single cabin for seats and
lockers by day as well as for bunks by night,
and early the next morning we put to sea on
patrol duty, carrying a crew of sixteen in
addition to the Commander and mvself.

TO THE DARDANELLES 171

When we got outside the harbour the
engines were stopped, and all hands bathed.
No particular incident occurred during our
patrol, and the next morning, after being
relieved by another T.B., we proceeded for
duty off the island.

My enjoyment of the three weeks I spent
in this service was due in no little measure
to the personal charm of my skipper, who
was not only the most considerate and tactful
officer to serve under, but a most charming
and interesting companion. The work was
mainly routine on the lines indicated above,
and although there was plenty of variety, and
at times no little excitement, to enlarge further
on our doings would be waste of pen and ink,
as any more detailed account would probably
be " omitted by order of the censor " !

It had not occurred to me that those august,
and occasionally paternally minded, powers who
preside over the sailor-man's earthly destiny,
would think it necessary to send me home on
leave. " Leave " had long smce been relegated

172 FROM DARTMOUTH

in my mind to that dim and distant future
"after the war." Doubtless the said powers
in their wisdom realised — as at that time I cer-
tainly did not — the inevitable strain following
on my narrow escape from the sinking ship.

It was, however, with some surprise and
much regret that I heard from the Commander
on the 1st of June, that he had been ordered
to send me at once to the auxiliary cruiser
Carmania^ on which ship I was' to proceed to
England.

Very reluctantly I took leave of the T.B. and
her genial Commander, and went on board the
armed liner, where I found most of the sur-
vivors from my old ship. Alas ! they were
tragically few, for out of a ship's company of
760, only 160 men and 20 officers had been
saved.

The Carmania^ which still bore scars result-
ing from her tremendous battle with the Cap
Trafalgar earlier in the war, weighed anchor on
the following day, and four days later reached
Malta, where she coaled. Here I went ashore

TO THE DARDANELLES 173

and managed to buy a ready-made reefer suit
and other necessary garments ; and I was un-
commonly glad to feel once more respectably
clad.

Our voyage was uneventful. Now that there
was no duty to be performed I think most of
us began to feel a bit slack, but our spirits rose
as they turned homewards. We had not seen
our people for nearly thirteen months, and the
necessarily strict censorship of all our letters had
of course increased the sense of separation.

On June 12 we arrived at Devonport, and
our Commander went ashore and shortly after-
wards returned with the welcome informa-
tion that we had all been granted a fortnight's
leave.

Leave ! Cheer-o ! We wasted no time in
getting ashore, and I at once wired to my
home telling my mother that I had arrived,
and was going straight to London to the house
of some cousins who had offered me hospitality
whenever I might need it, and that I would
there await instructions as I did not know

174 FROM DARTMOUTH

where she might be. A fast train landed us
at Paddington about 5 o'clock, and I took a
taxi to S Place.

^he Admiralty had informed me that he had
sailed for England on the ind^ and I knew he
would go to hondon according to instruction^ so
I was able to he there to meet him.

I had not seen him since he left for Dartmouth^
nearly fourteen months before. Then he was a
roundfaced^ rosy boy

Up the steps^ dragging a seaman s canvas kit-
bag^ came a tall., thin figure., white of face ^ drawn.,
haggard — incredibly old. J had not quite realised

this. For a second my heart stood still

Where was my boy ?

Then he saw me waiting in the hall., and his
face lighted with half-incredulous joyous wonder :
" Mother I You here ! "

My boy was gone for ever — but my son had
come home.

Te Deum Laudamus.

Printed m Great Britaiv bv

Richard Clay & Sons, Limited,

brunswick st., stamford st., s.e.,

and bvnoay, sufvolk.

SOLDIERS' TALES

OF THE

GREAT WAR

Each 'Volume Cr. Svo, Cloth, 3s. 6J. net.

I. WITH MY REGIMENT. By

** Platoon Commander "

"To read it is to share every experience
(almost) in the life of a lieutenant on
active service." — Punch.

II. DIXMUDE. A chapter in the
history of the Naval Brigade,
Oct-Nov., 1914. By Charles
le GoflBc. Illustrated

"A great and fascinating story vphich
stands by itself in the huge epic cycle of the
war." — Times.

III. IN THE FIELD (1914-15). The
impressions of an Officer of
Light Cavalry.

"Dumas himself could not have bettered
most of these pages." — Evening Standard.

IV. PRISONER OF WAR. By

Andre Warnod

"A vivid picture of a prisoner's life in a
camp of mixed nationalities." — Times Lit. Sup.

V. UNCExNSORED LETTERS
FROM THE DARDAxN-
ELLES. Notes of a French
Army Doctor. Illustrated

VL *' CONTEMPTIBLE." By

'* Casualty."
VII. ON THE ANZAC TRAIL.

By "Anzac.''
VIIL IN GERMAN HANDS. By

Charles Hennebois.