TCD MS 3414 folio 3 recto
[1915]
Time rolled on, & I expected daily to hear that another officer was returning from the front to relieve me, so that I ought proceed to Mesopotamia & rejoin the battalion. Eventually in March <2>Lieut Mason arrived unexpectedly to relieve me, but it was not until May 4th that I received definite orders to sail. On May 15th I had a farewell dinner <at Greens> in company with Lieuts Hoghen, Fisher & Chadwick-Healey, an old Etonian friend; this was followed by a variety entertainment at the “Excelsior” the best theatre in Bombay. The next day I <was appointed Officer Commanding Troops &> embarked on S.S. Bankura, a British Indiaman, along with details mostly Territorial drafts going out to fill up casualties in regular battalions who were unable to procure drafts from England. There were also some Australian Flying Corps mechanics on board who I think were very surprised to find that though “Jack was as good as his master” in Melbourne he was not on an English trooper! Heavy weather accompanied us all the way to Kerachi & the number of men who drew rations were very few, the majority suffered badly from sea sickness. An excellent supply of food & luxuries had been placed on board by the Ladies of Bombay so those that felt well enough, lived like fighting cocks. <On the evening of the 18th, a blank round from the Port Defences brought us to a standstill, and when Capt [ ] had satisfied the vigilent authorities, we steamed slowly into Kerachi harbour.> We left Kerachi on the 19th and met with much calmer weather, in fact