My grandfather George Townesend's journal
Transcription
Transcription history
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May 24th 261 + 4046 = 4307
Crossed the Equator at 1:30pm. I was inoculated for cholera 2nd dose & also vaccine today. That beast Penns made himself more objectionable than usual today by ordering young Pugh KAR an awfully nice boy out of mess to change his collar against all rules of etiquette there is of course very strong feeling about it. I sincerely ohpe P will be made to sit up.
May 25)
26) Nothing doing. Learning to play auction bridge with Pugh TR & EP Jones. Mileage (not entered)
27)
May 28 Ct Martial in Music Room Pris Penne seems to have been a bit of a farce from what I have heard said about it. Prisoner got off as everyone expected he would
Heard a concert a few nights back
"If bread is the staff of life what is the life of the staff" A "One long loaf"
Auction bridge a good game but I am afraid I shall never become an orthodox player
May 29
June 4th
Arrived at Cape Town about 11. By 2:30 it was decided to let everyone but the Watches adjourn on shore the men were paraded on the Wharf and after a route march through town the men were told off about 7 men under a NCO to wander about the town to see the sights. Pughe TR Jones & Evan Pugh Jones & I went off to have tea at Cartwrights we had to wait such a long time that at last I went in a got the tea for four which we had out on the balcony, not much of a tea. We then went to the Kodak peole where I borrowed 1 pound off JR and bought a developing tank and mounting frame & JR left us Pughe went on duty with the police & EPJ & I went for a stroll round.
We came to the house of Parliament & went to go over the place but we were told we could not do so unless we knew a member. We were also told that if we came back as 8 or after we could hear a debate. We met Pughe again and had some grub at the Crystal Palace Café! having tried 3 other places which had been eaten out of their stock owing to the unexpected rush very poor grub. After grub went to the Parliament. When we arrived there was an attack being made on Botha by (Gap left) to reduce his salary by 500 pounds motion lost by 66 to 19 votes later we heard several other speeches and one by Botha in Dutch. We left about 9:15 & got back to the boat about 10. Expect I shall see Cape Town again if I go sick which God forbid.
June 5th
Discovered that one of No 5 Coy was missing (CJ Harris) he was under the charge of a man named McCourt. Have been making investigations and enquires with Phillips all day have rendered a report. It has been decided that P & I have to pay No 5 Coy (Draft P 1444) at Durban so busy making out accquitance Rolls & preparing Pay Books hardly been on deck all day.
June 6
Woke this morning about 5 to find the Port hole window banging and the ship rolling badly got up fixed the window & to sleep again. Much trouble shaving went on deck found heavy sea & half a gale & all parades cancelled because of the weather. Sea was exciting as a series of 3 huge waves managed to shoot all the cups and saucers about smashing 8 or 10 & upsetting 3 men. I tried a run on deck this morning & got shot into the scuppers & took all the skin off my shin it is very stiff tonight.
Now blowing a gale sea very rough indeed Foskett on the border land of seasick Permo suggests that the men must sign the accquitance Rolls before we get to Durban to save time there!! Have had a glorious day standing in the wind & watching and dodging the waves & spray. Couple of life boats just got loose on deck coursing great excitement in salon.
June 7
After making last entry went on deck & found nos 1 3 & 5 life boats hanging each from one davit lent a hand in hauling them up & retired to bed about 12:15. This morning the gale still continued 4 rafts have been swept off the starboard raft deck & the rails all smashed the wind increased in the morning in the afternoon it rained hard which reduced the height of the waves but things are getting bumpy again now spent most of the morning on deck but the rain after 3 o'clock was too much for me. Accquitance Rolls order made by GOC Durban Troops have signed.
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May 24th 261 + 4046 = 4307
Crossed the Equator at 1:30pm. I was inoculated for cholera 2nd dose & also vaccine today. That beast Penns made himself more objectionable than usual today by ordering young Pugh KAR an awfully nice boy out of mess to change his collar against all rules of etiquette there is of course very strong feeling about it. I sincerely ohpe P will be made to sit up.
May 25)
26) Nothing doing. Learning to play auction bridge with Pugh TR & EP Jones. Mileage (not entered)
27)
May 28 Ct Martial in Music Room Pris Penne seems to have been a bit of a farce from what I have heard said about it. Prisoner got off as everyone expected he would
Heard a concert a few nights back
"If bread is the staff of life what is the life of the staff" A "One long loaf"
Auction bridge a good game but I am afraid I shall never become an orthodox player
May 29
June 4th
Arrived at Cape Town about 11. By 2:30 it was decided to let everyone but the Watches adjourn on shore the men were paraded on the Wharf and after a route march through town the men were told off about 7 men under a NCO to wander about the town to see the sights. Pughe TR Jones & Evan Pugh Jones & I went off to have tea at Cartwrights we had to wait such a long time that at last I went in a got the tea for four which we had out on the balcony, not much of a tea. We then went to the Kodak peole where I borrowed 1 pound off JR and bought a developing tank and mounting frame & JR left us Pughe went on duty with the police & EPJ & I went for a stroll round.
We came to the house of Parliament & went to go over the place but we were told we could not do so unless we knew a member. We were also told that if we came back as 8 or after we could hear a debate. We met Pughe again and had some grub at the Crystal Palace Café! having tried 3 other places which had been eaten out of their stock owing to the unexpected rush very poor grub. After grub went to the Parliament. When we arrived there was an attack being made on Botha by (Gap left) to reduce his salary by 500 pounds motion lost by 66 to 19 votes later we heard several other speeches and one by Botha in Dutch. We left about 9:15 & got back to the boat about 10. Expect I shall see Cape Town again if I go sick which God forbid.
June 5th
Discovered that one of No 5 Coy was missing (CJ Harris) he was under the charge of a man named McCourt. Have been making investigations and enquires with Phillips all day have rendered a report. It has been decided that P & I have to pay No 5 Coy (Draft P 1444) at Durban so busy making out accquitance Rolls & preparing Pay Books hardly been on deck all day.
June 6
Woke this morning about 5 to find the Port hole window banging and the ship rolling badly got up fixed the window & to sleep again. Much trouble shaving went on deck found heavy sea & half a gale & all parades cancelled because of the weather. Sea was exciting as a series of 3 huge waves managed to shoot all the cups and saucers about smashing 8 or 10 & upsetting 3 men. I tried a run on deck this morning & got shot into the scuppers & took all the skin off my shin it is very stiff tonight.
Now blowing a gale sea very rough indeed Foskett on the border land of seasick Permo suggests that the men must sign the accquitance Rolls before we get to Durban to save time there!! Have had a glorious day standing in the wind & watching and dodging the waves & spray. Couple of life boats just got loose on deck coursing great excitement in salon.
June 7
After making last entry went on deck & found nos 1 3 & 5 life boats hanging each from one davit lent a hand in hauling them up & retired to bed about 12:15. This morning the gale still continued 4 rafts have been swept off the starboard raft deck & the rails all smashed the wind increased in the morning in the afternoon it rained hard which reduced the height of the waves but things are getting bumpy again now spent most of the morning on deck but the rain after 3 o'clock was too much for me. Accquitance Rolls order made by GOC Durban Troops have signed.
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- Hazel Townesend
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