The Icelandic connection - 01.12.2020, Side 11

Vol. 71 #4
ICELANDIC CONNECTION
153
in London. Got bags at Burberry’s, bought
tropical shade puttees. Left for Southampton
at 12, arrived about 2. Detrained on docks.
Packed our own baggage on steamship
Lydia. Got blankets. Spent some time
beside funnel on upper deck. Had supper of
bully beef and bread, tea. Got good berth
for Davey and I. Retired at 8:30.
S unday O ctober 14 th (at S outhamp to n,
en route to Egypt, day 1): Arose at 7:30.
Had breakfast of bread, jam, cheese and
tea. Steward cleaned, up, had inspection.
Carried our luggage back onto the docks.
Walked around Docks, Hospital ships from
France in. Talked with Americans just over.
Embarked on the Queen Alexandra, left for
France at 6:30. Chased by submarines, had
to turn back into port. Lay out in Harbour
all night. Slept now and again beside funnels
and down in Saloon. Had bread, gun {??)
food and jam for supper. Lay up on top deck
all evening. Cold and windy.
Monday October 15th (at sea, en
route to Egypt, day 2): Woke up down in
Saloon between kit bags, suitcases, on floor
in all my clothes. Disembarked about 8
am. Stuck around docks all day. Bought a
couple of good meals at Officer’s restaurant.
Embarked on Queen Alexandra again at
4:50, pulled out for France at 6:30. Made
France alright, pulled in at Cherbourg about
1:00 am. Didn’t feel well down in Saloon,
sat up on deck nearly all night.
Tuesday October 16th (at Cherbourg,
en route to Egypt, day 3): Awake all night
before. Disembarked at 7 am. Had biscuits
and cheese for breakfast. Marched through
Cherbourg to rest camp. Arrived about
11:30. Rainy and muddy out. Allowed to go
down into village in evening. Visited ... —
—) — (some sort of code for a place name, to
get past Censors?) Had tea, caught 8:10 car,
went back to Camp. Made up some sort of
bed with 4 blankets and retired.
Wednesday October 17th (at
Cherbourg, en route to Egypt, day 4): Arose
at 7 am. Turned in blankets. Lay around
tent all afternoon. Left camp for train at 6
pm. Entrained at 7:30, Left for St. Germain
at 8, travelled all night. Marching to train
from camp we waded through water up to
our ankles. Arranged seats in compartment
to form a bed and retired at 9:30. Rained all
night, dozed occasionally.
Sunday October 29th (at Taranto, en
route to Egypt, day 15): Arose at 7:30 am.
Played indoor baseball, basketball and what
not with a tennis ball in our hut. Some fun.
Packed up and got ready to embark. Carried
our luggage down to pier at 11 am. Shoved
off from pier at 2:30 pm. Spent afternoon
on board Aragon. Put down in No. 1 hold
with bunch of officers. About 100 nurses on
board, they occupied all the cabins. Sat out
on deck until 10:30, boys singing and fooling
around. Started imitation of orchestra with
bunch. Great sport, laughed myself sick.
Hung up my hammock, crawled in and fell
asleep about 11:30 pm.
Saturday November 3rd (en route to
Egypt, day 20): Arose at 7:15 am. Sat up
on deck and watched boxing tournament
between cadets. Willoughby and Harrison
the best. Tug-of-war after between Officers
and Cadets, Cadets won. Sighted land
about noon, arrived in port at Alexandria
at 2:00 pm. Carried off my luggage. Very
hot weather, strong sun. Told that it was
an exceptionally cold day. I must have lost
2 pounds during afternoon. Disembarked
at 7 pm. Marched through city to station,
left for Aboukir at 9:15 pm. Met Johnnie
Thompson. Arrived in camp at Aboukir
10:00 pm. Got blankets, retired about 11
pm in tents under palm trees and bright
moon.
Thursday November 8th: Arose at 6
am. Off parade in morning. Draft of 30
picked to go to Ismailia to do Elementary
Flying. Left at 1:30 am. Arrived at 9:30 pm.
Marched out to camp, put in tents, three in
a tent. Had batman between us. Dined in