Plymouth to Lemnos on H.M.Transport Caledonia

Went on board H.M.Transport "Caledonia" at Plymouth. Sailed at 7 pm.  Were in messes of 18.Got hammocks to sleep above tables.  I was sick on 16th and could take no food.  Lay on floor at night with clothes on, and lay about deck during day and following day.  All right by 18th.  4th Royal Scots were on fatigue duty during voyage cleaning wash-houses and latrines; escaped parades thereby.  Had fine weather on voyage out, although wind rose on 21st.

We sailed well outside of the Bay of Biscay; reached Gibraltar 8 pm. on 19th, after standing off & on all afternoon.  Left mails and sailed an hour later.  Lovely view of Gibraltar in moonlight.

Reached Malta 23rd Nov., after being again sick for two days as sea was rough.  Left 30 hours later, 4 pm. on Wed., having taken in water and coal.  Weather here more liek summer at home.

Reached Mudros Harbour, Lemnos, on Sat.,Nov., at 8 am.  Lay on board till Tuesday.  Weather very cold - snow.

 http://www.firstworldwar.com/atoz/mudros.htm

On board ship I knew Lt. Smith, L/Cpl. Robertson, Ptes. W.G.Wills, J.Middleton, W.Nicol, J.Kitson, M.Owens, A.Thomson, J.Wight F.Carro, C.Jack, A.Miller, 4th R.S.; M.King Galston, 4th R.S.F. (2nd time out) John Annall, No. 8816, 4th R.S.F Little Seven Acres, Kilwinning (3rd time out); F.P.Meckin, 6th H.L.I., Glasgow, (2nd).

The sea was remarkably blue during voyage.  I saw several porpoises diving clear out of the water.Little birds sometimes flew round us.  The water often glowed at night.  After first two nights I slept on deck.

from Peebles to Galashiels then Plymouth

We left camp for billets in Galashiels on 10 Nov. - 19 miles march.  I was billeted with Mrs Hume Sime Place, Galashiels, along with Pte. W. Hutchins, Burntisland.  I had a kit inspection at midnight, 11 Nov.; paid up-to-date; entrained 12th Nov.  7.5 a.m.; reached St. Budeaux, Devon, 13th at 8.30am.  In huts at Ernesettle Rest Camp till 9.15 am. no Monday, 15th Nov.  Food very scarce and very irregular.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernesettle#Ernesettle_Fort

On this day:
11 Nov -

Naval and Overseas Operations

Transport "Mercian" attacked by submarine; 103 casualties

 

German mission to Greece.
Greek Chamber dissolved; new elections to be held.
Lord Derby warns unmarried men of compulsion if fail to enlist voluntarily before 30 November

14th Nov

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres
Turks and Germans defeated by Russians in Persia.
Turkish Ambassador and Austro-German Ministers leave.
Naval and Overseas Operations
Loss of submarine E.20 in Sea of Marmora.

15th Nov

Southern Front

Very successful attack on Turkish trenches by 52nd Division at Gallipoli.

Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

Publication by Foreign Office of attacks on British officers, etc., in Persia.

Political, etc.

Mr. Winston Churchill's speech re: Antwerp and Dardanelles expeditions.  Rejoins his regiment.

waiting for something to happen

Inoculated 7th and 28th Aug.  (Had been vaccinated 8th Dec.,1914).  Picked for draft 24th Oct.,1915.  On leave till 29th Oct.
While in 3/4th was friendly with J.M.S. Mair, No. 3839, B Coy.  We spent many evenings with Miss Aithie, High Street Peebles (whom Jack Mair knew).  Mair's address was Queen Str., Newton Stewart.

Private Robert Loudon No 3813 (from stationery to soldier)

Private Robert Loudon, No 3813, No 1 Platoon, X Coy., 4th Royal Scots (QER), 156 Brigade, 52 Lowland Division, British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.
(Second Division Clerk in Stationery Branch of National Health Insurance Commission (Scotland), 83 Princes Str., Edinburgh.  -  Lodge with Miss Neil,  XXXXX, Joppa, Edinburgh).
Enlisted in 3/4th Royal Scots (QER) on 13th July, 1915; attested.  At home till 17July; went to camp at Peebles on that date - same day as R. Lawrie.

Next post on or about 7 Aug